Chapter 676: Small-Minded People Making Trouble

He Yuzhu and his group were jolted on the road for two days.

To tell the truth, everyone on the vehicle, young and old, was worn out.

Although it was already September, the weather was still very hot.

The back of the truck was packed tight—there were middle-aged people, elderly folks, and half-grown children; there wasn't even a place to stretch one's legs, and everyone was shaken until they were dizzy and nauseated.

The one suffering the most was an Expert in his fifties; he was severely carsick.

He Yuzhu moved him to the front passenger seat, but it still didn't help.

The old Expert vomited non-stop along the way, and even He Yuzhu, who was driving, felt nauseated from the stench, feeling as if he were about to vomit himself.

"Engineer Qian, are you carsick by nature?"

Engineer Qian said with tears in his eyes, "As long as there's any swaying, I vomit! I even vomit on an ox cart!"

"If you keep vomiting like this, it won't do. We won't travel any further today; let's find a place to rest and recuperate."

Engineer Qian covered his mouth and said, "Then thank you so much!"

He Yuzhu turned the steering wheel, made a turn, and headed straight for Heifengzhai.

This place was where he, together with Yang Xiuqing, had taken it from bandits before the founding of the country in order to settle displaced people.

Now, over a dozen years later, he didn't know what it had become.

After driving near the former Shanzhai, he discovered that the place had changed a lot; buildings had been erected on the Shanzhai, and this place had likely become a dormitory for steel mill workers.

As soon as they arrived at the foot of the mountain, a crowd of onlookers gathered around.

Soon, someone recognized him and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Zhuzi, you've finally returned!"

He Yuzhu looked over and quickly recognized that this person was Jin Yi, who had been a capable hand back when they were fighting.

He stepped forward to shake hands with He Yuzhu and said, "It's under Yang Xiuqing's management now. He happens to be here; I'll go find him."

Having said that, he ran off as if flying.

Not long after, Yang Xiuqing came running over in small steps. Seeing He Yuzhu, he strode forward and hugged him tightly.

"Zhuzi! It's been seven or eight years since we parted in Beijing; I've missed you!"

He Yuzhu smiled and pointed to the fifty-plus people on the truck behind him: "Brother Yang, I've come to rely on you tonight. Find a comfortable place for them, and get some hot food so everyone can have a good rest."

Yang Xiuqing glanced at the exhausted faces on the truck and said, "No problem! Leave it to me!"

By evening, the place where He Yuzhu was staying was as lively as the New Year.

Many old acquaintances heard the news and rushed over, including Cadres and ordinary folks, packing the room to the brim.

He Yuzhu looked at the familiar faces, feeling a warmth in his heart.

When dinner started, Yang Xiuqing was very generous, placing four bowls of stewed dishes on every table.

Sitting at He Yuzhu's table were Yang Xiuqing, Jin Yi, Zhao Dashan, and Yang Xiuqing's daughter, Yang Mei.

After three rounds of drinks, Yang Xiuqing brought up a topic: "Jin Yi and Zhao Dashan always say they want to visit you, but they've only ever talked and never taken action."

He Yuzhu intentionally put on a stern face: "The world is at peace, and it's not far away; if you don't come to see me, it means your feelings for me aren't deep!"

Both of them looked a bit embarrassed. Jin Yi raised his glass and said, "Zhuzi, I heard you became a big Factory Director, and I was afraid that if I went to see you, you wouldn't acknowledge me!"

"Don't make excuses, punish yourself with three cups!" He Yuzhu waved his hand with a smile.

Zhao Dashan quickly took over the conversation: "Zhuzi, don't wrong me. Although I didn't go to see you, I've been in contact with Deputy Factory Director He Daqing, and I entrust him to bring you things every year!"

He Yuzhu slapped his forehead: "I remember now! It's you who sends me dried persimmons every year; my son loves them the most. Alright, you don't need to be punished!"

Yang Xiuqing laughed from the side: "Zhuzi, you must come visit us often in the future; it's not far."

He Yuzhu nodded: "I will."

Back in Beijing, Xiao Qiu and Xu Damao were huddled in a small restaurant, drinking until their faces were red and their necks were thick.

