Zhuang Zhixi arrived at the factory early in the morning. As soon as he reached the main gate, he was stopped.
Security guard Zhang San grabbed Zhuang Zhixi, his eyes sparkling like they were filled with stars. He said, "Dr. Zhuang, I heard there's a ghost haunting the toilets in your alley?"
Zhuang Zhixi's mouth twitched. How many times did he have to explain that he wasn't a doctor?
He smiled and said, "I'm not too sure about that. I sleep deeply, so you should ask someone else."
Although he often heard gossip, Zhuang Zhixi knew what to say and what not to say. If he spoke too much, he might end up being accused of spreading feudal superstitions. He added, "I don't know if there's a ghost or not, but I saw Bai Fendou and Zhou Qun fighting each other this morning."
Zhang San: "What?!"
He quickly asked, "Fighting? Over what? Is it about a woman? I heard Wang Xiangxiu is involved too. Tsk tsk, this is quite the commotion."
Zhuang Zhixi: "I'm not too clear about that. Maybe you should ask someone else. I need to head to the Propaganda Department, so I'll have to leave now."
"Don't go! Tell me, I won't tell anyone else."
Zhuang Zhixi: I believe you, my foot.
He thought to himself but still smiled on the surface and said, "I really am busy. Oh, by the way, I vaguely heard Zhou Qun saying he wanted to go to the neighborhood committee this morning. But I don't think that's the right approach, is it? Shouldn't our security department be involved? The neighborhood committee is good for handling family disputes and trivial matters, but for this kind of situation, I'm not sure they're the right fit. Besides, even though the neighborhood committee oversees our area, everyone there has their own jobs. They might just push it back to the factory anyway. Who knows who will end up handling it..."
Zhuang Zhixi sighed.
He then smiled and said, "Our security department hasn't been busy lately, huh? You even have time to block me here and listen to gossip."
Zhang San slapped his thigh and said, "Ah! This matter should be handled by our factory's security department! Zhou Qun can't go to the neighborhood committee; everyone in your courtyard works at the factory. Both Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou are factory employees; how can they involve outsiders? This is disrespecting our security department! I'll go tell our boss! We need to handle this."
It wasn't about gossip; he just didn't want to admit it!
Zhuang Zhixi gave a meaningful smile, then pretended to think deeply and nodded immediately, saying, "That makes sense. Having the factory handle it is better than the neighborhood committee. If necessary, a joint investigation would work too. Otherwise, if the neighborhood committee investigates and just informs the factory, the factory would look too passive. After all, they are all factory employees."
"Exactly!"
Zhang San suddenly became energized and said, "I'll go find the leadership."
Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "Maybe by then, you'll know more details than I do. Next time, I'll have to ask you about what happened."
Zhang San: "Hah, my gossip-gathering skills are better than yours."
Zhuang Zhixi laughed and said, "Keep bragging. I'm heading upstairs now."
Zhuang Zhixi didn't linger and quickly went to the Propaganda Department. He had been busy with this recently. Several skits had been finalized, but they still needed to prepare some props. For example, for "The White-Haired Girl," they needed to set up some scenery; for "The Marriage of Little Erhei," they needed to prepare some backgrounds. They had initially decided to use a pastoral painting as the backdrop.
With limited manpower, they had to juggle both rehearsing and preparing props, with each person doing the work of two.
Zhuang Zhixi climbed the stairs and entered the room, where he saw several people already there. One of the older women looked up and quickly asked, "Zhuang, I heard there's a ghost in your area?"
Zhuang Zhixi thought, "Wow, news travels fast!"
He smiled and joked, "You all are so well-informed."
At that moment, Director Song entered the room and chimed in, "I hadn't even entered the factory this morning when I heard people talking about it at the gate. What's the deal? I heard it has something to do with Zhou Qun from the electrical department?"
Zhuang Zhixi: "I can't really comment on that."
He clasped his hands together and said, "Everyone, just wait. Zhou Qun has decided to go to the security department, so you'll soon know the full story. To be honest, I don't really know what happened last night. I didn't even dare to go out at first. You know how it is; a handsome guy like me always has to be careful."
"Pfft! Your face is so thick!"
"Exactly."
"Hey, don't hold back. We're all working together; just tell us a bit."
