Jiang Meishu, “!”
Jiang Meishu, “!!!”
Like a dying patient startling upright from sickbed, she immediately rubbed her ears, “How much?”
“One hundred thousand RMB.”
“System, did I hear that correctly?”
System, “Naturally correct.”
“I told you, the Villainy Points you earn from missions can be directly exchanged for RMB at 1:100,000. Keep earning Villainy Points well, and you’ll become the wealthiest person on Zhi.fu.bao!”
Jiang Meishu patted her chest, “Let me calm down.”
The workhorse expressed that she had never earned money so easily before.
Thinking back to her internship days – working from 8 AM to 8 PM, and during month-end and beginning periods, having to work overtime until midnight.
Working herself to death.
A monthly internship salary of eighteen hundred.
Couldn’t even support herself.
Actually, Jiang Meishu didn’t understand why college students could be so cheap.
After studying for so many years, in the end, they were worth less than a street sweeper!
But even so, Jiang Meishu never considered resigning – she was afraid that if she quit, she wouldn’t even be able to find another job paying eighteen hundred per month.
To earn that eighteen hundred, to get a regular position, she literally worked herself to death!
Then ended up transmigrating to the 1970s where she couldn’t eat enough or dress warmly.
Hungry though she was.
But earning money was really easy!!!
She just had a few minutes of conversation with Liang Rui and earned one hundred thousand.
RMB!
Jiang Meishu sniffled, feeling like the RMB notes were dancing before her eyes, seducing her.
“System, don’t let me miss opportunities like this in the future.”
Missing even one.
Would be her damn fault!
Letting money-making opportunities slip by – she’d be guilty.
System, “Then you need to go on a blind date with Liang Qiurun, marry him, and become Liang Rui’s stepmother. Only by simulating the villainous stepmother persona and earning Villainy Points can you make more money.”
“Don’t even say simulating a villainous stepmother – even if it were simulating a stepfather, I’d have no problem.”
After all, who would turn down money?
From now on, Liang Rui wasn’t her stepson – he was her precious treasure!
Outside.
Liang Rui stormed out, his hair standing on end, and bumped into Jiang Lamei who was eavesdropping in the corridor. He had already walked past when he suddenly backtracked two steps, stopping in front of Jiang Lamei. His face was dark, his sharp, thin eyebrows looking fierce as he growled, “Were you the one who introduced Jiang Meilan to my dad for a blind date?”
Seeing Liang Rui like this.
Jiang Lamei feared he might punch her in the face.
After all, she had seen Liang Rui hit people before.
Not admitting it – everyone already knew.
But admitting it – Jiang Lamei was truly afraid of being hit by Liang Rui.
Just as Jiang Lamei was caught in a dilemma.
Liang Rui spoke up, “She’s shorter than me, younger than me. You introduced someone like that to my dad, expecting me to call her Mom? Are you sick in the head?”
Jiang Lamei, “…”
Seeing her remain silent, he took it as silent agreement.
Liang Rui’s brow bones rose high, his eyebrows raised arrogantly as he cursed cockily, “You’re really sick.”
“If I told you to call someone younger than you ‘Mom,’ could you say it?”
That he didn’t throw a punch at Jiang Lamei was only because he respected elders and cherished the young.
Jiang Lamei, being pointed at and scolded like this, felt her old face burning, “I was just setting your dad up on a blind date. I didn’t think about you.”
Liang Rui sneered, thinking to himself.
Setting his father up on a blind date, couldn’t they find someone closer in age? Picking someone so young—if they went out together, people would mistake her for his sister.
But he couldn’t say that out loud.
If he did, others might think he actually approved of Jiang Meilan marrying his father.
Liang Rui stormed in and stormed out just as fiercely.
Once he was gone, Jiang Lamei finally let out a sigh of relief. Truth be told, Factory Director Liang’s son had an intimidating presence. When he scowled and started scolding, she didn’t even dare utter a word.
Only when Liang Rui was completely out of sight did Jiang Lamei hurriedly rush back into the office where the blind date had taken place.
“Mei—Lan, are you alright?”
She nearly slipped up and called her Meishu.
Jiang Meishu stood up. “I’m fine.”
“So you really were so heartbroken that you fainted earlier?”
Jiang Lamei asked cautiously.
Jiang Meishu, “???”
No, she had choked and passed out—how did it become fainting from heartbreak?
Meanwhile, seven or eight heads were peeking in from the doorway, their eyes wide with curiosity, clearly believing the rumor.
Within half a day, the story had spread: Jiang Meilan, after being stood up by Factory Director Liang during their blind date, had hidden alone in the office, crying so bitterly that she fainted from heartbreak.
And Factory Director Liang’s son had witnessed it.
This news seemed to grow wings, flying from the Trade Union to every corner of the Meatpacking Factory.
Liang Qiurun, accompanied by Director Yang, rushed urgently to the workshop.
Even from a distance, thick black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky. At the sight, Liang Qiurun’s expression darkened instantly. “How many pigs were stored in the workshop that caught fire?”
Director Yang replied, “There are ten workshops in total. Three of them are old, abandoned workshops—the fire started there. No pigs were stored in those, but the new workshops do have pork.”
“How much?”
“Seven new workshops, each holding about eight to ten pigs.”
That was half of Sijiu City’s pork supply.
