Siheyuan: I will never tolerate gambling and drugs!

The darkness before dawn is so thick it's impossible to dissolve.

Xu Lin opened his eyes. The room was quiet and silent, with only the sound of even and long breathing coming from beside him.

The woman in his arms was fast asleep, her eyes and brows moist with the satisfaction of the rain.

Long eyelashes cascaded down, casting a small shadow on her delicate skin, fluttering gently with her breath.

The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, forming a sweet and peaceful curve, as if she were experiencing some wonderful dream.

Last night, Qin Huairu's shy yet incredibly firm words, "I want to have a child for you," completely ignited Xu Lin's long-suppressed passion.

It was a thrilling conquest, and also a tender and affectionate fusion.

He took tirelessly, and she gave without reservation. In the most primal way, they expressed their possession of each other and their expectations for the future.

Only when the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon did this "battle" concerning the continuation of bloodlines finally come to an end.

Feeling the warm, smooth touch in his arms, Xu Lin's heart softened.

He leaned down and gently kissed her smooth forehead.

The kiss was light, carrying the coolness of the morning, yet containing a warmth strong enough to melt steel.

In this turbulent era where everyone is on edge, how fortunate it is to have such a haven that belongs entirely to oneself, where one can let down all guard.

Qin Huairu, Tan Liya, Ding Qiunan, Liu Lan... Their existence not only satisfied a man's desires, but also built his most solid rear base.

This is his foundation, the source of his confidence to take a gamble in this turbulent and unpredictable era.

He carefully withdrew his arm, his movements extremely gentle, as if afraid of disturbing his lover's sweet dream.

He lifted a corner of the blanket, got out of bed, and stepped barefoot onto the floor. Thanks to the heating, he felt no discomfort.

This book was first published on 2020s.com, providing you with a reading experience free of errors and disordered chapters.

After tucking Qin Huairu in and covering her up completely, Xu Lin began to get dressed.

After a quick wash, he didn't disturb the kitchen.

Qin Huairu, like a field that has been repeatedly cultivated, needs rest most of all at this moment.

He stood there, and with a thought, a still-warm pork and scallion bun and a perfectly sealed bottle of milk appeared out of thin air in his hands.

This is the inventory in his system space.

In an era of scarcity, when most people were still eating cornbread and drinking porridge, he was able to enjoy the ordinary delicacies of later generations at any time.

He finished the steamed bun in a few bites, then drank the milk in one gulp. The warm liquid slid into his stomach, dispelling the last chill of the morning.

He took out the same portion again, covered it with a bowl, and placed it on the table in the main room, with a note next to it.

"Remember to eat when you wake up, I'm going to work now."

After doing all this, Xu Lin finally pushed open the door and went out.

It was already broad daylight.

As dawn broke through the clouds, the entire courtyard was bathed in a golden glow.

The courtyard was quiet, and wisps of smoke were just beginning to rise from the chimneys of each household.

Xu Lin straddled his gleaming old bicycle, pushed off with his foot, and the bike shot off like an arrow.

The chain turned, making a crisp "click" sound that echoed in the quiet alley.

The wind whistled past my ears, carrying the crisp air unique to this era.

Xu Lin's eyes were sharp and determined as he rapidly calculated today's tasks.

"Creak—"

The bicycle came to a steady stop at the gate of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

Xu Lin got out of the car, locked it, and instead of going to his office, strode straight to Workshop 1.

Before you even get close, a wave of intense heat, a mixture of steel, machine oil, and sweat, hits you.

Pushing open the heavy iron door of the workshop, the scene before one's eyes is enough to shock anyone seeing it for the first time.

The deafening roar of machinery, the clanging of metal, mixed with scalding steam and the pungent smell of iron, instantly enveloped him.

This place is no longer the old, inefficient workshop that it was just a week ago, where everyone was working in isolation.

A simple S-shaped conveyor belt runs through the entire workshop, and the disassembled old machine tools are rearranged and reassembled according to the process, distributed on both sides of the conveyor belt.

Raw parts enter from one end and undergo a series of processes such as stamping, cutting, grinding, and drilling. They flow slowly on the conveyor belt and eventually become finished products with a metallic luster at the other end.

At each workstation, the workers were like wound-up machines, focused intently on the process in front of them.

