Fusion System: Rebirth in a Courtyard - Bird Fighting Chronicles

Chapter 64 The cunning schemer's plot backfires; the technical expert's authority thwarts

The morning meeting at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill had just ended when Lin Chen was walking towards the R&D team office with a promotion plan for precision forging technology. Xiao Zhang, the factory office's communications officer, hurriedly caught up with him, looking somewhat serious: "Director Lin, Secretary Wang wants you to go to his office now. He says there are reports from the public about your conduct."

Lin Chen paused, his brow furrowing slightly. These days, conduct was no small matter, especially for a rising technical talent like himself; a slight misstep could ruin his career. He quickly reviewed his recent actions in his mind, from workshop upgrades to canteen renovations, and his technical presentation at the industrial conference—every step had been compliant and legal. Even his interactions with colleagues had maintained an appropriate distance. He couldn't think of any way anyone could have used against him.

"Do you know who reported it?" Lin Chen asked in a deep voice. Xiao Zhang looked around and lowered his voice: "They didn't say for sure, but I just saw Teacher Yan from the front yard come out of the secretary's office, and he didn't look too good." Lin Chen understood. Yan Bugui was holding a grudge about being exposed for crying poverty in the courtyard last time, and he was using "public supervision" as an excuse to retaliate.

In Secretary Wang's office, the ashtray was already piled high with cigarette butts. Yan Bugui sat in the guest chair, clutching a crumpled notebook. Seeing Lin Chen enter, he immediately straightened his back, adopting a serious expression of "speaking out for the people." Secretary Wang gestured to the chair opposite him, his tone heavy: "Lin, sit down. Teacher Yan reported that you abused your position to illegally sell off scrapped tools from the workshop for profit. What's your explanation for this?"

Yan Bugui spoke first, his voice high-pitched yet deliberately authoritative: "Secretary Wang, I saw it with my own eyes! At the end of last month, I passed by the scrap heap in the forging workshop and saw Director Lin having his apprentice Liu Guangtian secretly load a batch of scrap steel and old tools onto a cart and haul them away. I immediately felt something was wrong. Later, I went to the scrap yard on the outskirts of the city to inquire, and sure enough, someone said they had seen people from the Hongxing Factory selling parts for precision tools. What is this if not speculation and profiteering?"

As he spoke, he opened his notebook and pointed to the crooked records on it: "Look, this is the time and place I recorded, as well as the surname of the scrap yard owner. There is not a single falsehood! It is true that Director Lin is young and promising, but he cannot be arrogant and corrupt the atmosphere of the factory!" His words were clear and logical, and there was "evidence" to support them. Even Secretary Wang couldn't help but frown.

Lin Chen didn't immediately defend himself. Instead, he calmly asked, "Teacher Yan, what's the owner of that scrap yard you mentioned? Where exactly is he located in the suburbs? How much scrap steel and tools did I take away, and what were their specifications?" Yan Bugui was taken aback by the questions. He had only glimpsed Liu Guangtian moving things from afar that day; he hadn't actually inquired. The notes in his notebook were just made up. He stammered, "I... I just heard it from someone else. How could I remember the specific details so clearly? Anyway, you definitely have ulterior motives!"

"To make accusations without any evidence, Teacher Yan's 'role model' approach is questionable." Lin Chen took out a stack of documents from his briefcase and placed them in front of Secretary Wang. "Secretary Wang, this is the 'Waste Material Recycling Agreement' I signed with the workshop's logistics team. It clearly states that I am responsible for leading the research and development of 'waste secondary smelting technology,' and the necessary scrap tools and scrap steel will be uniformly registered and allocated by the logistics team. The destination and use of all recycled materials are recorded in detail."

He pointed to one of the registration forms: "At the end of last month, which Professor Yan mentioned, was a critical period for our research and development of new alloy materials. On that day, three bundles of scrap No. 45 steel and twelve worn-out old chisels were taken away. These all had the signatures of the logistics team leader and the warehouse manager. As for the suburban scrap yard, I did go there, but not to sell anything. Instead, I went to recycle a chromium-containing scrap alloy. This is the purchase voucher from that time."

Lin Chen then took out several photos, clearly showing the equipment, process, and final alloy samples of the waste smelting: "After secondary smelting, these waste materials were made into a high-toughness alloy, which is the raw material for the precision gears we showcased at the industrial conference. This technology can increase the waste utilization rate from 30% to 85%, and last month it saved the factory nearly a thousand yuan in raw material costs. This is the cost accounting report issued by the finance department."

