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

The third target was Xu Damao.

This guy still harbors ulterior motives towards Lou Xiao'e and is extremely jealous of Li Zhenhua, making him the easiest to instigate.

Yi Zhonghai "coincidentally" met Xu Damao, who was washing vegetables, at a public water tap.

"Da Mao, are you washing the vegetables?"

Yi Zhonghai struck up a conversation.

"Um."

Xu Damao was in a bad mood; he didn't like anyone in the courtyard.

"Hey, Da Mao, stop looking so long-faced all the time."

Yi Zhonghai said, pretending to be kind.

"I know you're upset because of Comrade Lou Xiao'e, right?"

Xu Damao was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Yi Zhonghai! Stop talking nonsense!"

"Look at you, what's the rush?"

Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice.

"I'm just upset for you! You're so handsome, and you had such a great job showing movies. What did you do that made you unworthy of Lou Xiao'e? But... sigh, some people just have a way with things. I heard that Li Zhenhua has been a frequent guest of the Lou family lately! Director Lou personally invited him to dinner, and Lou Xiao'e accompanied him. She was so hospitable! I think this good thing is probably going to happen soon."

Xu Damao's eyes instantly turned red.

"Yi Zhonghai, who told you that?!"

"Do we even need to hear about it? It's all over the factory! Everyone says Director Li is young and promising, and he and Miss Lou are a perfect match, a match made in heaven!"

Yi Zhonghai fanned the flames.

"Da Mao, I'm not trying to be mean, but compared to Li Zhenhua, what makes you inferior? The only difference is that he has a powerful father and is a deputy director. Yet he used that to steal the person you've always wanted! Can you swallow this insult?"

Xu Damao was so angry that he trembled all over, and both old and new grudges surged into his heart.

His pursuit of Lou Xiao'e was repeatedly thwarted, while Li Zhenhua seemed to win the Lou family's favor effortlessly. This huge disparity brought his hatred for Li Zhenhua to its peak.

"Li Zhenhua! You're fucking working against me at every turn! I'm not done with you yet!"

Xu Damao gritted his teeth, wishing he could immediately go and settle accounts with Li Zhenhua.

Yi Zhonghai watched Xu Damao's reaction with satisfaction, offered a few more words of feigned comfort, and then left.

He knew that he had successfully ignited these three streams of resentment. Now, all he needed to do was wait for the right moment to let these undercurrents converge into a wave that would impact Li Zhenhua.

Under Yi Zhonghai's relentless instigation, the atmosphere in the courtyard quietly changed.

Liu Haizhong's gaze towards Li Zhenhua held a hint of malice and resentment. When they met at the factory, he no longer tried to curry favor with Li Zhenhua as before. Sometimes, he would even deliberately find trivial problems to emphasize the difficulties when Li Zhenhua was inspecting the work, giving Li Zhenhua's men a hard time and making them frown.

Sha Zhu treated Li Zhenhua with hostility. He used to greet him politely as "Director Li," but now he simply pretended not to see him. Once, when Li Zhenhua came home late at night, Sha Zhu deliberately made a veiled insult in the yard, saying, "Some people rely on their high positions to come home in the middle of the night. I wonder what kind of shady business they're up to." This caused some neighbors to whisper among themselves.

Xu Damao went even further, spreading rumors in the factory's publicity department, implying that Li Zhenhua "rose to power through women" and "had problematic lifestyles." Although he dared not name names, his disgusting purpose had been achieved.

Even some ordinary residents, under the intentional or unintentional hints of Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong and others, felt that Li Zhenhua, the deputy director, was too arrogant and not as "approachable" as the previous elders. Moreover, his promotion was too fast and his close relationship with the capitalist's daughter inevitably made people suspicious.

Li Zhenhua was extremely perceptive and quickly noticed the subtle changes in the courtyard.

He knew perfectly well that Yi Zhonghai must have played a significant role in this.

But he did not point it out, nor did he take any drastic action.

He dealt with Liu Haizhong's subtle objections strictly, demanding rectification without backing down and using work discipline to subdue him; he completely ignored Sha Zhu's childish behavior, regarding him as a clown; and he dismissed Xu Damao's rumors with a laugh, finding such low-level tactics only making the rumor-mongers appear guilty.

He knew full well that in the face of absolute power, these petty tricks were nothing more than ants trying to shake a tree.

His main focus now is on consolidating his position in the factory, dealing with Li Huaide's possible backup plans, and managing his relationships with external families such as the Lou and Lin families.

As long as this little disturbance in the courtyard doesn't affect his fundamental interests, it can be ignored for the time being.

