Chapter 110: First meeting with Xu Huizhen, chance encounter with Chen Xueru

The owner of these eyes was none other than Xu Damao.

How could Xu Damao not take revenge after suffering such a great humiliation? Xu Damao had been keeping an eye on He Yuzhu!

Xu Damao understood that he couldn't take revenge within the Siheyuan at all, so Xu Damao simply took revenge outside the Siheyuan.

For this reason, Xu Damao prepared two plans: first, write a report letter reporting He Yuzhu for stealing grain for his home using his position; second, secretly find some people to ambush He Yuzhu.

Xu Damao knew that He Yuzhu was very powerful now, so he found those who really did "black work," nine in total.

Seeing He Yuzhu go out, Xu Damao quietly followed, preparing to notify his men to ambush at the entrance of the alley in advance, so as to catch He Yuzhu and give him a sound beating. Xu Damao didn't want He Yuzhu's life; he just wanted to beat him up soundly and let him lie in bed for two or three months.

"No, can't ambush at the entrance of the alley. Ambushing at the entrance of the alley is too obvious, it's easy to trace back to me. Must be somewhere else. Hmph, grandson, this time let's see how you die," Xu Damao said viciously, looking at He Yuzhu's back.

He Yuzhu strolled to Zhengyang Gate, and sure enough, there was a Small Tavern here.

Although it was a famine year now, the tavern's business was sluggish. After He Yuzhu went in, he found that although business was sluggish, there were quite a few people.

Most of the people inside were just shouting without spending money, just looking for the excitement. There weren't many people actually drinking.

He Yuzhu found a quiet corner and sat down, carefully observing the people here, and found that Xu Huizhen was indeed here. At this time, Xu Huizhen had already married Cai Quanwu, who looked like He Daqing, and they had a baby.

He Yuzhu also saw Pian'er Ye, Niu Ye, and others who looked like Yan Bugui. He Yuzhu suddenly felt it was very interesting. If he brought Pian'er Ye to the Siheyuan, would the Yan brothers like Yan Jiecheng call him "Dad" when they saw him?

"Not only does he look exactly like Yan Bugui, but his voice is also about the same. Pian'er Ye could completely use Yan Bugui's name to go to school and collect Yan Bugui's wages. If this were really done, I don't know how much Yan Bugui would ache," He Yuzhu thought to himself after hearing Pian'er Ye's voice.

"This comrade, what would you like to order?" Xu Huizhen came to He Yuzhu and said with a smile.

"Two liang of Lotus White, two liang of Niulanshan, a portion of your Small Tavern's specialty salted vegetables, a portion of vinegar-shredded potatoes, a portion of stir-fried cabbage, and stew this chicken of mine for me, making it four dishes," He Yuzhu said, reaching his hand under the table, and a freshly dead rooster appeared in his hand.

As soon as He Yuzhu finished speaking, the lively Small Tavern went quiet. Everyone looked at He Yuzhu in unison. In this famine year, being able to eat four dishes wasn't an ordinary person, not to mention He Yuzhu had also brought a big rooster.

Let alone in a famine year, even in normal times, a big rooster was a rare item. They had been coming to the Small Tavern for so long and hadn't seen such a domineering person; it was only a long time ago that they had heard of similar people.

Xu Huizhen frowned even more tightly as she looked at He Yuzhu, thinking carefully.

When He Yuzhu entered the door, Xu Huizhen had deliberately taken two extra looks at He Yuzhu because most of the people who came here were regular customers, or regular customers bringing new guests. Xu Huizhen naturally took two extra looks at a stranger like He Yuzhu who came alone.

Xu Huizhen didn't remember He Yuzhu carrying a chicken when he arrived.

"Could it be I didn't notice?" Xu Huizhen thought secretly.

Immediately, Xu Huizhen swept a glance at He Yuzhu again and saw He Yuzhu stuffing a sack into his pocket.

"I must have seen wrong. This person must have walked in with his hands behind his back, carrying a sack. I didn't see clearly," Xu Huizhen thought, then said to He Yuzhu with a smile, "Please wait a moment."

"There aren't many people like you who treat customers so warmly. Other restaurants and taverns have signs saying 'Do not beat customers without cause.' Why don't you have one hanging here?" He Yuzhu looked around and asked with a smile.

"They are all regular customers and neighbors. Even if the business doesn't succeed, the friendship remains. How could I hang such a sign? And I can't beat customers without cause. Otherwise, what would I do if the customers all ran away?" After Xu Huizhen finished speaking, she took the big rooster and left with a smile.