Everyone started urging him to speak, but sometimes, it wasn't that Zhuang Zhixi was gossipy; it was a way of socializing. In this era, it wasn't about minding your own business. Any little thing would spread like wildfire.
If everyone was talking and you weren't, it was harder to fit in. Sometimes, sharing a secret or gossip helped integrate into a new environment.
Of course, there was a balance. Some things shouldn't be said, as it would only earn you disrespect. So, after deflecting a bit, Zhuang Zhixi started to share what he could: "I don't know if there's a ghost. People are just saying that. I didn't even think to check at first. But later, Jiang Lu said it was Zhou Qun outside and rushed out. We were worried, so we followed to take a look."
"So... was there really a ghost?"
"Nonsense, there's no such thing as ghosts."
"Quiet, let Zhuang speak." Director Song also widened his eyes and reprimanded the others, urging Zhuang Zhixi to continue.
Zhuang Zhixi: "I didn't see any ghosts. It was just a bit foggy. I'm not sure what really happened, but Zhou Qun was so scared he wet his pants."
"What the...!"
"Ugh, that's disgusting."
"Is this a real man from Beijing? How cowardly!"
Zhuang Zhixi continued, "Later, Zhou Qun's mother didn't want to spend money to send him to the hospital, so we all went home. But this morning, Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou started fighting again. I saw them still at it when I left."
"What were they fighting about? Why did they start again?"
Zhuang Zhixi: "Just a disagreement, I guess. Everyone's been on edge."
"What kind of disagreement? You must know. Spill it, you're always holding back half the story."
Zhuang Zhixi smiled wryly, "Some things... it's not appropriate to talk about. It involves another female colleague. If I say anything, I'd be like those gossipy old women. Just wait, I think the security department will get involved. Then you'll know more than I do. I only have bits and pieces, and I'm afraid of saying something wrong and damaging someone's reputation."
"Come on... you..."
Director Song: "Alright, stop pressuring Zhuang. Let's get back to work. We all know what's important. Those gossipy matters are trivial. We need to focus on the Labor Day event. By the way, Old Huang, you can start preparing the backdrop."
Old Huang nodded, "I know, but I can't do it all by myself."
Director Song immediately looked at the others, but those he looked at quickly averted their eyes, not meeting his gaze.
Director Song: "Little Li, you help Old Huang..."
Little Li looked miserable and said, "Director, I have three performances to rehearse. I'm already stretched thin. I really can't help, you see..."
Director Song thought for a moment, "That's true. Little Wang, you go."
Little Wang wasn't happy either. She pouted and said, "I also have two performances. I can't even memorize all the lines for 'The Marriage of Little Erhei'..."
Director Song: "Then..."
Everyone quickly avoided eye contact, none of them wanting to help.
Performing on stage was a chance to be seen and was quite honorable. But working behind the scenes on props was tedious and unrewarding. Old Huang was also a bit rigid and eccentric, so naturally, no one wanted to work with him.
Director Song knew this well, and he sighed in frustration. His gaze landed on Zhuang Zhixi, and his eyes lit up. "Zhuang, you were here yesterday preparing the backdrop, right? I see you have some experience. Perfect, you can help Old Huang with the backdrop for the skits."
Before Zhuang Zhixi could respond, Little Li chimed in, "Yes, yes, I think Zhuang can handle it."
Xiao Wang also nodded in agreement: "Right, Zhuang Zhixi mainly hosts and leads the chorus, so he doesn't need to memorize much. He's a good fit for this."
"I think so too."
"Me too."
Everyone seemed to be of the same mind, thinking that Zhuang Zhixi would be perfect for the job.
In truth, whether someone went or not didn't matter much, as long as it wasn't themselves paired with Old Huang. Anyone else would do.
It didn't matter!
Since everyone was saying so, Zhuang Zhixi didn't decline, but instead said: "I can do it. After all, a revolutionary is like a brick, placed wherever needed. However, I don't have much experience in drawing, only having done some blackboard newspapers at school. Is that okay?"
"Of course it's okay! You're already quite knowledgeable," Director Song affirmed firmly. "Many people haven't even done blackboard newspapers, so they're not as good as you. Alright, it's settled. You're in charge of this."
Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "Since the leadership has arranged it, then sure, I'll go. Uncle Huang, if there's anything you need, just let me know. As long as you don't mind my clumsy hands, I'll be your assistant."
Old Huang's face remained expressionless as he said, "Anyone will do."
Zhuang Zhixi: "..."
He chuckled.
In truth, he wasn't particularly skilled, but during his school days, he had done some blackboard newspapers, so he had a bit of experience. Being the main force might be a stretch, but assisting wouldn't be a problem. Old Huang was the only one in the propaganda department who could draw and make props, so working under him was a good opportunity for Zhuang Zhixi.
Old Huang, the main force, was nearing fifty and spoke bluntly: "Alright, follow me. Let's find a larger place."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Got it."
He followed behind Old Huang, like a little eunuch.
"Mr. Huang, is there anything else we need? I can go prepare it," Zhuang Zhixi said clearly on this point. He was here to help, not as an official employee of the propaganda department. Therefore, he wouldn't overstep his bounds; he would listen, observe, learn, and work more, and speak less.
This wasn't an era where one could casually express opinions.
Moreover, it was rare to have the chance to learn from Old Huang. Zhuang Zhixi wasn't one to miss such an opportunity, even though everyone else thought this kind of work was useless and didn't want to assist Old Huang.
His philosophy was: learn a little bit at a time. You never know when it might come in handy.
In any case, learning something was never a waste.
He happily followed Old Huang. Seeing his enthusiasm, Old Huang raised an eyebrow in surprise. After all, these days, writing and drawing weren't considered good work. Intellectuals weren't valued, so Zhuang Zhixi's attitude was quite rare.
Originally, Old Huang thought this young man named Zhuang was a bit slippery, but seeing his passionate demeanor, he reconsidered. Perhaps he was just young and exuberant, not truly cunning and experienced. If he were truly cunning, he wouldn't be so eager to help when everyone else avoided it.
The two went to an empty warehouse to prepare the backdrop. Old Huang glanced at him and said, "No one likes to come, yet you're so eager."
This time, it wasn't just Zhuang Zhixi helping; there were others, but some were avoiding eye contact, almost shrinking into the background. In contrast, Zhuang Zhixi, being tall, stood out prominently, not declining at all.
Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "Anyway, I'm here to help, so it doesn't matter what I do. Besides, instead of practicing the chorus with them, I think it's better to help you. I can even learn a thing or two. Everyone in the factory knows you're excellent at drawing."
This wasn't an exaggeration. Over the years, almost all the blackboard newspapers in the factory had been done by Old Huang.
Whether it was calligraphy or painting, he was quite skilled.
Zhuang Zhixi wasn't sure if he was a master of calligraphy and painting, probably not.
But for ordinary people like them, they didn't need to judge whether it was a masterpiece. As long as it looked "real," that was good enough. After all, how many could achieve such authenticity? Zhuang Zhixi smiled and moved closer, saying, "Feel free to instruct me. I'd love to see how it's done."
Old Huang: "Alright, but first, let's make a window."
Zhuang Zhixi: "Huh?"
Old Huang: "Yang Bailao's house needs a window to look realistic, with snow falling outside."
Zhuang Zhixi wasn't very good at this, but he spread his hands and said, "I'll follow your instructions. Just tell me what to do!"
Old Huang looked at Zhuang Zhixi and nodded, "Alright, come, I'll explain it to you."
Zhuang Zhixi wasn't necessarily the most popular among his peers, but he was definitely well-liked by teachers. Why? Because he was eager to learn, serious, sincere, and not afraid to ask questions.
All these qualities resonated with teachers.
Zhuang Zhixi had a good relationship with his teachers during school, and now he quickly got along well with Old Huang. Others thought Old Huang was rigid and blunt, not someone to get close to. But Zhuang Zhixi wasn't intimidated by him; instead, they had a good back-and-forth conversation.
Old Huang patted his shoulder and said, "You're not bad, quick learner."
Zhuang Zhixi chuckled and said, "It's also because you teach well."
The two worked busily, well, actually, the entire propaganda department was busy. Director Song was grumbling: "What's wrong with Old Bai? He's playing Yang Bailao, yet he dares to skip rehearsal?"
