Chapter 75

Jia Dongxu stayed in the hospital for a week and was discharged. During this time Yi Zhonghai went to several black markets but didn't buy anything good, and his chance to ease relations with the Jia family was also gone.

On the first day Jia Dongxu returned to work at Yagangchang, the factory held a commendation meeting. The meeting was of very high standard; even the Ministry of Industry sent representatives and even brought reporters. Thanks to the publicity of Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong, the workers also learned that Yi Zhonghai, after Jia Dongxu's injury, thought Jia Dongxu had suffered a serious injury, not only did he not go to the hospital to see him, but he directly announced that he was severing the master-disciple relationship with Jia Dongxu, thus cutting ties with Jia Dongxu. This made the workers despise Yi Zhonghai even more. Yi Zhonghai's actions were naturally heard by the factory leadership; although they said nothing on the surface, they had already sentenced him to death in their hearts. Such a person is too hateful: when the apprentice was doing well, in order to let the apprentice support him in old age, that was blatant favoritism; they didn't even want him to take on two more apprentices. Now that the apprentice had an accident, he thought the apprentice was no good, feared the apprentice's family would drag him down, and hastily severed ties with the apprentice. Such behavior really makes people loathe.

That afternoon Jia Dongxu rode his brand-new bicycle back to the Siheyuan.

"Hey, Dongxu, is this the bicycle Yagangchang rewarded you with?" Yan Butgui said, looking at Jia Dongxu's bicycle with envy.

"Yes, Teacher Yan," Jia Dongxu said with a smile. Earlier Yan Butgui had a secondhand bicycle, and I wanted to borrow it. He even wanted to charge me, but now I have a new one—how satisfying!

"What's on the bike?" Yan Butgui said, looking at Jia Dongxu's bicycle and suddenly remembering his own lost secondhand bike, quickly changing the subject.

"This is also the grain reward from the factory," Jia Dongxu said happily, patting the cloth bag on the rear seat.

"Wow, truly worthy of Yagangchang, so generous—this must be fifty catties!" Yan Butgui said, his eyes turning red with envy.

"Old Yan really has good eyesight— a full fifty catties, and not only that, the factory also rewarded a hundred yuan. At the meeting, the Union Chair said that once Dongxu's wife gives birth, she can go to work at Yagangchang." Liu Haizhong happened to walk over and said enviously.

"Indeed, Dongxu now has both fame and profit," Yan Butgui said, his tone thick with sourness.

"Yes, Dongxu's life will be easier from now on; I bet some people's guts will turn green with regret." Liu Haizhong said loudly on purpose, knowing Yi Zhonghai was behind him, and he was saying it for Yi Zhonghai to hear.

Yi Zhonghai didn't respond to Liu Haizhong's words at all, turning sideways and walking into the Siheyuan, though his face was as black as a pot bottom.

Actually, Yi Zhonghai regrets even more now, especially during today's meeting when the workers were gossiping. Some workers deliberately said those sarcastic remarks in front of him, and he's not stupid—how could he not hear them? He now harbors intense hatred for Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao in his heart; if it weren't for their publicity, the people at Yagangchang wouldn't have known that he had severed the master-disciple relationship with Jia Dongxu.

Now even the workers who watch the warehouse refuse to deal with him; when he goes to the cafeteria to get a meal, while waiting in line there is at least a two-meter empty space around him, as if he had a contagious disease—everyone keeps their distance, and this isolation makes Yi Zhonghai feel suffocated.

Before, when I walked through Yagangchang without saying a word, whoever saw me would greet me with a smiling face and call me "Master Yi." Now, however, the workers avoid me like the plague; this contrast is something the perpetually proud and arrogant Yi Zhonghai simply cannot accept.

"Dongxu, give me the bicycle; since you're just recovered from your injury, Mom will push it for you," Jia Zhangshi said, walking over with a smile that creased her whole face.

"It's fine, Mom, I'm already better," Jia Dongxu said with a smile.

"It's fine letting Mom come; I'm not old yet. I can still push a bicycle," Jia Zhangshi said, taking the bicycle from Jia Dongxu's hands without further ado.

"I've been wondering why our Dongxu has remained a Level 2 Worker all these years. It must be because petty people were holding him down. Now that we've cut ties with those petty folks, good fortune naturally follows," Jia Zhangshi said, pushing the bicycle and speaking loudly.

"Old sister-in-law, you're absolutely right—Dongxu is now not only a Level 3 Worker but also an advanced individual; this is an honor for the entire Siheyuan," Liu Haizhong added from behind.

The two of them sang in unison, speaking loudly; inside the house, Yi Zhonghai angrily picked up the teapot on the table and could only gulp down cold water, truly afraid he couldn't suppress his anger and would rush out to fight them.

"Second Uncle, from now on at the factory you could look after our Dongxu a bit more," Jia Zhangshi and Liu Haizhong said, deliberately standing at Yi Zhonghai's door.

"Old sister-in-law, don't worry—Dongxu is now a celebrity at the factory. I heard the factory leadership knows some people are afraid your family will drag him down, so they voluntarily severed the master-disciple relationship with Dongxu. The factory leadership is planning to find Dongxu a new master, and moreover a highly respected, virtuous old master—both in skill and character they are second to none, far superior to some people," Liu Haizhong said, deliberately stabbing Yi Zhonghai in the lungs.

"Liu Haizhong, what exactly do you mean?" Yi Zhonghai could no longer hold back, rushing out to ask. He had always wanted to ease relations with Jia Dongxu, but hearing Liu Haizhong say that the factory leadership wanted to find Dongxu a new master, he could no longer contain himself—if Dongxu really took another master, then he truly would have no chance at all.

"It means nothing; I'm just speaking up for Dongxu's injustice. Earlier Dongxu encountered bad people, and now that he has a chance to choose again, of course I'm happy for him," Liu Haizhong said with a sarcastic tone.

"How did he encounter bad people?" Yi Zhonghai said, not expecting that the semi-illiterate Liu Haizhong would even know an idiom.

"Who knows who he encountered?" Liu Haizhong said, glancing sideways at Yi Zhonghai, the meaning couldn't be clearer.

"Liu Haizhong, don't bully people too much!" Yi Zhonghai shouted, pointing at Liu Haizhong.

"Second Uncle, your family still has two sons; you're still afraid of a lonely old bachelor?" Jia Zhangshi kept adding fuel to the fire.

"Old sister-in-law, you look down on me too much—dealing with him doesn't even need my sons; but don't let people say I'm relying on having many sons to bully him alone." Although Liu Haizhong didn't say Yi Zhonghai was a childless bachelor, the implication was clear to anyone.

"Liu Haizhong, I'll fight you to the end!" Yi Zhonghai could no longer hold back. He could tolerate Jia Zhangshi, after all he still fantasized about easing relations with the Jia family, and now wasn't the time to fall out with Jia Zhangshi, but that didn't mean he could tolerate Liu Haizhong. Don't forget, when I was the eldest uncle, you Liu Haizhong were the second uncle; at Yagangchang I am a Level 8 Worker and you are only a Level 7 Worker—in every respect I have always crushed you. Now that I've fallen on hard times, you actually think I'm easy to bully.