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

After saying that, he ignored Bang Geng and turned to Sha Zhu.

"Comrade He Yuzhu!"

Sha Zhu jolted awake and straightened his back.

"arrive!"

"As a canteen cook, responsible for the crucial kitchen area, your lax management allowed outsiders to freely enter and steal public property, for which you bear undeniable direct responsibility! Seeing the theft, you not only failed to stop or report it, but also intentionally or unintentionally condoned and covered it up, compounding your mistakes! Do you even have any regard for factory rules and regulations?"

Li Zhenhua's tone was unusually stern.

Sha Zhu opened his mouth, wanting to say that he hadn't covered for someone, but seeing Li Zhenhua's cold eyes, he swallowed his words and lowered his head.

"I...I was wrong, I'm willing to accept the punishment."

"Disciplinary action?"

Li Zhenhua snorted coldly.

"Of course you need to be disciplined! Given your dereliction of duty and the negative impact it has caused, your monthly bonus and half a month's salary will be deducted! As a warning to others! Do you have any objections?"

Half a month's salary plus bonus, this is a very severe punishment.

Sha Zhu's facial muscles twitched slightly, but he still gritted his teeth and said.

"No objections! I accept the punishment!"

After dealing with Sha Zhu, Li Zhenhua turned to Xu Damao. Xu Damao forced a fawning smile.

"Director Li is brilliant! This is exactly how it should be handled! We must never tolerate this kind of unhealthy trend!"

Li Zhenhua said calmly.

"Xu Damao, your timely discovery and prevention of the theft is commendable. You should continue to maintain this awareness of protecting public property."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao was overjoyed, thinking that Li Zhenhua was praising him, and he quickly nodded and bowed.

"It's my duty, it's my duty! It's what I should do!"

However, Li Zhenhua changed the subject.

"However, if a problem is discovered, it should be reported to the supervisor or security department first, instead of making a scene in public, creating chaos, and disrupting the normal order of the cafeteria. Let it go this time, but be more careful next time."

Xu Damao's smile froze on his face instantly, as if he had been choked, and he nodded awkwardly in agreement.

Finally, Li Zhenhua's gaze returned to Qin Huairu, whose face was ashen, and Banggeng, who was trembling like a leaf.

The most crucial step is here.

"If a child is not properly taught, it is the father's fault. Jia Geng is young, so the main responsibility lies with his parents for not disciplining him properly."

Li Zhenhua's voice echoed in the quiet cafeteria.

"Qin Huairu!"

"Director..."

Qin Huairu replied, her voice trembling.

"Your son stole something, and as his mother, you bear an undeniable responsibility! Now, I'm giving you a chance to discipline him in public!"

Li Zhenhua's tone left no room for argument.

"Grab the fire poker by the stove and, in front of all the canteen staff and everyone present, give him a good beating! Beat him until he remembers this lesson! If you don't beat him today, or if you don't beat him enough, then it means that you, Qin Huairu, can't distinguish right from wrong, and that you've allowed your son to steal. You're no longer suitable to serve as the director of the guesthouse! Send him and the fire poker along with him to the security department and treat it as theft of public property!"

These words struck Qin Huairu like a bolt from the blue, leaving her speechless.

Hitting a child in public?

Why were they beaten so badly?

Bang Geng is her darling!

How could she do that?

"Director...no...Bang Geng knows he was wrong, I'll definitely..."

Qin Huairu pleaded tearfully.

"Shut up!"

Li Zhenhua interrupted her sharply.

"I won't repeat myself! Fight or not fight? The choice is yours!"

Li Zhenhua's eyes were as cold as knives, leaving no room for negotiation.

Qin Huairu knew that this was not a discussion, but an order.

If she doesn't do as she's told today, not only will her job be ruined, but she will also lose the job and status she worked so hard to get.

Li Zhenhua says what he means, and he absolutely does it.

Under immense pressure and fear, Qin Huairu's maternal love and reason are engaged in a fierce struggle.

Looking into her son's terrified eyes, her heart ached as if it were being cut by a knife.

But she also saw the unwavering resolve in Li Zhenhua's eyes.

Ultimately, the fear of losing everything, and her deep-seated obedience to Li Zhenhua's authority, overwhelmed her reluctance as a mother.

She trembled as she picked up the rough fire poker from beside the stove.

"Mom! Mom! Don't hit me! I know I was wrong! I'll never do it again!"

When Banggeng saw that his mother had actually picked up the stick, he was so frightened that he cried loudly and struggled desperately.

"Qin Huairu! What are you waiting for!"

Li Zhenhua gave a cold shout.

