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

Soon, Sun Weimin, the head of the security department, jogged to Director Yang's office.

He had just entered the room, his face still showing confusion and a hint of unease at being urgently summoned by the factory manager.

"Factory manager, you wanted to see me? What urgent instructions do you have?"

Sun Weimin asked respectfully.

Director Yang didn't offer him a seat, nor did he beat around the bush. He spoke directly with a livid face, his voice low yet thunderous.

"Old Sun, something terrible has happened! Li Zhenhua and his team have found out that the enemy's radio hidden in the factory is being used by Sun Xiangqian!"

"Who?! Sun... Fatty Sun?"

Sun Weimin's eyes widened instantly, the fat on his face trembled violently, the color drained away in an instant, and cold sweat broke out, soaking his back in a flash.

His legs went weak and he almost lost his balance, so he quickly grabbed the back of the chair next to him.

"Factory...factory manager, this...this can't be right, can it? There must be some mistake. Sun Xiangqian...he is..."

"The evidence is conclusive! The radio and the codebook were found in a hidden compartment in his office bookcase, discovered personally by Li Zhenhua and Captain Lin from the police station!"

Director Yang's tone was resolute, extinguishing any remaining hope that Sun Weimin might have.

Sun Weimin felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head. Sun Xiangqian usually had a good relationship with him. With such a big enemy spy case in the logistics department, he, as the head of the security department, was the first to bear the blame. He could not escape the responsibility for inadequate supervision and negligence. Once this label was attached to him, not to mention his official position, even his peaceful retirement would be in question.

His voice was trembling with tears.

"Factory manager! Factory manager, please save me! This...this is completely unknown to me! I..."

Seeing his state, Director Yang felt even more irritated, but he had to keep him calm at this moment.

"This isn't the time to talk about that! The most urgent thing is how to handle this! If this matter is reported through the normal procedures, we're both finished! Half the sky will fall off the steel mill!"

Sun Weimin nodded repeatedly, as if grasping at a lifeline.

"Yes, yes, yes! Factory manager, what do you say we do? I'll do whatever you say! As long as we can cover it up... no, as long as we can handle it properly, I'll do anything!"

Factory Director Yang pondered for a moment, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and then lowered his voice to speak.

"You have a distant cousin in the Security Bureau who's the deputy director, right? Now, find a way to contact him immediately, privately and in the safest way possible, to get the information through him—not a formal report, but a request for 'guidance'—to see if the higher-ups can tacitly allow us to handle this internally, or at least minimize the impact. I'll also immediately report to my former superior and try to gain their support. We must seize the initiative before the news spreads!"

"Understood! I understand! I'll get on it right away!"

Sun Weimin felt as if he had received a royal decree. At this moment, he no longer cared about procedures or rules; keeping his position and his life was the most important thing.

"besides."

Factory Director Yang called him over, his tone stern.

"We can't delay with Sun Xiangqian; we must take him under control immediately! But we can't mobilize a large force. You go personally, pick a few absolutely trustworthy and tight-lipped confidants, and bring weapons. I'll call Sun Xiangqian myself, under the pretext of discussing logistical support, and summon him to my office. Once he's in, take him down!"

"Yes, Factory Manager! You're brilliant! I'll arrange it right away!"

Sun Weimin was now completely in awe of Director Yang and felt that this was the least risky option.

Sun Weimin left in a hurry, and soon, three or four of his most trusted and equally nervous security officers were secretly summoned.

At the same time, Director Yang took a deep breath, picked up the phone, dialed the logistics department's number, and tried to keep his tone calm.

"Hey, Lao Sun, this is Yang Jianguo. Come to my office right away. I have something urgent to discuss with you about the procurement of labor protection supplies for the next quarter."

Sun Xiangqian, on the other end of the phone, was clearly unaware of what was happening and readily agreed.

"Yes, factory manager, I'll be right there!"

A few minutes later, Sun Xiangqian's plump figure appeared at the door of the factory director's office, with his usual smile on his face, and pushed the door open and entered.

"Factory manager, you wanted to see me... uh?"

Before he could finish speaking, he saw that in the office, besides Director Yang, there was also Sun Weimin with a gloomy face and several security officers who were eyeing him menacingly.

His smile froze instantly. Realizing something was wrong, he turned to run, but two officers grabbed his arms tightly from both sides.

"What...what are you doing?"

Sun Xiangqian struggled and shouted. Sun Weimin stepped forward and said coldly.

"Sun Xiangqian! You've been caught! Behave yourself!"

Factory Director Yang waved his hand and turned his face away in disgust.

"Take him away! Interrogate him carefully!"

Sun Xiangqian was secretly taken to a secluded interrogation room in the security department.

Sun Weimin's ability to reach this position is indeed due to his shrewdness. Knowing that this matter concerns his life and fortune, he showed no mercy during the interrogation, employing tactics such as policy persuasion, analysis of interests, and possibly even some methods that are not easy to mention.

Faced with immense psychological pressure and irrefutable evidence, Sun Xiangqian's psychological defenses completely collapsed around three or four o'clock in the afternoon. He not only confessed to his crimes of using his position to hide a radio and provide intelligence to enemy agents, but also, in order to gain leniency, revealed another accomplice.

The old man who usually looks honest and unremarkable guarding the warehouse in warehouse number three of the factory area.

The old man was in charge of keeping and using the spare radio hidden in the abandoned office building.

Sun Weimin immediately sent men to Warehouse No. 3, where they captured the old man who was dozing off.

With the suspect and the stolen goods caught, the case was completely solved.

Throughout the entire process, the news was strictly kept under wraps within a very small circle, and the other cadres and employees in the factory continued to work as usual, completely unaware of the storm that was brewing at the core level.

As evening approached, it seemed that the steel mill's senior management had reached some kind of tacit understanding with their superiors through secret channels.

Factory Director Yang summoned Li Zhenhua to his office again.

This time, there were only the two of them in the office, but the atmosphere was completely different from that morning.

Factory Director Yang's face showed the exhaustion of surviving a disaster, but even more so, gratitude towards Li Zhenhua and a profound sense of closeness.

He personally poured Li Zhenhua a glass of water and patted him on the shoulder.

"Zhenhua, this time... it's all thanks to you! You turned the tide! Not only did you expose the hidden cancer, but more importantly, you considered the bigger picture and handled the situation well, preventing a major upheaval in the factory! I'll remember this favor!"

Li Zhenhua quickly replied modestly.

"Factory manager, you flatter me. This is all I should do, and it's all under your correct leadership..."

Factory Director Yang waved his hand, interrupting his polite remarks, and his tone became serious.

"Hey, merit is merit, no one can erase it. Don't worry, Director Sun and I have reached a consensus regarding your contributions. Although we can't publicly commend you for certain reasons, we absolutely, positively won't let you suffer any losses! Once this storm has completely subsided, the factory will definitely give you appropriate compensation and... well, you know what I mean."