Chapter 165

Everything fears just the word 'coincidence'.

Jia Dongxu had just left Old Liu's office, Yi Zhonghai then pushed the door and entered; the master and apprentice were separated by less than fifteen minutes.

They also happened to register with the same doctor.

The only difference.

Jia Dongxu found an excuse to have someone ask on his behalf.

Yi Zhonghai really felt a bit unwell.

It's probably a heart ailment!

Upon learning that his food had been tainted by Jia Dongxu with spit and nasal mucus—a super nasty ingredient—Yi Zhonghai's body felt as if someone had pressed a pause button on him; he had no strength, couldn't sit, stand, or lie down, couldn't even urinate when going to the toilet. He just thought of going to see a doctor, to have the doctor check what was wrong with him, and whether he needed to take medicine.

As one of the few Level 8 Technicians at Yagangchang.

Yi Zhonghai still held a certain status in the workers' hearts.

No matter who.

Upon seeing Yi Zhonghai, they would proactively greet him, enthusiastically shouting 'Master Yi!'.

Doctor Liu was no exception; he first called out 'Master Yi,' then, in a desultory manner, steered the conversation toward Jia Dongxu, who had just left a short while ago.

"Master Yi, you and your apprentice have arranged this: he leaves first, you come after, not giving me any free time."

He spoke without thinking.

The listener took it to heart.

Yi Zhonghai, who had already suspected that Jia Dongxu doubted his relationship with Qin Huairu, instantly linked Jia Dongxu's visit to Old Liu with the blood‑recognition incident.

The hypocrite's cultivation is quite high.

His illusory kindly‑old‑man façade has deceived many; under that false appearance, numerous people have lost their sense of duty, even losing basic judgment, judging by looks and considering Yi Zhonghai a good person, thus letting down their guard toward him.

Doctor Liu fell for this trick and gave away Jia Dongxu.

Yi Zhonghai, a platinum‑rank expert, instantly countered the move.

"Doctor Liu, Dong Xu isn't having any problems, is he? I've been saying these days I'll give him a crash course to improve his skills; it's been over five years and he's still only a Level 2 worker, and people think I'm hiding his talents from him. At this critical juncture, we must absolutely avoid any trouble."

The image of a kind master worried about his apprentice's future immediately shone through, and combined with Yi Zhonghai's kindly face, it added considerable credibility to his nonsense.

"Having a master like you is a blessing Jia Dongxu earned in his past life." After flattering Yi Zhonghai with that line, Old Liu shifted tone and revealed the truth: "Jia Dongxu is fine; he just came to inquire."

"All good, as long as he's all right; I just worry he might have trouble."

Yi Zhonghai put on a look of relieved ease, as if a stone had dropped from his heart, then tentatively steered the conversation toward Jia Dongxu's marriage.

This is the core of the contradiction.

Everything's origin, including right and wrong, stems from this.

"This kid is also careless, technically lagging behind others, never thinking about improving himself, all day suspecting this and that; there are some things I, as his master, can't say, sigh!"

The final sigh.

It fully portrayed Yi Zhonghai's helplessness and being at a loss.

It was the bait in the fishing scheme.

Not to say that.

How could Old Liu in front of him not take the bait!

Under the double pressure of his acting and deception, Old Liu was like a greedy fish that bit the bait Yi Zhonghai had deliberately tossed out, mistakenly thinking Yi Zhonghai was truly worried about Jia Dongxu's family harmony.

He had no guard whatsoever against Yi Zhonghai.

He chuckled briefly.

"Master Yi, don't be upset; every family has its hard‑to‑recite sutra, even an honest official can't settle family matters. As Jia Dongxu's master, you may say a few words if you can, or say fewer if you can't, so you won't speak and have him ignore you, making you angry. You are one of the few Level 8 Technicians at Yagangchang; if you fell, it would be like a major section of the plant collapsing."

"That's the principle, but who made me his master?"

"What you say is also reasonable; as his master, a teacher for life is like a father, you must look after him. You are our factory's Level 8 Technician and also Jia Dongxu's master; everyone here knows your character is top‑notch."

Old Liu lightly touched his upper lip to his lower lip and spoke the fact Yi Zhonghai wanted to hear.

"I can't keep this from you regarding Jia Dongxu: just now he came to me, asking whether the child's blood and the father's blood could be tested to determine their relationship; I said yes, then he asked if our factory's affiliated hospital could run such a test; I told him no, the hospital lacks the conditions, after which he left, and then you arrived."

Yi Zhonghai's heart.

It rose to his throat.

Old Liu's words, from the side, confirmed Yi Zhonghai's earlier suspicion that Jia Dongxu doubted there was some immoral relationship between him and Qin Huairu.

At that moment in the workshop, Jia Dongxu himself tried to talk himself out of it.

It wasn't that Jia Dongxu was being magnanimous and letting it go.