To put it plainly, the Department Store, State-Owned Restaurant, Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and the Second-Level Vegetable Station Market in Sijiu City all relied on the Meatpacking Factory’s pork to get by.
Though a few dozen pigs might sound like a lot, when distributed across all these units, each one would get less than a single pig.
This meant that, in those days, pork was absolutely precious.
Because pork was extremely scarce.
Hearing this, Liang Qiurun’s usually gentle expression grew increasingly grave. “How much was burned?”
“We don’t know yet,” Director Yang shook his head.
They soon arrived at the workshop.
Black smoke poured out of the windows, and raging flames threatened to engulf everything.
Outside the workshop, several layers of people had gathered—evidently all factory workers.
Someone noticed Liang Qiurun’s arrival and immediately shouted, “The Factory Director is here! Make way, everyone!”
The crowd spontaneously parted to create a path.
Liang Qiurun walked through the middle and stood at the edge, closest to the flames. “What’s the situation now? Is anyone injured? Have we managed to salvage the goods inside?”
People were rushing in and out, some carrying buckets, others holding hoses, all desperately dousing the flames.
“No one is injured so far. As soon as the fire broke out, I heard someone shouting.”
“By the time I got here, I immediately called people to put it out and rescue the pork inside. But the fire spread too fast—we’ve been fighting it while salvaging as much pork as we could.”
“We managed to save most of the pork, but the workshop—”
Looking at the thick, billowing smoke, at least one-third of the factory building had been destroyed—and that was a conservative estimate.
Liang Qiurun’s expression was grave as he stared at the black smoke. “As long as no one is hurt, that’s what matters.”
“We managed to salvage more than half of the pork—that’s better than expected.”
“Tell people not to go in anymore.”
“It’s too dangerous. From now on, focus entirely on putting out the fire.”
Many hands make light work. In just an hour, the fire was quickly brought under control, though it hadn’t been completely extinguished yet.
At the very least, it wasn’t as fierce as before.
At that moment, a security team member dragged Yang Xiangdong over. “Factory Director Liang, Director Yang, this kid has been sneaking around here.”
“I haven’t!”
As soon as Yang Xiangdong spoke, someone nearby immediately reacted. “That’s the voice! He was the one who shouted ‘fire’ earlier.”
At this, everyone couldn’t help but look over.
Being stared at by the crowd, Yang Xiangdong grew frightened. “It wasn’t me.”
He instinctively denied it.
But with this denial, how could his father, Director Yang, not know the truth?
No one understood the true nature of his own son better than he did.
Director Yang immediately unbuckled the leather belt from his waist and lashed it out. “Speak!”
“Tell the truth!”
The belt cracked against the ground with a sharp snap, as if it had struck Yang Xiangdong himself, making his heart tremble.
“Dad, I really didn’t do it!”
He still hadn’t given up Liang Rui and Liang Feng.
After all, the most important thing among young boys was loyalty.
He continued to deny it, but this time, Director Yang struck him directly with the belt. Yang Xiangdong cried out in pain, his whole body flinching as he tried to flee, but the security team blocked his escape.
Watching as blow after blow landed,
Yang Xiangdong finally couldn’t take it anymore. “I’ll talk, I’ll talk, alright?”
“Liang Rui and Liang Feng told me to set the fire.”
But the two of them were nowhere to be found now.
As soon as he finished speaking, Liang Qiurun sharply turned to look at him, his gaze piercing. “What did you say?”
Under that intense stare, Yang Xiangdong felt for the first time that Liang Rui’s usually gentle father could be so terrifying.
It was like being watched by a ferocious beast.
He instinctively shuddered. “Liang Feng brought Liang Rui here and said they wanted to set a fire. Liang Rui was still hesitating, but Liang Feng threw the match and told me to keep an eye on the fire while he went to class.”
But then, for some reason, what had been a small, manageable fire was suddenly fanned by a gust of wind, and in an instant, it erupted into a blaze.
He couldn’t put it out.
“You’re saying Liang Rui and Liang Feng told you to set the fire?” Liang Qiurun never imagined that the Liang family’s two children had played a role in this.
Yang Xiangdong nodded, whispering, “And… I think Liang Rui went inside later.”
He had seen a figure that looked very much like Liang Rui.
At these words,
Liang Qiurun’s jade-like complexion finally changed. “Are you saying Liang Rui is still inside the factory building?”
His voice grew urgent.
Yang Xiangdong’s tears fell one by one. “He said earlier he was going to sneak in. Whether he came out or not, I don’t know.”
This—
Without another word, Liang Qiurun rushed inside. In that moment, he wasn’t even thinking about assigning blame.
All he cared about was Liang Rui’s safe return.
Only,
Liang Qiurun had only taken two steps forward when Director Yang grabbed him. “Factory Director Liang, the fire is still burning. Who knows if the roof beams might collapse?”
If they really did collapse, people could be crushed to death.
Liang Qiurun turned to look at Director Yang, gripping his wrist firmly. Word by word, he said, “Let go.”
“My son is inside.”
Regardless of the cause of the fire, his son was inside, so he had to go in and rescue him.
Director Yang was intimidated by his glare.
In a moment of carelessness, he let Liang Qiurun charge inside. The fire hadn’t completely died out yet, and sparks were still flying from the beams everywhere.
Those nearby couldn’t stop him.
“Factory Director Liang went in. What if something happens?”
