The steel plant's staff quarters consisted of a large area of single-story houses, which were neatly planned. However, after decades of development, the population of each household increased, and many new buildings were constructed, making the area appear chaotic and disorganized.
People unfamiliar with this place might wander around and not find their way out.
Naturally, very few outsiders come here.
A group of young men from the steel plant, led by Huo Zhenduo, had originally gone to the countryside to work as part of the government's policy two years prior, but they broke the rules and ran away without permission not long after.
After returning home, he had no job and spent his days idly, often gathering at Huo Zhenduo's house to play cards.
Huo Zhenduo's family now consists of just him and his blind grandmother, living in three spacious rooms.
As long as Huo Zhenduo gives him money on time every month, Grandma Huo won't interfere with anything he does.
Even the laughter and chatter of a group of people could almost lift the roof off.
"Damn! My luck is so bad today, I've lost everything!" A young man with a pointed face lamented, handing over the last two peanuts.
Although the table is covered with peanuts, they are just chips.
"Brother Huo's luck is good, he's treating us tonight!"
Huo Zhenduo lazily shuffled the cards, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, his voice somewhat muffled, "Sure, all you can eat."
The crowd cheered.
"By the way, Brother Huo, I heard you and A-Jie got ambushed by Baldy Chen?"
Ah Jie, standing next to Huo Zhenduo, quickly replied, "It's alright, we've already gotten our revenge. This time, Baldy Chen really paid a heavy price! But he deserved it for being the one to act like a jerk first!"
"That guy's a sneaky bastard, all he does is launch sneak attacks! If he's so capable, let's have a fair fight!"
"Isn't it all because of that thread that Brother Huo has? He's so drooling over it but can't snatch it from me, so he has no choice but to resort to some underhanded tactics."
Huo Zhenduo held the cards in his hand and said calmly, "Take care of Chen the Bald's men every time we see them in the future."
The crowd obediently echoed their agreement.
“Ah Jie,” Huo Zhenduo took out a bicycle ticket from his pocket and handed it to the young man beside him, “Buy a new one for your sister.”
Ah Jie happily accepted it, "I was just worried about not having any tickets!"
Just as everyone was enjoying themselves, a man standing at the door suddenly shouted, "Damn it, the police are here?!"
Before anyone could even clear the card table, the police stormed in.
“We received a report with real names that someone is conducting illegal transactions here.”
Huo Zhenduo and his group looked at each other, filled with surprise and doubt.
They do engage in illegal transactions, but they wouldn't choose to do it in their own homes.
Several police officers looked at the scene before them and were also somewhat suspicious.
A group of young people gathered together to play cards. Gambling is fine, but where is the illegal transaction?
But the report they received was filed under a real name, and the name and organization of the whistleblower were not fake; it didn't seem like a prank at all.
The police searched the scene thoroughly but still couldn't find any evidence of illegal transactions.
"Someone must be framing us! I demand a thorough investigation!"
"That's right, it must be Baldy Chen! That bastard only knows these dirty tricks!"
"We didn't do anything illegal. We were just playing cards because we were bored. We didn't even gamble with money! Look, there are peanuts on our table!"
Huo Zhenduo stepped forward and asked with a smile, "Comrade, we really haven't done anything illegal. Could there be a mistake?"
The police officers exchanged glances, and then one of them said, "Come with us first."
Since we're already here, we can't let this trip be in vain. This group doesn't look like good people; taking them back for questioning will surely uncover something.
That idea is actually correct.
Although no evidence was left of the shady dealings committed by Huo Zhenduo and his gang, their very identity was that of illegal drifters.
After learning that these people were former educated youth who had run away from the countryside, the police immediately contacted the local educated youth office and planned to send them back.
However, Huo Zhenduo and his gang didn't care at all, and just watched the police work around with a nonchalant attitude.
Anyway, it's not the first time, so I can just come back in a while.
Ah Jie looked at Huo Zhenduo and asked the police officer in a polite tone, "Comrade, could you please tell us who reported us?"
The other party replied firmly, "No."
Ah Jie pulled his head back and whispered in Huo Zhenduo's ear, "It must be Baldy Chen."
Huo Zhenduo crossed his legs, his eyes downcast, his emotions unreadable. After a long while, he said, "I will find out who it is."
***
After returning from the capital, Wang Tianfu did not go home but immediately went to find Cao Jing to explain that the goods had been lost.
"Lost?" Cao Jing exclaimed in shock, then cursed, "Are you an idiot? You can't even handle something this simple!"
Wang Tianfu wasn't angry at all. He smiled and said, "Xiaojing, don't be afraid. I'll take responsibility for this. I'll pay whatever it costs!"
Cao Jing rolled her eyes. "It's your responsibility anyway!"
Despite his covetousness for Cao Jing's beauty, Wang Tianfu was still somewhat annoyed upon hearing these words.
That girl is so unreasonable!
She begged him for help, and now that the goods are lost, it's not his fault.
If he doesn't do anything, let's see how she explains herself to her supplier!
Wang Tianfu glanced greedily at Cao Jing's face a few times before forcing a smile, "Yes, yes, I'll take responsibility. You can ask the higher-ups how much compensation is due."
Cao Jing said with a long face, "Let me ask. You wait for news."
However, Cao Jing couldn't find Huo Zhenduo. Grandma Huo told her that he had been sent back to the countryside where he had been sent to work.
Cao Jing was surprised, but more than that, she was grateful for her good luck; even God was on her side.
However, she didn't tell Wang Tianfu about this; instead, she asked him for two thousand yuan.
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