Xu Damao leaned his head in and asked in a low voice, "Xiao Qiu, is what you told me yesterday really true? Why do I feel like Deputy Director Nie doesn't quite believe it? You said if He Yuzhu isn't on a business trip, why hasn't he come home?"

Xiao Qiu was unhappy the moment he heard this and slammed his glass onto the table: "Xu Damao, you're going too far! You were the one who asked for the news; do you think I'd deliberately make up lies to trick you?"

"That's not what I meant!" Xu Damao thought about it, and Xiao Qiu was right.

Xiao Qiu downed another glass of wine and said, "Damao, we've known each other for so long, what exactly do you want to do? Don't play games with me, just say it straight!"

Xu Damao nodded, his expression darkening: "I won't hide it from you, brother, I got divorced a while ago, you know that, right?"

Xiao Qiu nodded: "I heard about that."

Xu Damao gritted his teeth and said, "I originally wanted to marry a girl, and she had already agreed. But He Yuzhu actually introduced that girl to a good-for-nothing in our courtyard... I want to find dirt on him and topple him from his position as Factory Director!"

Xiao Qiu laughed after hearing this: "Damao, you're a bit overestimating your capabilities. What kind of person is He Yuzhu? He has methods and connections; how could you possibly topple him?"

Xu Damao snorted coldly, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes: "Xiao Qiu, I have people above me too. Now I just lack an opportunity; as long as I catch his dirt, I can topple him in one go."

Xiao Qiu rolled his eyes and leaned in with a grin: "Damao, if I provide you with intelligence, if you succeed in the future, can you promote me?"

"That depends on the size of your contribution." Xu Damao picked up his glass and took a sip. "If the intelligence is important enough, maybe it's possible; if it's something anyone could find out, then definitely no way."

Xiao Qiu slapped his thigh: "Our Director Wang Qiang always drinks tea with his two brothers and chats about things in your courtyard. I'll keep an ear out for you; maybe I can dig something up!"

Xu Damao's eyes lit up, and he raised his glass: "Great! I'm paying for this meal today!"

Xiao Qiu happily clinked glasses: "Then thanks. If you could provide some funds for me to buy some good tea to treat them, they'd definitely be more willing to chat together."

Xu Damao generously took out three ten-yuan bills: "Buy them some good tea."

"Don't worry, with these funds, I'll be able to get you good news very soon."

The next morning, He Yuzhu left Heifengzhai.

Dozens of people came to see him off, mostly the old brothers who had joined him in suppressing bandits back then.

Over a dozen years later, these people were all middle-aged, and some had even grayed.

Everyone shook hands and patted each other on the shoulders, their eyes turning red.

He Yuzhu felt a lump in his throat too; he opened his mouth to say something, but his throat felt as if it were choked by something.

The vehicle slowly started, and he waved his hand out the window.

Those figures standing by the roadside grew further and smaller, finally disappearing into the dust.

Two days later, He Yuzhu finally delivered this group of Experts safely to their destination.

By the time he returned to Beijing, it was already five days later.

As soon as he entered his home, before his seat on the stool had even warmed up, Wang Qiang hurried over to his door.

Wang Qiang's expression was not very good, and he said with rapid speed: "Zhuzi, Xu Damao is investigating you behind your back again."

He Yuzhu did not take it to heart and leaned back against the chair: "A single Xu Damao cannot stir up any waves."

Wang Qiang shook his head, his expression grave: "Zhuzi, the matter is more serious than you think. The second day you left, a Deputy Director came to the factory. I heard this person went directly to Xu Damao to ask about your situation, and even gave Xiao Qiu thirty yuan to have him spy on you. It seems they have spent a fortune and really want to take you down."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu's pupils shrank sharply: "Uncle Wang, do you have confirmed news?"

Wang Qiang lowered his voice: "When Xu Damao was causing trouble for you back then, I planted a nail to have him actively approach Xu Damao... The second day you left, someone sent Xu Damao and Xiao Qiu to ask about your whereabouts. This matter is too coincidental; there must be something fishy going on inside."