Chapter 88

Not knowing whether it was because she sensed someone looking at her or because she was a bit cold from the freeze, Qin Huairu stopped the motion of washing clothes in her hands, lifted her head and glanced at the junction between Zhong Yuan and the front courtyard, seeing Xu Daming and a man over ten years older than him standing there, staring at her unblinkingly, a faint unnatural blush flashed across her face, and she turned her head to the side.

Li Jianshe saw Qin Huairu turn her head aside, pursed his lips, and made a sound in his throat like swallowing saliva.

Xu Daming is shrewd.

Just looking at Li Jianshe's demeanor.

One immediately knows what Li Jianshe is thinking.

Regarding Qin Huairu.

He also has his own ideas.

"Director Li, would you prefer to wait in my room, or shall we wait here?"

"Let's just wait here; it shows sincerity. Like Liu Bei making three visits to the thatched cottage to invite Zhuge Liang, I, Li Jianshe, the canteen section chief, will today simply play the role of Liu Bei, so our Head Chef He Yuzhu sees me right away."

Whether it was Xu Daming or Li Jianshe himself, they both coincidentally shouted the title 'Director', and deliberately emphasized the tone when saying it.

They merely wanted to show off in front of Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu hung her clothes on the wire, twisted her body, and went into the Jia Family's house.

Watching Qin Huairu's swaying hips as she walked away, Li Jianshe's gaze seemed to hesitate a bit more.

Not long after Qin Huairu left, Shazhu also returned to the Siheyuan; Xu Daming pointed at Shazhu, who had just pushed his bicycle into the courtyard, and shouted.

"Director Li, Shazhu is back!"

Li Jianshe followed the direction of Xu Daming's finger and saw a mature-looking youth pushing an almost-new bicycle inside; he couldn't help but look at Shazhu with renewed esteem.

In this era, people who can ride a bicycle are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

He had imagined Shazhu's appearance, but never expected him to look so mature for his age; Li Jianshe also felt a mix of laughter and exasperation.

After Shazhu parked his bicycle.

Li Jianshe went up to him immediately.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, hello, I am Li Jianshe, deputy director of the Yagangchang No. 1 canteen. I know the canteen has caused you many difficulties and made you feel hurt; please give me a chance to apologize on behalf of the Yagangchang canteen."

Shazhu looked at Li Jianshe before him with mixed feelings.

That is, Deputy Factory Director Li.

He is not unfamiliar with this person.

On the contrary.

He is quite familiar with him.

In his previous life.

Li Jianshe becoming a prominent figure with great influence in Yagangchang is not without reason; after the trend passed, he also became one of the first to get rich.

He is indeed a ruthless person.

He is harsh on himself.

He is harsh on others as well.

As for apologizing to someone's face while lowering one's own status so much, if we ask ourselves, at the very least Shazhu could not do that.

As for Li Jianshe, Shazhu actually has no particular opinion of him, nor any bad impression; their conflict in the previous life was largely due to Qin Huairu.

One day a few years ago.

Qin Huairu ran to the Yagangchang canteen and asked Shazhu to help her steal some sorghum noodles.

If Shazhu got caught, Qin Huairu would likely deny it, and then Shazhu would end up in jail.

Could Qin Huairu not know these consequences?

She knows.

Yet she still has Shazhu help steal.

On one hand, she didn't consider Shazhu's safety; on the other, she harbored a sense of luck.

As a result, it was eventually discovered by Deputy Factory Director Li; Li must have known what sort of person Qin Huairu was, which is why he suggested the 'let's have fun' idea; Qin Huairu cried for help, Deputy Director Li was beaten by Shazhu, and then Shazhu even gave the ten jin of pork and twenty jin of white flour that someone had given to Deputy Director Li to Qin Huairu; afterwards Shazhu was reassigned to the workshop, and if Deputy Director Li hadn't been unable to find someone to replace Shazhu, Shazhu would probably have spent his whole life stuck in the workshop.

Seeing Deputy Factory Director Li suddenly appear before him.

Shazhu felt a myriad of emotions.

This is because he didn't know that Deputy Factory Director Li had already met Qin Huairu and developed thoughts about her; otherwise he would surely have cursed 'MMP'.

Having lived two lives.

Moreover, due to some unpleasant experiences in his previous life, Shazhu learned to think, to use his brain in doing things, and before doing anything he considers whether it is beneficial or harmful to himself.

This can be considered a huge blessing of Shazhu's rebirth!

