Chapter 113: The Arrest

“Good! Uncle, I have my own way of handling this matter, so rest assured! Nothing will go wrong!”

Chen Liang saw that his uncle had made up his mind, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. That old man was truly stubborn—he almost forced Chen Liang to use his trump card.

Donning a wide-brimmed hat, Chen Liang turned around with flair and left the office. He called over Bo’erba and two other trusted subordinates of his uncle, then led them with cold determination straight to the factory’s conference room.

Fully armed, the group ignored the curious onlookers who watched them along the way. Chen Liang took the lead, not bothering to knock, and barged directly into the conference room.

Inside, smoke hung thick in the air. The factory leaders, large and small, all wore worried expressions, uncertain and anxious.

The recent theft of all the workers’ wages from the Red Star Steel Mill had somehow leaked out, and with word spreading rapidly, the entire factory was steeped in unease.

Yang, the factory director, already agitated, slammed his hand on the table and jumped up the moment he saw Chen Liang and his armed group storm in.

“Officer Chen, instead of catching the thief, you bring people to barge into a meeting! Don’t you see we’re in the middle of one? What exactly are you trying to do?”

“Do you even care about factory rules and discipline anymore?” Yang’s tone was sharp.

As the head of a massive factory with tens of thousands of workers, Yang wielded considerable authority, and his furious demeanor was enough to intimidate many. But unfortunately for him, this time he had picked the wrong person to confront.

Chen Liang had no intention of indulging him. Already filled with anger, he grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it on the floor with a loud crash.

“Director Yang, are you sure you want to lecture me on factory rules?”

After all, Chen Liang had endured enough humiliation. If it weren’t for his background in the Flour Group and his extensive control over everything, he wouldn’t need to resort to smashing teacups to command attention.

Since he had decided to confront Yang, Chen Liang went all in. “Director Yang, tell me—what factory regulation allows money to be withdrawn from the bank three days in advance?”

“Well... I...” Yang was caught off guard by Chen Liang’s boldness, unable to answer immediately.

He certainly couldn’t admit to Chen Liang that the advance withdrawals were to cover up the factory leadership’s off-the-books debts.

As the ancient saying goes, “Ten years as a clean magistrate, ten thousand taels of silver,” and “Officials from afar only seek wealth,” all imply that those in power rarely keep their hands clean.

Otherwise, Yang wouldn’t have been so easily ousted by Vice Director Li at the start of this chaotic era.

“I’m not talking to you anymore, Officer Chen. Where’s your section chief? I’m going to find him right now.”

Having been publicly challenged by Chen Liang, Yang was now desperate to complain to his uncle like a three-year-old child.

Chen Liang’s sudden outburst sparked a fear in Yang’s heart. It felt as if the Security Section was slipping out of his control.

Yang’s position as the stable head of this huge steel mill rested firmly on his command over the production and security departments.

Knowing the art of governance well, Yang understood that as long as he controlled the armed forces and production, his status was unshakable. But now... well, things were different.

Honestly, Chen Liang despised the previous section chief’s conduct. The Security Section was originally an armed unit with public security status, independent from the factory administration. Yet, the former chief had turned it into a mere lapdog under Yang’s command—a ridiculous state of affairs.

Chen Liang’s plan was to restore the Security Section’s independence, placing it above the factory’s internal politics. No matter how fierce the future power struggles might be, the Security Section would become a coveted ally.

His idea was simple: no matter who held power, the factory would always need the Security Section. Maintaining neutrality and impartiality was the key to survival amid chaos.

As for whether the factory leaders would attempt to undermine the Security Section? Come on, anyone with a brain would know that no one dares challenge such a formidable force armed with weapons.

“Director Yang, since I’m here, it means everything happening here has the section chief’s approval. You don’t need to look for him—I take full responsibility!” Chen Liang declared confidently. “Now, Director Yang, do you still want to talk about factory rules?”

“We’re in the middle of a meeting, and you...” Flustered and tangled in his thoughts, Yang tried to regain control but was cut off.

“A meeting? What, do you expect your meeting to magically recover the stolen funds? If you can do that, I, Chen Liang, will kneel down and apologize right here!”

Chen Liang glanced coldly around the room at the other officials. “And you all are the same. If your meetings solved anything, I’d kneel to you right now!”

“Well? Who here can actually do it?” Seeing the officials scared stiff, Chen Liang snorted coldly. “A bunch of useless fools!”

With a glance, Chen Liang signaled his juniors to handcuff the culprits. Soon, the finance department’s director and deputy director were dragged out, wailing and begging.

“Director Wei, save me! I really didn’t steal the money...” “Old Yang! I’m not the thief! Please speak up for me...”

This was the first time the Security Section showed its teeth openly, intimidating everyone into silence.

“Enough crying! If you’re innocent, do you think the Security Section would falsely accuse you? Shut your mouths!”

Despite everything, Yang still had some cunning. Seeing the two handcuffed officials, he spoke firmly.

Chen Liang didn’t care and waved them to follow him out. “The suspects are caught, so I won’t disturb the leaders any longer. Goodbye!”

After Chen Liang’s intervention, the factory leaders had no mood left for their meeting. Especially Yang, his mind was clouded with impending lawsuits.

Without control of the armed forces, his remaining influence was uncertain at best.

As Chen Liang escorted the two directors back to the Security Office, they drew attention everywhere. People craned their necks to watch until they disappeared before starting to whisper.

“Wow! The Security Section really means business—just grabbed the finance directors on the spot. Impressive!”

“Sigh, I wonder when they’ll recover the money. If this drags on, how will we get by? Our families rely on these wages to buy food!”

“Exactly. Those thieves deserve death ten thousand times over! Stealing our wages—what nerve they have!”