He was even somewhat pleased to see this happen, letting these people consume themselves in jealousy and resentment, which saved him a lot of trouble.

Of course, he also became more vigilant and instructed Qin Huairu to be more careful in her actions in the courtyard to avoid giving anyone a handle to use against her.

at the same time.

the other side.

Li Zhenhua and Lin Taotao began to have more frequent contact.

It seemed to have become an unspoken agreement that every weekend, unless there was an urgent task, Li Zhenhua would always find an excuse to ask Lin Taotao out.

Sometimes it's to watch a movie screening, sometimes it's to browse for new books at Xinhua Bookstore, but more often it's to go outdoors.

Their footprints can be found in Jingshan, Beihai, Xiangshan, and even further afield in Xishan.

On this clear autumn day, Li Zhenhua and Lin Taotao went hiking on Fragrant Hills.

At this time, the red leaves of Fragrant Hills have not yet turned completely red, but the forests are beginning to show signs of autumn colors, which has a unique charm.

Both were dressed in casual clothes that allowed for easy movement. Li Zhenhua wore a dark blue tracksuit, which made him look even more upright and neat; Lin Taotao wore a military green outfit, which made her look heroic and dashing.

Instead of choosing the main road crowded with tourists, they opted for a relatively quiet path to climb up.

Li Zhenhua was full of energy and walked steadily, but he always deliberately slowed down and walked side by side with Lin Taotao. Sometimes, when she was a little tired, he would subtly help her or point out a place where it would be easier for her to step.

His care was meticulous yet measured, ensuring that Lin Taotao would never feel slighted or offended.

"I didn't know you were so good at mountain climbing."

Lin Taotao was slightly out of breath, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead, but her face was flushed and refreshed from the exercise.

"Back in the army, long marches were a regular occurrence; we've been through mountains and jungles. This little bit of mountain road is nothing."

Li Zhenhua handed over the kettle, his tone indifferent, as if he were talking about something completely ordinary.

Lin Taotao took the water bottle, took a sip of water, but her gaze involuntarily fell on Li Zhenhua's well-defined profile.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on him.

This man possessed a peculiar quality; at the steel rolling mill, he was a young section chief who was shrewd and decisive in his planning.

In the courtyard house, he was the unsung mastermind behind the scenes, subtly controlling the situation.

At this moment, amidst these mountains and forests, he appeared so calm and reliable, as if all difficulties and obstacles could be transformed into smooth paths before him.

This multifaceted nature intrigued her and drew her in more and more.

They stopped to rest when they reached a platform with a wide view halfway up the mountain.

Leaning on the railing and gazing into the distance, the outline of the capital city is faintly visible, and the autumn colors are all within sight.

"Sometimes I really feel that when I stand on high ground and look at this vast world, the troubles at work don't seem so important anymore."

Lin Taotao sighed, as a mountain breeze blew by, ruffling her hair.

"Climbing to a high place and looking into the distance can indeed broaden one's mind."

Li Zhenhua nodded, but then changed the subject.

"However, our work ultimately comes down to practical matters, and we have to deal with the mundane realities of life. We need to have a broad perspective, but we must keep our feet firmly on the ground."

Lin Taotao wholeheartedly agreed.

"Yes. Just like when we handle cases, the case files contain cold, hard evidence and logic, but behind them are living, breathing people, with their joys and sorrows, and a complex web of relationships. Sometimes, even when the evidence is conclusive, we just can't move forward because of one obstacle or another. That feeling of powerlessness is really torturous."

She rarely confided her work-related frustrations, which was quite unusual for her.

Perhaps it was the relaxing mountain scenery, or perhaps it was Li Zhenhua's reassuring aura that made her lower some of her guard.

Li Zhenhua did not immediately offer his opinion, but listened attentively before speaking slowly.

"Water that is too clear has no fish. Some cases are too complicated, and a head-on confrontation may not be the best strategy. The key is to grasp the core contradiction and find the fulcrum that can change the whole situation. It's like playing chess; sometimes you need to sacrifice pieces, and sometimes you need to take a roundabout approach, but the goal is always the final victory. As long as the general direction is correct, some twists and turns in the process are inevitable. The important thing is to stay within your authority, uphold your bottom line, do what you can, and have a clear conscience."

His words not only expressed his understanding of Lin Taotao's situation, but also demonstrated a pragmatic yet principled wisdom.

He offered neither empty words of comfort nor radical encouragement, but rather provided a solution to the problem.

Lin Taotao seemed to be deep in thought.

"You're right. Maybe I was too impatient, always wanting to achieve everything at once. It seems I need to learn more from you how to be patient and calm."

Li Zhenhua smiled.

