Siheyuan: Starting from the driver

Chapter 742 A Useless Move in the Plot to Seize the Medicine Source Turns to a New Target

From Xu Damao's appearance to his dramatic kneeling and weeping, to Squad Leader Zhao's "fair" announcement of the punishment and his explicit linking of the final penalty to his attitude.

Every step was completely unexpected, yet also perfectly logical.

Li Kailang glanced at Xu Damao, who was kneeling on the ground, secretly wiping his nose and tears with his sleeve, while actually glancing nervously at him out of the corner of his eye.

Was that disheveled appearance a genuine expression of remorse, or just an act?
Li Kailang wasn't able to read Xu Damao and Li Huaide's minds, so he couldn't guess what they were thinking.

After a few seconds of silence, just when everyone in the Materials Science Department thought Li Kailang would angrily accuse him, or even kick Xu Damao a couple of times, he slowly spoke.

His voice was low, revealing neither his joy nor anger: "Squad Leader Zhao, since the factory and the security department have already intervened in the investigation, clarified the course of events, and made corresponding arrangements, I personally have no objections."

Squad Leader Zhao looked at him in surprise, not expecting him to agree so easily.
"As for the apology," Li Kailang's gaze finally fell on Xu Damao.

"Since Comrade Xu Damao acknowledges his mistake and has expressed his apology in person, I have received his sincerity."

He paused, then remembered the punishment he had just received.

"Squad Leader Zhao just said that Xu Damao's final punishment will depend on his subsequent performance, especially his performance in cleaning toilets over the past three days."

"Personally, I think it's a good thing to make mistakes and be punished, to comply with factory rules and regulations, so that Xu Damao can reform his thinking and wash away his wrong ideas through labor."

"As long as he accepts the punishment conscientiously, completes the tasks assigned to him by the security department, and seriously reflects on his actions, I personally have nothing to say."

The following sentences were spoken flawlessly, with the subtext crystal clear:
I accept the apology as an "attitude," and I also accept the security department's punishment of Xu Damao. For me, Li Kailang, this matter is now closed.

I won't hold a grudge; it'll make things easier for everyone.

As for what punishment Xu Damao will ultimately receive? That's something your security department should consider. I don't care, and I "have no opinion."

I have received this proposed solution, but that does not mean I accept or agree with it.

Don't even think about getting anything more related to "medicine" from me!
Xu Damao didn't understand the implication, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Li Kailang accepted the apology.

If Li Kailang accepts the apology, it means there's still room for reconciliation between the two, which in turn means there's room for the medicine to be effective.

Although sweeping the floor is shameful, it doesn't cost me my job, I don't have to make a public apology, I don't have to attend a big meeting, and I don't have to receive a serious warning. It's like I got a great deal!
Only three days! He made the right bet!
Li Kailang is concerned about his reputation and won't really lose face in front of so many colleagues!
“Okay.” Squad Leader Zhao nodded. “Then we will handle Xu Damao according to your opinion.”

Xu Damao felt as if he had been granted a pardon and immediately kowtowed repeatedly: "Thank you, Brother Li! Thank you, Deputy Section Chief Li, for not holding a grudge against me!"

“You are my second parents! I, Xu Damao, will never forget your kindness in this lifetime! I will go and clean the toilets right now! I will clean them spotless! I will definitely turn over a new leaf and start a new life!”

Given Xu Damao's appearance, no one could have imagined that he would do such a thing.

Li Kailang slightly turned to the side, avoiding his direct bowing, his tone remaining calm:

"Get up. As a steel mill worker, you should correct your mistakes. There's no need for this. Just focus your energy on the right path from now on."

"Yes! Yes! I'll listen to you! I'll listen to you!" Only then did Xu Damao dare to stand up.

"Xu Damao, come with me!"

Xu Damao followed behind Squad Leader Zhao meekly, not daring to even breathe loudly. But just before leaving the house, he turned back and quickly glanced at Li Kailang with an extremely complicated look in his eyes.

In those eyes, there was the relief of surviving a disaster, and the humiliation of being trampled underfoot.

Li Kailang noticed it, but didn't pay much attention to it.

"I don't know how we should get along in the future?" Li Kailang muttered to himself.

After what happened with Xu Damao, a rift naturally exists, and the relationship can never go back to what it was before.

Fortunately, he didn't leave any valuables in his office, otherwise it would have been troublesome.

Xu Damao was escorted by Squad Leader Zhao to the logistics department to collect cleaning tools, and his arduous labor of cleaning toilets officially began.

The department returned to silence, but the atmosphere was somewhat eerie.

