Chapter 773: Bearing the Rod to Plead Guilty

“How do those zombies outside maintain their energy through photosynthesis, yet Cheng Xu still needs food?”

Yuwen looked somewhat puzzled at the closed bedroom door, from which snorting sounds could already be heard.

Zhang Su shrugged: “Who knows, perhaps she still retains the human habit of energy conversion? It doesn’t make sense, she eats without excreting, like a Pixiu*, converting at 100% efficiency… Forget her, let’s focus on our work! I feel the previous leaders still have some commitment, they can be entrusted with important tasks.”

“Yes, I’m focusing on observing them. Except for Wu Baokang and Zhang Xin, the other camp leaders each have their own charisma and tactics, and can be assigned to different departments based on circumstances.”

“Then let’s first see what needs to be organized…”

“Brother Su, Brother Su, there’s something… um, Liu Yao is looking for you.”

Just as Zhang Su and Yuwen were preparing to build the framework, their walkie-talkies simultaneously rang out with Lü Leiyang speaking from the mountain gate.

“Liu Yao is looking for me? Why doesn’t that fool use the walkie-talkie…”

Zhang Su was puzzled; there’s an open contact frequency on the mountain, everyone down the mountain knows about it.

Yuwen’s eyes flashed, and seeing Zhang Su about to use the walkie-talkie to call Liu Yao, he pressed down on his wrist, saying: “Perhaps it’s related to that previous matter, Mr. Zhang, it’s better to discuss face to face.”

“That previous matter… Oh?”

Zhang Su’s face showed an inexplicable expression as he pressed the communication button: “Did he come alone?”

“No, it’s… uh, three people.”

There was a peculiar tone in Lü Leiyang’s voice.

Zhang Su and Yuwen exchanged a glance, understanding each other.

“Have him wait for me in the parking lot.”

Putting away the walkie-talkie, he stood up: “I barely warmed my seat, let’s go.”

As they descended the stairs and left the yard, even without super hearing, Yuwen could hear Liu Yao’s furious roar.

“Kneel! Kneel properly, dammit!”

“Hey, Director Liu, shouting like this late at night, what’s going on?”

Zhang Su walked to the parking lot, pretending to know nothing, looking at the two people kneeling with beaten faces, while Liu Yao angrily circled them.

Several people nearby were peering curiously, unaware of the situation.

Upon hearing Zhang Su refer to him by his old title, Liu Yao tightened his chest and swiftly approached: “Brother Su, these two guys, caught stealing in the warehouse this afternoon, showed no remorse and even dared to beat the warehouse staff! As soon as I found out, I took action to punish them, and now I’ve brought them for you to deal with!”

Zhang Su and Yuwen exchanged glances, surprised at Liu Yao’s quick action…

Well, with urgency, after Liu Yao knew about the matter, he was troubled. He values companionship heavily, and although they are now members of Celestial Horse Island, they used to follow him too. Remembering King Yama’s heavy-handed punishment of four thieves last time, he immediately found Du Shi and Huang Langcai.

After understanding the situation, he administered private punishment without hesitation, and then patiently educated them. As for its effectiveness, he was unsure.

“I heard about what you said from Old Yu, Old Liu, what do you call this? As combat personnel, their resources are already more abundant than the logistics staff, yet they still need to steal, and once caught, they don’t admit it and even assault others, this is simply…”

“Simply lawless! Damn you!”

Liu Yao seized the chance to cut in, jumping up to kick Du Shi.

Thud…

Du Shi rolled twice on the ground, raised his arm to block, with missing teeth, he pleaded mournfully: “Stop hitting, Master Liu, Brother Su, please tell Master Liu to spare me.”

“Are you looking for death? I’m Liu Yao, that’s Brother Su, I truly want to pummel you!”

Liu Yao’s face turned green, grabbing Du Shi by the collar and glaring fiercely at him.

Having gone to great lengths to bring them over to beg for pardon, just trying to save them from execution, yet as soon as the other opened his mouth, he sold him out—calling him ‘Master’ and Zhang Su ‘Brother,’ completely reversing the hierarchy!

Not only that, but foolishly ascribing the punishment entirely to him, without understanding who’s who; this guy is in trouble!

“Yes, yes, you’re Liu Yao, that’s Brother Su, Master Zhang, I’m wrong, I’m wrong…”

“I know I was wrong, Brother Su, I’m kleptomaniac, I shouldn’t have taken anything, I was arrogant, shouldn’t have hit anyone.”

Huang Langcai’s face wasn’t light either, yet he was still slapping his cheeks left and right.

