Chapter 621: He Yuzhu Collects Antiques

Looking at this man with his hunched back and gaunt, withered features, He Yuzhu recalled how spirited he had been back in the day, and felt a bitter taste in his heart. That Luo Jiangtao had ended up like this was partly due to his own karma, and he decided to help him.

"Let's go," He Yuzhu said, "I'll take you to see Wang Xia and try to get you a job at the Street Office."

Luo Jiangtao was stunned; he hadn't expected He Yuzhu to be so loyal. Once he realized what was happening, his whole demeanor immediately perked up, his waist bowing almost to the ground: "Thank you, little Factory Director He! Thank you, little Factory Director He!"

He Yuzhu patted his back: "Hey, Uncle Luo, don't be so formal. Actually, when I first met you, I thought you were a decent person. In that era, joining the Military Statistics Bureau was truly a helpless move. After you were caught, you exposed many spies, which could be considered indirectly helping Tian Dan. In fact, the reason your sentence was so light was partly because Tian Dan pleaded for you."

Luo Jiangtao nodded, his eyes reddening again: "Aye, I understand, I understand everything..."

The two of them found Wang Xia.

Wang Xia had lost quite a bit of weight, but she appeared exceptionally spirited, her eyes bright.

He Yuzhu spoke right up: "Sister, you've lost weight, you look even better than before, you look younger!"

Wang Xia kicked his thigh, "Speak your mind, spit it out!"

He Yuzhu laughed and dodged, pointing at Luo Jiangtao beside him: "This is Xu Damao's stepfather, just released from prison. Times are tough for everyone now; if he doesn't have a way to make a living, he won't survive. I'm here to beg you for help."

Wang Xia glared: "Our Street Office is barely able to feed ourselves, and you're still trying to shove people in here?"

He Yuzhu knew she was being difficult on purpose, and gave a cheeky grin: "Twenty thousand catties of frozen fish, how about it?"

A smile immediately appeared on Wang Xia's face, but she still curled her lip: "You're not being very loyal, kid. I heard you sent a lot of things to Tian Dan's side, why didn't you think of me?"

He Yuzhu was unimpressed: "Your street factory makes food, can you really go hungry?"

"Don't get the wrong idea, those of us working here can't get our hands on the factory's goods." Wang Xia rolled her eyes at him, then turned to Luo Jiangtao, "Comrade Luo, I won't hide it from you; in your situation, it's impossible for us to let you handle finance, the kitchen, or procurement—those important matters. The Street Office is currently short of someone to clean; are you willing to do it?"

Luo Jiangtao nodded vigorously: "Willing, willing! As long as I can earn a meal, that's enough!"

After Luo Jiangtao left, He Yuzhu asked: "Sister, this Luo Jiangtao has some education, why not let him do some registration work or something? I see many people in your office who can't even recognize all the characters."

Wang Xia curled her lip: "It's not that I don't want to arrange an easy job for him; if I really did, the higher-ups would investigate me. Cleaning work is fine; he can at least earn basic living expenses."

Before leaving, He Yuzhu gave Wang Xia six hundred catties worth of Grain Coupons, and Wang Xia did not refuse.

Leaving the Street Office, He Yuzhu did not go straight home, but instead went to Lou Bancheng's house.

Outside that two-story building, the security guards were no longer to be seen.

He knocked on the door, and soon, Lou Xiaoe came out to open it.

As soon as she saw it was He Yuzhu, her eyes lit up, and she said with a smile: "Yo, great Factory Director, why did you suddenly run over to our place?"

For these years, Lou Xiaoe had been helping Chen Xueru with her work, and her attendance was hit-or-miss; in any case, the family didn't care about that bit of money.

He Yuzhu said: "I heard people keep coming to cause trouble for your family, so I came to take a look."

Lou Xiaoe sighed: "I used to think my father was known by everyone in all of Si Jiu Cheng, but now I've discovered that those people are no longer willing to say they know my father. To buy anything, one has to beg everywhere."