Section Chief Yang slapped his thigh.
The others present wore similarly pained expressions.
“Could something go wrong?” someone asked.
Who could guarantee it wouldn’t?
“Where are the security personnel?” Director Yang immediately organized a response. “Quick, let’s all go in together now.”
But who dared enter at this point?
If a burnt beam fell, it could be fatal.
No one spoke up.
“But we can’t just watch Factory Director Liang get into trouble inside!” Director Yang shouted.
Liang Rui arrived late. “What happened to my dad?”
He had just arrived and didn’t know the situation, but he could see the chaos.
“Liang Rui?”
Seeing him approach from another direction, everyone fell silent.
“Why are you here? Weren’t you inside?”
Liang Rui was stunned. “Who said I was inside?”
This—
Director Yang instinctively looked at Yang Xiangdong.
“My Xiangdong said you were in there.”
Liang Rui frowned. “I did go in earlier, but I came back out.”
“You said something happened to my dad?”
Section Chief Yang explained, “Your father thought you were inside the burning factory, so he rushed in to save you.”
As these words landed,
Liang Rui’s mind went blank for a moment.
“What did you say?”
“My dad rushed inside to save me?”
He was truly stunned. Almost immediately, he tried to charge in as well.
The young man acted recklessly. Seeing him about to enter, Section Chief Yang absolutely couldn’t let him go in.
He gripped Liang Rui’s arm tightly. “You can’t go in. We can’t afford to lose two people.”
“Quick, bring a megaphone! Shout inside and tell Factory Director Liang that Liang Rui is outside, so he can come out quickly.”
Hearing this, Liang Rui stopped struggling to go in.
Section Chief Yang took the megaphone and shouted repeatedly into the building.
But there was no response from inside.
Liang Rui stared fixedly at the blackened factory entrance. Honestly, he didn’t know what he was thinking at that moment.
He just felt that his father seemed to really love him after all.
He counted silently to three in his heart. If his father hadn’t emerged by then, he would charge in to find him.
Fortunately, when Liang Rui reached two, Liang Qiurun rushed out from inside.
Liang Rui had never seen his father so disheveled. He remembered Liang Qiurun had always been extremely neat—the kind of person who would change clothes at the slightest stain.
But now, Liang Qiurun’s white shirt had turned black, his face was covered in grime, and he had likely been hit by a beam, leaving a long black mark on his back.
“Dad!”
Liang Rui’s eyes stung. He rushed forward almost instantly.
Liang Qiurun instinctively reached for Liang Rui’s hand, but then, as if realizing something, withdrew it again.
He looked Liang Rui up and down, and only relaxed when he confirmed he was unharmed.
Then, his gentle expression gradually turned icy.
“Come with me.”
“Yang Xiangdong, you too.”
This—
Liang Rui knew the truth had come out.
So did Yang Xiangdong.
“Director Yang will also come.”
“The rest of you stay here to clean up the fire scene. Once the losses are tallied, report them to my office.”
Everyone fell silent, too afraid to speak.
Only—
Liang Rui, who followed behind Liang Qiurun, remained quiet.
In contrast, Yang Xiangdong was as frantic as an ant on a hot pan. “Brother Rui, what do we do now?”
“What are we going to do?”
Yang Xiangdong swore he had never caused such a huge disaster in his life.
They had even burned down the factory workshop.
And the pork—gone along with it.
He was afraid he would be beaten to death!
Liang Rui gritted his teeth without speaking. He had already decided to take all the blame himself.
On the way, no one in the group spoke.
It wasn’t until they reached the factory director’s office.
That the atmosphere remained deathly silent.
Liang Qiurun pulled out a chair and sat down. The prolonged tension had left him with a throbbing headache. “Speak. What exactly happened?”
This fire was no accident.
Everyone in the office knew that.
Yang Xiangdong was sweating profusely from anxiety. Guilty and terrified, he dared not speak or explain. At this point, the consequences were far beyond what he could bear.
Yang Xiangdong knew he had committed an enormous mistake.
He stammered for a long time without managing to utter a single word.
It was Liang Rui who stepped forward. “I started the fire.”
He still didn’t want to fully expose Liang Feng, clinging to a sense of loyalty.
At that moment.
Liang Qiurun’s gaze was filled with disappointment. “Liang Rui, do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
Liang Rui was stung by that look.
He nodded.
“I know.”
“I just didn’t expect it to turn out this bad.”
According to what Liang Feng had said, the fire would be put out quickly. Liang Rui didn’t understand why it had escalated so severely.
Liang Qiurun’s anger was at its breaking point. He stood up, walked over to Liang Rui, and looked down at him.
His fifteen-year-old son was already up to his nose.
Almost as tall as him.
But this child remained as rebellious, arrogant, troublesome, and worrisome as ever.
“You don’t know.”
Liang Qiurun said, “You know nothing.”
“The Meatpacking Factory’s workshop is watched by the entire capital because everyone knows that if they want meat, it must come from there.”
“So far, 103 Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, six Department Stores, four State-Owned Restaurants, and the three largest vegetable markets in the capital are all waiting for pork from the Meatpacking Factory’s workshop.”
“Liang Rui, you say you know what you did? Do you really?”
“Now the workshop is burned, and the pork meant for distribution is gone. Tell me, how are you going to face these units?”