I never expected to meet the future magnate Li Jianshe, Deputy Factory Director Li, at this time.

Since a golden thigh is being delivered to his door, Shazhu, who is no true fool, will surely cling tightly to it.

As long as he gains Deputy Factory Director Li's friendship, Shazhu will live comfortably and happily for the next thirty years.

It's cool to rest under a big tree; with Deputy Factory Director Li shouldering the burden ahead, Shazhu thinks he won't need to do anything and won't encounter any danger.

Regarding Deputy Factory Director Li Jianshe's purpose, Shazhu has already guessed a few points in his mind; Shazhu's advantage, his reliance, is his consummate family‑passed culinary skill.

In his previous life.

The reason Shazhu could run rampant in Yagangchang, shocking countless people yet leaving them helpless,

His reliance is his cooking skill.

Because no one could replace Shazhu as the head chef, after he hit Deputy Factory Director Li he faced no repercussions and could later return to the Yagangchang canteen to continue working as head chef.

He guessed that Li Jianshe had come for his cooking skill.

Although he doesn't work at Yagangchang, because Xu Daming is there he still knows some of the factory's situation—for example, the canteen chefs' skills are poor, and throughout Yagangchang there are rumors of Shazhu's superb cooking; considering these facts, the truth is quite simple.

That is, they want Shazhu to cook.

The one who came is Li Jianshe, who later becomes the top boss holding great power in Yagangchang.

If it were someone else.

Shazhu would have to try to get the upper hand.

Just thinking that Li Jianshe, standing before him, would later become a big shot in Yagangchang whose word could decide a family's fate.

Shazhu then extinguished the thought of trying to manipulate him.

Today, he would manipulate.

Many years later, he would be retaliated against.

Not worth it.

Many people lift the flowery sedan.

If you show me a foot of respect, I'll return you a yard.

That's the principle: when someone gives you face and lowers himself so much in front of these people, Shazhu must make sure he leaves satisfied.

"Director Li, hello, I'm He Yuzhu; people in the courtyard call me Zhuzi, and some call me Shazhu!"

"The word 'shǎ' is actually not a good word, but the elderly said recently that we must work foolishly, act foolishly, contribute foolishly; thus this nickname 'Shǎ' has another meaning, indicating that Shazhu is an honest, willing-to-contribute person, someone worth learning from."

Shazhu could only sigh.

No wonder Li Jianshe became a big shot in Yagangchang whose word is law in his previous life; just look at his tone and content.

It truly leaves nothing to fault.

This is where the charm of language lies.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, I don't come to the Three Treasures Hall without reason; this time I have two matters. First, I apologize for the previous incident where you were not given the apprentice wage; after investigation, we found someone deliberately sabotaged it, and we will uncover who it is in the coming period and certainly give you justice."

Since Li Jianshe and Xu Daming appeared.

It was Yi Zhonghai hiding indoors and eavesdropping.

Heart.

Beating wildly without cease.

The black hand behind Shazhu not being able to mention the apprentice worker matter is none other than Yi Zhonghai himself.

The canteen director who colluded with Yi Zhonghai is now sweeping toilets.

To silence that toilet director, Yi Zhonghai has already shed a lot of blood.

Listening to Li Jianshe's meaning.

It seems they still want to investigate the true culprit.

If they find out, how will Yi Zhonghai face Shazhu?

The big aunt looked at her guilty old companion and sighed in her heart.

Had I known today would come, why bother back then?

Back then I had advised Yi Zhonghai not to scheme everywhere.

In the end, cleverness backfired.

"The second matter is that I asked Master He to come help."

Li Jianshe repeatedly explained the matter of the Yagangchang Lantern Festival gathering on the fifteenth of the first month.

The speaker meant nothing by it.

The listener took it to heart.

The people of the Siheyuan instantly felt endless envy toward Shazhu.

They're all people.

Look at Shazhu: even if he doesn't work at Yagangchang, the factory director still comes to his door to ask him to help, while looking at himself, he's simply a complete idiot.

"Director Li, you know I have some disagreements with our canteen; if it were anyone else, I'd surely refuse, but since you, Director Li, came, I can't turn down your face, so I accepted the job. You also know I work at the scrap station; when the time comes, just give the menu to Shamao, and Shamao will give it to me. Also, there's one more thing I need to trouble you with, Director Li."

"I know the cooks' rule: red envelopes are definitely a must."

