49: Chapter 49 Evidence of Factory Director Zhang's Crimes

Leaving the office, Xue Zhongde sighed and said to Zhang Wei, "Brother Zhang, you've really put me in a tough spot. Factory Director Zhang doesn't know, but he thinks I'm the one causing trouble."

Zhang Wei threw an arm around Xue Zhongde's shoulder: "Old Xue, stop testing the waters. I'm telling the truth about the Mayor's meeting. You'll come with me then. Afterward, that guy surnamed Zhang will have to show you respect."

At that moment, his phone rang. After answering, An Xiaoxi's voice came through the line: "Hello? Zhang Wei, you were too polite just now! You should have cursed him out a few times! That pig-headed Factory Director actually wants us to do free landscaping for him. Why doesn't he just die?"

Zhang Wei asked in surprise, "How did you know what just happened in the office? You're not monitoring my phone, are you? I told you, we only have a pure brother-sister relationship. This kind of forbidden love won't lead to anything."

"Zhang Wei, you're asking for death!" An Xiaoxi shrieked, "I just happened to hack into that pig-headed Factory Director's computer and saw everything through the microphone and camera. Oh, right, there's a lot of dirt on his computer. I've sent it all to your WeChat."

"Nicely done. I'll bring you something delicious when I get back."

After hanging up, his phone started buzzing nonstop. An Xiaoxi had sent him over a dozen files. Zhang Wei opened them; most were screenshots of ledgers detailing bribes the other party accepted, along with a few video files—selfies taken while he was coercing female workers into providing him special services under the threat of dismissal.

This guy is truly a disgrace. Compared to him, Xue Zhongde is at least an honest scoundrel who still has a bottom line in his actions. Thinking this, Zhang Wei forwarded all the files directly to Xue Zhongde.

"Old Xue, the opportunity is yours. Whether you can rise to power depends on how you operate now," Zhang Wei patted the other man's shoulder.

To sit in the office director's seat of a large factory and even join the leadership decision-making body—it was unbelievable that he didn't have some connections. Any person would know what to do with the chance to take down the Factory Director and replace him. Of course, if Xue Zhongde couldn't handle it, Zhang Wei wouldn't mind taking action himself.

Xue Zhongde broke out in a cold sweat after seeing the materials sent to him. When he first met Zhang Wei, he thought the young man was just someone with a little money. But today's events shattered that idea. Could an ordinary person get a personal meeting with the Mayor? Could an ordinary person dig up dirt on a Factory Director down to the very bottom? It seemed he needed to start pandering to this person from now on.

Ignoring the shock in Xue Zhongde's eyes, Zhang Wei left the Light Industry Bureau. On the way, he ordered takeout, planning to return and eat with An Xiaoxi.

For lunch today, Zhang Wei wanted to try Luosifen (river snail rice noodles). Previously, near the house Zhang Wei rented, there was a Luosifen shop. Every time he passed by, he would smell the terrifying odor wafting out. He had always been quite curious about what that flavor was like. However, at that time, he was poor and afraid of wasting a meal if it didn't taste good.

He decisively ordered two deluxe Luosifen sets. After he got home and played games with An Xiaoxi for a while, the takeout arrived.

An Xiaoxi hadn't eaten breakfast and was a bit hungry now. She bounced over to open the door. A thick scent of 'Old Eight' (a slang term for the pungent smell of Luosifen) suddenly assaulted her nostrils.

Ugh!!!

Ten minutes later, An Xiaoxi only stopped her 'pursuit' after Zhang Wei agreed to numerous unequal treaties.

"A lot of people really like eating it, even though it smells incredibly foul," Zhang Wei decided he would never order Luosifen again, even if he were beaten. He couldn't handle An Xiaoxi when she got angry.

Considering they were having a big meal at the Instrument Branch Factory in the evening, the two decided to go out, drive the car to an ancient town in Fengxian District, and buy two portions of specialty Xiasha Shaomai (steamed dumplings) to tide them over.

"Did you know?" Zhang Wei's little knowledge class started again: "What is the filling for Shaomai in the North made of?"

An Xiaoxi tilted her head and replied, "Isn't all Shaomai filled with glutinous rice? Some add small diced meat or diced shiitake mushrooms."

"Beep beep~ Wrong answer. Northern Shaomai fillings are all made of beef or mutton, and some even add green onions. In the eyes of Northerners, Shaomai with glutinous rice is the heresy of heresies."

An Xiaoxi was unconvinced: "Soy sauce and glutinous rice filling is the righteous way! Mutton and beef filling is the evil path!"

After finishing the Shaomai, the two chatted and laughed all the way to the Instrument Branch Factory. At this time, Zhang Hong and Wang Sheng had woken up and were installing a greenhouse. Liu Haorui was holding a selfie stick and filming a video. Zhang Wei didn't disturb them but instead found Old Man Li: "Uncle, prepare a sheep for tonight. I'll have to trouble you to be the chef again."

The old man was also quite happy. After all, when he was guarding the gate alone, he only got to eat mutton once or twice a month. Now, cooking a big meal meant he could eat and drink for free, which was wonderful.

"Coincidentally, a farmer is selling a sheep today. I'll go pick one out now. If we hurry, there will still be time to take it to the slaughterhouse."

When An Xiaoxi heard they were going to select a sheep, she clamored to go see. Zhang Wei was also a bit curious. Since he had nothing else to do, he drove behind the old man's agricultural tricycle out of the factory.

The farmer selling the sheep today was in the neighboring village. By the time Zhang Wei and his group arrived, quite a few people had gathered to watch the excitement. There were seven or eight sheep in the enclosure available for selection. Old Man Li introduced to the two that most people buying sheep, besides eating them, wanted to buy one for breeding, so rams were generally more expensive. However, their meat quality tended to be tougher.

"We'll pick a ewe of moderate size. That way, the fat-to-lean ratio will be good, and it will taste the best. I know this farmer; the sheep are free-range, not fed on feed, so the meat is firmer and more elastic." Listening to the old man's introduction, An Xiaoxi was practically drooling.

Old Man Li called the farmer over and selected a sheep. Zhang Wei paid over a thousand yuan, tied the sheep's four legs with hemp rope, tossed it into the back of the tricycle, and then went to the slaughterhouse. However, An Xiaoxi was a girl after all and didn't dare watch the sheep being slaughtered, so she returned with Zhang Wei to wait for dinner.

An hour later, the old man dragged the mutton back to the factory. After a flurry of activity at the stove, the mutton was ready around seven in the evening. Zhang Wei bought everyone some 'happy water' (soda/soft drinks). They might have an operation tonight, so he dared not serve alcohol.

"Huh?" An Xiaoxi looked strange, "I clearly only ate one sheep leg, where did the other one go?" She loved gnawing on sheep legs the most. The others, seeing she was young, let her eat them, but today one sheep leg was missing. Everyone vehemently denied knowing anything, so An Xiaoxi didn't think much more of it.

The freshly slaughtered mutton was best enjoyed when fresh. Everyone felt warm and comfortable throughout their bodies.

Zhang Wei figured if intelligence showed Tian Lirong's location tonight, they could move out quickly, so he didn't go back. He gathered everyone in the guardhouse to play cards. An Xiaoxi sat nearby watching a drama on her laptop.

Midnight

Ding: Daily intelligence has been updated. Host, please check at your convenience.

Here it comes!

Zhang Wei threw down his cards and seriously looked at the intelligence report.