Chapter 18: Yang Weimin is in for Trouble

"Sign in!"

"Congratulations on your successful sign-in, you have received 3 premium fountain pens!"

He Yuzhu returned to his room, sat down with a bold and imposing posture, silently recited "sign in" in his heart, and then began playing Go with the Big Leader.

For three games in a row, He Yuzhu won the Big Leader's sincere admiration, and his upright and honest style of play made the Big Leader even more satisfied.

"Little Master He, your Go is quite good, upright and honest. They say one's chess reveals one's character; you are quite excellent."

He Yuzhu smiled. He naturally understood this principle. To leave a good impression on the Big Leader, he had been racking his brains to play with an upright style, having simulated it in his mind countless times on ordinary days.

"Big Leader, you flatter me. No need to be so polite, just call me Shazhu."

"Hehe, good, Shazhu. Then let me ask you, are you interested in coming to work for me?" The Big Leader smiled, holding a chess piece and observing the board without looking up.

"This... to be honest with you, Factory Director Yang has promised me that when I go back, he will promote me to Deputy Director. Our family has been farmers for three generations; we've never held such a big official position before, hehe. So, Big Leader..." He Yuzhu showed a hint of embarrassment and a touch of small pride.

If he remembered correctly, the Big Leader's career would face some turbulence in a while, so this big ship was not the right one to board now.

"Haha, you, you, Shazhu. I didn't expect you to be so keen on being an official. What if I told you that the position you'd have here is bigger than a Deputy Director?" The Big Leader was not angry; instead, he laughed heartily, thinking Shazhu was honest and sincere.

You have to admit, once this first impression is planted, even if you do something a bit out of line later, others will automatically interpret it in a positive light.

"Big Leader, you are elevating me too much. I, well, I only know how to cook. Being a big official won't work; that would be failing your trust."

"Haha, that won't interfere with your cooking. I want to introduce you to the propaganda department. With your wit and resourcefulness, it would be a real pity not to go and add some color to the lives of the common people."

"Then I definitely won't go. Please, spare me. I can sing a few lines in private, but getting on stage? You'd be the death of me." He Yuzhu shook his head like a rattle-drum. Although he could gain rapid promotion in propaganda using his experience from the future, in this period, it was better to keep a low profile and develop cautiously. If he accidentally said something wrong and someone picked it apart, how could he survive?

Watching the unyielding He Yuzhu, the Big Leader tossed his chess piece onto the board: "Fine, you won again. Let's stop; I'm a bit tired today. When you're free, come over to sit, cook for me, and play chess with me."

"Alright, Leader. Then you rest, I'll head back first." He Yuzhu nodded and didn't clear the board; he knew the Big Leader wanted to review the game.

He said goodbye to the Leader's wife and Secretary Chen one by one, then got into the jeep and was sent home.

As for coming over to cook for the Big Leader when free, He Yuzhu agreed very readily.

The Big Leader didn't mention compensation, and he didn't bring it up either.

It wasn't that they had forgotten; it was that some relationships are far more important than mere transactional interests.

No matter what trouble He Yuzhu encountered, once others heard he could see the Big Leader every day, they would naturally hold him in higher regard. Who isn't afraid of someone bad-mouthing them to a leader behind their back?

After a bumpy ride home, He Yuzhu set up his stove again, cooked two dishes, boiled some noodles, and ate with a clatter.

Wages are still pending, and there's no money to repair the house for now; what a difficult life.

Subsequently, on the first day of work on Monday, Factory Director Yang called He Yuzhu into his office. After some ideological work, he discovered that He Yuzhu didn't take Bureau Chief Wang's solicitation seriously and even refused the Big Leader's offer. His favorability grew instantly, and while lamenting He Yuzhu's loyalty in his heart, he cursed him as "Shazhu."

If he let him...

Satisfied, He Yuzhu's dormitory allocation was handled quickly. It was assigned at noon after lunch, right next to the factory leadership's family building, though it was on the top floor, the sixth.

