Chapter 485

Seeing Qin Huairu say something so pitiful.

Translation: Seeing Qin Huairu say something so pitiful.

Seeing Qin Huairu say something so pitiful.

He also explained that his son's leg had been broken by someone.

Translation: She also gave the reason that her son's leg was broken by someone.

Better: She also gave the reason that someone had broken her son's leg.

The head of the Cleaning Section hesitated slightly, then made a suggestion to Qin Huairu.

Translation: The head of the Cleaning Section hesitated slightly, then made a suggestion to Qin Huairu.

"Qin Huairu, I truly cannot grant your leave; you're unlike anyone else, unless you obtain an approval slip from Deputy Factory Director Li."

Translation: "Qin Huairu, I really can't approve this leave for you; you're different from others, unless you can get a approval slip from Deputy Factory Director Li."

But we need to use glossary: Deputy Factory Director Li. So: "Qin Huairu, I really can't approve this leave for you; you're different from others, unless you can get an approval slip from Deputy Factory Director Li."

This Deputy Factory Director Li is not the same as that other Deputy Factory Director Li.

Translation: This Deputy Factory Director Li is not that Deputy Factory Director Li.

The Deputy Factory Director Li who was hanging out with Liu Lan was named Li Huaide; sensing something was off, he let himself go and landed safely.

Translation: The Deputy Factory Director Li who was hanging out with Liu Lan was named Li Huaide; sensing something was off, he let himself go and landed safely.

He let himself go and landed safely.

A few days ago.

Translation: A few days ago.

The steel mill appointed a new deputy factory director, Li Dahai, who oversees the workers' ideology and personnel work.

Translation: Yagangchang parachuted in a new deputy factory director, surnamed Li, named Dahai, responsible for the workers' ideology and personnel work.

We need to use Yagangchang. So: "Yagangchang parachuted in a new deputy factory director, surnamed Li, named Dahai, responsible for the workers' ideology and personnel work."

All those who made mistakes during the tenure of Qin Huairu and Li Huaide are the responsibility of Li Dahai.

Translation: Those who made mistakes during Qin Huairu and Li Huaide's tenure are all the responsibility of Li Dahai.

All those who made mistakes during Qin Huairu and Li Huaide's tenure are the responsibility of Li Dahai.

Because they both share the Li surname.

Translation: Because they both share the Li surname.

And they are both deputy factory directors.

Translation: And they are both deputy factory directors.

The steel mill workers distinguished between Senior Li Deputy Factory Director and Junior Li Deputy Factory Director.

Translation: The people of Yagangchang distinguish them by calling them Senior Li Deputy Factory Director and Junior Li Deputy Factory Director.

The steel mill workers distinguished between Senior Li Deputy Factory Director and Junior Li Deputy Factory Director.

Thus translation: "The people of Yagangchang distinguish them by calling them Senior Li Deputy Factory Director and Junior Li Deputy Factory Director."

"Qin Huairu, you wouldn't want me to approve your leave and have Deputy Factory Director Li sign for me instead, would you? Go see Deputy Factory Director Li; if you get his approval slip, I'll grant you leave for half a month—or even a full month."

Translation: "Qin Huairu, you wouldn't want me to approve your leave and get myself in trouble with Deputy Factory Director Li, would you? Go find Deputy Factory Director Li; as long as you have his approval slip, I'll grant you leave for half a month, or even a full month."

We need to keep the quote marks? The source includes Chinese quotes. We should keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully, preserve every paragraph break. It didn't say to remove quotes. We can keep the quotation marks as part of translation. So output: "Qin Huairu, you wouldn't want me to approve your leave and get myself in trouble with Deputy Factory Director Li, would you? Go find Deputy Factory Director Li; as long as you have his approval slip, I'll grant you leave for half a month, or even a full month."

But we need to keep the line as a single output line with 【13】 prefix.

There was no intention to deliberately make things difficult for Qin Huairu.

Translation: There was no intention to deliberately make things difficult for Qin Huairu.