"I checked, he didn't take leave, but many people in their courtyard didn't come today."
Director Song suddenly realized, oh, the ghost incident!
He said, "Everything seems to be happening at once. Alright, keep practicing, I'll go to the security department to check."
Indeed.
It turned out he was also curious.
He quickly went downstairs, and Little Wang smiled, "Director, if you get the first-hand news, be sure to tell us quickly!"
Director Song was serious: "What first-hand news? I'm going to see why Old Bai is absent without permission, not to meddle in those trivial matters. You all focus on practicing, stop joking around, we need to be serious."
"Yes, yes."
Everyone still had smiles on their faces, and Director Song quickly went downstairs.
Sure enough, when he arrived at the security department, he found that more than half the people were gone. He coughed and said, "Where's your section chief?"
Wang Ermazi immediately stepped forward: "Director Song, our section chief has taken people out on business. Some factory employees are involved in superstitious activities, and it's our duty to handle it."
Director Song nodded, "I see. I was looking for your section chief to ask something, but... well, tell me which courtyard it is, I'll go there directly."
Wang Ermazi: "..."
Don't think I don't know you just want to go and watch the excitement.
He quickly said, "It's Xinghua Lane. Number 44, Xinghua Lane. Just go there and find it!"
"Good."
Director Song hurried out and immediately headed towards the direction.
Wang Ermazi sighed enviously, "Another one going to watch the excitement, while I have to stay and work, sigh."
Director Song hurried, and just as he left the factory, he ran into Deputy Factory Director Zhang riding a bicycle. Deputy Factory Director Zhang: "Old Song, where are you going?"
Director Song coughed and said with righteous indignation, "Our propaganda department has been busy preparing for the May Day Labor Festival. We've borrowed some employees to help, and the one playing Yang Bailao didn't show up today, not even taking leave. I'm going to see what's going on. Our 'Bai Mao Nu' can't wait."
Deputy Factory Director Zhang's mouth twitched, thinking, just admit you want to go watch the excitement, why make up so many excuses? Tsk, not honest at all.
But his official tone was also ready, "Look, we're all dedicating ourselves to the factory, aren't we? Today, many employees are absent without reason, and it seems to involve some disputes. The security department has already gone over. As the deputy factory director in charge, I can't let such things develop unchecked and be left in the dark. I need to go and see what's going on. If the factory director or other leaders ask, I can explain clearly. The worst thing is miscommunication; even the best words can be twisted."
"Exactly, exactly."
The two exchanged glances, both understanding each other well.
They rode their bikes together towards the courtyard.
At this moment, in Courtyard No. 44 of Plum Blossom Lane, where the Zhuang family resides, many people had not gone to work. It wasn't because they were skipping work without reason, but rather because they hadn't rested well the previous night, so they were inevitably a bit slower in the morning.
If they hurried and rushed, they could still make it to the factory on time.
However, no one had the energy for that, and on top of that, the Security Section had arrived.
Yes, the Security Section had arrived.
And so, they naturally asked everyone to stay put. Investigations were necessary.
It must be said that Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou were truly warriors among warriors. The two of them kept going at it, back and forth, until the Security Section arrived, and they still hadn't stopped. Both of them were severely injured.
Zhou Qun was beaten to a pulp, his face bruised and swollen, and he exuded a faint, unpleasant odor.
As for Bai Fendou, he was the absolute victor in the physical confrontation with Zhou Qun, a victor in the truest sense. However, Zhou Qun had two helpers: an old lady and a young woman. The two of them used a long-lost technique, the Nine Yin White Bone Claw, and literally scratched him into shreds.
Upon seeing this, Section Chief Liu of the Security Section quickly said, "Separate them, separate them! What is this all about? You two grown men, what are you fighting about?"
When the Security Section arrived, even Zhou Qun was flustered, and Madam Zhou Li was even more so.
Madam Zhou Li had a history with the Security Section, a shadowed past.
Before the Security Section could even question her, she plopped down on the ground, looking as if her father had just died.
Of course, at her age, such a thing was normal.
Meanwhile, Bai Fendou started to gloat. Why? Because he was part of the Security Section himself. He knew their section chief, a man with a stern face but someone who was very protective of his own. In today's situation, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage.
