Siheyuan: I will never tolerate gambling and drugs!

Late at night.

The courtyard was completely silent, save for a few autumn insects chirping tirelessly in the corner.

In the master bedroom on the second floor of the west wing, the light was compressed to the extreme, with only a dim bedside lamp casting a warm and blurry halo on the bedside table.

As expected, the Tan family raised the white flag of truce.

In the afternoon, before Xu Lin returned, she found Qin Huairu and told her that she was tired and needed to rest for two days, entrusting her with the responsibility of guarding the position at night.

Qin Huairu naturally took the lead.

This girl, who had just turned nineteen, had the fearless spirit of a newborn calf. Facing Tan's slightly teasing gaze, she puffed out her chest, made a solemn pledge, and guaranteed that she could handle the enemy's artillery fire all by herself.

In the adjacent bedroom, Ding Qiunan was already fast asleep. The sudden fright had exhausted all her energy, and with Qin Huairu's careful comforting, she finally drifted into a peaceful dream.

The air in the master bedroom was filled with a faint scent of soap and the unique fragrance of a woman.

Qin Huairu curled up in Xu Lin's broad arms like a cat that had found shelter. The man's heartbeat, steady and strong, resonated through his chest, striking her eardrums and her heart, which had finally found peace.

An unprecedented peace.

"...That's how it is. Liu Lan is also a person with a tragic fate."

Xu Lin's voice was low and slightly hoarse, flowing slowly through the quiet room.

He did not choose to hide it.

He recounted everything that had happened in the infirmary that day, including Liu Lan's gambling husband and her difficult situation.

The body in my arms moved very slightly.

Qin Huairu slowly raised her head.

Those watery eyes shone with a clear light under the dim lamplight, containing not a trace of resentment or even the slightest bit of grievance that he had expected.

"Honey, you did the right thing."

She gently rubbed her warm cheek against Xu Lin's firm chest, her gesture filled with complete trust and affection.

"In our countryside, it's common for capable men to have multiple wives and concubines. The landlord in our village used to have seven or eight wives, just openly."

"You're telling me these things because you think highly of me, and I'm... happy about it."

This is not a lie; it is what she said from the bottom of her heart.

Marrying Xu Lin was a blessing she never dared to dream of in her life. This man, her man, did not hide his affairs from her just because he married her.

He was honest with himself.

This feeling made her feel respected and truly cared about.

This is more important than anything else.

Her thoughts raced, and suddenly she remembered something else, lowering her voice even further.

"What about... Nurse Ding?"

"She's a young, unmarried woman; after what happened today, her reputation is probably..."

Qin Huairu paused, cautiously raising her eyes to observe Xu Lin's expression, and tentatively asked in a very soft voice.

"Or, should we...?"

Xu Lin smiled.

He reached out and gently pinched her smooth, supple cheek with his long, slender fingers.

"What's going on in your little head?"

"It depends on fate; you can't force it."

Qin Huairu said "Oh" and didn't ask any more questions. She was a smart girl and knew when to ask and when to stop.

She simply kept this matter in her heart.

The room fell silent again.

The ambiguous atmosphere, like lukewarm water, slowly warmed up in the air, fermenting silently.

Qin Huairu's face grew increasingly red, the blush spreading from her cheeks all the way to her ears, and even her neck took on a beautiful pink hue.

Her voice was barely audible, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

"Honey, we've had sex so many times these past few days, why isn't my belly showing any signs of pregnancy?"

Hearing her innocent yet somewhat anxious words, Xu Lin felt a touch of tenderness in his heart.

He tightened his arms, pulling her closer into his embrace, his chin resting on the top of her soft hair, and gently comforted her.

"Silly girl, we're still young, there's no rush."

"Besides, with a miracle doctor like me here, why are you afraid of not being able to conceive?"

His voice carried an undeniable and powerful confidence.

"Wanting children is something I can do anytime. I'm just thinking that we should wait until we're more stable and settled before having children."

These words were like a reassuring pill, instantly calming all of Qin Huairu's anxiety and unease.

Her anxiety finally subsided.

A man's words are like a royal decree.

He said if he could get pregnant, he definitely could.

He said to wait a little longer, so we waited a little longer.

Once their defenses are down, their courage grows.

Her once docile little hand began to wander, gently drawing circles on his firm abs, each movement carrying a teasing undertone.

She shyly leaned close to his ear, her warm breath brushing against his earlobe, sending a shiver down her spine.

She blushed and breathed sweetly, using the unspoken signal between them.

"Sir...do you still need me to carry out a mission tonight?"

"The firearms have been repaired..."

Xu Lin's body stiffened, then a surge of heat rushed to his head. He immediately took his place without hesitation. No further words were needed for that night...

……

Early the next morning.

