Chapter 284

Deputy Factory Director Li used Liang Laodi as an example to educate Qin Huairu, waving the application evaluation report in his hand.

"Look, this is the application for a fourth-class welder submitted by Liang Laodi from the welding workshop; look at you, Qin Huairu, you aren't even a first-class worker—no wonder your workshop supervisor begged me to transfer you out, to cause trouble in another workshop; in the Yagangchang, is there any workshop that wants you, Qin Huairu? Except the Cleaning Section."

Knowing this was for her own good, Qin Huairu kept nodding, expressing her attitude of striving to become a first-class worker.

"I'll give you another year; if you still can't make first-class worker, I'll notify finance to pay your wages according to apprentice standards—Yagangchang doesn't keep idle people."

Qin Huairu's heart gave a jolt.

Her face showed a pallid expression.

This amounted to an ultimatum for her.

"I guarantee I'll become a regular first-class worker."

"Anyone can talk big; we need to look at the actual situation. All right, you may go now; when you have time, really think over what I said."

Qin Huairu turned her head and walked out.

At the doorway.

She had a run-in with Shazhu.

Inside the Yagangchang.

One must pay attention to one's personal image.

Even if one does not like it.

Shazhu still smiled and nodded at Qin Huairu; someone in the adjacent office was watching, so he had to leave a good, approachable impression.

The rainy season was approaching.

There weren't many days left.

As someone who has been through it.

Knowing how to avoid this damned weather.

After stepping aside to let Qin Huairu go first, Shazhu strode into Deputy Factory Director Li's office.

Thanks to Shazhu's deliberate effort to get on good terms with Deputy Factory Director Li, Li truly regarded Shazhu as one of his own; Shazhu's superb cooking skills earned Li much credit among colleagues and superiors, and everyone knew Yagangchang hid a god-level chef.

Looking at Shazhu.

He swept away the displeasure he had felt upon seeing Qin Huairu.

He rose to greet Shazhu.

"Zhuzi, find yourself a seat, pour your own water, you know where the tea leaves are."

Shazhu was not polite.

Deputy Factory Director Li, as far as Shazhu—who has lived two lives—could see, as long as you were useful to him, even if you defecated on his neck while riding him, he would not hesitate to keep using you.

Cooking skill in hand.

He really wasn't afraid of Deputy Factory Director Li.

Following Deputy Factory Director Li's instructions, he poured his own water, fetched the tea leaves, and thoughtfully poured a cup of tea for Li.

Over ten minutes passed.

Deputy Factory Director Li finally stopped what he was doing with his hands and turned his gaze to Shazhu.

"That person just now—isn't she the wife of Jia Dongxu from the Big Courtyard? How did she end up like this?"

In his tone.

With a hint of regret.

Shazhu, reminded by Deputy Factory Director Li, only then recalled Qin Huairu's appearance from just now; frankly, he hadn't paid attention to these things for a while.

He wasn't wrong.

Qin Huairu now truly has lost her looks.

At home she was targeted by Jia Zhangshi; Bangeng was a petty thief who stole chickens and dogs, and even Xiao Dang was led astray by him; within the courtyard she was harassed by neighbors in various ways, and inside the factory she was made things difficult by coworkers.

Her food was not good.

Her clothing was not good.

She suffered in every respect.

Under numerous blows to her mind and body.

It would be strange if she didn't age.

Clearly in her early thirties, she looks almost like a woman in her early forties.

"Life is hard to get by."

Having said that.

Shazhu recalled something.

He asked a question.

"Director, what does Qin Huairu want from you?"

"What else can she do? Request a job transfer, saying she can't stay in Workshop Nine anymore, wanting to go to another workshop—but every other workshop knows she'd drag them down, so they don't want her; finally she said she wanted to go to the canteen, and I told her working there would earn only nineteen yuan eight a month, so she didn't go."

Shazhu looked at Deputy Factory Director Li and recalled an incident from his previous life; because of that, Li bore a grudge and transferred him from the canteen to a workshop.

Qin Huairu came to the Yagangchang canteen late at night to ask him to help steal something; his head was addled, and even though he knew Deputy Factory Director Li was entertaining guests in the small restaurant, he shamelessly helped Qin Huairu steal several catties of white flour.

The theft incident was discovered by Deputy Factory Director Li, who at once wanted to punish Qin Huairu on the spot; Shazhu and Thus: Thus: Thus: Thus: Mahua witnessed it, and Shazhu punched Li.

Later, reminded by Thus: Thus: Thus: Thus: Mahua, he boasted that he would make Li pay a heavy price, giving Li's ten jin of pork and twenty jin of white flour to Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu took the items back to the Jia household, where Jia Zhangshi still praised Deputy Factory Director Li as a good person.

Now, thinking back.

There are many hidden details within.

Perhaps it was a scheme deliberately devised by Qin Huairu.

Even though he knew the cafeteria had a reception duty late at night, he still came by, asked himself to help steal white flour, and put the stolen white flour into a sack marked 'cornmeal noodles'.

【65】 This is a suspicious point.

This is a doubtful point.

Another suspicious point.

It is Deputy Factory Director Li.

Even if he is one of the specific persons in charge of the steel mill, even if he is lustful to the point of death, he would not, in a place where he knows there are other people in the small restaurant and these people are of similar status to him, right next to a wall, summarily execute Qin Huairu.

【71】 It defies reason.

It doesn't make sense.

The logic is chaotic.

Moreover, Shazhu and Thus: Thus: Thus: Mahua were still busy preparing meals behind the curtain.

【76】 Even when starving, one does not pick and choose.

Even when starving, one won't be picky about food.

Nor would he choose a place where he could be ruined in an instant, possibly even lose his life and descend to the Yellow Springs, to do something improper to Qin Huairu.

