Chapter 65: The Lychee That Melts in the Mouth

"Yi Yeye, please don't be angry anymore, everything I did was for a good reason." Bang Geng crouched carefully beside Yi Yeye, continuously pounding his legs for him.

"Sigh, you are still young, what if something happens?" Yi Nainai sat nearby holding Xiao Dang and Huai Hua, wiping away tears incessantly.

"Yi Nainai, I was with a few seniors, not by myself, it's fine, they treat me very well." Bang Geng gave a sheepish smile and explained.

"Fine, a grown child is beyond a mother's control. Bang Geng, watch your safety, it's chaotic outside." First Elder stroked Bang Geng's head, his eyes full of affection.

"Mm-hmm. By the way, this is the treat Zhuzi Shu gave. Yi Yeye, have a taste, have you ever eaten this lychee?" Bang Geng said, taking the twenty or so lychees from the kang, and asked with a puzzled look.

Yi Nainai took one, looked at the bumpy lychee, and curled her lip in some disdain.

"Ahem, of course, I am the First Elder of the courtyard, naturally I have eaten them." A flash of unnaturalness crossed First Elder's face; he took the lychee, examined it carefully, and then without hesitation, picked one up, threw it into his mouth, and began to chew.

While eating, First Elder met Bang Geng's worshipful gaze and said: "Haven't you heard? 'A horse kicks up dust, the imperial concubine smiles,' that... what's it called, lychee, that's what it refers to. It melts in the mouth, sweet and juicy."

Bang Geng nodded, feeling even more worshipful. He picked two and handed them to his two younger sisters, then stuffed one into his own mouth and began to chew vigorously.

"Yi Yeye, mine didn't melt, why can't I chew it through?" Bang Geng asked, puzzled as he ate.

First Elder awkwardly stiffened his neck, swallowed desperately a few times, and only then did he manage to gulp down the remaining fruit pit and skin in his mouth. He then opened his mouth and said: "Ah, mine melted. See? Alright, you guys eat. I'm getting old, I can't eat too much, it's too sweet." Then he coughed and walked out.

"Brother, Huai Hua's didn't melt either..."

"Brother, ptooey, ptooey, this can't be bitten through..." Xiao Dang also spat out the fruit pit and skin.

Bang Geng, confused, picked up another one and applied a little force; the skin peeled right off...

Suddenly, Bang Geng felt a bit disoriented.

At the Rolling Mill, He Yuzhu looked at the five dejected former Security Section members. He sat in a wheelchair and spoke in a faint voice; because the quieter the voice, the more others needed to listen carefully, his aura was all the more imposing.

"Logically speaking, I shouldn't have brought you all back, after all, you made mistakes." Just as he finished the sentence, Tang Sanlang suddenly raised his hand in confusion.

"Report."

"Speak!"

"Section Chief, did you leave your vocal cords at home? Your voice is so small."

Suddenly, everyone lowered their heads and snickered, but they were all holding it in, not daring to be too obvious.

Yet, their constantly shrugging shoulders betrayed their state.

He Yuzhu coughed awkwardly twice and glared at Tang Sanlang in annoyance, but he didn't lose his temper; after all, he had already experienced what a blockhead Tang Sanlang was.

Everyone also quickly restrained their expressions, stood at attention with their hands behind their backs, and looked serious.

"Being able to be released so quickly is thanks to the organization, thanks to Factory Director Yang, thanks to Director Zhang, thanks to them giving you a chance to reform, and thanks to them helping you plead for mercy, understand?" Clearing his throat, He Yuzhu raised his voice.

"Understood!" Everyone immediately puffed out their chests and shouted loudly.

"Good! As long as you understand. I won't say much more, start reporting your names one by one!" He Yuzhu said with a serious expression.

"My name is Tang Sanlang!"

"I'm an old Beijinger, my surname is Yu, my name is Yu Biangjiang."

"I..."

"Wait, your name is Yu... Yu what?" He Yuzhu hurriedly interrupted the third person and looked at the second member with the surname Yu in confusion.

He saw that this person had a head of natural curls and a square face, which gave He Yuzhu a rather familiar feeling.

"Report Section Chief, my name is Yu Biangjiang."

"Yu Biangjiang? Where is there a character 'biang'?"

"Hey, why wouldn't there be? I've been called this name for over thirty years. 'Biang' is the 'biang' in Yu Biangjiang, biang-a-biang, jiang-a-jiang, Yu Biangjiang." The man was actually displeased and rattled off a whole string of words.

Tang Sanlang was also nodding in agreement on the side. Suddenly, He Yuzhu began to doubt if he was the one who lacked culture, and asked hesitantly: "Then how do you write this 'biang'?"

