Chapter 491: To Hong Kong

As soon as the motorcade led by He Yuzhu drove into the factory area, the previously quiet courtyard instantly erupted into a buzz of activity.

There were over three hundred people transferred from the Red Star Rolling Mill this time, most of whom had come by train and arrived 10 days ago.

Seeing their old colleagues, everyone was naturally very excited.

"Lao Ma, was the journey smooth?"

"Smooth my foot! We were almost gunned down by bandits!"

"Shunzi, why have you lost so much weight?"

"It's all because it rained every single day; we had to push these trucks the whole way!"

Some waved, some greeted each other, and some simply jogged up to embrace old friends.

Those young workers who loved hearing stories crowded around the truck beds, asking about what they had seen on the road, their eyes full of novelty and curiosity.

He Daqing was in the front with Li Huaide, busy arranging accommodations while answering various questions.

Seeing He Yuzhu from afar, Li Huaide immediately hurried over, his face wreathed in smiles.

"Junior Brother! You finally made it back! You were three days later than expected, and both Siqiang and I were worried sick."

He Yuzhu took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and handed it over: "The rain was too heavy on the road, and we ran into a few groups of bandits."

"What? It's been five years since Liberation, and there are still bandits?" Li Huaide looked at He Yuzhu in disbelief.

"There are many mountains there, so suppressing bandits isn't easy. I didn't let you follow me back then because the road wasn't safe; did you think I was trying to harm you?" He Yuzhu said, patting his shoulder. "Four of our brothers in the team were injured, so I'll have to trouble you to take good care of them."

"No problem!" Hearing this, Li Huaide finally understood why He Yuzhu hadn't let him travel with the convoy; at the time, he had thought He Yuzhu didn't want him to earn credit!

He Yuzhu glanced at the motorcade and said: "Every truck has mountain goods I collected; help me take inventory. I paid for them out of pocket, so you need to pay me back!"

Li Huaide laughed: "No problem, I really haven't been able to get used to the things here!"

He Yuzhu handed the motorcade over to Li Huaide to settle and turned to head home.

Hearing the commotion, Shen Guizhi hurried out to meet him, and the moment she saw her son, her eyes turned red.

"Was the... journey smooth?"

He Yuzhu shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Any job led by your son is never easy. We ran into several groups of bandits along the way—some used poison, others set ambushes—but fortunately, nothing major happened."

Shen Guizhi was shocked and sighed repeatedly: "If I had known, you would have been better off taking the train..."

"If I had taken the train, this entire motorcade would have been wiped out!" He Yuzhu lay down next to He Yulu and teased her.

He Yulu seemed very sleepy, her eyes narrowed, and she paid him no mind at all.

He Yuzhu stood up and scanned the room; it was empty, with almost nothing in it except for a few old tables.

"Mother, this place is too simple. Why didn't Father buy some things? Didn't I give you the relocation money?"

"It's your father; he's afraid others will say our family is abusing power for personal gain!" Shen Guizhi said.

He Yuzhu felt helpless, shook his head, and asked: "Is there enough milk powder for He Yulu?"

Shen Guizhi looked down at the baby and said softly: "There's a little left, enough for about a week... I just don't know if we can buy more here."

He Yuzhu smiled: "It's not far from Hong Kong here; I'll go there and get some. If all goes well, I'll bring my son over for you to see!"

Hearing this, Shen Guizhi's face beamed with joy: "That would be wonderful! If he really can come, bring Liu Rusi along too!"

He Yuzhu shook his head with a bitter smile: "She might not be able to come; her status is sensitive, after all."

Evening.

The canteen was steaming hot.

He Yuzhu cooked himself, stir-frying a large pot of Spicy Crayfish.

He carried a large basin of bright red Spicy Crayfish to the table, and the fragrance exploded instantly.

At this table were Secretary Liu, the local Deputy Mayor Liu Yibing, the Factory Director Lu Zhaoheng sent by the Red Star Rolling Mill, the local Factory Director Li Zhen, Deputy Chief Engineer Cheng Hai, as well as He Daqing, Li Huaide, and He Yuzhu...

"What is this?" Lu Zhaoheng asked.

"Spicy Crayfish!" He Yuzhu replied.

"It smells delicious!" Li Huaide was already eager to try it.

He Yuzhu smiled and introduced it: "I discovered this in a small town in Hunan; it's quite rare. I tried making some before and the taste was great, so I'm letting everyone have a taste today."

He Yuzhu peeled one himself to demonstrate.

At first, everyone was a bit hesitant.

