Throughout the morning, rumors about Yi Zhonghai embezzling factory supplies spread like wildfire throughout the factory area.
When Yi Zhonghai first heard the rumors, he didn't care. He thought they were nonsense, just idle talk from people who didn't like him, trying to smear him in various ways.
However, he is an upright and honest person, and everyone can see that Yi Zhonghai's character in the factory is well-documented.
But as the rumors intensified, when he went to the cafeteria for lunch, many people from other workshops started pointing and whispering about him. Only then did he realize the seriousness of the situation and finally panicked.
Yi Zhonghai didn't even rest at noon, running around until the afternoon, extremely busy, trying to find people to explain and ask his coworkers to testify for him, collecting evidence to prove his innocence.
Xu Damao, on the other hand, was quite relaxed. After cleaning the equipment in the afternoon, he even went to the workshop where Yi Zhonghai worked, hiding to the side to secretly observe the other party's every move. Seeing that everything was going according to plan, the smile on his face never stopped.
He felt he was getting closer and closer to becoming the official manager.
It would be good if Yi Zhonghai got entangled in this matter, so he wouldn't have time to deal with things at the hospital and would be unable to stop him from taking over. If the rumors could teach him a lesson, that would be even better.
In order to prove his innocence, Yi Zhonghai ran around telling his coworkers that someone was trying to frame him. Near the end of the workday, the workshop director even called him to the office for questioning, leaving him almost speechless and only able to keep trying to explain.
After get off work, Yi Zhonghai dragged his tired body back to the compound. Seeing the way his neighbors looked at him, he immediately understood that the news had spread back to the compound. It's true that good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast.
Faced with the whispers and pointing fingers of his neighbors, Yi Zhonghai knew that if he could not resolve this matter quickly, he would not only lose the prestige he had built up over half a lifetime, but he would also likely face investigation and imprisonment.
The truth must be found out as soon as possible and the injustice must be cleared.
Otherwise, if the rumors are allowed to spread, the false will become the true, and all the virtues, popularity, and prestige you've built up over half a lifetime will be ruined.
Xu Damao was secretly pleased, and that night he almost drank a whole jin of baijiu by himself with his legs up.
Jia Dongxu hummed a little tune as he came home from get off work.
Upon hearing the rumors of Yi Zhonghai's embezzlement in the morning, in order to prove his loyalty and also for the small half-bag of mixed flour from last night, he immediately reported the situation to his master.
However, Yi Zhonghai didn't take it to heart and even scolded him, telling him to focus on learning the technology.
Jia Dongxu was furious. Not to mention him, none of his senior brothers had passed the Level 4 exam. If Yi Zhonghai didn't teach them, what were they supposed to learn?
Despite cursing inwardly, he had to maintain a respectful demeanor and readily agreed, then went to chat with some of his senior brothers.
Jia Dongxu and Yi Zhonghai were in the same courtyard. They used to be as close as father and son. Jia Dongxu held a very high position among the disciples, and none of the senior disciples dared to offend him.
However, as Yi Zhonghai became increasingly perfunctory in teaching his apprentices techniques, several of his apprentices, like Jia Dongxu, also harbored considerable resentment towards him.
Regarding the rumors circulating in the factory area that Yi Zhonghai had embezzled public resources, his apprentices remained silent, neither helping to spread the word nor offering any explanation when asked, simply stating that they knew nothing about it.
If even Yi Zhonghai's apprentices are like this, then it goes without saying that others are too.
These people don't pay attention to Yi Zhonghai because he's one of the few level-eight workers in the factory. If he didn't have that status, given his behavior in the workshop, probably no one would even acknowledge him.
Of course, if he weren't an eighth-grade worker, he wouldn't be so arrogant in the workshop.
"What's wrong, Dongxu? Why are you so happy? Has he been reinstated?" Qin Huairu hadn't seen her husband this happy in days, so she quickly grabbed Jia Dongxu's arm and asked, "Or has the fine notice been withdrawn?"
When his wife mentioned the fine and demotion again, Jia Dongxu's face immediately darkened.
"Neither."
Jia Dongxu poured himself a bowl of hot water and gulped it down. "It's about Yi Zhonghai embezzling factory supplies. I think Yi Zhonghai is going to be in trouble. This is no small matter."
Qin Huairu said "Oh": "I've heard about this in the courtyard too, but with Uncle Yi's reputation and prestige, do people really believe this?"
"Why doesn't anyone believe it? Don't you know the saying, 'There's no smoke without fire'?"
Jia Zhangshi came out from the inner room, lifting the curtain. "In my opinion, Lao Yi has been having a run of bad luck lately. First, he was kicked out of his position as the head of the household in the courtyard, and now he's gotten into trouble at the factory. Embezzling public supplies is no small matter; he might end up in jail."
"No, our family needs to sever ties with Lao Yi for the time being, otherwise we might get implicated!"
After pondering for a while, Madam Jia slapped her thigh and shouted urgently.
This shout startled Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu.
Qin Huairu's face was full of disbelief: "Mom, aren't you exaggerating a bit? How could this involve our family?"
“That’s right, Mom. Although I am Yi Zhonghai’s apprentice, he has more than one apprentice. According to you, wouldn’t all of us be suspected of being accomplices?”
Like Qin Huairu, Jia Dongxu was skeptical of Jia Zhangshi's words.
"You guys..."
Madam Jia pointed at the two of them with a look of exasperation, "Don't you realize how serious this is? It'll be too late if you arrest Dongxu as well."
Jia Dongxu jumped up from his chair and ran over to grab Jia Zhangshi's arm: "Mom, are you serious? It can be that serious?"
"I'm your mother, would I lie to you!"
Madam Jia glared at Jia Dongxu with a stern face, "From today onwards, we must sever ties with Yi Zhonghai, or we'll regret it."
Jia Dongxu seemed to realize the seriousness of the situation and immediately said, "Mom, I'll listen to you. Whatever you say, I'll do."
Qin Huairu asked anxiously, "Mom, what should we do with the mixed noodles that Uncle brought us last night? Should we send them back?"
"If we send it back, we'll starve!"
Jia Zhangshi glared at Qin Huairu resentfully, "Let's eat first and observe the situation. If Yi Zhonghai is arrested, it won't be too late to send him back. In short, we need to keep a distance from him during this period."
Jia Dongxu's eyes darted around. "Mom, do you mean Yi Zhonghai might be arrested?"
Seeing that Jia Zhangshi nodded, Jia Dongxu had an idea: "Since that's the case, why don't we borrow more grain and money? If he gets arrested, we won't have to pay it back!"
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