Siheyuan (courtyard house): My father, Li Yunlong!

Li Huaide is like a time bomb buried next to me; if it is not completely defused, it will cause a major disaster sooner or later.

Moreover, Li Zhenhua was determined to get the position of director of the logistics department. Only by completely controlling the logistics department could he make his mark in the steel rolling mill and even on a broader stage.

He began to systematically collect materials on Li Huaide.

Li Huaide was a very greedy man; he was never shy about engaging in corruption and abusing his power for personal gain.

However, this person is cunning and cautious, and direct economic issues are often deeply hidden, with many intermediaries acting on their behalf, making it difficult to obtain concrete evidence.

Li Zhenhua focused his efforts on Li Huaide's lifestyle.

Based on his memories from his previous life, he knew that Li Huaide had an affair with a female worker in the canteen named Liu Lan.

In this day and age, this is a serious crime that could ruin his reputation.

Before leaving work that day, Li Zhenhua, under the pretext of inspecting logistical support, especially the employees' meals, suddenly went to the factory canteen with an officer from the logistics department office.

He didn't notify the cafeteria manager in advance; it was a surprise attack.

It was already past four in the afternoon, and preparations for dinner in the cafeteria had begun.

The canteen manager, surnamed Zhao, was a chubby middle-aged man. When he heard that the deputy director had suddenly arrived, he was so frightened that he scrambled out of his office, his forehead instantly covered in a layer of oily sweat.

"Director Li! You...you've come all this way? Oh dear, look at this, I wasn't prepared at all..."

Director Zhao wiped his sweat with his sleeve while forcing a smile, his heart pounding with anxiety.

Everyone knows that this young Deputy Director Li is shrewd; even Director Li Huaide has suffered at his hands.

"Just take a look around, check on the preparation of dinner in the canteen, and show concern for the workers' meals."

Li Zhenhua spoke calmly, but his sharp gaze swept over the noisy kitchen of the canteen.

The huge kitchen was filled with steam and bustling with noise.

The sounds of chopping vegetables, stir-frying vegetables, and clattering pots and pans mingled together.

Sha Zhu, wearing his greasy, twisted apron, leaned against the kitchen counter like a general, a cigarette between his fingers, directing his two apprentices, Ma Hua and Fatty, around in circles.

"MCA! I'm talking to you! Cut the potato shreds thinner! They look like bench legs, are you feeding them to pigs?"

"Fatty! Do you even understand the concept of 'cooking heat'? You think stir-frying cabbage is like steelmaking?"

Sha Zhu had a loud voice, spitting everywhere. Ma Hua and the fat man dared not speak out, and could only bury their heads and work hard.

When he saw Li Zhenhua come in, Sha Zhu was stunned for a moment, a hint of unease flashing across his face. He then stubbed out his cigarette, straightened up a bit, and mumbled a call.

"Director Li."

Their attitude wasn't exactly respectful, but they'd also lost their former nonchalant attitude.

Ma Hua and the fat man quickly lowered their heads and quickened their movements.

Li Zhenhua nodded to Sha Zhu without saying anything more, and continued his inspection tour accompanied by Director Zhao.

His gaze seemingly casually swept over the busy cooks, and finally, in a relatively quiet corner, it locked onto a figure silently washing vegetables.

She was a woman in her thirties, thin, wearing patched but faded old work clothes, her hair simply tied back, and the exposed part of her neck looked somewhat pale.

What's most striking is her profile; there are obvious, not-yet-faded purplish-blue bruises around her eyes, and even with her head down, one can still see a hint of weariness and suppressed emotion.

It was Liu Lan. Li Zhenhua's heart skipped a beat, and he slowed his pace.

Upon seeing this, Director Zhao quickly explained in a low voice.

"Oh, that's Liu Lan, the cafeteria's handyman, mainly responsible for chores like washing and preparing vegetables."

Li Zhenhua hummed in response and asked, seemingly casually.

"Judging from her face... is she injured? Is there some kind of difficulty at home?"

Director Zhao sighed and lowered his voice.

"Sigh, Director Li, you don't know. Liu Lan has such a hard life. Her husband... he's a scoundrel, he gambles and beats her when he's drunk. This injury is probably... the factory's women's federation has mediated several times, but it's no use. She also has a child to raise; it's not easy for her."

Li Zhenhua carefully examined Liu Lan.

