Chapter 1474: Breaking One's Word

Yili Food Factory Small Canteen

Director Lu had already prepared a table of fine dishes; with eight meat and eight vegetable courses, it was quite a feast.

Liu Zhiming spoke up: "I'd like to thank Section Chief Cao for coming to visit our factory despite your busy schedule. On behalf of the food factory, I'd like to propose a toast to Section Chief Cao."

Cao Weiguo smiled: "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Thank you, Director Lu, Section Chief Geng, and Brother Liu, for your generous hospitality. It is I who should be proposing a toast to you."

The three men hurriedly said he was being too polite, and they all raised their glasses and drank in one go.

After a few drinks, Director Lu brought up the matter of the year-end benefits, complaining to Cao Weiguo with a worried face, and Liu Zhiming took the opportunity to implore Cao Weiguo for help.

Cao Weiguo smiled and said: "Director Lu, Brother Liu, I do indeed know quite a few friends in the countryside, but getting hold of supplies outside the state plan is not easy. Our peasant brothers don't have it easy either. If we want to trade for things from them, we need national grain coupons, industrial coupons..."

Director Lu beamed: "National grain coupons and industrial coupons are no problem. The higher-ups have given our factory a generous quota. It's just that supplies have been tight lately, and we can't get them on short notice. If Section Chief Cao can help, just tell me how many grain and industrial coupons you need, or tell Section Chief Liu directly."

Cao Weiguo laughed: "Section Chief Liu has helped me out many times. Besides, the workers are all one family. Whether they are workers at the Rolling Mill or the food factory, they are all revolutionary comrades. Serving our worker brothers is my duty, Cao Weiguo. If Director Lu trusts me, I will take Section Chief Liu to Red Flag Commune in a few days."

Director Lu was overjoyed and excitedly gripped Cao Weiguo's hand: "I trust you, I trust you. On behalf of all the factory staff, I thank Section Chief Cao for your righteous assistance."

Section Chief Liu was beaming with joy, looking at Cao Weiguo with gratitude. At this moment, Cao Weiguo's offer to take him along was essentially handing the credit to him on a silver platter. He had made the right friend; this was truly righteous.

Cao Weiguo laughed heartily: "Director Lu, you are being too polite. We are all revolutionary comrades; there is no need for thanks."

Director Lu sighed with admiration: "Now I understand why Section Chief Cao holds such an important position at such a young age. With such high consciousness, I must admit I fall short."

Cao Weiguo said modestly: "Director Lu, you speak too harshly. You are the revolutionary senior; I should be learning from you."

For a time, the two felt as if they had met too late. Director Lu held Cao Weiguo's hand, wishing he could drag him off to become sworn brothers. The enthusiasm was so intense that Dong Xiaoxue watched in a daze.

Was this the usually stern Director Lu?

Director Lu was the head of the Revolutionary Committee and the top leader of the factory. Every time there was a big meeting, he would have a straight face; no one had ever seen him smile in the factory.

But today, Director Lu hadn't stopped smiling. Now, he was laughing like an old man chatting at the mouth of a hutong, with none of his usual sternness or rigidity.

Director Lu was truly happy today. In this era, supplies were scarce, and even the food factory lacked food. They produced food, but those products were tasks assigned from above; they couldn't afford to be short even a single loaf of bread.

If Cao Weiguo could help resolve the shortfall this time, it would solve a major problem for him, and the benefits would be immense. If the workers were happy, his work would go smoothly; if the workers were unhappy, he wouldn't just fail to progress—he wouldn't even be able to hold onto his current position.

With the business finished, everyone drank happily for the rest of the time.

The dinner was a success for both host and guest, and when it was time to leave, Director Lu personally escorted Cao Weiguo out of the food factory.

Red Star Sihe Academy

Seeing Shazhu return, Qin Huairu walked up to greet him with a beaming smile.

"Zhuzi, you're finally back. Banggeng has been waiting for your dishes."

When Shazhu got off work today, he had promised Qin Huairu that he would bring meat dishes back for Banggeng when he returned from the Great Leader's house.

