Chapter 455: Let's Get Married

The three of them chatted for a while, and soon it was time for lunch.

He Yuzhu said, "Factory Director Yang, shall we eat at the factory today, or go to a restaurant outside to treat Comrade Yang Xiuqing to a meal?"

Factory Director Yang smiled and said, "Everything has already been arranged on your father's end; he will be cooking personally today."

As soon as the three of them entered the private room of the Fourth Canteen, they saw a woman in her forties setting the table inside.

Seeing them enter, the woman smiled and said, "I'll go notify Director He to start cooking right away."

Factory Director Yang nodded and said, "Tell Daqing to hurry up with the cooking; once it's ready, he can join us at the table to keep our guest company."

He Yuzhu thought for a moment and said, "I'll go help!"

Factory Director Yang and Yang Xiuqing exchanged a glance, neither of them responding.

He Yuzhu turned and left the private room, heading straight for the kitchen.

As soon as he entered, he found the kitchen filled with smoke. In an era without range hoods, being a cook was truly a hardship, especially in the summer.

He Daqing, who hadn't cooked much in years, still had his skills, and his movements remained clean and efficient.

He Yuzhu walked over and said, "Dad, it's not like the logistics department doesn't have other cooks; why are you showing off?"

"It's because Yang Xiuqing is here and insisted on eating food I cooked; I couldn't refuse him that face," He Daqing said while flipping the pan.

"Then I'll help you," He Yuzhu said, rolling up his sleeves and putting on an apron. "I'll make Kung Pao Chicken, Twice Cooked Pork, Boiled Fish, and Nine-Turn Intestines; you do the rest."

With He Yuzhu's help, the speed was noticeably faster.

After He Daqing finished stir-frying a plate of Sautéed Fish Slices, he shouted outside, "Xiaobai, help serve the dishes."

The woman in her early forties he had seen earlier walked in, gave He Daqing a charming smile, and revealed a set of neat, white teeth.

Upon hearing the name "Xiaobai" and seeing the woman's still-alluring appearance, He Yuzhu immediately became alert. Could this be Bai Guafu? Not long ago, his mother Shen Guizhi had mentioned this person, saying He Daqing had spent 500,000 to buy a bag of Paper Folding Flowers from Bai Guafu. He hadn't expected He Daqing to actually bring her into the Rolling Mill.

He Yuzhu gave a secret, bitter smile.

Fate was truly a mysterious thing. Even though He Daqing's destiny had changed so much, Bai Guafu had still managed to show up.

He silently noted this in his heart, preparing to find an opportunity to investigate thoroughly.

After all the dishes were cooked, He Daqing and He Yuzhu entered the private room together and found six people already seated.

Besides Factory Director Yang and Yang Xiuqing, there was Consultant Lou Zhenhua, Deputy Factory Director Sun, Chief Accountant Lao Ma, and Chief Engineer Lu Zhaoheng.

He Daqing patted his clothes and said, "I'm covered in cooking fumes, so I won't join the table."

Factory Director Yang immediately grabbed him: "You're the most familiar with Comrade Yang Xiuqing; if you don't keep the guest company, who will?"

Lou Zhenhua pulled He Yuzhu to his side and whispered, "Zhuzi, find a time for us to have a meal and chat; there are many things I'd like to hear your thoughts on."

"No problem," He Yuzhu replied.

Factory Director Yang raised his glass and said, "Today, let us all raise our glasses to welcome Comrade Yang Xiuqing, who has come from afar. The factory's conditions are limited, but fortunately, the chef's standards are quite good... I hope this cooperation will be a complete success..."

Everyone clinked glasses and drank in one gulp.

He Daqing raised a glass and said, "Comrade Xiuqing, it's been five years. I really have missed those old brothers of ours. This glass is a toast to you and those old brothers!"

Yang Xiuqing said, "Daqing, we have all missed you, our old leader, too!"

The two drank in one gulp.

This group's tolerance for alcohol was average; before each had even finished half a jin, they were already struggling.