【80】 Inside the steel mill, he could cover the sky with one hand, and after the fact he still landed safely, relying on the favorable environment, becoming among the first to get rich; Deputy Factory Director Li is certainly clever, he is not a fool, if he really had designs on Qin Huairu, he would surely seize the opportunity to control her, then find a secluded spot to finish her off.

Inside the steel mill, he wielded tremendous power, and afterwards he still came out unscathed, taking advantage of the favorable conditions to become one of the first to get rich. Deputy Factory Chief Li is certainly clever—he's no fool. If he really had designs on Qin Huairu, he would surely seize the opportunity to manipulate her, then find a deserted spot to deal with her.

【83】 Xu Daming also knew he needed to find an empty warehouse with Qin Huairu.

Even Xu Daming knows they need to find an empty warehouse to meet Qin Huairu.

【91】

Interpretation: The glossary we output should contain entries for each term that appears, using the exact English forms from the glossary provided earlier (the one given in the prompt). If a term appears that is not in that glossary, we cannot output it because we don't have an exact English form to reuse. But the instruction says "Output ONLY names that ACTUALLY APPEAR in these lines — never invent or copy an example word. Reuse the EXACT English already in the glossary above. If none: 【】"

The glossary we output should contain entries for each term that appears, using the exact English forms from the glossary provided earlier (the one given in the prompt). If a term appears that is not in that glossary, we cannot output it because we don't have an exact English form to reuse. But the instruction says "Output ONLY names that ACTUALLY APPEAR in these lines — never invent or copy an example word. Reuse the EXACT English already in the glossary above. If none: 【】"

Forget it, you're nowhere near as good as Liu Lan.

【95】

Deputy Factory Chief Li

【99】 "Forget it, compared to Liu Lan, the difference is huge."

Factory Director, you're still so kind; if it were me, I'd just reassign her to the cafeteria and give her a harsh lesson on payday.

【103】

small restaurant

【107】 "I heard it's some kind of palace secret recipe."

Sixteenth Workshop

【111】 Deputy Factory Director Li had him come to the office and specifically mentioned the number ten.

Sixteenth Workshop

【115】

cafeteria

【119】

Yellow Springs

【123】

I heard that the master craftsmen of the Sixteenth Workshop have left their mark on some important items.

【127】

She's said to be the steel mill's belle, a charming widow.

【131】

flattery

【135】

Zhuzi

【139】

I

【143】

I

【147】

cafeteria

【151】

empty warehouse

【155】

workshop

【159】

warehouse

【163】

charming widow

【167】

Ma Hua

【171】

Shazhu

【175】

Deputy Factory Chief

【179】

Xu Daming

【183】

Zhuzi

【187】

Sixteenth Workshop

【191】

master craftsmen of the Sixteenth Workshop

【195】

small restaurant

【199】

white flour

【203】

Yellow Springs

【207】

Sixteenth Workshop

【211】

What's more, Deputy Factory Director Li is a hundred times more astute than Xu Daming.

The whole affair is full of doubts from start to finish.

Now, think about it.

From start to finish it was a trap, a trap designed by Qin Huairu.

Shazhu stood up for Qin Huairu and struck Deputy Factory Director Li, thereby confirming some rumors about Qin Huairu and Shazhu; afterward, Qin Huairu received ten jin of pork and twenty jin of white flour.

Shazhu, who had been reassigned to the workshop by Deputy Factory Director Li, began bringing breakfast to Qin Huairu, and in front of a bunch of workshop coworkers, said he would take care of Qin Huairu.

Originally thinking he was playing the hero saving the beauty, he was actually schemed by Qin Huairu, and both Shazhu and Deputy Factory Director Li became Qin Huairu's pawns.

From this perspective.

Shazhu and Deputy Factory Director Li really share the same fate.

The unfortunate elder brother met the unfortunate younger brother.

Nobody should look down on anyone else.

"Factory Director, you're still so kind-hearted; if it were me, I'd directly transfer her to the cafeteria and give her a heavy lesson on payday."

Shazhu smoothly slipped in a compliment.

Everyone under heaven.

Nobody dislikes a tall hat.

Deputy Factory Director Li is no exception.

Flattery should be given often.

Say nice things often.

Anyway, it's just a matter of opening one's mouth and spending a bit of saliva.

And it doesn't require spending real money.

"Shazhu, I've heard Qin Huairu is called the Yagangchang's One Branch Flower, Qiao Gua Fu; just a glance almost scared me to death—looks like you can't just go by reputation, you have to look at the facts."

"Factory Director, don't tell me you have ideas about her."

Women.

It's always the topic men use to bring both sides closer.

They talked a few sentences about Qin Huairu.

Shazhu's and Deputy Factory Director Li's relationship grew much closer.

"Forget it, compared to Liu Lan, it's worlds apart."

"I'll find time tonight to make you a soup to nourish you properly; Liu Lan has complained, saying you're getting thinner day by day."

"Get lost."

Deputy Factory Director Li glared at Shazhu.

He laughed and scolded.

"Do you still have any sense of hierarchy?"

"I'm just looking out for you."

"I don't need your concern; my health is excellent."

"If you're healthy, you should nourish yourself even more; this is a specialty dish from our family's old master, heard to be some imperial secret recipe."

"Even if it's an imperial secret recipe, you have to get it to Workshop Sixteen for me."

Shazhu's mind stirred.

Sixteenth Workshop

Deputy Factory Director Li had him come to the office and specifically mentioned the number ten.

Workshop Sixteen is a famous tough-assault workshop of Yagangchang, considered a flagship of Yagangchang; it's said that on some important items, you can see the craftsmanship of the master workers of Workshop Sixteen.