Chapter 7#

Qiming Manufacturing Plant#

Zong Huaitang couldn’t accept it; he couldn’t even imagine that scene.

Rubbing legs could be considered a rather intimate act. How could it be between a man and a man? How could he possibly let a man rub his leg?

Zong Huaitang refused decisively.

Chen Ziqing didn’t insist. Zong Huaitang was straight, so it was indeed presumptuous. He needed to watch his words and actions, not just in front of Zong Huaitang, but also with others.

This era was still far from the widespread use of the internet. Homosexuality existed, but print media wouldn’t report it, and the only channel for dissemination was word of mouth, so it didn’t spread far. That small group was scattered all over the world, keeping it dead secret with their lives, terrified of being discovered and treated as freaks or monsters. Rumors were a lethal weapon, comparable to all ancient tortures.

While sighing, Chen Ziqing lamented that fortunately, the mission didn’t involve romance. Deceiving the opposite sex would mean being reincarnated as an animal, which he couldn’t do. With the same sex, one slip-up would mean being spat on and pelted with rotten vegetables and eggs, which would be miserable.

Truly fortunate.

Chen Ziqing asked the man who had buried his face in the crook of his arm again: “Then shall I pull you up?”

“Forget it. Can someone with a broken head pull me up? Don’t fall and crash into my arms.” Zong Huaitang was disgusted to death. “A grown man doing that sticky stuff, just thinking about it makes me lose my appetite for lunch.”

Chen Ziqing held back the urge to roll his eyes at him but couldn’t help letting out a snort. The volume wasn’t low, and Zong Huaitang clearly heard it. His ears twitched, and he sneered unceremoniously: “What, Master Xiang wants to refute me? Do you want me to give you a chance to prove your strength?”

Chen Ziqing immediately stated: “No, you’re right.”

Zong Huaitang wouldn’t let him off: “Then what did you snort for?”

Chen Ziqing was scared: “My nose was itchy.”

Zong Huaitang: “…”

The atmosphere suddenly became quiet, awkwardly quiet.

Chen Ziqing’s mouth was a bit dry from the exchange with Zong Huaitang just now. He looked at his watch; it was almost eleven o’clock: “Technician Zong, if you don’t want me to pull you up, I can’t do anything else here, so I’m going to the workshop.”

Zong Huaitang changed from burying his face to propping his right hand on his right knee, thumb against his temple, palm horizontally across his forehead casting a shadow over his eyebrows and eyes, hiding his expression. His pursed lips moved slightly as if he wanted to say something, struggling with hesitation and irritability, when a promise suddenly rang out above his head: “Technician Zong, rest assured, I won’t tell anyone you fell.”

He froze.

Chen Ziqing spoke impassionedly: “I won’t laugh at you, look down on you, discriminate against you, nor will I pity you. I believe physical disability does not mean a disability of the soul. Technician Zong’s strength commands my admiration. You are equal to people with healthy limbs!”

After speaking, he took a deep breath, exhausted.

Zong Huaitang sneered. This guy is a hypocrite, saying one thing to your face and another behind your back. Nice words on his lips, but laughing his head off inside.

The next second he heard: “Not in my heart either.”

Zong Huaitang felt the anger of embarrassment from having his thoughts seen through. He looked up with a dark face: “Mas-ter Xiang.”

After pronouncing each word, he questioned impatiently: “Aren’t you going to the workshop? Why do you keep talking? Holding your speech meeting here?”

Chen Ziqing pouted and left.

Zong Huaitang seriously suspected he was cursing him, and with dirty words at that. He couldn’t help but get angry, but his left leg had no strength, so he could only sit there like an incompetent joke.

Not long after the office door closed, it opened again. The technician came in with a mop: “Brother, why are you sitting on the floor?”

Zong Huaitang said lazily: “Sitting for fun.”

The technician looked at the mop in his hand, then at Zong Huaitang: “Then I…”

“Mop somewhere else, no need to mop under my butt.” Zong Huaitang said calmly, “You’re almost touching my pants.”

The technician wanted to ask if Zong Huaitang’s left leg was uncomfortable, but was afraid of invading his privacy and found it hard to ask. So he mopped around him as instructed and left the office to him temporarily on the pretext of washing the mop.

Zong Huaitang hammered his left leg a few times. He rolled up his pant leg, took a look, and put it down.

.

Zong Huaitang didn’t limp out of the office. He waited until the piercing pain subsided before going out, walking through the workshop aisle as if nothing had happened, and went to the factory woods under the spring sunshine.

It wasn’t about saving face; he just didn’t want to see sympathetic looks from those around him, nor did he want to be treated differently.

That would be boring.