As the party broke up, Factory Director Yang commented, "Daqing's craftsmanship is excellent; the Kung Pao Chicken, Twice Cooked Pork, and Boiled Fish were truly well-made!"

Hearing Factory Director Yang praise the dishes his son had made, He Daqing's old face flushed, but he said nothing.

He Yuzhu leaned into Yang Xiuqing's ear and said, "Tomorrow night, I'll treat you to roast duck at Quanjude. Do you have time?"

Yang Xiuqing was taken aback, then laughed: "I haven't made any plans yet. To tell you the truth, brother, I've never eaten roast duck before!"

"Then this time, I'll make sure you eat until you're sick of it," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

After the party, He Yuzhu returned to the workshop to continue assembling the diesel engine he hadn't finished.

This engine was based on the structure of modern automotive diesel engines, improved upon the technology of this era. Once successfully developed, it would be of great significance.

He Yuzhu finished the assembly and performed an ignition test, finding that the sealing still had some issues. He dismantled a few parts, fixed the problems, and tested the ignition again.

Everything was normal now. After an hour of observation, the operation was basically stable, which meant that success was not far off.

When he checked his watch, it was already seven in the evening.

He Yuzhu drove straight home.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw He Yushui run over and say, "Brother, Chen Xueru called for you earlier; she seemed quite anxious. Is it because you haven't paid her back, and she's coming to collect?"

He Yuzhu laughed, "Yushui, you've been playing with your friends; I think you're getting sillier!"

"Pfft! I am not!" He Yushui made a face and ran off.

He Yuzhu returned to the East Cross Courtyard to take a shower, wash off the cooking fumes, changed his clothes, and then drove to Qianmen.

When he arrived at Xueru Clothing Store, there were few customers left in the shop.

Chen Xueru was sitting alone behind the counter, lost in thought, her expression somewhat dejected.

He Yuzhu walked over, waved his hand in front of her eyes, and smiled: "Boss Chen, is business bad lately, making you worry? It's okay, I'll design a few new styles for you!"

Chen Xueru grabbed him and walked straight upstairs.

Once in the office, she took out a document.

He Yuzhu glanced at it twice and said, "I've seen this document. Tell me first, what are your thoughts?"

"What does 'pilot program' mean?" Chen Xueru frowned. "Should I accept the terms now, or wait until the end?"

"The longer you drag it out, the worse the conditions will be; you need to be mentally prepared," He Yuzhu said. "I warned you about this a long time ago; you should remember..."

Chen Xueru gave a bitter smile: "I didn't quite believe it at the time; I always felt you were scaring me, or that there would be exceptions. Who would have thought it would really come to this... So, in the future, this shop won't be mine anymore, right?"

"Isn't it written very clearly in the document?" He Yuzhu said. "The state will compensate you through a redemption method; in ten years at the latest, this shop will have nothing to do with you..."

Chen Xueru's expression suddenly turned downcast, and she shed tears. "All these years, I've negotiated business deal by deal, and it was so hard to build this shop up... Suddenly, this shop... no longer belongs to me. I feel so terrible inside..."

He Yuzhu comforted her: "You were born to do business. How about I get you to Hong Kong? You'll definitely be like a fish in water there!"

Chen Xueru shook her head; it was clear she had already made up her mind, and seeking out He Yuzhu was merely to vent her emotions. "I have thought it through. I will treat it as a pilot project. Even if the shop becomes state-run, I must strive to be the Manager; otherwise, I would be letting down those who have followed me."

He Yuzhu gave a thumbs up: "Magnanimous and straightforward."

Chen Xueru walked up to He Yuzhu, draped her arm over his shoulder, and said, "You can risk life and limb for the country, so why can't I forge a new path for those who follow me? Over these years, I have also come to understand: if you were to do business, you could make even more money, yet you have never done so, and you live more freely than I do... I want to learn from you."

"Do you know what I like about you? It's exactly this—knowing how to adapt to circumstances!" He Yuzhu said.

"Since you don't dislike me, and we have spent so many years together, then, let's get married!" Chen Xueru said.