Chapter 5#
Qiming Manufacturing Plant#
Chen Ziqing stood in place until his calves ached before making a move. He rolled his dry eyes to scan the surroundings and grabbed an enamel mug.
A minute or two later, Chen Ziqing walked softly to the bed and bent down. With one hand gripping the handle of the mug, he reached for the hanging bed sheet with the other.
With almost no pause, the moment his fingertips touched and grabbed it, he lifted it up.
It was pitch black under the bed.
Chen Ziqing put the enamel mug on the small table. He pulled the cord of the desk lamp, trying to shine it under the bed as much as possible.
The next moment his scalp tingled, and he let out a short curse: “Fuck.”
There were two rows of shoes under the bed.
The outer row was all yellow sneakers, and the inner row was suede work shoes worn in cold weather, arranged neatly.
Looking through the halo of the desk lamp at night, at first glance, they looked like pairs of feet, almost scaring him into fainting.
Heaven knows how afraid he was of ghosts.
Chen Ziqing sat on the floor, his legs weak. Fortunately, his mission was to find the worker who damaged the wires, not to catch ghosts, otherwise he would be finished.
Actually, there are no ghosts in the world; even if there are, they are people pretending to be ghosts. People are often more terrifying than ghosts, but this didn’t affect his fear at all. He quickly stopped thinking about this and looked past the two rows of shoes.
Just a small bundle of dark blue velvet cloth containing books; the velvet cloth was used to keep out dust.
There was no one under the bed.
Chen Ziqing put down the bed sheet and lifted it again, counting the shoes.
Don’t know why he counted.
Anyway, he counted clearly: nine pairs of yellow sneakers, seven pairs of suede work shoes.
The factory issued two pairs of shoes to workers every quarter to change into. The original owner didn’t give the old ones to relatives; he washed and saved the ones that weren’t too worn out.
The original owner was pigeon-toed, so the shoes all leaned inward.
The pair on Chen Ziqing’s feet also leaned that way. He got up to check the corner cabinet. He had opened and organized the top shelf after Zong Huaitang left, but not the bottom one.
Without thinking too much, Chen Ziqing opened the bottom cabinet door with his heart in his throat, quickly retreating.
He didn’t see a human face; inside was just a set of yellow-green bedding embroidered with the manufacturing plant’s unified logo.
These were the only two places in the dormitory where a person could hide.
Checked both.
Chen Ziqing sat on the edge of the bed covered in cold sweat, feeling like he had missed something but couldn’t remember what. He lowered his head and turned his right foot, which was leaning inward, outward, and then did the same with his left foot.
Is the first night this exciting…
Sleep first, brain can’t function anymore. Have to go to the broadcasting station to read early tomorrow morning.
Chen Ziqing took off his shoes and lifted the quilt. His back suddenly felt cold. He turned his neck to stare at the curtain leading to the other room.
How could he forget that room?!
Chen Ziqing felt dizzy. Without even putting on his shoes, he quickly went in and searched everywhere, but there was no one.
Ran away.
Really ran away.
Where did they run from, the main door or the window?
Judging by the intensity of the wire swinging, the person had just withdrawn when he entered the dormitory. The timing was close. Even if it was a worker from next door, leaving through the main door would make noise, but he didn’t hear anything.
Then it was the window.
Both his room and the inner room had two windows, one facing the corridor and one facing the woods behind.
The curtains weren’t drawn. There was light in front, but pitch black behind.
Chen Ziqing went to check the back window. It was pitch dark. He touched the window sill extending out; the width was about the same as the front window. With care, one could step on it.
The staff dormitory was two stories high. An agile person could grab the sill from the second floor and reach the first-floor window frame with their feet.
Jumping down directly was also possible; there was grass below.
Chen Ziqing pinched his Adam’s apple to clear his throat and shouted loudly.
Before long, chaotic footsteps and shouting came from the corridor, and a group of people ran in.
Another wave followed successively.
When there was no more room in the dormitory, they stood outside the door. A large number of inquiries were mixed with a few complaints.
Chen Ziqing told the story with disappointment and anger.
The place exploded instantly.
“No way, we’re all from the workshop, who would do such a wicked thing.”
“…”
“Master Xiang, are you sure? If it’s true, it needs to be reported to the factory director for handling.”
“Definitely not true. How can a wire be evidence unless you saw the person with your own eyes?”
