“Ah—!”
Wu Peng let out several miserable screams. As he opened his mouth, all his teeth fell to the ground.
With bloodshot eyes, he wiped the blood from his mouth. Like a crazed bull, he lowered his head and charged at Xiao Huaidong, trying to knock him down.
Xiao Huaidong lightly sidestepped and avoided him.
Wu Peng, however, couldn’t stop himself and lunged forward uncontrollably.
“Factory Director—!”
Everyone cried out in alarm.
Factory Director Liu Changqing had appeared at the factory gate at some point.
He was standing directly in Wu Peng’s path.
Seeing that Wu Peng was about to crash into Liu Changqing, everyone held their breath—some even closed their eyes, not daring to look.
At the critical moment, Xiao Huaidong dashed forward and pulled Liu Changqing aside.
With no obstacle left, Wu Peng slammed straight into the iron gate.
With a loud *bang*—
Wu Peng was knocked unconscious on the spot.
Xiao Nanchu put away the talisman in her hand, the corner of her mouth twitching.
The good luck talisman on her father had been drawn with her own blood essence—whoever provoked him would suffer bad luck. Besides, Wu Peng was not a good person to begin with.
“Comrade, are you a new security officer? Thank you for stepping in just now. I happen to need two security officers to go with me to the train station to catch someone. Come with me.”
Liu Changqing patted Xiao Huaidong’s shoulder, full of admiration.
“Our security department needs capable people like you.”
As he spoke, his gaze drifted briefly toward the unconscious Wu Peng on the ground. Someone who would pull a knife after losing—he had no use for such a person.
Fang Zhiguo was filled with regret and quickly arranged for Wu Peng to be sent to the hospital.
“Factory Director, I’ll have someone take Comrade Wu for treatment first. This comrade here isn’t officially our security officer yet—he just passed the assessment. I’ll handle his onboarding immediately.”
Liu Changqing frowned, about to say he had urgent business and they’d talk later—
But Xiao Huaidong directly refused.
“Comrade Fang, you were right earlier. The job of a security officer isn’t really suitable for me.”
He gave Liu Changqing a polite nod and walked toward Xu Huaying.
“Huaying, go ahead to work. Don’t worry about my job—I have my own plans.”
“Brother Dong, even if you didn’t say it, I wouldn’t let you work with someone like Wu Peng.”
Her man—she would protect him in her own way.
“Yingzi, this must be your partner, right? With skills like his, he’d definitely be a great security officer in our factory.”
Liu Changqing didn’t know the full story, but from their conversation, he sensed something more.
A talent like Xiao Huaidong—if he didn’t keep him, he would regret it.
“Yingzi, let’s discuss your partner joining the factory later. I have urgent matters at the train station. Can I borrow him to come with me?”
Liu Changqing was anxious but still explained clearly.
“Uncle Liu, my partner’s name is Xiao Huaidong. He can make his own decisions. Ask him.”
Liu Changqing turned to Xiao Huaidong.
Seeing Xu Huaying’s tense expression, clearly upset on his behalf, Xiao Huaidong gently patted her hand and smiled softly at her.
Xu Huaying melted under his charming gaze and finally relented.
“If you want to go, then go. But you must be careful.”
Seeing her agree, Liu Changqing’s face lit up.
“Then there’s no time to waste. Zhiguo, come with us.”
He glanced at his watch and frowned. “I already told Xiao Hu to bring the car over. Why hasn’t he come yet?”
Fang Zhiguo quickly replied, “Factory Director, didn’t Driver Xiao Hu take leave yesterday?”
“What? He took leave yesterday? Hurry—call and see if there’s any other driver available!”
Liu Changqing was so anxious that sweat formed on his forehead.
Seeing she was no longer needed, Xu Huaying said goodbye to Xiao Huaidong and prepared to take Xiao Nanchu away.
“Dad, I want to go with you!”
Xiao Nanchu had just secretly read Liu Changqing’s face—there was faint black qi lingering on his forehead. It meant this trip would not go smoothly. It was even possible that he might not make it back.
Although her father had good luck protecting him, the bad luck of those around him could still affect him.
Only by going along could she feel at ease.
“Little Bean Sprout, your dad has important matters to handle. Go with Auntie.”
Xu Huaying took her hand, thinking the child was simply unwilling to be separated from her father in an unfamiliar place. She even took out a few White Rabbit candies to coax her.
“Aunt Xu, I want to go with my dad.”
She broke free and ran to Xiao Huaidong, hugging his leg tightly.
“Dad, let me go with you. I won’t hold you back.”
Factory Director Liu looked troubled.
“Huaidong, we’re going to handle something important. It’s really inconvenient to bring a child…”
Xiao Nanchu forced out a few tears, clinging to Xiao Huaidong like a puppy afraid of being abandoned.
“Dad, don’t leave me behind, okay?”
Xiao Huaidong originally wanted to persuade her to stay with Xu Huaying, but seeing her lack of security, his heart ached.
His daughter rarely cried—if she did, it meant she had suffered greatly.
He could never neglect his own child for the sake of helping others.
“Factory Director, you see it yourself. The child is timid. If she can come along, I’ll go. If not, I’ll take her home.”
“This… you’re spoiling the child too much!”
Liu Changqing was about to ask Xu Huaying to persuade her—
When Fang Zhiguo came running over.
“Factory Director, I just called. There isn’t a single driver available today—they’ve all gone out.”
Liu Changqing’s face darkened instantly. Regret filled him.
“It’s all my fault. I wanted to cast a long line to catch a big fish, but I got played instead.”
He pressed his temples, feeling dizzy.
“Ask around—who in the factory can drive? Whoever can drive, I’ll reward them one hundred… no, three hundred yuan when we get back.”
Fang Zhiguo shook his head helplessly. “Factory Director, driving isn’t easy. If someone could drive, they’d already be a driver, not working other jobs in the factory.”
Liu Changqing knew that too—he was just grasping at straws.
But there was no choice. If Wang Feng escaped, losing his position as factory director would be one thing—but if he were suspected of being an accomplice to enemy agents, that would be disastrous.
“Excuse me, are you looking for a driver? I can drive.”
Hearing about the three hundred yuan reward, Xiao Huaidong was tempted.
It was just driving—three hundred for one trip. No reason not to take it.
“Huaidong, you can drive? That’s great!”
Liu Changqing was overjoyed and no longer cared whether Xiao Nanchu would tag along.
“Zhiguo, take him to get the car. Hurry!”
He checked his watch again, very satisfied with Xiao Huaidong.
Fang Zhiguo gave Xiao Huaidong a strange look.
“Then Comrade Xiao, come with me to the factory.”