"Director Li, you're wrong; it's not about red envelopes, it's about letting the model workers eat well and the advanced worker representatives eat beautifully—that's our goal. I want you to prepare the materials in advance, as even a skilled cook can't make a meal without rice; you have no materials, I can't conjure them out of thin air."

Li Jianshe was already numb.

In fact.

He had imagined that Shazhu might come with various conditions and had prepared himself mentally to negotiate, but he never expected Shazhu to neither discuss conditions nor make things difficult for Li Jianshe, and simply agree to Li Jianshe's request outright.

It truly made Li Jianshe unable to believe it.

Even more unbelievable to Li Jianshe was...

was that Shazhu's words everywhere showed his intention to highly praise Li Jianshe.

One sentence he'd say, "Director Li, you have great face," the next, "Director Li, you have face."

His heart inexplicably warmed a bit.

Actually.

The current situation between Li Jianshe and Shazhu is that they are each using the other.

This can be considered harboring ulterior motives.

Shazhu knew Li Jianshe would become a big shot in Yagangchang whose word is law, so he wanted to get on good terms with him in advance to avoid future trouble.

To let Shazhu pass those years smoothly and steadily.

His attitude toward Li Jianshe is one of utilization.

Conversely.

Li Jianshe had the same idea; he wanted to use Shazhu's cooking skills to realize his dream of becoming the canteen director, at the very least removing the "acting" title.

As the old saying goes, if you're just an acting official, you're actually a poor sod who takes the blame for things you can't decide.

"No problem."

"With your word, Director Li, I'm relieved; just leave the fifteenth‑day gathering to me." Shazhu changed tone, "Director Li, do you have anything tonight?"

"What do you mean, Master He?"

"You entrusted me with such a big matter as the Lantern Festival gathering; you should also try my cooking!"

"It means nothing else."

"I just wanted to get closer to Li Jianshe before he takes off."

"But I didn't expect Li Jianshe to have other things in the evening."

"So the gathering wasn't organized."

"They exchanged a few casual words."

"Each went home."

"Seeing Li Jianshe leave, Yi Zhonghai's heart grew even more anxious."

"Because before Li Jianshe left, he threw a guarantee at Shazhu, promising to find out who was preventing Shazhu from becoming a regular."

"Yi Zhonghai heard this, and his heart gave a sudden jolt."

"Oh no!"

"I never expected things to come to this point; the secret is about to be exposed!"

"What should we do?"

"What should we do?"

"For a moment, Yi Zhonghai's mind was in turmoil, panicking helplessly."

"The eldest aunt just noticed that Yi Zhonghai was off, waved her hand in front of him, and called out 'Old Yi' a few times."

"Hearing the eldest aunt's shout, Yi Zhonghai gradually came to, but his eyes remained vacant and his face full of frightened unease."

"The eldest aunt was also helpless."

"Some things, she was powerless to change; she had earlier advised Yi Zhonghai that it was hard for Shazhu to support his sister, with his father running off with a widow, and they really needed such a livelihood to earn money and support his sister."

"Yet Yi Zhonghai insisted on doing Shazhu a favor, insisting on staging a grand act of sending charcoal in the snow to relieve Shazhu and his sister, for everyone to see."

"Worldly affairs are impermanent."

"Who could have imagined that Yi Zhonghai's plan would come to nothing? Shazhu saw that the Yagangchang cafeteria wouldn't take him on as an apprentice worker, so he turned and went to the scrap station. Originally it wasn't anything, but with Xu Daming's boasting, Shazhu unexpectedly became the 'canteen god' of Yagangchang without actually being there, while the propaganda section chief took the blame. In this situation, he helped Yi Zhonghai manage Shazhu's cafeteria duties and dealt with the mess, and Yi Zhonghai also gave them quite a few things."

"Pressing the gourd caused the ladle to float up."

"But Li Jianshe also wanted to investigate the truth of this matter."

"How could such a thing be kept hidden?"

"There's no need to hide it at all."

"A long silence followed."

"The eldest aunt tried to give a suggestion."

"\"Old Yi, why not tell Shazhu the truth? \""

"Yi Zhonghai, in order to gain a good reputation, insisted on artificially creating a scene of Shazhu and Yushu suffering from hunger and cold, planning to wait until they were starving, then appear as a savior, giving them food, drink, and clothing, and before everyone establish the persona of a warm-hearted helper, the Head Steward."

"Who would have thought."

"Shazhu just threw down his burden and quit."

"\"I'm thinking of a plan, thinking of a plan. \""

"\"Take your time thinking! \" the eldest aunt sighed, walked to the kitchen and started cooking, \"Old Yi, the old lady in the back courtyard says she wants to eat roast duck. \""

"Yi Zhonghai, feeling resentful inside."

