Siheyuan: Starting from the driver

Chapter 720 The Wind Whispers and the Grass Seems to Be an Enemy
Just one day later, a rectification storm triggered by the accident in the smelting workshop is sweeping across the entire leadership of the steel rolling mill with overwhelming force.

Under the command of Director Yang and other factory leaders, the action was swift and decisive.

Those leading cadres who were found to have problems and for whom we have concrete evidence, are those who are still in office.

No matter how high their position or how powerful they once were, they were all dismissed from their posts and imprisoned in a single day.

Even retirees were not spared.

They made direct visits to the home to investigate past grievances, stripped the recipients of their honors, and confiscated any illegal gains.
As for those who have passed away, they were not easily spared either.

The person may have died, but the circumstances surrounding their death are recorded in black and white and archived.

In just one day, much of the steel rolling mill's power structure collapsed.

However, this is only the beginning.

The real highlight is today.

Nine o'clock in the morning, in the main conference room.

In the past, meetings were always bustling with people, with crowds gathering even before the scheduled time.

They exchanged pleasantries amidst swirling smoke, creating a scene of "busy work, yet united, tense, serious, and lively."

But today is different.

Gradually, more and more people arrived, but there were still vacancies in several key positions.

The heads and deputy heads of several departments, including the Power Department, Materials Department, Logistics Department, and General Affairs Department, have not yet arrived.

At first, some people were confused and hesitated, whispering among themselves, "Why isn't Old Wu here? The meeting is about to start!"

"He's probably not feeling well. He usually comes here, so it's normal for him to get sick occasionally."

"That's true, but why are so many people sick today?"

"They should be on their way, almost there."

People didn't seem to care much and continued chatting in small groups.

"Bang!" The door suddenly opened.

Factory Director Yang, Li Huaide, Secretary Wang, and others strode in with imposing airs, their faces serious, a far cry from their usual smiling demeanor.

The other leaders weren't much better off.

Upon seeing this, everyone immediately suppressed their laughter and returned to their seats.

Director Yang sat directly in the center of the stage, his sharp eyes scanning every face below.

As far as the eye could see, all were silent as cicadas in winter.

The entire conference room could hear the drop of a pin.

Factory Director Yang didn't bother with any pretentious opening remarks. "Comrades, there's only one topic for today's meeting: the major accident that occurred in the smelting workshop!"

"This accident was extremely serious in nature! The consequences were extremely severe! The lessons learned were extremely painful! It is the worst accident since our factory was established!"

Three extremely telling moments serve as a wake-up call; preliminary investigations suggest the situation is far from simple!

"Bang!" He slammed his hand on the table, the loud noise startling several section chiefs sitting in the front row.

"Equipment, materials, operating procedures, safety management—there are potential hazards in every aspect!"

Director Yang looked at the horrified eyes of the crowd below the stage, and at the bewildered glances of some people.

“Some people don’t understand what I’m talking about. Okay, I’ll explain it to you in a simple way so that you can have a clear understanding.”

"The initial cause was the smelting workshop."

Wan Shen, who was standing nearby, was prepared and immediately distributed the case files to everyone for review.

As everyone listened, Director Yang gave a general overview of the situation, finally emphasizing the leaders who had been severely punished.

"As you can see, there are several empty seats. They're not sick, nor were they late! They won't be coming back! As for where they're going?"

Factory Director Yang sneered, "I think everyone knows the answer."

Even without Director Yang explicitly stating it, the case file still records it.

Everyone gasped instantly, and many felt the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end.

It's one thing if people are still employed and get arrested, but it's another if they're retired, and they don't even spare the dead.

All honorary medals, certificates, awards, and other honorary items will be revoked and recorded.

This would nail a person to the pillar of shame forever.

“This accident is very serious. After everyone has read the case file, they must write a profound self-reflection and submit it to me personally. I will review each one!”

"Anyone who doesn't reflect deeply on their actions will bear the consequences!"

Everyone was startled again, and felt a cold sweat pour down their backs.

At this point, everyone thought the matter would end there.

But things don't end so easily.

If the ventilation pipes in the smelting workshop can malfunction, could there be similar problems elsewhere?

With so many steel rolling mills, there are bound to be some places that go unnoticed.

While the steel rolling mill is still operating steadily, we should take care of these parasites as soon as possible, otherwise, the consequences will be dire.

"I'm here today to make this clear to everyone," Director Yang's voice lowered, yet became even more intimidating.

"To those who have done such things, don't think that you can get away with it just because 'heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know.' I advise you: Don't take any chances!"