Secretary Wang meticulously reviewed the documents page by page, from agreements and registration forms to purchase vouchers and cost reports. Each item was clearly organized and supported by solid evidence; even the testing reports for the alloy materials were attached. The seriousness on his face gradually faded, and he turned to Yan Bugui, his eyes filled with displeasure: "Teacher Yan, look at these materials. Director Lin's work is all compliant and has even generated profits for the factory. Isn't your report a bit too hasty?"

Yan Bugui's face turned deathly pale. He picked up the document and flipped through a few pages, his hands trembling. He had initially thought that Lin Chen, being young, might not be able to complete the procedures so thoroughly, even if they were truly compliant. He hadn't expected the other party to have considered these things so thoroughly. He forced himself to remain calm: "I... I was only acting out of responsibility to the factory, afraid that someone might abuse their power..."

"Out of a sense of responsibility, you should verify the situation first, instead of fabricating evidence to falsely accuse others," Lin Chen said coldly. "Teacher Yan said in the courtyard that her salary was only 27.5 yuan, but a few days ago I saw a receipt for a bicycle you bought for your son on the street; the amount was 120 yuan, which is equivalent to four months' salary for an ordinary worker. May I ask how much your monthly salary is? And where did this money come from?"

These words struck Yan Bugui like a thunderbolt, instantly turning his face ashen. He dreaded anything mentioning his salary. Over the years, he had amassed a considerable sum by secretly tutoring students in exchange for gifts and falsifying family expenses to apply for hardship grants from the school, always feigning poverty and hardship to the outside world. He hurriedly protested, "That...that's my savings from several years of hard work!"

"Saving for years?" Lin Chen pulled out a slip of paper containing information he had asked He Yushui to obtain from the neighborhood committee. "The neighborhood's civil affairs department has records that you applied for hardship allowance for three consecutive years, receiving 200 jin of grain coupons and 50 yuan in cash each year. If you were truly in dire straits, how could you have saved enough to buy a bicycle? And as far as I know, you're also privately tutoring students for fees, which violates the code of professional ethics for teachers, doesn't it?"

Secretary Wang's face darkened completely. Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill and Hongxing Primary School were both located in the same street district and had business dealings with each other. He had long heard of Yan Bugui's reputation for being calculating, but he never expected that the other party would dare to fabricate difficulties, illegally provide tutoring, and even falsely accuse the factory's technical backbone. He tapped the table: "Teacher Yan, is what Director Lin said true? If it is, your problem is very serious!"

Yan Bugui slumped into his chair, unable to utter another word in defense. He knew he had shot himself in the foot; not only had he failed to bring down Lin Chen, but he had also exposed his own weaknesses. Secretary Wang immediately picked up the phone and dialed the principal's office at Hongxing Elementary School, briefly explaining the situation. The principal said they would launch an immediate investigation.

"Xiao Lin, I'm sorry you were wronged." After hanging up the phone, Secretary Wang gave Lin Chen an apologetic smile. "It was our lack of thorough investigation that caused you to be wronged. Don't worry, the factory will clear your name, and we will also report Teacher Yan's false accusation to the neighborhood committee and the school for serious handling."

"Thank you, Secretary Wang." Lin Chen stood up. "I'm not trying to hold Teacher Yan accountable, I just hope there can be a more rigorous reporting mechanism in the future, so that those who are truly dedicated to their work won't be discouraged. The R&D team is currently busy promoting precision forging technology, so I'll head back to work now."

As Lin Chen stepped out of the Party Secretary's office, he encountered Liu Guangtian rushing towards him in the corridor. The young man clutched a toolbox, his face filled with anxiety: "Master, I heard Yan Bugui falsely accused you. Are you alright? If you need witnesses, I'll go find Secretary Wang right now!" Lin Chen patted him on the shoulder and briefly explained what had happened. Liu Guangtian immediately flew into a rage: "That old man Yan is too wicked! Last time he was jealous of your help in the courtyard, and this time he stabbed me in the back. He's a real scoundrel!"