Liang Rui was speechless, his face pale.
This was a side of things he had never considered.
A fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy, full of recklessness and boldness, lacked only the ability to solve problems.
At that moment, he hesitated.
Could he really shoulder such a huge responsibility?
“I’ll ask one more time, who exactly set this fire?”
Liang Rui pressed his lips tightly together.
Liang Feng had dropped the match while trying to help him – he couldn’t betray Liang Feng.
As for what kind of person his own son was…
Liang Qiurun knew all too well. “Still not going to talk?”
“Or do you want to wait until Liang Feng gets here before you speak?” Liang Qiurun directly instructed Secretary Chen, “Go to the school and bring Liang Feng here.”
At these words,
Liang Rui immediately panicked. “Dad, I did it.”
What a fool.
Even at this point, he was still trying to take all the responsibility upon himself.
“You did it? Can you bear the responsibility?”
Liang Rui gritted his teeth and braced himself. “I’ll compensate for it.”
Liang Qiurun scoffed, his gaze almost contemptuous. “You’ll compensate? With what?”
Liang Qiurun had always been gentle, mild-mannered, and rarely lost his temper.
He had never been this sharp before, especially when directing such sharpness toward his own son – the precious child he had cradled in his hands.
Liang Rui was stung. He stiffened his neck and shouted, “I’ll use my entire life to compensate, is that enough?”
Liang Qiurun had never been this cutting before. He stared at him, “What does your life amount to?”
“Do you have education? Skills? Or maybe you have money?”
“A job position at the Meatpacking Factory would have people fighting tooth and nail for it. Do you have what it takes to squeeze in? Even if you could get in, let me ask you – how will you handle the shortage that’s been created now?”
How?
Liang Rui didn’t know.
Only when his father laid out all the facts before him did Liang Rui realize what a massive mess he had created.
Yang Xiangdong stood quietly nearby.
Wishing he could grow wings to cover himself and hide away completely.
Section Chief Yang didn’t speak, but his rapid breathing betrayed his emotions.
If Factory Director Liang weren’t here, he might have taken off his belt and beaten his son Yang Xiangdong to death!
The room fell into silence.
This was the most terrifying part – like the calm before the storm.
After what felt like an eternity,
Liang Feng was brought in. When he saw the scene of the three-party confrontation in the office, Liang Feng knew – the truth had come out.
He instinctively looked toward Liang Rui, wanting to ask what had happened.
Unfortunately, they were under Liang Qiurun’s watchful eye – he wouldn’t give them any opportunity to coordinate their stories.
“Tell me, why did you set the factory building on fire?”
Only one thought crossed Liang Feng’s mind.
It’s over.
Little Uncle knows.
He remained silent, determined to resist.
Liang Qiurun continued, “Liang Feng, you’re the most promising child in the Liang family. Can you tell me why you set the factory building on fire?”
With his foolish son’s methods, he would never have thought of this.
Before, when Liang Rui tried to stop him from dating, he had once soaked himself in cold water to make himself sick, and another time dressed himself up as an idiot just to scare away his blind dates.
Later he improved a bit – learned to fight, knew how to use his fists to make a point, started making threats.
Liang Rui only knew how to make small troubles – he wasn’t capable of such earth-shattering deeds.
His brain wasn’t up to it.
So Little Uncle knew everything after all.
Liang Feng gritted his teeth. “I didn’t want you to go on blind dates.”
“So you came up with the idea to set the fire with Liang Rui?”
Liang Feng hesitated for a moment, then revealed another name. “The idea of setting the fire didn’t come from me—it was Liang Haibo who approached me, suggesting I provoke Liang Rui into doing it.”
He wasn’t a fool, and given his close relationship with Liang Rui, he naturally wouldn’t push him into a pit of fire.
Moreover, Liang Feng believed himself to be clever enough that this fake arson would certainly not lead to any real trouble.
Thus, he took action on behalf of the indecisive Liang Rui.
“Good, very good.” Liang Qiurun’s face was cold as ice. He hadn’t expected Liang Haibo to be involved in this matter.
“Our Liang family truly produces fine specimens.”
Each of the three was more remarkable than the last.
“Factory Director Liang.”
A voice came from outside the office.
Liang Qiurun glanced up. “Come in.”
His voice was clear and sharp, lacking its usual warmth and carrying a cutting edge.
The person reporting immediately felt intimidated but had no choice but to brace himself. “Factory Director Liang, the statistics are out.”
“Out of seventy pigs total, we lost five.”
“Additionally, three abandoned factory buildings were completely destroyed in the fire. The new factory building suffered minor damage but remains usable.”
“Also, one comrade was injured by falling debris while rescuing pork during the firefighting efforts.”
Silence fell over the room.
Liang Qiurun looked at Liang Rui, who kept his head down, clenching his fists tightly.
He hadn’t anticipated this.
He truly hadn’t expected that small fire to cause such significant losses.
Liang Feng also opened his mouth in disbelief. “Wasn’t it supposed to be a controlled fire? How could there be such massive losses?”
He turned sharply to Yang Xiangdong. “Didn’t I tell you to watch the fire?”
Yang Xiangdong stammered, “I did put it out, but then a sudden gust of wind came and the flames erupted. I couldn’t stop it.”
He looked on the verge of tears from anxiety.
“Enough.” Liang Qiurun cut them off and turned to Director Shi. “Continue.”
