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

The anonymous letters orchestrated by Gao Jianshe and Wang Dashan, like arrows soaked in poison, silently shot towards their targets from different corners and in different ways.

Some of these letters are written in neat handwriting like an old scholar, while others are written in messy handwriting like an ordinary worker. Some use strong language full of "sense of justice," while others are written in a worried tone as if "pleading for the people." But the core content of all of them points to Li Zhenhua's three "key issues."

He was very close to Lou Xiao'e, the daughter of a capitalist, and his stance was not firm.

The exceptional promotion of Qin Huairu, a widow with whom he had an ambiguous relationship, is suspected of abusing his power for personal gain and having issues with his lifestyle.

The practice of having one person make all the decisions in a courtyard house reflects a serious bureaucratic style.

Within a few days, several anonymous letters with similar content but slightly different perspectives were sent to the superior authorities of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

On the desks of the discipline inspection team of a certain industrial bureau, the petition offices of relevant departments of the Ministry of Industry, and the petition department of the municipal discipline inspection commission.

Initially, these letters did not cause much of a stir, since anonymous reports are common and it is difficult to distinguish between true and false.

However, the fact that the letter was so focused and specifically targeted at a young deputy director who had just begun to make a name for himself still caught the attention of the department staff who received it.

According to the procedure, these letters were registered and summarized. Some were forwarded to the steel rolling mill's superior authority as a report of the situation, while the more cautious ones were subject to preliminary internal verification procedures.

Steel rolling mill, factory manager's office.

Factory Director Yang put down the phone, his brows furrowing slightly.

The call was from a familiar old colleague from the Industrial Bureau. His tone was casual, but it carried a hint of reminder, asking if there had been any unusual developments at the factory recently, especially regarding the public's complaints about Li Zhenhua, the deputy director of the Logistics Department.

Although the other party did not say it explicitly, Director Yang immediately sensed something unusual.

He hesitated for a moment, then pressed the call button on the table.

The secretary came in quickly.

"Go and ask Deputy Director Li Zhenhua to come to my office now."

Director Yang gave the order in a calm tone, but his secretary, who knew him well, could sense a hint of seriousness.

"Yes, factory manager."

Soon after, Li Zhenhua knocked on the door and came in.

He was still dressed in a neat blue Zhongshan suit, with an upright posture and his usual calm demeanor.

"Factory manager, you wanted to see me?"

"Zhenhua is here, please have a seat."

Factory Director Yang pointed to the sofa opposite him, then stood up from behind his desk, strolled to the window, turned his back to Li Zhenhua, and casually looked out at the factory area.

"How's work going lately? As for the logistics department, after the lubricant issue, things should be sorted out now, right?"

Factory Director Yang asked the question in his usual tone.

Li Zhenhua's heart stirred slightly; Director Yang rarely called him aside to ask about such routine work.

He answered calmly.

"Thank you for your concern, Director. The logistics department is currently operating smoothly, warehouse management has been strengthened, the transportation department has been reorganized, and all tasks are progressing according to plan."

"Okay, that's good."

Factory Director Yang turned around and looked sharply at Li Zhenhua, no longer beating around the bush.

"Zhenhua, you are young and promising, energetic and full of ideas, which is a good thing. The other leaders in the factory and I have high hopes for you."

"Thank you for the trust of the factory manager and the organization. I will continue to work hard."

Li Zhenhua nodded slightly.

"but,"

Director Yang changed the subject and his tone became serious.

"The tallest tree catches the most wind. When someone stands out too much, they inevitably attract unnecessary attention, or even... criticism."

Li Zhenhua raised his head and met Director Yang's gaze, his eyes clear and calm.

"Factory manager, have you heard any rumors about me?"

Factory Director Yang walked back to his desk and sat down. He took out a copy of the summary of an internal letter from his drawer and pushed it in front of Li Zhenhua, but his fingers remained pressed on the paper, not completely released.

"This is not a rumor, but a 'public opinion' that has already been put on the table."

Factory Director Yang lowered his voice.

"There was more than one anonymous letter; it was sent to the bureau, and even the ministry and the disciplinary committee. The content was largely the same, mainly mentioning three points."

Li Zhenhua's gaze swept over the paper. Although he couldn't see the specific contents, Director Yang's attitude spoke volumes.

He felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that the revenge of the children of high-ranking officials had begun, and that their methods were so insidious, choosing anonymous letters—a method that was difficult to trace and could easily cause a bad influence.

"Factory manager, could I know the specifics of what this is? That way, we can correct any mistakes and strive to improve."

