Xichuan, Baoping Power Plant.
Liu Yong and Yang Jian's subcontracted dormitory building carpentry double-package project was on track. With San Pang's assistance, Liang Liang's work became much easier.
At night, hearing dogs bark usually meant San Pang was up to check and patrol.
During the day, at noon and after work, it was the two of them guarding the construction site gate, checking if any workers were carrying fasteners out.
Perhaps from practicing sleight of hand with Brother Mao, San Pang had no other skills, but his eyes were quite sharp. He could judge if a rubber bucket contained fasteners by observing the worker's posture when carrying it, and he was always accurate.
During rush hour after work, it was impossible to overturn every worker's rubber bucket for inspection; it would not only delay time but also cause public outrage. However, many workers placed their safety helmets in their rubber buckets after work, which increased the difficulty of the inspection.
San Pang only needed to stand at a high vantage point by the gate and sweep his eyes across to see which worker's rubber bucket was heavier, and when Liang Liang searched it, he would rarely be wrong.
They also had a way to deal with caught workers. If they were carpenters, they would be made to sign, admit to the fine, ten yuan per fastener, and it would be deducted at settlement.
If they were of other trades, their bosses would be called to pick them up, and the bosses would sign. It was also ten yuan each, and Yang Jian would settle with the boss later.
The market price for a fastener was five yuan, and workers who stole it only sold it for three yuan. If caught, they were fined ten yuan. It didn't seem like a large fine, but local workers earned only eighty yuan a day. If they were caught and fined thirty or fifty, they would still feel the pinch.
"You in the leather jacket, stop."
It was another rush hour after work. San Pang noticed a worker's gait was a bit unnatural and immediately shouted to stop him. Liang Liang then stepped forward and pulled the person out of the crowd.
After checking his rubber bucket, it only contained a few nails and a hammer, no fasteners.
Liang Liang shook his head at San Pang, indicating that he had misjudged.
San Pang was still observing others and said, "Lift his shirt and let's see."
Liang Liang, upon hearing this, was about to tug at the leather jacket man's clothes, but the man dodged him. "What are you doing? You have no right to search me."
The more he resisted, the more Liang Liang suspected him. He pointed the plastic spiked club at him, "Unbutton your clothes yourself, don't force me to do it."
The leather jacket man, however, suddenly hurled the rubber bucket at him and then ran towards the main gate.
Liang Liang sidestepped the rubber bucket and immediately gave chase.
The leather jacket man's speed slowed down after a few steps, and Liang Liang kicked him from behind, knocking him to the ground.
Seeing a fight, all the workers gathered around.
San Pang, fearing Liang Liang couldn't handle it, stood by him with the spiked club.
"Why the hell are you running?"
Liang Liang said as he ripped open the man's leather jacket. Wrapped around his waist were two layers of universal fasteners, a total of twenty. No wonder he couldn't run. Each fastener weighed about two pounds, so so many fasteners would weigh thirty to forty pounds.
"You're a genius, using this method to steal fasteners. Watch me beat you to death!"
Liang Liang hit his leg with the club. The leather jacket man cried out in pain.
Yang Jian arrived at this moment, understood what was happening at a glance, and stopped Liang Liang from continuing the beating.
"What trade are you?"
Yang Jian had never seen this person before and was sure he wasn't a carpenter.
"I'm from Huangjiaping. I'll keep the fasteners, and you let me go."
The leather jacket man untied the wire around his waist, dropped the fasteners on the ground, and his attitude was still arrogant.
From Huangjiaping? Yang Jian frowned. Huangjiaping was a nearby village, about five hundred meters from the power plant. The power plant had requisitioned land from the village.
The villagers of Huangjiaping were known for their fierce temperament. When the power plant first started construction, villagers often came to cause trouble, demanding earthwork, requesting sand and gravel, wanting to participate in construction, and sometimes assaulting workers on false pretenses. Theft of building materials was commonplace. The most audacious incident was when they drove a vehicle directly into the site to steal steel.
Later, with the coordination of the power plant's leadership, the police station was directly established at the power plant, and the situation improved. At least they didn't dare to openly rob things anymore.
"Brother Jian, this guy isn't a worker on the site. Beat him up and send him to the police station."
Liang Liang was ready to act again. He wasn't afraid of Huangjiaping.
Locals thought outsiders were easy to bully, but it depended on who was being bullied. The workers who were working dared not resist, but Liang Liang was a former hooligan. With Yang Jian backing him, he dared to wield a knife.
"Stop beating him, just send him to the police station."
Yang Jian also didn't want to offend the people of Huangjiaping too much. Huangjiaping was close to the construction site, and workers liked to go to the village to watch movies and buy things during their breaks.
Since the power plant was three kilometers away from Baoping Town, Huangjiaping had become a small market town, mainly serving the workers of the power plant. If the villagers were severely offended, the workers under their command could easily face retaliation from the villagers.
"Wait a moment, Boss Yang, give me some face and let him go. I'll treat you to a meal later."
A young man in his late twenties walked over to mediate.
Yang Jian recognized this person. His name was Huang Hua, who contracted the waterproofing project and was also from Huangjiaping. He had met him a few times at project meetings and was somewhat familiar with him.
Yang Jian glanced at him. "I can give you face, but can you guarantee he won't come to steal again next time?"
Huang Hua didn't say much more. He directly took out two hundred yuan and handed it to Liang Liang. "Boss Yang, I know your rules. This is the fine. If you catch him again next time, beat him to death, and I won't stop you. This guy is a drug addict, and his body is already depleted. Beating him further might cause problems."
With that said, Yang Jian decided to be magnanimous. "Alright, Liang Liang, let him go. If he's caught stealing again, break his legs."
This statement was directed at the leather jacket man and also to the onlookers. Without a bit of authority, the theft of fasteners could not be stopped.
The leather jacket man cast a sinister glance at Yang Jian and Liang Liang, got up, and limped away. Liang Liang's blow had been quite heavy.
"Boss Yang, you're a good guy. Come to my place for dog meat tonight. I just caught a black village dog today."
Huang Hua, seeing the leather jacket man leave, invited Yang Jian.
"No, no, this was a small matter today, I can't have you spending more money."
"I'm not inviting you to dinner just for today's matter, but simply to make friends with Boss Yang. I'll wait for you at the entrance after work. Bring these two brothers along. You must do me the honor."
Huang Hua said and left.
Yang Jian was a bit helpless; he hadn't agreed yet.
A small dispute was thus resolved, and the onlookers dispersed one by one.
Yang Jian was also preparing to leave when he noticed Liang Liang looking at his phone with a grim expression.
"What's wrong, Liang Liang? Is something happening at home?"
"Brother Jian, Lu Feng is coming. He's already arrived in Baoping Town. He sent me a message asking me to pick him up."
Liang Liang handed his phone to Yang Jian, his hand trembling involuntarily.