"In response to the serious problems exposed by this accident, the steel rolling mill will conduct a comprehensive, thorough, and all-encompassing inspection starting today!"

Factory Director Yang placed his hands on the table and leaned slightly forward.

"Anyone who has made mistakes in the past by abusing their power or taking advantage of their position, no matter how big or small, can be treated leniently and given a chance to reform if they now voluntarily step forward and confess, clearly explaining everything!"

"If you still harbor wishful thinking, hoping to get away with it, or even plotting how to resist the investigation, you will be caught once you are found out."

"Bang!" Another heavy slap landed on the table!
"No leniency! All will be dealt with severely! Those who should be dismissed will be dismissed! Those who should be brought to justice will be brought to justice! No mercy! No leniency whatsoever! Every single one of them will be punished!"

The air seemed to freeze at that moment.

In the audience, some people turned pale, and cold sweat instantly soaked through the back of their shirts.

Some people's pupils suddenly contracted, and their breathing became unusually heavy.

Some people completely collapsed in their seats.

A few seconds of deathly silence.

suddenly!

"I! I confess! Factory manager! I admit it!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Qian Dagui, the usually smooth-talking deputy head of the production department.

He suddenly stood up from his seat, his body trembling violently like a leaf, his expression shifting between light and dark.

"I've made a mistake! I've committed a serious error! Last month, a batch of special steel scraps from the factory... I... I colluded with Old Sun from the Materials Bureau to resell some of them privately!"

"I took a kickback of 1,200 yuan! The money is still at my house, I didn't dare touch a single penny! I deserve to die! I was so stupid!" Qian Dagui almost howled.

Qian Dagui's collapse was like the first domino to fall.

“I’ll confess too! I… I misrepresented losses when purchasing coal and took a few hundred yuan in kickbacks,” the head of the equipment department stood up immediately afterward.

Only two or three leading cadres immediately stepped forward.

The atmosphere in the meeting room instantly became even more eerie.

On one hand, there are the desperate cries of those who confess, desperately pleading for survival.

On the other hand, among the remaining people, some had their hands pressed tightly against their knees, or clenched their fists under the table, their veins bulging.

Their eyes became more unfocused, and they were torn between their inner thoughts and their own inner conflicts.

Things haven't gotten to that point yet, and many leading cadres still harbor a侥幸心理 (a sense of侥幸, or a belief that they can get away with it).

To be honest could mean losing everything—my future and reputation.

As long as you don't confess and aren't caught, everything will be fine.

"Very good! Taking the initiative to admit mistakes is the first step in pulling back from the brink!" Director Yang's tone softened a bit.

It's not bad that a few leading cadres were frightened out of their positions just by scare tactics.

"Captain Ma, take him away."

Ma Wenxuan immediately got up and led the people away, and several security guards walked in one after another from outside the door.

After watching the group leave, Director Yang wasn't about to let it end so easily.

"However, the confessions of these few people alone cannot cleanse the steel mill of its corrupt practices. I believe there are still many others who are hoping to get away with it." Everyone looked at each other, but those who could resist confessing would not surrender so easily.

"Now! I hereby formally announce!" Director Yang stood up, his voice resolute.

"This major inspection mobilizes all employees of the steel rolling mill. Whether you are a furnace operator, a lathe operator, or a sanitation worker, as long as you are a member of our steel rolling mill, you are eligible."

"If you have doubts, opinions, or concrete evidence regarding any cadre's work style or personal conduct, or even just a vague feeling that something is amiss, then you are welcome to speak out!"

"In the past, people might have been afraid of retaliation and dared not speak out! Or they might have felt that speaking out was pointless and were unwilling to do so! But now! You can report it at will!"

Instantly, the leaders and cadres present were so frightened that they didn't know what to do.

Once you become a leader, who among you has a completely clean record? It's just a matter of degree.

Factory Director Yang is really going to escalate this to a major issue!
"I will set up complaint boxes in all prominent locations, including at the entrance of my office, the entrance of the administration building, next to the gate of the production area, and at the entrance of the workers' canteen."

These words dealt a heavy blow to those who still harbored illusions and wishful thinking.

"The above measures will be implemented immediately after the meeting!"

Instantly, the conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone could hear a heartbeat as loud as thunder.

"Director Yang, I...I confess!"

"I also confess; I am guilty!"

Several people immediately stepped forward to surrender.

A bottom-up inspection campaign is bound to lead to scandals sooner or later; they dare not gamble on it.

"Take him away!"

"Yes!"

The men were immediately arrested. Director Yang looked around at the crowd and saw that no one else would step forward.