As dawn broke, the light streamed through the window, casting pale golden patches on the ground.

Xu Lin opened his eyes, brimming with boundless energy, and felt refreshed as he got out of bed.

Qin Huairu had already quietly gone downstairs early on.

She was wearing a clean, plain-colored shirt and was tiptoeing as she placed the warm water and a fresh towel on the washbasin stand. Her movements were gentle, as if she didn't want to make the slightest noise to disturb him.

Xu Lin remained silent, simply watching quietly.

The morning light outlined the soft contours of her profile; her long eyelashes drooped slightly, and her expression was focused and serene.

Everything in this space, because of her presence, is imbued with a warmth called "home".

"woke up?"

Qin Huairu turned around and met his smiling gaze. A beautiful blush instantly rose on her cheeks, and her voice carried the shyness unique to a newlywed wife.

Xu Lin felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He stepped forward and took Qin Huairu's soft, boneless hand.

"Don't go to work today, stay home and keep Ding Qiunan company."

Xu Lin's voice was calm and steady, carrying an unquestionable air of authority.

"I will go to the factory to ask for leave for her. She was frightened and needs someone to stay with her and let her rest for a day to calm her down."

"Okay, I understand."

Qin Huairu nodded obediently, without asking any further questions.

She simply took Xu Lin's hand in return and said softly, "Honey, don't worry about your work. I'll take care of things at home."

After finishing breakfast, Xu Lin rode his bicycle out of the courtyard. The cool morning breeze swept over him, dispelling the last trace of sleepiness.

Xu Lin's mind raced as he mentally reviewed what was about to happen.

Instead of going directly to the infirmary, he turned the car around and headed straight for the office building.

Second floor, Human Resources Department.

Li Xiaoli was holding a huge white enamel mug with the five bright red characters "Serve the People" printed on it, and she was blowing on it with relish.

Seeing Xu Lin push the door open and come in, her eyes and brows lit up with a smile, and she immediately made a joke.

"Hey, Director Xu, you're newly married and enjoying the honeymoon phase, why are you coming to work so early today?"

Xu Lin ignored her words and walked straight to her desk.

"Director Li, I'm here to ask for leave for Ding Qiunan."

His voice wasn't loud, but the seriousness and coldness in it instantly dispelled the relaxed atmosphere in the office.

The smile on Li Xiaoli's face froze.

She put down the enamel mug, leaned forward slightly, and sensed that something was wrong.

"What happened?"

Xu Lin didn't embellish the story; he simply recounted the attempted violence that had occurred in the single dormitory the previous day in the most concise and objective language.

The office was deathly silent.

Li Xiaoli's face turned from red to white, and then from white to green.

Her knuckles were white from gripping the enamel mug so tightly.

Sudden.

"Snapped!"

A crisp sound.

She slammed the sturdy enamel mug down on the table, splashing scalding hot tea that left a red mark on the back of her hand, but she was completely unaware of it.

"brute!"

A furious rebuke was forced out from between her teeth.

"That audacious beast!"

Li Xiaoli slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly. Her chest heaved violently, and her almond-shaped eyes burned with extreme anger.

"This kind of person should be dragged out and shot! To do such despicable things in our steel rolling mill is utterly lawless!"

She was not just the head of the personnel department, but also a woman. She could imagine that if Xu Lin hadn't arrived in time, the young woman named Ding Qiunan's life would have been ruined.

This shared sense of fear and anger helped her transcend her anger.

Seeing her agitated state, Xu Lin said in a deep voice, "I've already tied her up and sent her to the security department. But the factory needs to have a clear procedure for handling this matter."

Don't worry!

Li Xiaoli said firmly, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Let's go find the factory manager right now! This matter cannot be left like this! We cannot let him off lightly!" After saying that, he rushed out without waiting for Xu Lin.

Seeing Li Xiaoli's reaction, Xu Lin could understand it. After all, if you really think about it, she was also quite responsible. Then he turned around slowly and followed Li Xiaoli.

Yang Anguo was wearing reading glasses and buried in a pile of documents.

After listening to Li Xiaoli and Xu Lin's reports, his initial reaction was even more intense than Li Xiaoli's.

"This is outrageous!"

Yang Anguo slammed his large, fan-like hand hard on the desk, making the pen holder on the desk jump and several pens fall out.

"Cui Dake! That bastard!"

As the head of a factory, he felt that his territory was being wantonly violated and provoked.

His temples throbbed with rage.

But the next second, as the anger that had surged to his head slowly subsided, a chilling coldness suddenly shot up from his tailbone, instantly soaking through the shirt on his back.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

He thought about it more deeply, and he was even more afraid.

What time is it now?

It was a crucial period for the joint public-private ownership of steel, a time when the entire steel rolling mill was determined to achieve results and become a benchmark!