“…”
“Team Leader, was it blown by the wind?”
“The window was closed, the wind couldn’t get in. How could that wire swing so much without anyone touching it?” Chen Ziqing said with heartache, “The factory holds moral classes every week. I didn’t know such a despicable person was hiding among our masses!”
That’s about enough flavor, won’t say more, stop here.
Everyone looked at each other. They didn’t believe in ghosts or gods, nor did they suspect their roommates. They only felt that Xiang Ning had a hematoma or blood clot in his brain, causing him to hallucinate.
Really worrying.
Chen Ziqing sat under the desk lamp with his blue jacket draped over him, his brows tightly furrowed: “I’m not even sure now if the person slipped in while I was using the toilet, or was inside from the beginning.”
“…”
The more he spoke, the less he sounded like a normal person.
Chen Ziqing carefully observed their expressions. One, he was taken for a fool. Two, no one present was acting strange.
Either the person wasn’t in this group, or they were very composed.
Chen Ziqing said weakly: “Forget it, seems like someone who dares to do it but not admit it.” He stood up and bowed to everyone, saying apologetically, “Everyone please go back, sorry to disturb your rest.”
“Master Xiang, don’t say that. You shouted because you were frightened, no one will blame you.”
“Exactly, let’s all go back to our nests, don’t block the way here and upset Master Xiang.”
“…”
“Team Leader, do you want someone to keep you company? Any of us can.”
Chen Ziqing waved his hand.
The crowd inside and outside the dormitory gradually dispersed. In the corridor, Tang Xiaoguang picked at his eye boogers and asked the man beside him: “Brother Huaitang, aren’t you leaving?”
Zong Huaitang leaned his clasped hands on the waist-high cement railing outside. He didn’t answer but asked the person by the window: “Master Zhong, aren’t you leaving?”
Zhong Ming silently took off a shoe and knocked it against the wall. Something fell out of the shoe, seemingly dirt crumbs.
Zong Huaitang’s peripheral vision swept over seemingly inadvertently, and he continued to enjoy the night breeze.
“What do you guys think?” Tang Xiaoguang judged on his own, “I feel it’s true, someone really sneaked in.”
Given Xiang Ning’s style, he definitely wouldn’t report this to the factory director. Others might or might not say it, but he was definitely going to find the factory director.
If Qiming Manufacturing Plant couldn’t guarantee his safety and internship environment, he would apply to go to another factory.
He didn’t want to be in the same factory as sneaky villains.
Tang Xiaoguang poked his head out from the door and whispered: “Master Xiang’s lips are white with a tinge of green, like he’s stopped breathing. He won’t be stiff by dawn, will he?”
A yawn came from behind. It was Zong Huaitang. He turned his body from facing the night, leaned back against the railing, and massaged his sore neck: “Can’t get stiff. Before the injury, he looked like somebody; after the injury, he’s like singing an opera—one look on his face, another in his eyes. Every turn of his eyeballs is an idea.” Fun and funny.
Tang Xiaoguang hadn’t understood the meaning yet, but Zong Huaitang had already walked up from behind and walked into the dormitory without stopping.
“Comrade male sitting on the chair, panicked like this, lost a gold bar?”
Chen Ziqing supported the gauze on his forehead with both hands: “Didn’t lose anything.”
Tang Xiaoguang outside chimed in: “Didn’t lose anything, then isn’t it just to scare you!”
Chen Ziqing was stunned. Scare me? No, scare the original owner.
“Why? I haven’t offended anyone.” He suppressed his slightly agitated emotions so no one could tell, putting on a look of blank innocence.
Tang Xiaoguang held back a laugh with a complicated expression. Someone who hasn’t read many books, no matter how much poetry they pretend to read, won’t grow a brain. Such an easy-to-unravel thread still needs reminding.
Originally, Tang Xiaoguang wanted to be like Zong Huaitang and Zhong Ming and not say it, but meeting Xiang Ning’s weak and helpless eyes seeking help, he actually felt a bit soft-hearted.
He had never been treated like this usually.
“No one is perfect. You’re not perfect, so there will always be people who can’t stand you,” Tang Xiaoguang said. “Or they envy you for getting the ‘Advanced Individual’ award every year.”
Chen Ziqing quickly thought about information related to the workshop’s Advanced Individual: “Haven’t evaluated for this year yet.”