The two returned to the R&D team office, where Liu Haizhong was already waiting. He was holding a polished part in his hand. Seeing Lin Chen enter, he hurriedly went up to him: "Director Lin, I heard that old bastard Yan Bugui falsely accused you. What happened? If the factory doesn't handle this fairly, all the men in our workshop will not stand for it!" Over this period of time, Liu Haizhong had personally witnessed Lin Chen mentoring Liu Guangtian and even recruiting him into the R&D team. He had long since completely let go of his prejudice against Lin Chen and genuinely regarded him as one of his own.

Lin Chen smiled and recounted how the matter had been resolved. Liu Haizhong finally breathed a sigh of relief and cursed, "Serves him right! That old bastard only knows how to scheme and plot; he was bound to get his comeuppance sooner or later!" He handed over the parts in his hand, "Director Lin, look at this forging furnace accessory I modified. It was modified according to your drawings. The preheating efficiency can be increased by 20%. Give it a try and see if it works."

Lin Chen took the part and used the system to check it. The precision and hardness fully met the requirements, and he nodded approvingly, "Master Liu, well done! With this part, our forging furnace can mass-produce precision parts." Liu Haizhong smiled rarely, rubbing his hands together, and said, "This is all thanks to your excellent guidance. Before, I was only thinking about getting a promotion and didn't have the mind to study technology. Now I realize that earning a living with your skills is the most reliable thing!"

At lunchtime, Lin Chen, Liu Guangtian, and Liu Haizhong had just entered the canteen when they sensed something was amiss. The workers, who usually huddled together chatting, were all staring at them today, their eyes filled with admiration and sympathy. Qin Huairu, from the canteen rectification team, approached with a tray, placing a plate of braised pork in front of Lin Chen. Her voice was somewhat low: "Director Lin, yesterday Teacher Yan told many people in the canteen that you were reselling tools. I know you're not that kind of person, so I explained a few things to them, but they…"

Looking at the braised pork on his plate, Lin Chen felt a warmth in his heart. Since Lin Chen's guidance, Qin Huairu had completely abandoned her previous tactic of feigning pitifulness to gain sympathy, and instead focused on diligently carrying out the cafeteria's rectification work. During this time, she managed the supplies meticulously, and the two had transformed from former "opponents" into tacitly cooperative colleagues. He smiled and said, "It's alright, Secretary Wang has already investigated and found that Teacher Yan's report was false. The factory will clear my name."

Just as the words were spoken, the canteen's loudspeaker suddenly blared, broadcasting an official notice from the factory office: "Attention all employees, regarding the recent public report that Director Lin Chen of the Precision Forging R&D Group was reselling factory scrap materials, the factory's Party Committee has investigated and verified that the report is untrue. Director Lin Chen's 'Scrap Material Secondary Melting Technology' project has saved the factory a significant amount of costs, and he is hereby commended. The whistleblower, Yan Bugui, a teacher at Malanshan Hongxing Primary School, has been falsely accused without evidence and is suspected of illegally tutoring others and falsely claiming hardship to obtain subsidies. The factory has notified his employer of the relevant information. We urge all employees to take this as a warning, not to believe or spread rumors, and to focus on their work..."

As the announcement ended, enthusiastic applause erupted in the canteen. The workers who had believed Yan Bugui's rumors flocked to Lin Chen to apologize. "Director Lin, we're so sorry! We shouldn't have listened to that old man Yan's nonsense!" "That's right, you've made such a great contribution to the factory, how could we doubt you!" Lin Chen smiled and waved his hand: "It's alright, the truth will out. Just focus more on our technological research and development from now on."

In the afternoon, the results of the investigation from Hongxing Primary School came in. Yan Bugui was stripped of his title of "District-Level Outstanding Teacher," had three months' performance-based pay deducted, and was required to make a self-criticism at a school-wide staff meeting. When the news reached the courtyard, the neighbors were in an uproar. Old Wang from the front yard, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan, said, "I told you long ago, old man Yan was too cunning; he was bound to get into trouble sooner or later. Now look what happened, his reputation is completely ruined!"

Yan Bugui slunk home, only to be immediately scolded by his wife as soon as he entered: "I warned you not to go against Director Lin, but you wouldn't listen! Now look what's happened—you've lost your professional title, your salary has been reduced, how are you going to face the school now? The children will be so ashamed of you!" Yan Jiecheng, who happened to be resting at home, couldn't help but say, "Dad, you're just too greedy. Director Lin helped Guangtian learn a skill and found Aunt Qin a proper job; he's a benefactor to our institute. How could you falsely accuse him?"