Their movements were incredibly fast, precise, and efficient, with almost no unnecessary actions.

Sweat soaked through their blue overalls, streaming down their faces and necks, glistening under the blazing lights.

No one whispered to each other, and no one slacked off or procrastinated.

A flame burned in everyone's eyes—a desire for piece-rate bonuses, an excitement to break old rules, and a fervor to make history.

On the blackboard at the end of the workshop, a string of rapidly increasing numbers was written in white chalk; that was a real-time record of today's output.

Every fluctuation in the numbers stimulated everyone's nerves.

The entire workshop was filled with an unprecedented, almost frenzied enthusiasm for production.

A vibrant scene of life, where everything flourishes.

A giant S-shaped steel dragon coiled in the center of the workshop, its cold steel structure gleaming with a metallic sheen under the blazing lights. This was the assembly line created by Xu Lin, which, with its domineering and unreasonable approach, completely overturned the production order that had been passed down for decades.

The steel billet is fed into the production line at one end, and after cutting, rolling, welding, grinding, etc., each process is precisely broken down. The workers stand at their respective posts and only need to repeat a simple action.

They no longer need to spend years learning a whole set of complex techniques, as they did in the past.

What they need to do now is to practice this one move to the extreme, to the point that they won't make a mistake even with their eyes closed.

Efficient, ruthless, yet possessing a deadly allure.

At the end of the production line, rows of qualified pipes, gleaming with a silvery-gray light, are slowly ejected, neatly stacked, and ready to be transported to thousands of households in the city, bringing them a warm winter.

The piece-rate incentive system, like a powerful dose of adrenaline, has deeply permeated the soul of every worker.

The more you work, the more you earn; there's no upper limit.

These eight characters contain the magic to change one's destiny.

Here, there are no outdated customs of seniority, no backstabbing between masters and apprentices. Your hands, your sweat, will directly determine whether your bowl contains bland soup or large chunks of braised pork.

A flame flickered in everyone's eyes—a naked yearning for a better life and an infinite longing for the future.

Sweat soaked through their blue overalls, trickling down their cheeks and dripping onto the scorching ground, evaporating instantly. The smell of engine oil mingled with the smell of sweat, fermenting in the warm air and filling the air with a unique fragrance called "hope."

"Good morning, Deputy Factory Director Xu!"

A middle-aged worker operating a welding machine spotted Xu Lin and immediately shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

That sound seemed to ignite a fuse.

"Deputy factory manager, look at my operation! I've saved three seconds again!"

A young man, his face covered in grease, grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. The grinder in his hand spun rapidly, sparks flying everywhere, his movements so fast they were almost blurry.

"Deputy Factory Director Xu, I'm sure I'll get my three yuan bonus today!"

"Deputy Factory Director, Grandpa Sun's improvement suggestion was really effective! Our group's efficiency has increased by another 10%!"

Greetings, reports, and proud boasts rose and fell in waves.

The workers' eyes were fixed on Xu Lin, filled not with fear, but with heartfelt reverence, trust, and fervent worship. It was this deputy factory director, younger than most of their sons, who had given them all.

Xu Lin nodded calmly with a gentle smile on his face.

He strode forward, inspecting each workstation at a leisurely pace. His eyes were sharp and precise, always able to spot the slightest inconsistencies in the operations at a glance.

"Old Wang, lower the angle of the welding torch by a little more, it will reduce spatter and save some welding rod."

"Xiao Li, your posture is wrong, it's too hard on your back. Try to transfer the power from your legs."

He would stop from time to time, offering simple pointers, each word hitting the nail on the head, causing the workers being pointed out to nod repeatedly, their eyes filled with increasingly intense admiration.

However, as he ventured deeper into the workshop, an unavoidable problem became increasingly apparent.

Because of the heating, the entire workshop was warm as spring. The workers wore only thin clothes and worked enthusiastically, covered in sweat.

As the heat intensified, the strong odor, a mixture of sweat and the musty smell of long-unwashed clothes, became increasingly clear, even somewhat pungent.

This taste is like an indiscriminate biological attack.

Xu Lin frowned almost imperceptibly.