Qin Huairu closed her eyes, two lines of clear tears sliding down her cheeks. When she opened them again, all that remained in her eyes was a numbness and ruthlessness bordering on despair.

She raised the fire poker and lashed it hard at Banggeng's buttocks and thighs!

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

The dull thuds and the pig-like screams of the butcher echoed through the canteen.

Those around were horrified, and some even turned their heads away in disgust.

No one expected that Director Li would be so ruthless and merciless in handling the matter.

Qin Huairu initially held back, but Li Zhenhua's icy gaze felt like a thorn in her back, so she could only strike harder and harder with each blow.

At first, Bang Geng cried out and begged for mercy, but later his voice gradually turned into painful howls and curses.

"Mom! Stop hitting me! It hurts so much! Li Zhenhua, you're not human! I hate you!"

Hearing her son's curses, Qin Huairu hit him even harder, as if she wanted to vent all her grievances, fears, and helplessness.

I don't know how many times he was hit, but the sound of the stick grew weaker and weaker, and finally his head tilted to the side and he fainted from the pain.

"alright."

Li Zhenhua then spoke calmly.

Qin Huairu felt completely exhausted. She threw away the fire poker, collapsed to the ground, held her unconscious son, and wept bitterly.

Li Zhenhua surveyed the silent crowd, his voice steady and powerful.

"You all saw that? This is the consequence of stealing public property and violating factory rules! No matter who it is, no matter what their relationship is, under my care, Li Zhenhua, everyone is treated equally! From now on, anyone who dares to touch a single needle or thread of public property will be a prime example! Everyone, disperse and get back to work!"

Everyone fell silent, lowered their heads, and hurried away, afraid of being noticed by this iron-fisted section chief.

Xu Damao also slunk away, feeling terrified. Li Zhenhua's methods were too ruthless; it would be best to avoid provoking him in the future.

Sha Zhu looked at the weeping Qin Huairu and the unconscious Bang Geng, feeling conflicted. He thought Bang Geng deserved to be beaten, but he also felt that Li Zhenhua was too heartless. However, his fear of Li Zhenhua deepened.

Li Zhenhua asked Liu Lan to arrange for someone to take the sticks to the factory clinic for Qin Huairu. Then, after glancing at the distraught Qin Huairu, he softened his tone.

"A doting mother often spoils her son. This beating today is for his own good. When he wakes up, I'll reason with him properly. If it happens again, I won't let him off easily!"

After speaking, Li Zhenhua turned and left, his silhouette stretching long in the setting sun, exuding an unquestionable authority and coldness.

After these swift and decisive actions, his prestige at the steel rolling mill reached a new level.

Everyone understood that this young section chief not only had a powerful background and sophisticated methods, but was also incredibly ruthless and not to be trifled with.

Having learned this painful lesson, Bang Geng will never dare to be dishonest again, at least for a considerable period of time.

Qin Huairu gained a deeper understanding of the gap between herself and Li Zhenhua, and the necessity of absolute obedience.

While Li Zhenhua was using an iron fist to rectify the atmosphere in the steel mill canteen, a somber mood hung over the Lou Mansion, with an oppressive atmosphere that was suffocating.

Half a day had passed since Li Zhenhua stormed off, but Lou Bancheng remained slumped on the large leather sofa in the study like a clay sculpture, his face ashen and his eyes vacant.

The study was filled with smoke, the ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts, and the air was thick with despair.

Lou's mother sat to the side, silently wiping away her tears, her carefully maintained face filled with fear and regret.

Lou Xiao'e locked herself in her bedroom, and faint, suppressed sobs could be heard.

The beauty and fleeting pleasure of last night have long been shattered by the coldness of the morning and the fear of reality.

Not only did she fail to catch Li Zhenhua, she may have dragged her entire family into an abyss of no return.

"It's over...it's all over..."

Lou Bancheng muttered to himself, his voice hoarse and dry. Li Zhenhua's words before he left echoed in his mind like a nightmare.

"Confiscated property, exiled to the countryside," "annihilated."

Especially the last name.

Lin Jingyue

It was like a heavy hammer, completely shattering all his wishful thinking.

Others may not know, but Lou Bancheng, having navigated the business world and the social networks of the old society for many years, is all too aware of the weight that the name "Lin Jingyue" represents.

Those were truly powerful figures who could decide the fate of countless people!

How dare she even dream of stealing a man from his daughter? That's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—she's courting disaster!

Driven by intense fear, Lou Bancheng mustered his strength and used some deeply hidden connections that he would never normally dare to use to cautiously gather information.

He needed to confirm the veracity of Li Zhenhua's words and also to find out exactly how many people were currently watching the Lou family.

The news he gathered sent chills down his spine, making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

The news confirms that Li Zhenhua's statement was true.