No matter how things were between them, the Security Section presented a united front to the outside.
He immediately said, "Section Chief Liu, you've arrived just in time. This guy, this guy right here, he's having an affair with his shifu's wife."
Zzzt!
Those words were like a drop of oil splashed into a hot pan, instantly causing everyone to gasp in shock.
Bai Fendou continued, "He's also been with other older women, all as old as his mother."
Oh, this!
The Security Section had heard some rumors, but they hadn't had time to investigate before rushing over. Now, they were stunned. Section Chief Liu, who had seen a lot in his time, having served near the border and heard all sorts of strange stories, was also taken aback.
"Bai Fendou, you're slandering me!"
Zhou Qun, furious, retorted, "Stop spouting nonsense! You're not exactly innocent yourself, you've been hanging around with that widow."
At this point, Wang Xiangxiu, feeling the pressure shift to her, immediately perked up. She brought out her best acting skills, biting her lip and crying out, "Zhou Qun, you scoundrel! You can't slander me, so now you're trying to smear me like this. I'm a widow, do you know how hard it is? I count the days carefully, living a clean and honest life, and you have the audacity to slander me like this. I can't go on..."
She ran straight toward the wall, shouting, "I'll die to prove my innocence!"
In the nick of time, Bai Fendou shouted "Ah!" and quickly rushed over to hug Wang Xiangxiu, saying, "Sister Xiangxiu, how could you be so foolish? How could you kill yourself over such rumors? What about Jinlai and the others if you're gone?"
He hugged her waist and said, "You can't die! No, you can't!"
Zhao Guihua, standing not far away, watched the scene unfold with a skeptical eye.
This drama, oh, it was too exaggerated.
Zhao Guihua, with her broad experience, immediately felt that this performance was quite exaggerated. If you tried to pull something like this for sympathy, you'd probably get punched. But at this time, people hadn't seen much of this kind of thing, and everyone was stunned by Wang Xiangxiu's performance.
Everyone chimed in: "Xiangxiu, don't do anything foolish. Why give up on yourself for a few lowlifes?"
"Exactly, your kids are still young. Look at those three big, strong boys of yours. Your good days are ahead of you. Don't do anything rash."
"We believe in you. We definitely believe in you. Don't be so reckless. If you leave, the old and the young will be left behind. What will you do then?"
"That's right."
Aunt Su ran over, crying, and hugged Wang Xiangxiu, saying, "Xiangxiu, if you leave, I won't go on either. I'll take the kids and follow you. There's no way we can let them bully us like this. They're trying to drive two widows to their deaths..."
"Mom... I'm in such a difficult position. A widow's life is full of troubles!"
The two women wept together.
Seeing this, everyone felt sympathy and said, "Zhou Qun, look at what you've done."
"Exactly, why bully a widow? What kind of person are you?"
"What kind of person? Someone who seduces his shifu's wife and then discards her? Section Chief Liu, you don't know, this guy is really something. He's been haunted by a ghost..."
Section Chief Liu reprimanded, "Stop talking nonsense. There are no ghosts in this world."
He looked at Zhou Qun and said, "You, too, bullying women isn't a skill. If you've got guts, take it out on men..." After saying that, he glanced at Bai Fendou's multicolored face and paused, adding, "Even fighting men isn't right. In a harmonious society, we should unite with our neighbors. Fighting is not the way."
He put his hands on his hips and said, "Now, tell me, what exactly is going on here? Goodness, this ghost story has spread like wildfire since early morning. Are you deliberately trying to ruin the factory's reputation?"
Zhou Qun immediately put on a smiling face and said, "Section Chief Liu, I'm innocent in this matter."
Zhou Qun was quite shrewd. He knew that the incident of him seeing a ghost last night couldn't be kept secret, as so many people had witnessed it. So, he had to take the initiative.
He had planned to go to the neighborhood committee early on. The people in the neighborhood committee who dealt with such matters were usually quite old, and old folks tended to be a bit superstitious. With a bit of trickery, he could have passed it off.
But he hadn't expected the Security Section to arrive uninvited.
This made things complicated.
If he told the old folks in the neighborhood committee that he hadn't seen a ghost but that someone had played a prank on him, even if they knew it was an excuse, they would likely downplay the matter.
