Siheyuan: I will never tolerate gambling and drugs!

morning at the steel rolling mill

The morning sunlight, carrying a golden, dusty quality unique to the industrial age, lazily streamed into the factory manager's office.

For some, this light is hope.

For others, it simply means a monotonous start.

Yang Anguo's heart at this moment clearly belonged to the former.

He sat comfortably behind his desk, which was so large it could almost be used as a bed. The desk was so shiny it reflected a mirror, and there was only a red telephone and a huge enamel mug on it.

Inside the teacup, wisps of steam rose, filling the room with the delicate fragrance of Longjing tea.

Yang Anguo felt even more content than the tea leaves unfurling in boiling water.

Just last night, he made the final stroke.

He personally reviewed and signed a report sent to the Ministry of Industry.

The title was excellent, catchy, and full of the powerful spirit of collectivism: "Report on the Innovative Practices and Preliminary Results of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill in Utilizing Blast Furnace Waste Heat for Workshop Heating".

He worked on this report for a long time.

He dissected and reassembled Xu Lin's brilliant plan, word by word, like a skilled butcher dissecting an ox.

He severed all the threads pointing to Xu Lin's personal achievements at the root with an invisible knife.

All references to Xu Lin have been transformed into "the crystallization of the collective wisdom of frontline workers under the wise leadership of the factory's Party Committee."

He cleverly obscured and downplayed those exquisite technical data and demonstration processes, ultimately reducing them to a single sentence: "After repeated experiments and breakthroughs by our factory's technical personnel."

Then, he began to write extensively about it.

With the most evocative strokes, he vividly depicted the workers' faces flushed with happiness and excitement upon hearing the news, and their heartfelt expressions of gratitude to the organization.

He further portrayed himself as a hero who defied public opinion and dared to take responsibility.

In the report, Yang Anguo described how, under the immense pressure of heavy production tasks, he resisted internal conservative thinking, personally went down to the workshop to eat and live with the workers, and ultimately made the decisive move for this great undertaking that would benefit the country and the people.

Of course, he didn't dare completely erase Xu Lin's name. After all, this matter was too significant, and many people knew about it; going too far would easily leave room for gossip.

But under his masterful use of subtle language, what kind of character did Xu Lin become?

A young comrade who "provided preliminary technical ideas" but whose "ideas were not yet mature".

A junior who needs "guidance" and "help" from the organization.

The credit for the entire project rightfully goes to Yang Anguo for his "foresight" and "decisive decision-making."

perfect.

This is a report that can be described as a work of art.

He managed to offend no one while securing the biggest and sweetest piece of credit for himself.

Yang Anguo picked up his teacup, blew away the foam, and slowly took a sip.

The scalding hot tea slid down my throat, soothing my internal organs.

He could almost clearly picture Minister Gao of the Ministry of Industry slamming his fist on the table and shouting his approval after seeing the report.

Even the commendation order that was about to be issued, and the "Reform Pioneer" hat that was specially tailored for Yang Anguo, seemed to pass through the void and hang golden above his head.

However, fate is most adept at playing a cruel joke on you when you are at your most triumphant.

boom!

The heavy wooden door to the office was violently slammed open by a tremendous force.

Secretary Xiao Wang stumbled in, her usually meticulously combed hair now a mess, her face deathly pale, and her lips trembling.

"Factory...factory manager! Something terrible has happened!"

Yang Anguo's brows furrowed instantly as his beautiful fantasy was interrupted.

What he hated most was the panicked look on his subordinates' faces, as if the sky were falling.

"What's the panic!"

His voice carried a hint of offended coldness as he slammed the teacup down on the table with a dull thud.

"Is the sky falling down?"

"Minister Kao of the Ministry of Industry!"

Secretary Xiao Wang was panting heavily, his hands gripping the door frame tightly, as if only that little strength could keep him standing.

"And...and District Chief Fang from Dongcheng District, they...they're here!"

Yang Anguo's heart skipped a beat.

Minister Gao? District Chief Fang?

How could two such prominent figures, who are usually impossible to invite, arrive together?

But after just a second of pause, an uncontrollable surge of ecstasy, like a volcanic eruption, instantly overwhelmed all his reason.