Li Zhenhua's tone remained calm.

Looking at Li Zhenhua's calm demeanor, Director Yang nodded inwardly, impressed by the young man's composure.

He released his fingers from the paper and tapped the summary:

"First, they say you have too close a relationship with Lou Xiao'e, the daughter of Lou Bancheng, which has a bad influence and suggests you have an unstable political stance. Second, they say you promoted Qin Huairu to work in the warehouse, which raises suspicions of abuse of power for personal gain and lifestyle issues. Third, they say you are domineering in the courtyard, run a one-man show, and are out of touch with the masses."

As Director Yang spoke, he carefully observed Li Zhenhua's reaction.

However, aside from the initial slight solemnity, Li Zhenhua did not show the expected anger, panic, or eagerness to defend himself.

"Factory Manager,"

After listening, Li Zhenhua pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, his voice steady and powerful.

"First of all, I am very grateful to the factory manager for trusting me and informing me of this matter directly. Regarding these anonymous accusations, I would like to clarify a few points."

"First, regarding Comrade Lou Xiao'e. My contact with her began when she visited the factory under the guidance of Director Lou, and we had some normal working exchanges on the factory's logistics management. Later, we met by chance at the Moscow Restaurant, where Wang Haitao and others were causing trouble. As a cadre present, it was my duty to protect the female comrade and stop the violence. The public security authorities have already reached a conclusion on this matter. Apart from that, I had no contact with Comrade Lou Xiao'e that went beyond the scope of normal working interactions. Director Lou is a shareholder of the factory and cares about its development. I believe it is not inappropriate for me to maintain necessary and courteous contact with the shareholder's family, let alone a matter of stance. If this leads to criticism, I am willing to accept the organization's investigation and explain the situation in detail to the organization."

"Secondly, regarding Comrade Qin Huairu's work arrangement. After Comrade Jia Dongxu's death on the job, his family faced financial difficulties, and Comrade Qin Huairu, as his spouse, needed to work to support them. A vacancy arose for the warehouse keeper position, which doesn't require a high level of education but demands meticulousness and a strong sense of responsibility. Comrade Qin Huairu meets the basic requirements, and after evaluation, I believe she is capable of the job. Her hiring process was entirely in accordance with the temporary worker recruitment procedures, and there is verifiable documentation. Her sense of responsibility and vigilance demonstrated in the recent lubricant incident also proves my judgment was correct. The so-called 'promotion without regard to protocol,' 'abuse of power for personal gain,' and 'lifestyle issues' are pure fabrication and slander against my and Comrade Qin Huairu's character. I express my strong indignation at this and earnestly request the organization to conduct a thorough investigation and clear our names."

"Thirdly, regarding the situation of the courtyard house. As an ordinary resident, I respect the neighborly relations within the courtyard. Previously, Yi Zhonghai and others attempted to illegally seize the rights of the families of deceased workers. As someone who knew about this, I reported the situation to the street office and upheld fairness and justice. Director Wang of the street office can testify to this. If upholding principles and opposing illegal behavior is considered 'running a one-man show' or 'domineering,' then I have nothing to say. But I believe that the organization and the masses have discerning eyes."

Li Zhenhua's statement was clear, logical, and well-founded. He neither evaded the issues nor failed to provide strong explanations and rebuttals for each one. In the end, he elevated the issue to the level of upholding principles and accepting organizational scrutiny.

After hearing this, Director Yang's tense expression relaxed considerably.

He didn't actually believe the contents of these anonymous letters, especially after the lubricant incident, which gave him a deeper appreciation for Li Zhenhua's abilities and character.

What he was worried about was that the spread of these rumors would cause trouble for Li Zhenhua and even affect the work at the factory.

"Zhenhua, I believe your explanation."

Factory Director Yang put the summary back into the drawer.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Anonymous letters are hard to verify, and the organization will make its own judgment. I've already had preliminary discussions with the higher-ups, and currently, these reports lack substantial evidence, so a formal investigation won't be launched for the time being. But—"

He raised his voice, his tone carrying a warning.

"Gossip is a fearsome thing! You're a key talent being groomed by the factory now, and countless eyes are watching you. Especially in your personal life and work interactions, you must be extra careful about your words and actions, and avoid any appearance of impropriety. As for the Lou family, their background is special, so keep your distance if possible. As for Qin Huairu, work is work, but you must also be mindful of your boundaries and avoid giving them anything to gossip about. The courtyard house is a place for living, so try to keep a low profile and don't get too involved in neighborhood disputes."

