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

Director Yang didn't say it explicitly, but the implication in his eyes was very clear.

It's inconvenient now, but I will definitely reward you handsomely afterward, whether it's material or professional.

Li Zhenhua instantly understood.

This is to benefit oneself.

He immediately showed just the right amount of gratitude and understanding.

"Factory manager, I understand! I will follow the factory's arrangements. I, Li Zhenhua, may not have much else, but I am good at keeping my mouth shut. I know what I should say and what I shouldn't say."

"Great! Great! I enjoy dealing with intelligent people!"

Factory Director Yang was very satisfied with Li Zhenhua's attitude, and his smile became even more sincere.

"Zhenhua, keep up the good work! I've seen your abilities, and your future is limitless! If you encounter any difficulties at the factory in the future, feel free to come to me anytime!"

Soon, it was time to leave work.

Workers poured out of the gate like a tide as they finished their shift.

Li Zhenhua and Lin Taotao walked side by side in the crowd, their silence contrasting with the noisy atmosphere around them.

Although the case was solved, Li Zhenhua felt guilty towards Lin Taotao because it was ultimately handled internally and kept secret.

The criminal investigation captain of a police station is highly skilled and has been doing a lot of work to help, but in the end, his name probably won't even be on the list of merits.

"Um... Captain Lin."

Li Zhenhua scratched his head, breaking the silence with an apologetic tone.

"I'm so sorry about today. You've worked so hard for nothing and got nothing in return."

Lin Taotao was looking down, lost in thought. When she heard this, she looked up, glanced at him, and her face remained expressionless.

"It's my duty, there's nothing to apologize for."

"That won't do!"

Li Zhenhua quickly said.

"You've helped me so much, I can't just let it go. Here's the deal: I'll treat you to a meal, a proper meal, and you can choose the place! Quanjude or Donglaishun, it's up to you!"

He tried to make up for his guilt with generosity.

Upon hearing this, Lin Taotao paused slightly, turned her head, and scrutinized Li Zhenhua from head to toe with a critical look, a half-smile playing on her lips.

"Oh? Quanjude? Donglaishun? Section Chief Li, you eat roast duck and hot pot every day, your spending level must be quite high. If people didn't know you were the head of security, they'd think you were some capitalist's son who came down from the mountains to experience life."

These words carried a clear sense of mockery, and even a hint of subtle probing.

Li Zhenhua's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm on the surface, chuckled, and turned the tables on Li Zhenhua.

"What's wrong, Captain Lin? Are you afraid I can't afford to treat you, or are you afraid to accept this 'capitalist young master's' invitation?"

"A provocation tactic?"

Lin Taotao raised an eyebrow.

"It won't work for me. But..."

She drew out her words, her gaze sweeping over Li Zhenhua's dark circles, which had faded but were still faintly visible, as if she were recalling something pleasant.

"Someone's practically begging to treat me to a meal. If I don't go, wouldn't that be incredibly disrespectful? Who wouldn't take a free meal? Let's go to Donglaishun. It's getting cold; some mutton will warm us up."

"Alright! Please go ahead!"

Li Zhenhua breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she had agreed, and gestured for her to proceed.

The two rode their bicycles one after the other to Donglaishun.

The restaurant was steaming hot, with the copper pot bubbling away and the aroma of mutton filling the air.

We ordered hand-cut fresh mutton, cabbage, tofu, and sesame flatbread, and the pot was boiling.

Li Zhenhua diligently picked up a paper-thin slice of mutton with his chopsticks, dipped it in the boiling broth, and after it changed color, he took it out, dipped it in sesame sauce, and placed it on Lin Taotao's plate.

"Captain Lin, have a taste, the mutton here is absolutely amazing."

Lin Taotao didn't stand on ceremony, picked it up and put it in her mouth, squinting her eyes in satisfaction and nodding repeatedly.

"Yeah! It's really authentic, much better than the institute's canteen."

After a few bites of mutton, the atmosphere eased considerably.

Li Zhenhua carefully considered his words before speaking, and began to recount the final outcome of the case.

"Sun Xiangqian and that old man who watches the warehouse have been secretly taken over by the higher-ups. How they are dealt with afterward is beyond our control. As for the factory, Director Yang's idea is to handle it quietly, and to the outside world, just say that Sun Xiangqian is being investigated for economic problems... Sigh, it's just that you've been wronged. You've worked so hard, but you haven't received any credit in the open."

Lin Taotao was engrossed in eating a piece of fatty and lean lamb brain when she heard this, and without even looking up, she mumbled something indistinctly.

"Hmm...it's okay, I already guessed it."

"You already guessed it?"

Li Zhenhua was taken aback.

Lin Taotao swallowed the food in her mouth, picked up the towel next to her to wipe her mouth, and then looked at Li Zhenhua with a knowing look in her eyes that said, "You're too naive."

"Otherwise what? Do you think a case like this, which involves the future of factory leaders and the stability of a large factory with tens of thousands of employees, can really be handled according to textbook procedures? Internal handling and controlling the impact are the most common operations. Before I came to help, Director Ma... well, anyway, I didn't expect to gain any credit from this case."

She spoke of it casually, as if it were something she was already used to.

Li Zhenhua was somewhat surprised by her insightful observation, and at the same time felt even more embarrassed.

"That's true, but after all..."

"Stop!"

Lin Taotao interrupted him and put another piece of mutton into the pot.

"You really think I've worked for nothing? And gained absolutely nothing?"

Li Zhenhua looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Lin Taotao smiled slyly and lowered her voice.

"This afternoon, your factory director Yang personally called our director Ma. I don't know what benefits he promised, but after hanging up, Director Ma wrote to me, saying that because of my outstanding performance this time and the resolution of a major hidden danger in a brother unit, the institute has listed me as a key candidate for development and reported it to the branch bureau. If all goes well, in another six months, after the old deputy director retires, I will be able to take over the position of deputy director."

"Deputy...Deputy Director?"

Li Zhenhua almost spat out the mouthful of Arctic Ocean water he had just taken a sip of; his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Six months? You...you got promoted way too fast! Goodness, even someone like me with connections didn't get promoted as quickly as you!"

Seeing Li Zhenhua's dumbfounded expression, Lin Taotao finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, a hint of smugness on her face.

"What? You're allowed to ride the rocket of success because of your connections, but we poor peasants aren't allowed to advance through our own abilities? Section Chief Li, it seems your ideological awareness needs improvement!"

Li Zhenhua was speechless, and could only shake his head and smile bitterly as he raised the soda bottle in his hand.

"Alright, I was narrow-minded! Captain Lin... oh no, future Deputy Director Lin, congratulations! I'm convinced, completely convinced! I'll have to rely on you for guidance in the future!"

"Of course, of course!"

Lin Taotao smiled and raised her glass, clinking it with his. The two looked at each other and smiled. The subtle estrangement that had arisen from the way the case was handled earlier completely disappeared in this steaming hot pot and frank conversation.

The steaming hot pot of mutton brought the two of them closer together.