Director Shi kept his head lowered. “Additionally, various units have arrived at the factory gate to collect goods.”
The Meatpacking Factory could be considered the most sought-after unit in the entire capital, without exception.
Simply because their facility produced pork, meaning they held the lifeline for most people, even entire organizations.
Whether it was State-Owned Restaurants, Department Stores, or Supply and Marketing Cooperatives – everywhere suffered meat shortages.
When ordinary people went a day without oil in their bellies, the Meatpacking Factory would remain in high demand.
Previously, these units would cling to the Meatpacking Factory, begging them to increase pork production to solve supply issues for most units and residents.
But now, they were left in the lurch.
With so many people waiting, their Meatpacking Factory couldn’t deliver the goods.
“Director, what should we do now?”
Director Shi was genuinely anxious.
What should they do?
Liang Qiurun wanted to know too. He glanced at Liang Rui and Liang Feng, who kept their heads lowered. “Stay here. I’ll deal with you when I return.”
With that, he led Director Shi and Section Chief Yang out.
But Liang Rui suddenly followed. “I take full responsibility for my actions. I’ll go with you.”
He knew where Liang Qiurun was heading – undoubtedly to clean up his mess, dealing with those who came to collect goods from the Meatpacking Factory but left empty-handed.
Liang Qiurun looked back at him, seemingly considering the feasibility.
After a long moment, he said, “Follow.”
Children eventually had to grow up.
Perhaps he had been too lenient with Liang Rui and Liang Feng before.
Workshop factory gate.
As usual, procurement officers from various authorized business units across Sijiu City had gathered here.
Everyone was waiting to collect goods from the Meatpacking Factory for resale.
After all, their subordinates had been anticipating this day for half a month.
When they arrived, Section Chief Chen from the Sales Section was explaining the situation to the responsible persons from these purchasing units.
Unfortunately, these people weren’t listening.
Which was to be expected.
After all, no one could accept waiting half a month for their unit’s turn to receive goods, only to be told upon arrival that there were none left.
Who could possibly accept that?
When Liang Qiurun arrived, the place was as chaotic as a vegetable market. No matter how much Section Chief Chen from the Meatpacking Factory wore out his lips explaining, nobody believed him.
“I’m really not lying to you all. As you can see, our Meatpacking Plant Workshop had a fire, and a lot of pork was lost. We’re lucky anyone made it out alive. Where am I supposed to get pork for you?”
The crowd remained unmoved.
“Telling us this is useless.”
“We want pork.”
“The common people at our units have been queuing up in long lines since midnight. Some have been waiting all day. If we go back and tell them there’s no pork, even if we agree, will those common people agree?”
This—
Section Chief Chen was so stressed he was nearly tearing his hair out. There was no right answer.
“I can’t magically produce it.”
He slapped his thigh in frustration. “The pork was destroyed in the fire. I can’t magically produce it.”
He was on the verge of tears.
Then Liang Qiurun arrived. When Section Chief Chen saw him, it was like seeing a savior.
“Factory Director Liang, how should we resolve this?”
This was the advantage of being the factory director—wherever there was a problem, you had to take responsibility.
Having been at the Meatpacking Factory for a month, Liang Qiurun had already grown accustomed to the way things worked here.
“I’ll handle it.”
Those four simple words put Section Chief Chen completely at ease. He wiped his sweat and quietly stepped back behind Liang Qiurun.
Liang Qiurun stood there calmly, and the previously noisy scene instantly fell silent.
All eyes turned to him.
Liang Qiurun raised his voice, “I know everyone is anxious. I’m just as anxious as you are.”
“I understand that there isn’t enough pork, the common people can’t buy any, and you’ll face their anger when you return.”
His words struck a chord, and the crowd couldn’t help but nod. “Exactly. Those who waited all night are so frustrated they might even smash our unit’s counters.”
Liang Qiurun nodded. “Our Meatpacking Factory has caused you all trouble.”
“I have an idea. Would you like to hear it?”
His voice was incredibly persuasive, and his demeanor was steady—the kind that inspired trust just by looking at him.
Often, the authority he exuded made people overlook his strikingly handsome appearance.
“Factory Director Liang, please speak.”
Liang Qiurun said, “Our Meatpacking Factory originally planned to distribute seventy pigs today, enough for every unit that came.”
“But due to unforeseen circumstances, we’re short a few pigs.”
“Here’s my proposal: I, Liang Qiurun, in my capacity as the director of the Meatpacking Factory, suggest that those who didn’t receive pork today borrow half a pig from those who did.”
“As for repaying the pork, our Meatpacking Factory will take care of it.”
This left everyone puzzled.
“Factory Director Liang, what do you mean?”
Liang Qiurun’s expression remained gentle, his voice calm and measured. “It’s simple. For example, the Department Store was supposed to receive one pig today, but the State-Owned Restaurant got nothing. So, the State-Owned Restaurant could borrow half a pig from the Department Store.”
“As for this meat, who will repay it? Our Meatpacking Factory will. When you come to collect pork next time, bring the loan receipt to our Procurement Section for registration. The Procurement Section will then prioritize returning half a carcass to you.”
His explanation was logical and well-founded.
The manager of the nearby State-Owned Restaurant couldn’t help but feel somewhat convinced. “Then Factory Director Liang, how should this receipt be written? And who will sign it?”