"Looks like you won't give up until you've hit rock bottom, and you won't act until you see the benefits! Fine, your chance is gone. Let's see if you can still hide!"

"The meeting is dismissed!"

Secretary Wang, Li Huaide, and other factory leaders strode out of the conference room.

The door slammed shut behind them with a heavy thud.

When the door closed completely, the conference room did not immediately erupt in commotion, but fell silent, and no one got up to leave.

Everyone seemed to have been given instructions, their heads bowed, lost in thought.

No one spoke; everyone was on edge.

The matter was quickly initiated.

The broadcast was played immediately.

The security guards and the general affairs department also acted swiftly, placing complaint boxes in various locations.

The box is eye-catching, bright red all over, and hard to miss.

"My goodness! There really is a tip-off! The broadcast wasn't wrong."

"This time they're serious! Are they going to turn the world upside down?"

"Definitely! The broadcast said that any employee of our steel rolling mill who has doubts, opinions, or evidence can put them in this box!"

"Who would dare to do bad things?"

For a time, the entire steel rolling mill was plunged into an unprecedented state of turmoil.

The routine and somewhat dull factory life was completely disrupted.

A tense and excited atmosphere filled the air.

The workers' gazes toward the leaders now held a deeper, unspoken meaning.

Those leaders who were usually domineering and rude were now subconsciously much more restrained.

When questioned by workers, his voice unconsciously lowered by three points.

There was less idle chatter in the workshop and more eye contact.

Time flies, and it's almost time to get off work.

Under the supervision of the workers, Factory Director Yang, accompanied by security guards, was the first to open the complaint box in the canteen.

"Click!"

There wasn't the mountain of letters I'd imagined, nor were they all envelopes; many were even wrappers or cigarette boxes.

The reports from other places were similar, and they were all collected.

There were fewer than twenty letters in total.

But this is just the beginning.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Director Yang produced a standard whistleblower letter.

Upon opening it, I found a thick stack of cut-out warehouse receipt stubs of various sizes!
On the back of the receipt, a passage was neatly written in pen:

[Dear Factory Director Yang, Zhao Weimin of the Logistics Department has been falsifying the quantities of labor protection supplies received since the beginning of this year.]

This whistleblower letter not only stated the reasons but also provided a list of irrefutable physical evidence.

"Good, good, good!" Director Yang glanced at the stub.

"Captain Ma."

"To!"

"Arrest Zhao Weimin immediately! We can't let him escape!"

"Yes!" Ma Wenxuan waved his hand and led away three or five guards.

Ma Wenxuan was just about to leave work when he was caught red-handed.

When Zhao Weimin saw Ma Wenxuan arrive, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

"Captain Ma? What's wrong?" Zhao Weimin tried his best to force a smile, but it looked worse than crying.

"Zhao Weimin, Director Yang would like to see you. Is that convenient for you?" Ma Wenxuan's tone was calm but left no room for argument.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Weimin suddenly felt uneasy. Why did it have to be the head of the security department when he was asked to come over?

And it just so happens to be right when we're about to leave work.

"It's almost time to get off work, how about tomorrow?" Zhao Weimin still tried to resist.

"We politely asked you to come over, but you wouldn't listen. Guards! Take him over!"

"Yes!"

Two security guards immediately escorted Zhao Weimin straight to Factory Director Yang.

Zhao Weimin looked at all the workers present, and also saw Factory Director Yang there.

Need I say more?

With a loud thud, he knelt down and cried out, "Director Yang, I confess! I admit it!"

"It was Section Chief Zhang from the supply department who hinted that I did this! He said we should do some 'muddled accounting' at the end of the month, and everyone would share the profits! He would take the lion's share, and I would take a smaller share. As for the money, I didn't use it all; I still have some hidden at home."

Without Director Yang saying anything more, Ma Wenxuan led his men to arrest Section Chief Zhang.

"Is it wrong to know now? It's too late!"

"Take him away! Comrade, police station!"

"Yes!" The other guards escorted him to the security department's detention room.

"My God, is this for real?!"

"I thought it was just talk, but it seems they really mean it!"

The workers watching whispered among themselves, many of whom initially thought it was just talk, but it turned out to be true.

Among the crowd, a few people's eyes hardened.

Director Yang looked at the whispering crowd; this was exactly what he wanted.

No amount of talking is as effective as taking action.

"It's getting late, everyone should hurry home after get off work."

After saying that, he left with the remaining complaint letters.

We need to read all these reports, and if they are reasonable and well-founded, we need to arrest them all!

(End of this chapter)