The Ninth Section: The Evil Species

  Wang Fei had already dodged to one side when Qing Liebiao was approaching, and now he crept over mysteriously and whispered: "Guo Dong, do you know what Qing Liebiao came here for today?"

  "What's going on? Are you still waiting for me?" Zhao Guotang said irritably.

  "You said he went somewhere, but it's also related to you. He came to wait for Kong Yue. His gang of friends all say that Kong Yue is the number one beauty in our textile factory. They urged Qing Liebiao to come and take a look. As a result, Qing Liebiao still didn't get to see her." Wang Fei let out a sigh, "If this guy Qing Liebiao takes a liking to her, then Kong Yue will really be in trouble."

  Although Kong Yue and he didn't have any substantial relationship, but thinking that if Jing Liebiao really got entangled with Kong Yue, it would indeed have a bit of a "fresh flower inserted into cow dung" taste. Zhao Guodong found himself also somewhat unconsciously worried, not knowing whether it was out of concern for his classmate or other reasons.

  "He's a born troublemaker, doesn't know how many female workers he's messed with in the factory. It's only been less often since he came back these two years. When he was at the Andu office, several female workers from the silk and weaving workshops were taken advantage of. My sister works at the factory hospital, she said there were at least three or four female workers who had abortions, and a teacher from the Subei School who just started working there too." Fangzi's tone is even more subdued, as if he knows even more.

  "That's also a case of Zhou Yu hitting Huang Gai, one willing to hit and the other willing to be hit." Zhao Guotang said disapprovingly.

  "Hmph, Guo Dong, you don't know that in the factory, ordinary female workers, if the young master takes a liking to you, do you dare not comply? If he promises you some benefits, switching from three shifts to day shift, there are many people who will take the bait. Otherwise, just give the workshop director a hint, and you'll end up with the most tiring and laborious tasks." Wu Changqing interjected, "Do you think this factory is like your public security bureau?"

  Zhao Guodong opened his mouth, but didn't say anything. What's the difference? The Public Security Bureau might not be much cleaner than this factory. He helped Liu Du take the blame for the car accident, which was originally just a normal traffic accident with no serious injuries. They could have just said it was an accident and had the unit pay compensation, and he wouldn't have been implicated at all. But in the end, he was quietly kicked out of the criminal police team without any explanation. Even Liu Du himself couldn't explain clearly, only saying that Director Zhang thought he was his man and insisted on handling the matter as a warning to others. Hmph, those two were competing for the position of team leader, but in the end, they sold him out.

  When Zhao Guodong received the news, he almost burst his lungs with anger. However, since he had already helped Liu Dui to take over, it was impossible to turn things around now. As for what roles Liu Dui and Zhang Guiding had played in this, Zhao Guodong still didn't understand until now, nor did he want to. In front of Liu Dui, he could only put on a dejected expression, until Liu Dui solemnly promised to have him transferred back within one or two years.

  Life is like a play, and the play is like life. Zhao Guo had seen this phrase many times before, but only now did he truly feel it, and it seemed that he himself was playing a pitiful role.

  As the song "When Dreams Wake Up" started, people in the ballroom rushed into the dance pool. Wu Changqing and Fangzi had already found their targets, but Wang Fei and Zhao Guotang were standing idly in the corner. Even though they were standing in the corner, Zhao Guotang knew he had become the focus of attention, someone who could make Qīng Lièbō come over to greet him voluntarily, enough to make people glance at him sideways.

  "Guo Dong, why don't you go ask someone to dance? What's wrong, have your standards risen and now you think our textile factory is beneath you?" A rough, slightly hoarse voice came from the side.

  Zhao Guoding composed himself and hastily greeted: "Ma Ge, where have you been? I've just returned too! It's been a long time since I came back, and I don't recognize many people. Let's stand and rest for a while. What's up, Ma Ge on duty today?"

  Ma Zhengkui is the head of the security department in a textile factory. Five or six years ago, Zhao Guotang often caused trouble for Ma Zhengkui. Later, Zhao Guotang left and Zhao Deshan took his place, but the old Zhao family still had frequent dealings with the security department.

  But now the situation is different, Zhao Guotang was admitted to the police academy, and the reputation of Old Zhao's family has increased exponentially. Especially after Zhao Guotang graduated and was assigned back to Jiangkou, the situation naturally became even more different. The former troublemaker is now a people's policeman in the public security agency, and for units like the factory security department that are under the guidance of the public security department, it even has a slightly subordinate tone.

