Chapter 727: The Promise in the Mourning Hall

In the Qianmen Xiaojiu Guan, Xu Huizhen leaned over the counter, teasing Xie Xiaolan.

Xiaomei also crowded over, sitting on a chair nearby, cracking melon seeds while listening to the two bicker, chiming in from time to time.

Cai Quanwu was busy back and forth in the shop. He had reached the age to retire from his position at the Police, and now he worked as a temporary hand, helping out at the Small Tavern.

Liu Sanmei pushed the door open, walked up to the counter, and asked bluntly, "Boss, do you have someone here called Niu Ye?"

Xu Huizhen raised her eyes and looked at her: "Who are you?"

Liu Sanmei puffed out her chest: "I run an antique shop in Panjiayuan."

Xu Huizhen smiled: "How do you know Niu Ye?"

"My Xu Damao asked me to come find him," Liu Sanmei said proudly.

Xie Xiaolan glanced at her and laughed: "Oh, so you're Xu Damao's new wife? How long have you been with Xu Damao? Have you had any children yet?"

Liu Sanmei was not one to be bullied; she glared at her and said, "I know who you are, Xie Xiaolan, Xu Damao's ex-wife. Xu Damao said you aren't a good woman, spending every day drinking in the Small Tavern."

"What other bad things did Xu Damao say about me? Tell me," Xie Xiaolan asked with a smile, her cheeks flushing.

"He, he said that after you drink, you like, you like to seduce wild men..."

"Was he also seduced by me?" Xie Xiaolan laughed. "Flies don't bite seamless eggs. Your Xu Damao is just that fly."

Liu Sanmei said angrily: "Xie Xiaolan, actually I quite sympathize with you. Raising a child isn't easy, and looking for wild men is just to survive..."

Xie Xiaolan did not show weakness and countered: "Xu Damao can't have children. If you stay with him, you'll end up lonely in your old age sooner or later. Maybe one day he'll meet someone younger and kick you out just like that; by then, it'll be too late to cry!"

Liu Sanmei chuckled: "Xu Damao doesn't have the guts. I have three brothers in my family; they'd beat him to death. Even if there are no children, it doesn't matter to me. My family has many brothers; in the future, we can just adopt one of their children. As long as there's money, there's nothing I, Liu Sanmei, can't get done."

"I see you're a fool too. It's useless for me to say anything to you... What are you here for?" Xie Xiaolan asked.

"I'm here to find Niu Ye to buy a house."

Xie Xiaolan was amused after hearing this: "Oh my, has Xu Damao made money again? To think he can actually buy a house! Are you two starting your swindling business again?"

Liu Sanmei glared: "What we do in antiques isn't called swindling; even if someone loses out, that's just called 'getting an eye-opener'."

"Alright, alright, I don't have time to discuss eye-openers with you," Xie Xiaolan waved her hand. "Niu Ye has been sick these past two days. If you want to find him, go to Piku Hutong No. 3 and look for him at home. But he doesn't have any houses to sell right now anyway."

Liu Sanmei didn't greet anyone and turned around to leave, fuming.

Once Liu Sanmei was far away, Xiaomei said with a smile: "Xie Xiaolan, I didn't expect you to be so kind-hearted. Xu Damao and his wife spoke about you like that, yet you still told her where Niu Ye lives."

Xie Xiaolan waved her hand: "Hey, although I divorced Xu Damao, he did help me. Otherwise, Huzi and I wouldn't have survived. A person must know how to be grateful."

Xu Huizhen chimed in: "Do you know why I like Xie Xiaolan? She is particularly good at being grateful. Duan Xiaojie also appreciates this about her. However, that bastard Xu Damao really has some ability. I heard he lost hundreds of thousands flipping televisions, but now he's actually recovered; he really is a talent."

Cai Quanwu said coldly: "What kind of talent? Everything he does is forbidden by law, so of course it's easy to make money."

Xu Huizhen disagreed: "Isn't the antique business all like that? If you can't tell, then you deserve to be cheated."

