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Chapter 16: Xu Qingnan's Guilt
On the Podium
Liu Tongfu stood on the podium, glancing at the murmuring crowd below. He felt uncomfortable—this was supposed to be a moment of recognition, yet as the factory director, he had little part in it.
However, recalling Captain Yan's instructions, he had no choice but to proceed with the commendation ceremony.
Knocking on the table forcefully, he raised his voice, "Everyone, quiet down! Here's what happened..."
Liu Tongfu then narrated a complete and dramatized version of the heroic rescue, detailing how Wei Sanpao and his companions outwitted and captured three human traffickers, successfully rescuing several children before handing the criminals over to the police.
The employees seated in the audience listened intently, occasionally glancing at Wei Sanpao and his group in admiration.
"I always knew Wei San—no, Wei Zhenguo—was a promising young man!"
"Of course! He's the son of Deputy Factory Director Wei, after all."
"That's right! With a father like Deputy Factory Director Wei, how could his son be anything less?"
People of this era had simple values, and their admiration for heroes came from the heart. Even though Wei Zhenguo and his friends had not been the most ambitious in the past, their bravery in this moment was commendable.
For a brief moment, the way everyone looked at them changed.
However, Wei Sanpao and the others did not share the same enthusiasm. Their faces were dark and heavy.
Liu Tongfu had manipulated the truth. He had exaggerated the factory party committee's influence, his own leadership, and even subtly claimed part of the credit.
But the most outrageous part?
Not once did he mention Li Yi's name.
Wei Sanpao and his companions knew that without Li Yi, they would never have discovered the traffickers lurking near Red Star Kindergarten. Without Li Yi recognizing the suspect and formulating a plan, those criminals would have escaped long ago.
Yet now, as the city's public security bureau recognized their efforts, and they stood on the verge of glory, the biggest hero was deliberately erased from the story.
It was obvious—Liu Tongfu was doing this to target Li Yi.
Breaking the Silence
Liu Tongfu's voice echoed through the auditorium again.
"The Municipal Public Security Bureau has highly praised and acknowledged the courageous actions of Wei Sanpao and his team. Our factory should learn from their example!"
"Now, let's invite these brave individuals to share their thoughts and experiences with everyone. Please welcome them with applause!"
A round of thunderous applause erupted.
Wei Sanpao and the others exchanged looks before stepping onto the podium.
"Hello, everyone," Wei Sanpao began. "My name is Wei Sanpao. These are Sun Chu, Zhou Tong, Hou Wei, Zhong Yuelong, and Liu Chenghua—children of our factory employees and the ones directly involved in yesterday's rescue."
After a brief pause, he continued, "I'm sure everyone knows our reputation—we weren't exactly the most motivated bunch. But when we saw kidnappers trying to abduct children from our factory, how could we stand by and do nothing? That's why we took action!"
"However, what Director Liu just said wasn't entirely accurate. The real situation was far more intense than what he described. Hou Wei, why don't you explain the details?"
As the applause filled the room again, Hou Wei stepped forward.
"Dear leaders, comrades, and elders, our bravery yesterday was not just out of nowhere—it all stemmed from one person. That person is Li Yi from the canning workshop!"
The audience was stunned.
Li Yi?
Why was his name suddenly being brought up?
Liu Tongfu hadn't mentioned him at all. What was going on?
Xu Qingnan's Realization
Among the crowd, Xu Qingnan's eyes widened in shock.
She had been skeptical before, but now, after hearing Hou Wei's words, she was nearly certain—the young man she spoke to yesterday hadn't lied.
Li Yi really had been involved in catching the traffickers.
And yet, she had scolded him so harshly without understanding the truth. A wave of guilt washed over her.
The Truth is Revealed
"You see," Hou Wei continued, "it was actually Li Yi who first spotted the human traffickers yesterday—not us. When he went to pick up his daughter from school, he noticed a suspicious man lurking near the kindergarten. Realizing something was off, he called us to help him investigate."
"At first, we didn't believe him," Hou Wei admitted, "but Brother Yi was certain that something was wrong. So we kept an eye on the man, just in case. Sure enough, Brother Yi was right—the guy was a trafficker. He waited for the rain to start before making his move."
With an impassioned voice, Hou Wei detailed the entire operation—how Li Yi identified the threat, how he planned the ambush, and how the group ultimately caught the criminals.
He made a few embellishments, just as Liu Tongfu had, but the difference was clear—he didn't erase the real hero. Instead, he gave Li Yi the recognition he deserved, portraying him as the commander-in-chief of the entire rescue effort.
"To put it simply," Hou Wei concluded, "if it weren't for Brother Yi, we wouldn't have caught those scumbags, nor would we have earned this honor today. Most importantly, who knows how many more children could have been kidnapped?"
"So, if there's anyone who deserves the most praise today, it's not us—it's Li Yi!"
The Audience Reacts
Gasps filled the auditorium.
The entire audience was in uproar.
Xu Qingnan's Guilt
Xu Qingnan sat frozen in her seat, struggling to process everything.
Li Yi had not only been involved—he had been the key figure in the entire operation.
And yet, she had scolded him so harshly the night before.
She recalled his reaction when she lashed out at him. He didn't argue, didn't get angry—he had simply endured it. Instead of defending himself, he had only held her in silence before retreating to his bedroom.
Why hadn't he told her the truth?
But then it dawned on her—she had been so furious that, even if he had explained, she probably wouldn't have believed him.
That must have been why he kept quiet.
Remembering how he had called her "sister" last night, his voice full of grievance, Xu Qingnan felt a deep pang of guilt.
She had completely misunderstood him.
And she had wronged him terribly.
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