Matchmakers set up dates, people pull strings for connections. Everyone hopes their sons can land a well-paying job and their daughters marry into a good family. Now, Lin Chuan and Zhou Kai had become successful people in the eyes of those at Changlin Factory.

In the factory, the crowd gathered.

"Damn, I'm so annoyed lately," Zhou Kai, gripping an iron rod, slammed it down on the lathe, cursing, "Every day people come knocking, either to pull strings to get someone into our transport company, or bringing girls over for blind dates. I'm so fed up."

"Ain't that the truth?" Lu Dapao looked at Zhou Kai sympathetically, saying, "Matchmaking is one thing, but I also get people trying to get hired through backdoors every day. Relatives and acquaintances, it's really driving me crazy."

Watching the bunch complaining, Lin Chuan couldn't help but laugh, "Are these petty issues really getting to you that much?"

"Are you laughing, Chuanzi?" Zhou Kai glanced at Lin Chuan, "You must be fed up with this too lately, right?"

"I can't be bothered with these trivial matters," Lin Chuan said with a carefree smile, "Life is about enjoyment, not about making yourself miserable. If you think it's okay, hire them. If not, don't. We can take in good talents, but we don't want mediocrity at any cost. Understand?"

"Yes!" Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Chuanzi," Zhou Kai leaned in, chuckling, "We're on holiday this year and the transport market is closed. Do you think we should expand our business next year? Get more transport vehicles, so we can make more money?"

"That's easier said than done," Lin Chuan nodded, "But right now, aren't we in a financial crunch? Let's aim to work hard for another year and then expand the production line. We can't overwork our brothers, we need a steady and strategic approach. If we run into financial problems later on, it would be troublesome."

"Right, right!" Zhou Kai hurriedly agreed. Then, after thinking for a moment, he said, "Chuanzi, let's renovate the office at Feixiang Company. Such a large office looks shabby and lacks character. A good renovation will reflect our spirit."

"That's doable," Lin Chuan nodded, giving his approval.

Since the transport market was closed, these guys had nothing to do all day. As the year-end approached, they could only shoot the breeze and play poker in the factory. Or gather to drink and chat, calling it 'life planning' or 'discussing big issues'. In truth, it boiled down to talking about women and money.

The City Committee didn't have much work either, and the leaders were sipping tea in their offices, occasionally having meetings. Since the year-end summary conference was over, there weren't many important tasks left. Only the grassroots staff were really busy; the leaders had nothing to do at the end of the year.

This resulted in a leisurely atmosphere in the break room. More than a dozen people surrounded the room – some smoking, some picking at their feet, others playing cards. The break room was unusually lively.

The HR cadre walked in and cleared his throat, "Listen up, everyone."

"Whoosh..."

All activities ceased, smokers extinguished their cigarettes, foot-pickers hastily put their shoes on, and card players quickly ditched their cards. Everyone was excited. This time of year was when the year-end bonus and welfare were handed out, so they were especially looking forward to it.

"Today is the day for distributing the year-end welfare," the leader glanced at the crowd and said, "Except for Lin Chuan and Luo Guoqing, everyone else come to my office one by one."

Luo Guoqing was stunned and incredulously asked, "Why don't I get anything?"

"How much time did you waste this year just being in the hospital?" the leader looked at Luo Guoqing, "Then there's the card games at work, the laziness... Therefore, after a decision by the higher-ups, your year-end bonus and welfare are canceled."

"What?!" Luo Guoqing was dumbfounded.

Lin Chuan, with a cigarette dangling, turned to look at the Song brothers and understood without asking that it must have been these two scoundrels causing trouble. Lin Chuan smirked, "Minister Chen, isn't this interesting? Lu Guoqing isn't the only one playing cards, is he? Song Wen and Song Wu are practically late every day, skipping work often, and card playing is like their daily routine. Why are you only targeting Lu Guoqing? Either penalize everyone or let it slide. You surely understand the principle that the law does not fault the many."

"Lin Chuan, the one with the most absences is you," Minister Chen looked at Lin Chuan, "Vice Secretary Song personally instructed that your year-end bonus and welfare are gone. Additionally, starting next year, you'll be downgraded from a permanent worker to a contract worker. Your salary and benefits are halved."

Whoosh...

The room erupted in chaos, everyone was shocked. They'd only heard of temp workers becoming permanent, never the reverse. The Song brothers were overjoyed. Indeed, they were the ones who had egged on the punishment. Taking turns persuading their uncle, Song Ming surprisingly agreed.

Luo Guoqing was even more appalled. He hadn't expected the Song brothers to be so malicious.

"You two bastards," Luo Guoqing exploded with rage, "If you have an issue, come at me directly. Why resort to shady plots and schemes behind my back?"