So fast?

Could it be that my report was sent to the ministry overnight and then took effect?

Is this... this person coming to conduct an on-site inspection, preparing to hold an awards ceremony right away?

Upon realizing this, his body reacted even faster than his brain.

He sprang up from the chair with such speed that the chair beneath him groaned as it was being dragged.

He quickly straightened his crisp Zhongshan suit, aligning each button, and then vigorously smoothed his hair.

His facial muscles tensed rapidly, squeezing out the most enthusiastic, sincere, and perfectly timed smile.

Then, he strode out like a gust of wind towards the door.

When Yang Anguo jogged to the office building entrance, the scene before him caused his mind to momentarily freeze.

Minister of Industry Gao Liang and Dongcheng District Mayor Fang Mingyuan, two important figures who are usually impossible to invite, are standing side by side at this moment.

But the expressions on their faces created a strange contrast.

Fang Mingyuan's face was radiant, his smile almost overflowing, and even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were filled with joy. As soon as he saw Yang Anguo, it was as if he had seen a long-lost brother. He strode forward to greet him and tightly grasped Yang Anguo's hands.

"Oh, Director Yang! Long time no see!"

The force and passion made Yang Anguo's hand bones go numb.

On the other side, Gao Liang's face was terribly gloomy, as if he had just been pulled out of an ice cellar, still exuding a chilling aura. He merely glanced at Yang Anguo out of the corner of his eye and snorted through his nose as a greeting.

Yang Anguo was completely dumbfounded.

He was just a steel rolling mill director, and although he and District Chief Fang had some professional interactions, their relationship was definitely not that close. This kind of treatment—taking the initiative to visit and shaking hands warmly—was absolutely unprecedented.

On the contrary, why did his superior, Minister Gao, the head of the Ministry of Industry, look at him as if he were an enemy?

What exactly is going on?

"Minister Gao, District Chief Fang, it's an honor to have you two leaders here. Why didn't you give us a heads-up? I could have made some preparations!"

Yang Anguo quickly adjusted his expression, putting on the most standard and enthusiastic smile. While exchanging pleasantries, he made a "please" gesture, trying to regain control of the situation.

"Quickly, let's go to the office. I'll give you both a briefing on the recent situation at the steel rolling mill."

"There's no rush to report."

Gao Liang's voice was harsh and strained, each word sounding as if squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying an undeniable irritability.

"We didn't come here to see you."

His gaze was sharp as he scanned his surroundings.

"Where's Xu Lin? Why is no one in his office? Have Comrade Xu Lin come over here for a moment."

Yang Anguo's heart sank suddenly.

Should we go directly to Xu Lin?

What kind of show is this?

Countless thoughts swirled and collided in his mind, and finally, a sinister plan emerged.

This is an opportunity!

An opportunity to completely crush Xu Lin in front of the two top leaders!

The enthusiasm on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a complex expression that blended regret, heartache, and helplessness, and he let out a heavy sigh.

"Oh, Minister Gao, you're asking about Xu Lin..."

He deliberately dragged out his words, creating an atmosphere that was hard to describe.

"Well... to be honest, young people have their own ideas and personalities, which is a good thing. However, he was far too reckless. There was a production accident at the factory yesterday, which had a very bad impact."

Yang Anguo carefully observed Gao Liang's expression. Seeing that Gao Liang's brows were furrowed even more, he was secretly pleased and continued to speak in a serious, elder-like tone.

"I... I didn't originally intend to transfer him; I just wanted him to calm down and reflect. But the atmosphere at the meeting was very heated, and the heads of various departments were very emotional! So, in the end, the meeting decided to temporarily transfer him from his technical innovation position and let him continue to be in charge of the factory's medical and hygiene work, which he was particularly good at and excelled in. Once Xu Lin is more familiar with the production tasks, we will transfer him back."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of "regret and expectations for young people".

"As for where Deputy Factory Director Xu is now, I'm not entirely sure. He's a young man, with an active mind; he's probably somewhere coming up with some 'new idea' again. We older comrades shouldn't interfere too much, lest we dampen his enthusiasm."

