Chapter 91 Embezzlement of Machinery Factory's Collective Property
"Let me go! What right do you have to arrest me? Zhao Degang! What are you up to! I'm a cadre in the factory! I've worked hard for the factory and made contributions." His spittle almost landed on Zhao Degang's face.
Zhao Degang slowly raised his head, closed the blood-stained ledger, and without looking at Lin Jinguo, said to the cadre who was twisting Lin Jinguo's arm, "Take him to the machinery factory! Notify the factory's loudspeaker that all employees must assemble in the auditorium immediately!"
"Zhao Degang, what exactly are you trying to do? Don't think you can act recklessly just because you're the director of the management committee. I have the backing of the state-owned machinery factory!"
Lin Jinguo roared as he was forcibly turned around and shoved toward the side door leading to the machinery factory auditorium.
Zhao Degang sneered dismissively, crossed his arms, and said, "Hmph, so what if it's a state-owned machinery factory? I'm doing things according to the rules in this small area. Don't try to fool me with that."
Zhao Degang stepped closer, his eyes piercing: "Don't use the machinery factory to intimidate me. If you're upright and honest, I naturally won't make things difficult for you. But if you break the rules, even the Emperor himself won't be of any use."
Having said that, he stared intently at the other person, showing no sign of backing down.
Lin Jianguo's face turned pale and then red. Although he was flustered, he still stubbornly said, "Don't make false accusations. What did I do wrong? If you can't give me a straight answer today, you won't be able to explain it to the machinery factory!" As he spoke, he secretly clenched his fist.
At this moment, all the workers in the machinery factory saw it, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the people from the management committee, Lin Jinguo, and the security department. The atmosphere was as tense as a taut bowstring, ready to explode at any moment.
Someone in the crowd shouted, "Yes, we must find out the truth and not wrong an innocent person!"
Instantly, the workers echoed, "That's right, we must find out!"
"We can't let innocent people suffer, and we shouldn't wrong our technician Lin!"
Looking at his fellow workers who were supporting him, Lin Jinguo felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He said loudly, "I believe that the innocent will clear themselves, and today I will definitely wash away the mud that has been thrown at me!"
"Hehe, Technician Lin, I didn't do this for nothing. I have witnesses to prove it!"
The speaker was Zhao Degang, the director of the management committee. He crossed his arms and looked at Lin Jinguo with a serious expression and a scrutinizing gaze.
Lin Jinguo frowned, both shocked and angry. He retorted loudly, "Director Zhao, you need evidence to support your claims. I have always worked diligently, contributing ideas for the factory's technological innovations. How could I possibly have done what you're saying? Who exactly is trying to report me?"
“Then take a look, who’s that behind you?” said Zhao Degang, director of the management committee, coldly.
He turned around abruptly, his sharp gaze fixed on Zhang Zhaodi, his eyes filled with shock and incomprehension.
"It was you? Zhang Zhaodi! How could you do this... and how dare you treat your uncle like this? I am your own uncle!"
Faced with his shocked and angry gaze, Zhang Zhaodi did not flinch, but instead looked at him with a confused expression.
A faint, piercing hum of electricity came from the direction of the auditorium. Immediately afterward, the old loudspeaker in the factory area broadcast a notice, which echoed repeatedly through the rain, summoning everyone who could hear it.
The small auditorium was quickly filled with a dense crowd.
Countless gazes, filled with surprise, bewilderment, anger, curiosity, and numbness, focused like countless searchlights on the lone figure pushed out in the center of the stage—Lin Jinguo.
He stood in front of the hastily drawn curtain, the stark light shining on his face. He futilely straightened the collar of his filthy Zhongshan suit, trying to maintain the last shred of dignity, but his slightly trembling fingers and evasive eyes completely betrayed his inner panic.
Factory director Zhou Changzhou rushed to the auditorium with a group of people in a great hurry.
He stared straight at the person who was coming up on stage and said in a stern voice, "Director Zhao, this is a state-owned factory with rules and regulations. You've taken my employees away for no reason. What exactly do you want?"
Director Zhao's face darkened, but he still tried to remain calm and replied, "Director Zhou, you're exaggerating. We are assisting the factory in investigating problems and rectifying discipline. Your technician, Lin Jinguo, is suspected of abusing his power, harming the factory's interests, and disregarding rules and regulations."
Zhou Changzhou was so angry that his face turned pale. "You're turning black into white! My employees are all contributing to the factory. It's your management committee that's been making a lot of moves lately. There should be some limits."
The employees below the stage began to whisper and discuss among themselves.
Someone muttered under their breath, "Has Director Zhao been meddling too much lately, always keeping an eye on things at the factory..."
"Yes, I heard that as long as someone reports it, they will investigate and deal with it, and they are not afraid of wrongly accusing innocent people."
"You have to be careful with everything you do these days, because you never know when you might get into trouble."
"Alright, alright, let's stop talking. We can't afford to offend that guy..." someone quickly stopped them.
Upon hearing this, the crowd's voices gradually lowered.
At this moment, Lin Jinguo, who had been taken away, stood up and said loudly:
"Director Zhou! Director Zhao took me away without asking any questions and even accused me of damaging state and collective property. I have never done such a thing. I beg Director Zhou and the factory to uphold justice for me, find out the truth, and clear my name."
These words immediately sparked even louder discussions among the audience.
The workers at the machine factory looked at Director Zhao with suspicion.
Director Zhao's face flushed red as he pointed in the direction of the loudest discussion below the stage: "You...you're interfering with the investigation, and you'll be held responsible."
He paused, then raised his voice, "Otherwise, we'll have to report this to our superiors."
The worker was speechless for a moment. Zhou Changzhou stepped forward, blocking his way, and looked directly into Director Zhao's eyes: "Director Zhao, if you are truly in the right, why are you angry? Today, you must explain things clearly in public and provide evidence that everyone can believe! Otherwise, our machinery factory will never let this go!"
"Good! Very good! Hmph, everyone, open your eyes wide and look carefully, what is this? Look closely!"
Zhao Degang, holding the ledger, strode onto the stage, each step seeming exceptionally heavy.
Without wasting any words, he held the ledger high, facing the crowded audience below.
"Fellow workers! Comrades!"
His voice carried an undeniable sternness: "We received a report filed under a real name and have obtained crucial evidence! It proves that Lin Jinguo, a technician in the machinery factory workshop, is suspected of abusing his position to collude with outsiders to steal and resell state assets on a long-term and large scale, which is a serious offense! This ledger is a key link in the chain of evidence!"
He shook the ledger in his hand vigorously; the dark stains on the cover were very noticeable under the light.
The audience erupted in a cacophony of shock and anger, nearly lifting the roof off.
"That can't be!"
"Oh my god, is this really true?"
"What's that dirty thing on the notebook? Where did it come from?" The workers asked all at once, their faces full of shock and disbelief.
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