Her movements were mechanical and numb, her eyes staring blankly at the vegetables in the pool, and her whole being exuded an aura of despair under the heavy weight of life.

Judging from her clothing, mental state, and the scars on her face, she should not have had any connection with Li Huaide at this time.

This is an opportunity! Li Zhenhua's mind raced.

They could even use Liu Lan to set a trap for Li Huaide...

Having made up his mind, Li Zhenhua showed no sign of it on his face.

He didn't go up to talk to Liu Lan; it wasn't the right time yet. Making contact rashly would only arouse her suspicion and attract Li Huaide's attention.

He simply gave Director Zhao a brief instruction.

"If employees are in trouble, the organization should show concern. Your canteen union group should keep an eye out for them."

"Yes, yes, Director Li, please rest assured, we will definitely take good care of you!"

Director Zhao readily agreed. Li Zhenhua then took a stroll around the cafeteria, inquiring about the types of dishes for dinner, food consumption, and other details. After pointing out a few minor issues, he left the cafeteria with his staff.

Over the next week, Li Zhenhua took advantage of his work to pay even closer attention to that corner of the cafeteria.

He noticed that the bruises on Liu Lan's face had not faded as usual; instead, new marks were frequently added, sometimes to the corners of her eyes, sometimes to the corners of her mouth. Old wounds had not healed before new ones appeared. Clearly, the man in her family had become even more abusive.

Her mental state also deteriorated. She was initially just silent and numb, but later she often appeared in a daze.

When washing vegetables, she would stare blankly at the water in the sink for a long time until her colleagues called her several times before she would suddenly wake up. On two occasions, Li Zhenhua even saw her secretly wiping away tears that seeped from the corners of her eyes. Those tears mixed into the water used to wash vegetables, silently.

What's even more worrying is that her eyes began to reveal a bottomless despair, a deathly indifference to everything around her and even her own life.

Li Zhenhua had seen similar looks before; they were signals of someone on the verge of collapse and utterly devoid of life.

Can't wait any longer.

Li Zhenhua knew that for someone like Liu Lan, who had been living in a repressed and desperate environment for a long time, public and formal care often had little effect, and might even backfire because of her pride or fear.

What she needs is an opportunity that is absolutely safe, private, and gives her real hope and a way out.

It's easy for Zhao Pangzi, the canteen director, to send a greeting and express the organization's concern, but such a superficial greeting is like scratching an itch through a boot; it can't reach the root of Liu Lan's pain at all, and may even make her more embarrassed by airing her dirty laundry.

You must bypass all intermediaries and establish direct contact with her in an environment where she can lower her guard.

He carefully learned Liu Lan's route after get off work.

She lived in a large courtyard not far from the factory area. Every day after get off work, she would walk home, passing through a relatively quiet alleyway. It was a shortcut connecting the main road and the courtyard area. During the day, it was bustling with people, but by this time in the evening, most of the workers had gone home and there were few pedestrians.

This is the perfect place for a chance encounter.

That evening, the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky orange-red, but the light quickly dimmed.

As usual, Liu Lan dragged her weary steps, head down, and walked into that familiar alley.

Her shadow stretched long on the mottled wall, making her appear even more frail and lonely.

Her mind was blank, or rather, filled with the fear and despair of each passing day. The sounds of her husband's fists and foul language from last night still echoed in her ears, and her body ached faintly. She didn't know when this would end, and she didn't even dare to think about tomorrow.

Just then, a steady voice rang out not far ahead, not loud, but clearly reaching her ears.

"Is this Comrade Liu Lan from the cafeteria?"

Liu Lan was startled and abruptly raised her head like a frightened rabbit.

At the alley entrance, a tall figure stood against the light, dressed in a dark blue Zhongshan suit, his posture upright.

She squinted, adjusting her eyes to the light, before recognizing the person in front of her—Deputy Director Li of the factory's logistics department!

Her heart leaped into her throat, and she instinctively took a half-step back, her hands nervously gripping the faded hem of her work clothes.

What's the leader doing here?

Did they specifically call me back? Did something go wrong at work?

Or... She dared not think further, countless terrifying thoughts flashing through her mind, her face turning even paler.

"Director Li...?"

Liu Lan's voice trembled, almost inaudible.

Li Zhenhua took two steps forward, allowing Liu Lan to see his face more clearly.

His face lacked the usual seriousness and distance I saw at the factory; instead, it held a just-right, slightly concerned, and peaceful quality.

