Chapter 1457: A Triumphant Return

Nanluoguxiang

Cao Weiguo, having returned in triumph, threw a banquet at home, inviting the brothers who had "shouldered rifles together" to eat and drink their fill, celebrating this hard-won victory.

There are four great bonds in life: having shouldered rifles together, having attended school together, having split spoils together, and having visited brothels together.

After this incident, the people at this table had achieved the first of the four great bonds: having shouldered rifles together.

Cao Weiguo pointed at a tall, sturdy young man and said, "Zhao Dezhu, I must criticize you. You grew up with the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard; you dared to charge forward while bullets were flying. If you had actually been hit, what would your parents do? Who would provide for them in their old age and bury them?"

Zhao Dezhu, who had just transferred back from the military, scratched his head. "Director, I didn't think that much. When I was in the army, that's how we were trained. Besides, my parents also taught me that when facing the enemy, one must dare to fight and dare to sacrifice."

Cao Weiguo stood up and poured a glass of wine for Zhao Dezhu. "I admire your courage, but I still have to give you a word of advice: daring to fight the enemy and not fearing sacrifice is correct, but meaningless sacrifice is not advisable. Just like in this battle, even if you hadn't charged forward recklessly, that Baldy Zhou wouldn't have escaped. However, your bravery is worth commending. I toast you."

Zhao Dezhu stood up, his face flushed red. "Thank you, Director!"

The other security guards looked at Zhao Dezhu with envy; wealth and honor are always sought amidst danger.

With this one act, Zhao Dezhu not only became famous but also gained the appreciation of Director Cao. His future promotion and advancement would surely be a matter of course.

This drinking session lasted from noon until past two in the afternoon. The group of men boasted and chatted, and they were all swaying when they left.

The neighbors in the alley looked at this group with eyes shining, whispering and discussing excitedly.

"Did you see that? Those are all security guards from the rolling mill. A couple of days ago, they were in the mountains exchanging gunfire with a group of fierce bandits. It was incredible."

"I heard that even the nearby villages could hear the gunfire and explosions from the mountains."

"Explosions? They even used cannons?"

"How terrifying. You have to wonder how much nerve those robbers had—robbing was one thing, but they even dared to use guns!"

"Look at you all making such a fuss. What are a few robbers? Back when we followed Regiment Commander Li to take Ping'an County, there were so many Japanese devils they were like ants... I don't know how many cannons were destroyed. It's only been a few years; what are a few measly robbers? If our Regiment Commander Li were here, he could have finished them off in the blink of an eye."

"Cao Weiguo has become famous again this time. I heard the procurement officer who was robbed is his subordinate, and it was he who led the capture of those robbers. The scale of it was immense; I heard many high-ranking leaders were alarmed."

"Hey, tell me, how old is this Cao Weiguo? He's two years younger than my youngest son. How does he have such great ability? He can write, he can fight, and he can be an official. Now that he's caught these robbers, won't he be promoted again?"

"He's already a division chief now. Any higher and he'd be the factory director!"

"Impossible, impossible. How old is he? A factory director is such a high-ranking leader!"

"Why is it impossible? Cao Weiguo has ability, and his position is high. Advancement is just a matter of time."

Shazhu squatted at the entrance of the alley. Hearing the neighbors' words, his face couldn't help but turn dark. It felt as if dozens of large stones were blocking his heart. What ability does that despicable villain Cao Weiguo have? Isn't it just that he has better luck? Isn't it just that he knows how to flatter? What does he have!

I, He Yuzhu, am full of integrity and love to help others. How did I end up doing worse than him?

The leaders in the factory are all blind, a bunch of useless fools with no eyes.

Otherwise, why would they heavily use that insidious villain Cao Weiguo instead of me, He Yuzhu? My skills are a thousand times, ten thousand times better than that bad seed Cao Weiguo.

Yan Jiecheng came out of the restroom, looking as if he had eaten a stomach full of lemons. He walked to Shazhu's side and said sourly, "Shazhu, tell me, has Cao Weiguo's ancestral grave started smoking green smoke? How come all the good things fall on him? It seems like he's hogging all the limelight."

