Chapter 16: Deputy Director Li's Persuasion Conceals a Hidden Threat

When Chen Mo left Director Yang’s home, night had already fallen.

Director Yang had insisted that he stay for dinner, but Chen Mo politely declined.

He disliked taking part in this sort of official socializing. More importantly, he had to maintain the demeanor of a man of unfathomable ability.

The more mysterious and inaccessible he seemed, the more the other party would revere him.

Yang Weiguo personally escorted him to the gate, carrying a heavy string bag in one hand.

“Doctor Chen, you’ve worked hard today. There are two bottles of specially supplied liquor in here, along with some pastries. Take them home and enjoy them.

“From now on, you’re a benefactor to the Yang family. If you ever need anything, just say the word. Don’t stand on ceremony with me.”

Yang Weiguo’s attitude had already changed from his initial request for help into outright flattery and ingratiation.

Chen Mo made a token show of refusing, then accepted the gifts.

When he returned to the courtyard compound and had just parked his bicycle, he saw a figure emerge from the shadows of the rear courtyard.

“Doctor Chen, just got off work?”

The newcomer was slick-haired and powdered, wearing a broad smile. It was none other than Deputy Director Li of the steel mill.

Chen Mo’s heart stirred, but he pretended not to recognize him.

“And you are?”

“Ah, look at me and my memory!” Deputy Director Li slapped his forehead and extended his hand enthusiastically. “My name is Li Jianguo. I’m the deputy director of the steel mill. Doctor Chen, I’ve heard so much about you!”

Chen Mo shook his hand and felt that the man’s palm was soft and slippery, almost boneless.

“Deputy Director Li, did you need something?” Chen Mo asked bluntly.

“Nothing, nothing. Does that mean I can’t come pay a visit to the great hero of our factory?”

Deputy Director Li’s eyes narrowed into slits as he smiled.

“Your performance at the clinic today has already spread throughout the entire factory! Remarkable—truly remarkable!

“You have no idea how highly Old Yang praised you at the factory committee meeting today. He practically said there was no one like you in heaven or on earth.”

He spoke words of praise, but from the flicker in his eyes, Chen Mo sensed another meaning beneath them.

“You’re too kind, Deputy Director Li. I merely did what any doctor should do.”

“Doctor Chen, you’re far too modest.”

Deputy Director Li stepped closer and lowered his voice conspiratorially.

“Doctor Chen, this isn’t a convenient place to talk. I’ve reserved a table at a small restaurant outside the factory. I’d like to buy you a couple of drinks. I hope you’ll do me the honor.”

So it begins.

Chen Mo sneered inwardly. This fox had come to pay his respects to the hen, and certainly had no good intentions.

He knew very well that Deputy Director Li and Yang Weiguo represented two opposing factions within the factory and were locked in fierce rivalry.

When Deputy Director Li had encouraged Yang Weiguo to invite him over, he might not have had any good intentions at all. He had probably only wanted to watch Yang Weiguo make a fool of himself.

But now Chen Mo had proven that he truly possessed remarkable skills and had become Yang Weiguo’s favorite. Deputy Director Li was probably feeling threatened and had come to recruit him.

“Deputy Director Li, you’re too kind. I’ve just finished work and haven’t eaten yet, so I’d be honored to accept your invitation.”

Chen Mo agreed readily.

He wanted to see what sort of medicine Deputy Director Li was selling. Besides, he needed to learn more about the situation within the factory. Only by knowing both himself and his opponent could he remain victorious in every battle.

“Excellent! I like straightforward men such as yourself, Doctor Chen!”

Seeing that he had agreed, Deputy Director Li was delighted and hurried ahead to lead the way.

The two men left the courtyard compound one after the other.

By chance, this scene was witnessed by Xu Damao, who had been peering out from behind a window.

“Deputy… Deputy Director Li?” Xu Damao rubbed his eyes, his face filled with disbelief.

Why had he come looking for Chen Mo? And why was he acting so obsequiously?

Xu Damao’s thoughts churned like a stormy sea.

He had spent countless efforts trying to curry favor with Deputy Director Li, treating him to meals and presenting gifts, yet the man had always treated him with indifference.

But Chen Mo—a doctor who had only just joined the factory—had actually managed to make Deputy Director Li come personally to invite him out?

What in the world was happening?

Xu Damao felt that his recently improved condition of being willing but unable had somehow grown worse again.

…

Inside a private room at the small restaurant, the food and liquor were soon served.

There were four cold dishes, four stir-fried dishes, and a fish braised in soy sauce. In an era such as this, it was already an exceedingly lavish feast.

“Doctor Chen, come, let me toast you!”

Deputy Director Li personally filled Chen Mo’s glass.

“You’re a treasure to our factory. From now on, the health of several thousand workers will depend on you!”

“You flatter me, Deputy Director Li.”

Chen Mo raised his glass, clinked it against Li’s, and took a symbolic sip.

After several rounds of drinking and a good deal of food, Deputy Director Li gradually became more talkative.

“Doctor Chen, you’re still young. You may not know this, but the waters in our factory run very deep.”

Deputy Director Li sighed, adopting the manner of a man speaking from the heart.

