Chapter 87: Li Deputy Factory Chief, still unknown, first meets Qin Huairu

Jia Zhangshi was stunned.

Yi Zhonghai threw down his burden and quit.

This was not the situation Jia Zhangshi wanted to see.

Without Yi Zhonghai, Jia Dongxu is really nothing; moreover, he has injured his hand and can't even lift a cotton-padded jacket. If he truly breaks with Yi Zhonghai, the Jia family would just be the Jia family.

Laoqianpo is not stupid.

Her intention in causing a scene was simply to get the sewing machine back.

Upon realizing she could not retrieve the sewing machine and might lose Yi Zhonghai as her backing, she immediately apologized to Yi Zhonghai.

"He is the eldest uncle, I was wrong, I really was wrong."

"It's my fault; I shouldn't have taken Jia Dongxu as my disciple, nor should I have matched Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu in marriage. Can I now make amends?"

Yi Zhonghai's voice carried a hint of strong indignation.

After saying that.

He turned his head and returned to the Yi household.

Liu Haizhong took the opportunity to indulge in being the eldest of the Siheyuan, blabbering on about trivial matters to everyone, after which everyone went their separate ways.

The Jia mother-and-son's drama over demanding the sewing machine thus came to an end.

In the days that followed.

The whole alley was spreading the glorious deed of the Jia family attempting to steal a chicken but ending up losing the rice.

The Jia family's reputation.

Pressed into the muddy ground.

Qin Huairu, apparently bolstered by Yi Zhonghai's support, showed rare backbone toward the Jia family; after that incident, she turned and returned to her natal home.

Yesterday, taking advantage of his Sunday break, Jia Dongxu had just summoned Qin Huairu back to the Siheyuan.

"Huairu, I know you're angry; it's my fault as your mother-in-law, I apologize to you."

Jia Zhangshi forced a smile.

Not liking Qin Huairu is just not liking Qin Huairu.

But she couldn't let her son bear the reputation of being divorced.

She turned and pulled a small bundle of cloth from the cabinet.

Qin Huairu's gaze was instantly drawn to that small cloth bundle.

Looking at Jia Zhangshi's cautious demeanor, it seemed that the tiny cloth bundle contained something very valuable.

Is it a bracelet? Or a necklace? Or something else?

Qin Huairu's interest surged; she watched Jia Zhangshi find the cloth bundle, watched her hold it before her, and, in her presence, unfold it layer by layer.

At the instant the truth was revealed.

Qin Huairu felt her breathing become hurried.

In Jia Zhangshi's hands, the cloth bundle concealed a gleaming gold ring, its exterior engraved with a vivid phoenix.

"Mom."

Qin Huairu's cry of "Mom" trembled; she was overwhelmed by intense shock.

The Jia family actually has a gold ring, and it's one with an exquisitely engraved phoenix.

"Huairu, try it on, see if it fits."

Jia Zhangshi handed the gold ring to Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu tried putting it on.

The size was just right, but the weight felt a bit heavy, giving her a strange sensation.

Jia Zhangshi reached out, took the gold ring from Qin Huairu's finger, and wrapped it up again in cloth, layer by layer.

"Huairu, it's not that I'm cruel and won't pass this Jia family heirloom to you; it's the rule handed down from our elders that, in my generation, must not be broken."

Qin Huairu's heart rose to her throat; if not for her chest blocking it, her heart might have flown out from excitement.

She is an illiterate who can only write her own name, yet she also knows what an heirloom means.

The Jia family possesses an heirloom.

"The Jia family rule: this gold ring can only be owned by a Jia family daughter-in-law; she will pass it to you, Qin Huairu, before I, as mother-in-law, die. You also know the current climate—news that the Jia family has a gold heirloom must not be spoken of."

Jia Zhangshi began to explain this specific reason.

In the year the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded and the Capital City fell into chaos, Jia Zhangshi's father-in-law's elder brother—also the elder brother of Jia Dongxu's grandfather—worked in the palace; a young Jia took advantage of the turmoil to flee the palace, arriving at Jia Zhangshi's father-in-law's home, and gave him this gold ring he had snatched from the palace, saying it belonged to the Empress and should be passed down as the Jia family heirloom generation after generation. Jia Zhangshi's father-in-law passed the ring to his wife, who then passed it to Jia Zhangshi, each transfer occurring on their deathbeds, and Jia Zhangshi will pass this heirloom to Qin Huairu on the day she dies.