“Brother Li,” Zhao Xiaohai was the first to come over, his face full of indignation, “Is that all? That bastard Xu Damao, he just kowtowed a couple of times and that’s it? That’s too easy on him!”

Zhang Wei frowned as well: "Yeah, Deputy Section Chief, he's obviously after you. What do you mean by finding treasure? He's kidding me! Is the security department just going to let this go so easily?"

Although others did not directly agree, their eyes also revealed the same doubts and indignation.

Xu Damao's kneeling and wailing was quite intimidating, but everyone wasn't stupid. The fact that his office had been ransacked was a real thing. Could a simple "curiosity" and three days of cleaning the toilets really be enough to cover it up?

Li Kailang waved his hand: "Alright, I appreciate everyone's good intentions. The security department has already set the tone and come up with a solution, so what can we say? If we make a big fuss, it won't be good for the department either."

He paused, then softened his tone, conveying a sense of reassurance that prioritized the bigger picture: "You see, nothing was lost, and there was no actual loss."

"Xu Damao has admitted his mistake and apologized. Cleaning toilets is not a heavy task, but it is still a lesson. Let's treat it as an interlude and move on to our work."

These words left everyone feeling resentful, but unable to say anything more, since the person involved had already "not cared."

“But…” Zhao Xiaohai wanted to argue, but Zhang Wei secretly tugged at his arm.

Li Kailang walked steadily back to his office.

Everyone then went back to their work with mixed feelings.

at the same time.

Da Mao was "escorted" to the logistics warehouse by Squad Leader Zhao like a drowned rat, where he received a special broom, dustpan, long-handled brush, and a stinking broken bucket.

"Here, all the equipment is ready." Squad Leader Zhao tossed him an armband that read "Sanitation Duty."

Then they took him to find the sanitation team leader, Niu Laxi.

"Old Niu, this kid's gotten into trouble. You're in charge for three days. Give him all the dirty and hard work! Make sure he deeply reflects on his mistakes!"

Hearing what Squad Leader Zhao said, Niu Laxi looked at Xu Damao with surprise and curiosity.

"What mistake did this kid make?"

"It's not a big deal, but it's not a small one either. Once everything is settled, don't ask any more questions. Just do your best to handle it!"

"Alright!" Niu Laxi nodded. It just so happened that the sanitation team had a bunch of jobs that no one wanted to do.

Seeing that the two ignored him, Xu Damao's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. He gripped the rough bamboo broom handle, smelled the rust mixed with the ammonia unique to the toilet, and felt his stomach churning.

To send a projectionist, someone who had once been favored by Deputy Factory Director Li, to do sanitation work! This is more humiliating than slapping him in public!

"Squad Leader Zhao, could you...?" He tried to bargain.

"No!" Squad Leader Zhao glared. "Stop talking nonsense! If you keep dawdling, I'll go back and report to Deputy Factory Director Li that you're refusing to accept labor reform."

Xu Damao immediately deflated like a chicken with its neck being choked, gritting his teeth and squeezing out a few words from his throat: "I'll do it!"

"It's up to you."

"Don't worry." Niu Laxi patted his chest and looked at Xu Damao: "Come with me!" He immediately led Xu Damao to the outhouse, and asked for his help along the way.

"From today onwards, you will be responsible for the sanitation of the first and second public toilets, as well as the cement ditch behind the government building."

"Sweep once before starting work in the morning, once during lunch break, and once more before leaving get off work! The requirement is simple: clean! No visible dirt, no pungent smell! Got it?"

"I heard you." Just hearing the words made Xu Damao feel his stomach churning.

Soon, we arrived at the first public toilet.

It was summer, and the high temperature caused the fermenting excrement to emit a strong stench, with greenbottle flies buzzing around, almost forming a clump together.

Xu Damao was choked by the mixed smell as soon as he got close and gagged repeatedly.

He had never suffered like this in his life. He wanted nothing more than to smash all the tools in his hands! But then he thought of Li Huaide's cold gaze.

He could only grit his teeth, hold his breath, and use a broom to sweep away the disgusting filth from a distance, tears mixed with sweat streaming down his face.

"Damn it, which bastard has shit outside the latrine again!" A rough voice rang out from not far away.

Xu Damao looked up and saw several burly men walking toward the toilet while unbuckling their belts, clearly about to relieve themselves.

One of them seemed to recognize Xu Damao; upon recognizing him, he deliberately raised his voice:

"Hey! Isn't this our factory's 'superstar,' projectionist Xu? What's he doing here 'experiencing life'? Is the factory filming a new movie called 'Workers Are the Most Beautiful'?"

"Hahaha!" The group burst into laughter.

Another person pinched his nose and made an exaggerated expression: "I was wondering why the smell was so strong today. So it's because of the 'celebrity'? Clean it up, Mr. Xu, I'm holding it in!"