These words were spoken flawlessly, truly an art form.

He portrayed himself as a leader who cared for his subordinates and considered the overall situation, but was forced to submit to "public opinion." Meanwhile, he subtly labeled Xu Lin with a series of negative tags, such as "reckless," "troublemaker," "insubordinate," and "ambitious."

Upon hearing this, Gao Liang's chest heaved violently, and the fire in his eyes almost solidified and shot out.

How could he not hear the dagger hidden in Yang Anguo's words?

Reassigned?

Calm reflection?

This is blatant retaliation! From the announcement, Gao Liang knew Xu Lin was punished because of a problem in steelmaking. But problems in steelmaking happen all the time; this wasn't a serious issue. And with so many steps involved, how could they pin all the blame on Xu Lin? This is clearly a clumsy attempt to suppress Xu Lin, a ridiculous tactic. Anyone with a brain could see it. Gao Liang never imagined Yang Anguo would be so stupid—no, he thought Yang Anguo was so stupid.

Just as he was about to explode, Fang Mingyuan, who was next to him, calmly grabbed his arm, signaled him to calm down and see how things went, and then, with his usual smiling face, took the initiative to smooth things over.

"It's alright, it's alright, we're not in a rush!"

Fang Mingyuan waved to Yang Anguo, appearing exceptionally understanding.

"The steel rolling mill is so big, we might as well take a look around and experience the boundless enthusiasm of our workers!"

Yang Anguo was completely bewildered by this sudden change.

He glanced at Fang Mingyuan, who was all smiles, and then at his angry superior, Gao Liang. A strong sense of unease gripped his heart like vines.

Something is definitely not right.

But he dared not be negligent. While following behind the two leaders with a smile, he quietly pulled his secretary, Xiao Wang, aside, lowered his voice, and gave instructions at the fastest speed.

"immediately!"

"Go and inform Li Huaide to prepare all the necessary documents for the heating project and to be extremely vigilant!"

"If the boss asks later, make him give a proper report! Think every word through carefully before you speak!"

The secretary accepted the order and jogged away, disappearing around the corner of the workshop.

Yang Anguo then took a deep breath, composed himself, and quickened his pace to catch up with the two leaders.

The three of them inquired along the way.

Passing through the sweltering, roaring steelmaking workshop, the deafening noise made Yang Anguo's shouts seem insignificant.

Walking around the mountains of steel and scrap, the iron filings underfoot made a "rustling" sound, and the air was filled with a unique smell of rust mixed with machine oil.

The workers along the way saw the factory manager accompanied by two distinguished strangers and cast curious glances at him, stopping their work to whisper among themselves.

Yang Anguo felt as if he were being roasted over a fire; with each step he took, his unease intensified.

Finally, after asking for directions along the way, they stopped in the most remote and unexpected corner.

That was behind the largest public toilet in the factory area, a garbage dump that had been neglected for years.

Here, they found the person they were looking for.

It was a forgotten corner of the entire steel rolling mill, right next to a public toilet that reeked of an overwhelming stench. Piles of old garbage mixed with slag formed small black mounds, on which several flies tirelessly hovered.

The pungent smell of ammonia and decaying matter in the air was enough to make any normal person want to stay away.

Xu Lin squatted in the center of this filthy place.

He was wearing a slightly worn blue overall outfit, and his back looked rather thin. He was holding a withered twig in his hand, intently scratching something on the dusty ground.

He was muttering a series of incomprehensible words in a low, rapid voice.

His focused expression created an eerie disconnect with the filthy surroundings. He didn't seem like an unfortunate soul banished here, but rather a eccentric genius tinkering with groundbreaking inventions in his own backyard.

Yang Anguo's heart skipped a beat at that moment.

He saw it.

I saw Xu Lin's completely selfless demeanor.

opportunity!

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to completely nail Xu Lin to the pillar of shame in front of the two top leaders!

Yang Anguo's mind raced, his face instantly contorted with the deepest pain and concern, and he rushed forward in a flash. He didn't even give Gao Liang and Fang Mingyuan any time to react.

"Comrade Xu Lin!"