Tang Xiaoguang shrugged: “Scare you crazy, and you won’t be on the list.”
Chen Ziqing was dumbfounded: “Who would go crazy over such a small thing?”
“Pfft.”
Zong Huaitang, who was examining the pictorial on the wall, laughed out loud: “You wouldn’t. You just screamed in the middle of the night and alarmed the entire dormitory building.”
Chen Ziqing glared at Zong Huaitang.
Zong Huaitang was baffled. Not allowed to say it? Have the nerve to make a scene? He just wanted to mock a couple of sentences when Chen Ziqing issued an eviction order: “You guys go back to your dorms, I’m going to sleep.”
Then, regardless of everything, he pushed Tang Xiaoguang and Zong Huaitang out of the dormitory one by one, and glanced at Zhong Ming who was still standing at the door as punishment.
“Master Zhong, Comrade Tang, Technician Zong, I won’t see you off. Good night.”
He finished speaking in one breath and closed the door, unaware that the three people in the corridor had different expressions.
Just because of his very insincere good night.
Chen Ziqing paced back and forth in the dormitory. Following Tang Xiaoguang’s line of thought, it was ridiculous.
Just to scare him as a ghost for “Advanced Individual”? Not likely.
And compared to sneaking in to touch the wire and not getting caught just to make him think it was a supernatural event, it would be more effective to just wear white clothes and float past his window.
He was more inclined to believe that someone was monitoring the original owner, looking for something in the cabinet. They were so engrossed in searching that they didn’t bother with the wire.
The one who scared the original owner in the mountains, the mission target, and the one who came in tonight were all the same person.
Chen Ziqing felt he had found a direction. He rummaged through all the items in the cabinet from top to bottom, even considering if the lunch box lid had a compartment, but still found nothing.
If only there were a hint.
Chen Ziqing thought of his account assets: “System Lu, what is the Fly Cabinet?”
The cold mechanical voice answered: “Stores assets.”
Chen Ziqing didn’t expect that: “Then why not call it a storage cabinet? Fly Cabinet… what a strange name, how did you come up with it?”
System: “Main system setting naming.”
Chen Ziqing was stunned. Main system? That must be the supervisor’s boss, right? He changed his tune without blushing or skipping a beat: “Flies are actually quite cute.”
No electronic sound.
Chen Ziqing closed the curtains: “What is Dead Fish Eye?”
System: “Double points effect, valid for one month.”
Chen Ziqing sighed. This was more useful than the Fly Cabinet, provided there were points. He felt heartache for his 1.1 million points. If he hadn’t used them, how many props could he have bought?
Sigh.
Forget it, all cleared, what’s the use of thinking about it.
Chen Ziqing summarized the current progress. Zong Huaitang was the only small thread; he could only pull on him first.
Wait until other threads appear.
.
Chen Ziqing had just fallen asleep when he was woken up by noises outside. People here went to bed early and got up early for good health; he wasn’t used to it.
Groggy, he put on his work clothes. Chen Ziqing stepped into his yellow sneakers and went to the washstand. He rubbed his face against the towel to wake himself up a bit, sleepily took his toiletries in the basin, and went downstairs to brush his teeth and wash his face.
Northwest of the water tower, a long row of faucets was crowded with workers.
Chen Ziqing searched for people from the first workshop and walked towards them. They squeezed together to make room for him, greeting him cheerfully, asking if he slept well, if his head still hurt or felt dizzy. He answered them all.
The spring morning was cool.
Chen Ziqing bit his toothbrush and scrubbed around, then spat out the foam. His gums were slightly sore, and there was a taste of rust in his mouth. He filled the white porcelain mug with water, took a big gulp, gargled, and spat it out. After repeating this a few times, he hugged the basin and came out, giving up the spot to someone else.
People in the staff building came in and out, passing each other. The sun rose in the east. Chen Ziqing looked back while going up the stairs.
The plan for the day lies in the morning. The workers were enthusiastic and vigorous, with no trace of decadence or negativity on anyone, even though their clothing colors were uniformly monotonous and dark.
This mission world was many times more vivid and bright in color than the real world.
Chen Ziqing returned to the dormitory amidst greetings all the way. He put on the original owner’s watch, breathed on the dial which had a few scratches, and rubbed it with his thumb.
Six fifteen.
Time to go to the broadcasting station.
