Chapter 355: Trapped by Love

He Yuzhu stepped forward quickly and slapped Fan Jinyou on the shoulder with one palm.

Fan Jinyou only felt half his body go numb, and the long bench fell to the ground with a "clatter."

"Who the hell are you? Daring to meddle in my business?" Fan Jinyou grimaced in pain, glaring at He Yuzhu with eyes blazing with fire.

On the other side, Cai Quanwu also grabbed Teacher Xu from behind, repeatedly urging, "Teacher Xu, Teacher Xu! You mustn't, you really mustn't!"

He Yuzhu took his work permit out from his chest pocket and flashed it before his eyes: "Cadre Fan, in broad daylight, during office hours, running to a tavern to fight over a woman and disturb the peace. Do you not want your position as a Cadre anymore?"

Fan Jinyou caught a glimpse of the text and rank on the document, his pupils shrinking violently, but he still put on a brave front, muttering indignantly: "Today's matter isn't entirely my fault!"

He Yuzhu ignored him further, put away his document, and sat back down at his own table.

Fan Jinyou clutched his bleeding head, and Teacher Xu, panting heavily, both slunk away after slamming the door; for a moment, the Small Tavern returned to peace.

Chen Xueru lowered her voice and said: "You really are a troublemaker. You've offended Fan Jinyou to death now."

"For my second uncle, it's worth it." He Yuzhu picked up his wine cup, completely unconcerned.

"That Fan Jinyou is like a piece of adhesive tape; I think Xu Huizhen's days ahead won't be easy, and she'll inevitably be tripped up by him," Chen Xueru said.

Xu Huizhen walked over, patted He Yuzhu lightly on the shoulder, and said: "Just now... thanks."

"Why be so polite? Aren't we practically family?" He Yuzhu said with a cheeky grin.

"Go to hell! You little rascal with no sense of propriety!" Xu Huizhen glared at him fiercely and turned to leave, though her steps carried a rare lightness.

He Yuzhu watched her back and chuckled.

After eating and drinking their fill, having sent off the Soviet merchants, Chen Xueru pulled He Yuzhu to the side and said solemnly: "That foreigner I'm negotiating business with is quite cunning; he wants to order a thousand down jackets but will only pay seventy percent in cash upfront. Zhuzi, give me your opinion—should I take this deal or not?"

"How much can you earn?"

"After deducting all costs, at most, it's only a fifteen percent profit."

He Yuzhu pondered for a moment and said: "If your stock won't sell well this year, then sell it to him. But if the goods aren't hard to sell, I advise you to be cautious. That remaining balance... I'm afraid it's just a flower in the mirror or the moon in the water."

Chen Xueru nodded after hearing this: "Alright, I understand."

He Yuzhu returned to the Siheyuan, and just as he stepped into the hanging flower gate, he happened to run into Zhao Yingzi coming out of the room.

As soon as she saw He Yuzhu, a smile bloomed on her face, and she trotted over, saying: "Zhuzi, you've come back just in time! I... I'm pregnant! Quickly, take a look for me—is it a boy or a girl?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu examined her carefully for a moment and said slowly: "Looking at this complexion... it looks like a boy."

When Zhao Yingzi heard this, her smile grew even wider: "Really? Thank you!"

"I haven't finished speaking yet; or... it could also be a girl."

"Screw you! Get lost! I'm not listening anymore!" The smile on Zhao Yingzi's face collapsed instantly, and she covered her ears and turned to run away.

He Yuzhu watched her back and shook his head helplessly. This old-fashioned thinking of valuing boys over girls is truly deep-rooted.

In his own heart, he actually hoped Liu Rusi would give him a daughter. At the thought of Liu Rusi, a sense of powerlessness washed over his entire body, making him unable to muster the courage to go find her.

In the days that followed, He Yuzhu went to the Northern Automobile Factory to work as usual. He went to find Factory Director Yang every noon to ask about the situation, but after going a few times, Factory Director Yang simply started hiding.

After suffering for a full ten days, He Yuzhu could no longer hold back and took off running toward Liu Rusi's house.

When he reached the familiar gate, he froze.

People were coming and going at the entrance, all of them unfamiliar faces; it looked exactly like an office space.

He Yuzhu's heart tightened, and he stepped forward a few paces to grab a young man who was just leaving: "Who are you people? Why are you coming and going in my sister's house?"

The young man looked him over and pointed to the sign on the door: "This is the Liushi Trading Company. May I ask who you are?"

