When Liang Damin heard that Wu Dinghuai had searched Qiu Jingwen's house, his face showed displeasure.

“Leader, although I am the deputy team leader, I am still a person from the factory. I had no idea that Wu Dinghuai and Qian Weidong searched Lao Qiu’s house and the workshop office. No one reported to me, the deputy team leader, or even gave me a heads-up.”

Zhou Huaihai sensed the resentment in Liang Damin's words and smiled.

“Liang Damin, you need to understand your place. The investigation team is mainly led by the public security organs, and our Hongqi Factory is just cooperating. Don’t complain, just do your job well.”

After saying that, he returned to Qiu Jingwen:

"Is there any progress in Liu Xianghai's case? Is there any evidence pointing to Qiu Jingwen as the murderer?"

Liang Damin understood organizational discipline and knew which information could be revealed and which could not.

Although Zhou Huaihai was the top leader of the Hongqi Factory, there was no need to tell him about the investigation of enemy agents and the handling of Liu Xianghai's murder case.

"Leader, as I just said, although I am the deputy team leader, I am really just doing logistical and service work for the investigation team. I really have no idea what Shao Jian is up to or how much evidence he has found."

At the same time, he didn't understand why Zhou Huaihai was so interested in Qiu Jingwen.

Could it be true, as Zhou Huaihai himself said, that Qiu Jingwen was the workshop director he had watched over and promoted, and that if problems were found, he would lose face, and the entire Hongqi Factory would be the subject of major news?

Just then, Shao Jian suddenly appeared in front of Zhou Huaihai's door and knocked on it.

Upon seeing Shao Jian, Zhou Huaihai immediately invited him in, while Liang Damin also placed a chair in his place.

After Shao Jian sat down, Liang Damin offered him and Zhou Huaihai a cigarette each, and then lit one for Shao Jian.

After thanking him, Shao Jian took a couple of puffs and smiled gently at Zhou Huaihai.

"Boss, I heard from Xiao Wu that you wanted to see me about something?"

Zhou Huaihai looked at Shao Jian and nodded.

"Director Shao, yes, I'd like to have a chat with you."

"About Qiu Jingwen?"

"Director Shao, what exactly is Qiu Jingwen's situation now? His story is all over the place in the factory. I want to ask you, should we make his situation public so that the staff can learn from it and be more vigilant?"

Shao Jian naturally understood Zhou Huaihai's meaning and returned the smile.

"Sir, some things are still under investigation. Didn't we agree that Comrade Qiu Jingwen was just away on a business trip? How come there are all sorts of rumors? Where did these messages leak from?"

Shao Jian thought of the anonymous letter he received yesterday, which mentioned that there might be a spy named Butterfly hiding inside the Hongqi Factory. He felt that someone might have deliberately spread the information, with the purpose of exposing Qiu Jingwen's identity as a spy and a murderer, and creating a tense atmosphere.

Of course, many employees had some idea that Wu Dinghuai had led people to search Qiu Jingwen's house and office for information.

So he analyzed the possibility of the information leaking out for Zhou Huaihai, and then looked at Liang Damin and said:

"Liang Ke, try to investigate where these messages came from, who knows how Qiu Jingwen was arrested, his identity as a spy, and the circumstances of Liu Xianghai's murder. See if you can find out."

Liang Damin shook his head at Shao Jian.

"Director Shao, our Hongqi Factory has more than 2,000 employees. How can we investigate them all in this sweltering heat? We can't possibly question everyone one by one. Besides, you sent Wu Dinghuai to search Qiu Jingwen's home and office. Anyone with eyes can see that Qiu Jingwen is suspicious. Don't you agree?"

Shao Jian laughed:

"Liang Ke, that's also possible. To be honest, searching Qiu Jingwen's home and office wasn't my idea. But then again, there's another possibility: someone on our side deliberately spread the news to create chaos."

After hearing this, Liang Damin asked in surprise:

"Director Shao, you don't mean to say there's a mole in our investigation team, do you?"

"Whether there is a mole or not, we do not know yet. If there is a mole, the truth will eventually come out."

Zhou Huaihai picked up the conversation and asked Shao Jianke:

"Director Shao, the key questions are: Is Qiu Jingwen actually a Kuomintang agent? And did he really kill Liu Xianghai? Is there sufficient evidence for these questions?"

After all, Zhou Huaihai was the head of the Hongqi Factory, Shao Jian replied respectfully.

"Sir, we cannot draw any conclusions yet. Much information is still under investigation, and we can only wait for further conclusions."

Shao Jian did not tell the whole truth, not because he distrusted Zhou Huaihai, but because it was a matter of principle and organizational discipline.

In his plan, if he wanted to win over Qiu Jingwen in the future, he could not make his identity as a spy public. Many things could not be known to unrelated people, otherwise, the defection work would not be able to proceed.

After hearing Shao Jian's answer, Zhou Huaihai asked again:

"So how should we deal with the rumors about Qiu Jingwen now? Also, is Qiu Jingwen allowed to come to the factory again?"

After thinking for a moment, Shao Jian offered his own idea.

"Secretary Zhou, due to other considerations of the higher-ups, please have your factory leaders keep a consistent story and announce that Qiu Jingwen is on official business or going out for training. As for whether Qiu Jingwen will come back, I can't say for sure, and I can't give a specific time. But I think it may be soon, it may be a long time, or it may never come back."

The use of "maybe" three times in a row was the result of Shao Jian's careful consideration.

In fact, he had already thought about these issues after reporting his work and exchanging ideas with Director Chen Sheng yesterday.

In the first scenario, if Qiu Jingwen's background and social connections are quickly clarified—for example, if Qiu Jingwen's father was a revolutionary martyr, and if the higher-ups agree to recruit Qiu Jingwen to defect, thereby ultimately achieving the goal of eliminating all members of the dormant group—then the recruitment of Qiu Jingwen will proceed smoothly, and he will be able to quickly return to the Red Flag Factory and his post, as if nothing had happened. At that time, all the rumors and gossip will be dispelled.

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