The entire courtyard is full of villains

"Darling! People married their daughters to him, and instead of showing filial piety, he beat the elderly so badly they couldn't get out of bed during the New Year. The news has spread like wildfire throughout the neighborhood. Xiao Yang, I'm worried—how can someone like that become the deputy workshop director? What if this gets to the ears of the higher-ups? Won't they think you…?"

Yang Liming's face gradually turned ashen. He had originally quite admired Zhang Erhe—he was intelligent, technically skilled, and knew how to get along with people. Last time, someone had relayed a message to him about promoting Zhang Erhe, and he had readily agreed. But he never expected that this man would be so despicable in private.

"Grandma, do you really believe everything you've said?"

Grandma Long was secretly pleased, knowing that Yang Liming had taken her words to heart. "Zhonghai, explain this to Director Yang in detail."

"Director Yang, I guarantee every word is true," Yi Zhonghai quickly interjected. "I have some connections in that alley. As soon as the news spread, I went to verify it, and it's true. If it weren't for Zhang Erhe's father-in-law's neighbor who couldn't stand it anymore and exposed it, we'd probably still be in the dark." He paused, his tone turning sorrowful: "Director Yang, I also need to apologize to you... When I was the liaison officer in the compound, I was always wary of Zhang Erhe's influence and didn't dissuade him from these actions in time, which allowed him to become increasingly reckless. I... I've let down the factory and the neighborhood committee that trusted me."

"Alright," Yang Liming interrupted him impatiently. "You should have reported to the factory long ago. Talented but lacking in virtue, utterly useless!"

"Yes, yes, yes..." Yi Zhonghai was overjoyed, but he still pretended to be serious.

"You may leave." Yang Liming was a man of great stature; he saw through Yi Zhonghai's intentions perfectly well and unceremoniously gave him the order to leave.

After Yi Zhonghai left, Yang Liming sat down opposite Old Madam Long and looked directly at her: "Old Madam, just tell me the truth—has this Zhang Erhe offended you?"

"Xiao Yang, since you're asking so directly, I'll be frank too." Old Lady Long's tone turned cold. "Zhang Erhe never respects me in the courtyard, and he even forced Xiao Wang to cancel my status as a recipient of the Five Guarantees... I hate him to the core."

“Hmm.” Yang Liming nodded. “I was just thinking, you wouldn’t have made this special trip just for the factory’s reputation.” He pondered for a moment and said, “Grandma, I can help you with this. I can remove Zhang Erhe from his position as deputy director. But dismissing him… I’m afraid that will be a bit difficult.”

"It's alright, as long as he doesn't become the deputy director."

“Alright, then I promise you.” Yang Liming said solemnly, “But Madam, this is the last thing I will do for you. From now on… you understand what I mean.”

Grandma Long nodded, stood up with her cane, and said, "Then, Little Yang, goodbye."

Yang Liming nodded slightly, but silently replied in his heart, "Never again."

Chapter 105 He Didn't Get Awkward

Li Huaide's home.

"Alright, Erhe." Li Huaide patted his thigh and stood up. "If Yang Liming is really so biased and blind to talent, and insists on removing you as the deputy director of the workshop, I'll transfer you to logistics. The production department won't keep you, but we in logistics welcome you! You'll take over as deputy head of the purchasing department directly. I won't arrange anyone else for the head position; I'll keep it for you."

He paused, then chuckled and said, "How about we drop the 'deputy' title in a year or two?"

"That's great!" Zhang Erhe replied. "With a leader like you, Brother Li, we can work much more smoothly!"

"Hahaha, Erhe, I love your shamelessness!" Li Huaide laughed as he glanced at his watch. "Come on, come on, it looks like it'll just be the two of us tonight—your sister-in-law isn't coming back."

"Their middle school in the border region is having a 20th anniversary reunion. Many classmates have come from other places. It'll probably be a lively affair all night."

"Border District Middle School? Brother Li, your wife is really amazing!"

"It's just so-so!"

The two sat down at the table, and Li Huaide went into the bedroom and brought out a bottle of wine.

"This is Fenjiu. Although it's not the batch that was served at the state banquet back then, it was one of the batches that followed. The taste is impeccable."

"Alright, then I'll take advantage of Brother Li's generosity today and have a good taste!"

The two chatted and drank until after ten o'clock.

Zhang Erhe glanced at his watch: "Brother Li, I have to go back tonight."

"Okay, I have to work tomorrow, so I won't stay any longer. I'm glad you're happy. Come again when you have time."

"Alright, Brother Li, I'm off."

