In the afternoon, during working hours, at the Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office, in the director's office.

Director Wang sat at his desk with a furrowed brow, deep in thought.

"Thump thump thump!..."

Director Wang, who had just come to his senses, heard the knocking and quickly spoke.

"Enter."

After the door opened, Officer Liu from the neighborhood office walked in.

"Director Wang, you wanted to see me?"

"Officer Liu is here, please have a seat."

After Officer Liu sat down, Director Wang spoke.

"Officer Liu, have you heard about the incident that happened in compound number 95, which you manage?"

Mentioning No. 95 compound makes Officer Wang furious; how could he not know about this incident?

"Director Wang, it's my fault for not doing my job properly. I'll go there tonight and make sure this matter is put behind me."

Seeing that Officer Liu was sincere, Director Wang did not blame him. That was all before liberation, so it really couldn't be blamed on Officer Liu.

"Just keep it in mind. Whether this matter is true or false, we have no way of investigating it. Even if we do find out, it's a matter of character and morality. But this matter has had a very bad impact, so you need to be careful about how you handle it."

"Yes, yes, I will definitely handle this matter seriously, but Yi Zhonghai...?"

As for Yi Zhonghai?

"Then let's retreat for now! I think Sun Dajiang is good, let's send him!"

"Director Wang is wise; I guarantee the mission will be accomplished."

Seeing that Director Wang didn't pursue the matter, Liu, the clerk, couldn't resist the temptation to flatter him.

"Alright, that's all. You can go back to your work now!"

"Okay, Director Wang."

After leaving the office, Officer Liu touched his forehead, which was already covered in a thin layer of sweat.

In my heart, I cursed Yi Zhonghai's mother. She's always causing me trouble. She's really something. Even visiting a brothel can be a spectacle for her.

...

In the corner of the fitter's workshop at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

Jia Dongxu and Qian Ge were squatting on the ground, smoking.

Since his falling out with Yi Zhonghai, Jia Dongxu has kept a much lower profile in the workshop. Even Brother Qian, who used to look down on him, is now willing to talk to him. After all, they are in the same boat, and he feels more at ease now.

"What? Brother Qian, you're not kidding, Yi Zhonghai would do something like this?"

"What are you joking with, Jia Dongxu? You may not believe me, Brother Qian, but this is news from Sister Wu of the Women's Federation. It's absolutely reliable."

It was said that Sister Wu spread the word, and this time Jia Dongxu believed it. Everyone in the factory knew Sister Wu; she was known as a gossip, and her credibility was top-notch.

"Come on! Brother Qian, have another cigarette. We haven't finished talking about what happened earlier. Please continue."

Whenever Jia Dongxu heard about Yi Zhonghai's misfortunes, he felt happy and started fawning over Brother Qian.

And Brother Qian didn't disappoint Jia Dongxu. He took the cigarette and started talking non-stop.

Throughout the afternoon, news of Yi Zhonghai's scandal spread throughout the steel rolling mill, making his reputation infamous.

Yi Zhonghai, the person involved, was completely unaware of this, and was calmly drinking tea, enjoying this rare moment of peace.

As evening fell and the steel rolling mill closed for the day, workers gradually left the workshop and headed towards the factory gate.

Yi Zhonghai followed the crowd out of the workshop, unaware of the strange looks he was receiving from his fellow workers.

But once they left the workshop, the workers in the other workshops, unlike those in the fitter's workshop who knew to be more discreet, stared at Yi Zhonghai without restraint.

Wherever Yi Zhonghai went, a vacuum immediately formed, and everyone kept their distance from him, as if afraid of getting involved in something bad.

Yi Zhonghai noticed something amiss, but no one told him, so he simply ignored it.

Even after leaving the steel rolling mill, Yi Zhonghai was still met with strange looks. It was then that he realized something serious must have happened. An ominous premonition enveloped him, and Yi Zhonghai quickened his pace, hurrying towards the courtyard house.

Back at the courtyard house, Yi Zhonghai noticed that his neighbors were also giving him strange looks. But he couldn't care less about that now and hurried home.

When he got home, Yi Zhonghai saw his wife sitting on the bed, looking a little off, so he asked her what was wrong.

"Xiulian, why haven't you cooked yet? What are you thinking about while sitting there?"

To Yi Zhonghai's disappointment, his wife completely ignored him. This scene seemed familiar to Yi Zhonghai, as if it was the same last time his wife was angry.

Yi Zhonghai didn't bother to say anything more. He knew his wife wouldn't listen to him, so he went to the yard to ask around, but the neighbors all avoided him.

Left with no other option, Yi Zhonghai resorted to using money to pave the way and found Yan Bugui.

"Old Yan, tell me, what exactly happened today? Why is everyone avoiding me?"

"Old Yi, please don't make things difficult for me. I really can't bring myself to say it. You should find someone else!"

"Others may say, but I won't bother you anymore. How about this: just tell me what happened, and this money is yours."

After Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, he took out one yuan from his pocket and handed it to Yan Bugui.

Upon seeing the money, Yan Bugui's eyes lit up. He was willing to sell his soul for money, and besides, it was Yi Zhonghai who was the one who was shameful, not him, Yan Bugui.

"Old Yi, isn't this inappropriate? This...."

Yi Zhonghai immediately understood: this bastard was just pretending to be high-minded and acting all modest!

"It's alright, you deserve it all. Just accept it as payment!"

With the opportunity presented, Yan Bugui stopped pretending, reached out and took the money, and said happily.

"Old Yi, let me make this clear first, I'm not doing this for the money. It's just that we have a good relationship!"

Yi Zhonghai was speechless. If it wasn't about the money, why didn't you say so earlier? Otherwise, give me my money back.

But circumstances are beyond our control, and we have no say in the matter. We have to pretend to be happy, which is extremely frustrating.

"I know, I know! We're like family!"

Having finished his act, Yan Bugui stopped keeping Yi Zhonghai hanging and, to prevent ruining the performance, began to tell him everything he knew.

After hearing Yan Bugui's account, Yi Zhonghai, having learned the truth, became completely withdrawn and numb, with two streams of tears flowing down his face.

Yi Zhonghai, who was determined to be strong and never inferior to anyone, cried.

What did Yan Bugui see?

A senior steel mill worker, now an old man in a courtyard house, actually cried.

Is this magic, or am I seeing things?

How could Yan Bugui know?

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai was mentally broken. He simply could not accept this reality. He was also a human being, and humans have weaknesses. This is what is meant by being unable to control one's emotions.

"Old Yi, are you alright?"

"Old Yi, Old Yi, say something!"

Despite Yan Bugui's repeated calls, Yi Zhonghai remained unmoved, standing there motionless.

Yan Bugui had no other choice but to resort to a makeshift method, giving Yi Zhonghai a hard slap on the face.

"Smack!"

The intense pain immediately brought Yi Zhonghai back to his senses.

"Yan Bugui, what's wrong with you? Why did you hit me?"

"Old Yi! You were having a fit just now, I couldn't wake you up no matter how much I called you."

Yi Zhonghai then realized what had just happened, but he would rather have remained aloof and not been woken up.

To live in one's own world.

Until the end of time!