Zong Huaitang picked a bamboo leaf, held it between his lips, and blew a tune. If it weren’t for watching… he wouldn’t have slipped.

That guy named Xiang treated people differently based on who they were. Clearly the same face, but towards the factory director, he lowered his eyebrows and eyes like a little brother, praising a poem the factory director wrote to kill time as if it were a flower, even applying to collect it. The factory director’s farts smelled good to him.

But when it came to him, he wished his nostrils could flip to the top of his head, even euphemistically pointing out the flaws in his handwriting, saying his pen-holding posture wasn’t standard, the force point was wrong, he had talent but wasn’t suitable for copying the factory director’s handwriting, and if he didn’t mind, he would give him a copybook. Laughable, that poem was…

Zong Huaitang held up the bamboo leaf, released his fingertips, and let it run away with the wind.

Now the guy named Xiang no longer had contempt when facing him, nor was he jealous of his identity as the factory director’s brother. He couldn’t quite understand him anymore. Like a flower in the mirror or the moon in the water, who knew what kind of madness he would display next. He had to stay far away.

Although he had indeed become much more fun.

.

Zong Huaitang didn’t eat lunch and went back to the dormitory to lie down.

Tang Xiaoguang returned from the troupe and took a cloth bag to Zong Huaitang’s room: “Brother Huaitang, Master Xiang asked me to bring this to you.”

Zong Huaitang was indifferent, his voice lazy as if he hadn’t woken up: “What is it?”

“A glass tank, and,” Tang Xiaoguang panted as he spoke, “medicinal wine.”

Zong Huaitang stopped scratching his hair and sat up. He bent his legs and leaned against the wall behind the bed, frowning as he opened the cloth bag.

Tang Xiaoguang muttered: “Why are you two suddenly so good to each other.”

Zong Huaitang threw the cloth bag onto the bedside table: “Do you have eyes on the soles of your feet? Can’t you see?”

Tang Xiaoguang felt hugely wronged: “Did I provoke you?”

Zong Huaitang searched on the messy table, found a few two-yuan and five-yuan bills, and casually pushed them to the edge of the table: “Give this money to him.”

After that, he pushed over a handful of tickets: “And this.”

“Why should I run errands for you guys?” Tang Xiaoguang said without thinking, “You guys are like a couple in class having a spat, asking others to pass messages and things.”

Zong Huaitang’s face turned iron blue: “Get out.”

Tang Xiaoguang realized belatedly that he had just been talking nonsense. Seriously speaking, it was distorting the relationship between two male comrades, which was very incorrect and immoral. But, couldn’t he just say it nicely? Why get angry? His temper was worse than his own. As a senior, he wouldn’t even yield to his junior. He wanted to change dorms, definitely change dorms!

Tang Xiaoguang grabbed the curtain forcefully, but out of fear, put it down gently.

In comparison, that Xiang Ning had the right way of asking people for favors, smiling at him until his little canine teeth showed. Unlike Zong Huaitang, really.

Zong Huaitang glanced at the cloth bag lying quietly. Returning a glass tank was one thing, but buying medicinal wine?

Had it reached that point? Did he need this concern?

Solicitude without cause, either hiding evil intentions or theft.

Zong Huaitang lay back on the bed and continued to sleep. Not long after, he had a dream. In the dream, Xiang Ning said to him, “If you use my medicinal wine, we are friends.”

“Technician Zong, can you do me a favor?”

“I want to know what books the factory director usually reads. Can you help ask?”

“The factory director cares about the manufacturing plant and has great love in his heart. He must be working very hard.”

“Technician Zong, our workshop’s Deputy Zhang intends to transfer to the textile factory. The position will be vacant then. I wonder who the factory director is more inclined to appoint as successor.”

“Technician Zong, I want you to help me inquire, is that okay?”

“Technician Zong…”

“Technician Zong…”

Zong Huaitang was literally annoyed awake. The sounds of “Technician Zong” were still in his ears. He lifted his arm and placed it over his dark eyebrows and eyes. The dream had awakened him.

Xiang Ning’s goal was to get closer to the factory director he admired, and the position of deputy director. Don’t even think about it.

.

Chen Ziqing didn’t know that the thread of Zong Huaitang had twisted itself into a knot. He was watching workers play chess in the yard, thinking that since he had been warned, he wouldn’t go to Section Chief Li’s place, maybe in two days.

Unexpectedly, Section Chief Li sent someone to call him. This wasn’t sneaky, but open and aboveboard.

Chen Ziqing received a warning and still had to report to Section Chief Li’s office.

Lost the lady and broke the army (suffered a double loss).

Chen Ziqing sat on the grand armchair. Section Chief Li stared at him. Usually full of words, why hadn’t he said a peep since coming in? He didn’t even bring the small notebook and pen used for recording.