His voice was raised high, filled with dramatic shock and regret, loud enough for half the workshop to hear.

"What are you doing! Work at the factory is so busy, why are you here?"

Yang Anguo walked around to Xu Lin's front, cleverly blocking the two leaders' view with his body, looking down at him with a tone full of elder's sorrow.

"If you have any difficulties or problems, you can talk about them and we can discuss them together. How can you hide here and give up on yourself alone!"

This move was truly masterful.

It was both an act of "caring" for his subordinate and, in front of the two leaders, a direct way of confirming Xu Lin's image as having "problematic thinking," "unstable mental state," and "eccentric behavior."

A young man who, after being disciplined, ran off to play in the mud behind the toilet?

What future can such a person have? What great responsibilities can he shoulder?

However, Xu Lin, who was squatting on the ground, seemed not to hear his "affectionate" call at all.

He kept his head down, made the final mark on the ground with a twig, and softly uttered two words.

"It's done."

Then, he slowly stood up, not even bothering to look at Yang Anguo, and casually patted the dust off his hands.

His gaze precisely bypassed Yang Anguo's face, which was filled with feigned concern, and landed on the two people behind him with different expressions.

One of them was Gao Liang, the Minister of Industry, whose face was ashen and whose eyes were blazing with anger.

The other was Fang Mingyuan, the district head of Dongcheng District, with a smile on his lips as if watching a show, and eyes full of amusement.

Xu Lin grinned, revealing a set of neat white teeth; his smile was clean and radiant.

On that young face, there was no trace of dejection or resentment at being punished; instead, there was a playful and carefree air that seemed to transcend all rules.

"Hey, Minister Gao!"

Xu Lin greeted him familiarly, his tone as if he were old friends reuniting.

"What brings you here?"

He glanced again at Fang Mingyuan, who was smiling broadly beside him.

"Who is this?"

Gao Liang's anger was completely ignited when he saw Xu Lin's grinning face.

How could he not be angry?

For this kid's centralized heating project, he was tricked by his old comrade-in-arms Fang Mingyuan and had to swallow his pride and accept the loss. When he rushed over to investigate, all he found was a disciplinary notice posted at the factory! He didn't believe Xu Lin was the one with the problem; after all, judging from the details in the project plan Fang Mingyuan showed him yesterday, Xu Lin was clearly capable. Yet this kid didn't utter a word or react, simply giving away the project—a heating project for hundreds of thousands of people!

Now, the person who is the "culprit" not only has no awareness of his mistake, but also acts as if he is heartless and indifferent.

This fire could no longer be contained.

Gao Liang did not answer Xu Lin's question. His face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and he squeezed out a few words through his teeth.

"I'm asking you!"

He spoke in a deep, resonant voice, each word carrying immense weight, striking everyone's heart with devastating force.

"Why aren't you in the office? What are you doing wandering around behind the toilet?"

His gaze sharpened, fixing intently on Xu Lin.

"Do you feel the factory's punishment was too hasty, and that you're being wronged?"

The minister's imposing presence instantly spread.

Yang Anguo was taken aback upon hearing this; something about it didn't feel right. However, he didn't dare speak at that moment, only watching Xu Lin with schadenfreude.

Faced with Gao Liang's thunderous questioning, Xu Lin showed no fear whatsoever.

His mischievous smile deepened, giving him an air of mystery.

He stretched out his finger and pointed to the messy pattern drawn on the ground by tree branches at his feet.

"Minister Gao, you've misunderstood."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally steady and clear, reaching everyone's ears.

"I'm doing sanitation work in response to the factory's call to action."

One sentence made Yang Anguo's face freeze instantly.

Xu Lin continued speaking slowly and deliberately.

"However, my way of thinking is a little different from most people's."

He successfully kept everyone in suspense, including Gao Liang, who was already furious.

Xu Lin's gaze swept over the astonished and uncertain faces of the crowd, finally settling on the ground beneath his feet. His voice carried a certain confidence that could turn the rotten into the miraculous.

"I'm thinking about how to turn all this excrement and garbage that everyone avoids into treasure."

The words fell.

The entire room fell silent.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment, and even the roaring sounds coming from the distant workshop seemed to subside.