"It's me. Are you going home from get off work?"

His tone was very natural, as if it really was just a chance encounter.

"Yes...yes, Director Li."

Liu Lan lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.

Li Zhenhua didn't continue the pleasantries. He knew that beating around the bush would only increase Liu Lan's unease.

His gaze swept over the bruises around Liu Lan's eyes, which she tried to conceal with her hair but which were still visible. His tone became more serious, but he still maintained his composure, showing concern for his subordinate rather than invading her privacy.

"Comrade Liu Lan, I've noticed you don't look too well the last few times I've been to the cafeteria. Is there anything wrong at work... or is there some difficulty at home?"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Liu Lan's silent and desperate inner world.

She trembled, her head drooped even lower, and tears welled up instantly, but she desperately held them back, her nails digging deep into her palms.

She was used to silence and forbearance, and never imagined that a leader would so directly touch upon her sore spot.

"No...no, Director Li, I'm fine."

She denied it almost instinctively, her voice choked with emotion.

Li Zhenhua sighed softly, a sigh that contained both understanding and an unquestionable authority.

"Comrade Liu Lan, you don't need to be afraid, and you don't need to hide it. I am the deputy director of the logistics department. It is my duty to care about the lives of the staff and solve their practical difficulties."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the quiet alleyway to make sure no one was around, then lowered his voice, but each word was spoken with exceptional clarity and force.

"Our steel rolling mill is a large factory with tens of thousands of employees, and it's also like a big family. The factory cannot, and absolutely cannot, stand by and watch its employees be bullied outside, or be afraid to speak up when they have difficulties!"

The words "being bullied" were like a key, suddenly prying open Liu Lan's tightly locked heart.

Her long-held facade of strength crumbled at this moment, and tears streamed down her face. But she still bit her lip tightly to keep herself from crying out loud, her shoulders heaving violently.

Li Zhenhua neither urged her nor tried to comfort her; he simply stood quietly, giving her time to release her emotions.

After a while, once Liu Lan's sobs had subsided somewhat, he continued in that calm and convincing voice.

"I've heard a bit about your family situation. It's not your fault that you encountered a spineless man who only knows how to hit women. You work for the factory, so you're part of the factory. What's the factory's women's federation for? What's the security department for? They're there to support the workers and protect their rights!"

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed intently on Liu Lan's tear-filled face, and gave her a promise she never dared to dream of.

"Comrade Liu Lan, let me be frank with you today. As long as you are willing and determined to get rid of this kind of life, the factory can help you. The Women's Federation can help you mediate, protect your rights, and even support your divorce; the security department can step in to warn and stop your husband's violent behavior. In short, the organization can help you escape this sea of ​​suffering."

These words were like a sturdy rope cast into an endless abyss of darkness.

Liu Lan suddenly raised her head, bravely meeting Li Zhenhua's gaze for the first time.

His gaze was sharp and deep, yet devoid of any lewdness or contempt; it possessed only a powerful and reassuring strength.

"Director Li...is what you're saying true? The factory...can it really manage this?"

Her voice was filled with an incredible longing and fear, as if she were afraid this was just a dream.

"I, Li Zhenhua, always keep my word."

Li Zhenhua stood up straight, his tone resolute.

"But there's a prerequisite: you have to stand up for yourself first. You need to have the courage to stand up, testify against him, and cooperate with the factory's work. If you yourself are submissive, no one can help you. It's like treating an illness; if the patient doesn't cooperate, even the best doctor is useless."

He stopped there and did not continue to apply pressure.

He knew that the seeds had been sown and needed time to sprout.

He took a small envelope out of his pocket and stuffed it into Liu Lan's hand without saying a word.

"Here are some grain coupons and a few small bills. It's not much, but take them and use them to buy some food for the children. Don't refuse; this is a temporary subsidy from the organization for workers in need, not just for you personally."

Liu Lan held the envelope, which was still warm from her body, and felt it weighed more than a thousand pounds.

This is not just money and food stamps; it is a lifeline, a promise of protection from a powerful force.

She watched Li Zhenhua turn and walk away, his tall figure disappearing into the alleyway. Tears blurred her vision again, but this time, the tears washed away not only despair, but also a faint but real hope.

She clutched the envelope tightly, as if grasping at a lifeline, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Gratitude for the young director flowed through my body like a warm current, but what followed was a deeper, more complex emotion, a mixture of awe and absolute dependence.