Before long, Xu Huizhen brought two wine pots with the flavor of the era and a dish of salted vegetables to He Yuzhu, then said, "Your chicken needs to be stewed for a while. Please eat first."

"No rush, no rush," He Yuzhu said unhurriedly.

"This master, what is your surname?" Xu Huizhen asked calmly.

"Free, surname He, He Yuzhu, working at the Rolling Mill," He Yuzhu said, showing his work ID.

In this period, this kind of operation was very normal. The Small Tavern wasn't just a place to eat and drink; it also had the function of preventing fire, theft, and enemy spies. It was normal for a person in charge of a tavern to inquire about the information of a stranger who came to the tavern. "So it's Deputy Director He from the Rolling Mill. How does Deputy Director He have time to come to my Small Tavern?" Xu Huizhen asked.

At the same time, Xu Huizhen's heart suddenly cleared, understanding why He Yuzhu could bring a chicken. As the Deputy Director of the Canteen of such a large factory as the Rolling Mill, he must have his own ways.

Hearing He Yuzhu's question, if Xu Huizhen weren't married, He Yuzhu might have flirted a bit, saying something like "I heard there is an all-around boss lady here." But Xu Huizhen was already married and had children. If he said that, he would be suspected of being a hooligan.

"I also accidentally heard that the salted vegetables here are a specialty, not worse than Liubiju's, so I came specifically to taste them," He Yuzhu said.

"Yo—this master is a foodie. Our salted vegetables here are indeed a specialty, really not worse than Liubiju's salted vegetables. You must taste them; I guarantee you won't have come to this Small Tavern in vain," Xu Huizhen said with a giggle.

"Not bad, really not bad," He Yuzhu said after tasting the salted vegetables.

In this period when MSG hadn't entered the civilian population, this Small Tavern being able to pickle ordinary salted vegetables like this was indeed really not bad.

"Then please eat first," Xu Huizhen said and left.

He Yuzhu nodded, drinking his wine while listening to this group of people chatting, which had a unique interest.

After a while, the dishes He Yuzhu ordered were served one after another, and finally, the stewed rooster was served. As a professional chef, He Yuzhu expressed that the cooking skills of the chef in this Small Tavern were just average.

Just then, a beautiful woman wearing a cheongsam walked into the Small Tavern. The person who came was none other than Chen Xueru. As soon as Chen Xueru entered the Small Tavern, she became the focus.

A woman like Chen Xueru was almost the focus wherever she went, especially that cheongsam, which seemed to be adding a bright color to this dark world.

After Chen Xueru entered the Small Tavern, she swept a glance, and instantly, she focused her gaze on He Yuzhu, or to be precise, on the chicken on He Yuzhu's table.

"Xu Huizhen, you've been saying there's no meat for a while now. How come there is now? Are you teasing me?" Chen Xueru said irritably.

Although Chen Xueru wasn't short of money, it was also very difficult to eat meat in this period. Let alone her, even Li Huaide from the Rolling Mill found it difficult to get some meat, which showed the scarcity of materials.

"Xueru, you misunderstood. This chicken was brought by this master himself, just borrowing our hands to cook it," Xu Huizhen said.

"What's his background?" Chen Xueru leaned forward, supporting herself on the counter with her arms, and whispered in Xu Huizhen's ear, showing her exquisite curves to the fullest.

"Deputy Director of the Canteen of the Rolling Mill, He Yuzhu. He said he heard my salted vegetables here are a specialty and came specifically to taste them," Xu Huizhen said.

"Really or fake?" Chen Xueru turned around and looked at He Yuzhu from afar, asking.

"Hard to say, I can't see through this person," Xu Huizhen said.

"Hmph, how many people have you seen? You think everyone should be seen through? Since you can't see through him, why don't you ask directly? In my opinion, for this kind of person, it's better to ask directly," Chen Xueru said.

After Chen Xueru finished speaking, she took two pots of wine and came to He Yuzhu's table, sitting down unceremoniously.

"Deputy Director He, hello. My surname is Chen, called Chen Xueru. I want to invite you to have a drink," Chen Xueru said generously.

"We are strangers, and you invite me to drink on the first meeting? You must have something to ask of me. If you have anything, just say it. If I can do it, I definitely will," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

Sure enough, holding materials in hand, you are a master wherever you go, and there are people rushing to ask for help.

"Straightforward! Since Deputy Director He is so straightforward, I won't hide anything either. I want to ask Deputy Director He to help get some meat," Chen Xueru leaned forward and said in a low voice, getting straight to the point.

"Hehe, isn't Ms. Chen afraid of entrusting the wrong person?" He Yuzhu played with his wine glass and said with a half-smile.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 111 =====