Yang Anguo felt as if someone had hit the back of his head hard with a large wrench, and his whole head was buzzing.

What did he hear?

Feces...turned into treasure?

Gao Liang and Fang Mingyuan were also completely stunned. They subconsciously looked at each other and saw an overwhelming sense of astonishment in each other's eyes.

This kid...

Perhaps the punishment has driven him to a mental breakdown?

"Nonsense!"

Yang Anguo was the first to react.

He felt that his authority, intelligence, and even his entire being had been challenged in an unprecedented and blatant manner!

In front of two top leaders, he had just been putting on a show, trying to portray Xu Lin as "mentally unstable".

Instead, Xu Lin announced in public that he was going to study feces!

This is not only a disgrace to himself, but also a disgrace to Yang Anguo, the factory director, and to the entire steel rolling mill, which is being rubbed repeatedly with the sole of a shoe!

His face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, and his finger pointing at Xu Lin trembled violently.

"Xu Lin! Stop pretending to be crazy!"

He practically roared.

"What do you mean by turning excrement into treasure? I think you have a serious problem with your thinking! You'd better apologize to the two leaders right now and admit your mistake!"

However, before Xu Lin could speak, a hearty laugh suddenly rang out in everyone's ears.

"Hahaha! That's interesting! Tell us your thoughts!"

Fang Mingyuan, standing to the side, suddenly slapped his thigh, his face beaming with immense joy. "The biggest problem on the streets right now is sanitation," he said.

His eyes were filled with undisguised admiration and brilliance as he looked at Xu Lin.

"Comrade Xu Lin's way of thinking is different from ours!"

Fang Mingyuan strode forward, shoved aside Yang Anguo, who was completely petrified and blocking the way, and squatted down with great interest, looking at the scribbled symbols on the ground.

"Quickly, Comrade Xu Lin, I am Fang Mingyuan, the district head of Dongcheng District. Please tell us your thoughts in detail!"

His voice was full of eager anticipation, but he didn't forget to introduce himself.

"How can this excrement turn into treasure?" Gao Liang recovered from his initial astonishment. Although he was still furious about being tricked by Fang Mingyuan, he couldn't help but become very interested in Xu Lin's shocking idea. He knew Xu Lin; this man never did anything without a reason. If he said it could be transformed, there must be a reason.

Yang Anguo was completely dumbfounded. Looking at the enthusiastic District Chief Fang and the thoughtful Minister Gao, he felt like a clown who had intruded into an adult conversation, and every word he uttered seemed so inappropriate.

Xu Lin ignored the petrified Yang Anguo. He picked up a branch from the ground, pointed at the scribbles that looked like gibberish, and began his "performance".

"Leaders, the principle is actually very simple: it's anaerobic fermentation of organic matter." Xu Lin's voice was calm and confident, as if he were not standing behind a stinky toilet, but in a bright and clean university classroom.

"Our factory canteen generates a lot of food waste every day, and the thousands of employees in the factory also generate a lot of... well, excrement every day." He cleverly avoided some vulgar words. "These things are considered waste by everyone, but in my opinion, they are valuable 'fuel'. We collect them and put them into a sealed fermentation tank. Under the condition of being isolated from air, the microorganisms inside will start to work, decompose these organic materials, and produce a combustible gas—biogas."

"Methane?" Gao Liang and Fang Mingyuan were hearing this word for the first time, their faces filled with curiosity.

"Yes, biogas. Its main component is methane, which has a high calorific value. It can be used to boil water, cook food, and even drive generators to generate electricity!" Xu Lin became more and more excited as he spoke, drawing a simple diagram of a biogas digester on the ground with the twig in his hand.

"And that's not all!" he changed the subject. "What are the residue and liquid left over from fermentation? They're top-quality organic fertilizer! We can use them to support the surrounding communes, increase food production, and also to green the factory area and improve the environment. What's this called? This is called 'turning waste into treasure, recycling'! One input, multiple outputs! Most importantly, it solves our factory's long-standing problems with waste disposal and environmental sanitation!"

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Gao Liang and Fang Mingyuan exchanged a glance, and both saw four words in each other's eyes—a genius idea!