Liang Qiurun replied, “You write it, I’ll sign it.”
“Later, bring the receipt with my signature to find Section Chief Chen and Section Chief Yang to collect the pork from the workshop.”
This provided assurance from all three parties.
Alright.
Everyone was satisfied with this outcome.
After all, it was just half a carcass of pork, and they would have priority for future pork collections. This was more useful than anything else.
Seeing the crisis resolved in this manner,
Liang Rui looked at Liang Qiurun with shining eyes.
Liang Qiurun’s face remained stern. “This matter isn’t over yet.”
“This is only the beginning.”
Liang Rui didn’t understand why Liang Qiurun would say such a thing.
But he soon found out, because throughout the entire process of handling this matter, Liang Qiurun kept Liang Rui by his side.
Even including Yang Xiangdong and Liang Feng.
Fifteen or sixteen-year-olds are at that rebellious age. If they don’t learn their lesson, this matter probably won’t be truly resolved.
After addressing the most critical supply issue, there was still the matter of the workshop building.
He pondered for a moment before issuing clear instructions: “Although the burned abandoned workshop doesn’t affect operations, it will need reconstruction eventually. Have the Finance Section prepare a budget for the workshop renovation and report the cost to me.”
“As for the renovation expenses,” Liang Qiurun paused, turning his gaze to Liang Rui and Yang Xiangdong, “this money will be paid by you several.”
Whoever causes the trouble should solve it.
As these words fell, the scene immediately fell silent.
Before Liang Rui and Yang Xiangdong could respond,
Director Yang grew anxious. “Factory Director Liang, the cost of workshop reconstruction is likely quite high. How could these two children possibly afford to pay that amount?”
Though he was now a workshop director, even at his level, contributing a month’s salary probably wouldn’t be enough.
Liang Qiurun raised his eyes. Though his expression appeared quite gentle, it made Director Yang’s heart race with fear.
“I wasn’t asking you.”
“I was asking these three.”
Yang Xiangdong looked around nervously before finally whispering, “Factory Director Liang, I don’t have any money.”
He was still just a poor student.
Liang Qiurun acknowledged with a hum. “Did you consider that you had no money before you helped set the fire?”
This—
Yang Xiangdong remained silent. He was quite loyal, not shifting all the blame onto Liang Rui.
Precisely because of this, Liang Rui felt even more compelled to protect him.
“I take full responsibility for my actions. Yang Xiangdong didn’t want to set the fire – I forced him to do it.”
“How much does the workshop reconstruction cost? I’ll bear it all.”
Looking at his son who was still trying to take on all responsibility, Liang Qiurun raised an eyebrow. “Do you have the money?”
This question left Liang Rui stunned.
He did have money – his father Liang Qiurun had always been generous with him financially. But how much did he actually have?
Enough to pay for workshop reconstruction? Definitely not even close.
“You see, you don’t have money, yet you still want to take full responsibility.”
“Liang Rui, do you think this is loyalty? No, this is foolishness!”
Being publicly called foolish by his father at fifteen was like having his self-esteem trampled into the dirt.
He stiffened his neck defiantly. “What was I supposed to do then? Watch them take the blame with me? He was just an accomplice who helped me out!”
Liang Qiurun remained as calm as ever, ignoring his son’s outburst. “Did Yang Xiangdong actually do it? Who started the fire?”
Two simple questions.
They instantly rendered Liang Rui speechless.
Did he do it?
Of course he did.
He wanted to argue further, but Yang Xiangdong stopped him. “Brother Rui, listen to Factory Director Liang. Let’s see how he wants to handle this.”
Then Yang turned to Liang Qiurun. “Uncle Liang, to be honest, I have no money. I’ve got less than three yuan saved up secretly.”
Meaning: there was no money to be had.
It had to be admitted—Yang Xiangdong showed some strategic thinking, or perhaps cleverness, at this critical moment.
After he spoke, Liang Qiurun’s expression noticeably softened. “I know neither of you has money.”
As if anticipating Liang Rui’s retort, he cast a cold glance his way. “Is the money in your pocket really yours? Or is it the money I gave you?”
“What? You plan to burn down the Meatpacking Factory’s workshop, have me clean up your mess, then use the money I gave you to compensate for the damage?”
“Liang Rui, the world doesn’t work that conveniently.”
Liang Rui immediately fell silent.
He realized he was completely, undeniably at fault from every angle.
Hanging his head in frustration, he muttered, “Then what do you want?”
Liang Qiurun stood up and walked over to Liang Rui. For the first time, he examined his son from an outsider’s perspective.
Because his comrade had sacrificed himself to save him, he had adopted the man’s son.
Consequently, he always felt indebted to Liang Rui.
This led to leniency in discipline, allowing the boy to develop freely.
Combined with his busy work schedule, this had created the current situation—and shaped Liang Rui into who he was now: rebellious, arrogant, impulsive, thoughtless, and academically poor.
For the first time, he clearly recognized these glaring flaws in his son.
Being scrutinized like this made Liang Rui intensely uncomfortable.
After what felt like an eternity, Liang Qiurun suddenly stated, “You’re even more foolish than I imagined.”
Liang Rui: “???”
For a fifteen-year-old boy, this was absolutely devastating.
His hair practically stood on end as he glared wordlessly, though Liang Qiurun could clearly read the unspoken challenge: “What gives you the right to say that?”