Yan Bugui sat in his chair, looking at the "Outstanding Teacher" certificate hanging on the wall, feeling both regret and resentment. He had only wanted to get revenge on Lin Chen for exposing his feigned poverty, but he hadn't expected that a moment of impulsiveness would ruin his future. What hurt him even more was that he used to think of himself as an educated man, superior to others in the courtyard, but now he had become the laughingstock of his neighbors, and even his own son didn't understand him.

As evening fell, Yan Bugui, carrying a basket of his own pickled vegetables, lingered until he reached Lin Chen's door. He hesitated for a long time before finally mustering the courage to knock. Lin Chen opened the door, somewhat surprised to see Yan Bugui. Yan Bugui handed over the pickled vegetables, his head bowed low: "Director Lin, I'm sorry, I was confused. I shouldn't have falsely accused you. These are pickled vegetables from my home, please don't mind them..."

Looking at his haggard appearance, Lin Chen felt no sense of vengeful pleasure, but rather a sense of melancholy. He took the pickled vegetables and stepped aside to let him in: "Teacher Yan, come in and sit down. Actually, I know you're not a bad person, you're just too concerned about immediate gains." Yan Bugui walked into the room, looking at the industrial conference award certificates and precision parts blueprints hanging on the wall, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

"Director Lin, I used to think you were too young and didn't take you seriously. I was even jealous that you helped that kid Guangtian..." Yan Bugui sighed. "Now I realize that living isn't about scheming, it's about real ability. Helping Guangtian learn skills and helping Comrade Qin reform are all genuine good deeds. But I was up to no good by doing underhanded things behind his back."

Lin Chen poured her a glass of hot water: "Teacher Yan, let's not talk about the past anymore. You're good at math and keep good accounts, so there are many areas where you can be of help. Our R&D team is currently short of someone to be responsible for cost accounting and data statistics. If you're willing, I can apply to the factory to have you help out part-time, with the salary calculated as a technical consultant."

Yan Bugui suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief: "You...you're still willing to use me? I've treated you so well..." Lin Chen smiled: "Talent is rare. Your bookkeeping skills and mathematical foundation are exactly what we need. As long as you work diligently, no one will bring up the past." Yan Bugui's hands trembled with excitement. He picked up his water glass and took a sip. The hot water slid down his throat, warming his eyes until they reddened. He choked out, "Director Lin, don't worry, I will definitely work hard from now on and never let you down!"

After Yan Bugui left, Lin Chen opened the system panel, where a new notification popped up: "Side quest 'Resolve Yan Bugui's false accusation, demonstrating vision and wisdom' completed, reward 5000 points, current points: 227500. Unlocked new feature 'Talent Discovery,' which can identify and guide others' potential skills." Lin Chen nodded in satisfaction; this feature would be perfect for building a stronger R&D team.

Just then, Liu Guangtian and Liu Haizhong knocked and entered, carrying a sample of the precision gears they had just completed. Liu Guangtian excitedly said, "Master, following your method, our batch production gear qualification rate has reached 99%, an improvement of one percentage point! Factory Director Zhou just called to say that Southern Machinery Factory wants to sign a long-term cooperation agreement with us and order 10,000 sets of precision gears!"

Lin Chen took the gear sample. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating its smooth, mirror-like surface, gleaming with a metallic sheen. Looking at the energetic master and apprentice before him, and recalling Yan Bugui's sincere apology earlier, he suddenly understood that true strength lies not in suppressing opponents, but in earning respect through one's own abilities and resolving conflicts through a tolerant and inclusive mindset.

The lights in the courtyard outside the window gradually came on. Sha Zhu was cooking in the kitchen, and the faint sound of him humming a tune drifted over. Qin Huairu was teaching Jia Dang how to sew in the yard, and the laughter of the mother and daughter was crisp and melodious. Yan Bugui was sitting at his doorstep, carefully looking through the cost accounting spreadsheet Lin Chen had given him, muttering calculation formulas to himself. The courtyard, once filled with intrigue and backstabbing, now finally had a touch of warmth and harmony.

Lin Chen knew this was just the beginning. Yi Zhonghai was still lurking in the shadows, and Xu Damao might not give up easily either; many more challenges awaited him. But he was no longer as fierce as he had been when he was first reborn; instead, he possessed more composure and confidence. He believed that as long as he adhered to his original aspiration of making a living through technology and worked steadily forward with those around him, there would be no obstacle he couldn't overcome, and no dream he couldn't achieve.