Era of Mist

"Hello, please proceed with the security check."

Shi Tiexin gave a crisp salute, his posture perfect and his aura professional. After the man walked through the security scanner, Shi Tiexin gestured with a flat hand for him to step onto the inspection platform. Then, wearing pristine white gloves, he took a hand-held scanner in his right hand and began to scan the man from his collar and shoulders downward. He methodically swept over areas where contraband could be hidden, his movements flawless—neither offensive nor missing a single spot.

He was tall and imposing, and he performed his duties with meticulous care. With his serious, earnest expression and ramrod-straight back, his demeanor and methods were completely beyond reproach.

The man on the inspection platform watched Shi Tiexin coldly from start to finish, right up until Shi Tiexin pulled a lighter from his pocket.

Shi Tiexin’s tone was polite and calm. "I’m sorry, sir, but lighters are prohibited items. Please store this somewhere appropriate before proceeding with the security check."

"Get out of my way!" The man waved his hand impatiently, intending to force his way through. "Can’t I even light a cigarette?"

But Shi Tiexin didn’t budge. He raised his arm to block the man, his manner restrained but unyielding. "I’m sorry, sir. You cannot bring prohibited items into the plant. You can leave the lighter with me and retrieve it when you depart. Additionally, there are designated smoking areas on the premises equipped with electronic lighters, so you have no need to bring your own."

The man’s face darkened. "Kid, you dare stop me? Do you have any idea who I am? Believe it or not, I can have you fired on the spot!"

"You may have the authority to have me dismissed, but I must make it clear: it is not my personal decision to stop you. The safety regulations prohibit you from entering." Shi Tiexin didn’t yield an inch, his resolve as firm as a rock. "It’s my duty, and I will not back down."

The man said nothing more. He stared at Shi Tiexin for a long moment, then turned and left with a heavy snort.

Once the man had left the workshop entrance, Shi Tiexin returned to his post. His expression was unchanged, showing no sign that anything unusual had happened. He looked just like a security guard who had done what he was supposed to do. His serious, earnest face seemed to say, ’I’m a security guard, and I’m proud of it!’

The focus of a camera lens across from the guard post seemed to adjust slightly, then went still.

But did Shi Tiexin really not know who that guy was? Well, as a matter of fact, he did. The man who had just undergone the security check was Zhong Qinghuan, the Section Chief of the Meat Processing Plant’s security department.

When the man said he had the power to get Shi Tiexin fired, he wasn’t bluffing. All the guards sent over from Xiongan Security were under his command. From Old Wei at the top to Shi Tiexin at the bottom, he could fire any of them with a single word.

When Old Wei had mentioned "getting caught by the plant," he was actually referring to this very section chief. In fact, if a new guard with connections showed up, Old Wei would have warned them repeatedly and emphatically not to give Section Chief Zhong any reason to find fault. This Section Chief Zhong had already sent plenty of guards packing.

But when it came to Shi Tiexin, Old Wei had only mentioned Section Chief Zhong’s identity during a meal, as a seemingly kind tip-off. He had simply said, "You’d better be on your best behavior around him. That Section Chief Zhong is not someone to mess with," and then vaguely hinted at the immense authority the section chief wielded over the guards.

But Old Wei had deliberately failed to mention the most important detail.

Namely, that this Section Chief Zhong loved to entrap new recruits right after they started.

He loved to deliberately carry prohibited items to see if the new guards could find them. If they couldn’t, they were fired. If they found the item, he would try to force his way through to see how the new guard would react. If they didn’t stop him, they were fired. If they stopped him, but did so aggressively or started an argument, they were fired all the same.

It was a minefield of traps and pitfalls, and Old Wei was just waiting to watch the show. If Shi Tiexin had actually been "on his best behavior" and let him pass, he would have walked right into it.

Unfortunately for them, however, Shi Tiexin had already heard stories about this Zhong Qinghuan. More than two years ago, back when he was a manual laborer in the powder-mixing workshop, Zhong Qinghuan had only been a deputy section chief. But during idle chats with his fellow workers, Shi Tiexin had heard tales of how Zhong Qinghuan loved to mess with the new security guards.

Back then, he had lamented how difficult life was for those at the bottom, surrounded by assholes who were always looking for trouble and an excuse to put you down. Two years later, that bit of gossip had become his guide for handling the present situation.

’Life really is full of coincidences.’

After seeing off Zhong Qinghuan, Shi Tiexin let out a small sigh of relief. He had passed this test, at least for now. Both Old Wei and Zhong Qinghuan were the type to nitpick and stir up trouble. He couldn’t relax for a single second here; he had to maintain a perfect, flawless performance to successfully earn his daily wage of seven points.

「Shi Tiexin had now been on the job for three days.」

During those three days, Shi Tiexin was meticulous. He not only completed his own assigned duties but also voluntarily covered the shift for a while for the young man working with him, Xiaoli. Of course, he wasn’t doing it out of the kindness of his heart. If he hadn’t covered Xiaoli’s shift for an extra two hours, he never would have learned the standard security check procedures.

Working here, under the eye of that camera, was all about performing prescribed actions and reciting prescribed lines. For someone at the very bottom, someone expendable, there was zero room for error. The slightest mistake could lead to a pay deduction, or even dismissal.

Over the three days, Shi Tiexin discovered that this security job was far from easy. There was nowhere to sit; he had to stand from the start of his shift until the end. Furthermore, there were specific requirements for his posture. Standing in that required pose for eight hours was exceptionally draining.

The flow of people in and out of the workshop was heavy. Whenever it was time for a shift change, the workers would bottleneck at the entrance, forming a massive crowd.

These workers faced the same harsh, demanding work environment and immense pressure in their own lives, so they were quick to curse and yell at the slightest provocation. Many of them didn’t want to go through the security check at all and would turn hostile at the mere sight of a guard, looking for any and all faults. More than a few had yelled and snapped at Shi Tiexin.

Faced with all this, Shi Tiexin stuck to his prescribed actions and scripted lines. ’The day I’m no longer working here, I’ll forget every last one of these bullshit regulations in a heartbeat. But not now. For now, I have to obey. I have to endure.’

Fortunately, Shi Tiexin had successfully endured the first three grueling days. The incident with Zhong Qinghuan was just a small hurdle that he had now cleared. All that was left was to continue his daily performance without ever letting his guard down.

However, not everything was going smoothly. Right now, in fact, the biggest annoyance of all lay right in front of him.

"Shift change." Xiaoli, arriving at his post ten minutes late as usual, gave Shi Tiexin a cheeky grin. "Go on, go get something to eat!"

Shi Tiexin nodded. He meticulously filled out the shift-change log according to protocol, hung the logbook on the side of the guard station, and then walked out of the Plant No. 2 workshop.

The moment he stepped outside, the air felt instantly fresher, prompting Shi Tiexin to take a deep breath. A simulated sun was rising. After a long night shift, his stomach was growling. Shi Tiexin located the cafeteria and started walking toward it.