Chapter 49: Provoking Jia Zhangshi

"Whose food is ever enough? Forget about eating until full; as long as we can eat half-full and not starve to death, that's enough." Liu Lan rolled her eyes and said unhappily.

"The leaders' families definitely have enough food, for example, Factory Director Yang," He Yuzhu said.

"Nonsense! Do I need you to tell me that!" Liu Lan rolled her eyes again.

"Fine, here's two yuan, go to the Pigeon Market to buy some grain to eat." He Yuzhu casually took out two yuan for Liu Lan.

Regardless, Liu Lan was doing things for him. Although He Yuzhu didn't actively request this, Liu Lan was doing it for him, so he had to show some appreciation.

"My dear Canteen Squad Leader, you really don't know the price of firewood and rice because you don't manage the household. You're used to being a chef, so naturally, you don't worry about food and drink, and you don't care about things outside. What kind of year is this? There's no grain for sale at the Pigeon Market at all."

"Only the Black Market has grain for sale, and it's high-priced grain! The key is, do I dare go? I might lose my life before I even buy the grain." Liu Lan said unhappily, though she still reached out and took the money.

"Hiss~ Is it that serious?" He Yuzhu asked in a deep voice.

He Yuzhu suddenly remembered the scene last year when Yi Zhonghai organized people in the Siheyuan to go to the Black Market to buy grain. The Black Market was indeed dangerous, which is why Yi Zhonghai organized the young and strong in the courtyard to act collectively.

This was also one of the reasons why Yi Zhonghai could cover the sky with one hand in the Siheyuan; Yi Zhonghai did actually do some proper things. At the very least, no one in the Siheyuan had starved to death.

"I'll think of a way." He Yuzhu waved his hand and let Liu Lan leave.

After He Yuzhu returned to the canteen, he found that Liu Lan was indeed gone. Just then, Li Huaide had someone deliver a large cart of big bones, which made He Yuzhu have to admire Li Huaide's ability.

Although Li Huaide was good at maneuvering, he really had ability, and within his capabilities, he really got things done. Of course, the ultimate goal was still for his own interests.

This was already not bad. While gaining power and profit, the vast number of workers also benefited a little. In later generations, this would already be a rare, good leader.

After He Yuzhu arranged everything, he left the Rolling Mill. However, He Yuzhu didn't go home, but went straight to the police station and found Jia Zhangshi.

"Shazhu, what are you, a dead end, doing here? You didn't even bring me anything to eat when you came. You really are an ungrateful white-eyed wolf. Our Jia family used to help you for nothing," Jia Zhangshi said shamelessly.

He Yuzhu didn't refute her, but looked at Jia Zhangshi with three parts pity, three parts hesitation, three parts distress, and one part resolution, which left Jia Zhangshi stunned.

"Jia Zhangshi, I heard some rumors in the factory about Yi Zhonghai, Qin Huairu, and Jia Dongxu. I don't know if it's true or if someone is deliberately slandering them, but I feel it's necessary to tell you," He Yuzhu said with a heavy face.

"Shazhu, what did you hear? Tell me quickly!" Jia Zhangshi suddenly felt a shock in her heart, vaguely sensing something ominous, and said impatiently.

"Sigh, forget it. It must be someone deliberately slandering and smearing the Great Uncle and Sister Qin. Forget it, I won't say it. I'd better go back first," He Yuzhu said with a hesitant look, then pretended to leave.

He Yuzhu did this on purpose, just to make Jia Zhangshi feel uncomfortable.

He Yuzhu's words were ambiguous, and Jia Zhangshi was a person with extremely strong suspicion. If He Yuzhu didn't say it, Jia Zhangshi would definitely feel as uncomfortable as if a hundred claws were scratching her heart.

"Shazhu, tell me quickly, you're about to worry me to death!" Jia Zhangshi said anxiously.

"This... this... forget it. Anyway, the factory is investigating this matter. Whether it's true or false, and whether Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu really have an affair, the factory will broadcast it in a few days, and you'll know then."

"I'd better not say it, lest people misunderstand that I'm sowing discord. Jia Zhangshi—no, Auntie Jia, just pretend I never came," He Yuzhu said with a hesitant look.

The more He Yuzhu acted like this, the more anxious Jia Zhangshi became.

Jia Zhangshi already wanted to curse, but she suddenly remembered that she was the one begging Shazhu now. If she really angered Shazhu and drove him away, no one would tell her what happened.

