Chapter 710: Recognizing Ancestors and Returning to the Clan

Inside the He Ji Restaurant at Shichahai, the He Yuzhu family sat around a table, hot dishes served one after another, the atmosphere during the meal exceptionally lively.

Lou Xiaoe suddenly put down her chopsticks and looked at He Yuzhu, "Zhuzi, He Xiao is coming back for summer vacation; shouldn't he meet his grandparents?"

He Jia, sitting to the side, had her eyes light up instantly and spoke up first: "Dad, I'll take my younger brother to see Grandpa and Grandma when the time comes!"

He Yuzhu immediately glared at her: "How old are you and still so thoughtless? If you really bring He Xiao back to the Siheyuan, wouldn't those gossiping women turn the place upside down?"

He Jia stuck out her tongue and muttered softly: "I really forgot about those chatterboxes in the Siheyuan."

"This weekend, I'll pick up Mom and Dad and we'll gather at Yushui's House," He Yuzhu arranged decisively.

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Xueru suddenly reminded him: "Zhuzi, you must be more careful. Recently, someone specifically came to the construction site at Dabeiyao to scout for information, and they asked very detailed questions."

He Yuzhu frowned and asked in a deep voice: "Have you checked the surveillance?"

"The security guards gave me the footage, but I haven't had time to watch it yet," Chen Xueru replied.

He Yuzhu immediately looked displeased, his tone deepening: "This is no small matter; how could you be so careless?"

Chen Xueru hurriedly apologized with a smile: "I'll go back and watch it immediately."

On the other side, the Liu family's house was steaming hot.

Liu Haizhong, Xu Damao, Liu Guangtian, and Liu Guangfu, the four father and sons, sat together eating hot pot, the red oil broth bubbling and rolling, the heat rushing toward their faces.

Xu Damao fawningly lit a cigarette for Liu Haizhong and flattered him with a smile: "Second Uncle, you've performed a great service this time! If it weren't for this batch of steel from you, the boss from the south said he would never cooperate with Li Huaide again."

Liu Haizhong took a deep drag of his cigarette and said with great satisfaction: "A small matter. However, you must get my commission to me quickly; I want to install a telephone so it will be more convenient to handle affairs in the future."

Xu Damao took 50,000 yuan directly out of his briefcase and slapped it on the table with a "thwack": "This is your commission; there will be company dividends after the New Year!"

Liu Guangfu stared at the thick stack of money on the table, his eyes fixed, and blurted out: "Dad, our family should change the furniture too! Look at those beds and wardrobes; they are broken beyond repair."

Liu Haizhong thought for a moment and waved his hand: "I'll take 3,000 yuan; you and your brother get this done. If you can't handle it well, I won't need you in the future and will just hire a secretary."

Xu Damao immediately chimed in with a wicked grin: "Exactly! Second Uncle, you really should hire a younger female secretary; it would be so prestigious."

As soon as these words were out, the Second Aunt was furious on the spot, pointing at Xu Damao and cursing: "Xu Damao, you brat are full of bad intentions! If you dare to incite your Second Uncle again, don't think about entering my door in the future!"

Xu Damao hurriedly apologized with a flattering smile: "Second Aunt, don't overthink it; it's all for work! Look at Li Huaide; he hired a female secretary to accompany clients for meals and drinks—how grand that is!"

The He Daqing family was dressed neatly and just about to leave when they happened to run into Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui had sharp eyes and immediately stepped forward to strike up a conversation: "Daqing, what happy event is there today? Why is the whole family dressed so spiritedly?"

He Daqing's tone was flat: "Nothing much, going to my daughter Yushui's house."

Yan Bugui asked with a grin: "Daqing, you're already sixty-two; why haven't you retired yet?"

"It's just that the factory hasn't found a suitable person yet, so they insisted on keeping me for two more years. I estimate I'll definitely retire by the end of the year," He Daqing replied.

Yan Bugui changed the subject and leaned in to ask: "I heard your daughter-in-law opened a company? Why don't you go work there?"

He Daqing's heart skipped a beat, secretly thinking that his family had hidden this matter extremely well, so how could he know? Yet, he remained calm on the surface: "Are you talking about Liu Shi Trading? Xueru is just a hired Consultant, and Lou Xiaoe is the General Manager. What could I do if I went there?"