He was acutely aware of the realities of that era. In ordinary working-class families, even a single coal briquette had to be carefully considered, and every effort was made to save money and effort. It was common to go ten days or two weeks without taking a bath, especially in winter.

Personal hygiene issues seem insignificant compared to the basic survival need to fill one's stomach.

But this is by no means just a minor issue of an unpleasant smell.

A company's spirit is reflected in every aspect. Workers' personal hygiene is also a part of productivity.

Looks like we need to think of a solution.

Xu Lin's mind raced, and he had already begun to devise a brand-new welfare reform plan.

Just as he was deep in thought, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure peeking out from behind a mountain of steel, moving somewhat furtively.

The man looked around to confirm Xu Lin's location, then immediately put on a fawning smile, crouched down, and jogged over.

"Deputy Factory Director Xu... I've arrived to report for duty!"

Liu Haizhong, with his signature potbelly sticking out, wore a fawning smile that almost made his face wrinkle. He was wearing a brand-new blue Zhongshan suit, and although the buttons were fastened tightly, he still tried his best to stand tall and proud.

Xu Lin glanced at him, secretly amused.

This careerist actually mistook being sent to the new workshop as a promotion.

"Hmm, Comrade Liu Haizhong, you have a high level of awareness." Xu Lin nodded calmly. "Perfect timing, I have an even more important task for you."

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong's eyes instantly lit up like two 200-watt light bulbs, and his breathing quickened: "Deputy Factory Director, please give your orders! I, Liu Haizhong, will not flinch even if it means facing mountains of knives or seas of fire!"

"Come with me."

With his bangs twitching with excitement, Xu Lin walked through the noisy workshop and made his way to the most remote northwest corner of the factory area.

This place is right next to the wall of the blast furnace workshop, and the road is right outside the wall. Because of the dust and exhaust fumes all year round, it is rarely visited by people, with only a sparse grove of trees shivering in the cold wind.

In mid-November, the temperature in Beijing was already close to zero degrees Celsius. The biting wind swirled up fallen leaves and pierced straight down people's necks.

To maintain appearances, Liu Haizhong wore only a thin Zhongshan suit. He was shivering from the cold, but for the sake of his image, he still tried to maintain a leader's demeanor, with his hands behind his back and his belly sticking out even more.

Xu Lin stopped and stamped his toes on the frozen ground.

"Old Liu, do you see this piece of land?"

"I saw it, I saw it!" Liu Haizhong nodded repeatedly, looking as if he were listening to a sacred teaching.

Xu Lin's tone became serious and solemn: "I plan to establish a brand new department here to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of you. If you can pass this test and prove your abilities, you will definitely have a place in the factory's management ranks in the future!"

With a "boom," Liu Haizhong's brain exploded.

A brand new department!

A comprehensive investigation!

Cadre Ranks!

The combination of these words was more pleasing to him than the sound of his uncle's abacus!

"Deputy Factory Director! Tell me! What do you want me to do! I'll risk my life to complete the task!" Liu Haizhong was so excited that he trembled all over and couldn't feel the cold anymore. He felt a surge of heat rushing from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Looking at his expression, Xu Lin had already written the ending of the script in his mind.

"The task is simple, but also... very difficult." Xu Lin lowered his voice, creating an air of mystery. "I need you to level this forest and dig the foundation within a week. Here, a building will be erected that will go down in the history of our steel mill!"

Liu Haizhong was taken aback. Logging trees and digging foundations? Isn't that hard labor?

His excitement froze instantly, and he rubbed his hands together somewhat awkwardly.

Xu Lin took in his expression, a slight smile playing on his lips, and threw out the fatal bait: "Of course, this task is very difficult and requires a strong leader to coordinate it. Therefore, I have decided to appoint you as the temporary director of the 'Red Star Steel Rolling Mill Staff Bathhouse Project Preparatory Office'!"

"Wh...what? Director...Director?" Liu Haizhong stammered, doubting that he had misheard.

"Yes, Director Liu." Xu Lin patted him on the shoulder, his tone carrying an undeniable certainty. "Regarding manpower, you can draw personnel from across the factory without affecting normal production. Remember, this is the organization's trust in you, and also a test for you!"

Director Liu!

I, Liu Haizhong, have become the director!

Even though it's just a temporary position, and I'm just the director of some "Bathhouse Project Preparatory Office," I'm still a director!