What if they didn't?
They wouldn't believe someone had played a prank, so they wouldn't bother investigating.
And if they believed in ghosts, they wouldn't have the ability to deal with them, so they wouldn't want to take on that bad luck.
In the end, they would likely go along with his story, saying it was a prank, avoiding the issue of superstition. Then they would investigate, but whether they found anything or not would be another matter. Over time, the matter would be forgotten.
Who would dare to say there were really ghosts? They wouldn't want to take on that burden.
Zhou Qun's plan wasn't about trickery but about understanding human nature.
But with the Security Section involved, it was a different story.
This had to do with the composition of the Security Section. The members were basically divided into two types: those who had been soldiers and were transferred after retirement, and those who were children of factory workers. They rarely recruited outsiders.
The former group, having come from military backgrounds, were unlikely to believe in ghosts.
The latter group were young people. Even if they believed in ghosts, they would likely want to stir up some trouble out of curiosity.
If he insisted that it was someone playing a prank, they would definitely investigate. But was Zhou Qun worried about whether it was a real ghost or a fake one? No! What he was truly worried about was what had been said yesterday, and those words had been overheard.
The more they investigated, the more those words would spread, and his life would become increasingly difficult.
And the more details they uncovered, the more likely they were to trap him.
Zhou Qun was now in a bit of a predicament, unsure of what to do.
"Zhou Qun, what are you thinking? Answer directly when asked, and don't try to deceive the Security Section or the organization," Section Chief Liu said sternly, seeing him lost in thought.
Zhou Qun: "I truly am innocent..."
"Then explain what happened. This matter has escalated so much; do you really think you can keep it hidden?" Section Chief Liu: "Go ahead, explain."
Zhou Qun: "..."
After hesitating for a moment, he said, "I had a stomachache yesterday and was about to go out to use the bathroom when I heard voices. It seemed like a man and a woman were having an affair. It's my fault for being curious, I just wanted to see what was going on, but then I encountered something supernatural. Of course, I don't believe in ghosts, I think someone was deliberately trying to scare me."
He was quite indignant: "I fainted from fright, yet the neighbors not only didn't help, they just left. Isn't it said that neighbors are closer than distant relatives? How could they act like this? I was only woken up this morning by my mother, and we had to help each other home. But just when I thought things couldn't get worse, Bai Fendou came to pick a fight. You're all from the security section, you can't be covering for each other. Bai Fendou is really going too far."
Naturally, he was only presenting his side of the story.
But others weren't about to let him have the last word, with Aunt Wang being the first to speak up.
She said, "Section Chief Liu, I'm the caretaker of this courtyard, I'm Aunt Wang, and my husband is Li the Cook. If Zhou Qun is going to talk like this, then I have something to say too. We don't know if someone was pretending to be a ghost, but when we went out, there was only Zhou Qun lying at the bathroom door. He says we didn't care about our neighbors, so I want you to ask everyone carefully, not just our courtyard, but the surrounding courtyards who came to watch. Was it really us who didn't care about our neighbors? I tried several times to take him to the hospital. But how did Jiang Lu talk to me? She told me to get lost! And how did Madam Zhou Li talk? She said her son's matter was none of our business and she didn't want to spend money, wanting us to pay instead. Everyone knows what kind of situation her family is in, they can't even afford it, so how can we? And why should we pay for her? Because she has a thick face and knows how to stir up trouble? Not only did she want us to pay, but she also cursed us, saying we'd be childless if we didn't help. Can you imagine someone saying such things? There's more that's even worse, but I don't want to mention it. You can go around and ask yourself."
Aunt Wang, being the caretaker of the courtyard and a seasoned conversationalist, delivered her speech with logic and reason.
Her words, however, amused Section Chief Liu, who looked at Madam Zhou Li and joked, "Madam, you're still as sharp-tongued as ever, aren't you?"
Madam Zhou Li's face had already fallen, turning dark as she dared not provoke Section Chief Liu.
This Section Chief Liu was not the one who had recently taken bribes.
Section Chief Liu, the actual head, had been on a business trip recently and hadn't arrived on the scene, but he did catch the tail end of the incident. He was well aware of the notorious Madam Zhou Li's erratic and malicious behavior.