The reason Qin Huairu is not allowed to speak of it is to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Nonsense full of holes.

Yet Qin Huairu actually believed it.

She voluntarily started cooking.

She voluntarily started washing clothes.

……

Red flowers need green leaves to complement them.

The new cook's poor culinary skills—whether making this big pot meal or this reception dish—are not particularly satisfying, and finding fault with them is understandable.

Many people unconsciously recalled that person who had been dismissed, yet now had become an idol in the hearts of countless Yagangchang workers.

Shazhu!

Someone who is not a Yagangchang worker, yet has made countless Yagangchang workers unable to forget him—a divine figure.

Nowadays, throughout the Yagangchang, it is rumored that Shazhu cooks delicious food.

Under the pot carried on the back of the Publicity Section chief.

Shazhu's superb cooking skills are no longer just a rumor; he has become an indisputable fact.

The Propaganda Section Chief, also a leader of Yagangchang, occasionally accompanies the inspection team; when eating the reception meal, he unconsciously compares the two sides' cooking standards.

In comparison.

The level of Shazhu's cooking skills is truly not something the current few cooks in Yagangchang's canteen can compare to!

The reception meal prepared by the current cooks is truly inadequate; the kitchen has become a disaster area for Yagangchang, and the factory's leaders all express dissatisfaction.

It mainly concerns the customers who come to purchase products and the various big and small leaders of the inspection teams.

If the superiors are unhappy, the subordinates will be unhappy too; if the subordinates give you a hard time, the superiors will likewise sit there feeling awkward.

This is also the direct reason why the former canteen head was demoted to a toilet cleaner after Shazhu went to work at the scrap station.

For someone with such superb cooking skills, you still refuse to give him an apprentice position, no matter what.

The old man once said, "Do not stick to one pattern when employing talent."

If someone is capable, you should let them take the position; yet you won't even give an apprentice slot, forcing them to go work at the scrap station.

What the hell are you doing?

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Yagangchang will hold this Lantern Festival gathering; all the big and small leaders of Yagangchang will attend, as will the model workers, worker representatives, and their families, and special leaders will also join this gathering.

For such an important matter, the canteen head took sick leave and dumped the responsibility onto Li Jianshe, who had only just been appointed deputy canteen head two days ago.

Li Jianshe is none other than the later Deputy Factory Director Li who monopolized power.

At this time, Deputy Factory Director Li had not yet risen to prominence nor changed his original wife; he was just an insignificant figure, and although he became deputy head, his title still bore the word 'acting'.

If he cannot perfectly complete the Lantern Festival gathering assigned by his superiors, the acting deputy factory director Li will be demoted back to his original position; therefore, Deputy Factory Director Li attaches great importance to this fifteenth-day gathering.

Regarding his own situation.

Deputy Factory Director Li is very clear about that.

He is the scapegoat promoted on the spot by the canteen head to take the blame; any credit goes to the canteen head, but if he messes up, Deputy Factory Director Li will be stripped of his acting deputy head title.

Even before becoming Deputy Factory Director Li, Li Jianshe knew this was both his danger and his opportunity.

Danger and opportunity coexist.

Li Jianshe directed his thoughts toward Stupid Pig, since Yagangchang was spreading the fame of Stupid Pig's superb cooking skills; why not invite Stupid Pig to do the cooking?

Shazhu went to work at the scrap station.

But can a scrap procurement station compare to a Yagangchang with tens of thousands of workers?

One is a ten‑thousand‑person large unit, the other a scrap station with only a few cats and fish— the gap is enormous; any normal person knows how to choose.

Li Jianshe also knows about this contradiction between Stupid Pig and the Yagangchang canteen; he feels a bit resentful yet also a little fortunate.

If it weren't for the former canteen head causing such a huge mess and being demoted to a toilet cleaner, Li Jianshe would not have been promoted to acting deputy head.

He finally managed to rise to the position with great difficulty.