Liang Qiurun continued, “Because you only have the ability to cause trouble, not to solve problems.”
“I do have that ability!” Liang Rui protested, exactly as his father expected.
“Then compensate for the workshop reconstruction costs, reimburse the lost pork, and deal with all the unit representatives waiting outside to collect their meat orders.”
Liang Rui fell silent again—these were all things he couldn’t possibly accomplish.
“Since you can’t do it, then obediently follow my instructions.”
There it was—Liang Qiurun’s true objective: to make him willingly pay compensation. “I don’t want the money I previously gave you.”
“I want money you’ve earned yourself.”
This was truly putting Liang Rui in an impossible position.
How could a middle school student possibly earn money?
“I can’t do that!” Liang Rui fumed indignantly.
“Yes.” Liang Qiurun admitted bluntly, “Aren’t you making things difficult for me too?”
“You made this mess and now I have to clean up after you.”
Liang Rui was instantly rendered speechless. “Dad, what exactly do you want to do?”
He finally realized his father had been setting traps for him all along.
Liang Qiurun replied, “What do I want? When this whole thing started, what I wanted most was to hang you up and give you a beating.”
“But I couldn’t.”
Why couldn’t he?
He was afraid his comrade-in-arms watching from heaven would see him beating his only bloodline.
Liang Rui understood what his father left unsaid, his face instantly turning pale.
Many times he had asked himself: why wasn’t he his father’s biological son?
Liang Qiurun continued, “Liang Rui, I could beat you, but I don’t want to. Because there’s another person between us. I’m afraid if I hit you, he’d be watching from above with a broken heart.”
That wonderful, vibrant person who had shielded him, only to be blown into red mist by explosives.
The sky had filled with crimson rain of blood.
Untouchable, unreachable, unbearable to watch.
This was something Liang Qiurun could never bring himself to recall or face for the rest of his life.
Liang Qiurun looked down at the young man, as if seeing that person again. His voice grew hoarse, “Liang Rui, don’t betray his expectations of you.”
These were also his own expectations for Liang Rui.
Liang Rui fell silent immediately.
He had never asked how his biological father died.
He only knew his father had sacrificed himself to save Liang Qiurun.
It was precisely because of this that he had been brought from the remote mountains of Heilongjiang Province to the capital.
Leaping from deep in the mountains to become a capital resident.
The Liang family all said he had incredible luck.
Liang Rui knew this wasn’t true.
This was the smooth path his biological father had paved for him with his own life.
A path stretching from the mountains of Heilongjiang all the way to the bustling Sijiu City.
Liang Rui lowered his head, clenching his fists so tightly that after a long moment, he could taste iron in his mouth. “Dad, I know I was wrong.”
This was exactly what Liang Qiurun had been waiting for.
Only when Liang Rui truly recognized his mistake could they proceed with the next steps, making him understand how hard it is to earn money.
Making him reflect on the magnitude of his error.
Liang Qiurun reached out and ruffled his hair. Liang Rui’s hair was black, thick, and stiff, just like his personality.
His temper was just as stubborn.
But in Liang Qiurun’s eyes, Liang Rui would always be the best.
“Your mistake this time has three aspects.”
Only now did Liang Qiurun begin to analyze with Liang Rui exactly where he had gone wrong.
Nearby, Director Yang, seeing this scene, quietly pulled his son Yang Xiangdong outside.
Yang Xiangdong was still somewhat confused until his father glared at him, then he hunched over and followed him out the door.
“The Liang family is having a teaching moment. Why are you getting in the way?”
As soon as they exited, Director Yang glared at his tactless son.
“I made mistakes too.”
Yang Xiangdong admitted honestly.
Hearing this, Director Yang grabbed him by the collar. “If you made mistakes, your father will deal with you.”
“I don’t have Factory Director Liang’s patience to lecture you.”
“Yang Xiangdong, when we get home, be sensible and hang yourself from the beam so I can whip you.”
Yang Xiangdong felt genuinely wronged. He was truly unconvinced.
“I wasn’t the mastermind! Liang Rui was the one who wanted to set the fire! I was just helping him! Even Liang Rui didn’t get beaten, why should you hit me?”
“Because I’m your father! How dare you compare yourself to Liang Rui? Liang Rui has a good father, do you?”
Hearing this, Yang Xiangdong retorted, “I don’t have a good father, but I have a wild father.”
Director Yang, “…”
“You little bastard, stand still! I’ll beat you to death!”
The commotion outside naturally couldn’t escape the office.
Liang Qiurun and Liang Rui could hear everything clearly.
At this moment, Liang Rui even felt somewhat envious of the relationship between Yang Xiangdong and his father.
It was different.
It was something he and Liang Qiurun had never been able to achieve.
Like this time when he caused such a big disaster – a normal father would be furious and beat his child half to death.
But Liang Qiurun didn’t.
Actually, Liang Rui knew there was still a barrier between them.
And indeed it was true.
Liang Qiurun always said he treated Liang Rui as his own son, and he truly did so. But at the same time, he was afraid Liang Rui would forget his biological father.
Therefore, while raising Liang Rui, he would repeatedly remind him.
This led to…
The relationship between him and Liang Rui was destined to never be as unrestrained as that between Director Yang and Yang Xiangdong.