Yan Bugui leaned in sneakily and lowered his voice: "I heard your Zhuzi has shares in Liu Shi Trading; is that true?"

He Daqing's face darkened: "Lao Yan, you can't spread rumors like that! Zhuzi is still the General Manager of Hongxing Electronics; how could he have shares elsewhere?"

Yan Bugui smiled mysteriously: "Lao He, this isn't what I said; it's what Xu Damao spread, and I just heard it."

He Daqing couldn't be bothered to talk to him anymore, opened the car door, stepped on the gas, and drove straight away.

He Yushui's house was decorated with lanterns and colored streamers, exceptionally lively; she had specifically invited two chefs from He Ji Restaurant to take charge of the cooking.

As soon as He Daqing entered the door, he saw fourteen-year-old He Xiao.

The young man was quite tall and stood there looking spirited.

Lou Xiaoe hurriedly pulled her son in front of her: "He Xiao, hurry and call Grandpa and Grandma."

He Xiao had an outgoing personality and called out immediately: "Hello, Grandpa and Grandma!"

He Daqing hurriedly took out a red envelope and handed it over.

Shen Guizhi stepped forward and held He Xiao's hand, smiling from ear to ear, looking him up and down, liking him more the more she looked.

He Yulu also pulled He Xiao and laughed: "Do you know who I am?"

He Xiao spoke immediately: "You are my little aunt; I've seen your photo at my big aunt's house."

He Yulu joked with a smile: "I have to say, you look even more like your dad than He Zheng does."

When He Daqing heard this, his heart sank, and he immediately pulled He Yuzhu to the side, whispering: "Zhuzi, Xu Damao is spreading rumors about you outside again, saying you have shares in Liu Shi Trading. Even Yan Bugui knows about it and came specifically today to fish for information and curry favor. If the Gong family finds out about this, it will be a big problem; you have to think of a way."

He Yuzhu let out a long sigh, his face looking ugly: "It must be Yan Jiekuang; he is currently helping Xu Damao and Li Huaide scout for information everywhere, and they even went to the Dabeiyao construction site to inquire, and they really did find out quite a few things."

He Daqing asked: "Zhuzi, how do you plan to deal with them?"

He Yuzhu's tone was firm: "Dad, they can only cause me some trouble; they can't stir up any big waves. I've already thought it through: I won't be the General Manager of the Hongxing Electronics Factory anymore; I'm resigning to go into business."

He Daqing was stunned: "You're resigning? Can Secretary Liu agree to that?"

"Whether he agrees or not is useless," He Yuzhu shook his head. "Now that Lou Xiaoe is back with our son, and Liu Rusi is coming back in a few days, I can't work this job with peace of mind at all."

He Daqing sighed and patted his son's shoulder: "Resigning is fine too. You are in your forties now, the prime age to build a career; it's worth it to strive for yourself."

He Yuzhu nodded heavily, his eyes incomparably determined: "Now that it's the Reform and Opening-up, I don't want to be tied down by these rotten people and rotten matters."

Inside the Hongyuan Trading Company, smoke was swirling.

Xu Damao and Li Huaide sat opposite each other, slowly sipping tea.

Li Huaide spoke slowly: "This Liu Haizhong still has some ability; he must be utilized well."

Xu Damao was somewhat worried: "Factory Director Li, are you giving him too many benefits? I'm afraid his appetite will grow larger and larger in the future, and his greed will be insatiable."

Li Huaide smiled: "Damao, don't worry. If we don't give him some sweetness first, how would he be willing to help us wholeheartedly? Liu Haizhong's two apprentices are doing quite well now; one is the Deputy Factory Director of the Steel Refining Branch of the Red Star Rolling Mill, and the other is the Workshop Director of the Hongxing Electronics Factory. If he can stabilize these two connections, we can earn even more."

Xu Damao sighed: "Even if Liu Haizhong comes forward, we still can't get the goods from the Hongxing Electronics Factory; He Yuzhu hates us both to the bone."

Li Huaide looked helpless: "I've also looked for He Daqing, but he has deep resentment toward me. With He Yuzhu and He Daqing there, we will never be able to get goods from Hongxing Electronics in this lifetime."

Xu Damao's eyes rolled, and he said sinisterly: "I think we must find a way to get rid of He Yuzhu! As long as he isn't the Factory Director of the Hongxing Electronics Factory, I don't believe that if someone else replaces him, we still won't be able to break in!"