Chen Ziqing tucked the poetry book on the bed under his armpit, took the key, and locked the door. Thinking about things, he walked to the corner.
Is the door locked? Should be locked.
Wait, did I really lock it?
Chen Ziqing didn’t know if this counted as OCD, anxiety, or dementia. He had been like this since he was a child, always worried the door wasn’t closed properly, the gas stove wasn’t turned off… Not just when going out, but even when sleeping at night, he worried about this and that not being closed or locked, having to confirm repeatedly, unable to control it at all.
Turning to the stairwell, Chen Ziqing couldn’t help but turn back, pulling hard on the small lock twice. It didn’t open.
Locked.
He walked two steps and looked back. Really locked, right? Pulled it, hmm, locked.
Then walked a few more steps, looked back again.
Tsk.
Chen Ziqing was about to call someone to witness for him when a figure broke into his field of vision. It was exactly Zong Huaitang whom he wanted to approach. He immediately raised his hand and waved: “Technician Zong, good morning!”
Zong Huaitang came to the second floor for a stroll. The more strenuous it was to go upstairs, the more he wanted to toss about. Every day was like this; he absolutely wouldn’t pamper his left leg.
“So energetic before even having breakfast.” Zong Huaitang met the wounded man’s excited shout. Eighty percent chance there was some purpose. He approached with interest.
Unexpectedly, this person touched the lock and pulled it a few times in front of him: “Do you see if my door is locked?”
Zong Huaitang: ?
What does that mean? Did he throw another bait waiting for him to take? He ignored it completely.
Chen Ziqing looked at him expectantly.
Zong Huaitang looked away in disgust: “Locked.”
Just after saying that, he saw the person in front of him let out a long sigh of relief and walk away on his own.
Ignored him.
Just left him hanging here like this?
Zong Huaitang looked at the door lock with a dark face. Need someone to confirm even this? Can’t his own eyes see? Brain damage from the knock? Lacking interest, he continued his stroll.
A moment later, a roar came from downstairs: “Technician Zong—”
He paused, turned his steps, pressed the tip of his shoe against the corridor railing, and looked down from above.
Chen Ziqing, who had just finished breakfast, stood in front of the big tree. Both pockets of his pants bulged with round lumps containing eggs. There were steamed bun crumbs on his mouth, and he was holding half a bun in his hand.
“Wait for me to finish reading poetry at the broadcasting station, we’ll go to work together. I have something to tell you—”
Zong Huaitang’s lips twitched. Will the matter get cold by the time we reach the workshop? Insisting on saying it on the road, and making such a big commotion. After finishing his stroll, he went downstairs and crossed the road.
The female worker from yesterday was waiting for him by the roadside pushing a bicycle, her face full of shyness. A silk scarf was tied around her neck, which wasn’t fair but very slender.
Rose patterned.
Zong Huaitang smiled, elegant and graceful.
A worker riding past shouted: “Technician Zong, you’re leaving now? Didn’t Master Xiang ask you to wait for him to go to work together?”
“He’s not my wife; do I have to wait just because he asked me to?”
Zong Huaitang let out a disdainful scoff and walked towards the young woman amidst the surrounding laughter.
The large broadcasting loudspeaker in the bushes emitted a burst of static noise. After the static ended, a clear voice with spirited laughter came through.
“Dear comrades, good morning! I am Master Xiang from the First Workshop. The factory broadcasting station’s broadcast begins now. First, I will recite a poem by Ai Qing for everyone, ‘To the Sun’.”
“In the morning, I wake from sleep, happy to see your brilliance”
…
“Your fresh, gentle, bright radiance shines on my window that hasn’t been opened for a long time”
…
“Thus, I am pleasantly surprised to see you”
“Ding-a-ling” “Ding-a-ling” “Ding-a-ling”
Bicycle bells rang one after another. Workers living at home rode bicycles into the factory like a tide, joining workers living in the factory to go along the road to the production area.
Men rode bicycles humming songs with their families on the back; women in groups of three or four chatted while riding.
“Oh Sun, you immortal philosopher, you bring happiness to the world”
…
“You cast days into countless golden wheels, spinning on the ancient wilderness”
Amidst the emotionally charged poetry, acquaintances greeted each other, especially when meeting old masters or leaders; everyone’s attitude was very polite. They talked and laughed, full of joy.
A new day had begun.