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

The silence in the office was broken by the old leader's heavy breathing.

He did not respond to Ding Wei's trembling greeting, but instead walked slowly behind his desk, opened a drawer, and took out a document sealed in a brown paper bag, which was quite thick.

He placed the file in the center of the clean desktop, making a soft but clear "snap" sound that was particularly jarring in the quiet room.

"sit."

The old leader pointed to the hardwood chair in front of the table, his voice flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Ding Wei moved his feet stiffly and sat down, his back straight, his hands on his knees, his fingertips turning slightly white from the pressure.

Years of ingrained reverence made him feel like a new recruit awaiting instruction in front of his old superior, even though he was filled with surprise, resentment, and a hint of anger at being offended.

The fact that he was "invited" in this way, especially by his former most respected superior, sends a very unusual signal.

"Ding Wei," the old commander finally spoke, without any pleasantries or inquiries about his hardships on the farm. His gaze was sharp and piercing.

"I asked you to come because there's something important. There are some things I need to know from you."

Ding Wei's Adam's apple bobbed, and he responded dryly:

"Sir, please give instructions."

The old commander tapped his fingers lightly on the brown paper bag, then turned his gaze to the undulating mountains in the distance outside the window, as if he were carefully choosing his words.

"You're back. You're staying with Li Yunlong. Li Yunlong's son, Li Zhenhua, is now the deputy director of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, in charge of logistics. He's been making waves lately, solving many of the mill's problems. Even Comrade Lin Jingyue admires him."

The old leader spoke slowly, enunciating each word clearly. His tone was not casual; it was more like he was stating the background of an investigation.

Ding Wei's heart sank.

Sure enough, the conversation circled back to the Li family and to Li Zhenhua.

He remained silent, waiting for what would happen next.

"but,"

The old leader abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening as he fixed his gaze on Ding Wei.

"Recently, we have received some feedback and noticed some unusual situations through other channels. These mainly focus on the supply of logistical materials to Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, as well as some issues concerning Comrade Li Zhenhua personally."

He paused, seemingly giving Ding Wei time to process the information, before continuing:

The report states that when the steel mill faced severe shortages of supplies, Li Zhenhua always managed to "miraculously" obtain large quantities of unplanned grain, steel, and even some scarce industrial products, the sources of which remained a mystery. His personal growth in terms of work skills, network expansion, and actual resources was exceptionally rapid in a short period, seemingly disproportionate to his age and experience. Furthermore, he maintained close relationships with individuals with complex social connections, such as the former capitalist Lou Bancheng.

Ding Wei's brows furrowed tightly.

These words, like cold needles, pierced his already complex feelings towards Li Zhenhua.

The "achievements" he had heard about at the banquet, the "ins and outs" he didn't understand but vaguely felt were now shrouded in a thick cloud of suspicion when the old leader brought them up in such a serious tone.

"certainly,"

The old commander's tone softened slightly, but his gaze remained sharp.

"The reported situation may not be true. Comrade Li Zhenhua is young and promising, and he may have his own special methods and channels to solve practical difficulties for the factory, which is also a merit. The organization will not wrong a good comrade, but at the same time, we cannot let go of any potential dangers that may harm the interests of the country and the collective. In particular, we must be extremely cautious about important military supporting enterprises and abnormal material flows, and investigate the source and clarify the nature of the matter."

He leaned forward slightly, giving Ding Wei an even stronger sense of pressure.

"Ding Wei, you haven't been back in Beijing long, and you haven't had much contact with Li Yunlong and his son. But you are Li Yunlong's old comrade-in-arms, with a bond forged in life and death, and now you're living in the Li family home. You have some close observations that are irreplaceable by outsiders. The organization hopes that you can, with a responsible attitude towards your old comrade-in-arms and his descendants, as well as a responsible attitude towards the collective interest, objectively and calmly recall and evaluate Li Yunlong, especially Li Zhenhua."

The old leader placed his hand on the brown paper bag.

"This contains a preliminary summary of some unusual material flows at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill recently, as well as peripheral investigation materials on some of Li Zhenhua's related interpersonal relationships and suspicious financial transactions. Of course, it is not complete yet; much of it consists of clues and suspicious points."