Lin Taotao is indeed Lin Jingyue's only daughter and is greatly loved.

Li Zhenhua's relationship with the Lin family was indeed extraordinary, and he gained Lin Jingyue's approval.

This means that Li Zhenhua's backing is stronger than anyone could imagine.

What chilled Lou Bancheng even more was the result of his investigation into the Lou family itself.

Several sources have vaguely mentioned that recently, some "higher-ups" have indeed been quietly investigating the Lou family's assets, overseas connections, and some of their pre-liberation business activities.

Although the actions were subtle, the wind direction was already quite obvious.

The Lou family, this "big tree," has been targeted by many, and they are just waiting for the right opportunity to uproot it!

"A tall tree catches the wind... possessing a treasure is a crime!"

Lou Bancheng closed his eyes in pain.

He was shrewd throughout his life and accumulated this vast fortune, thinking it would ensure wealth for generations to come. However, he never expected that in the new society, this enormous wealth would become his death warrant.

In the past, he could barely manage to stay afloat by relying on some old connections and "pragmatic" maneuvering. Now that he has offended Li Zhenhua, it is equivalent to indirectly offending the Lin family. Who would dare to protect him? And who can protect him?

"What should we do? Old Lou, you'd better give us some advice!"

Seeing her husband's state, Lou's mother panicked even more and asked in a tearful voice.

"Are we... are we really just supposed to wait...?"

She didn't dare say the words "waiting to die," but the meaning was self-evident.

Lou Bancheng suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes bloodshot, a mixture of madness and despair at the end of his rope.

"Run! We have to run!"

He lowered his voice, almost shouting it out.

"We can't stay in the country anymore! We need to go to Hong Kong! Or even further! Once we're out at sea, we'll be safe! These family businesses... those we can't take with us, we'll just have to... we'll have to abandon them!"

His heart bled as he uttered the word "abandon." This was the culmination of generations of his Lou family's hard work!

"Run? Abandon your family business?"

Lou's mother was stunned.

"This...how can we do this? We have so many assets—houses, antiques, gold and silver...which one of them wasn't painstakingly accumulated? Are we just going to throw them away like this? We'll be out there in unfamiliar territory, how are we going to survive?"

Having grown accustomed to a life of luxury, Lou's mother could not imagine losing everything and being stranded in a foreign land.

"So what do you suggest we do? Stay and wait to die?"

Lou Bancheng growled.

"Li Zhenhua has made his point so clearly! Do you think we can afford to offend the Lin family? Countless eyes are watching us now. If we don't leave now, we really won't be able to leave!"

The couple fell into a desperate argument and silence.

He ran, unwilling to part with his vast fortune, his future uncertain.

If we don't run, it could be a catastrophe.

Just then, the bedroom door was gently pushed open, and Lou Xiao'e came out. Her eyes were swollen like peaches, and her face was pale, but her gaze had an unusual calmness, even carrying a hint of eerie resolve.

Clearly, she had heard her parents' argument.

"Dad, Mom, please stop arguing."

Lou Xiao'e's voice was very soft, but it stopped the two people arguing.

"Xiao'e..."

Lou's mother looked at her daughter with heartache.

Lou Xiao'e walked up to her parents, took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

"We can't run. If we run, we'll really lose everything. Besides, the risks on the road are too great; whether we can even escape is another matter."

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Lou Bancheng asked irritably.

Lou Xiao'e bit her lip, an unnatural blush rising on her face. She glanced at her mother, then at her father, and in a low voice uttered a shocking idea.

"Mom, Dad. Since Li Zhenhua... his background is so powerful, why can't we... why can't we cling tightly to him like a powerful tree?"

"Hug? How can we hug? What we did yesterday... we've already completely offended him!"

Lou Bancheng gave a bitter smile.

Yesterday is yesterday.

A complex light flashed in Lou Xiao'e's eyes, a mixture of shame and a desperate, madness.

"The die is cast, and that's an unchangeable fact. No matter how powerful Li Zhenhua is, he's still a man. Since the die is cast, we might as well... we might as well lower our stance and beg him! We might as well try to please him!"

Lou's mother seemed to have sensed something and asked hesitantly.

"Xiao'e, you mean...?"

Lou Xiao'e's face flushed red and then turned pale, her voice barely audible, yet she spoke clearly.

"What I mean is... since a proper marriage is impossible... then... then I, Lou Xiao'e, will be Li Zhenhua's... concubine! Is that alright?"

"To be a concubine?"

Lou Bancheng and his mother both gasped in shock.

Although having multiple wives and concubines was common in the old society, it was abolished in the new society long ago. This is simply a shocking idea!