Chapter 137 Dense Data

Early the next morning.

Li Jianguo was woken up by the noise.

The courtyard was noisy, and people were moving things. He put on his clothes, pushed open the door, and went out. He saw that the ground in front of Uncle San's house was piled with miscellaneous items—tables, chairs, bedding, and two enamel basins stacked together.

"Uncle, are you moving?"

The third uncle smiled and squinted his eyes: "It's not a move, just a change of rooms. The neighborhood committee allocated the room that the deaf old lady used to have to us, and the eldest son and his family will live there from now on."

Li Jianguo glanced at the room that had been empty for so long. The door was open, and it was pitch black inside.

"Then you're busy."

He went back inside to wash up and then went out.

At the factory.

Upon entering the office, both Deputy Director Zhang and Factory Director Yang were present.

"So, is everything taken care of?"

Li Jianguo put down his bag.

Deputy Director Zhang grinned from ear to ear: "It's settled. The transaction will take place this afternoon in the latter half. One hundred thousand US dollars, in hand."

He rubbed his hands together and paced back and forth in the room: "The higher-ups said they'll take half the money, and we'll split the rest. You guys will get the lion's share, since you're short of foreign exchange."

Factory Director Yang slapped his thigh: "That's great! Deputy Director Zhang, whatever you need, the factory will do its best to accommodate you. We want all of this foreign exchange; the expenses are huge."

"I need a car." Deputy Director Zhang stopped and looked at him. "Twenty cars. You don't know, we still ride bicycles to go to the villages now. It's slow and unsafe."

"Okay," Factory Director Yang readily agreed, "I'll give you twenty, all modified."

"Modified?" Deputy Director Zhang's eyes lit up. "Modified what?"

"Bulletproof. The carriages have been enlarged. Engineers are still working on shock absorption, so you'll be more comfortable when you go to the countryside in the future."

"Okay, okay," Deputy Director Zhang nodded repeatedly, "That's exactly right."

Li Jianguo, who was listening nearby, interjected, "Is this none of my business?"

"Yes." Deputy Director Zhang glanced at him. "Wait two more days. You can leave after we've arrested everyone. Don't alert them."

"Is the person confirmed?"

"It was confirmed long ago." Deputy Director Zhang sat down. "Those people are too stupid, they're not even in the same league as the other side. We've found out, it was arranged by overseas, and the car manufacturer paid for it. Our cars sell well in the international market, and they're jealous."

Factory Director Yang sighed, "It's not easy to earn foreign exchange these days. With tariffs and sanctions, developed countries can't get in, and poor countries can't afford to buy."

Li Jianguo suddenly spoke up: "We don't have to sell ordinary cars."

"What do you mean?"

"We sell bulletproof cars and armored vehicles. They're marketed as civilian vehicles, but they can actually be used on the battlefield," Li Jianguo said. "Local wars are happening everywhere. Ordinary people don't have money, but heads of state and big businessmen do."

Factory Director Yang was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.

"Director Li, you really are..."

He stood up and walked outside: "I'm going to find Old Chen and have him give it a try."

Old Chen arrived very quickly.

When the door opened, Li Jianguo almost didn't recognize him—his hair was disheveled, his beard was unkempt, and his clothes were wrinkled beyond recognition.

"Old Chen, what's wrong with you?"

Old Chen chuckled: "My wife went back to her parents' house."

He plopped down and said seriously, "Director Li, Old Yang said you have vehicles for sale. Armored vehicles and stuff like that. I've come to hear about it."

Li Jianguo repeated his idea.

Old Chen pulled out a small notebook and started taking notes as he listened. The pen tip swished away.

"Mid-engine, large-capacity diesel engine, independent suspension on all four wheels, full-time four-wheel drive..." he muttered to himself, "The wheels need to be wear-resistant, heat-resistant, and cold-resistant..."

He looked up, his eyes shining brightly.

"Director Li, if this vehicle is actually built, let's equip the troops first. It's clearly a military design."

