Chapter 63: Triumphant News Reaches the Courtyard, Petty Villains Finally Face Severe Punishment

The official letter of thanks and the commendation report from the First Shencheng Machinery Factory, bearing a bright red seal, were delivered all the way to the Ministry of Industry and then forwarded back to the Red Star Rolling Mill.

Director Yang held that thick stack of letter paper, grinning from ear to ear, and made an executive decision right at the factory party committee meeting: "Broadcast it! Broadcast it immediately! Let the entire mill hear about the great contribution Comrade He Yuzhu has made in the Northeast!"

Soon, the high-power loudspeakers across the factory grounds blared once again, and the broadcaster's voice sounded more passionate than ever before:

"Comrades and workers of the factory! We are now broadcasting an inspiring piece of good news!"

"Comrade He Yuzhu, Deputy Chief of our Purchasing Section and leader of the National New Technology Promotion Team, upon arriving at the Shenyang First Machinery Factory, lived up to expectations. Relying on the new high-temperature lubricating grease he developed and his exquisite technical skills, he successfully resolved a long-standing lubrication problem with heavy-duty large equipment that had plagued the factory for years! He has increased the production efficiency of key equipment by more than twenty percent!"

"The First Machinery Factory of Shencheng has specially sent a letter of thanks, offering high praise to Comrade He Yuzhu and his team, and has requested a grand commendation from the Ministry!"

"This is the personal glory of Comrade He Yuzhu! It is also the glory of all workers and staff of our Red Star Rolling Mill!..."

The sound of the broadcast echoed through the workshops, the canteen, and every corner of the factory.

The workers listened quietly at first, and then erupted into thunderous cheers and applause!

"Section Chief He is awesome!"

"He's really brought immense honor to our director!"

"Twenty percent! What an incredible contribution!"

The staff in the technical department were even more excited, patting each other on the back and sharing a deep sense of pride.

Listening to the broadcast, Su Qing felt a subtle smile form at the corners of her lips. She lowered her head and continued drawing, the lines flowing from her pen becoming even smoother.

Over in the scrap yard, the shift leader listened to the broadcast, smacked his lips, and yelled at the temporary workers under him: "Did you all hear that? Work hard! Don't learn those crooked, sneaky ways! Someone like Section Chief He is the role model for us workers!"

The sound of the broadcast also faintly reached the temporary detention room of the neighborhood police station.

Jia Zhang and Qin Huairu were detained separately.

Ever since they were caught red-handed and hauled over by the security department that night, the two of them had been in a state of utter panic.

Especially Jia Zhang; at first, she had thrown tantrums, rolled on the ground, and cried about being wronged. But after being sternly reprimanded by a female police officer a few times, she also quieted down, leaving behind only fear.

The narrow detention room was cold and hard, and their meals consisted entirely of corn buns and salted vegetables.

Jia Zhang had never suffered such hardship in her life. Within just a few days, she looked gaunt and haggard, spending her days sighing and weeping.

Qin Huairu regretted her actions so deeply that her intestines felt twisted with sorrow.

Fear, shame, and dread for the future tormented her so much that she couldn't sleep at night.

She kept thinking of Stick, Xiaodang, and Huaihua. Her tears had run dry, leaving only despair.

When the passionate words of praise from the rolling mill's broadcast faintly drifted in, Jia Zhang was stunned at first. Once she strained her ears and figured out what it was saying, she suddenly lunged at the iron door, grabbing the icy bars as if struck by a massive trauma, and cried and cursed hoarsely: "Why... why is that lonely bastard living in glory out there... while the two of us suffer here... Oh heavens, you are truly blind..."

Her weeping and cursing echoed through the empty corridor, only drawing an impatient reprimand from the duty officer: "What are you howling for! Behave yourselves!"

Listening to it clearly from the next room, Qin Huairu felt as though her heart were being pierced by needles.

The more glorious He Yuzhu became, the more foolish and despicable their actions appeared by comparison. She curled up in the corner, burying her face in her knees, trembling silently.

A few days later, Director Wang of the neighborhood committee and Section Chief Zhang of the rolling mill's security department went to the police station together, bringing the joint disciplinary decision from the factory and the neighborhood committee.

In view of the fact that Jia Zhang and Qin Huairu, mother and daughter, pried open a lock and broke into another person's residence in the middle of the night—though they did not steal any property, their actions constituted illegal intrusion, the nature of the offense was vile, and they were incorrigible—after careful deliberation, it was decided that:

1. Jia Zhang, the principal culprit, showed a poor attitude and is sentenced to one year of re-education through labor.

2. Qin Huairu, an accomplice, taking into consideration her need to support minor children, is sentenced to fifteen days of administrative detention and a fine of fifty yuan.

3. The entire family is ordered to offer a face-to-face apology to Comrade He Yuzhu after Qin Huairu completes her detention.

As soon as the disciplinary decision was read out, Jia Zhang rolled her eyes and fainted on the spot.

Qin Huairu collapsed to the floor as well, her face ashen.

One year of re-education through labor! At her mother-in-law's age, it was questionable whether she could even survive coming out! A fifty-yuan fine! That was practically an astronomical sum! And to top it all off, they had to apologize in public...

The news of the verdict quickly spread back to the courtyard.

When Yan Bugui heard the news, the purple clay teapot in his hand almost dropped to the ground. He patted his chest with lingering fear: "Labor reeducation! My goodness... This Jia family... they truly brought this upon themselves..." He became even more determined to stay away from anyone connected to the Jia family.

The other neighbors in the courtyard were also engaged in heated discussions. Some said they deserved it, while a tiny minority felt the punishment was too severe, but no one dared to show sympathy openly.

The Jia family's reputation in the courtyard was now utterly ruined.

The Jia household in the middle courtyard suddenly plunged into a lifeless silence. Xiaodang and Huaihua were temporarily placed with a neighbor, crying all day long.

The windows remained tightly shut, and a lock hung on the door, exuding a desolate and dilapidated aura.

Half a month later, Qin Huairu was released and sent home.

She had lost a significant amount of weight, her eyes darted nervously, and she kept her head down, not daring to meet anyone's gaze.

She silently took back her two children, shut her doors, and lived an even more destitute life.

That fifty-yuan fine hung over her head like a towering mountain, and most of her future subsidies had been withheld, leaving her truly struggling from one meal to the next.

As for all of this, He Yuzhu, thousands of miles away, knew nothing about it, and even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared.

To him, the petty and sordid schemes in the courtyard were already as insignificant as dust beneath his feet.

His promotion team had achieved complete success in Shenyang and was now preparing to head to their next destination: Tiancheng.

Before departure, Director Zhao of the Shencheng factory came to see them off personally. He tightly grasped He Yuzhu's hand and insisted on stuffing a bag of Northeast specialties—black fungus and mushrooms—into his arms: "Engineer He! There's no need for extra words! Whenever you come back to the Northeast, you must come see old Zhao! Your technology has truly saved our factory in the nick of time! Your next stop is Tiancheng? I know several large plants over there quite well; I'll give them a call right away and have them roll out the red carpet for you!"

Unable to refuse such warm hospitality, He Yuzhu had to accept the gifts.

The motorcade set off once more, leaving Shencheng behind.

Looking out the window at the vast, receding black earth and the continuous stretches of industrial zones, a surge of grand ambition gradually rose in He Yuzhu's heart.

His skills and capabilities were playing a tangible, practical role on this land.

This was the path he ought to pursue.

The jeep sped along the highway leading within the Shanhai Pass; the next challenge lay right ahead.

And his check-in system was about to be triggered once more in a brand-new location.