“Please, have a seat. I just finished a meeting and kept you waiting.”
County Magistrate Gu, named Gu Xin’an, didn’t resemble Gu Huaichuan much. He carried an aura of integrity and commanded authority without appearing angry.
After placing the documents in his hand on the desk, he approached and extended his hand.
Li Yue felt somewhat overwhelmed by the honor, yet she calmly shook the county magistrate’s hand lightly.
For some reason, she felt reassured, sensing that this county magistrate was quite reliable.
“Dad, don’t be so stern. Xiao Yue is a female comrade,” said Gu Huaichuan, who had been rather inconspicuous, with a hint of disapproval.
His father wasn’t very good at smiling—his attempt just now looked worse than crying.
It was obvious that Li Yue was very nervous.
“I just have this kind of face. Do you think my smile looks awful?” County Magistrate Gu’s sharply defined face stiffly pulled at the corners of his mouth.
It was genuinely frightening.
It seemed he truly didn’t know how to smile.
“Just speak more gently. Xiao Yue is my lifesaver, after all,” Gu Huaichuan continued on his own.
“It’s alright, I don’t mind seriousness,” she said, feeling she couldn’t remain completely silent at this moment.
She was telling the truth—she didn’t exactly dislike it, but the county magistrate did appear very stern.
“Exactly, daughters are so much better. Sons are just annoying,” County Magistrate Gu joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Li Yue wasn’t amused.
County Magistrate Gu didn’t press on with topics he wasn’t skilled in. Instead, he first expressed gratitude to Li Yue for saving Gu Huaichuan years ago.
Only then did he move on to the main subject.
“Xiao Chuan told me you want to go to the Discipline Inspection Commission? Now, explain it to me in detail.”
Li Yue pulled one of the account books from her cross-body canvas bag.
“I found this while cleaning at the Lu Family’s home. I accidentally opened the study that’s usually kept locked and saw it there. Although I don’t understand it fully, I once overheard Lu Jianguo making a phone call at home.”
“Oh? What did he say?”
Gu Xin’an took the account book, flipped through it casually, and asked nonchalantly, though his ears were perked up, listening carefully.
“He said, ‘The batch from the year before last went unnoticed, and this year’s batch won’t be discovered either.’ Before hanging up, a man’s voice came through the phone, saying, ‘This is the last time. From now on, whoever does this again is a dog.'”
These words were something Li Yue retrieved from the original host’s memories.
She had stayed up all night, thinking about events that seemed ordinary yet carried an air of strangeness from the original host’s life in that household.
That particular phone call had been especially eerie.
When Lu Jianguo was on the phone, he was particularly afraid of being overheard—either covering the receiver or holding it away from his ear.
When County Magistrate Gu heard the latter part of the conversation, his eyelids twitched.
He glanced at Li Yue’s serious expression and allowed a faint, almost imperceptible smile to touch his lips.
He felt that Li Yue wasn’t at all the timid and submissive person she appeared to be on the surface.
She was likely quite intelligent—wise yet appearing simple, with a touch of cunning.
“Are there more account books like this?”
It was indeed evidence of Lu Jianguo’s embezzlement of towels from the factory, substituting inferior quality for premium and selling them off.
There had to be accomplices within the factory—it couldn’t have been done by one person alone.
During his ten-year tenure, Lu Jianguo had succeeded every year except the first.
And this was the same person whom he had personally awarded as a county-level model worker in production last year.
“There are two more,” Li Yue said, taking the other two account books from her bag and placing them on the coffee table.
County Magistrate Gu picked them up and examined them, his expression growing increasingly grave as he read.
Li Yue, noticing the situation, took out two of the contracts again.
“These two contracts seem very suspicious. Look here—the same advanced electronic textile machines were purchased with two identical contracts signed on the same day. This one amounts to 200,000, while this one is 300,000. Could this be a Yin-Yang Contract?”
Having been an overworked employee in her previous life, Li Yue was more than capable of recognizing a Yin-Yang Contract.
After all, she had worked in sales before and even served as a part-time foreign trade manager for a year—the very year she managed to buy an apartment.
