r18novel Chapter 1154 No Rush
Chapter 1154 No Rush
Li Jianjun had always assumed Gu Nan would secure the position, given his deep roots in the factory. He never expected it to fall into Zhu Tao's hands. A complex mix of emotions welled up inside him—surprise, disappointment, and a vague, inexplicable jealousy—why was he the one who fell, while Zhu Tao was able to rise so smoothly?
But he quickly suppressed these thoughts; getting out of there was the most important thing right now. He rubbed his hands, which were numb with cold, and said with barely concealed urgency, "Zhu Tao, I really didn't expect that you would end up in that position... You really hid your abilities very well."
Zhu Tao smiled, a smile carrying a deeper meaning: "It's quite a coincidence, really. I came here this time, firstly to see you, and secondly to stand up for you—that Gu Nan, I don't think he'll be able to cause trouble for much longer. But let's not talk about that now. Tell me, how exactly did you get into a conflict with Gu Nan? I remember your plan was quite meticulous; you even persuaded Old Wang from the purchasing department. How did you still fail in the end? In my opinion, you shouldn't have lost so completely."
Mentioning this, Li Jianjun's face instantly turned red, like a firecracker that had been lit. His fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and his knuckles turned white. "I just can't understand it! The plan was absolutely foolproof! From adulterating the raw materials during procurement to manipulating the production reports, every step was calculated. We were just waiting to see Gu Nan make a fool of himself during the end-of-month inventory. How did it all end up being exposed? Even Lao Wang turned against me, saying I threatened him!" He became more and more agitated as he spoke, and he simply told Zhu Tao everything about how he had planned the scheme, how he had secretly altered the data, and how he had tried to find fault with Gu Nan's management. He even included those details that he thought were clever—such as how he forged signatures and how he had evaded warehouse surveillance.
Zhu Tao listened carefully, his brows furrowed slightly, nodding occasionally in agreement. After Li Jianjun finished speaking, he pondered and said, "It seems that Gu Nan has connections backing him up. Otherwise, your plan, with its intricate details, wouldn't have been so easily exposed. It seems that if we want to take him down, we need to plan carefully and not be careless."
Li Jianjun's eyes lit up as if he had grasped a lifeline. He hurriedly took half a step forward, his voice trembling with tears: "Then... Zhu Tao, for the sake of our past relationship, can you find a way to get me out of here? It's unbearable to stay here for even one more day. Every meal is just thin porridge so watery you can see your reflection in it, and the cornbread is so hard it can break your teeth. I shiver from the cold at night, and the bed is just a thin layer of straw..." As he spoke, he pulled up his sleeve, revealing the frostbite on his arm. "Look at the suffering I'm going through. Even when life was tougher outside, I didn't have to suffer like this."
Zhu Tao shook his head, his fingertips tapping lightly on the smooth tabletop, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound. His tone was calm and unwavering, like still water in a deep pool, without the slightest ripple: "It's not the right time yet. Just bear with it a little longer. Once I've dealt with Gu Nan's matter and have some free time, I'll naturally find a way to get you out of here."
He looked up at Li Jianjun across from him. The man was wearing a faded prison uniform, his once slightly chubby face now gaunt with sunken cheekbones, and his eyes betrayed his weariness and anxiety. It was clear that he was having a hard time inside. Zhu Tao gave a perfectly timed reassuring smile, softening his voice: "Jianjun, of course I know you've been wronged. But you also know that Gu Nan is close to Director Tong, and the two of them often play chess together. Any little thing that happens in the bureau might reach his ears."
He leaned forward, his voice lowered so much through the viewing glass that it was almost touching the microphone: "If I forcefully pull you out now, Gu Nan will definitely become suspicious. If he takes precautions in advance, all the groundwork we laid before will be wasted. Think about it, is it more important to feel good for a moment, or to completely crush that kid under his feet and ensure he never has a chance to rise again?"
Zhu Tao knew perfectly well that Li Jianjun hated Gu Nan the most right now, and stating this clearly was more effective than any comforting words. Sure enough, Li Jianjun's tightly furrowed brows relaxed a little, although his eyes still blazed with anger, like a caged beast that had been provoked, but he was no longer as agitated as before.
"Fine." Li Jianjun gritted his teeth, his molars grinding together, his fists clenched so hard they turned white, his knuckles blue. "To finally deal with Gu Nan, I'll stay in this lousy place for a few more days. But you'd better hurry! You have no idea what I'm suffering here—every meal is a hard, chewy cornbread, swallowed with salted vegetable soup; I can't sleep at night because it's so cold, the bed is as hard as a rock; and there's this prison bully who picks on me every day, yesterday he even stole half a steamed bun I had hidden... If this drags on any longer, I'll go crazy!"
Zhu Tao chuckled inwardly at his disheveled appearance, but put on a solemn expression and said earnestly, "Jianjun, don't you know my character? From childhood to adulthood, when have I ever failed to keep my promise to you? You can rest assured, I'll make that kid Gu Nan regret it sooner or later, I'll skin him alive! When that time comes, I'll definitely take you out in style, and the two of us will find a restaurant, order braised pork and braised pork hock, and have a good drink until we're drunk."
Li Jianjun nodded, the ferocity in his eyes lessening somewhat. Impulsive as he was, he'd trusted Zhu Tao since childhood—he'd followed Zhu Tao around since they were toddlers, always the first to charge into fights, and Zhu Tao always managed to smooth things over when he got into trouble. "I trust you." He patted Zhu Tao's arm with considerable force, a hint of ruthlessness in his voice. "I'm leaving the whole Gu Nan matter to you. If he gets away, I won't let you off the hook."
Just as Zhu Tao was about to say a few more words of comfort, the wall clock struck a deep, dull thud, its sound particularly clear in the quiet visiting room—it was already nine o'clock at night. He stood up and straightened his clothes: "Jianjun, it's getting late. I should go back; the prison will be clearing out soon. Just wait patiently, I'll send you a message as soon as I have any news."
Li Jianjun said nothing more, only nodded, watching Zhu Tao being led away by the prison guard, his steps heavy. Only after that figure disappeared at the end of the corridor did he slump against the cold wall, the hatred in his eyes deepening, almost overflowing—Gu Nan, you wait! I'll settle this score with you sooner or later!
As Zhu Tao walked out of the prison gate, a chilly autumn breeze blew, sobering him up considerably from the alcohol he'd accumulated at the dinner table. Just as he was about to get into his car, he saw Zhang Li still chatting and smoking with an old prison guard by the gatehouse. The two were engrossed in their conversation, their laughter occasionally punctuating the silence. He walked over and called out, "Teacher, we should go back now."
Zhang Li stubbed out his cigarette, tossed the butt to the ground and crushed it, then greeted the old prison guard, "See you later, Brother Zhang." He replied with a smile, "Okay, I'm off now." He patted Zhu Tao's shoulder, his hand broad and kind, "How did the talk with Jianjun go? Is he willing to listen to advice?"
"It's alright, he agreed to wait a little longer." Zhu Tao opened the passenger door. "Get in, it's chilly outside."