I painted an aircraft carrier on the courtyard house for Dongda University.

Then, a familiar-looking man rushed forward, pointed at Zhou Weiguo, and yelled, "Zhou Weiguo, are you crazy? How dare you talk to Director Liu like that? Don't you have any sense of hierarchy?"

Another person chimed in, "That's right! Zhou Weiguo, your thinking is very dangerous! If you remain stubbornly unrepentant, no one can save you!"

As a group of people surrounded him and chattered on for a long time, Zhou Weiguo remained silent, quietly waiting for them to finish speaking.

Everyone thought they had completely overwhelmed Zhou Weiguo in terms of momentum, and their faces showed smug expressions.

Once everyone had finally quieted down and no one spoke, Zhou Weiguo stepped forward.

His gaze was piercing as he pointed at the first person to speak, his tone icy: "What the hell is your last name again? Didn't you used to work for Old Li? I remember Old Li treated you quite well; you were the head of the logistics department, weren't you? And you, the head of the personnel department; and you, the one who used to manage the union. You're all pretty ambitious!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bentian immediately interrupted, "Comrade Zhou Weiguo, your thinking is dangerous! What do you mean by 'following whom'? They're all cadres from the steel rolling mill. What are you trying to achieve by talking like this? You've utterly disappointed me! Zhou Weiguo, since you're so unambitious, I hereby announce that you're suspended from your duties! Go home and reflect on your actions. When you've done your reflection, come to my office. I want to see your profound self-criticism."

Zhou Weiguo scoffed at Liu Bentian's words, looking at him as if he were an idiot: "Liu Bentian, are you out of your mind? You think you can just take my position as head of the technical department off like that? Dream on! You probably didn't even read my appointment letter carefully! I'm the deputy secretary of the Party Committee and the chief engineer of the steel rolling mill, plus the head of the technical department. You're the factory director, but you're just the deputy secretary of the Party Committee, and we're at the same rank. You can't be so clueless, can you? Besides, my appointment was jointly issued by the Ministry of Metallurgy, the First Ministry of Machine Building, the Second Ministry of Machine Building, and the Ministry of Education. Who do you think you are, daring to suspend me? Have you lost your mind?"

Then, Zhou Weiguo pointed to the group of people around Liu Bentian, not even bothering to mention their names because he hadn't remembered them at all: "And you guys, what are you all? Blustering in front of me, like weather vanes, aren't you ashamed! Old Li was blind to take in such trash as his underlings, you're disgusting to look at!"

At this moment, Liu Bentian's eyes were bloodshot with rage as he stared intently at Zhou Weiguo.

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind. He glanced at his watch, gritted his teeth, and shouted angrily, "Security Department! Where are the people from Security Department? Go and call them here immediately! Arrest Zhou Weiguo, this bad element! I strongly suspect he's an enemy agent; he's not only delaying production but also making baseless accusations!"

Not long after, a series of hurried footsteps came from afar, and more than a dozen security personnel ran over.

The one leading the group was the former deputy head of the security department, who was now standing obsequiously beside Liu Bentian.

Liu Bentian looked at the newcomer and sternly ordered, "Deputy Director Zhao, Comrade Zhou Weiguo has serious ideological problems. I now order you to take him into custody immediately. I will take him to see Minister Huang later."

Upon hearing this, Deputy Director Zhao was stunned. He looked at Liu Bentian in disbelief and stammered, "Director Liu... Director Liu, this... this isn't appropriate, is it?"

Seeing that Deputy Director Zhao was hesitant, Liu Bentian was extremely anxious.

He checked the time again; it was already past ten o'clock. If he didn't quickly subdue Zhou Weiguo and take him out, things would get complicated once the operation began.

Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth again and said, "Deputy Director Zhao, do you still want to get promoted? Carry out the order immediately! As long as you perform well this time, I will fulfill my promise to you very soon."

These words sent a shiver down Deputy Director Zhao's spine. He gritted his teeth, turned to the people around him, and shouted, "Go! Listen to Director Liu!"

However, the other security personnel looked at each other, none of them daring to step forward first.

Deputy Director Zhao glanced at Liu Bentian, and under the firm signal of Liu's gaze, he resolutely walked up to Zhou Weiguo: "Director Zhou, I'm sorry, but I must obey Director Liu's orders."

Zhou Weiguo looked at him with a half-smile: "Are you sure you want to do this, Deputy Director Zhao? I remember you're also a demobilized soldier, and you even fought in the North Korean war. Let me remind you, don't be sold out and still be counting the money for them! Although I hold the title of Director of the Technical Department, I'm much more than that. Don't ruin your life for some empty promise."

Upon hearing this, Deputy Director Zhao appeared somewhat dazed.

At this point, Liu Bentian stopped hiding his intentions and laid his cards on the table: "Deputy Director Zhao, as long as you complete the task, I'll immediately call the director of the Dongcheng branch. You're not satisfied with that parachuted-in Director Wang, but I've already sidelined him. Once I transfer him away, the position of director of the steel mill's security department will be yours! But if you back down now, don't blame me for being impolite; there are plenty of people who want to be directors! Handcuff Zhou Weiguo right now; I'm taking him to the ministry."

Deputy Director Zhao glanced at Zhou Weiguo, smiled wryly, and said, "Director Zhou, I'm sorry to offend you." As he spoke, he took out handcuffs from his waist.

Zhou Weiguo sighed helplessly, shook his head, and thought to himself: Power is indeed the easiest thing to make people lose their minds.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approached from afar: "Don't move! Deputy Director Zhao, what are you doing? Who gave you the right to lay a hand on the steel mill's senior management? And all of you, put your guns away!"

Everyone turned around and saw Wang Jianguo rushing over with five or six people.

Seeing this, Liu Bentian's eyes almost spit fire. He was about to complete his task when this unexpected obstacle appeared out of nowhere. He cursed inwardly, "As expected, that Wang fellow has come to ruin things!"

He immediately shouted, "Director Zhao, I suspect that Wang Jianguo and Zhou Weiguo colluded to steal confidential documents about the oxygen top-blowing converter in the steel rolling mill! Arrest them and their accomplices immediately!"

These words instantly created a tense atmosphere, with both sides drawing their pistols and pointing them at each other, creating a standoff.

Liu Bentian glanced at his dozen or so security personnel, then at the five or six men Wang Jianguo had brought, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank goodness, thank goodness, the enemy outnumbers us, the advantage is in our hands."

Wang Jianguo shouted, "Old Zhao, you were a soldier too, don't be foolish! Don't let momentary greed implicate your men! You should know who Comrade Zhou Weiguo is; some things, once done, have no turning back."

Liu Bentian refused to back down and retorted sharply, "Director Zhao, don't listen to his nonsense! He's just making a last-ditch effort! Wang Jianguo, as the director of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, I order you to put down your gun immediately! Do you still want to work at the factory? If you don't, you'll be sorry!"