At 8:40, The Department's people finally arrived. Ten minutes late—still within the normal range.
But then something abnormal happened.
Because he saw Yuli.
There were no foreigners attending today's meeting, so what was a translator like her doing here?
And just as Li Ye was about to enter the meeting room, someone at the door stopped Old Xie, Wu Yan, and the others behind him.
"Hello, comrade. We've set a fixed number of attendees for today's meeting. It wouldn't be appropriate for so many of you to go in."
Li Ye did not know this person, but he remembered that when they had gotten out of the car earlier, this man had spoken to Yuli. Irritation immediately rose in his heart.
Li Ye asked bluntly, "Sorry, and who might you be?"
The other man froze for a moment, then immediately showed an unhappy expression.
Old Liu, the Factory Office deputy director responsible for arranging the venue, hurriedly introduced him. "Deputy Director Li, this is Comrade Yao Zhixuan from The Department. He came with Director Qu and is working with me to maintain order on site."
Li Ye spread his hands. "I haven't disrupted the order here! You notified us to attend the meeting, yet now you won't let us in. What kind of nonsense is that?"
"Director Li, keep your voice down—"
Old Liu was getting anxious. Li Ye's voice was so loud; if the leaders inside heard him, they would surely blame them for failing to maintain order.
Comrade Yao Zhixuan's expression turned unpleasant as well. He said coldly, "Those attending this meeting are all leaders from The Department and renowned domestic scholars. To maintain order, unrelated personnel should not enter."
Li Ye raised an eyebrow and asked coldly, "Then what kind of leader is Yuli?"
Yao Zhixuan glanced