They didn’t follow the Little Eagle Association’s actions back then, staying at the kindergarten, completely unaware of Zhang Su’s method of handling thieves, losing their souls after Liu Yao talked them through the process.

If Liu Yao hadn’t held him, Du Shi would have planned a bucket run, Huang Langcai was slightly better, but still very tense.

“Alright, quiet!”

Zhang Su coughed to stop Huang Langcai’s self-harming act, turning to softly say to Yuwen: “Call Yang Dongxin up.”

After that, he walked forward, let out a breath, looked down at Huang Langcai and Du Shi: “What’s in your heads, thinking you passed the test, you’re awesome, free to bully logistics staff? Speak, who taught you to do this?”

The parking lot was still bright, Zhang Su didn’t look out of place wearing sunglasses, giving the two a strong sense of oppression, feeling only trembling.

“I, no, I… yes, indeed I harbored such thoughts at that time, but… I, I now realize I was wrong, I truly know.”

Huang Langcai originally wanted to argue but suddenly recalled Liu Yao’s advice, hurriedly admitted, wrong is wrong, any excuse couldn’t hold, admitting mistakes promptly was the best way to resolve issues.

“It’s me, Brother Su, I didn’t intend to bully anyone, I was itchy-handed, but… but I followed Brother Huang, I didn’t actually lack anything, I saw Brother Huang take, then I took too.”

Du Shi knelt on the ground, called out grievances, acknowledging faults halfway, pushing part of the responsibility away, thinking this could reduce penalties.

“You…” Huang Langcai, cheeks swollen, looked at Du Shi in disbelief, without saying more, disappointedly turned away.

“Oh. Understood, you mean he was proactive, you were a blind follower, at most an accomplice, not the instigator?”

Zhang Su touched his chin thoughtfully.

Liu Yao’s spine chilled, toe muscles tightened, raising his hand as if to slap Du Shi but his wrist was suddenly gripped.

“Brother Su, this damned fool is lying and deflecting, let me teach him a lesson!”

Zhang Su shook his head, saying: “Old Liu, I get what you’re trying to do, but how long can you protect them? And how do you know he’s lying and deflecting? Wait until Yang Dongxin comes and we’ll decide.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Yao, Du Shi, and Huang Langcai all fell silent, though their expressions differed.

Liu Yao showed a troubled look, brows furrowed, while Du Shi maintained a sorrowful appearance, Huang Langcai pressed his lips tightly, eyes more spirited than before, as if ready to ignite.

It wasn’t long before Yang Dongxin arrived, and Yuwen had already informed beforehand, so naturally, he got passage all the way.

In the cold, dark night, Yang Dongxin rode a small electric scooter up to Celestial Horse Island, wearing a Lei Feng hat, with a frozen red nose, and a green bruise on the nose bridge—red and green, strikingly eye-catching.

Guessing on the way that Zhang Su’s call was probably about that afternoon’s incident, but upon seeing the two culprits kneeling, beaten beyond recognition, he was immediately intimidated by the scene.

Wobbly, he parked the scooter, bent over and approached Zhang Su with a grin: “Were you calling to ask about this afternoon’s incident?”

Based on previous procedures at the unit, he should first feign ignorance for the leader to articulate, but now he felt exhibiting cleverness might be better.

“Exactly, Old Yang, what happened this afternoon, come, tell us, who’s the mastermind, who’s an accomplice, or are both at fault.”

Zhang Su handed a cigarette to Yang Dongxin.

Holding the cigarette, Yang Dongxin realized he was there as a witness, his mood instantly relaxed.

Recalling the afternoon situation, he spoke: “It happened like this, when the two came to the warehouse, they were quietly discussing something, chatting and laughing all the way, though I seemed to be doing statistical reports at the time, but actually… I was covering up, watching everyone enter the warehouse, if there were slightly more people, I’d limit the flow, ensuring everyone stayed within my sight!”

Saying this, Du Shi’s eyes widened, incredulously: “No way, absolutely impossible, you didn’t say that this afternoon. You’re a liar, you’re lying!”

“Old Yang?”

Zhang Su looked at Yang Dongxin.

Yang Dongxin shrugged: “This afternoon… sigh, this afternoon to save their face I didn’t say it bluntly, who could expect merely exposing them for stealing would get me beaten, I dared not mention it afterwards.”

“Did you see it or not?” Zhang Su fixed his gaze on Yang Dongxin.

“Swear to the heavens, witnessed personally, but I couldn’t discern who the mastermind was, or who was the accomplice.”

Yang Dongxin’s expression was firm, with his palm facing the sky.