Cai Quanwu was unconvinced: "What that kid Xu Damao is playing at isn't just 'getting an eye-opener', it's forgery."

"How do you know?" Xu Huizhen asked.

"Zhuzi has been having me keep an eye on him! That kid isn't satisfied with just forging books and paintings anymore; he's started playing with bronzeware!" Cai Quanwu whispered.

"What? Isn't that breaking the law?" Xu Huizhen said.

"Isn't it? But Zhuzi said his forgery is actually a good thing; it's better than him selling off real bronzeware," Cai Quanwu said.

"Did you collect the red sandalwood and yellow rosewood furniture that Zhuzi asked us to pick up?" Xu Huizhen asked.

"I'm collecting it now, but I haven't come across anything particularly good yet. Niu Ye is helping me keep an eye out!" Cai Quanwu said with a smile.

It was already late at night when He Yuzhu returned from Zhang Shuying's place.

He walked into the Zhongyuan and saw a large coffin placed in the mourning shed, which looked quite chilling.

Yi Xiaotian and Bang Geng were sitting there, adding paper to the burning basin.

Yi Xiaotian's eyes were red from crying, and Bang Geng tried to comfort him from time to time.

He Yuzhu walked into the mourning shed, lit some paper, and knelt to kowtow three times.

Seeing He Yuzhu, Yi Xiaotian cried and said: "Brother Zhuzi, I've never asked you for anything all these years. Now that my mother is gone, I feel I've been doing too poorly these years. Can you take me under your wing..."

He Yuzhu looked at him and asked in confusion: "Xiaotian, aren't you doing quite well following your father at the Rolling Mill?"

Yi Xiaotian said: "I've been learning to be a fitter from my father, and although I've reached Level 6 Fitter, I feel I don't have my father's dedication. I want to go out and strike out on my own."

He Yuzhu had been keeping an eye on Yi Xiaotian all these years. This child had been spoiled rotten by the First Elder and his wife since he was young, being a child born in their old age. However, his personality was gentle, and he was always quiet with people; He Yuzhu actually had a pretty good impression of him.

"Xiaotian, if you really want to leave the Rolling Mill, I support you. You know, my He Zheng doesn't want to work in the factory either and wants to go out and strike out on his own. But when I ask him what he wants to do, he doesn't have a plan himself. If you want to work with him, I support that too!"

Yi Xiaotian cried and said: "Brother Zhuzi, thank you. I've actually told my father several times, but he doesn't want me to resign. He says it's safer to work in the factory with him. But my daughter is already six, and life is still bitter; I want to go out and strike out on my own. I don't have Bang Geng's drive, but I have my strengths; I can finish a task steadily and take it one step at a time. If He Zheng starts a business, I'm willing to work with him."

He Yuzhu patted his shoulder: "Xiaotian, no need to be so formal. You two grew up together and have a good relationship; I'd be even more at ease if you treated each other like brothers."

Bang Geng also chimed in: "Siqiang, I also want to work with them. Do you think that's okay?"

He Yuzhu hesitated: "Bang Geng, you're already a Section-level Official; if you stick it out for a few more years, you might even get to be a Deputy Factory Director. That would be great."

Bang Geng shook his head: "Siqiang, I'm not a technician, and I always feel that there won't be a place for me in this factory in the future."

He Yuzhu waved his hand: "With Liu Siman as Factory Director, even if it's just for my sake, she won't treat you poorly. After all, you two are Siqiangmeimei."

Bang Geng lowered his head: "Siqiang, I don't want to climb up by relying on that kind of relationship."

He Yuzhu was silent for a long while, then sighed: "You'll have to discuss this with your parents. Your position isn't low, and your family isn't short of money; I don't think the hurdle at home will be easy to clear."

Bang Geng looked at He Yuzhu earnestly, his tone carrying a sense of certainty: "As long as you agree, I can convince my mother. Once my mother lets go, my father won't be a problem."

He Yuzhu nodded heavily, a gratified smile appearing on his face: "I agree."

Bang Geng was instantly as happy as a child, waving his hand vigorously at him.