One was the Minister of Industry, and the other was the head of the district; their perspectives and vision far surpassed Yang Anguo's. They instantly realized the immense value behind this "biogas project." It wasn't just a waste disposal solution; it was a comprehensive project integrating energy, agriculture, and environmental protection! If it could be widely implemented, its significance would be no less than that of centralized heating!

Fang Mingyuan rubbed his hands together excitedly. He felt that he had made the right decision to come today. He had only wanted to pick a peach, but he did not expect that there was an even bigger golden melon hanging on the peach tree!

Gao Liang's expression brightened, the anger he had felt long ago dissipating under the immense surprise. He looked at Xu Lin as if he were a national treasure. Just how much was going on in this kid's head? One astonishing plan after another—he was a veritable treasure trove!

Only Yang Anguo stood to the side, his hands and feet ice-cold.

He felt like a complete fool. He went to great lengths to bring Xu Lin down, even relegating him to a marginal position like "medical and health" to make him give up and lose face.

But he never expected that Xu Lin would be able to use the resources available to him in this position that everyone avoids, and come up with a major project that could alarm ministerial leaders!

His so-called "punishment" not only failed to trap Xu Lin, but instead provided him with a brand new stage!

This wasn't just a slap in the face; it was putting Yang Anguo on the hot seat of adversity, subjecting him to repeated roasting.

Seeing the excitement on Gao Liang and Fang Mingyuan's faces, Xu Lin didn't exaggerate the functions of the biogas digester, but instead told them about its disadvantages.

"However, gas production is greatly affected by the environment, with temperature being the core factor. The optimal gas production temperature is between 25-35℃. In winter or in cold northern regions, gas production efficiency drops significantly or even stops, requiring additional insulation. This means that regular cleaning and maintenance are necessary; gas leaks will occur after the sealing layer ages, requiring timely repairs. Stable use also requires corresponding energy storage equipment. It is suitable for household or small group use, but cannot meet the needs of large-scale industrial or centralized gas supply..."

When Yang Anguo heard Xu Lin say "unable to meet the needs of large-scale industrial use," his eyes lit up. He felt he had caught Xu Lin red-handed and impatiently interrupted him.

"After all that talk, it turns out it can't meet the needs of large-scale industrial production, and there are so many construction and maintenance costs. What's the point? It's not only useless, but it will also affect the current production tasks. Alright, alright, you should go back to your office now."

After Yang Anguo finished speaking, the three people present stared at him as if he were a fool. Was this a matter of cost? No, this was about energy utilization. The country's coal mining output was already stretched thin, and with the massive consumption from industrialization, biogas, while more troublesome and less efficient, still solved the basic energy problem for people's lives and addressed the increasingly serious environmental sanitation issues. You say that's useless? Besides, building biogas digesters would definitely require the production of corresponding equipment, which would stimulate civilian industry. You say that's useless? Winter was approaching. If it could be widely adopted before winter, even without biogas, it would still be a significant improvement for environmental sanitation. You say that's useless?

Xu Lin didn't speak, only gave a disdainful smile before resigning with Gao Liang and Fang Mingyuan. After seeing Gao Liang nod in agreement, he returned to his office. He didn't glance at Yang Anguo once throughout the entire process. After all, discussing professional matters with an outsider was beneath you; even a single word from him would be embarrassing, and a glance would be a loss.

After Xu Lin left, Yang Anguo again obsequiously invited Gao Liang and Fang Mingyuan to his office, and this time they didn't refuse. From Yang Anguo's series of remarks and attitudes, the two had roughly guessed why Xu Lin had handed over the heating plan. Yang Anguo lacked any foresight or sense of the bigger picture, and he also lacked tolerance—that was the root cause. However, since they were out in public, it wasn't appropriate to directly criticize him. After all, Yang Anguo had always acted with the big picture in mind and hadn't made any obvious mistakes, so it wasn't good to directly reprimand him. After all, he was the factory director, and they still had to maintain appearances.

In contrast to Gao Liang, who was currently sullen and had a dark expression, Fang Mingyuan's smile was uncontrollably radiant...