On the third day after Li Ye took leave, Shang Bin finally returned to the capital from the Southwest—and he brought back someone who gave Li Ye a "pleasant surprise": Tao Shangping.
At the group's regular meeting after his return, Shang Bin said sternly, "Li Ye, after you left the Southwest, I investigated the matter in detail and learned that this fellow had deliberately picked a fight with you at the gate that day, which was why you never got to inspect our new prototype vehicle.
"So I brought him here this time to make a profound self-criticism in front of everyone. Whatever mistake you believe he committed, he will accept whatever punishment is due. We absolutely will not indulge him."
This man could be considered an "old acquaintance" of Li Ye's. During New Year's duty, he had targeted Li Ye with a "reverse inspection." This time, when Li Ye led a team to the Southwest to observe the new prototype vehicle, he had once again led people to block Li Ye at the gate and deny him entry.
So, from Li Ye's perspective, Tao Shangping was a natural-born thorn in the flesh who refused to be managed.
How could such a thorn in the flesh possibly submit to Li Ye's disposal?
If you slapped him across the face, would he refrain from striking back? Wouldn't he immediately throw himself onto the floor and falsely accuse Li Ye of beating him?
Sure enough, after Tao Shangping stood up, he first gave Li Ye a deep bow, then uttered a string of grating words.
"Deputy General Manager Li, I'm sorry. In the past, I, Tao Shangping, failed to recognize Mount Tai before my eyes. You are a magnanimous man; please do not let my offense affect the group's research, development, and