"Where is Liu Rusi? Where did Liu Rusi go?" He Yuzhu's voice revealed anxiety involuntarily.

"Chairman Liu? She went abroad."

"Went abroad? When did she leave?" He Yuzhu's heart sank straight down.

"Five days ago. Who exactly are you..." The young man looked at him suspiciously.

"He Yuzhu."

"So it's Mr. He. Before Chairman Liu left, she specifically left a letter for you; please come with me."

He Yuzhu followed him through the familiar corridor and into the brand-new living room.

The furnishings in the room had changed greatly; many pieces of furniture were nowhere to be seen, leaving only a set of wide leather sofas, appearing simple and cold.

Before long, a man of about thirty-something, dressed in a well-fitted suit, walked quickly from the Houyuan office: "Mr. He, hello. I am Shen Yan, Liu Rusi's cousin. Before she left, she repeatedly urged me to hand this letter to you personally."

He Yuzhu took the plain white envelope and quickly tore open the seal. A yellowed piece of paper slid out—it was the land deed for this residence.

On another sheet of stationery was Liu Rusi's elegant handwriting:

Zhuzi:

Seeing these words is like seeing me.

I have left. This was not a hasty decision, but the result of calculating it a thousand times over in my heart.

The greatest luck of my life was meeting you. Several times when I was at death's door, it was you who stood in front of me. Without you, I would have long since been a lonely ghost in the wilderness.

My background and my past are an obstacle you cannot overcome. Your roots are here, and your passion and ambitions are here too. But I am different from you; the path diverged many years ago. Now, it is time for me to leave.

Your path has only just begun; marry a girl with a clean background and a pure heart. Let her stand beside you with dignity and accompany you through those bright days.

As for me, you need not worry. I will raise our child well and bring him to adulthood.

Our fate in this life is shallow, the paper is short, but the feelings are long.

Do not miss me.

Liu Rusi

He Yuzhu's gaze was fixed on the short letter, and tears flowed uncontrollably, dripping onto the stationery and soaking the ink.

He did not look up, did not greet Shen Yan beside him; after finishing the letter, he turned abruptly, walked quickly out of this house full of memories that had suddenly become incomparably strange, and ran wildly all the way back to the No. 95 Siheyuan.

He Daqing was in the courtyard, teasing the now-grown Xiao Hei, and seeing his son rush in like a gust of wind, he couldn't help but be stunned: "What's wrong? Did the old house catch fire?"

"Dad, where is my mother?" He Yuzhu's voice was hoarse.

"She went out to buy groceries and hasn't returned yet. What happened?"

"Dad, go to the factory and help me request a two-month leave. I need to go to Hong Kong to find Liu Rusi."

He Daqing became anxious the moment he heard this: "Nonsense!"

"Dad, if you won't help me, that's fine. Then just go tell Factory Director Yang that I'm not doing this job anymore."

"You little brat! Have you lost your mind?"

"I have to leave right now; I can't wait even a moment."

Seeing him in such a distraught state, He Daqing pressed him: "What on earth happened? What's wrong with Liu Rusi?"

"She... she is pregnant with my child, and she... left alone. She said in her letter to let me... marry someone else."

He Daqing's overflowing anger was instantly smashed into nothingness by these few words.

He stood there with his mouth agape, stunned, "This... this girl... has such a temper! The marriage report from the organization hasn't even been approved yet, couldn't she wait?"

He Yuzhu did not explain further and charged straight into his room in the East Cross Courtyard.

After only a moment's time, he walked out carrying a backpack.

Watching his son in this state, He Daqing knew he could no longer stop him.

"You brat, I'll risk my old face to help you request this leave."

He Yuzhu paused his steps and said in a low voice: "Doesn't the Northern Automobile Factory still lack a few sets of key equipment for the mass production of heavy-duty trucks? Just tell Factory Director Yang that I am going to the south... to find a way to secure this shipment."

He Daqing's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh hard: "Right! That's it! I'll just tell him that a shipment of ours was detained in Hong Kong. It requires you to handle it personally!"

"Dad, I'm leaving. Please take care of things at home."

After saying this, he turned around and strode across the courtyard, his figure quickly disappearing outside the gate of the Siheyuan.

He Daqing chased him to the doorway, watching his son's resolute back, and cursed: "Good-for-nothing! For the sake of a woman, he doesn't give a damn about anything else! This stubborn streak... who did he learn it from?"