Siheyuan: I just came across and wanted to chase me away

"Listen up, all of you!" Deputy Factory Director Li summoned several of his trusted confidants to his office. The door clicked shut as he locked it from the inside. He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, his voice barely a whisper, yet laced with ruthlessness. "Starting tomorrow, we'll focus on the fact that Gu Nan is the deputy factory director. You few will split up and go to the workshops, canteen, and dormitories, telling everyone you meet—that he used his position to get in through connections, that his senior engineer title was obtained through dishonest means, and that his performance evaluations are meaningless! I want to see how he explains himself to everyone in the factory!"

A bespectacled confidant looked troubled, rubbing his hands together and taking two steps in place before stammering, "But...but Deputy Factory Director Gu's skills are truly exceptional. Last month, that imported boring machine in Workshop No. 3 got a piece of iron filings stuck in the gears. All the experienced workers in the factory spent two days going around it, taking it apart and putting it back together, taking it apart and putting it back together, but they still couldn't find the problem. But he squatted under the machine, covered in grease, feeling around for half the night, looking in a small mirror again and again, and finally used a thin wire to hook the iron filings out, and the machine immediately started running again. That skill...it's no exaggeration."

"Technology?" Deputy Factory Director Li slammed his hand on the table, splashing water from his enamel mug. He sneered, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. "Who cares about his technology now? We don't want the truth, we want a commotion! As long as we make this a big deal, let everyone in the factory talk about it, the spittle will drown him! Three men can make a tiger; if the story goes around, even a lie can become the truth! If he knows what's good for him, he'll obediently spit out his senior engineer title and even give up his deputy factory director position—otherwise, the spittle will pierce his spine!"

The men immediately understood. This wasn't about reasoning; it was clearly a deliberate attempt to muddy the waters and force Gu Nan to leave. They were experts at this kind of thing, especially in the current climate where even the slightest disturbance could cause a huge uproar. It was indeed easy to handle. The men exchanged glances, their eyes shining with understanding, and nodded in unison, "Don't worry, Factory Manager, we've got this covered!"

As the days went by, rumors spread like wildfire through the steel rolling mill. At first, it was just whispers in a corner of the workshop, a few older workers squatting on the ground smoking, squinting and saying, "That young Gu Nan, so young and already a deputy factory director and a senior engineer, he must have some connections, right?" Later, the rumors grew increasingly outlandish, with some people even patting their chests and claiming to have seen it with their own eyes: "A few nights ago, I saw Deputy Factory Director Gu carrying a bulging cloth bag into Master Wang's house in the assessment team. It was probably full of gifts!"

Although many veteran workers who had witnessed Gu Nan's skills firsthand spoke out—"Last time, with that old rolling mill, the blueprints were all lost, but he drew a sketch from memory and managed to modify it to roll 30% more steel. Few in the entire factory could match that skill!"—most people, however, remained skeptical, spreading rumors with added embellishments. During breaks in the workshop, one could often hear people whispering, "I think it's just a case of power and authority. What a coincidence!"

The winds even reached the courtyard houses. Yi Zhonghai, fueling the flames, sighed to everyone he met, "Sigh, these young people nowadays, their minds aren't on the right path, they're always thinking about shortcuts. Gu Nan, that kid, he used to seem so reliable, how come he changed after becoming an official?" His words, seemingly regretful, actually confirmed the claim that "Gu Nan rose through the ranks by using his position." With this "old man" leading the way, the gossipy people in the courtyard became even bolder, pointing behind Gu Nan's back and saying all sorts of things: "Look at him, leaving early and coming home late every day, who knows what kind of shady business he's up to at the factory!" "Exactly, climbing over others to get ahead, that's really dishonest!"

Suddenly, Gu Nan became the focus of attention both in the factory and the compound. Wherever he went, he could feel the gazes behind him, like needles pricking him. And all of this was unfolding exactly as Deputy Factory Director Li and Yi Zhonghai had planned, developing in the direction they desired.

As Gu Nan entered the steel rolling mill, it was the early shift change time, and the factory area was bustling with people. A few workers in blue overalls approached, who had been chatting animatedly about last night's football game. But when they caught sight of him out of the corner of their eyes, their voices abruptly stopped, their smiles froze, and they quickly shifted a couple of steps to the side, as if afraid of being associated with something. As he passed by, Gu Nan could clearly hear hushed whispers behind him. Someone nudged a colleague with their elbow and secretly pointed at his retreating figure—their actions were impossible to conceal.

He knew perfectly well what was going on—no need to ask, this was definitely Deputy Factory Director Li's way of stirring things up. They were simply trying to use rumors to sow discord and undermine his position. But he said nothing, his steps steady as he walked through the roar of the workshop. At times like this, explanations were just cover-ups; the more he argued, the more chaotic things became. It was better to remain calm and let things play out.

As evening fell, Gu Nan returned to the courtyard house, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun. Just as he reached the screen wall, he saw Liu Haizhong and his son Liu Guangtian chatting under the old locust tree by the gate. These past few days, Liu Haizhong seemed to have received some incredible good news; he neglected his work at the factory and spent his days standing by the gate with Liu Guangtian, approaching everyone he met to chat. His every other sentence revolved around "My Guangtian doesn't have to go to the countryside anymore," his smugness practically screaming "My son is capable!" as if he wanted the neighbors to know.

The father and son stopped talking as soon as they saw Gu Nan approaching, and the air was silent for a moment. Liu Haizhong's eyes darted around, recalling the rumors in the factory about Gu Nan "using his position to get promoted," and he muttered to himself—this has nothing to do with me, and I shouldn't get involved. Besides, no matter what people say about Gu Nan, he's still the real deputy factory director and senior engineer, holding real power over technical improvement projects. I can't be foolish enough to offend him; what if I need his help in the future?

He quickly put on a smile and spoke first, his tone almost deliberately warm: "Deputy Factory Director Gu is back? You've been coming home so late every day lately, the factory must be very busy. You've really worked hard."

Gu Nan glanced at him, a faint smile playing on his lips. Liu Haizhong was currently riding high, but he knew in his heart that nothing in this world is ever truly smooth sailing. Liu Guangtian was only able to stay in the city by temporarily exploiting a loophole in the policy; he would face difficulties later. He nodded, his tone flat: "Yes, the factory has been rushing to complete several technological upgrading projects lately, so it's been quite busy. Well, I'll head back now."

Liu Haizhong quickly nodded, then took half a step forward and added a polite remark, his tone deliberately sincere: "Deputy Factory Director Gu, although I don't know what nonsense those people in the factory are spouting, I know perfectly well—your skills speak for themselves. The other day, when we were repairing that German-imported precision machine tool, all those experienced workers in the factory spent three days trying to figure it out, but you stepped in and fixed it in half a day. You absolutely deserve the title of senior engineer! Don't take those idle rumors to heart!"