  "Ah, it's the weekend, they all come to take a look, or else some ignorant young whippersnappers will come and cause trouble." Ma Zhengkui was a thin man in his forties, also a veteran who had been transferred to the factory after leaving the army and had always stayed in the security department.

  "We're all from the same factory, what's there to be afraid of?" Zhao Guotang said disapprovingly.

  "It's not necessarily, our club's ticket is only one yuan, and it's open to the outside, there are many female workers, those bad boys on Jiangmiao Street always like to come here to hang out, I'm afraid they might collide with those fools from the factory." Ma Zhengkui shook his head, "I heard that you've been transferred back to Jiangmiao Police Station? Hehe, this is great, tonight you're here, and I can rest assured."

  "Haha, Brother Ma, what are you talking about? This is your territory, I'm just here to take a stroll and might leave soon. I don't see anyone who dares to cause trouble in your domain."

  Zhao Guotong politely said that Ma Zhengkui was very polite, and Zhao Guotong also had to be accommodating.

  "Alright, you guys have fun, I'll go take a walk." Ma Zhengkui also smiled and waved goodbye as he left.

  "What's gotten into Ma Zhengkui, he's become so polite all of a sudden?" Zhao Guotang muttered to himself.

  "Hmph, Guo Dong, it depends on who you are. Look at him, he didn't even notice me. I'm standing here and he's treating me like I don't exist!" Wang Fei said indignantly: "This bootlicker has a good relationship with the top brass, and I heard his connection to your police station head is also not bad. He looks down on ordinary people."

  Zhao Guodong didn't respond, it's all the same everywhere these days. Just as he was thinking about this, Wang Fei suddenly called out, "Guodong, look, Kong Yue and the others have arrived."

  "Oh?" Zhao Guotang was originally not very interested, but after hearing Wang Fei speak, he quickly followed Wang Fei's pointing hand to look over and saw two girls wearing cheongsam dresses quietly walking in. "The one in the white dress is Kong Yue, right?"

  "Is it? How come, after such a long time of not seeing each other, you don't recognize me?"

  "What about the one in the purple skirt behind?"

  "It seems like the teacher who just transferred from a school for children of high-ranking officials not long ago, and seems to have a good relationship with Kong Yue. I often see them together." Wang Fei said carefully, "Guo Dong, hurry up, or you won't get a chance to invite her."

  Zhao Guotong shook his head, Kong Yue had indeed changed a lot. As the saying goes, "a girl changes eighteen times before she's eighteen", and the more she changed, the prettier she became. Kong Yue was already famous as a school beauty in middle school, and now she had grown even taller, with a slender figure that looked great in a white dress with a bow tied at the back of her waist. She stood out among the other girls around her, including the girl who came with her, who also had a slim figure. Zhao Guotong's eyes were very sharp, and he noticed that this girl was even slightly taller than Kong Yue. Her oval face always seemed to be smiling lightly, and her two dimples looked very charming as she chatted enthusiastically with Kong Yue.

  As expected, the men who went to invite the two women to dance were numerous, but the two women seemed to have no intention of dancing. The gentlemen were rejected one after another, but since they were all from the same factory, it wasn't too awkward.

  "Wang Fei and Kong Yue are quite arrogant, aren't they? So many people asked her to dance but she didn't, what did they come here for?" Zhao Guocong said with a hint of annoyance.

  "You'll definitely be fine, we're all old classmates. Those two don't seem to like dancing that much, they might come once a month. We can invite them to dance and they've never refused before." Wang Fei burst out laughing, "Guo Dong, are you afraid of being rejected and feeling embarrassed? Kong Yue still doesn't have a boyfriend, if you're really interested, you should seize the opportunity, don't let those guys like Qing Liebiao ruin it for you."

  Zhao Guodong also smiled, after getting along with Tang Jin, he didn't have many romantic thoughts wandering outside anymore. He had never planned to find a partner in the factory, although there were many women in the factory, but he had already left the factory and was assigned to the county, it was even more impossible. However, now that he has returned to Jiang Miao, his interactions with people from the factory have also increased.

  The entrance was suddenly crowded with many people, it seems that the business of this club in the factory is really good. Thinking about it, it's also understandable, there are so many young female workers in the factory, coming to relax on weekend evenings, and it's no wonder that young people from Jiangmiao Town also love to come here.

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