"What are you worth?" sneered Song Wen, looking disdainfully at Luo Guoqing, "You don't even qualify to be my opponent."

Inside the break room, tensions were high, and a confrontation was imminent.

Luo Guoqing lunged forward immediately; as the saying goes, people die for wealth, as birds die for food. Everyone understood that working for a bureaucratic unit didn't pay much, especially in the driving industry where the monthly salary was around three thousand. They relied on the year-end bonus and welfare to sustain their morale. Traditionally, the bonus ranged between thirty to fifty thousand. On average, this meant an additional five to six thousand per month. However, without the year-end bonus, their salaries would essentially be halved, an outcome no one wanted to see.

Upon learning his year-end bonus was canceled, Luo Guoqing was so enraged that he gritted his teeth and got into a scuffle with the Song brothers.

"Fuck, I'll beat you to death." Song Wu's foot flew out in an attack.

Luo Guoqing, a retired soldier no less, quickly dodged the other side's assault and landed a punch squarely on Song Wu's face. Song Wen yelled furiously from the side, "He's hitting someone, he's hitting someone, call security, quick..."

While shouting, this bastard also grabbed a folding chair nearby and swung it viciously towards Luo Guoqing.

Smack...

Just as the chair came crashing down, Lin Chuan, with fast reflexes, caught the folding chair that Song Wen had smashed down.

"What... what are you trying to do!" Song Wen was still somewhat scared of Lin Chuan.

"I really hate people who stab others in the back!" Lin Chuan stared coldly at Song Wen.

"I didn't hit you, what... what are you meddling for!" Song Wen glared angrily at Lin Chuan.

Bang...

Suddenly, Lin Chuan kicked out, sending him flying with a scream. Seeing his brother bullied, Song Wu couldn't keep his cool. He quickly stopped his tussle with Luo Guoqing and hurriedly helped Song Wen to his feet. The two brothers glared daggers at Lin Chuan.

"Lin Chuan, mind your own business," they both shouted angrily.

Rustle...

At this moment, more than ten security guards rushed over, following Minister Chen in a hurry. Minister Chen pointed at Lin Chuan and Luo Guoqing, saying, "It's those two, get them out of here. And don't ever let them in again."

The group of security guards were stunned, looking at Yu Qiu, unsure about laying hands on someone they recognized.

"What are you standing there for, get them out now!" Song Wen roared angrily.

"Son of a bitch," Luo Guoqing cursed through gritted teeth. "Looks like this was a planned affair."

"Mhm." Lin Chuan nodded, smirking coldly with a cigarette between his lips. "With so many of them, are you scared?"

"Shit, I was a soldier; why would I be afraid?" Luo Guoqing bellowed, "If they dare, let them come. I'll teach them a lesson."

Luo Guoqing roared. More than ten security guards with plastic clubs charged towards them.

Lin Chuan casually grabbed a folding chair and swung it. The chair was made of a steel frame and a wooden seat, very heavy and extremely sturdy.

Clang...

In an instant as the chair was swung, the screws flew off, and the seat board shattered, the steel structure scattering all over the place. The chair hit Song Wu's back with a solid whack, and he collapsed to the ground right away.

"Ah!!" With a pained scream, Song Wu struggled to stand up several times but found he had no strength to do so.

Bang...

Lin Chuan wouldn't let up, he dashed forward with a quick step, striking Song Wu's body again with the broken frame. Song Wu staggered and almost fell forward. A blow to the arm made him feel a piercing pain. He covered his arm, instantly turning pale, drained of all color.

"Are you injured?" Li Minghua hastily asked.

"Damn it, beat them up for me," Song Wen ordered, clutching his arm.

Li Minghua supported Song Wen, saying, "Song Wen, better stay out of this, just let the security handle it."

"Hmm, you have a point," Song Wen hurriedly nodded.

The security guards, brandishing their plastic clubs, swarmed in. Lin Chuan and Luo Guoqing stood side by side in battle, with Lin Chuan holding a broken folding chair and Luo Guoqing fighting with bare hands. They cut through the crowd, in and out three times. Unfortunately, Luo Guoqing was running on fumes; he might have had the stamina during his military days, but now his energy was severely depleted. After a few rounds, he was gasping for air, teeth clenched, "I can't... I have no strength left."

Bang...

Suddenly, a shadow flashed behind him. A plastic club smacked his back, followed by one blow after another. The blows from the plastic clubs fell like raindrops. Luo Guoqing instantly collapsed in pain. Once the man fell, their opponents rushed in like bloodthirsty wolves, and proceeded to mercilessly beat Luo Guoqing as he lay on the ground.

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