He pushed the file bag aside, but didn't open it; he simply placed it between the two of them.

"I need your feedback, based on what you've seen and heard since moving into the Li family home, especially regarding Li Zhenhua's handling of the factory's difficulties. How exactly did he operate? Who did he frequently contact? Besides Lou Bancheng, were there any other individuals with special backgrounds or connections? When dealing with internal and external conflicts, such as the issue with that chamber of commerce, did his methods deviate from the norm? Are there any discrepancies between his personal words, actions, and spending habits and the salary you know about?"

The old leader's voice was deep and powerful, each question striking Ding Wei's heart like a hammer blow.

"Don't have any reservations. Every objective statement you make can help the organization make a clearer and more accurate judgment about the situation. If Li Zhenhua is innocent, your words can help clear up the doubts. If... there really is a problem, discovering it as soon as possible is a responsible thing to do for him, for Lao Li, for the factory, and for the country."

At this point, the old commander looked deeply into Ding Wei's eyes, where, besides authority, there seemed to be a hidden meaning.

"Ding Wei, the organization has been paying close attention to your personal history. We know you've suffered injustice and hardship. Our consultation with you to understand the situation is itself a sign of our trust in you. If you can cooperate actively, based on the principle of seeking truth from facts, and clearly state everything you know and think without reservation, it will be beneficial for the organization to comprehensively, historically, and dialectically view your issues and reassess them. Do you understand?"

These last few words struck Ding Wei like a thunderclap.

Reassess historical issues!

The possibility of clearing one's name!

In an instant, he was seized by both immense temptation and equally immense fear.

My heart was pounding in my chest, blood rushed to my head and then quickly receded, leaving behind a cold numbness.

He felt his throat was dry and his lips were trembling, but he couldn't make a sound.

On one side were the Li family father and son, who had just pulled him out of the miserable state of the Dabie Mountains where "farming was a matter of life and death."

It was Li Yunlong's undisguised brotherhood and joyful tears, and Li Zhenhua's calm yet powerful words, "Uncle Ding, this is what I should do."

Although he disapproved of some of Li Zhenhua's ways, Ding Wei was not an ungrateful person for this real life-saving grace!

On the other hand, there's the organization's investigation, and before him stands the old leader to whom he once swore his life's loyalty, who still represents discipline and authority.

It is a questioning of those things that are "abnormal" and "illogical".

And then there's... that tempting promise that could change the course of his life.

Re-examine his historical issues.

Ding Wei's heart felt as if it had been thrown into purgatory, enduring the scorching heat of flames and the cutting of ice blades.

Loyalty and gratitude, doubt and desire, discipline and emotion, tore him apart madly.

He recalled the daily toil on the farm, the days of silence and despair, and how his former ambitions and pride had been gradually eroded...

He also recalled the lavish banquet at Li Yunlong's house, Li Zhenhua's composure in the face of his cold words, and those "ins and outs" that he couldn't understand but always felt were a bit off.

"I……"

Ding Wei finally let out a hoarse voice, his hands gripping his knees tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"Sir, do I...do I need to see the materials?"

The old leader gave him a deep look and pushed the brown paper bag forward:

"You can look, but be mindful of discipline. Once you leave this room, you must not divulge a single word of what's in here, not even to Li Yunlong."

With trembling hands, Ding Wei untied the binding on the file folder. He pulled out the materials; the papers rustled softly as they rubbed together, but to him it sounded like thunder.

The materials were indeed, as the old leader had said, preliminary and peripheral.

Regarding the logistical records of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill suddenly receiving large quantities of unplanned grain, meat, and cooking oil at certain points in time, the source column was mostly vaguely marked, or it was written as "transfer from a sister unit" or "purchased through a special channel," but no further explanation was given as to which sister unit or what special channel it was.

There is a list detailing the unusual flow of several batches of industrial materials such as steel and bearings that Li Zhenhua recently handled or approved, pointing to several companies associated with the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce or some trading companies with complex backgrounds in the south.

The other part is a review of Li Zhenhua's social relationships.

Lou Bancheng's name appears multiple times, labeled as "a former national capitalist, currently engaged in unclear trade, with close ties to Li Zhenhua, suspected of significant transfer of benefits."

