Chapter 469: Shazhu Wants to Borrow the Tiger

Looks like we need to hit them from both sides.

We must rely on the Steel Mill Security Section's influence and also call in the police station's big Buddha to keep those low‑life scoundrels in check.

The matter must be absolutely foolproof.

Shazhu also had those people in mind.

Bai Xu's restaurant is a pilot project of the steel mill, and a focus of the top leaders' attention; if anyone were to sabotage it, it would surely be a sky‑falling, earth‑splitting major incident.

He also didn't want to see some people ruin their whole lives over trivial petty matters.

The kind of thing that destroys families and lives.

He's seen too much of it.

After giving his instructions to Liu Lan and Thus: Thus: Mahua,

Shazhu rode his bicycle.

In a puff of smoke he arrived at Liu Jianguo's workplace.

Because Liu Jianguo and his wife have been working here all along.

Shazhu would bring them meals whenever he had the chance, always a little extra—enough for five or six people—so Liu Jianguo's wife's coworkers also got to share in the bounty.

Whoever feeds you holds your tongue.

Whoever takes from you loses their grip.

Thanks to Shazhu's superb cooking skills.

He became a local celebrity.

Many people know Shazhu.

When they saw Shazhu arriving by bike, acquaintances and strangers alike greeted him, and he nodded back in response to their enthusiasm.

In the hall he ran into the busy Liu Jianguo and his wife.

Their six eyes met.

They both felt it was rather sudden.

At this time of day, Shazhu is usually busy feeding the steel mill workers; his appearance here suggests something might have happened.

The couple instinctively felt their hearts jump to their throats.

Their faces were full of worry.

"Jianguo, Yushui, why the long faces?"

"Brother, shouldn't you be at work in the steel mill?"

"Come over and take a look at you guys." Shazhu pointed at a few obvious loafers and asked, "What's wrong with them?"

"A bunch of them were fighting, even throwing bricks."

Shazhu looked at those young faces, still innocent yet already steeped in a jianghu aura.

He let out a quiet sigh.

Those who have returned.

They've been stewing in resentment down below.

And yet they've come back.

Having no proper job, they spend all day wandering the streets, doing things to vent their inner fire or energy.

In this life,

one must eat.

For the sake of food,

one must think of every possible way.

This is also why Shazhu showed up before Liu Jianguo and his wife—he didn't want his restaurant to end up ruined by those troublemakers.

When that happens, it'll be bad for him.

And bad for them too.

"Let's talk in my office."

Seeing that Shazhu had something on his mind, Liu Jianguo invited him into his office.

Ten years.

Things remain, but people have changed.

Liu Jianguo had made considerable achievements, becoming the top person here; Yushui, being a female comrade, was in charge of file management.

That also gave Shazhu his confidence.

They entered the office.

Yushui poured Shazhu a cup of tea.

She didn't go out.

As Shazhu's younger sister, she had both the right and the reason to know about his affairs.

She wanted to hear what was going on.

"I've landed a big job, caught the eye of the steel mill's factory director Yang, and I'm getting ready to go out on my own."

Yushui furrowed her brows.

Shazhu's meaning.

Even a fool would understand what's going on.

According to Yushui's thinking, Shazhu would be better off staying at the steel mill, keeping his secure iron rice bowl, rather than grasping at this precarious mud bowl.

Inside the steel mill, Shazhu is the canteen chief, receiving his monthly wages on schedule.

Going out to work alone.

Done.

There's money to be made.

Can't do it well.

What are Yu Li and they eating?

Just drink the northwest wind.

This is one reason.

On the other hand, He Yushui worries that if Shazhu opens a restaurant, people will give him trouble.

Those people dare not provoke a big factory like the Steel Mill; they specialize in bullying small independent producers—either smearing walls with graffiti or staging a spectacle of feces and urine flying everywhere. By the time Yushui arrives with his men, those people have already vanished without a trace.

Within the jurisdiction.

Many residents.

Many things happen.

Can't guard them all day.

So many things are basically a constant headache.

Put yourself in others' shoes.

From He Yushui's professional perspective, Shazhu would be better off staying at the Steel Mill as the cafeteria chief; he might even become a deputy factory manager in charge of logistics.

As a sister.

Also considering Shazhu.

Naturally, there's no need to hide it.

"Brother, listen to my advice: just stay at the Steel Mill and be the cafeteria chief. Why bother going out to work alone? Going solo isn't as simple as you imagine—Old Duck Liu knows that."

A shop specializing in selling ducks.

Opened last month.

Flying the banner of ancestral secret-recipe ducks, heard business is booming.

"Some people envy his good business, cause trouble every day—at night they either pour urine at the shop entrance or throw feces there, or stuff things into the chimney. We've dealt with the troublemakers, but since it's minor, we usually just educate them and let them go, then they continue causing trouble."

"Yushui, Brother knows you're doing this for me, but there are some details you don't know about this—let's treat it as a joint investment: we put in part of the funds, the Steel Mill puts in part, and we split profits according to a certain ratio. You know Brother's cooking skills—you're not unaware—once this restaurant opens, it'll be a goose that lays golden eggs."

"Yushui, I understand Big Brother's intentions. After opening, I'll ask my colleagues to eat there several times. But Big Brother, let me be frank: when I go eat, you gotta give me a discount, otherwise my salary really won't be enough."

Given that the deed is done.

Yushui also couldn't say anything more.

Liu Jianguo's proposal.

Very constructive.

Actually, it's just a story of borrowing the tiger's might.

If Liu Jianguo goes a few more times, or meets Shazhu at the door and makes their relationship clear, those scheming people around won't cause trouble.

The local official is nothing compared to the person actually in charge.

On the other side.

Inside Bai Xu Restaurant.

Liu Lan and Thus: Thus: Mahua directed over a dozen Security Section staff busily cleaning here.

This also gives Shazhu plenty of face.

Deliberately wearing the Steel Mill Security Section's work uniform while busy here.

At the restaurant entrance.

Also placed is an old Type 60.

As a key enterprise in the capital, the Steel Mill's Security Section likely has plenty of heavy weapons, both light and heavy; the section chief also understands why Shazhu asked the Security Section to help clean.

The restaurant is a subsidiary of the Steel Mill.

Heard that the higher-ups attach great importance to it.

Moreover, Shazhu promised to invite all Security Section members to attend his restaurant's opening.

Naturally, we must put in twelve percent effort to do this.

Thus.

They sent out the first squad tasked with wiping weapons, specifically carrying the disassembled and cleaned Type 60 to appear at the restaurant entrance, aiming to intimidate the petty troublemakers.

As expected.

A dozen or so street ruffians who had designs on Bai Xu Restaurant, seeing the busy Security Section personnel, glanced at the door to see which old Type 60 was about half-new.

Instantly, the thought of causing trouble for Bai Xu Restaurant was extinguished.