Chapter 1180: Kindly Countenance

Red Star Rolling Mill

Yi Yi Zhonghai, with a kindly expression, instructed Qin Qin Huairu: "When rough-filing, you have to use the file fully — that way you can raise the filing efficiency and also avoid localized wear on the file teeth… Sigh, when you're working you need to put more heart into it. After work, read more books on fitter skills. I'll teach you a few more tricks — study hard and aim to pass the Grade Two worker exam. Once your wages go up, your living conditions will improve too."

Qin Qin Huairu said in a coquettish voice: "Thank you, First Grand-Uncle, I'll definitely study hard."

Seeing Seeing Shazhu went to the sand-molding workshop, Cao Cao Weiguo moved out of Red Star Sihe Academy, and Qin Qin Huairu had no choice but to swallow her disgust and get close to Yi Yi Zhonghai, hoping he would give her more aid and assistance.

Yi Yi Zhonghai said with a genial smile: "All right, what's there to thank me for? Just study well. If there's anything you

don't understand, feel free to ask me. If work is too busy, you can also come find me after hours."

Qin Qin Huairu said with a charming smile: "First Grand-Uncle, once I pass the assessment, I'll definitely thank you properly."

Yi Yi Zhonghai laughed and said: "You're so smart — as long as you put your heart into learning the skills from me, I'm sure you'll pass the assessment very soon."

The two of them stood together chatting and laughing, and the fellow workers all looked at them a little oddly. Some of the women workers spat on the ground with undisguised contempt: "Shameless!"

The workshop director couldn't stand it any longer. He walked over with a stern face to Yi Yi Zhonghai and Qin Qin Huairu: "Qin Qin Huairu, go to Machine Tool No. 7 and assist Master Li Hong — don't stay here affecting Master Yi's work."

Qin Qin Huairu, reluctant to part: "All right, Director. First Grand-Uncle, I'm off."

Yi Yi Zhonghai said amiably: "Qin Huairu, come by to study again when you have time."

The workshop director watched and felt a chill of disgust — that old thing was simply a hanged ghost playing the coquette: utterly shameless.

At his age he still doesn't watch how it looks, all day long flirting with a young

widow, and putting on that fake act of talking about "studying."

Study what? Study foreign languages? Ptooey! He can't even take a leak and look at himself! What a thing! Shameless old goat! No sense of face at all!

Out of regard for Yi Yi Zhonghai's seniority and the disciples and grand-disciples under him, the workshop director didn't say much — he only assigned Yi Yi Zhonghai an urgent work task, so he wouldn't have the time to play the fool and act lewdly.

As for Qin Qin Huairu, he wasn't nearly so lenient. The workshop director directly arranged a "tight-shoe" package for her, exhausting her so badly she nearly broke her waist.

Zhigongshitang

Nan Yi intercepted Cao Cao Weiguo, who had come over on an inspection tour: "Lead-

er! Could you do me a favor?"

Cao Cao Weiguo: "Tell me first what the favor is."

Nan Yi: "Could you transfer Liang Ladi to our factory? She's a Grade Five welder — her skills are good and she's even won awards."

Cao Cao Weiguo laughed: "Master Nan, do you take me for the factory director? That I can do whatever I want? Personnel transfers aren't as simple as you think."

Nan Yi pointed at Cui Cui Dake, who was washing pots: "Then how did Cui Cui Dake get here? Leader, I know the rules — as long as you're willing to help, Nan Yi here will definitely repay you handsomely!"

Cao Cao Weiguo asked with a beaming smile: "Master Nan, let me ask you first — what exactly is your relationship with Sister Liang right now? You have to tell the truth, otherwise don't even think about me helping you."

Nan Yi, finding it hard to speak, said: "Leader! I, I and Liang Ladi — I, I slept with her."

Cao Cao Weiguo: "Nan Yi, you're something! Quite a nerve. What do you plan to do about it?"

Nan Yi: "Plan what? Liang Ladi is a good person, and she's been good to me — but then again, I've been pretty good to her too. What other plan could there be?"