Indeed, Qin Huairu's status makes it unsuitable for her to go out.

Translation: It's truly that Qin Huairu's identity is unsuitable for going out.

Better: "It's truly that Qin Huairu's status makes it inappropriate for her to go out."

And once she leaves, she's gone for more than half a month.

Translation: Moreover, once she leaves, it's for more than half a month.

He was a bit overwhelmed, so he passed the responsibility to the newly arrived Deputy Factory Director Li Dahai.

Translation: He couldn't quite handle it, so he kicked the ball over to the newly arrived Deputy Factory Director Li Dahai.

We need to use Li Dahai. So: "He couldn't quite handle it, so he kicked the ball over to the newly arrived Deputy Factory Director Li Dahai."

Qin Huairu gave it no further thought, left the Cleaning Section chief's office, and headed toward the office building where Deputy Factory Director Li Dahai worked.

Translation: Qin Huairu didn't think much of it, left the office of the Cleaning Section head, and strode toward the office building where Deputy Factory Director Li Dahai worked.

In order to bring Bargang back to the city.

Translation: In order to bring Bangeng back to the city.

They all made up the false story that Bargang's leg had been broken.

Translation: They all fabricated the lie that Bangeng's leg was broken.

Although she knew her position wasn't strong, she steeled herself to visit Deputy Factory Director Li, knocked on the door, and heard a voice from within say, "Please come in."

Translation: Knowing her status wasn't great, she still steeled herself to go find Deputy Factory Director Li, knocked on the door, and heard a voice from inside say, "Please come in."

Only then did Qin Huairu enter.

Translation: Only then did Qin Huairu step inside.

She saw a man in his thirties sitting at the deputy factory manager's seat, holding a steel pen, busy with writing and calculations.

Translation: She saw a man in his thirties sitting at the deputy factory director's desk, holding a steel pen, busy with writing and calculations.

She saw a man in his thirties sitting at the deputy factory manager's seat, holding a steel pen, busy with writing and calculations.

"Deputy Factory Director Li, I'm Qin Huairu of the Cleaning Section; my son Bargang broke his leg in the Northeast, and I want to visit him. I asked our section chief for leave, but he said he lacks the authority, so he directed me to you."

Translation: "Deputy Factory Director Li, I'm Qin Huairu from the Cleaning Section. My son Bangeng broke his leg in Dongbei; I want to go see him. I asked our section chief for leave, but he said he doesn't have the authority, so he told me to come to you."

We need to use Deputy Factory Director Li (glossary). Also Cleaning Section (glossary). Also Dongbei (glossary). Also Bangeng (glossary). So: "Deputy Factory Director Li, I'm Qin Huairu from the Cleaning Section. My son Bangeng broke his leg in Dongbei; I want to go see him. I asked our section chief for leave, but he said he doesn't have the authority, so he told me to come to you."

Qin Huairu replied with constant agreement, feigning pitifulness as much as possible, and she felt no embarrassment in acting delicate before a man more than ten years younger than her.

Translation: Qin Huairu nodded and agreed, pretending to be as pitiful as possible, and she didn't feel the least bit ashamed to act delicate in front of a man over ten years younger than her.

He kept saying yes, yes.

Tears also welled up.

Translation: Tears also welled up.

She stood there, deliberately acting flustered.

Translation: Standing in place, she deliberately appeared flustered.

"Please, consider my plight as a lonely widow and mother; grant me this leave. Since I learned of my son's accident, I've been unable to sleep night after night, and I promise to return on time."

Translation: "Please, consider my situation as an orphaned widow and grant me this leave. Since learning of my son's accident, I've been sleepless night after night; I promise to return on time."

Don't let the section chief's young age fool you.

Translation: Don't look down on the section chief just because he's young.

Yet he is extremely sharp.

Translation: Yet he is exceptionally clever.

His hair, swept back from the sides to the center, silently revealed that Deputy Factory Director Li is an overthinker.

Translation: With his hair styled in a four-way support middle part, silently conveying a reality, Deputy Factory Director Li is a guy who overuses his brain.

