Siheyuan: Being a fisherman in 1962

He still goes to and from get off work on time every day, carrying his lunch box, always with a faint smile on his face, as if everything in the world has nothing to do with him.

In the blink of an eye, a few days passed, but there was still no movement from Director Yang.

Sha Zhu began to get anxious. Whenever he saw Chen Fei's nonchalant look, his heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat's claws, itchy and painful.

I began to doubt whether my decision was correct, but the arrow has been shot and there is no turning back, so I could only grit my teeth and wait.

In the factory, rumors about Sha Zhu and Chen Fei began to spread, and everyone was guessing the final outcome of this storm.

Chen Fei still maintained his composure, as if all this had nothing to do with him, but privately, he was silently preparing for the coming storm and the trap he had already set.

The sunset is like blood.

Chen Fei stood at the entrance of the cafeteria, his posture upright and his eyes calm as water, as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with him.

Not far away, Sha Zhu was pointing at the crowd with an indignant look on his face, his words were full of accusations against Chen Fei.

"Everyone listen, this Chen Fei, he appears to be honest on the surface, but he's actually doing sneaky things behind the scenes. I saw him stealing food from the cafeteria and feeding it to his dog!" Sha Zhu's voice penetrated the crowd, attracting everyone's attention and discussions.

At this moment, Director Yang slowly walked out of the crowd. His face was solemn, and his eyes glanced back and forth between Chen Fei and Sha Zhu.

"Silly Zhu, you received an anonymous letter of complaint about Chen Fei three days ago. I have investigated and the cafeteria's surveillance and accounts show that Chen Fei did not commit any theft." Director Yang said angrily.

Sha Zhu was stunned for a moment, then became even more excited: "Director Yang, you can't just look at those cold records, I saw it with my own eyes! He sneaked home with a lunch box every night, isn't that evidence?"

Chen Fei raised a cold smile and stared at Sha Zhu with a sharp gaze: "Sha Zhu, why are you so anxious? Are you afraid that the truth will be revealed and your shameful deeds will be exposed?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings suddenly became quiet, everyone looked at each other, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.

Sha Zhu's face turned pale, obviously he was hit in a sore spot. He shouted angrily: "Stop slandering me! I, Sha Zhu, am upright and honest, unlike you, who say one thing in public and another behind the scenes!"

"Oh? Really?" Chen Fei took out a piece of paper from his pocket slowly and unfolded it gently. It was the receipt he got from the restaurant owner last night.

"Look at this. I buy my dinner every day from the 'Lao Li's Restaurant' on the corner. If you don't believe me, you can go and ask."

Sha Zhu took the note, a trace of panic flashed in his eyes, but he quickly forced himself to be calm: "Humph, who knows if you forged it? Anyway, there is something wrong with you!"

"That's enough!" Director Yang interrupted in a deep voice. He looked at Sha Zhu with disappointment in his eyes. "Sha Zhu, you have always been an employee I trust, but your behavior today disappointed me. Not only did you slander your colleagues, you also tried to cover up your own mistakes. Do you remember? Last month, the canteen's accounts were not right, and it was finally verified that you took the ingredients home privately."

Sha Zhu's face turned pale as paper in an instant. He didn't expect that Director Yang would expose his true colors in public.

The discussions in the crowd started again, this time with more accusations and ridicules directed at Sha Zhu.

"Fade Chen, you have always been a diligent and good employee. I believe you would not do such a thing." Director Yang turned to Fade Chen, his tone full of trust. "As for the grudge between you and Sha Zhu, I hope you can resolve it privately and don't let these personal matters affect your work."

Fade Chen nodded and looked at Sha Zhu with a deep gaze that contained both warning and relief.

He won this battle, not only regaining his innocence, but also winning respect.

Everything that happened today made him deeply realize the dangers of the workplace and the complexity of human nature.

But he also understood that as long as he acted upright, nothing could defeat him.

Sha Zhu has a full beard and a look of simplicity and confusion in his eyes. At this moment, he is standing in the back kitchen of the cafeteria, his hands clenched into fists, veins bulging on his forehead, and it is obvious that his emotions have reached a boiling point.

His eyes were as sharp as torches, staring straight at the young man opposite him who had a calm expression and a faint smile on his lips - Chen Fei.

"Fade Chen, you're so fucking despicable!" Sha Zhu's voice echoed in the empty kitchen, making the pots and pans clatter.

He could never have imagined that the seemingly harmless colleague would actually trip him up behind his back and make him suspected of stealing factory property.

Chen Fei smiled lightly, and that smile contained both the satisfaction of success and a hint of amusement. "Oh? Silly Zhu, don't say anything nonsense, the evidence is all there."

He pointed lightly at the surveillance video in the corner, a cunning look in his eyes.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps interrupted the confrontation between the two.

Director Yang, a man who is usually serious and has strict requirements on factory discipline, appeared at the door of the kitchen.

His eyes moved back and forth between the two of them, finally stopping on Sha Zhu. There was both disappointment and determination in his eyes.

"Sha Zhu, you are suspected of stealing factory property, which is a serious violation of our factory's rules and regulations." Director Yang's voice was low and powerful, and every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting Sha Zhu's heart.

Sha Zhu's eyes instantly turned red and he tried to explain himself, but found that all his words seemed pale and powerless at this moment.

"I didn't! I really didn't steal anything!" There was a tremor in his voice, which was the fear of the unknown and the anger towards injustice.

Director Yang was unmoved and coldly gave two choices: "According to factory rules, you have two punishment options: one is to reduce your salary by half, and the other is to leave the factory. You can choose."

Sha Zhu's body trembled violently, knowing full well what these two options meant to him.

A salary cut in half means he will not be able to support his younger sister at home; and leaving the factory means he will lose the job he relies on for a living and will have to start all over again.

He knelt down, and the sound of his knees hitting the ground was particularly harsh in the empty kitchen.

"Director, I beg you, please give me a chance! My family really needs this salary..." Sha Zhu's voice was choked with tears in his eyes.

However, Director Yang did not soften his heart because of Sha Zhu's pleading.

Still insisting on his decision, but seemed to be touched by Sha Zhu's sincerity, so he said: "Since you insist so much, I can give you a third choice - transfer to Workshop No. 1, but the conditions there are difficult and the work intensity is high. Whether you can do it depends on you."

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu raised his head abruptly and said, "I am willing! No matter how hard or tiring it is, I am willing!"