Xing Baohua ran to the factory's guesthouse and asked if the people from the provincial computer company were still staying there.

Only after asking did I find out that he had checked out yesterday. Since Director Wang had checked out, it was difficult to find him now.

I originally planned to go to Liu Haibo's place, but then I thought that since I was already at the factory, I should go and check out the workshop first.

As soon as I arrived at the workshop, Liu Quan came over and said, "The factory manager just called and asked about you, asking you to come back and visit him."

Xing Baohua nodded and said to Liu Quan, "Has there been any news in the factory lately? Or anything about me?"

"Yes," Liu Quan nodded in response.

"What are you spreading rumors about me?" Xing Baohua asked curiously. Lately, he'd been busy running around and hadn't done anything else. How could news of him suddenly be circulating?

At that moment, Liu Quan told him about Xing Baohua's overnight absence.

This ridiculous affair infuriated Xing Baohua; the rumors about something he hadn't done were made to sound like the truth.

After thinking about it, Xing Baohua guessed that someone was stirring things up. He thought of a few suspicious people, including Hou Liwei and Hong Mingliang, who were the most suspicious.

But I never suspected that it was Director Wang from the provincial computer company.

Tell Liu Quan to keep an eye out for any news and to let him know immediately if there is any.

At the same time, Liu Quan was asked to take Niu Jishan to the Shangguzhuang factory to install the audio motherboard after work.

Xing Baohua arrived at Director Li's office, knocked on the door, and went straight in.

Factory Director Li wasn't busy at the moment, so he leisurely asked Xing Baohua to sit down, poured him tea, and offered him cigarettes.

Xing Baohua was a little bewildered, thinking to himself: What's wrong with the factory manager today?

"Factory Director, what brings you here?" Unable to tell what Factory Director Li was trying to hide, Xing Baohua asked proactively.

"Of all the workshop foremen under me, you are the hardest to see."

"Look at what you're saying, how could that be! You just called and I came over in a flash, didn't I?" Xing Baohua laughed awkwardly.

"Flying fast? You think your ass is a rocket?! Do you know someone's been investigating you lately?"

"I just heard about it today, but I don't know who it is. If the factory manager knows, please let me know." Xing Baohua guessed that the source might be the factory.

“Someone sent an anonymous letter to the Discipline Department about you. The Discipline Department wanted to investigate, but I stopped them,” Director Li said, looking at Xing Baohua.

The guy smiled slightly and said, "The innocent are innocent. I'm not afraid of being investigated. This is very simple! Just ask the security guard! I was just helping a friend stay at his place and then went back to my single dormitory. Does anyone even know I went back to my dormitory? That's proof enough!"

Factory Director Li nodded and said, "I believe you. You're a good kid, not as reckless as your childhood friend."

"Do you have any conflicts with the provincial computer company?" Director Li asked Xing Baohua again.

That's when he suddenly realized that it was Director Wang who was behind this!

It seems he hasn't given up on the learning machine! But Xing Baohua can't tell Factory Director Li the truth and tell him that he has developed a learning machine.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Factory Director Li is far more powerful and ruthless than that Director Wang. If things go wrong and he becomes the new project for Workshop Five, Xing Baohua won't even know who to turn to for help.

Xing Baohua's mind raced, trying to come up with a product to appease Factory Director Li, a product that was both reasonably difficult to work with.

Xing Baohua was also gambling that Director Li wouldn't bother to contact the provincial computer company for verification.

The product in mind has to be related to computers, like a graphics card? Yes, that's it. Anyway, even Factory Director Li wouldn't understand it, if he wanted to see a picture. He even has a backup; the one he gave George to pass on to Uncle Joe was this one.

So Xing Baohua started spouting nonsense with a straight face.

"Graphics card?" Factory Director Li frowned slightly but did not offer any opinion.

"Yes, it's the graphics card. It's a computer component whose main function is to not use CPU resources, such as viewing or creating graphics. It's powerful yet resource-efficient."

Xing Baohua tried to use technical terms to take advantage of Director Li's lack of knowledge in this area.

"Hmm? Not bad. Can we manufacture it in our factory?" As soon as Director Li asked, Xing Baohua thought to himself, "Sure enough."

He shook his head slightly and said to Director Li, "Unless you have the machines to make chips and twenty or thirty professional engineers, you can't make them."

Factory Director Li nodded again and asked, "What exactly does your factory produce?"

"We are currently producing audio equipment."

"Let's temporarily attach ourselves to Workshop 5. I'm worried that people will bring up your lousy factory. Being attached to Workshop 5 is also in line with your position as workshop director."

“I’m already affiliated with Shangguzhuang, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to switch to yours,” Xing Baohua said, resisting the offer.

As if sensing Xing Baohua's reluctance, Factory Director Li said, "We're not really making you affiliated with us; it's just a formality. The factory doesn't have space, so what's wrong with putting it in a workshop in Shangguzhuang?"

After hearing this, Xing Baohua understood everything again.

"Get Director Xue to write up some paperwork and stamp it. Remember, the factory is only protecting you this time. If there are any other unexpected situations, I won't be responsible." After saying this, Factory Director Li waved Xing Baohua out.

As Xing Baohua emerged from the office, he sensed that Director Li still cared for him deeply. He couldn't bear to see such a key figure fall from grace, which was why he had stepped in to support him.

Damaged? Xing Baohua didn't know why he came up with this word. Perhaps it was his inappropriate choice of words.

When I spoke to Director Xue, he readily wrote an explanation and stamped it.

Perfection means you have a protective shield.

I went back to the workshop and stayed until almost the end of my shift, then left my post half an hour early.

In another office, Hou Liwei said to Hong Mingliang, "I've never seen such an outrageous director. He's never around, and when he does come, he leaves early."

“I remember it all. The factory manager said production comes first, and once production is almost done, he’ll be in for a treat. Everyone’s been praising him to the skies,” Hong Mingliang said with a sneer.

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