"He let out a cold snort."

"That damned old lady."

"Today meat, tomorrow roast duck, the day after fish."

"Damn, it's a big headache."

"Trying to pass the buck to Shazhu also won't work."

"Worried."

"Because he's worried."

"Yi Zhonghai didn't eat his meal, and even at the Dayuan meeting he appeared listless."

"Liu Haizhong rarely got to indulge in the addiction of being Head Steward."

"\"Today we've gathered everyone for just one thing: the superior demands that our Siheyuan actively cooperate with the Jiēdào to carry out this illiteracy eradication campaign. \""

"People started whispering to each other."

"\"Quiet down a bit. \" Liu Haizhong gave a few dissatisfied cold snorts, finally getting the chance when Yi Zhonghai was listless, you neighbors, what are you babbling about? \"Just saying, our courtyard can't have illiterates; do you understand my meaning? The specific regulations, listen to San Daye. \""

"People's gazes fell on Yan Fugui."

"At this moment, Yan Fugui was still pondering how Yi Zhonghai suddenly lost interest in organizing the Dayuan meeting."

"In the past, the Dayuan meetings were basically Yi Zhonghai trying to suppress Liu Haizhong, and Liu Haizhong trying to overthrow Yi Zhonghai; today, however, he suddenly delegated authority to Liu Haizhong."

"Something's not right."

"Behind Yan Fugui's glasses, his eyes emitted a wise gaze."

"Could it be related to Li Jianshe?"

"Li Jianshe was also the person Xu Daming had found to ask Shazhu to do something; Yan Fugui vaguely heard a sentence saying they wanted to investigate who was preventing Shazhu from becoming regular."

"Preventing Shazhu from becoming regular."

"It's just a grudge against Shazhu."

"Even He Daqing has run away; what grudge could Shazhu still have?"

"Some things, the more you ponder them, the more mysterious they become."

"The relationship between Shazhu and Yi Zhonghai, and the relationship between Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old lady."

It's totally illogical!

Yan Fugui is stingy, but not stupid.

He understood the relationship between Shazhu, Yi Zhonghai, and Long Laotaitai; Yi Zhonghai has no children, and Long Laotaitai is also childless.

Yan Fugui gradually figured it out.

He Daqing ran away; Shazhu lived with his sister; only apprentices at Yagangchang received wages; He Daqing brought Shazhu to Yagangchang to study cooking, during which time he entered Yagangchang as an apprentice, and living expenses were self-supported; if Shazhu were still an apprentice, how could he support his sister He Yushui?

Yi Zhonghai appeared as a savior, assisting Shazhu; should Shazhu be moved to tears of gratitude?

The old-age support matter seems to have been settled.

Upon careful thought, it's extremely terrifying!

Such a Yi Zhonghai is simply another extreme.

Yan Fugui's gaze fell on Yi Zhonghai; the more he sized him up, the more he felt his own thoughts were wrong; with that honest face of Yi Zhonghai, could he really do such a despicable thing?

He shivered all over.

He was frightened.

Often, people with such a face are the most frightening, because even if they did it, you wouldn't suspect them.

Yan Fugui let out a breath.

He was glad he hadn't gotten involved in the fight between Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong over the Head Steward position.

It was clear as day.

Liu Haizhong is no match for Yi Zhonghai.

「Lao Yan, what are you spacing out for? Say a few words about this Jiēdào illiteracy cleaning activity。」

Yan Fugui looked at the neighbors.

He paused for a few seconds.

He explained the Jiēdào illiteracy cleaning activity in full; the Jiēdào set up a night school; anyone who wanted to study culture could go register and study.

Someone suggested, what should those who have difficulty walking but still want to study culture do?

No one knew who.

It seemed that Xu Daming had mentioned it, saying Yan Fugui was a teacher, and in the evenings he would come back to tutor He Yushui; so they simply organized the neighbors in the Dayuan to study together, and at that time everyone would give Yan Fugui some compensation.

There were benefits to be gained.

Yan Fugui naturally agreed.

The Siheyuan's first night school opened its curtains.

The First Aunt, Second Aunt, and Third Aunt all participated enthusiastically; even Qin Huairu, who had just married into the Siheyuan, also took part in the study.

「Eating, the 'eat' in eating, the 'meal' in eating, eating。」

Yan Fugui taught.

Start with the two characters for "eat".