“Little Xiang, how is the injury on your head?” Section Chief Li took the initiative to show concern.

“Recovering well, thank you for your concern, Section Chief Li,” Chen Ziqing said. “Nothing much happened in the workshop. Master Sun was notified and criticized at home. Heard his father broke two willow branches whipping him. His calves are swollen high, and he walks unnaturally. He should be behaving himself for a while.”

“Hard to say. Sun the Second is too jumpy, causing trouble with other workshops every few days, and always manages to gather a group of people to follow him.” Section Chief Li thought of something and zoned out for a moment. “Logically speaking, the leaders of both workshops should be given a major demerit. The factory director is magnanimous.”

Chen Ziqing smiled: “The factory director’s handling result must have his considerations.”

Section Chief Li got up and took a small white porcelain box with hand-painted wintersweet from the shelf, pinched out a toothpick, and picked his sparse teeth: “The Spring Sports Meeting is coming soon. The factory director probably wants the atmosphere to be more relaxed.”

Hearing this unexpectedly, Chen Ziqing lost most of his wits. His expression management was on the verge of losing control: “Then I’ll go back.”

“Wait.” Section Chief Li spat a food residue onto the ground. “Someone entered your dormitory last night?”

Chen Ziqing was distracted: “Indeed, that happened.”

Section Chief Li asked with slurred speech: “Why didn’t you report it?”

Chen Ziqing forced a smile: “In my heart, the factory is my home, and comrades are my family. I should be tolerant and give first-time offenders a chance to correct themselves, as long as they don’t make the same mistake next time.”

Section Chief Li praised: “Little Xiang, your awareness is high.”

Chen Ziqing’s thoughts had long flown to the sports meeting. The third annotation was related to the sports meeting. He had no confidence in achieving it, not even twenty percent.

“It’s somewhat inconvenient for you to live alone,” Section Chief Li said. “If it really doesn’t work, go find Little Zhong and propose to move back so you can look after each other.”

Chen Ziqing was absent-minded: “I will consider it.”

When he opened the office door and walked out, Section Chief Li’s sugar-coated bullet came from behind: “Little Xiang, work hard, the factory won’t treat you unfairly.”

He gave a perfunctory reply and left.

There was only one thought in his mind: must find a way to leave here before the sports meeting arrives.

.

On the way leaving the office area, Chen Ziqing met Director Liu’s two apprentices.

It was Zhong Ming and Sun Chengzhi talking outside the auditorium, in a posture close to quarreling. Being far away, Chen Ziqing couldn’t hear, only catching Sun Chengzhi’s face full of dissatisfaction, yet having to listen to Zhong Ming.

Just as Chen Ziqing wanted to get closer, Zhong Ming spotted him.

Their eyes met, and Zhong Ming withdrew his gaze first. As if he hadn’t seen anything, he took Sun Chengzhi into the auditorium.

Chen Ziqing broke off a branch and swiped it along as he walked. A small bag with numbers on it miraculously appeared in his mind. He immediately thought of a possibility.

“System Lu, do I have points?”

System: “As the host’s mission progresses, corresponding points will drop.”

Chen Ziqing was overjoyed: “Then I’ll use Dead Fish Eye!”

System: “Host Chen, you used one Dead Fish Eye and obtained double points, totaling 96. Your current points are -99904.”

“…”

Don’t count on it; buying props is impossible.

In the middle of the night, Chen Ziqing climbed up anxiously, moved a chair to the door, and sat in the corridor staring blankly at the starry sky. He patted his face and turned around.

Just then, the light bulb went out.

Only his small section of all the dormitory corridors abruptly plunged into darkness.

Like someone had covered it with a cloth.

Chen Ziqing looked around quickly. The wire connected to this light bulb ran from a bit in front of him to a bit behind him.

He was looking forward, and didn’t see anyone in front.

This meant the person had damaged the wire connection behind him.

But at such a close distance, why didn’t he hear footsteps?

Without time to think too much or check how the connection was broken, Chen Ziqing ran along the corridor behind him to chase.

Didn’t catch anyone.

The corridor was silent, highlighting Chen Ziqing’s rapid and chaotic breathing, dizziness, and heart beating like a drum.

Where did they go…

Hid back in the dormitory? Then where was the sound of opening and closing doors? There was none. A living person wouldn’t vanish into thin air.

The wind blew faintly. Chen Ziqing smelled wisps of wood scent. His mind moved, and his bloodshot eyes stared at the big tree growing up from the first floor outside the railing not far away. Could it be someone from the first floor who did it and then climbed down the tree?

Chen Ziqing leaned on the railing and looked down. If that was really the case, it was done by someone very good at climbing trees, then… that’s also unlikely.

