Chapter 278: Misunderstanding

"You might not know since you just got back, but we can't touch Zhang Ping'an right now. We started out with a 'let's try it and see' attitude, and there's no real loss for us now."

You might not have any losses, but I've lost face in a big way, Zhao Guoliang muttered to himself.

"If you want to keep staying at the Rolling Mill, that's fine. There might be changes at the Rolling Mill in the future, but you must build a good relationship with Li Huaide. At the very least, don't let him target you. As long as you act within the rules, he won't find a reason."

"Leader, I will listen to everything you say."

In truth, Zhao Guoliang wanted to be transferred back. Now that he couldn't investigate Zhang Ping'an, he had lost all his face here and naturally didn't want to stay any longer.

"Hmm... then you just keep staying at the Rolling Mill. Play it by ear."

What the leader was most satisfied with was Zhao Guoliang's obedience. Perhaps because he was used to being a driver for a long time, his way of doing things was a bit rough at first, but since it was to complete the mission, he didn't pick at it.

"Very well, Leader."

"Hmm."

Hanging up the phone, Zhao Guoliang wore a bitter expression; he had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue lurking. For the moment, he couldn't even rest; he picked out a few local specialties he had bought in the Great Northeast, preparing to visit Li Huaide's home that evening.

"Factory Director, we can't let those laymen in logistics keep pointing fingers anymore; it's seriously affecting our work," Procurement Director Yang Guangming complained bitterly in Yang Zhiguo's office.

Previously, logistics rarely interfered with workshop procurement; it was only now that Li Huaide had assigned them out to punish Zhao Guoliang.

Zhao Guoliang, acting on the assumption that he was the highest person in charge of the business trip, wanted to show concern for this and that to highlight his own presence, never expecting it to cause resentment in others.

Like Zhang Ping'an and Zhu Weiguo, although they also participated in procurement, they never managed the details. They let professionals do professional work, and they were only responsible for signing.

"Hmm... just endure this matter for now. It's Li Huaide venting his anger. I estimate they won't send people to follow you around anymore in the future."

"This... alright. It's no wonder Factory Director Li would do this; that Zhao Guoliang is indeed not likable."

"Guangming, watch your words. We don't need to get involved in their struggle; just do your work well."

"Oh, okay." Yang Guangming was also startled by Yang Zhiguo's stern voice.

"Go get busy."

Yang Zhiguo valued Yang Guangming's honest and straightforward character, which was why he put him in the important position of Procurement Director—at least he wouldn't be greedy—but he was also quite troubled by his lack of discretion.

"Alright."

It was already July, and the fiery sun was roasting the earth. Zhang Ping'an was currently lying leisurely in the wooden cabin he had built on the Back Mountain of his hometown; the mountain breeze blew past, and it couldn't be more comfortable.

This place had now become a Tea Plantation, but it had already been harvested once by Zhang Ping'an in March. Now, under the nourishment of the Space Water, it had grown again, and Zhang Ping'an's trip this time was to pluck another batch.

Seeing that the sky had passed noon, Zhang Ping'an stretched and began to work. Although the quality of the tea leaves this time couldn't compare to the spring tea, it won out in sheer quantity.

At five in the afternoon, Zhang Ping'an poured Space Water over the Tea Tree he had plucked bare again, then carried ten wild rabbits and eight lively crucian carp in a bucket down the mountain. Of course, the essential step of sowing seeds was not left out.

He returned to the Rolling Mill right at the end of the workday, handed over the rabbits, and went home after work—another perfect day.

Although Zhang Ping'an held the title of Deputy Section Chief, he didn't manage anything. Like everyone else, he was either out in the countryside for procurement or on the road to the countryside for procurement every day.

"Uncle."

"Hmm? What is it, Dongxu?" Zhang Ping'an was pedaling a tricycle, with Jia Dongxu and Lao Jia sitting in the cart.