"Times change. Life is full of ups and downs," He Yuzhu teased.

Lou Xiaoe gave a bitter smile, and suddenly pulled He Yuzhu into the gatehouse.

"What's the matter, being so mysterious?" He Yuzhu asked.

Lou Xiaoe lowered her voice and said: "Didn't Xu Damao get a divorce? He sent someone to my house to propose marriage. What do you think he takes me for?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu couldn't help but sigh in his heart—this fate was truly powerful.

In the original story, Lou Xiaoe was destined to marry Xu Damao.

In this life, he had changed so much, and Xu Damao had changed completely too, so how could this kind of thing still pop up?

He smiled: "You know what kind of person Xu Damao is, right?"

Lou Xiaoe frowned: "Of course I do. Xiaomei told Xueru everything about her and Xu Damao. That bastard Xu Damao has really done no shortage of evil deeds. He actually had Liu Guangtian and Yan Jiefang steal money from the homes of those old remnants of the former dynasty. Those people didn't dare to report it when something happened, so he seized on that psychology and stole from many families. Such a scumbag, how could I possibly marry him?"

He Yuzhu said: "Then why don't you just refuse him directly?"

"But my mother doesn't know about those things! And I have a good relationship with Aunt Cui, what should I do?"

He Yuzhu couldn't help but mock: "Then you'll just have to marry him."

Lou Xiaoe pushed him hard: "You're so annoying! Think of a way for me!"

He Yuzhu was silent for a moment, then said: "I have no way!"

Lou Xiaoe sighed and said: "My father also wants to go to the south, but he hasn't made up his mind yet."

He Yuzhu nodded: "Take advantage of the fact that the policy is still relatively loose and go quickly; sooner is better than later."

Lou Xiaoe thought for a long time, then said softly: "I understand. Go see my father."

When He Yuzhu saw Lou Bancheng, he found that he had aged quite a bit; there were more wrinkles on his face, and his spirit was not as good as before.

"Boss Lou, we haven't seen each other for a year, have we?" He Yuzhu said, "You are still listed as a Consultant for the Rolling Mill, but I haven't seen you once in any meetings."

Lou Bancheng shook his head: "It's useless for me to go, better not to. Thinking about it, it's better to just stay in my own home."

He Yuzhu asked: "So, do you have any plans now?"

Lou Bancheng looked at him, was silent for a moment, and said: "Zhuzi, give me the bottom line. You know people above, tell me the truth: for someone like me, is there really no way to live a good life anymore?"

He Yuzhu shook his head: "Not very likely."

Lou Bancheng nodded and sighed: "Zhuzi, I have been dealing with those properties, as well as some things passed down from my ancestors. Are you interested?"

He Yuzhu knew this was Lou Bancheng selling off his family assets, and said with a smile: "Antiques, calligraphy, and paintings—if you don't want them anymore, give them all to me. I will give you a fair price."

Upon hearing this, Lou Bancheng was immediately delighted; he gripped He Yuzhu's hand: "Are you free today? I'll take you to see them."

He Yuzhu nodded.

Lou Bancheng got into He Yuzhu's car and went to a large mansion he owned near Wangfujing. It was a four-courtyard prince's mansion; the stone lions at the entrance were still standing, but no one had been taking care of them, and the entrance was filthy.

Lou Bancheng opened the main gate with a key and led him into the living room of the main house.

He pressed a hidden button, and a hole appeared in the floor.

He led He Yuzhu down.

Lou Bancheng lit a Candle, and He Yuzhu took out a flashlight.

This basement was very large, at least several hundred square meters, with dozens of various large trunks stacked on the floor.

Lou Bancheng said: "These are all things passed down from my ancestors. I was originally reluctant to sell them. But if I don't sell..."

He did not continue speaking, using a crowbar to pry open a crate.

Inside were nothing but exquisite porcelain wares.