Factory Director Li Zhen ate one and immediately started coughing non-stop, only managing to squeeze out a sentence after a long while: "It's delicious, but it's just too spicy, I can't handle it!"

Secretary Liu ate several in a row, unable to stop, and praised it repeatedly: "This taste is not bad!"

He Daqing was eating with his mouth full of oil, nodding repeatedly: "Delicious, truly delicious!"

Li Huaide was eating with such joy that he secretly leaned into He Yuzhu's ear and asked: "Will eating this give me diarrhea?"

He Yuzhu laughed: "The effect is about the same as eating Boiled Fish."

Secretary Liu wiped his hands and said with a smile: "Zhuzi, you really are a person who can stir up good things wherever you go."

After three rounds of drinks, the conversation gradually turned to business.

Everyone began to discuss the issues of building the factory, equipment, funds, and manpower; there were many difficulties, but the most critical ones were money and equipment.

He Yuzhu didn't interject, just listening quietly.

After Deputy Chief Engineer Cheng Hai toasted the leaders, he picked up his glass to toast He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu could tell that he did not respect him.

"Chief Engineer He, I look forward to your guidance in the future."

He Yuzhu clinked glasses with him and asked casually: "Where did Engineer Cheng work before?"

"I once studied abroad in Germany and later interned at the Ruhr Steel Plant. After the war broke out, I returned to the country and have been working at the Chongqing Steel Plant ever since."

He Yuzhu nodded and probed: "Have you used an Oxygen Top-Blown Converter over there?"

Cheng Hai was stunned, then shook his head: "I am here this time specifically to learn this technology from Chief Engineer He!"

This person is certainly not hypocritical; he speaks the truth.

He Yuzhu immediately understood in his heart: this person has theory but lacks practical experience, and his aspirations are high; once he masters the core technology, he will likely look down on everyone even more. He weighed things in his mind, but did not say anything more.

After the meal, Secretary Liu kept him behind alone.

He Yuzhu knew his intention; after all, he had promised before setting off to draw up a blueprint for the entire factory.

He took a drawing directly from his bag and spread it out on the table.

That was not an ordinary factory layout plan—

It was an entire industrial park.

Liangangchang, machinery factory, supporting equipment factory, residential area, school, commercial area... everything was complete.

After Secretary Liu finished looking at it, he gasped: "Zhuzi, our funds are already insufficient; aren't you taking too big a step?"

He Yuzhu smiled: "The road must be walked one step at a time, but there must also be an overall plan. I will find a way for the money; if it really doesn't work, I will go to Liu Rusi to beg for help."

Secretary Liu's eyes lit up: "When do you want to go?"

"I'll leave once I finish drawing the first phase of the blueprints," He Yuzhu said. "The equipment I ordered from Liu Shi Trading earlier should also be arriving soon."

"Good!" Secretary Liu agreed to this matter immediately.

With Secretary Liu's endorsement, He Yuzhu was no longer afraid; if it really came to it, he would just go get some things from the Japanese.

Early the next morning.

He Yuzhu took his students to measure the plot of land on-site.

This plot of land is located in the East Suburb of Guangzhou, with open terrain, convenient transportation, and a sufficiently large area.

He looked around and was very satisfied.

Four days later, He Yuzhu handed the first phase of the engineering blueprints to Secretary Liu.

He then drove directly to Shenzhen Bay.

When Zhang Guowei saw him, his face immediately darkened: "Battalion Commander, you're not being authentic. You promised to drink with me last time, but then you just vanished!"

He Yuzhu gave a bitter smile: "I am truly sorry, there was a temporary mission, and I went to Guangzhou overnight."

"What are you here for this time?" Zhang Guowei asked.

"Still going to Hong Kong to get equipment; it will take about half a month to a month."

Zhang Guowei nodded: "How do you need me to cooperate?"

"I will fire three signal flares when I leave; don't stop me," He Yuzhu said with a grin. "It will be the same when I return. If everything goes smoothly, I will bring you some good things."

"It's a deal!" Zhang Guowei said.

The two found a local small restaurant and had a simple meal.

Late at night.

He Yuzhu drove to the seaside and released the modified Fishing Boat.

Three signal flares cut through the night sky.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Afterwards, he started the motor, and the Fishing Boat roared as it charged into the pitch-black waves.

When approaching the shore of Hong Kong, He Yuzhu killed the engine and let the boat drift along with the waves.

Near the shore, he flipped into the water, put the boat into his space, and swam to the shore silently.

There was no one on the shore; He Yuzhu released his car, started the engine, and headed straight for Liu Rusi's home.