Chapter 643: Parting on Bad Terms

He Yuzhu smiled and did not take up the conversation.

Back in the office, it would be a lie to say he wasn't feeling a bit depressed.

He lit a cigarette, took a few hard drags, and stared out the window, lost in thought.

The telephone on the desk suddenly rang, startling him.

He picked it up, and on the other end was Chen Xueru's voice, "Zhuzi! I've heard a shocking piece of news!"

"What is it? Hurry up and say it, I'm already annoyed as it is." He Yuzhu leaned back in his chair, feeling listless.

Chen Xueru giggled, "Then if I tell you this news, I guarantee you'll be even more depressed."

"Then don't tell me." He Yuzhu replied irritably.

Chen Xueru finished laughing before saying slowly, "Tian Dan is getting married. She ran into me at Qianmen and told me herself."

He Yuzhu's hand gripping the receiver tightened abruptly, "What? I saw her half a month ago, why didn't she tell me?"

He didn't know why, but a vague sense of discomfort welled up in his heart, as if something were churning there.

"Then I'll give her a call and ask!"

"No need to ask. Tonight, Tian Dan is inviting both of us to the Small Tavern to meet her future husband."

He Yuzhu was stunned, his brows knitting into a knot: "She's getting married, what are you so happy about?"

"Of course I'm happy," Chen Xueru said righteously, "One less potential competitor."

He Yuzhu was so angry he laughed, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll deal with you when I get home!"

A crisp laugh came from the other end, unbridled and wanton; she only stopped to urge, "Don't forget, seven o'clock tonight."

The call ended, and He Yuzhu sat holding the receiver, dazed for a long time.

He lit another cigarette, leaned back into his chair, and let out a long sigh; the stone in his chest not only failed to disperse, but felt even heavier.

In the early evening, He Yuzhu drove to the entrance of the Small Tavern. Just as the car came to a stop, he saw a seven or eight-year-old girl and a boy of about ten playing with pebbles by the roadside.

He recognized them at a glance; it was Xu Jingli, the daughter Xu Huizhen had with her ex-husband.

The little girl saw him, her eyes lit up, and she immediately took off running toward him, calling out crisply: "Cousin!"

He Yuzhu smiled, pulled a handful of candies from his pocket, and bent down to stuff them into her hand.

Xu Jingli was so happy her eyes curved into crescents. She turned and ran back to share two or three pieces with the boy, who took them and gave a goofy smile.

"Is your dad in the tavern?" He Yuzhu asked.

"He hasn't finished work yet." Xu Jingli had a candy in her mouth, her cheeks bulging, making her speech slurred.

He Yuzhu lifted his foot and went inside.

Inside, Chen Xueru and Xu Huizhen were chatting enthusiastically; Chen Xueru was gesturing wildly, and Xu Huizhen was laughing until she swayed back and forth.

Standing next to them was another woman, similar in age to them, who would chime in from time to time.

Xu Huizhen glanced at He Yuzhu and spoke first, "Oh, my nephew is here."

He Yuzhu smiled and said, "Business is much better, Second Aunt. Why hasn't my Second Uncle come back yet?"

As he spoke, he found a seat near the counter.

Xu Huizhen sighed, "He's started working at the bureau now, not hanging around Qianmen every day like before. He can't help me with much anymore."

As the two were talking, the woman next to them suddenly interjected, "You're He Yuzhu? Are you the one who got my Xu Damao locked up?"

He Yuzhu was stunned, then immediately smiled and asked, "And who might you be?"

The woman took a step forward, chest held high, "My surname is Xie, I'm Xie Xiaolan, Xu Damao's wife."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu's smile deepened, "You must be Widow Xie, right? Why aren't you staying in Zhang Village? What brings you here?"

Xie Xiaolan's expression changed, and she glared at him, "He Yuzhu, don't look down on people. I'm a worker at the Qianmen Coal Factory now!"

He Yuzhu nodded and asked, "It was Zhou Hao who arranged the job for you, right? I have to say, the kid is quite loyal. Got Xu Damao sent to prison and found you a job too."

"Bullshit! Zhou Hao didn't help me find a job at all!" Xie Xiaolan was choked up by his words, her face turning bright red.

Xu Huizhen hurriedly reached out to pat her arm, smoothing things over, "Xie Xiaolan, He Yuzhu is my nephew, you can't go looking for trouble. If you look for trouble, I won't let you into this Small Tavern anymore."

Xie Xiaolan's chest heaved a few times before she forced a smile, "He Yuzhu, you, you're a bad person. I often hear Xu Damao talk about you. I think that although you're a bad person, you're fairly just in your actions. I won't cause you any trouble. Look, I know your wife, and I haven't caused her any trouble either!"

He Yuzhu found this person quite interesting; after becoming a worker, she was actually quite confident. He teased her deliberately, "Thanks for that assessment of me. Now I'd like to hear, how do you assess Xu Damao?"

Xie Xiaolan bit her lip, and after a moment of silence, she said, "Xu Damao is a good person, he's loyal. But the things he does are a bit petty."

He Yuzhu heard this and actually started clapping, "You're still salvageable; you haven't completely lost your mind."

"Your wife is a good person! You don't deserve her!" Xie Xiaolan said.

This remark made Chen Xueru laugh until she was gasping.

Xu Huizhen also burst out laughing.

Just then, Tian Dan walked in with a man.

The man had thick brows and big eyes, was tall, looked to be about thirty-six or thirty-seven, and was wearing a Zhongshan suit with every button done up meticulously. Standing there, he had quite the air of an official.

Chen Xueru stood up with a start, ran over in two or three steps, took Tian Dan's hand, and asked, "Dan, is this your partner? He's quite the talent!"

There was a slight unnaturalness on Tian Dan's face; the corners of her mouth twitched, and her smile was a bit stiff.

He Yuzhu hurriedly stood up, reached out his hand very humbly and politely, and bowed slightly: "Are you the brother-in-law? I'm He Yuzhu, very happy to meet you!"

He Yuzhu's display of obsequiousness took Tian Dan by surprise; her eyelid twitched suddenly.

Tian Dan hurriedly introduced him, "His surname is Meng, Meng Zhiyuan, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Finance Bureau."

He Yuzhu smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits, "So Dan found herself a God of Wealth."

Meng Zhiyuan did not appreciate He Yuzhu's obsequiousness.

He reached out his hand and shook He Yuzhu's briefly; he pulled away as soon as his fingers touched, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

He Yuzhu could see it: this person knew something about him, and he really didn't like him.

Tian Dan explained from the side, "Old Meng and I have known each other for a long time. This time, our Bureau Chief made an introduction, so we just got together."

He Yuzhu nodded and asked, "Sister, when are you planning to get married? I need to prepare a big gift."

Tian Dan said, "The preliminary plan is October 1st."

He Yuzhu nodded, "Very good, that's a good day!"

Chen Xueru glared at He Yuzhu and said with feigned anger, "If you don't know how to talk, then don't."

He Yuzhu laughed, "I was wrong!" He then looked at Meng Zhiyuan and said, "Brother-in-law, could you talk to your Bureau Chief? Recently, the Finance Bureau has asked us to pay a large urban construction fee. The reason given is that our coal transport has ruined many of the city's roads, but several factories use that road, not just us!"

Meng Zhiyuan laughed and said rather bluntly, "You all have indeed been quite excessive. Look at those roads near you; they have been ruined by your large coal trucks. Now that the country is in the early stages of reconstruction, large enterprises like yours should also share some of the local burden."