Naturally, there is no need to step down.

After inquiring around, Li Jianshe learned that Stupid Pig gets along well with a film projector operator named Xu Daming from Yagangchang's Propaganda Section, and Xu Daming had even brought the Propaganda Section Chief to eat a meal cooked by Stupid Pig.

With a hopeful attitude.

Li Jianshe came to Yagangchang's Propaganda Section.

Before he even reached the door of the Propaganda Section, he heard Xu Daming bragging about his good relationship with Shazhu.

"Don't doubt it, with so many people in Yagangchang, why am I, Xu Daming, the only one who can get the section chief to eat Stupid Pig's cooking? Because my relationship with Stupid Pig is not ordinary; do you know what Stupid Pig calls me? He calls me Stupid Cat."

The people of the Propaganda Section laughed.

Stupid Cat

That really isn't a good form of address.

"Just looking at you shows you don't understand—what does Stupid Pig call himself? Stupid Pig! He says I, Xu Daming, am Stupid Cat, saying we are all of the 'stupid' generation; I tell you, although the nickname Stupid Cat sounds unpleasant, it is precisely the symbol of our close relationship—go ask around, besides me, Xu Daming, is there anyone else in Yagangchang who can eat Stupid Pig's cooking? Little sister Hong Mei, I told you a few days ago that I, Xu Daming, could get Stupid Pig to help cook, but you didn't believe me; that day, Brother Xu took you to the Siheyuan to taste Stupid Pig's cooking, and I guarantee you'd finish one serving and want another."

Li Jianshe pushed the door open and went inside.

He had only just been appointed deputy head less than two days ago; before that he was an insignificant nobody, and it's only natural that no one knew him.

Upon seeing a stranger enter, the Propaganda Section staff politely greeted him.

While responding, Li Jianshe directed his gaze toward Xu Daming.

He now finally understands why those people earlier said, 'As soon as you enter the Propaganda Section, if you see someone with a long donkey face, go straight to him—that's Xu Daming.'

That was not wrong.

Xu Daming's long donkey face is truly a unique feature of Yagangchang.

How did his face get so long?

Long donkey face.

Donkey face big.

That's also strange!

Li Jianshe extended his hand and introduced himself to Xu Daming.

"Comrade Da Mao, hello, I'm Li Jianshe, deputy head of Yagangchang's canteen; I've heard you get along well with the former canteen apprentice Stupid Pig, so I came to trouble you a bit."

Xu Daming is considered the person with the highest emotional intelligence in the Siheyuan.

Although Li Jianshe said he was the deputy head, Xu Daming habitually dropped the 'deputy' part.

He does not shout 'deputy' to his face.

That's the rule.

"Director Li, hello, I'm Xu Daming. You were just talking about Shazhu, right? To be frank, Shazhu and I really do have a good relationship; Shazhu publicly claims that I, Xu Daming, am his brother. What business do you have with Shazhu?"

"Can we go outside to talk?"

"Of course."

Xu Daming and Li Jianshe came to a secluded corner.

Li Jianshe didn't beat around the bush; he slowly explained his purpose.

Just as Xu Daming had thought.

He came for Shazhu.

When Xu Daming heard that Li Jianshe wanted Shazhu to prepare the Lantern Festival banquet, he felt a headache, knowing of Shazhu's minor grievance with the Yagangchang cafeteria.

Despite his excellent cooking skills, they wouldn't even let him take an apprentice job, forcing Shazhu to work at the scrap yard; in short, Shazhu left Yagangchang seething with anger, so Xu Daming doubted whether this could work and told Li Jianshe all his worries.

Xu Daming was overthinking; he had misjudged Li Jianshe.

As the villain in the drama "Passionate Courtyard," Li Jianshe's rise to a top position at Yagangchang amid turmoil shows he certainly has some ability.

He came to Xu Daming not to ask for help, but to learn through Xu Daming whether Shazhu's cooking truly lives up to the rumors.

Li Jianshe is not the Propaganda Section Chief and has never eaten Shazhu's cooking.

There's a saying that goes well.

What you hear is false; what you see is real.

Li Jianshe never fights without certainty; he wants a sure win, because this is his only chance to show his ability—if he loses, there will be no further opportunity for him to display his talents, so he cannot afford to lose and dare not lose.

