Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

A convoy of jeeps and trucks, kicking up dust, stopped at the gate of the Baoding Agricultural Repair Factory.

The car door opened, and Liu Jianguo got out first, followed closely by Zhao Guang, the section chief of the Baoding Municipal Bureau.

The factory leaders, who had already been notified and were waiting at the entrance, immediately came forward. Zhao Guang, acting as the intermediary, stepped forward and introduced the two parties:

"Director Yang, Secretary Niu, Section Chief Sun, this is Liu Jianguo, the head of the joint investigation team from Beijing and the director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Director Liu, this is Director Yang Guoqing, Party Secretary Niu Guo, and Section Chief Sun Bing of the Security Section."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they were led to a small conference room in the factory to sit down.

Niu Guo, the factory's Party Committee Secretary, spoke first, his expression serious:

"Director Liu, Section Chief Zhao, comrades. Yesterday afternoon we received urgent notices from the Provincial Department of Industry and the Municipal Bureau. The factory's Party Committee attached great importance to this and made arrangements overnight, conducting a preliminary internal investigation."

His tone softened as he said:

"On behalf of the factory's Party Committee and all employees, I welcome the investigation team. We will fully cooperate with the investigation. Please feel free to ask for any support you may need from the factory."

Factory director Yang Guoqing then made a statement, his tone even more direct:

"That's right, please rest assured, Director Liu and the investigation team, our agricultural repair and manufacturing plant will cooperate unconditionally. Whether you need to speak with someone, access any files, or visit any workshop, there's no problem. The security department will do everything in its power to ensure your work is completed."

Seeing the other party's cooperative attitude, Liu Jianguo stopped being polite and began making arrangements swiftly and decisively:

"Thank you for your support, Director Yang and Secretary Niu. The situation is urgent and the task is heavy, so I won't beat around the bush. The investigation team will now begin working in groups, Section Chief Zhao Qiang."

"arrive!"

"You lead the comrades of the Third Brigade to the factory archives immediately and retrieve all personnel entry and exit records for the past six months, especially those of temporary workers and seconded personnel, and conduct a thorough screening."

"yes!"

"Section Chief Zhao Guang."

"exist."

"You will lead the comrades of the Second Brigade, with the cooperation of the comrades from the factory's security department, to immediately conduct a thorough search of all workshops, warehouses, and office buildings in the factory, and pay attention to any suspicious items or traces."

"clear!"

After making arrangements on both sides, Liu Jianguo looked at the factory leaders: "Director Yang, Secretary Niu, I will personally lead the First Brigade to immediately hold individual talks with the heads and deputy heads of all departments in the factory to get a preliminary understanding of the situation. Do you think this arrangement is feasible?"

Although his tone was one of discussion, it carried an undeniable decisiveness.

"No problem, proceed according to Director Liu's plan. I'll immediately have the office notify the heads of each department to come over in order for questioning."

Factory Director Yang immediately expressed his agreement, and Secretary Niu nodded in agreement as well. With the plan finalized, everyone acted swiftly, and Zhao Qiang and Zhao Guang each led their men away.

Liu Jianguo and Wang Weiguo stayed in the small conference room, while Director Yang sent someone from the factory office to coordinate outside the door.

Soon, the heads and deputy heads of each department were invited into the conference room in turn.

The questioning process was serious and efficient. Liu Jianguo asked sharp questions, while Wang Weiguo took notes. The atmosphere was quite tense for a moment.

As noon approached and the questioning drew to a close, the last person to be invited in was Wang Mengzhu, the head of the publicity department.

She looked to be in her mid-twenties, with two braids, delicate features, and a scholarly air, but her face betrayed her nervousness. She entered the meeting room, her hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her dress, her voice trembling slightly:

"Reporting to the leader, this is Wang Mengzhu, the head of the publicity department."

Liu Jianguo glanced at her, his tone calm but businesslike: "Section Chief Wang, please sit down. Don't be nervous, this is just a routine inquiry. Have any new personnel been transferred in or temporarily seconded to your publicity department recently?"

Wang Mengzhu visibly relaxed and quickly shook her head: "Reporting to the leader, no. The staff in the department has been very stable for the past six months; no new people have joined."

Liu Jianguo nodded, then suddenly changed the subject, lowering his voice: "Section Chief Wang, there's another personal matter I wanted to ask you. I heard... you've been having some trouble lately, it seems like someone's been harassing you a lot."

Wang Mengzhu was taken aback by the question, her face showing confusion and surprise, clearly not expecting the leader of the investigation team to ask this.

Seeing that she didn't react, Liu Jianguo became even more direct:

"Before I left for Baoding, Director Tang Yongsheng of the Sijiu City Bureau specifically asked me to come and see you if it was convenient for me. I heard that you've been bothered by some shady people in the area recently, is that true?"

Wang Mengzhu then realized that the young head of the investigation team was sent by Uncle Tang to help her.

Her eyes reddened slightly. She hesitated for a moment, glanced at Wang Weiguo beside her, and then stopped herself from speaking. Liu Jianguo gestured for Wang Weiguo to go out for a moment.

After the door closed, Wang Mengzhu whispered:

"Thank you, Director Liu. And thank you for your concern, Uncle Tang. Yes... there is such a person. It started about two months ago. He's a man in his forties, and people call him Master Dong or Brother Dong. He seems to be quite famous in this area, often appearing at the black market in the south of the city. He... he's stopped me on my way home from get off work several times, saying inappropriate things, and... he even threatened me..." Her voice was filled with lingering fear and grievance.

A cold glint flashed in Liu Jianguo's eyes, but his tone remained calm:

"Alright, I understand the situation. Section Chief Wang, leave this to me. Don't worry, go to work as usual. After get off work, wait for me in your office, and I'll take you home. We'll also meet up with that 'Master Dong' and see how much guts he really has."

These words were spoken casually, yet they carried an undeniable air of dominance.

Seeing Liu Jianguo's calm and confident demeanor, Wang Mengzhu felt much more at ease and quickly nodded.

"Okay... okay, thank you, Director Liu."

After seeing Wang Mengzhu off, Liu Jianguo saw that it was still early, and Zhao Qiang and Zhao Guang's work was still ongoing.

He then led Wang Weiguo and others, accompanied by the head of the factory's security department, on a casual stroll around the factory area. It appeared to be an inspection, but in reality, they were observing the environment while secretly plotting Wang Mengzhu's matter.

As he approached the kitchen of the canteen, a figure caught Liu Jianguo's attention.

He Daqing?

Liu Jianguo immediately remembered: wasn't this the father of Siheyuan Shazhu? He had abandoned his children and run off to the Baoding canteen back then.

Perfect timing, since we've run into each other, let's settle this matter while we're at it.

He Daqing also saw the group of people dressed in Zhongshan suits and with an extraordinary air about them. He felt that the young man in the lead looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before.

Liu Jianguo winked at Wang Weiguo beside him and whispered, "Go and invite that person to the small conference room."