Li Jianguo laughed: "You guys handle it. Do plenty of testing, and make sure the quality is top-notch."

"Don't worry," Old Chen put the notebook back in his pocket, "the quality of our factory's products is impeccable."

He stood up and walked to the door, then turned back and said, "Director Li, your materials are so useful."

The door closed.

Li Jianguo glanced at his watch; it was almost time to get off work.

He went to the office of Director Yang next door.

Factory Director Yang was on the phone. When he saw him, he said a few words and then hung up.

"Director Li, is there something you need?"

"Just one question: can I leave tomorrow? The new factory can't be delayed any longer."

Factory Director Yang nodded: "Even if you didn't come, I would have looked for you anyway. I just got a call saying the locomotive is finished and they're waiting for you to come and inspect it."

"It's finished?" Li Jianguo was taken aback. "So fast?"

"They've been working day and night," said Factory Director Yang. "The performance hasn't been tested yet; we need to find a section of railway. You have to go."

Li Jianguo stood up: "Then now I—"

"Wait," Director Yang called out to him, "Wait two more days. Deputy Director Zhang might do something desperate. You should also let those guys in the factory rest. They're all working themselves to the bone. Even their meals have to be watched by Cadre Cui, or they'll forget about it if you're not careful."

He sighed, "They're all talented people, what if they collapse from exhaustion?"

Li Jianguo thought for a moment, then sat down again.

"When I get back, I need to set rules for them. Rest on time, go to bed on time. Exercise in the morning."

Factory Director Yang smiled and said, "That's good. Military-style management."

"Nutrition also needs to be maintained," Li Jianguo said. "Supplies are tight right now, but we still need to have fish and bone broth with every meal."

"I know, I've spoken to the supply and marketing cooperative. But there really aren't many left to buy."

Li Jianguo glanced at him: "How about the factory set up its own breeding farm?"

Factory Director Yang pondered for a moment: "It can be done, but raising these animals makes them prone to illness, requiring dedicated care, which is troublesome."

"You're the factory manager," Li Jianguo said. "If we raise the animals well, the New Year's bonuses will be more substantial. Who's going to have the energy to work if we only have those meat ration coupons?"

Factory Director Yang laughed and said, "Okay, I'll take care of it."

The two chatted for a few more minutes. Li Jianguo then got up to leave.

"By the way," said Factory Director Yang, "did you go out with Yu Li today?"

"Yeah, I watched a movie."

"Alright," Director Yang nodded, "A few more days of filming, that should be enough."

Li Jianguo didn't say anything, and pushed the door open to go out.

In the evening, people ride their bicycles home from get off work in Nanluoguxiang, their bells ringing incessantly.

But today, several people felt that the atmosphere in the alley was a bit off.

Deputy Director Zhang is currently in a residential house, crouching down and staring out the window.

Old newspapers were pasted on the windowpane. He poked a small hole with his finger and peered through it. The courtyard not far away was the spies' hideout; gray walls and gray tiles, it looked no different from an ordinary house.

"Deputy Director Zhang, we've got them all under close surveillance. Shall we make our move?"

"Wait." He didn't turn around. "We'll close the net once the money arrives."

The room was filled with smoke. The young man standing behind couldn't help but cough and quickly covered his mouth.

The sky darkened. The last rays of twilight squeezed in through the cracks in the window, falling on the ground like an old handkerchief spread out.

In a corner of the park, a dark figure crouched down and reached into the wall to retrieve a package. He opened it a crack and peered inside in the last glimmer of daylight—blueprints, data, densely packed, which he couldn't quite decipher. But he smiled.

He tucked the package into his coat and left.

Behind them, another dark figure followed, neither too close nor too far, like a tail.

A long time passed. In a corner of the station, a package was placed down. A few minutes later, a man in a blue cotton shirt strolled over, bent down, opened it, and took a closer look.

He raised his hand and made a gesture.

It became.