“Finished listening?”
Liang Qiurun noticed the gloom on Liang Rui’s face. He wanted to step forward and hug him, but after taking just one step, he forcibly stopped himself.
Liang Rui’s face had originally carried some expectation, but when he saw Liang Qiurun stop, his expression darkened again.
His father would never hug him.
Nor would he hold his hand.
Liang Rui felt that most of the time, he was like a wild grass kept at home.
The other would water and fertilize him, but would never trim his branches and leaves.
As if wild grass didn’t need trimming, or wasn’t worthy of trimming.
“Let’s get back to business.”
Liang Qiurun said, “Your mistakes this time come down to three points.”
“First, you shouldn’t have listened to Liang Feng’s instigation and agreed to let him set the fire.”
Liang Rui remained silent.
Liang Feng opened his mouth, his lips somewhat pale.
“The consequences of your joint arson are: first, the Meatpacking Plant Workshop was burned down; second, the Meatpacking Factory’s insufficient supply today caused various units to fail in their procurement.”
“The former, you can compensate with money.”
Liang Rui opened his mouth.
“I know what you want to say.”
“I said it has to be money you earn yourself.”
“So, I’ll provide you with a way to earn money. Our Meatpacking Factory has workers who carry pork – each pig weighs over a hundred jin. They get paid per head for carrying them from the slaughterhouse to the workshop.”
Typically, this work was completely taken by the Meatpacking Factory workers.
After all, although it was hard work, it provided solid earnings.
“Me? Carry pigs?”
Liang Rui was stunned.
Liang Qiurun hummed in agreement, taking a sip of tea, “Can’t handle it?”
Provoked like this, Liang Rui immediately patted his chest, “How could that be? How heavy can a hundred-jin pig be?”
With this, Liang Qiurun achieved his goal.
“Alright, I’ll have someone from the Finance Section come over to prepare the budget. Since you’ve agreed, sign the debt acknowledgment.”
This was a trap set for Liang Rui from the beginning, step by step.
Before Liang Rui could react, Director Lu from the Finance Section arrived, holding a budget sheet, “Factory Director Liang, here are the calculated losses from this incident.”
“A total of three abandoned factory buildings were burned down. Rebuilding them would cost at least around eleven hundred at the lowest estimate.”
And that was only calculated based on the basic construction costs.
Hearing this,
Liang Rui immediately gasped, “That much?”
He had to remember his monthly allowance was only five dollars.
Director Lu glanced at him, “And you didn’t even burn large factory buildings. I haven’t even included the labor costs involved this time.”
Liang Rui immediately fell silent.
Liang Qiurun said, “Let’s tell him together.”
He sat on the chair, his back slender, his features handsome, yet carrying an indescribable sense of authority.
It was directed at Liang Rui.
And also at Director Lu.
Director Lu took a deep breath before speaking softly, “During the fire rescue efforts, one worker was injured.”
“As an on-the-job injury, our unit should, by all accounts, cover their medical expenses and pay them a visit.”
Liang Qiurun said, “The patient’s medical expenses and visitation costs will be charged to Liang Rui.”
Director Lu nodded and immediately wrote something on the form.
“Sign it.”
Liang Rui, “?”
Completely baffled by the whole situation, he looked down at the form handed to him, which already showed a debt of twelve hundred yuan.
Liang Rui, “…”
Director Lu said expressionlessly, “The preliminary estimate for rebuilding the workshop is about eleven hundred, plus one hundred for visiting Comrade Jiang Chenliang, covering medical expenses, visitation fees, and lost wages.”
Liang Rui gritted his teeth, “I’ll sign!”
Without another word, he signed his name.
Liang Qiurun added, “When the time comes, you must visit Comrade Jiang Chenliang.”
He felt that the name Jiang Chenliang was somewhat familiar.
But he couldn’t recall it right away.
After Director Lu left.
Director Yang came over instead, and Liang Qiurun asked him, “Do you know Jiang Chenliang?”
Director Yang instinctively replied, “Isn’t that Jiang Meilan’s father? He’s one of the top senior masters in our workshop.”
As soon as these words fell.
The air instantly grew quiet.
Liang Rui looked at Liang Qiurun.
Liang Qiurun looked at Liang Rui.
Liang Qiurun rubbed his temples, finally remembering the blind date he hadn’t finished.
He said to Liang Rui, “When the time comes, I’ll accompany you to the Jiang family.”
But before that, he had to deal with the rebellious sons at home.
Liang Qiurun led Liang Rui and Liang Feng back to the old house, and the first thing he did was shout, “Tell Liang Haibo to get out here.”
At these words, Chen Hongjiao was immediately taken aback, “Qiurun, what do you need our Haibo for?”
Liang Qiurun glanced at her, “Sister-in-law, I said let Liang Haibo come out. Don’t make me go find him myself.”
This—
Chen Hongjiao immediately realized something was wrong.
“Little Uncle, if there’s any problem, you can tell me.”
“Sister-in-law, don’t make me repeat it a third time. Tell Liang Haibo to get out here.”
As soon as he finished speaking.
Liang Haibo came out trembling.
“Little Uncle.”
Liang Qiurun lifted his eyelids, “Was it you who told Liang Feng and Liang Rui that if they set fire to the Meatpacking Plant Workshop, I wouldn’t be able to go on the blind date with Comrade Jiang?”