At this critical juncture, if such a heinous attempted rape scandal were to break out in the factory...

Once this news gets out, there's no need to wait for higher authorities to investigate; his rivals and political enemies lurking in the shadows will use this incident to tear him to shreds!

This is more than just a stain.

This is a fatal weakness that could instantly end his political career!

Upon realizing this, Yang Anguo's mind went blank, and he felt a sudden dizziness.

When he looked up again, the look in his eyes as he gazed at Xu Lin had completely changed.

The original appreciation is still there, but it has been covered by stronger and more complex emotions.

There was lingering fear, relief, but more than anything, there was a genuine, heartfelt gratitude.

"Xu Lin..."

Yang Anguo took off his glasses, pressed his fingers hard against his brow, and his voice trembled slightly.

"This time...it's all thanks to you!"

He stood up, walked around the large desk, and stood in front of Xu Lin, his voice filled with the lingering fear of surviving a disaster.

"Seriously, if you hadn't discovered it in time and stopped it decisively, the consequences...would have been unimaginable!"

Yang Anguo wasn't just being polite; he was genuinely afraid.

He looked at the young man in front of him, who was only a few years older than his son, with utmost sincerity in his eyes.

"You not only saved Comrade Ding Qiunan, you also saved our entire Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, and you saved me, Yang Anguo!"

Xu Lin made a few modest remarks and was about to speak when there was a knock on the office door.

"Please come in."

The door hinges groaned softly as the office door was pushed open.

Minister Gao Liang of the Ministry of Industry walked in, followed by his secretary, a middle-aged man with a calm expression.

Yang Anguo suddenly jumped up from his chair, his movement so fast that he almost knocked over the chair behind him.

"Minister Gao!"

His voice carried a tension he himself was unaware of.

"What brings you here? Please, please have a seat!"

The unseen drum in Yang Anguo's heart was pounding loudly. Why would this high-ranking leader suddenly visit at this time, and what was his purpose? More than a dozen possibilities flashed through his mind in an instant, each one sending chills down his spine.

Gao Liang waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be nervous. His movements were unhurried, his gaze sweeping around the office before finally settling on Xu Lin, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

"Comrade Xiao Xu is here too, perfect timing."

Yang Anguo's heart sank suddenly, but he was then pulled back by a strong instinct for survival.

Perfect?

There's a knife hidden in those two words!

His mind raced faster than ever before, and in a flash, a decision was made. He couldn't wait for Gao Liang to speak, absolutely not!

Before Gao Liang could sit down, Yang Anguo rushed forward, his tone urgent and sorrowful.

"Minister Gao, I just wanted to report a terrible incident that just happened at our factory!"

His voice rose eight octaves, filled with the heartache of being betrayed and a deep-seated hatred for evil.

Yang Anguo didn't give Gao Liang any chance to interrupt, and poured out Cui Dake's crimes in detail, like beans spilling from a bamboo tube. His narration was very skillful; he avoided mentioning his own management oversights and instead focused on Xu Lin.

"...The situation was extremely critical! Comrade Ding Qiunan, a young girl, was about to be violated by that beast! It was Comrade Xu Lin, who was highly vigilant and responsible, who sensed something was wrong and decisively broke down the door!"

"He single-handedly subdued the ruthless Cui Dake! That's how a catastrophic disaster was averted!"

"Minister Gao, as the factory director, I bear undeniable leadership responsibility for this matter. However, I am also fortunate that our factory has a good comrade like Xu Lin, who has high ideological awareness and dares to fight against evil forces!"

His explanation was flawless and watertight.

He not only extricated himself from the quagmire of inadequate supervision, but also conveniently adorned himself with the high praise of "appointing people based on merit and having a discerning eye for talent".

In the office, the air seemed to have stopped moving.

Minister Gao sat upright on the sofa, listening calmly, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his knees. His deep eyes revealed no emotion, as if he were listening to a report that had nothing to do with him.

Only after Yang Anguo finished speaking and swallowed hard, his mouth dry, did Minister Gao pick up his teacup and slowly skim off the foam with the lid.

He blew away the rising steam, his voice so calm it was completely indifferent.

"Comrade Anguo, safe production is not only a matter on the production line, but also the safety of employees' minds."

He raised his eyelids and his gaze fell on Yang Anguo's forehead, which was covered in cold sweat.

"This will not be repeated."

Those four simple words carried immense weight, striking Yang Anguo's heart like a hammer blow. He felt his knees buckle, almost losing his balance, and nodded repeatedly, his voice trembling.

"Yes, yes! I will definitely reflect deeply on my actions and strengthen ideological education!"

Gao Liang looked away and stopped looking at him.