"Uncle, I see you've been alone for a long time now. Haven't you thought about finding someone? Huairu has a younger sister who is quite good; she just graduated from high school this year..." Jia Dongxu said everything in one breath under the pressure of his old man.

The person Jia Dongxu was talking about was naturally Qin Jingru. Like Yushui and Xu Xiaoling, she was a high school student who hadn't gotten into university.

"That's right, Ping'an. You being alone all the time isn't a solution; you should consider it," Lao Jia followed up.

"Hmm, I will consider it carefully."

Zhang Ping'an knew that the only way to handle this was to go along with what they said and then drag it out as much as possible, otherwise, he would face endless mental attacks.

"Good, good, good."

Zhang Ping'an dropped the father and son, Lao Jia, at the entrance of the Siheyuan, then rode his bike to the Xicheng Branch Bureau.

"Li Ge, here. I heard from San Jie Fu that you have another son, so I just caught a few crucian carp today and brought them to you."

"Hmm." Li Aiguo pulled Zhang Ping'an aside with an unfriendly expression.

"Ping'an, tell me the truth. Are you eyeing my sister?"

"Ah? Aihua? Me? Eh? No, who did you hear that from? How old am I, how old is she? I've always treated her as a younger sister or even a daughter."

"Get lost, what daughter? You brat, trying to take advantage of me. You really don't?" Li Aiguo looked at Zhang Ping'an's expression, which didn't seem fake, and his face looked a bit better.

"Of course I don't. Where is all this coming from?"

"Cough, then maybe I misunderstood, brother. It wasn't me, it was my dad who told me that your Factory Director Li Huaide wants to play matchmaker for you."

Zhang Ping'an felt a faint sense that something was wrong. Could it be that Li Huaide and his wife were really scouting for a partner for him?

"Then this matter might really be a misunderstanding. I will make it clear to our Factory Director."

"Ping'an, actually, if you think about it carefully, this isn't impossible. I think you and my sister..."

"Eh, eh, eh, Li Ge, the crucian carp are yours. I have something to do, I'm leaving."

"Hey, you brat, you're not even willing?"

Zhang Ping'an's head was spinning on the way back. He really hadn't expected Li Huaide to make such arrangements, and he pondered in his heart how to refuse Li Huaide tomorrow.

Zhang Ping'an really didn't have any other thoughts right now. If Wang Xiaoling's family had run away on their own, then he might have considered remarrying.

Eh? Isn't San Jie Fu, Lao Jia, just about to introduce someone to him? Wouldn't it be perfect to have the two sides cancel each other out? Hahaha, perfect.

The next day at work, Zhang Ping'an took the initiative to find Li Huaide.

"Factory Director, actually, my San Jie Fu is introducing a blind date to me, so your side for now..."

"Master Jia? Hmm, that's good too. Then I can rest easy."

In fact, Li Huaide was also worrying about how to explain it to Zhang Ping'an. The two families his wife had favored had both refused, and there were no suitable ones at the moment. Zhang Ping'an coming over to say this solved his dilemma, so he just went down the slope.

At noon, Zhang Ping'an found Lao Jia again and did the same thing.

"San Jie Fu, actually, Factory Director Li is introducing a partner to me..."

"Good, good. Then I won't talk about it on my side for now. Let's talk again when you have a result."

Lao Jia wasn't stupid. Having Li Huaide introduce a blind date was better than the resources they had. Ping'an was so outstanding, he was indeed worth better.

As for Zhong Mingzhu, ever since Zhang Ping'an gave his speech in the large conference room, she had become even more curious. But since no one could answer her, she used her connections to pull out Zhang Ping'an's file.

"So that's how it is. No wonder Sister Qiu Nan didn't want to say much, but he is also a pitiful person; his wife's family is truly detestable."

"Zhang Ping'an? Aunt, who is he?"

"Zhengguo, who told you to come in without knocking?" Zhong Mingzhu hurriedly closed Zhang Ping'an's file.