Chapter 31: Factory Director Yang Decides to Help the Deaf Old Lady

Early the next morning, Yi Zhonghai went to the Deaf Old Lady's house and escorted her to the Red Star Rolling Mill.

As Wang Lin was heading out with Qin Huairu and Lou Xiao'e, he happened to witness this scene and called out with a mocking laugh, "Oh my, Yi Zhonghai, where are you taking the old lady so early in the morning? Is she feeling unwell? Looking at her, I’d say she doesn't have many days left."

Upon hearing this, the Deaf Old Lady’s face sank immediately. "You wretched little brat, who are you saying doesn't have many days left?"

Wang Lin showed nothing but disdain, his gaze cold as he stared at the old woman. Under his piercing look, the Deaf Old Lady instinctively shrank back, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Let’s go, Zhonghai, hurry up."

"Yes, Mother."

Yi Zhonghai cast a cold glance at Wang Lin and said nothing more, fearing that Wang Lin might provoke him into an illness this early in the morning.

Watching Yi Zhonghai’s departing back, Wang Lin murmured, "Old Yang, how will you choose?"

He had already arranged for Old Fan to inform Factory Manager Yang earlier that morning, specifically intending to keep Shazhu and Xu Damao detained at the police station a little longer.

"Old Yang, you must know about Shazhu’s situation by now. You have to help him."

Factory Manager Yang lit a cigarette and began to ponder how to resolve the matter. He knew he couldn't afford to offend Wang Lin; if he agreed, he would certainly provoke him. However, the Deaf Old Lady had once saved his life, a debt of gratitude he felt compelled to repay.

The Deaf Old Lady sensed the factory manager's hesitation, realizing that Wang Lin’s status was indeed extraordinary. The reason she hadn't confronted Wang Lin since he moved in was precisely to determine his true background. Had it not been for that caution, she would have long since taught him a lesson for his recent behavior.

"Factory Manager Yang, as long as you help Shazhu resolve this, the debt between us will be..." The Deaf Old Lady left the sentence unfinished, but Yang understood perfectly.

"If I help you this once, the favor I owe you will be cleared. Do not come to me again after this."

Seeing the factory manager agree, both Yi Zhonghai and the Deaf Old Lady were overjoyed.

"Good, good, then I’ll have to trouble you, Factory Manager Yang." The Deaf Old Lady was so excited that she missed a breath and began to cough uncontrollably. "Cough, cough, cough."

Factory Manager Yang made a single phone call to the police station. With just a few brief words, the matter was settled. "You may leave now."

Seeing that the factory manager was already ushering them out, Yi Zhonghai and the Deaf Old Lady didn't dare linger and hurriedly left.

In the deputy manager's office, Wang Lin’s expression turned grim. "Very well, Mr. Yang. Since you show me no respect, I have no need to show you any either. Let’s go find Li Huaide."

"What’s wrong?" Qin Huairu and Lou Xiao'e asked, curious as to why Wang Lin was seeking out Li Huaide. Although they hadn't been at the rolling mill long, they knew well that Li Huaide was no good.

"Since the man surnamed Yang doesn't know his place, he’ll have to be brought down."

Before long, Wang Lin arrived at Li Huaide’s office with Qin Huairu and Lou Xiao'e. Upon seeing Wang Lin—and then noticing Lou Xiao'e at his side—Li Huaide beamed with joy.

"Brother Wang, what brings you here today?"

Wang Lin sat on the sofa with Qin Huairu and Lou Xiao'e in his arms and smiled. "Since you introduced Xiao'e to me, and you've been so attentive to my affairs, I naturally have to return the favor. An official notice will arrive shortly; from now on, you are the Director of the Revolutionary Committee. As for that man surnamed Yang, you can deal with him however you please."

"This..." Li Huaide was stunned. Because his father-in-law held a high position, he was aware that a Revolutionary Committee was being formed and that it would wield immense power. He had long coveted the position of Director, but heard it had already been filled internally. He never expected Wang Lin to secure it for him.

"Hahaha! Then I truly thank you, Brother Wang!"

After giving his instructions to Li Huaide, Wang Lin left with the two women. Li Huaide could barely contain his excitement. He felt incredibly clever; had he not paid such close attention to Wang Lin, he never would have ascended to this position.

Sure enough, shortly after they left, the official notice arrived from above. Upon receiving it, Li Huaide went straight to the Security Department.

"Section Chief Zhao, the higher-ups are implementing the Great Revolution. This Factory Manager Yang needs to undergo labor reform. Bring him to me; I want him properly denounced."

Section Chief Zhao was hesitant. After all, the factory manager was his superior, and he still relied on the mill for his paycheck. Li Huaide smiled faintly. "I am now the Director of the Revolutionary Committee. Everything I say is in accordance with the directives from above."

"Understood, Director Li." Section Chief Zhao was a smart man.

The higher-ups had been hesitant about this Great Revolution, as it was only the second year of the Great Famine, and the people were struggling to eat and clothe themselves. It was precisely because of this that they turned their eyes toward the capitalists; the Great Revolution was, in plain terms, aimed at them. But since the Deputy Manager Li Huaide had outmaneuvered everyone to become the Director, Factory Manager Yang was destined to be the scapegoat.

Under Li Huaide’s arrangement, by 10:00 AM, Factory Manager Yang was being led onto a high platform by several men from the Security Department, looking as wretched as could be. Below, the workers of the rolling mill were whispering among themselves. Li Huaide stood with several other mid-level executives, looking quite imposing.

Li Huaide looked down at Yang with triumph and began his interrogation. "Factory Manager Yang, don't hold a grudge against me. I am merely responding to the nation's call. You are the one who hindered the progress of the rolling mill and left our workers hungry."

Yang looked at the smug Li Huaide with disgust. He was filled with regret; he wasn't a fool—how could he not realize this was tied to Wang Lin? He had agreed to help the Deaf Old Lady get Shazhu out, and only hours later, Li Huaide had become the Director and was now destroying him.

*Damn it, it's all Yi Zhonghai and that old woman's fault.* Yang hated them both now. If not for them, the revolution wouldn't have reached him so quickly, leaving him no time to prepare.

"Director Li, you are right." With no other choice, Yang conceded.

"Very good. Given your attitude today, I will spare you from being denounced by the workers. However, from this day forward, you must undergo labor reform. You will be assigned to clean the toilets." Li Huaide smiled even more broadly. He had finally surpassed the factory manager, and he had already decided to keep tormenting him to stay in Wang Lin's good graces.

"Very well." Yang agreed.

Watching the broken Factory Manager Yang, Yi Zhonghai felt a chill run through his body. He recalled the look on Wang Lin’s face that morning; it was clear Wang Lin had warned him not to help Shazhu. Yet, because of the Deaf Old Lady, Yang had agreed, and in just a few hours, he had fallen.

Everything had happened too fast, filling Yi Zhonghai with fear toward Wang Lin. He remembered what the Deaf Old Lady had told him as he walked her home: "Don't provoke Wang Lin again. He is not someone we can afford to cross."

He hadn't taken her words to heart at the time, but now he was struck by a cold sense of dread. He didn't even realize that because he had successfully helped Shazhu, Xu Damao had also been released.