"Three dots plus a roof radical, with a 'soldier' character underneath, biang."

"Three dots plus... isn't that pronounced 'bin'?"

"That's right, Biangjiang."

"......! You remember this: your name is Yu Binjiang, next." He Yuzhu glared at him in annoyance. What kind of accent is this? Didn't he say he was an old Beijinger?

So this is what an old Beijinger tastes like?

"Hehe, hello Section Chief, my name is Sun Liancheng." The third big fatty opened his mouth with a grin and kept bowing his body.

"Uh, good name. Do you like watching stars?" He Yuzhu was speechless and subconsciously made a snide remark.

"Apes? I don't like those, but I like taking children to see elephants."

"Alright, alright, next."

"Hello Section Chief, my name is Li Mancang."

"Hello Section Chief, my name is Zhao Mandou."

That's more like it, these are normal people's names. What's with all that 'biang-a-biang' stuff...

"Good, I've remembered. You all listen well: in a while, I'm going to select some new members. Don't let me catch you bullying the newcomers, and don't let me catch you repeating those old bad habits of yours. Otherwise, pack your bags and get out immediately, do you understand?"

"Understood!"

After arranging for two people to stand guard at the gate, two to patrol, and one to rest, rotating them, He Yuzhu immediately went to the workshop to select people.

To be honest, he didn't want older ones, and even if he did, they wouldn't come.

Generally, those with higher seniority didn't have low job titles, had high wages, were skilled at their work, and the Factory Director wouldn't let them go, nor were they suitable for security work.

His targets were those who were young, had low wages, and were new to the factory but honest.

After a round of selection, he only picked five people from the workshop. He Yuzhu told them to put down their work, finish their handovers, and go to the Security Section to wait for him.

Then He Yuzhu came to the kitchen.

"Master, you're here." Ma Hua walked over with a smile on his face, carefully pushing He Yuzhu's wheelchair.

"Mm, how is it? Is it quite satisfying to boss people around?"

"Hi, not at all. Everything in the kitchen is still the same as when you were here, I'm just watching over it for you." Ma Hua hurriedly shook his head; he wouldn't dare go against He Yuzhu's wishes.

"Haha, count it as you having a conscience. From now on, you deliver the meals for our Security Section yourself. If there's nothing going on, I'll teach you a few more tricks, and the position of Deputy Director will be yours in the future." He Yuzhu patted Ma Hua's hand with satisfaction, took a hundred yuan from his pocket, and stuffed it into his pocket; this was the money he owed him.

"Really? Thank you, Master, thank you, Master." Ma Hua looked pleasantly surprised; he never expected that he would have a day where he became an official. Heh, he had to hurry back after work today and have his father check the ancestral graves back home to see if they had exploded.

"You will be in charge when I am not here, and Liu Lan will supervise you. Any problems with that?"

"No problem, don't you worry, I will definitely cooperate well with Sister Liu." Ma Hua patted his chest; naturally, he would have no objections. He knew He Yuzhu was doing this for his own good, fearing he might make mistakes.

Besides, without He Yuzhu, he wouldn't be able to be a Deputy Director of the Canteen; a person must know how to be grateful.

"Good, call your brother and have him go find Yu Xiaokang. Also, isn't Sister Liu's brother-in-law 18 now? Ask him; if he's willing, call him to the Security Section to find me as well." He Yuzhu nodded; his official career had just begun, and he must have his own people under his command.

He used those old staff because their mistakes were not major; at least in He Yuzhu's eyes, they didn't count as big mistakes. After all, in his past life, the mistakes he made were far more serious than this. Since Heaven gave him a chance to start over, he must also have an open mind and give others a chance to correct themselves.

Furthermore, those old Security Section members were familiar with the work and the procedures; if they were all new people, when would they be able to carry out work normally?

After this prison ordeal, he believed they would cherish this job even more and would not easily make mistakes again.

Having arranged everything, He Yuzhu returned to the Security Section and had Tang Sanlang take the newcomers to familiarize themselves with the factory.

"Xiaokang, take Sanlang to the Black Market tonight to refurbish the duty room. Replace the quilts and pillows; throw away or replace the pots, bowls, and ladles as needed. Also, straighten your hat—don't look like a puppet soldier, damn it! A cowardly soldier makes a cowardly man, and a cowardly general makes a cowardly unit. All of you, perk up! If I hear the words 'leavened dough' again... eh, I think I read the wrong line." Watching the thin and tall Yu Xiaokang hunched over while listening to him, He Yuzhu touched his head and gave instructions, feeling somewhat speechless.

He had been driven to distraction by this bunch of clowns...