"Sha... Zhuzi, Zhuzi, don't go. Tell Auntie quickly what happened. Auntie will definitely remember your kindness," Jia Zhangshi said, forcing a smile. However, Jia Zhangshi's face was sour and mean, and even if she tried to fake it, it didn't look like it; instead, it looked even more ferocious.

"Alright, anyway, you'll know sooner or later if I don't say it. You know what happened the night before last, right? Just yesterday, a booklet appeared in the factory, and the booklet said that Yi Zhonghai was fooling around with several women," He Yuzhu said slowly.

"Who was that dead-end Yi Zhonghai fooling around with?" Jia Zhangshi's heart skipped a beat. She thought of Qin Huairu first and couldn't help but say sharply.

"Uh, you can't get angry after I say it," He Yuzhu said, stopping mid-sentence.

"You say it, I won't get angry," Jia Zhangshi took a deep breath and forced herself to say.

"The booklet says Yi Zhonghai was with Er Dama, San Dama, the Deaf Old Lady..." He Yuzhu said slowly, but was interrupted by Jia Zhangshi before he could finish.

"Hahahaha, Yi Zhonghai actually got together with the Deaf Old Lady? Impossible, impossible, this is a rumor," Jia Zhangshi couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He Yuzhu didn't know what the relationship between Jia Zhangshi and the Deaf Old Lady was, only that Jia Zhangshi was very afraid of the Deaf Old Lady. He Yuzhu guessed that the Deaf Old Lady was the owner of the Ninety-five Courtyard, and Jia Zhangshi might have been a maid who served the Deaf Old Lady in the past.

Jia Zhangshi was very traditional and had been disciplined by the Deaf Old Lady for so many years, so she instinctively feared the Deaf Old Lady in her bones.

Jia Zhangshi not only laughed out loud on the surface, but she was also laughing in her heart. Jia Zhangshi felt that the person who started the rumor was truly a talent, daring to make up any kind of rumor.

Jia Zhangshi would rather believe that Yi Zhonghai was messing around with Er Dama and San Dama than believe that Yi Zhonghai would mess around with the Deaf Old Lady; it was simply impossible.

"I haven't finished speaking yet. The booklet details the process of Yi Zhonghai fooling around, and it also mentions Qin Huairu and you," He Yuzhu said slowly.

Jia Zhangshi's wild laughter stopped abruptly, like a duck whose neck had been pinched.

"Which beastly dead-end made up this rumor? How could I possibly fancy that old vegetable Yi Zhonghai..." Jia Zhangshi immediately started cursing.

If the supervisor on the side hadn't stopped Jia Zhangshi, she could have cursed for half an hour without repeating herself.

"That's not important. Everyone doesn't believe Yi Zhonghai could do such a thing, and they believe in your innocence. Factory Director Yang and the other leaders are investigating this matter, striving to catch the person behind the rumors in the shortest possible time to restore your innocence."

"However, just as this wave of rumors stopped, another rumor spread. I don't know who said it either; I just heard it. I heard that Bang Geng is not Jia Dongxu's child, but Yi Zhonghai's."

"The reason is that Bang Geng and Yi Zhonghai both have curly hair. Not long after Bang Geng was born, Yi Zhonghai changed his hairstyle and got a crew cut, just to prevent people from noticing."

"I remember that whether it was Uncle Jia, Jia Dongxu, or Qin Huairu, their hair was straight, not curly. Only curly hair can inherit curly hair; curly hair can't be born from straight hair, and straight hair can't be born from curly hair."

"I don't believe this at all, but the key is that what they said sounds very plausible. They said Bang Geng was a premature baby, but his weight was full. Eight or nine months ago, the Rolling Mill happened to send Yi Zhonghai to lead a group of people to the countryside to support construction."

"And the place Yi Zhonghai went to happened to be the Qin Family Village where Qin Huairu is from."

"This makes people think a lot. Also, there are rumors that Jia Dongxu didn't die normally, but that his workstation was tampered with."

"They said that maybe Jia Dongxu discovered the secret between Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu and used it as leverage to manipulate Yi Zhonghai, making Yi Zhonghai not only upgrade him but also give him money. Yi Zhonghai couldn't bear it anymore, so he took action."

"These are all things I heard from others, not things I said," He Yuzhu said, then turned and ran, not giving Jia Zhangshi any chance to spew garbage.

Once He Yuzhu ran, Jia Zhangshi let out a hysterical roar.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 50 =====