The truth is that Jia Dongxu knows that even if he exposed this publicly, Yi Zhonghai would not admit it, Qin Huairu would not admit it nor speak up, and would instead turn the blame on him like Zhu Bajie deflecting blame, heaping all kinds of dung on his head; Jia Dongxu would not get the result he wants and would also incur various curses.

He is waiting.

He is waiting for Qin Huairu's child to be born, then to use a test to prove the child's paternity with Yi Zhonghai, thereby irrefutably establishing the relationship between Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu, nailing them forever to the pillar of moral shame, bearing infamy for life.

The scheme is nothing short of ruthless.

At that time.

Qin Huairu cannot live.

Yi Zhonghai cannot live.

The Yi family line of inheritance cannot continue.

Yi Zhonghai's long‑planned matter of the Yi family's incense also became water in a bamboo basket, turning into an empty dream.

"Huh!"

Yi Zhonghai felt a breath rise in his chest; he was very glad he had come to the hospital today and registered with Doctor Liu.

Had it been a different time, or a different doctor, Yi Zhonghai would not have known that Jia Dongxu had secretly come to the hospital to look for clues, and would have been caught off guard by Jia Dongxu.

When the plot is exhausted, the dagger appears.

The situation has reached the point of "If you don't let me live, I won't let you live either."

Jia Dongxu does not die.

The one who dies is Yi Zhonghai; the Yi family's line of descent and Qin Huairu will also be dragged along.

One life for three lives.

Yi Zhonghai first had the thought of sending Jia Dongxu away.

How to let Jia Dongxu leave?

We must plan for the long term.

We must not let outsiders notice that Yi Zhonghai has tampered with this.

Perform the play in full.

After Yi Zhonghai learned what he wanted to know, he had Doctor Liu give him a thorough check-up, and following Doctor Liu's advice, he left the affiliated hospital.

On the way from the affiliated hospital to Yagangchang.

Yi Zhonghai's brain kept running at high speed.

Think of a plan.

Think of a solution.

Thinking of how to make Jia Dongxu forever keep his mouth shut, until a notice flew into Yi Zhonghai's ears, and only then did Yi Zhonghai feel he had a plan.

Yagangchang Workers' Skills Competition!

Several days later.

Yagangchang will hold its annual Workers' Skills Competition.

That is, what people commonly call raising workers' grades.

Once a year, if you pass this year's competition, your skill level can rise by one; a Level 3 worker becomes a Level 4 worker, and accordingly your salary, benefits, etc., will increase. If you fail, your level will not drop, remaining as before. If you miss the competition due to various trivial matters but still want to raise your worker grade, sorry, you'll have to wait until next year's Workers' Skills Competition.

Yi Zhonghai decided to let Jia Dongxu sign up!

This is the only way to ensure the secret isn't discovered by outsiders.

He can't really pretend to be Ximen Qing, turn Qin Huairu into Pan Jinlian, make Jia Dongxu into Wu Dalang, secretly direct Qin Huairu, and bring Jia Dongxu a bowl of medicine soup.

"Dalang, get up and take your medicine!"

Ptui ptui ptui

"Dong Xu, take your medicine!"

Even Ximen Qing couldn't escape Wu Song's bloody hands.

Yi Zhonghai, pretending to be Ximen Qing, could only scheme in the Workers' Skills Competition.

……

Inside the workshop.

Yi Zhonghai found Jia Dongxu, who was bowing his head and pondering the workpiece.

On his face he habitually put on a relieved smile.

In front of his fellow workers.

The hypocrite tried as much as possible to disguise himself as a teacher who wholeheartedly cared for his disciple.

"Dong Xu, did you hear the broadcast just now? In a few days it will be Yagangchang's annual Workers' Skills Competition. You've been stuck at Level 2 Worker for five whole years. As the old saying goes, the clumsy bird flies first; even a truly dull person can learn something in five years. Moving from Level 2 to Level 3 Worker doesn't actually require much technical skill; you just need to bring out your usual level, and you'll steadily advance to Level 3 Worker."

Both sides harbor ulterior motives.

They scheme against each other.

Yi Zhonghai plots against Jia Dongxu, hoping to use the Skills Competition to make Jia Dongxu permanently silent once and for all.

Only the dead won't open their mouths to speak.

For the sake of continuing the family line.

Yi Zhonghai wants to turn Jia Dongxu into a corpse.

Jia Dongxu is also scheming against Yi Zhonghai, worried about revealing a flaw, being discovered by Yi Zhonghai, and striking first.

The short-lived ghost, trying his best to hide his true thoughts, also turned the Workers' Skills Competition into a battlefield where he could dispel Yi Zhonghai's suspicions.

Master and apprentice both focused their thoughts on the Skills Competition—one wanted the other's life, the other wanted the other to temporarily believe him.

"Dong Xu, you don't need to worry about the technical side; after five years as a Level 2 Worker, you've laid a solid foundation. What is your biggest problem now? Have you thought about it?"

Jia Dongxu shook his head.