Li Zhenhua knew that Director Yang was protecting him and also reminding him.

He stood up and solemnly assured Director Yang.

"Factory manager, I have taken your advice to heart. Please rest assured that I will be even more strict with myself, handle personal and work relationships well, and never let you down or the organization's training. I will prove everything with better work performance."

"Okay, it's good that you have this attitude."

Factory Director Yang nodded in satisfaction.

"Go back to work and focus on your job. I'll keep this under wraps. However, those who pull stunts behind the scenes won't let it go easily, so be prepared. I'll try my best to control the impact at the factory, but it's inevitable that word will leak out, so you'll need to be prepared as well."

"I understand, thank you, factory manager."

Li Zhenhua expressed his gratitude again, then took his leave and left the factory director's office.

Stepping out of the office building, the afternoon sun was a bit too bright.

Li Zhenhua narrowed his eyes slightly, and the calm mask on his face slowly faded, replaced by a cold sharpness.

Anonymous letter... Is this all you're capable of? Trying to ruin my reputation with such underhanded tactics? Well, let's see who ends up suffering the most!

He took a deep breath and suppressed his surging emotions.

Director Yang's attitude was one of clear support, which bought him valuable time and space.

But as Director Yang said, the storm will not subside; the undercurrents will only become more turbulent.

He must be fully prepared to deal with attacks from all sides, and at the same time, he must start thinking about how to counterattack.

First, we must stabilize the core operations; the steel mill must not be allowed to descend into chaos. Second, we must also prevent anyone from using the courtyard house as an opportunity to cause trouble.

And the Lou family... Perhaps, this could be an opportunity to further clarify the boundaries?

Li Zhenhua's mind raced, and a series of coping strategies gradually became clear.

The contents of the anonymous letter, like spores carrying a virus, were temporarily suppressed by Director Yang at the factory level, but ultimately could not be completely prevented from spreading.

Some vague, embellished "rumors" began to circulate quietly in some departments and workshops of the steel rolling mill, under the intentional or unintentional infiltration of the forces behind the scenes and with the help of Li Huaide's system.

"Have you heard? It seems Deputy Director Li has gotten into trouble..."

"What trouble? Is it related to that capitalist's daughter?"

"Not only that, there are also issues with his lifestyle, it seems he's involved with that beautiful widow who just came to the warehouse..."

"Shh... Keep your voice down, don't spread rumors, the factory hasn't made a decision yet."

"There's no smoke without fire; otherwise, how could an anonymous letter have reached the higher-ups?"

Similar whispers could often be heard during breaks, in the corners of the workshop.

Although no one dared to discuss it openly, the strange looks and ambiguous speculations had already created an invisible pressure.

In the office of Li Huaide, the head of the logistics department, he listened to his confidant report on the growing "rumors" in the factory, and the corners of his mouth curled up uncontrollably, revealing a gloating sneer.

"Hmph, Li Zhenhua, you've finally met your match! Serves you right for being so arrogant and disdainful! Now look what you've done, you've got your comeuppance!"

He felt incredibly refreshed, as if he had drunk a glass of ice water on a sweltering summer day.

Although he dared not directly participate in Gao Jianshe and his group's conspiracy, he was happy to see Li Zhenhua get into trouble.

He secretly instructed a few trusted subordinates.

"Just listen to the recent discussions about Deputy Director Li, but don't get involved. However... there's no need to deliberately stop them. Let the comrades have a 'free' discussion; listening to all sides leads to a clearer understanding."

This seemingly neutral stance actually condones or even encourages the spread of rumors.

He even found a pretext to "inspect" the warehouse, and in front of Wang Shoucheng and several warehouse workers, he spoke to Qin Huairu with apparent concern.

"Master Qin, how have you been adjusting to work lately? If you encounter any difficulties, you can directly report them to Director Wang or me. You must strictly abide by the rules and regulations, especially in sensitive positions. You must always be mindful of the impact and avoid causing trouble for the leaders."

These words, seemingly out of concern, actually contained a hidden barb, making Qin Huairu tense and causing those around her to speculate wildly.

Li Zhenhua was aware of the undercurrents within the steel rolling mill, but he had no time to pay much attention to them for the time being. He trusted Director Yang's control and believed that the prestige he had built up at work could not be easily shaken by a few rumors.

His current focus is on stabilizing the courtyard house as a rear base.

However, he underestimated the malice of Yi Zhonghai and others, and the despicable nature of Xu Damao and his ilk.