There are also brief background introductions for Liu Lan, Qin Huairu, and others, with the note "Promoted by Li Zhenhua to take control of key logistics positions."

It even mentions Lin Taotao, who had just become engaged to Li Zhenhua, and her family, but the wording is cautious, and it is only used as background information.

Finally, there are excerpts from several scattered reports, some of which came from anonymous sources at the steel rolling mill, mentioning that Li Zhenhua had "connections to the highest levels" and "supplies of unknown origin."

Some sources from the social sphere vaguely implied that Li Zhenhua had dealings with "certain people who control smuggling channels."

There is also a record of Li Zhenhua's inquiry into his personal bank account (obviously with high access), showing that there have been several small cash deposits recently, but the source of which is unclear.

There is no conclusive evidence, but many doubts remain, and the clues weave together a disturbing web.

Ding Wei flipped through the pages one by one, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

He doesn't understand economics or the complex flow of goods, but he can read words like "abnormal," "unclear," and "suspected," and he can understand the problems that might be hidden behind that bank record.

Li Zhenhua's young yet overly composed face kept appearing in his mind, gradually overlapping with these cold words.

"Finished watching?"

The old commander's voice pulled him back from his chaotic thoughts.

Ding Wei slowly raised his head, his face pale, his eyes filled with struggle and pain.

He closed the document slowly, as if it weighed a ton.

"Tell me, Ding Wei. Based on your understanding of Li Yunlong, is he aware of this? Or is it possible that he's been misled by his son?"

The old leader asked.

Ding Wei swallowed hard, his voice hoarse:

"Old Li... he's straightforward, hot-tempered, and sentimental, but he's very principled. He's very proud of his son, Zhenhua, and thinks he's capable and has solved a major problem. He might not... know all the details. If he knew there was a problem, he definitely wouldn't have stood by and done nothing."

Ding Wei firmly believes this.

Li Yunlong may sometimes seem rough, but he will never cross the line.

"So what about Li Zhenhua? What did you observe and hear during your time at the Li family's house? Did Li Yunlong or Li Zhenhua himself mention any specific details about his methods for solving problems? For example, where did the grain come from? Through whose connections?"

The old leader pressed for an answer.

Ding Wei's thoughts returned to the Li family's dinner table, to those fragments of conversation he had only half-listened to and half-ignored.

"Old Li... praised Zhenhua at the dinner table, saying that he had connections and could get quotas from... from 'above' and find ways through 'friends'. He didn't go into details. Once, he seemed to have mentioned... 'friends in the south' or 'relationships at sea,' I can't remember, and I didn't pay much attention at the time."

Ding Wei tried hard to recall, each word spoken with extraordinary difficulty, as if he were betraying something.

"Relationships at sea?"

The old leader's eyes narrowed, and he tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"Anything else? Who does he usually associate with? Besides Lou Bancheng, are there any other people he frequently visits, or people he often sees?"

"I... I usually stay indoors and don't go out much. I've seen... Liu Lan from the steel mill canteen came by to deliver something, I think it was a report from the factory. Qin Huairu from the guesthouse also came by, saying she was reporting on her work. Others... I think there was a cook named Shazhu who came to see him about a blind date. Other than that... I haven't paid much attention."

Ding Wei paused, recalling that Li Zhenhua often came home very late, sometimes carrying a very faint scent, different from that of the factory and the courtyard. It was a more secretive, more... indescribable feeling, but he couldn't put it into words; it was too vague.

"How much does he spend money? Does he have any particularly large expenses? In your observation, is it commensurate with his income?"

"He ate and slept at home, and dressed...quite well, in good quality materials, but not particularly flashy. He smoked, I think it was a pretty good brand. As for his specific expenses...I don't know. He bought wine for Old Li and me, it was good wine. As for the betrothal gifts for the Lin family, Old Li said they were very generous, including jade pendants and tonics..."

Ding Wei paused here.

A decent dowry requires money.

Good wine and cigarettes also require money.

Is Li Zhenhua's salary enough?

The old leader listened quietly without interrupting, his gaze only growing more profound.

"Also, his methods of handling things. For example, how much do you know about his conflict with that chamber of commerce? I heard he recently got held back on raw materials; how did he resolve that?"

The old leader changed direction.