Having thought about it, he'd still say he hadn't.

Anyway, it's just fooling Yi Zhonghai.

Naturally, it's just however the fooling comes about.

"Confidence!" Yi Zhonghai said: "Your biggest problem is lack of confidence; you doubt whether you can be promoted to Level 3 Worker. The first time, you were short by one point in the data and didn't get promoted; the second time, you were short by two points; last year, you were short by four points. You need to have confidence in yourself—your technique is fine, it's your mindset that's affecting you."

He patted Jia Dongxu on the shoulder.

In a tone that showed he believed in you.

"Go ahead boldly, I believe you can be promoted to Level 3 Worker!"

"Jia Dongxu, we also believe in you."

"Master Yi, you're a Level 8 Worker at Yagangchang, the Level 8 Worker shared by everyone in our workshop; you can't play favorites by giving Jia Dongxu special tutoring, and you should also analyze things for us—we also want to raise our grades."

Yi Zhonghai secretly gloated.

These people will all become witnesses to clear his suspicion.

With these people testifying.

Who could do anything to him?

Even if Jia Dongxu's mother, Jia Zhangshi, came, she wouldn't be able to do anything!

I must first attend to my disciple; after I finish teaching my disciple, when I have time I'll teach you.

Jia Dongxu, how did you end up with such a good master!

I also want such a good master.

Seemingly offhand words.

They turned into a sharp blade, cutting into Jia Dongxu, who was already mentally and physically anguished.

Good master!

It's simply sarcasm, blatant sarcasm!

He is a good master.

However, this good master needs a qualifier added: 'good' couldn't be better, 'good' began taking care of Qin Huairu, meticulously caring for Qin Huairu, so that Qin Huairu's belly developed crystals.

His scheming ultimately falls short.

His inner irritation ended up showing on his face.

Yi Zhonghai's heart leapt to his throat in fright; the hypocrite worried that Jia Dongxu, under extreme provocation from the workers, would blurt out something without restraint, and wondered whether he needed to speed up his pace.

……

Yagangchang Workers' Skills Competition.

No distinction by trade.

Everyone participates.

The kitchen helpers and cooks in the canteen can also participate; if a helper wins, he is promoted to cook, and then the cook ranks are raised one by one from nine down to one.

Nine is the lowest rank, one the highest.

Many people really enjoy watching the cooks compete.

The reason is simply to eat.

The food prepared is judged good or bad by someone; those judges are not merely the heads of Yagangchang, but basically each major workshop will have worker representatives, perhaps outstanding workers, and workers participating.

It amounts to obtaining a license to eat for free.

Then we encounter this difficult season.

Shazhu parachuted into Yagangchang and became the head of the second canteen.

In this cooking competition, it attracted everyone's attention at Yagangchang, all wanting to taste Shazhu's exquisite dishes.

At noon we ate the rice Shazhu made.

But it was still just pot rice.

In color, appearance, flavor, and so on, it cannot compare with that exquisite stir-fry.

The problem is that Yagangchang has never had a canteen head participate in the competition.

Promote one rank.

How to promote?

Surely we can't make him the canteen chief!

In the past, the canteen chief might have been an easy job; now the canteen chief is a hot potato. The canteen heads and cooks below ask him for cooking supplies; without supplies, they simply won't cook. The leaders above tell him to figure out how to get supplies; if he can't, he receives all kinds of criticism from them.

Even a clever woman cannot cook without rice.

This is the case all across the land.

Where can we get supplies?

Shazhu doesn't want to be canteen chief because he considers these petty troubles, has backed off, and lets someone capable take on the job.

Cooking.

Shazhu is capable.

Handling things.

Shazhu is inept.

He eats as much as his appetite allows; Shazhu joined Yagangchang's canteen with that mindset, and he also approaches the Workers' Skills Competition with that mindset.

Going is fine.

Not going is fine too.

Depending on whether conditions allow.

If conditions exist.

Then participate.

Without conditions, he naturally can't participate; Shazhu can't possibly cook with clods of earth!

He waved his hand to dispel the few heads of garlic before him.

Thus: Thus: Mahua, the fat guy, Liu Lan, and other nameless extras.

These people, believing hearsay as fact, insist on hearing from Shazhu's mouth a definite answer about whether he will participate.

Ah.

Shazhu sighed, then rose from the stool and said to the crowd gathered nearby: "What are you looking at me for? I'm not participating; I'm still the canteen head, right? If you participate, you might get promoted a rank, right?"

"Master He, this cooking business!"

"You think cooking is easy? Nonsense; in terms of knife skills, whether it's Shandong, Cantonese, or Sichuan cuisine, there are knife skill requirements."

Seeing everyone enthusiastic, Shazhu also had no intention of holding back.

He has lived two lives.

His cooking skill far surpasses that of older people.

"If I'm idle, I'll just tell you."

"Master He, is what you said true?"

"More real than real gold and silver."

"Shazhu began to talk about some cooking insights."