Chapter 185: The Weather Has Turned Cool

November, the weather began to get cool.

Yang Qing finally could use his spare time to learn fitting techniques from his master.

Due to staff cuts in the steel industry, the canteen had less and less work, and with more people leaving, the cooking pressure eased.

He could only shift his main focus to the workshop.

Now the rolling mill plant has a heavy workload, with almost endless work to do.

A day laborer who sneaked into the workshop to learn skills was, in a sense, the only one of his kind.

"Yang Qing, I heard that the senior elder of your compound has an affair with his disciple's mother, and also with his disciple's wife? Is that true or false?"

These workers are fine in every way, except they're too gossipy, with endless gossip topics in the workshop.

"Yeah, Yang Qing, tell us; as long as you tell us the real situation, from now on whenever you come over, I'll teach you the skills, holding nothing back."

"Yes, Yang Qing, I'll teach you too."

"Yang Qing, go on and tell us; at worst we'll let you do less work later."

……

………

Yang Qing got a headache from their noise.

Afterwards, when he tried to curry favor with them, they were all cold and indifferent toward him.

Now, because of a rumor, they disregarded their image and started to deceive him.

"Everyone, it's just rumors; Qin Huairu just gave birth, where would all that nonsense come from?"

"Just gave birth? That would be even more interesting!"

"A pretty widow—who wouldn't like that?"

Yang Qing reminded them.

"Don't talk nonsense like that; the other day Qin Huairu smashed the head of someone gossiping about her, the incident escalated to the factory, and that person received a major demerit."

"If they hear it, they'll come after you with everything they've got—can you handle that?"

"The smell of cleaning toilets isn't pleasant."

Yang Qing's words drew a burst of laughter.

"Yang Qing, are you having an affair with her? Otherwise, why are you protecting her so much?"

Yang Qing replied irritably.

"I'm protecting her ass."

"I'm doing this for your own good; don't be ungrateful, or else when you're cleaning toilets, don't blame me for not telling you."

The noisy day in the workshop passed quickly.

Upon going out, he met an elder; Yi Zhonghai now looked very worn out.

Seeing Yang Qing, he came over.

"Yang Qing, I heard you've been helping out in our factory workshop lately."

"How is it, has anyone given you trouble? Do you want me to transfer you to our workshop?"

Qin Huairu, not far away, heard Yi Zhonghai's words and interjected.

"Yang Qing, if you come over, we'll work together; I'm also currently moving parts for others."

Yang Qing was still wondering why that elder had taken the initiative to chat with him.

Regarding Qin Huairu's words, he didn't even respond, "Where would I go to be your laborer?"

"No thanks, I'm elsewhere and feeling fine."

"Elder, your complexion doesn't look good."

"If not, go see a doctor."

Yi Zhonghai has recently been annoyed enough by rumors, with people at the factory coming to talk to him.

"No, no, I just didn't sleep well."

Afterward, a few people chatted intermittently as they returned together to the compound.

Xu Damao followed behind them and all the way back home.

After arriving home, he frowned tightly.

"How did Yang Qing hook up with Yi Zhonghai?"

"No way, does Yang Qing have such a broad mind? To repay hatred with virtue?"

He didn't believe it, because many bad ideas were instigated by Yang Qing.

Would someone like that reconcile with his enemy? Impossible.

Xu Damao's suspicion attracted Lou Xiao'e's attention.

After Jia Dongxu's incident, Lou Xiao'e ran back to her parents' home, and only now has she returned.

"Damao, what's wrong, what happened?"

Xu Damao shook his head.

"Nothing."

"I'm thinking that nowadays everyone is growing mushrooms; should we grow them or not?"

Lou Xiao'e said insincerely.

"Better to grow a box, to avoid gossip."

Xu Damao nodded.

"Alright, then go buy one tomorrow."

"Did anything else happen in the courtyard today?"

Lou Xiao'e thought for a moment.

"It seems Liu Guang Qi's side has settled things; they'll get their marriage certificate during this period."

"I've met his wife; she's an ordinary person."

"Is Liu Guang Qi also getting married?"

"Should we mess with him a bit? After thinking, Xu Damao felt it was better to let it go; his feud with Er Da Ye's family isn't that big."

"Has their housing matter been resolved?"

Lou Xiao'e shook her head, indicating she didn't know.

"I haven't heard anything about it."

"The matter concerning Yang Qing has him scratching his head; if Yang Qing's relationship with Yi Zhonghai improves, that would be bad for him."

"Lately, Yi Zhonghai's gaze toward him has always been icy cold."

"He needs allies."

"After eating early, he ran to the backyard."

"The weather has turned cool; Yang Qing was doing household chores with the radish—this stuff can be stored, but it needs to be buried in the cellar, otherwise it will easily get moldy."

"The old lady can't do this work, so she needs him to do it after he gets off work."

"Chen Hong was up above, while he was in the cellar."

"After Xu Damao came over, he took over Chen Hong's work."

""Brother Qing, I saw you today talking and laughing with Yi Zhonghai—when did your relationship become this good?""

"Yang Qing immediately understood what Xu Damao meant upon hearing that."

""If you're going to say that, I'm also quite puzzled.""

""I don't know what's gotten into Yi Zhonghai today; he suddenly became enthusiastic toward me.""

""It's left me feeling uneasy inside.""

""Do you think he might want to take me as his disciple?""

""He said today he wants to transfer me to his workshop.""

""I refused.""

"Xu Damao also couldn't tell what trick Yi Zhonghai was playing."

""Then be careful—you know how sly Yi Zhonghai is; don't fall for his schemes.""

"Yang Qing nodded his head."

""If he's looking to find another retirement backup, the chances aren't small.""

""I just don't understand why he would seek me out.""

"Xu Damao, on the other hand, had thought of some possibilities."

""I heard Qin Huairu refuses to take him as her teacher and deliberately keeps her distance.""

""It's possible he's desperately seeking a doctor in his panic.""

""In our courtyard, you're the one supporting the elderly lady.""

"Upon reflection, that really does seem possible."

""Then he's overthinking it—not retaliating against him is already generous; does he still expect me to support him in his old age?""

""What kind of dream is that?""

"Huh…"

"Thus Xu Damao felt relieved."

"After Xu Damao left, Yang Qing crawled out of the cellar."

"After washing up, Yang Qing went inside."

"Chen Hong asked."

""What did Xu Damao want you to do?""

"Yang Qing briefly explained the situation."

"Chen Hong thought for a moment and felt Yang Qing was overthinking."

""Maybe he just wants to improve relations.""

""You see, these rumors have almost made him a laughingstock inside and out.""

""Now the people in the courtyard are ostracizing him.""

""At the steel mill, because of the rumors he's also been reprimanded by the factory.""

""The position of Eldest Master can be described as precarious.""

""At this point, trying to win you over is a perfectly normal reaction.""

"What Chen Hong said is also quite right."

"Yang Qing's head buzzed from being tossed around by those people's speculations."