“Take your entry into the factory, for instance. Although Director Yang personally approved it, the procedure was technically against regulations. Section Chief Qian from the clinic, as well as the personnel department, are all quite unhappy about it.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Chen Mo feigned surprise.

“Of course it is!”

Deputy Director Li lowered his voice.

“Director Yang is an ambitious man who loves taking credit and prefers to have the final say in everything. He sees you as one of his achievements, but the people beneath him don’t look at it that way.

“Section Chief Qian gave you a hard time at the clinic today, didn’t he?”

Chen Mo nodded without saying a word.

“I knew it!” Deputy Director Li slapped his thigh. “That Section Chief Qian is one of Director Yang’s people!

“You may have shown him a thing or two today and made him lose face, but he’ll certainly find another opportunity to trip you up. Open attacks are easy enough to avoid; hidden arrows are far more dangerous!”

He looked at Chen Mo and spoke earnestly.

“Doctor Chen, you’re a capable man, but ability alone isn’t enough. In a place like this, you need people behind you. You need a backer!”

“And what would you suggest, Deputy Director Li?” Chen Mo asked, following his lead.

“I’ve worked at the factory for more than a decade. I won’t boast about much, but I do have a few friends.”

Deputy Director Li puffed out his chest, a smug expression appearing on his face.

“If you’re willing to become friends with me, I guarantee that no one in the factory will dare give you trouble again!

“As for Section Chief Qian, I could make him disappear with a single word.”

He paused, then took an envelope from his pocket and pressed it into Chen Mo’s hand.

“This is just a small token of my sincerity. Take it for now.

“From now on, I’ll give you this much every month. You won’t need to do anything else—just continue working peacefully as a doctor.

“Of course, whatever Director Yang says to you or does with you, you can occasionally keep me informed. That’s all.”

At last, the dagger hidden inside the smile had been revealed.

Recruit him, give him money, and turn him into a spy to monitor Yang Weiguo.

Chen Mo pinched the envelope. It was quite thick—there must have been fifty or sixty yuan inside.

He sneered inwardly. Deputy Director Li was certainly willing to invest.

But was Chen Mo the sort of man who would betray someone for a few dozen yuan?

Of course not.

What he wanted was worth far more than that.

“Deputy Director Li, you think too highly of me.”

Chen Mo pushed the envelope back and spoke with an expression of troubled hesitation.

“Director Yang showed me kindness by recognizing my abilities. Wouldn’t doing this be a little… dishonorable?”

When Deputy Director Li saw that he had refused the money, he was not angry. Instead, he smiled.

In his eyes, Chen Mo was merely holding out for a higher price. If he refused the money, that meant he wanted something bigger.

“Doctor Chen, how can you say that? A fine bird chooses a worthy tree to perch in, and a capable minister chooses a worthy master to serve.”

Deputy Director Li continued patiently persuading him.

“What can Director Yang give you? A permanent post as a doctor?

“A fixed salary of a few dozen yuan a month? He needs you now, so he treats you like a treasure. But once his son’s leg has healed, do you think he’ll continue to value you as highly as he does now?”

“Following me would be different.”

Ambition gleamed in Deputy Director Li’s eyes.

“To be frank with you, Old Yang won’t be sitting in his position for much longer. Once I take over, the position of director of the factory clinic will be yours!

“By then, I’ll not only arrange a car for you, I’ll also allocate you a brand-new apartment. Think carefully—which option is more worthwhile?”

He was painting grand visions and making promises about the future—the most common method of recruitment in official circles.

Chen Mo saw through it perfectly, but his face revealed a look of wavering and greed.

“Deputy Director Li… are you serious?”

“When I, Li Jianguo, give my word, it is as firm as a nail!”

Seeing that Chen Mo had taken the bait, Deputy Director Li was overjoyed.

“Well? Doctor Chen, give me a definite answer.”

Chen Mo pondered for a long while, as if waging an intense inner struggle.

At last, he clenched his teeth and raised his glass.

“Deputy Director Li, you’ve gone so far as to say all this. If I still refused, I’d be an ungrateful fool!

“From now on, I’ll follow you! I’ll finish this glass, and you may drink as much as you like.”

With that, he tipped back his head and drained the entire glass of liquor.

“Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!”

Deputy Director Li was ecstatic and downed his own glass as well.

“Doctor Chen, welcome to our side! Hahaha!”

He believed that he had successfully won Chen Mo over. He had no idea that Chen Mo had already marked him as a new target from whom to obtain discipline points.

The meal ended with both host and guest thoroughly satisfied.

Deputy Director Li, his face flushed crimson from drink, escorted Chen Mo back to the entrance of the courtyard compound and thumped his chest, promising that he would teach Section Chief Qian a lesson the very next day.

When Chen Mo returned home and let the smell of alcohol dissipate, the ingratiating smile on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by cold indifference.

He weighed the envelope that had been forcefully returned to him in his hand, a trace of mockery curling at the corner of his lips.

Li Jianguo, Li Jianguo—you think you’re the fisherman, but you have no idea that you’re the fish about to take the hook.

You want me to be your informant?

Fine.

Then I’ll feed you a little “information” and let you and Yang Weiguo fight even more fiercely.

The harder you two clash, the more benefits I, the man sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight, will reap.