"As for Cui Dake, his actions were egregious and had a very bad impact. I will handle this matter; your factory just needs to cooperate."

With a single decisive move, the authority to handle the incident was transferred directly from the factory to the department.

He then put down his teacup, and the crisp sound of the porcelain hitting the table instantly changed the atmosphere in the office.

Gao Liang's gaze settled steadily on Xu Lin.

"I'm here today mainly about Comrade Xiao Xu's matter."

Yang Anguo's heart, which had just begun to relax, was instantly thrown into his throat again.

A loud voice rang out calmly and steadily.

"After deliberation by the ministry and consultation with the top leadership, it was determined that Comrade Xu Lin, though young, possesses outstanding abilities and high ideological awareness. He has not only made significant contributions to the field of traditional Chinese medicine but also has unique insights into technological innovation and is fluent in Russian... It would be a waste of his talents to only serve as the director of a medical clinic."

He paused, and that brief pause seemed to freeze Yang Anguo's heartbeat.

Gao Liang's gaze slowly swept across Xu Lin and Yang Anguo's faces, as if examining the two works, and finally, he announced the final decision.

"The ministry has decided to appoint Comrade Xu Lin as the deputy director of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill."

"Mainly responsible for matters related to technological innovation within the factory, external technical exchanges, and reception of foreign guests."

The words fell.

The entire office fell into a deathly silence.

Yang Anguo's mind went completely blank with a "buzz". His eyes widened, like two copper bells.

Deputy factory director?

A deputy factory director who is not even twenty years old?

How could this be! This is simply unbelievable! Has there ever been such a precedent since the industrialization of the world? Unheard of!

He subconsciously twisted his stiff neck and looked at Xu Lin, only to see that the young man's face was also full of shock, his mouth slightly open, as if he was completely stunned by this appointment that came out of nowhere.

Xu Lin was indeed stunned.

He imagined ten thousand possibilities: the top leader might give him a bonus, he might be awarded the title of advanced worker, or he might even be given a higher technical title.

But he never imagined that he would be promoted so quickly.

Deputy factory director!

The weight of those three words made him feel a little breathless for a moment.

He stood up almost instinctively, his voice tinged with fear and unease.

"Minister Gao, this...this is absolutely unacceptable! I'm too young, lacking the qualifications and experience to shoulder such a heavy responsibility!"

Gao Liang looked at him, his eyes revealing obvious admiration. He waved his hand, his tone gentle yet authoritative.

"If you're put in this position, you can handle it. This is the organization's decision, and it reflects their trust in you. Do a good job and don't let your superiors down."

The matter has already been discussed to this extent; to refuse further would not be modesty, but rather a lack of appreciation.

Xu Lin felt all the blood rushing to his head. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, crashing against his ribs.

He straightened his back, stood with his feet together, and solemnly saluted Gao Liang.

"yes!"

"Thank you for the organization's trust! I promise to complete the task and achieve results in my new position!"

His voice was loud, firm, and full of irrepressible power.

At this moment, the four people in the office had different thoughts, like four undercurrents flowing in different directions.

A weight was lifted from Gao Liang's heart.

This arrangement is perfect. It wouldn't be right not to give someone valued by the top leadership a respectable position. But if they were given a powerful position with significant control over production, there's a risk that the young person's lack of experience might lead to mistakes. This deputy factory director position is high enough, prestigious enough, and oversees relatively abstract and less prone to error areas like technology and foreign affairs. It gives the young person ample prestige and a platform while keeping him firmly within a controllable scope. A win-win situation, perfectly balanced.

Yang Anguo felt a mix of emotions.

Sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty—a myriad of flavors surged into my heart.

Once upon a time, Xu Lin was an outstanding junior in his eyes who needed his guidance and support. He was happy to see this young man's progress and was even willing to give him opportunities. But in the blink of an eye, the other party was already on equal footing with him.

This feeling of being slammed onto the beach by the younger generation filled him with an unprecedented sense of loss and...jealousy.

Li Xiaoli, on the other hand, was all smiles, happy for Xu Lin. After all, she and Xu Lin had always had a good relationship and had worked together very well on several occasions.

But in Xu Lin's heart, it was no longer just a turbulent sea, but a raging torrent!

Deputy factory director!

Responsible for technological innovation!

Isn't this stage tailor-made for him?

The advanced steelmaking technologies and various industrial blueprints that the system rewarded us with, which were decades ahead of our time, finally found a use!

These are no longer cold, impersonal data lying in our minds, but rather a tremendous force that is about to become a reality and can drive the entire nation's industrial progress!

He could almost see a brand new, powerful industrial empire slowly rising on the horizon.

And he will personally add a cornerstone bearing his name to this empire!

At this moment, Cui Dake, still bound to the security office, was selectively forgotten and completely forgotten by everyone present...