Shazhu spat on the ground, stood up while cursing, "Pah! He probably stepped in dog shit! It really stinks! Yan Jiecheng, are you envious of that shameless villain? Why don't you go find a pile of dog shit and try it yourself."

Yan Jiecheng laughed, "Shazhu, look at you. You're jealous, aren't you?"

Shazhu: "Pah! Me, jealous of him? What is that Cao Weiguo? A despicable villain who only knows how to flatter and cause trouble behind people's backs. Even if I were envious of a pig, I wouldn't be envious of him. A villain like him will meet with retribution sooner or later. Maybe he'll be dragged off to eat peanuts (be executed)."

"Zhuzi, what nonsense are you spouting? Looking for trouble again, aren't you!"

Qin Huairu walked over and kicked Shazhu. "If Cao Weiguo hears this, won't he make things difficult for you?"

Shazhu said indignantly, "I'm afraid of him? Anyway, I'm suspended now, and I don't go to the factory, so he doesn't have a chance to make things difficult for me. It's only because I'm being mild-mannered; otherwise, I'd want to beat him up. If it weren't for his loose tongue, I wouldn't have been disciplined. Just wait, watch how I fix him later."

Yan Jiecheng gave Shazhu a thumbs up. "You're a good man! Shazhu, I support you! When you fix Cao Weiguo, call me, and I'll go shout and cheer for you!"

Qin Huairu said crossly, "Yan Jiecheng, why are you fanning the flames? Can you take advantage if Shazhu suffers? If you want to fix Cao Weiguo, go do it yourself. Why are you inciting Shazhu? I think you have ill intentions."

Yan Jiecheng laughed sheepishly, "Qin Huairu, what are you saying? I simply admire Shazhu. You're overthinking it. I won't talk to you anymore; I still have water boiling on my stove. I have to go back and check it, lest it boils dry. Shazhu, remember, I support you!"

Shazhu snorted coldly, "Get lost. Who do you think you are? Do I need your support?"

Qin Huairu kicked Shazhu. "Stop acting like a fool here. Come with me; I have something I need your help with."

Shazhu said with a grin, "Qin Huairu, is this the attitude for asking someone for help? Who kicks someone when asking for help?"

Qin Huairu rolled her eyes, turned around and walked home while feigning anger. "Help if you want, don't if you don't. If you don't help, I'll go find Cao Weiguo."

"Don't! I didn't say I wouldn't help! Why are you going to find that bad seed Cao Weiguo! It's good enough that he doesn't cheat people; when has he ever helped anyone!"

Shazhu chased after her with a smile. If he had a tail behind his butt, it would be even more fitting if he wagged it right now.

"Qin Huairu, what is it? Just say it, I'll definitely help."

Qin Huairu turned her head. "School is suspended, isn't it? Banggeng always hangs out with a bunch of idle young people after school, and he gets into fights outside every few days. I'm worried he'll cause a huge mess one day. I want to ask you to find him something to do, even if it's just being your apprentice and learning to cook at home, so he doesn't go out and mess around everywhere."

Shazhu scratched his head and said, "My good sister, how old is Banggeng this year? It's normal for him to be a bit mischievous. At his age, I was even naughtier than him. Besides, with your Banggeng's temper, would he be willing to learn cooking from me?"

Qin Huairu said unhappily, "If you're not willing to help, I'll go find Cao Weiguo. He has a bunch of fellow disciples and knows many people; he'll definitely be able to keep Banggeng in line."

Shazhu said hurriedly, "Don't, my good sister, I didn't say I wasn't willing. I'm very willing. I'm just afraid Banggeng looks down on me, this stinky cook. You know better than anyone, your Banggeng hasn't called me a stinky cook any less. Would he be willing to learn cooking from me? If he's willing to learn from me, I'd be overjoyed. I'll definitely teach him with all my heart. Who doesn't know that I treat Banggeng even better than my own son?" ===== CHAPTER 1459 =====