“These contracts are indeed very suspicious. Here’s what you should do: take these documents and anonymously submit them to the Discipline Inspection Commission. I’ll make a call to smooth the way. Don’t worry, those who break the law will face the consequences they deserve.”
County Magistrate Gu was somewhat angered, but this wouldn’t affect his political career. In fact, if he could root out the corrupt elements in the Towel Factory, it would only enhance his reputation.
Naturally, he was willing to help.
Not only had this young woman saved his son’s life, but he also felt that if she ever faced difficulties in the future, he wouldn’t stand by idly.
Li Yue nodded happily, gathering the contracts and notebook.
“Go ahead. Let Huaichuan accompany you—he knows which door to knock on.”
Li Yue expressed her gratitude again: “Thank you, County Magistrate.”
“Just call me Uncle. ‘County Magistrate’ sounds too formal, doesn’t it?” County Magistrate Gu believed he was smiling kindly.
In reality, his smile remained somewhat awkward.
Truth be told, Gu Xin’an was starting to see potential in Li Yue. Such a clever young woman would likely make a perceptive assistant if she were to work by his side.
He suppressed the thought for now, deciding to observe her further. After all, the position of county magistrate’s secretary was highly coveted.
Unaware of County Magistrate Gu’s considerations, Li Yue would likely have declined if she knew.
Having worked a full lifetime already, her goal this time was to unlock the commercial district and become a capitalist.
Why be the overworked employee when you can be the capital?
With Gu Huaichuan guiding her, the matter was handled smoothly. Now, all that remained was to wait for the outcome.
However, they were informed that the process might take some time, as the investigation would need to trace back nine years.
By the time they left the Discipline Inspection Commission, it was already getting late.
“Xiao Yue, let me treat you to a meal.”
Gu Huaichuan spoke up just as Li Yue was about to bid him farewell.
Looking at the cars and bicycles flowing along the road, Li Yue thought for a moment before nodding. “Alright, but I’ll treat you. Thank you for helping me with such an important matter today.”
“No need for thanks—it was just a small effort on my part. Let’s not dwell on it. Come on, let’s head to the snack street. You treat me to dinner, and I’ll treat you to a movie. I heard a new film from Hong Kong City premiered today.”
Gu Huaichuan urged Li Yue onto his bicycle and pedaled away with her.
Tao Ying, returning from grocery shopping, happened to see her son riding off with a young woman.
She waved and called out from across the street, but they didn’t seem to hear her.
Li Yue actually heard and saw her—facing her direction—but didn’t realize the woman was addressing them, as there were bicycles both ahead and behind them.
The two went to eat the Chao Tian Guo that Li Yue had been craving since yesterday. It turned out not to be a hotpot but rather a pancake roll filled with eggs, pig head meat, and pork tongue, served with free broth.
However, it was Li Yue’s first time trying the broth, and she forgot to add seasonings—nearly gagging from the plain taste.
They sat at a roadside stall, perched on the back of a tricycle used by the vendor.
“I still prefer the meat-filled ones,” remarked Gu Huaichuan, who had missed these hometown delicacies while abroad. Since returning, he made a point to visit local snack spots daily.
While the two were speaking, a man’s voice suddenly came from above.
“Young master, let’s sit here.”
Li Yue and Gu Huaichuan looked toward the source of the voice and saw a tall man dressed in a formal shirt and trousers, looking like a salesman.
That man was speaking to another tall figure.
Following his gaze, Li Yue was surprised to see a familiar face—the incredibly handsome man she had met yesterday.
She hadn’t expected to run into him again today after their encounter yesterday. What were the odds?
But she kept these thoughts to herself and didn’t pay it much mind.
As his young master approached, Nan Si lowered his head and asked Li Yue and the others, “May we sit at this table?”
There were only three tables in the shop, all occupied, with four people seated at each of the other two.
Only Li Yue and Gu Huaichuan’s table had two empty seats.
Nan Si smiled sincerely. He had no choice—ever since his young master arrived here, he had become very picky about food. If he couldn’t eat what he wanted, he would suffer from insomnia at night.