Before the New Year was even over, Zhang Erhe, who had been drinking for two consecutive days, rushed to the factory before work. Upon entering the office, he found that his mentor Wu Liqun's cup was there, but Wu Liqun was not. He learned from Wu Liqun that Wu Liqun had been called to a meeting at the steel rolling mill early that morning.

The atmosphere was tense in the steel rolling mill's conference room. Wu Liqun's face flushed red. "I disagree! As the saying goes, 'One should appoint the virtuous without regard to kinship.' Comrade Zhang Erhe has made outstanding contributions to the establishment of our workshop; he invented the new type of water pump! With such great merit, are we really going to remove him as the deputy director of the workshop just because of some rumors? I disagree!"

After saying that, he sat heavily back in his chair.

Yang Liming frowned: "Director Wu, this matter is probably not just a simple rumor."

With a "whoosh," Wu Liqun stood up again:

"Since Director Yang says it's not just rumors, then please provide evidence! Who exactly said it? We can't keep relying on rumors to remove officials—if Zhang Erhe is removed today, will I be removed tomorrow? And the day after tomorrow, will even you, Director Yang, be removed by rumors? This is simply a joke!"

Wu Liqun's words sparked a murmur of discussion in the meeting room. Yang Liming, observing the chaotic scene before him, darkened his expression.

“Director Wu, we brought this to the meeting to discuss it, precisely to gather everyone's opinions. You're all here alone…”

"Director Yang!" Wu Liqun interrupted directly, "You said you were soliciting everyone's opinions, then I'll make it clear: I disagree!"

"Wu Liqun!" Yang Liming slammed his hand on the table.

"Old Wu, please sit down first." Secretary Su, who was in the main seat, finally spoke, coughing twice as he spoke quickly.

Li Huaide quickly stepped forward and gently patted his back. Once Secretary Su had caught his breath, he continued:

"Director Yang, I don't quite agree with this either. We can't just dismiss cadres based on some rumors. That would discourage the cadres in the factory, and how would we carry out our work in the future? Ultimately, we need to rely on evidence."

“You want evidence, right? Fine!” Yang Liming stood up. “Since both Secretary Su and Director Wu have objections, let’s invite Zhang Erhe’s neighbors from the same courtyard to ask them to see if this is true or not. If it is true, we will handle it according to the rules; if it is not true, I will personally apologize to Comrade Zhang Erhe.”

Secretary Su nodded: "Sure. Who will be sharing a courtyard with Comrade Zhang Erhe?"

Yang Liming turned to his secretary and beckoned: "Xiao Li, go to Workshop 3 and invite Master Yi Zhonghai over. He's an experienced fitter in the factory, and his words are trustworthy."

"I object!" Wu Liqun stood up again. "Director Yang, you clearly know that Yi Zhonghai and Zhang Erhe are at odds, yet you still let him testify?"

Secretary Su glanced at Yang Liming, his brows furrowing even more. This Yang Liming was so petty; a factory director was deliberately picking a fight with the deputy workshop director—it made him seem small-minded. But now that he was about to retire, and the ministry's intention was for Yang Liming to hold both the positions of secretary and factory director in the future, it wasn't appropriate to directly contradict him now.

“Director Wu,” Secretary Su began, “if you feel Yi Zhonghai isn’t objective enough, then find a few more people from the institute. Director Yang, what do you think?”

Yang Liming glanced at Wu Liqun: "Xiao Li, then go find Liu Haizhong in the forging workshop, Xu Damao in the propaganda department, and He Yuzhu in the canteen. They all live in the same courtyard as Zhang Erhe. If you think Yi Zhonghai's words are untrustworthy, these people should be trustworthy, right?"

Seeing Yang Liming say this, Wu Liqun remained silent.

After a while, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Xu Damao, and He Yuzhu were all brought into the conference room.

Liu Haizhong, initially unaware of what was going on, entered the room to find it filled with leaders and hurriedly approached Yang Liming: "Director Yang, did you want to see me?"

Yang Liming glanced at him and cursed inwardly: This idiot can't even tell who's in charge on the field, and he's the first one to ask me. Isn't he putting me on the spot?

“Master Liu,” he casually reminded him, “this is Secretary Su from our factory.”

"Oh, Secretary Su, hello!" Liu Haizhong quickly turned to Secretary Su, rubbing his hands together in greeting.

Secretary Su remained expressionless: "Master Liu, the reason I called you here today is because someone reported that Comrade Zhang Erhe beat his father-in-law. Have you heard about this in the courtyard?"