He Yuzhu walked over with Yu Haitang, took a casual look around, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Brother Zhuzi, not bad. So many minor leaders in the factory haven't been allocated housing yet, and you got yours first. Impressive." Yu Haitang walked around the room twice, her heart filled with envy. She hadn't realized this Shazhu had some ability. Thinking of her own partner, Yang Weimin, who only knew about those trivial things all day, she suddenly felt a surge of anger.

"Hehe, what, you like it? If you like it, move in. Anyway, I'm not used to living in a building." He Yuzhu spoke casually and shook his head. He had no interest in climbing six flights of stairs every day, and there were still the houses of Long Laotaitai and the First Elder in the Siheyuan... *cough cough*.

No, that's not right; it's that Long Laotaitai and the First Elder still have no one to provide for their old age.

"Really?!" Yu Haitang's eyes lit up, then she deflated: "Brother Zhuzi, you're just joking with me. What would it look like if I moved in?"

"Haha, alright then. Let's go. Come over to play after things are tidied up here in a while." Looking at the empty room, He Yuzhu really didn't feel much. It was only seventy square meters, and on the sixth floor at that; it wasn't even as good as the bathroom at Shanshui Zhuangyuan.

"Haitang, sorry to trouble you today. I'll cook tonight and treat you to a meal." After looking for a while, He Yuzhu lost interest and turned to speak politely to Yu Haitang.

"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony with you, Brother Zhuzi." Yu Haitang agreed cleanly and decisively; her personality was as bold as a boy's.

Afterwards, Yu Haitang followed He Yuzhu all the way back to the Siheyuan. The two chatted and laughed, becoming much more familiar with each other.

Although it was just casual talk, Yu Haitang kept comparing He Yuzhu and Yang Weimin in her heart.

The more she compared, the more she felt Yang Weimin was no good. As the factory beauty, was she really going to squeeze into a house with Yang Weimin's family for the rest of her life?

What about He Yuzhu? A golden bachelor, just promoted to Deputy Director, and he was allocated a house. He had two rooms in the Siheyuan, more space than he could live in, and his monthly salary was now... with so much money, he probably didn't even know how to spend it, right?

With her heart in turmoil, Yu Haitang arrived at the Third Elder's house, buried her head in her sister's arms, thought of Yang Weimin, and cried out of grievance.

Theoretically, the strong-willed Yu Haitang wouldn't shed tears, but she couldn't help the comparison. Yang Weimin only knew how to "hehehe" when he saw her, while He Yuzhu was witty and humorous with a touch of gentleness and elegance. His stride was like a dragon or a tiger, and beneath his honest face lay a hint of majesty. The key was that he had money and a house...

In an instant, Yu Haitang's heart was in chaos.

Yang Weimin, who was buying groceries at the market, sneezed. His eyes lit up when he saw a hairpin stall nearby. He carefully selected a hairpin, bought it with his money, wrapped it up meticulously, and tucked it into his chest.

Don't underestimate the money; pork was only a few dimes a jin, and most people really wouldn't be willing to buy such an expensive hairpin.

Yang Weimin hummed a tune as he carried the groceries back.

He was a formal worker with a monthly salary of 28.9. Apart from his own expenses, he handed everything else over to his parents.

His eldest brother was already married with children, and the whole family was currently saving money to set things up for his second brother. Once the second brother was married, it would be his turn.

He knew Yu Haitang didn't like squeezing in with his family, so he would work overtime whenever he could, striving to earn a little more.

Their family had already discussed it: once enough money was saved and the second brother was married, the whole family would work together to build them a room. They couldn't let Yu Haitang suffer; after all, she was the factory beauty. She had suffered for so long being with him, and to be able to meet such a good girl, his ancestors must have accumulated virtue, and he must have burned incense for eight lifetimes.

Carrying expectations for the future, Yang Weimin returned home with a grin.