At that moment, all of Liu Haizhong's doubts and embarrassments vanished. He could almost see himself sitting in a spacious office, managing a large group of people, with everyone in the hospital bowing and scraping as they addressed him as "Director Liu!"

"I guarantee I'll complete the task!" Liu Haizhong slapped his chest loudly, his eyes gleaming. "Just you wait and see, Deputy Factory Director! One week! No! Five days! In five days I'll have this land spotless for you!"

Xu Lin nodded in satisfaction: "Very good, go ahead, Director Liu, I have high hopes for you."

Upon receiving confirmation, Liu Haizhong instantly became energized, turning and leaving. His steps were no longer cold; they were full of vigor, as if he wanted to stride back to the courtyard house and announce this wonderful news to the world.

Xu Lin watched his departing figure and chuckled softly.

A mere empty title is enough to make this old official-obsessed man willingly become a laborer.

A list of names had just flashed through his mind.

Sha Zhu, Xu Damao, Jia Dongxu, Yi Zhonghai... and those old hands who outwardly comply but inwardly defy orders in the workshop.

"Heh, Liu Haizhong, I've thought of everything for your team. I hope you won't let me down."

……

Because of Liu Haizhong's flamboyant and outspoken nature, who couldn't hide his thoughts, the news of the appointment had already been widely known by him before it was even officially approved at the factory committee meeting.

In less than half a day, everyone at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, from the leadership to the cleaning staff, knew that Deputy Director Xu was working to improve the welfare of all the employees by building an unprecedented large bathhouse.

The news naturally reached the ears of the newly appointed factory director, Li Huaide, without missing a single word.

"Hey, Brother Xu, what's going on here?"

Before he arrived, his voice preceded his arrival. Li Huaide burst in like a gust of wind, and without any hesitation, he plopped down on the sofa that he had personally arranged to be delivered to Xu Lin's office, making the sofa springs creak.

He had a smile on his face, but it was clearly stiff, and his eyes revealed a sense of urgency and confusion.

"Build a bathhouse? How much will that cost? It's not that I don't support you, but it's almost the end of the year, and the factory needs money everywhere. The funds in the account are already tight, and all the manpower is focused on production. Where would we find any surplus?"

Li Huaide frowned, looking earnestly as if he were doing it for Xu Lin's own good, his words implying that Xu Lin's decision was too hasty and inappropriate.

Xu Lin remained calm and composed, picking up the thermos on the table and filling the enamel mug in front of Li Huaide with boiling water. The tea leaves tumbled in the water, rising into a misty steam.

"Brother Li, don't rush, have some water first."

He pushed the teacup over, picked up a cup himself, and slowly blew on it, a nonchalant smile on his face.

"We need to have a long-term perspective."

Xu Lin's voice wasn't loud, but it had a strange penetrating power.

"On the surface, this bathhouse seems like a small investment—just a few bricks and bags of cement. But if it's built and used properly, it could be a major strategic move that will shape the future!"

"Oh?"

Li Huaide's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air. He leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued by Xu Lin's words.

"What strategy?"

Xu Lin put down his teacup, leaned closer, and deliberately lowered his voice. His mysterious demeanor made the atmosphere in the entire office quite subtle.

He used a highly seductive tone to paint a vivid picture in Li Huaide's ear.

"Brother Li, imagine this scenario."

"It's freezing cold, the dead of winter. Leaders from the city and the ministry have come to inspect our Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill."

"In the conference room, after the report was finished and the workshop had been toured, the leaders were all freezing, their hands and feet ice-cold. Then, the meeting ended, and you, Director Li, stood up with a beaming smile and addressed the assembled leaders with a powerful voice—"

"Distinguished leaders, you've gone to great lengths to come and offer your guidance. We're truly grateful! Our factory conditions are basic, and we don't have much to offer in terms of hospitality. However, we recently built a large public bathhouse. The steam comes from the waste heat of the blast furnace, so the water is absolutely clean and the temperature is just right. Come on, let me accompany you all for a soak to relax and warm up!"

Li Huaide's breathing became somewhat rapid without him realizing it. He gripped the teacup tightly in his hand, and his eyes began to light up.

"and then?"