"I've heard it! I've heard it!" Liu Haizhong answered eagerly. "We heard it on New Year's Eve. Zhang Erhe beat his father-in-law terribly. It's said that the beating happened in the stable! He even confronted someone on New Year's Day, and he admitted it himself!"

He spoke with extra enthusiasm in order to make a good impression on his superiors.

Yi Zhonghai glanced at Liu Haizhong, cursing him as an "idiot" in his heart, but said aloud:

"Director Yang, yes, that's true. But I think Comrade Zhang Erhe... must have his reasons."

Yang Liming glanced coldly at Yi Zhonghai. Even at a time like this, he was still pretending to be a good person. What a hypocrite.

Every single person present was a shrewd and exceptional individual. In their eyes, Yi Zhonghai's feigned kindness was even more contemptible than Liu Haizhong's blatant stupidity.

"Xu Damao, what about you? Have you heard of him?" Yang Liming was too lazy to pay attention to Yi Zhonghai anymore and turned to the next person.

Xu Damao rubbed his hands nervously: "Director Yang, I have indeed heard some rumors about this matter, but they were just gossip among the women in the compound. As for the confrontation on New Year's Day, I wasn't home that day, so I don't know the specifics."

Standing to the side, He Yuzhu looked at Xu Damao's appearance and sneered through his nose: "Coward!"

He stepped forward and said, "Director Yang, I've heard about this. If you ask me, it takes two to tango. Zhang Erhe's father-in-law isn't any better. How old is he to still be gambling? He deserved that beating!"

He paused for a moment, then, reluctantly, added:

"Although I don't get along with Zhang Erhe, I can only say this: his father-in-law deserved the beating he received!"

Chapter 106 A Twist of Fate

"What a fucking idiot!" Yang Liming cursed inwardly. "You talk too much. Zhang Erhe beating his father-in-law isn't unjust, are we unjust?"

Secretary Su glanced at Yang Liming indifferently, then turned to Wu Liqun: "Old Wu, did Zhang Erhe come to work today? Since we're going to deal with him, we have to give him a chance to defend himself, otherwise it won't make sense."

Wu Liqun hurriedly stood up: "Secretary, Factory Director, he should be in the workshop by now, I'll go get him!" After saying that, he turned around and rushed out of the meeting room.

Zhang Erhe was wandering around the workshop when he turned around and saw Wu Liqun running towards him.

"Erhe! Quick, come with me!"

"Master, what's wrong?"

Wu Liqun pulled him along, saying, "That bastard Yang Liming is going to dismiss you as deputy director at the meeting!"

Zhang Erhe was both amused and exasperated: "Fine, then we'll waive it."

"No way! We earned this position through our own abilities, why should we give it up just because of a few rumors?"

In the conference room, Liu Haizhong blinked his small eyes, feeling flustered—he hadn't expected to actually confront Zhang Erhe face-to-face. Yi Zhonghai, on the other hand, was calm; after all, they had already broken off relations long ago.

With a loud bang, the door was pushed open.

Wu Liqun pulled Zhang Erhe in and said, "Secretary Su, Comrade Zhang Erhe has arrived."

"Comrade Zhang Erhe, hello." Secretary Su stood up and shook hands with him. "Today's meeting is about you. On behalf of the Standing Committee, I'd like to ask you—did you hit your father-in-law before the Chinese New Year?"

"I did," Zhang Erhe answered frankly.

Why did you hit him?

"Secretary Su, I'd like to ask, is our factory now even taking care of the workers' family affairs?"

Secretary Su hadn't expected him to be so assertive. Yang Liming, standing nearby, slammed his hand on the table:

"Zhang Erhe! The Party Secretary is asking you on behalf of the Standing Committee, so you should answer honestly!"

"Director Yang, right?" Zhang Erhe turned his head. "I heard you started this whole thing. I just want to ask, which factory rule did I break by hitting my father-in-law?"

"Zhang Erhe! What kind of attitude is this? As a cadre of the steel rolling mill, the mill is responsible for your conduct! You beat your father-in-law, which is unfilial and disrespectful to the elderly! We cannot have cadres like this!"

"So what?" Zhang Erhe shrugged. "You're going to fire me?"

Yang Liming was completely dumbfounded by his repeated defiance: "With your attitude, I will report to the Ministry of Metallurgy and recommend that you be dismissed!"

“Then let’s report it!” Zhang Erhe shrugged.

"Stop!" Yang Liming pointed at him, his face flushed.

"Alright!" Secretary Su said. "Director Yang, please sit down. Comrade Zhang Erhe, please calm down as well."

"Secretary Su, I am very calm."

"Okay, now that you've calmed down, let me ask you again: You don't deny hitting your father-in-law?"