"Director Li, I, Xu Daming, can't guarantee anything else, but when it comes to Shazhu's cooking, I stake my life on it: his cooking is unmatched—not just in Yagangchang, but in the whole Capital City; his father, He Daqing, used to be the Yagangchang cafeteria cook, passing down the Tan family cuisine, yet I don't know why Shazhu's food tastes even better than his father's."

Xu Daming wanted desperately to make Shazhu prepare the Lantern Festival banquet at Yagangchang.

In Xu Daming's mind, a factory of tens of thousands cannot be compared to a scrap yard with only seven or eight workers; he also considered Shazhu's future, believing Shazhu would be better off working at the large Yagangchang.

For Shazhu's future, Xu Daming mustered rare courage and, for the first time, used his own future as a guarantee for Shazhu.

"Director Li, thinking of having Shazhu prepare the banquet is an absolutely brilliant move; I can't guarantee anything else, but I guarantee Shazhu's food will be absolutely delicious. Though Shazhu is young, he has a stubborn streak—he went to the scrap yard because they wouldn't let him take an apprentice. I'm worried he might not come, but as the saying goes, 'Shazhu keeps his word'; if he agrees to cook for you, he'll do it well, and if he fails, I, Xu Daming, will bear the consequences."

Li Jianshe is also a decisive and ruthless person.

He has one trait.

Dare to act.

That guy had an ambiguous relationship with the cafeteria's Liu Lan in those days.

Just that gall.

He's a match for Xu Daming.

Evening, after work.

Xu Daming and Li Jianshe went to the Red Star Courtyard.

Even if Xu Daming didn't remind him, Li Jianshe would personally go to ask Shazhu for help.

Who let them have the ability?

Even Liu Bei could humble himself and, after three visits to the thatched cottage, invite Zhuge Liang out of retirement—so why can't Li Jianshe himself go and ask Shazhu to cook a meal?

The two entered the courtyard.

Li Jianshe saw Qin Huairu washing clothes at the faucet in the central courtyard, her braid coiled into a married woman's bun—a hairstyle usually seen on newlywed young wives.

Whether from the cold or from washing, Qin Huairu, with water droplets on her face, exuded a distinct charm from her youthful cheeks.

In that brief moment.

Li Jianshe felt as if his heart had been violently struck, leaving him unsettled; he suddenly thought of his homely wife at home, then glanced at the eighteen-year-old Qin Huairu who had just moved into the courtyard—clearly they were not on the same level, which explains why men favor girls in their early twenties, till death do they part, till death they do not change.

"Director Li, that woman washing clothes is the wife of Jia Dongxu, apprentice of Yi Zhonghai in a Yagangchang workshop; she only moved into the courtyard seven days ago!"

A newlywed wife who just moved in seven days ago.

It's bitterly cold.

She's washing clothes outside—is she being virtuous, or is it because her mother-in-law is just a wicked old woman?

In Li Jianshe's gaze, a mix of confusion showed; he was dazed, unsure whether he felt pity or was drawn to Qin Huairu's looks.

Xu Daming's mind was also in a haze; he didn't know why Qin Huairu had inexplicably returned.

As you know, Qin Huairu has been at her parents' home for several days.

In Xu Daming's understanding, Qin Huairu shouldn't have come back.

Yet before his eyes appeared Qin Huairu's figure, and she was again doing her daily laundry work.

Today's weather.

A bit chilly.

Qin Huairu's hands were frozen and slightly red, her face had a hint of bluish tint, and beneath her nostrils there seemed to be a faint trickle of mucus.

Xu Daming was confused.

On Qin Huairu's face he saw a faint smile, a genuine joy rising from deep within.

This is rather masochistic.

It's bitterly cold.

Washing clothes outside, she froze like a little third grandson, yet her face beamed with a happy, pleased smile.

Xu Daming didn't even know how to describe his thoughts at that moment.

Is his brain sick?

Or is his head full of paste?

Even with his character like this, he still feels like laughing.

Strange things happen every year.

This year there are especially many.

It's as if some place has produced this flaw.

How could there be such a huge change!