He pressed on, his voice trembling slightly.

Xu Lin's smile deepened.

"Imagine this: outside, the north wind howls, but inside, it's steamy and warm. In a huge pool, steam rises and falls. You personally hand the leader a piping hot towel, then, at just the right moment, show off your special skills—scrubbing his back, cupping him, giving him a massage…"

"After going through the whole process, the leader feels completely relaxed, as if he's floating on air, utterly comfortable. At this point, while you're massaging his shoulders, you can casually mention that the factory has recently encountered some minor difficulties, such as which project is still lacking policy support, or which funding is missing an approval document..."

Xu Lin paused, looked directly into Li Huaide's eyes, and said, word by word, "Brother Li, do you think a leader who's thoroughly satisfied after a soak and completely subservient to you would dare not nod in approval?"

boom!

It felt as if a thunderclap had exploded in Li Huaide's mind.

He could no longer clearly hear what Xu Lin said next.

All that remained before his eyes was the scene Xu Lin had described to him.

The leaders lay comfortably on the brand-new massage beds, their faces flushed red from the heat. Meanwhile, Li Huaide, the director of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, skillfully and professionally moved a set of crystal-clear glass cupping jars across the leaders' broad backs.

As one purplish-red circular seal after another appeared on the leaders' backs, project approval documents, still smelling of ink, and allocation slips with astonishing figures also fell into their hands.

That scene...

The scene was absolutely beautiful!

This isn't building a bathhouse; it's clearly building a broad road to the top for themselves!

"Besides," Xu Lin's voice rang out again, like a devil's whisper, pulling Li Huaide back from his fantasy and pushing him into an even deeper abyss of desire, "we can also open this bathhouse to the public. Don't underestimate the small amount of money a bath ticket might seem like—it adds up! We're using waste heat from the blast furnace, so it's practically zero cost. We can recoup the construction costs in just a few months. Once we start making a profit, this money, though not much, will change its nature."

"What do you call this? This is called achieving big results with little money, and increasing revenue for the factory! It's written in black and white in the year-end report—another impressive achievement!"

"By then, a saying will be circulating among all the leaders and cadres in Beijing: 'Li Huaide from Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill is not only good at managing production and technically skilled, but also exceptionally good at handling affairs, understanding people's livelihoods, and, most importantly, shrewd in business!'"

Xu Lin's last few words struck Li Huaide's heart like a heavy hammer blow.

"Brilliant!"

Li Huaide slapped his thigh and jumped up from the sofa excitedly. His bulky body seemed unusually agile at this moment, pacing back and forth in the small office, his smile unable to be suppressed, the corners of his mouth almost reaching his ears.

His mind is now filled with grand plans for him to "openly and honestly" meet with the leaders, to "speak freely" amidst the swirling fog, and to open up a second front beyond clinking glasses.

What are financial difficulties or manpower shortages? Faced with such a promising political future, all of these are difficulties that can be overcome!

"Brother Xu! You, you are truly a lucky general! You are Zhuge Liang reborn!"

Li Huaide grabbed Xu Lin's hand and shook it violently, his eyes filled with a burning light.

"This bathhouse must be built! And it must be built immediately! It must use the best bricks and the best materials, and be the most magnificent in all of Beijing! If we don't have enough money, I'll find a way! If we don't have enough manpower, I'll personally coordinate with our sister units! This matter is settled!"

Seeing that Li Huaide was completely hooked and even more enthusiastic than himself, Xu Lin picked up the slightly cooled teacup in front of him and gently blew on the tea leaves floating on the surface.

He knew that the deal had been made.

After that, there was nothing more for me to do.

Li Huaide may have flaws in his character; he is an out-and-out opportunist. But precisely because of this, once he sees tangible benefits, the drive and execution he unleashes are absolutely beyond imagination.

It's just a bathhouse.

For Xu Lin, this was just another pawn he casually placed in his grand plan.

For Liu Haizhong, this was his long-awaited first experience of power.

For Li Huaide, however, this was a valuable career advancement opportunity that could pave the way for his meteoric rise.

As for Xu Lin himself, his initial goal was simply to improve the workers' welfare and allow them to have a hot bath in the cold winter.

Incidentally, let's use this insignificant lever to pry open an even more magnificent future.