The blatant mockery pierced Xu Damao's heart like a knife.

His face flushed red; he wanted to yell back, but he didn't dare.

He is now a "sinner," and if Li Huaide finds out that he has done a bad job, he might be punished.

"Hmph!" He could only snort coldly, pretending not to hear.

Li Huaide's office.

While Xu Damao was enduring both mental and physical torment in the toilet, Li Huaide sat upright in his spacious and bright deputy factory director's office, with the aroma of tea wafting from the purple clay teapot in front of him.

"Factory Manager, Xu Damao has already been taken away by Squad Leader Zhao to collect tools. The materials department's reaction... is a bit complicated." Wen Peixin reported concisely and cautiously.

"Li Kailang seemed to accept the outcome, remained calm, and continued working. However, several of his subordinates were clearly resentful and might be gossiping about it privately."

Li Huaide slowly sipped his tea, not even raising his eyelids: "It's normal for grassroots workers to have emotions. The key is Li Kailang's attitude. Did he really not say anything more?"

“I’m sure not,” Wen Peixin said definitively.

“From the moment Xu Damao apologized, Li Kailang remained calm throughout the process, only saying that he believed in the organization and the leaders.”

Upon hearing this, Li Huaide frowned.

This was not the outcome he wanted. He would have been more accepting if Li Kailang had cursed him or even kicked Xu Damao a few times.

But it's precisely this calm demeanor that makes things difficult to handle.

Judging from the current situation, it is very likely that Li Kailang has not forgiven Xu Damao. So how will Xu Damao get the medicine he wants?

Immediately, Li Huaide felt a headache coming on. This top-of-the-line version of Qianjin Fang was really effective. Among the dozen or so medicines he had taken, none could compare to it.

Now that it's suddenly gone, he hasn't found a replacement yet.

"Peixin, Xu Damao is finished. Li Kailang is the source. The medicine has been cut off because of him."

"Factory manager, what do we do now? What about Li Kailang?"

“We can’t count on that good-for-nothing Xu Damao now.” Li Huaide’s eyes flashed coldly. “We need to find out Li Kailang’s true colors directly. Go and do a few things for me:”

"First, we need to find out if he has any drugs on him right now, or if there's any possibility of him getting any more. Even the slightest clue is needed!"

"Second, we need to determine whether there really are no drugs in Li Kailang's two offices, or whether they are well hidden and have not been found by Xu Damao."

"It would be best if we could find a prescription!"

"Yes, Factory Manager, I'll get right away!" Wen Peixin immediately understood his leader's intention.

After Wen Peixin left, Li Huaide walked to the window and looked at the workers moving like ants in the factory area below, his thoughts churning.

Xu Damao is basically a useless pawn; Li Kailang hasn't even forgiven him.

But this matter of medicine cannot be dropped so easily. He doesn't believe what Xu Damao said about the medicine master being dead.

It's highly likely that Li Kailang doesn't intend to say anything.

As for why he didn't do it, it's most likely related to his graduation from night school; he wanted Li Kailang to take it out.

The key is to apply enough pressure, or offer him something that will entice him!

"That Xu Damao is really something. If he had said something earlier, we could have made some preparations."

If he had said so from the beginning, he could have sent someone to follow Li Kailang.

When Li Kailang was still a driver, they had people keep an eye on him to see where he went and where he stopped, so they could find out where he got the medicine.

Now, Li Kailang has become the deputy head of the materials department and no longer handles transportation matters, so it's impossible to keep an eye on things now.

Li Huaide sat back in the large leather chair and fell into deeper thought.

The medicine supply route was cut off, resulting in huge losses. However, he keenly sensed that Li Kailang, who possessed such a "unique resource" yet whose trail seemed to have been severed, had even greater potential value.

What if he could regain control of this resource?
One Li Kailang who controls the source is a million times more useful than ten Xu Damaos who buy and sell!
The prerequisite is to find Li Kailang's weakness, or something that can move him.

If we could go even further and get in touch with the master pharmacist, wouldn't that be even better? It would be more useful than Li Kailang, allowing us to directly control the source.

With this medicine, wouldn't it be easy to make further progress?
"This Xu Damao is utterly useless and more of a hindrance than a help! Whether things will be better in three days depends on whether you can rebuild your relationship with Li Kailang!"

Li Huaide's eyes were cold; he had protected Xu Damao earlier precisely because of this possibility.

If there's absolutely no chance, why would he keep Xu Damao around?

For him, there is no such thing as human warmth or coldness, only value.

As long as it's valuable, even if you take a dump in his office, he'll praise you for it!

(End of this chapter)