"We can learn from each other. Your decisiveness and keenness when dealing with criminals are something I lack."

The two exchanged a smile, a tacit understanding flowing in the air.

They continued climbing, and the conversation drifted away from work.

Li Zhenhua is very knowledgeable about the history, customs, and culture of Beijing. Occasionally, he can also offer insightful perspectives on current affairs. Although he is cautious in his words, his angles are often novel and profound to Lin Taotao.

He not only understands macro policies, but also seems to have a deep understanding of the hardships and voices of ordinary people, which forms an interesting contrast with his status as the son of a cadre.

"You seem to know a lot about the lives of ordinary people?"

Lin Taotao couldn't help but ask.

Li Zhenhua's gaze fell upon the village that was faintly visible in the distant mountain valley, his tone calm.

"My father often told me, 'Don't forget that you grew up eating the food of ordinary people.' In the army and in the factory, you had the most contact with ordinary people. Their wisdom and their demands are often the most genuine. You can't hear these voices sitting in an office."

Lin Taotao's heart stirred, and her fondness for Li Zhenhua deepened even further.

She had seen too many children of officials who talked big but were either arrogant or out of touch with reality. People like Li Zhenhua, who were both insightful and down-to-earth, were extremely rare.

Similar dates are becoming more and more common.

They went boating at the Summer Palace and discussed poetry and songs on the shimmering waves of Kunming Lake.

We also visited the Temple of Heaven Park, strolled among the ancient cypress trees, and exchanged our views on the inheritance of traditional culture.

Li Zhenhua's erudition, composure, and profound yet unbiased understanding of reality gradually won Lin Taotao's deeper recognition.

She began to see him not only as an interesting and charming man, but also as a trustworthy partner with whom she could have in-depth exchanges of ideas.

Meanwhile, in the heavily guarded Lin family house, Lin's father appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, he was fully aware of his daughter's increasingly close relationship with Li Zhenhua.

Through his own channels, he learned in detail about Li Zhenhua's various behaviors at the steel rolling mill and the courtyard house.

The report about the Jia family incident was placed on his desk.

The report objectively describes how, after Jia Dongxu's death at work, Li Zhenhua seemingly inadvertently awakened Qin Huairu, prompting her to make up her mind to send Jia Zhangshi away, thereby completely taking control of the Jia family and indirectly leading to Jia Zhangshi being severely sentenced for assaulting a street cadre.

The report's assessment: The methods are sophisticated, skillfully utilizing rules and human nature to achieve a decisive victory, while maintaining an aloof stance and dominating public opinion.

The report on the Moscow restaurant conflict is more detailed.

It describes how Wang Haitao, Gao Peng, and others provoked Li Zhenhua, how Li Zhenhua decisively fought back, protected his female companion (with a focus on Lin Taotao), and how he gained absolute right in the police's handling of the situation.

The report specifically pointed out that Li Zhenhua was exceptionally skilled, handled emergencies calmly and decisively, and dealt with the aftermath appropriately, leaving no substantial evidence for the opposing family to retaliate.

His father, General Li Yunlong, responded to the matter by saying, "It's just kids fighting, as long as he wins, that's fine," which shows his protectiveness of his son and his confidence in his son's abilities.

Lin's father had also carefully read the internal report regarding the lubricating oil incident at the steel rolling mill warehouse.

The report highly praised Li Zhenhua's performance in handling this internal conspiracy: keen intelligence (knowing the clues in advance), appropriate response (secretly investigating and collecting evidence), and precise counterattack (choosing the right time), which not only eliminated the hidden danger, but also dealt a blow to the opponent, and established the prestige of himself and his confidants.

Evaluation: Courageous and resourceful, well-versed in struggle strategies, possessing excellent leadership and management potential.

Based on this information, Lin's father gradually formed a clear picture of Li Zhenhua: a young man with a strong background, outstanding personal abilities, mature mind, superb skills, and the ability to adapt to circumstances.

He is neither reckless nor obsequious; he is responsible, decisive, and, more importantly, principled and wise.

Despite his young age, he already displays a composure and maturity far beyond his peers.

One evening after dinner, Lin's father, unusually, did not immediately go into the study. Instead, he sat on the sofa in the living room and casually asked Lin Taotao a question.

"Have you been going out with that Li Zhenhua a lot lately?"

Lin Taotao was peeling an apple when she heard this. Her hand paused slightly, and a faint blush crossed her face as she readily admitted it.

"Yeah, he's a pretty interesting guy. He knows a lot and he sees things very clearly."

Mr. Lin grunted in response, picked up the newspaper, and asked again, seemingly casually.

"I heard he's doing well at the factory, and he's handled a few troublesome matters?"