The tree wasn’t close to the wire connection on his side. Climbing up and jumping onto the corridor would require walking a short distance, and the same for leaving.

However, he turned around the moment the power went out. It happened in a flash. Unless the other party could turn invisible.

This obviously didn’t hold water; ordinary people didn’t have the ability to turn invisible.

So where exactly did it not add up…

Chen Ziqing went downstairs in a daze holding onto the wall. There was a vague figure in the yard. He ran over without seeing clearly, opened his mouth to speak but only let out intermittent gasps.

His philtrum was pinched again.

Now he knew who it was without looking.

It took Chen Ziqing a long time to recover from the feeling of almost meeting the King of Hell. The spinning sensation was still there. He suppressed his nausea and put on a serious face: “Technician Zong, why aren’t you sleeping? What are you doing in the yard?”

Zong Huaitang couldn’t sleep at night because of the pain in his left leg from the bump during the day. Hearing the noise upstairs, the first person he thought of was Xiang Ning. He came out to look, and he guessed right.

Facing this guy’s preemptive strike, he calmly answered with a question instead of answering: “Why aren’t you sleeping? What are you doing downstairs?”

Chen Ziqing composed himself: “I was originally watching the stars in the corridor. The power suddenly went out on my side. I didn’t find who did it, so I came downstairs to see if there were any discoveries.”

Zong Huaitang looked like he was listening seriously: “The power went out on your side?”

Chen Ziqing nodded: “Went out.”

Zong Huaitang extended a finger and pointed upwards.

Chen Ziqing had a premonition but still looked up, following the direction Zong Huaitang pointed.

The entire second floor was brightly lit. The light bulb at his place was on.

“Master Xiang.” Zong Huaitang dragged his left leg and stood in front of him. “Tell me, is it out, or not?”

Chen Ziqing ran upstairs with a dry throat to check the connection. He found the copper wire exposed without tape, just twisted and hooked together.

Pulling it apart cuts the power; pulling it up restores it. There was no trace of it being pulled apart just now.

Yesterday evening he clearly checked the wires on the entire floor, and all connections had black tape.

It seemed the mission target tore off the tape and stripped the copper wire to make it like this after him, to facilitate action.

Chen Ziqing’s back was damp and he shivered. When he was wondering upstairs what didn’t add up, at one moment he tried to lean towards the supernatural. Fortunately, fortunately, he overthought it; it was man-made.

Now that he knew the other party’s operation steps this time, all that was left was to find the person.

Chen Ziqing went to find Zong Huaitang. Not seeing anyone in the yard, he went to knock on the door of dormitory 107: “Technician Zong.”

Zong Huaitang inside turned a deaf ear.

Chen Ziqing asked directly from outside the door: “Technician Zong, were you in the yard the whole time? Did you see anyone messing with the wires?”

Hearing “Technician Zong” being called repeatedly outside, Zong Huaitang thought of the dream at noon. He opened the window and stuck his head out, his tone extremely nasty: “Is joking once not enough, you have to do it twice?”

Chen Ziqing went over upon hearing the voice.

Zong Huaitang gritted his teeth: “Last night you asked me if the corridor wires had been broken. Tonight you ask the same thing in a different way. Are you walking a dog, Xiang Ning?”

Chen Ziqing said: “What walking a dog? I’m not joking, I’m serious.”

Zong Huaitang smiled faintly, still pretending.

Chen Ziqing pressed on the windowsill and leaned close: “The corridor wires on my floor were broken before. You know about this.”

Zong Huaitang smelled the sweetness of malted milk extract from his mouth. Drinking that stuff late at night, how greedy.

The distance was a bit close. Zong Huaitang stood up straight: “I do know, I saw it with my own eyes.”

Chen Ziqing unconsciously grabbed the shirt on his chest and pulled him towards himself: “Then tell me quickly who it is!”

Zong Huaitang: “…”

Why even closer.

He frowned, raised a lip, and smiled a bit roguishly: “Beg me, and I’ll satisfy you.”

Chen Ziqing was desperate to complete the mission and leave here: “I beg you.”

Zong Huaitang froze on the spot. Begged just like that? Didn’t even struggle? Where is the self-esteem and sense of shame?

Chen Ziqing increased the strength in his hand. His slightly curled bangs, taped with gauze, almost touched the man: “Don’t go back on your word. I’ve already begged you, Zong Huaitang!”

Even called him by name.

“Why go to the labor union? You should go to the troupe to perform. Look at your expression, it’s so real. I admire you so much I could prostrate myself. Xiang Ning, what are you thinking,” Zong Huaitang pushed away the fingers on his shirt. “The person who pulled the wires apart,”

He flicked the wrinkles that had been pulled out: “Isn’t it you?”