Cao Cao Weiguo: "So you're not planning to marry Sister Liang? If you get married, then doing what you did with Sister Liang — do you know what kind of problem that is? That's a problem of personal conduct. I advise you to take responsibility for Sister Liang. Even if you don't marry right away, you need to make things clear. If you dare bully Sister Liang, I won't sit by and do nothing."

Nan Yi: "Leader! I never said I wouldn't take responsibility! If I weren't going to take responsibility, I wouldn't have come to you to ask for help with the transfer. The reason we haven't married is that things haven't gotten to that point yet — and besides, she has four kids, I…"

Cao Cao Weiguo raised a hand and patted Nan Yi on the shoulder: "Master Nan, I know Sister Liang is in your heart. I'll consider the transfer, but I hope you can be a man who takes responsibility."

Nan Yi, with a troubled look: "Leader! Don't worry! I'm not the unfeeling and ungrateful type!"

Cao Cao Weiguo patted Nan Yi on the shoulder again: "Master Nan, I believe you. Get back to work — when you have time, have Sister Liang come by my house for a visit."

Nan Yi lowered his head and went back to his stove, his heart a tangled mess.

He could never forget Ding Ding Qiunan in his heart, yet he had also gotten involved with Liang Ladi.

Liang Ladi had indeed been good to him, and he felt some fondness for her too.

But the moment he thought about marrying Liang Ladi, he still felt a little unwilling — or rather, unreconciled.

After all, he had never been married, and Liang Ladi still had four children…

"Master!"

"Hello, Master!"

"Hello, Master"

……

Liu Liu Limin led three unfamiliar young fellows over. The three youths respectfully greeted Cao Cao Weiguo.

These three young men were Cao Cao Weiguo's newly accepted apprentices, named Guo Yu, Liao Dalong, and Xue Chun.

Guo Yu was Section Chief Guo's nephew, Liao Dalong was Section Chief Liao's youngest son, and Xue Chun was Director Deng's brother-in-law.

As for taking on apprentices, he had no resistance to it.

One, it was a matter of personal connections; two, he was also happy to take disciples.

Taking on apprentices — it's not exactly hard, is it?

Herding one sheep is herding, herding two sheep is the same.

Besides, these apprentices not only had people behind them, but once they were under him, they wouldn't skimp on showing respect to their Master.

Usually, whenever there was something to do, he only had to call, and these apprentices would rush around at his beck and call.

Cao Cao Weiguo checked and gave pointers on his apprentices' cooking skills. A few casual displays of his craft were enough to leave the apprentices utterly in awe.

Ma Hua was cutting vegetables not far away, the envy in his eyes impossible to hide.

If only he too could apprentice under Cao Cao Weiguo — how wonderful that would be!

Look at Liu Liu Limin and Li Fei — following Cao Cao Weiguo, they not only learned the craft but were also thriving in the factory.

With Cao Cao Weiguo's backing, as long as these two didn't commit any serious mistakes, promotion was only a matter of time.

And him?

He was probably fated to be a lackey his whole life!

Following Seeing Seeing Shazhu, he hadn't learned any real skills, and on top of that had been dragged down and marginalized in the Zhigongshitang.

Sometimes he really wanted to just walk away!

Zhao Meihong swayed her willowy waist over as she walked: "Leader! How come you're still doing the work yourself?"

Cao Cao Weiguo laughed as he stir-fried: "Haven't stir-fried big-pot dishes in ages, just wanted to limber up my bones and practice my hand, can't let the craft of putting food on the table go to waste."

Zhao Meihong smiled bewitchingly: "Then today I'll have to ladle out a few extra scoops of dishes. Leader, the food you cook is praised by everyone within miles around."

Cao Cao Weiguo laughed: "Director Zhao, you! Stop pulling my leg, if you've got something to say, just say it."

Zhao Meihong tossed out a compliment: "Leader! You really do have a heart with seven orifices and exquisite understanding, I really do have something to tell you."

Cao Cao Weiguo handed the spatula to Li Fei: "Li Fei, the rest of the work is yours."

Li Fei: "Got it!"

Cao Cao Weiguo took the towel his third disciple Guo Yu handed him, wiped his fingers, and pointed toward the door: "Let's step outside to talk."