Later, when Jiang Lu came to pick up Zhou Qun, it was Section Chief Liu who signed for his release.
So, Madam Zhou Li had indeed met Section Chief Liu before.
Section Chief Liu chuckled and continued, "Look at you, your son hasn't even become the factory director yet, and you're already acting like a tyrant?"
The rumor of Zhou Qun becoming the factory director was widespread.
"I, I didn't!"
Madam Zhou Li fell silent, but her silence only infuriated Zhou Qun. He finally couldn't hold back and shouted at his mother, "Mom, what's wrong with you! Why are you doing this again! Didn't you tell me everyone was deliberately standing by and doing nothing?"
He was trembling with rage, though it was unclear if it was genuine or an act.
In Zhao Guihua's opinion, it was definitely not real anger. After all, he knew what kind of person his mother was. How could he believe this foul-mouthed old woman? Zhao Guihua crossed her arms and tapped her slippers rhythmically, enjoying the show.
It would have been even better with some sunflower seeds.
Too bad there weren't any.
Section Chief Liu: "Alright, it seems there's no point in discussing the matter of everyone standing by and doing nothing."
Zhou Qun seemed embarrassed and rubbed his face.
Section Chief Liu: "Then let's talk about the fight."
Bai Fendou: "Tui!"
He spat at Zhou Qun and said, "You're trying to downplay the whole thing, Section Chief Liu, listen to me!"
He felt that Zhou Qun was trying to minimize the incident, and he wouldn't allow it. Absolutely not!
He said, "The story begins last night..."
This kind of narrative, starting from the beginning, was everyone's favorite. The security section, led by Section Chief Liu, immediately fell silent. Deputy Factory Director Zhang and Director Song, who arrived in time, also quietly joined the crowd of onlookers. Seeing more people gather, Bai Fendou became even more energized, channeling the spirit of the famous storyteller Daganzi from Tianqiao.
He wasn't like Zhou Qun, who, though a hypocrite, still had some brains and knew not to directly mention the ghost, instead pinning it on someone pretending to be supernatural. But what kind of person was Bai Fendou?
He lived by the principle of being straightforward!
He waved his hand and began his oration: "So, last night, the sky was dark and the wind was high... I was half-asleep... I squinted out the window and saw smoke and ghostly lights..."
Bai Fendou was in full swing, his speech flowing like a river... He was a native of Beijing, and he had a bit of the local alleyway gossip talent in him (no offense intended).
Though not a professional storyteller, his tale was quite compelling, with ups and downs, hitting every mark.
However, the story was too bizarre, and his choice of words was overly dramatic, so by the time he finished, an hour had passed.
Zhao Guihua, sitting on a small stool watching the show, understood why Bai Fendou couldn't find a wife.
This repetitive speech, going round and round.
Yet, the scene remained silent. After a while, Zhao Guihua thought she heard someone gulp. At that moment, Section Chief Liu spoke, his voice calm but firm: "Master?"
Indeed, such topics were always of eternal interest.
"I'm not, I didn't!" Zhou Qun jolted and quickly defended himself.
Madam Zhou Li also cursed: "Bai Fendou, you little brat, don't you dare slander my little Qun. You're just jealous, jealous of his goodness, so you're slandering him."
Bai Fendou didn't hold back: "It wasn't me who said it, it was the Alcoholic. He even dared to swear a deadly oath."
Despite the Alcoholic's love for drinking, people around here would rather believe him.
After all, who would dare to swear such a deadly oath?
Moreover, the Alcoholic, though a drinker, had no major flaws in character, everyone knew that. His character was pretty good. As for his drinking... you can't stop someone from drinking, can you?
It was just a personal hobby.
Section Chief Liu: "Go and bring him here."
He was addressing Zhang San.
Their security section had a knack for naming, with characters like Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Ermazi.
The Alcoholic wasn't from their factory, so of course, they had to "invite" him. However, the Alcoholic's older brother worked at their factory, so he lived in the area. The Alcoholic hadn't gone to work today, taking a day off after the scare was understandable.
But this guy was good; when he heard the mechanical factory was looking for him, he didn't hesitate and came right over.