We need to use Deputy Factory Director Li. So: "With his hair styled in a four-way support middle part, silently conveying a reality, Deputy Factory Director Li is a guy who overuses his brain."

Qin Huairu may not know Li Dahai.

Translation: Qin Huairu might not know Li Dahai.

Li Dahai, however, knows Qin Huairu.

Translation: Li Dahai, however, knows Qin Huairu.

When he was an apprentice in the workshop, it was exactly the period when Qin Huairu's fame had spread and many called her the steel mill's charming widow.

Translation: Back when he was an apprentice worker in the workshop, it just happened to be the time when Qin Huairu's fame had spread and countless people honored her as the Yagangchang's beautiful widow.

We need to use Yagangchang. So: "Back when he was an apprentice worker in the workshop, it just happened to be the time when Qin Huairu's fame had spread and countless people honored her as the Yagangchang's beautiful widow."

As his feelings first blossomed, he felt countless ripples for Qin Huairu, thinking that when he grew up he would marry a woman like her.

Translation: With his heart just awakening, he felt countless ripples for Qin Huairu, thinking that when he grew up he would marry a woman like her.

When Qin Huairu's silhouette entered his sight, his former fantasies about the opposite sex instantly filled his mind, leaving him dazed, and he felt his body inexplicably heat up.

Translation: When Qin Huairu's figure entered his field of vision, the former fantasies about the opposite sex instantly occupied his mind; he lost himself entirely and felt his body inexplicably heat up.

Li Dahai's thoughts are unfathomable; Qin Huairu is over ten years his senior, and having long worked cleaning toilets, she carries a faint fishy smell, and life and work pressures have given her face a hint of a yellow‑complexioned woman's air, completely losing the former charm of the steel mill's charming widow; folks like Guo Da Piezi now keep their distance from Qin Huairu, yet Li Dahai still can't let go of her, still hopes to fulfill his early wish, truly making him a lovesick fool.

Translation: Li Dahai's mind works in ways unknown; Qin Huairu is over ten years older than him, and having long worked cleaning toilets, she carries a faint foul odor, and the pressures of life and work have added a hint of the yellow-faced woman's aspect to her cheeks, completely losing the former plump charm of the Yagangchang's beautiful widow; people like Guo Da Piezi now keep their distance from Qin Huairu, yet Li Dahai still can't let go of her, still wishing to fulfill his early aspiration, truly making him a lovesick fool.

We need to use Guo Da Piezi (glossary). Also Yagangchang. So: "Li Dahai's mind works in ways unknown; Qin Huairu is over ten years older than him, and having long worked cleaning toilets, she carries a faint foul odor, and the pressures of life and work have added a hint of the yellow-faced woman's aspect to her cheeks, completely losing the former plump charm of the Yagangchang's beautiful widow; people like Guo Da Piezi now keep their distance from Qin Huairu, yet Li Dahai still can't let go of her, still wishing to fulfill his early aspiration, truly making him a lovesick fool."

He is also a bold fellow.

Translation: He is also a bold fellow.

He is a match for the previous Deputy Factory Director Li.

Translation: He is a match for the former Deputy Factory Director Li.

We need to use Deputy Factory Director Li. So: "He is a match for the former Deputy Factory Director Li."

For lust.

Translation: For lust.

He can do anything.

Translation: He can do anything.

Just as Qin Huairu finished explaining her reason, Deputy Factory Director Li Dahai gazed at her foolishly, his eyes showing a hint of strong possessive desire.

Translation: Just as Qin Huairu finished stating her reason, this fellow Deputy Factory Director Li Dahai stared at her foolishly, his eyes carrying a hint of strong possessive desire.

Just as Qin Huairu finished stating her reason, Deputy Factory Director Li Dahai stared at her foolishly, his eyes carrying a hint of strong possessive desire.

Feeling Deputy Factory Director Li's fiery gaze.

Translation: Feeling the scorching gaze of Deputy Factory Director Li.

