Chapter 71: Secret Inquiries? The Anxious Chen Dazhu!

Hearing Li Junsheng's voice, Chen Dazhu felt a pang of guilt; his body instinctively trembled. Yet he could not allow Li Junsheng to notice anything amiss, so he turned his head and forced a somewhat stiff smile.

“Old Li, where have you been? I was just looking for you!”

“What did you need me for? I went to the restroom, wasn’t in the workshop. The workers here don’t know me well—you could’ve asked them if you needed to find me.” Li Junsheng deliberately laughed as he questioned Chen Dazhu, hoping to see him fumble for excuses, squirm, and cover up.

Chen Dazhu, playing his own little game, didn’t want Li Junsheng to know he was snooping around about the Agricultural Machinery Factory, so he lied, “I’ve never been to this factory. After working hard, I thought I’d look for you and stroll around a bit.”

“Why didn’t you help unload the cargo? You spent half the day in the restroom!”

Li Junsheng pretended to believe Chen Dazhu’s story, smiling as he said, “I ate something bad. Come on, the unloading is finished. We should head out.”

Already leaving?

Chen Dazhu hadn’t gleaned any useful information yet. Li Junsheng’s team leader, who hauled goods from the Machinery Factory to the Agricultural Machinery Factory, was definitely hiding something. Chen Dazhu sensed a big secret was buried in all this—he had to get to the bottom of it.

Thinking of this, Chen Dazhu grew anxious. “Is the unloading done already? Aren’t you going to check for any other issues?”

He wanted to send Li Junsheng away so he could ask around on his own.

But Li Junsheng wouldn’t let him get his way. He continued the charade, saying, “You overestimate me! Only when our team leader has time, or when someone from the Agricultural Machinery Factory comes to inspect, will anything happen. Our job is just to deliver the goods.”

Chen Dazhu opened his mouth, but couldn’t think of a good reason to stay and dig for information.

Li Junsheng didn’t want to talk further, so he grabbed Chen Dazhu’s arm and led him out of the workshop.

“Come on, you worked hard unloading cargo. I won’t let you help for nothing—come with me, I’ll give you a bit for your trouble.”

Chen Dazhu was surprised—Li Junsheng was actually going to pay him?

For a moment, Chen Dazhu couldn’t see through Li Junsheng. Was he being guarded, or genuinely generous? If Li Junsheng was wary, why give him money? If he wasn’t, then why did everything feel off?

“Hey, how much cargo did you unload this afternoon?” Li Junsheng asked. In truth, Chen Dazhu hadn’t done much, but for the sake of pride, he replied vaguely, “I don’t remember. You told me to work hard, so I didn’t keep track.”

“All right, here’s five yuan for you. Thanks for your hard work today.” Li Junsheng pulled five yuan from his pocket, intending to send Chen Dazhu on his way.

Chen Dazhu didn’t rush to take the money, but instead asked, “By the way, now that all the goods are delivered to the Agricultural Machinery Factory, when will your team leader and the factory personnel come to inspect?”

If he could meet the leaders of the Agricultural Machinery Factory, Chen Dazhu felt sure he could dig up some valuable information. Problem was, the workers here knew nothing, and none had ever met their leaders. He also didn’t know who Li Junsheng’s team leader was, and had no clue where to start.

Li Junsheng kept his hand out with the money, feigning ignorance, “I don’t know, they just told me to haul the goods here. Didn’t say when the team leader would come. I don’t know any of the factory leaders either.”

Hearing this, Chen Dazhu felt exhausted. Whether Li Junsheng truly didn’t know or was purposely withholding, Chen Dazhu understood clearly—he wouldn’t get anything out of him.

Not wanting his effort to go to waste, Chen Dazhu snatched the five yuan from Li Junsheng’s hand, gritting his teeth slightly, “If you see your team leader, don’t forget to mention me. I worked really hard today.”

“All right!”

“I’ll be off then!”

Chen Dazhu turned and left the Agricultural Machinery Factory. Walking toward the gate, he seethed with frustration. He longed to make connections with the truck team leader, and his desire to become a partner between the scrap recycling station and the Machinery Factory grew even stronger. He had to find a way; once he befriended the truck team leader and became a big boss, his first act would be to get rid of Li Junsheng!

Using him as a laborer, working so hard for just five yuan—Chen Dazhu had never suffered such indignity. His heart boiled with rage, and he wished he could vent it all with his fists and feet on Li Junsheng.

In truth, Li Junsheng thought even five yuan was too much; if it weren’t for the sake of sending Chen Dazhu off, he wouldn’t have given him anything.

Unwilling to give up, after leaving the factory, Chen Dazhu steeled himself, bought a bunch of things, and spent a small fortune—several yuan—to bribe the security guard.

His aim was to get inside and find Section Chief Zhou!

Since Li Junsheng’s route to the truck team was blocked, he would see Section Chief Zhou instead. He’d spent so much, he refused to believe the guard wouldn’t be tempted!

Surely, today he would get to see Section Chief Zhou.

The security guard, grinning, pocketed Chen Dazhu’s gifts, then said he was going to the restroom. Chen Dazhu understood immediately and slipped into the Machinery Factory.

This time, Chen Dazhu had dressed to impress, with the look of a small leader. He carried a briefcase under his arm, and since he didn’t know where Section Chief Zhou’s office was, he spotted a worker and asked with stern authority.

“Hello, comrade. Could you tell me how to get to Section Chief Zhou’s office in the Equipment Department?”

The worker glanced at Chen Dazhu, fooled by his attire, thinking he was some leader coming to see Zhou. After all, outsiders weren’t usually allowed into the Machinery Factory unless they were from the factory or an official organization.

Under these circumstances, the worker mistakenly treated Chen Dazhu with utmost respect. “Oh, Section Chief Zhou’s office—just follow this road and take a few turns, you’ll find it.”

“All right, thank you. I’ll head over.”

Chen Dazhu walked off with head held high, feeling immensely pleased. Indeed, clothes make the man, and horses need good saddles—dressed like this, no one would chase him out!

Following directions and asking along the way, Chen Dazhu finally reached Section Chief Zhou’s office.

He paused at the door, straightened his clothes and hair. He needed to rely on his appearance to impress Section Chief Zhou.

He believed that with this look, Section Chief Zhou would treat him politely, and the business would be his for the taking.

Standing at the door, Chen Dazhu was brimming with confidence. Imitating the manner of important people, he knocked on the office door with an air of arrogance.

“The door’s not locked, come in!”