Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

The assassin was captured, and the chaos in the factory gradually subsided, but the tense atmosphere remained. Wang Huanbo was quickly moved to the branch factory's security office, which served as a temporary security command center, under the heavy escort of security personnel. Lou Xiao'e was also arranged to rest in a room nearby, where the factory doctor examined her injuries. Fortunately, she had only been grazed on the shoulder by the blast of the bullet, resulting in slight redness and swelling, but she was not seriously injured. However, she was quite shaken.

Upon receiving the report, the higher authorities were furious and ordered the immediate formation of a special task force to conduct a surprise interrogation of the assassin. They also demanded that the Red Star General Factory ensure the absolute safety of Comrade Wang Huanbo and suspend the inspection. When Secretary Yao and Factory Director Yang heard the news over the phone, they were terrified and ordered the head of the security department to protect Chief Engineer Wang at all costs.

Wang Huanbo sat in his office, his face calm, but his eyes cold. He carefully recalled every detail of the attack. The assassin was extremely familiar with the factory layout, choosing the perfect location and timing to strike—clearly a meticulously planned operation with a long period of infiltration. Using a professional pistol with a silencer, displaying agility and precision, this was no ordinary bandit or thug; they were likely enemy agents! And their target was clear: him! This demonstrated that his importance and that of the Red Star Factory had aroused serious suspicion from hostile foreign forces, to the point that they were willing to use high-ranking agents who had been infiltrating for years for an assassination attempt!

"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!" Wang Huanbo told the head of the special task force and the head of security who had arrived at the scene. "We need to find out his identity, his superiors, and whether he has any accomplices! The Hongshankou branch factory must be thoroughly investigated!"

Meanwhile, Cui Dake became a hero. With his arm bandaged, surrounded by a crowd, he recounted with great enthusiasm his "glorious deeds" of being "resourceful and brave," "disregarding his personal safety," and "valiantly fighting off spies." The factory leaders looked at him with newfound respect, and the workers cast admiring glances his way. Cui Dake was overjoyed; he knew he had made the right gamble! This act of saving the day was enough to change his destiny!

After initial reassurance, Lou Xiao'e's emotions stabilized somewhat. Sitting alone in her room, she still felt lingering fear as she recalled the harrowing scene. But what stirred her emotions even more was her almost instinctive lunge when Wang Huanbo was in danger, and the strong hands he used to catch her, along with his words, "Thank you." In that moment, she forgot her identity, forgot her fear of the gunshots; only one thought occupied her mind: He can't be hurt! This reckless impulse was something she had never experienced before. Could it be… that she really… Lou Xiao'e's cheeks flushed again.

After dealing with the urgent matter, Wang Huanbo made a special trip to visit Lou Xiao'e.

"How are you feeling? Are you feeling better?" Wang Huanbo's tone was much gentler.

"I feel much better, Engineer Wang, but I'm still a little scared," Lou Xiao'e said in a low voice.

"Thanks to you today," Wang Huanbo said sincerely, looking at her. "Your alertness and courage saved me. I owe you my life."

"Mr. Wang, please don't say that! This is what I should do!" Lou Xiao'e quickly waved her hand, her heart racing.

Wang Huanbo pondered for a moment and said, "I've taken note of your performance. You'll be commended when we get back. The factory and higher-ups are very concerned about your safety right now, so please rest well and don't feel pressured."

Afterwards, Wang Huanbo went to see Cui Dake, whose wounds had been bandaged. Upon seeing Wang Huanbo, Cui Dake immediately jumped up from his chair, as if about to stand at attention, and stammered excitedly, "Chief Engineer Wang! It's so good you're alright! That bastard spy was despicable! Luckily... luckily I..."

"Comrade Cui Dake, your actions were very brave. You stepped forward at a critical moment and made a significant contribution to capturing the spy." Wang Huanbo interrupted his boasting, his tone calm but certain. "Are you alright?"

"It's alright! It's alright! A little scrape is nothing compared to protecting Chief Engineer Wang!" Cui Dake patted his chest.

"Yes, take good care of your injury. The organization will consider your contribution." Wang Huanbo nodded. He was fully aware of Cui Dake's opportunistic mentality, but in any case, the result was that he had indeed helped a lot, and he should be rewarded accordingly; that was the rule.

Next, Wang Huanbo met with the branch factory leaders and key technical personnel to reassure them and emphasized the need to continue focusing on production, ensuring that the unexpected event did not disrupt operations. He specifically mentioned Liang Ladi's welding skills and Nan Yi's culinary expertise, stating that the main factory needed such talent.

Dinner was a carefully prepared feast by Nan Yi to calm his nerves, even more exquisite than lunch. Although Wang Huanbo didn't have much of an appetite, he still ate some and once again praised Nan Yi's culinary skills. During the meal, he clearly sensed that after this incident, the people at the branch factory had more respect for him, even a hint of fear. This atmosphere made him somewhat uncomfortable, but he knew it was unavoidable.

The task force's initial interrogation results came back quickly: the assassin was indeed a Kuomintang agent who had been lying low for many years, codenamed "Night Owl." His target was to assassinate experts who had made outstanding contributions to the country's important industrial development, and Wang Huanbo was one of his key targets. He had been operating under a false identity at the Hongshankou branch factory for many years, remaining silent until he received orders to act. Currently, they are further investigating his superiors and communication network.

Given the serious security situation, superiors instructed Wang Huanbo to conclude his inspection and return to the main factory immediately. Subsequent personnel selection will be handled by the main factory's organization department, which will then process the transfer procedures with a list of candidates.

On the way back to the main factory, the atmosphere in the convoy grew even more tense. Wang Huanbo leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest. This assassination attempt, though dangerous, had made him more acutely aware of the complexity and cruelty of struggle. At the same time, Lou Xiao'e's selfless act and Cui Dake's opportunistic yet crucial strike had given him a deeper understanding of human nature. The development path of the Hongxing Factory was destined to be anything but smooth. And those around him, whether loyal or opportunistic, would be unavoidable factors on this path. He needed to be more cautious and, more importantly, build a truly reliable core team. The trip to the Hongshankou branch factory, though brief, had been very fruitful; he had not only discovered talent but also experienced a life-or-death test. He had a clearer plan for the road ahead. The gratitude and other feelings he had quietly developed for Lou Xiao'e were silently suppressed in his heart. Now was not the time to consider these things.