Qin Huairu's mind was foggy; as a hereditary widow, she was well‑worldly and fully understood what that gaze meant.

Translation: Qin Huairu's mind was dazed; as a hereditary widow, she was quite worldly and understood all too well the concrete meaning behind that gaze.

Her mind went completely blank.

Translation: Her mind went completely blank.

She became a senseless wooden puppet, her only thought being that the Deputy Factory Director Li, more than ten years her junior, actually had feelings for her.

Translation: Her whole being turned into a senseless wooden puppet, with only one thought in her heart: that Deputy Factory Director Li, over ten years younger than her, actually had feelings for her.

How could this be?

Translation: How could this be?

One factor is her age, another is her status, and moreover Qin Huairu's feeling of inferiority—since the incident she was sent to the Cleaning Section, over the years she has endured too many scornful glances.

Translation: On one hand it's her age, on the other her status, and furthermore Qin Huairu's sense of inferiority—since the incident she was assigned to the Cleaning Section, over these years she has endured too many scornful looks.

She felt numb.

Translation: She felt numb.

Amid this numb, tingling sensation, there was also a hint of pleasant surprise.

Translation: Within that numb, tingling feeling was mixed a little surprise.

Times have changed.

Translation: Times have changed, circumstances have shifted.

Over the years she's grown used to consorting with filth and to people's cold, mocking looks, yet she never imagined anyone would still miss and like Qin Huairu.

Translation: After all these years, she's grown accustomed to consorting with filth, accustomed to people's cold, mocking glances, yet she never expected that someone would still miss and like Qin Huairu.

Someone who has been through it.

Translation: Someone who has been through it.

She all too clearly understood exactly what Deputy Factory Director Li's gaze meant.

Translation: She all too clearly understood exactly what that look in Deputy Factory Director Li's eyes signified.

"Deputy Factory Director Li, I, you."

Translation: "Deputy Factory Director Li, me, you."

"Qin Huairu, your situation is not easy to sort out; I'm swamped with work. Come to my place tonight, and we'll go over this leave request in detail."

Translation: "Qin Huairu, your matter isn't easy to handle; I'm very busy now with many things. Come to my house tonight, and we'll discuss this leave request in detail."

Let Qin Huairu go to their house in the evening to talk things over.

Translation: He had Qin Huairu go to his house in the evening to talk about the matter.

What matters?

Translation: What matter.

Qin Huairu knows.

Translation: Qin Huairu knew.

Besides those things, there is no other explanation.

Last night, Jia Zhangshi extorted five hundred yuan from Liu Guangtian; the Jia family's house was saved. After thinking more deeply, could I use Deputy Factory Director Li's connections to get out of this damned Cleaning Section and do what I want? If Bangeng returns, could I use Deputy Factory Director Li's connections to settle his employment problem.

Qin Huairu had her moment of glory.

Excited.

Deputy Factory Director Li, will this work?

Qin Huairu's idea—wasn't this a bit wrong? She wanted to advance by retreating, but she didn't expect Deputy Factory Director Li to break the pattern, directly throwing out a harsh remark.

Don't say more—go if you have time, don't go if you don't.

This guy is also an expert.

He understands human nature.

Some things can't be forced; they require mutual willingness. Although Qin Huairu is his naive love's fantasy mentor, she wouldn't force anyone.

He just felt a surge of determination.

Really, there's no other intention.

Forty-something Qin Huairu is undoubtedly a woman past her prime—adding her makes no difference, losing her makes no difference.

He didn't give Qin Huairu a chance to retort or explain, threw out a line about going to a meeting, and walked straight out of the office. Behind him, Qin Huairu stared at Deputy Factory Director Li's back, her face full of conflict and confusion.

The script's all wrong.

How could this be?

……

Bai Xu Restaurant.

Shazhu originally thought he was the first to arrive.

Little did he know.

Someone was even earlier than him.

As Shazhu arrived on his bicycle at the restaurant entrance, before he could even get off, he saw a pitiful figure curled up at the doorway.