Like Bai Fendou, he wasn't one for many tricks. He started talking, and an hour later, he had thoroughly recounted his experience of encountering a ghost...
By this time, Section Chief Liu wasn't smiling anymore; his face was dark and grim. He asked, "Are you sure?"
The Alcoholic: "If I'm lying, may lightning strike me dead, and I'll see a ghost tonight."
Madam Zhou Li cursed: "You were just drunk and confused, and now you're trying to frame my son. My son..."
"Enough!" Section Chief Liu frowned: "Shut up!"
Being a military man, he had a broad back and a menacing aura, which effectively silenced Madam Zhou Li.
She trembled and didn't dare speak.
Section Chief Liu tapped his fingers on his leg, his expression serious, and asked, "Did you see the female ghost?"
The Alcoholic nodded, then shook his head. Seeing Section Chief Liu's piercing gaze, he shrank and said, "I saw her, but I didn't really see her. I was hiding in the men's bathroom, and she floated over. I didn't dare look up, but I saw a white shadow out of the corner of my eye... but I remember the sound, oh man, it was terrifying, like the sound of a cat scratching a window frame, it sent shivers down my spine."
"You heard the sound."
“I heard it too. I even overheard the conversation between Zhou Qun and the others. They did mention several older women… and ghost fires. I saw ghost fires.”
The security department staff were all amazed, feeling lucky that it was broad daylight. If it had been nighttime, it would have been quite scary.
However, there were those with bigger guts. Li Si was one of them. He said, “I don’t believe it. Could it be that something caught fire and was smoking?”
Everyone shook their heads.
How could they be sure?
Section Chief Liu: “I think this matter has escalated quite a bit. As employees of the factory, the factory cannot ignore it. Since Zhou Qun claims it’s someone playing tricks, the factory must investigate thoroughly. Otherwise… oh, Deputy Factory Director Zhang, why are you here? And Director Song?” He immediately realized the leaders were here to watch the commotion, but he couldn’t say that outright. He quickly added, “Look how big this matter has become. Even Deputy Factory Director Zhang and Director Song have come to inquire personally. How can we not investigate thoroughly? This matter must be investigated rigorously, thoroughly. Deputy Factory Director Zhang, what do you think?”
Deputy Factory Director Zhang nodded: “This is necessary. Otherwise, if this rumor spreads, it will turn into superstitious nonsense.”
Mentioning this, the few who had been so certain about ghosts earlier shrank their necks.
Deputy Factory Director Zhang: “Personally, I don’t believe in any ghost stories. In broad daylight, we should uphold science. Superstition is not acceptable. But there are witnesses on the scene. We must also investigate their testimonies thoroughly.”
Everyone nodded.
Indeed, whether there are ghosts or not is one matter, and whether Zhou Qun is entangled with those older women is another. Both need to be investigated seriously.
At this moment, Da Qiang from the neighboring courtyard, known as the bold one, was also watching the excitement. He hadn’t gone to work today. After staying up late last night, he overslept and was late. But since he was already late, he decided to come and see what was going on.
The factory could understand this situation today.
However, as the topic reached this point, Da Qiang shouted loudly, “Deputy Factory Director Zhang, I want to report! I want to report Zhou Qun for improper relationships and abusing his power for personal gain!”
Deputy Factory Director Zhang: “???”
He became serious: “What’s going on?!”
Da Qiang: “The Auntie Xinghua mentioned in the conversation is the wife of Master Zou, who is in charge of grading at the factory. He retired at the end of the year before last. Just before his retirement, Zhou Qun passed the seventh-level electrician exam. I suspect there’s something fishy going on.”
“Right, right.”
“I suspect that too!”
“Exactly!”
“How could he have passed the levels so smoothly? If he were really that skilled, why didn’t he win any awards during the factory-wide competitions?”
“That’s true.”
Zhou Qun’s face turned red with anger as he shouted, “I said there’s nothing! This is a frame-up, the Alcoholic is framing me!”
The Alcoholic was extremely aggrieved, his voice even louder than Zhou Qun's: "I'm not lying! He really mentioned those people and said those things. If he didn't say it, I'll eat shit right here!!"
Zhao Guihua: Wow, what a tough guy.
Everyone was stunned!
So, why are you all so obsessed with the toilet?