When Qin Huairu told Banggeng at home, he was overjoyed. He only ate one steamed bun for dinner, waiting for Shazhu to bring the food back.

Shazhu hung his head in shame: "Qin Jie."

Seeing Shazhu empty-handed, the smile on Qin Huairu's face vanished instantly: "Zhuzi, where is your lunchbox?"

Shazhu stammered: "The lunchbox was snatched away by Jin Lian."

Thinking of Jin Lian, who he had lost and then regained, Shazhu felt a strange warmth in his heart.

Yes!

It was that very Jin Lian who had made Shazhu a cuckold!

Not long ago, Jin Lian had suddenly found Shazhu, grabbed his arm, and acted coquettishly, swearing that she couldn't forget him, saying he was the best man she had ever met, and wanting to rekindle their relationship.

As for that fat cousin from the Power Bureau, the two had long since ended their relationship, and that cousin had already gone to the Great Northwest, so there would be no more connection.

Shazhu was so kind and loving that he couldn't withstand Jin Lian's affectionate offensive. After being shaken by the arm a few times, he forgot all the past unpleasantness and transformed back into a warm big brother.

When Qin Huairu heard that the lunchbox had been snatched by Jin Lian, she was ready to explode with anger.

It wasn't that she cared so much about the food, but she felt humiliated.

He had clearly promised the food to Banggeng, so why did he give it to Jin Lian?

Could it be that in Shazhu's heart, she was inferior to that vixen Jin Lian?

Qin Huairu said angrily: "Shazhu! How could you do this? You've broken your word! Banggeng didn't even eat dinner, just waiting for the dishes you cooked. Now the lunchbox is gone, how am I supposed to tell Banggeng? How heartbroken will he be?"

Shazhu said guiltily: "Qin Jie, it's all my fault. Hit me, scold me, I was in the wrong."

Qin Huairu pushed Shazhu, tears in her eyes: "What's the use of me hitting or scolding you? If I go back empty-handed, who knows how Banggeng will throw a tantrum. Shazhu, you've disappointed me so much. You weren't like this before. How could you not keep your word?"

Seeing Qin Huairu's angry appearance, Shazhu hurriedly said: "Qin Jie, don't be angry. I'll go borrow some meat from the neighbors right now. I'll cook a plate of meat for Banggeng, will that work?"

With that, Shazhu ran off in a hurry, borrowing meat from house to house. But in this day and age, no one was wealthy. Besides, Shazhu's reputation had long since stunk up the whole street, and his popularity in the courtyard wasn't great either. After asking around, he didn't borrow a single bit of meat.

Even though the night wind was cold, Shazhu was sweating profusely from anxiety.

If he didn't borrow meat and Banggeng couldn't eat the food he cooked, how could he answer to Qin Huairu?

When Qin Huairu came to his door, Shazhu hung his head in shame: "Qin Jie, I'm sorry. I didn't borrow any meat. Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll go to the market to buy meat, and I'll make braised pork for Banggeng, a big bowl of it."

"Shazhu! You've broken my heart!"

Qin Huairu glared at Shazhu with disappointment and left, wiping the corners of her eyes in sorrow.

When she returned home empty-handed, Banggeng was so angry he was jumping up and down in the room, cursing Shazhu. Jia Zhangshi was also gnashing her teeth on the side: "Shazhu, that heartless beast, he's becoming less and less of a human. He's even learned to lie now. That son of a bitch who doesn't keep his word, he deserves to never get a wife. He deserves to end up like Yi Zhonghai, with no descendants." ===== CHAPTER 1476 =====

When she returned home empty-handed, Banggeng was so angry that he stomped his feet in the room and cursed Shazhu. Jia Zhangshi was also there, gnashing her teeth in anger: "That heartless beast Shazhu, he is becoming less and less of a human being. He actually learned how to deceive people. That son of a bitch who doesn't keep his word, he deserves to never get a wife, and he deserves to end up like Yi Zhonghai as a man with no descendants."