Chapter 331: Production Surges

In this world, cooks seem to naturally attract widows.

Either the wife is a widow, or the wife's mother is a widow.

Among the three cooks in the courtyard, none escaped this vicious cycle.

After Liu Shumin went to work, He Yuzhu went to school to check on his younger sister.

Perhaps out of guilt, Sha Zhu made a promise.

Yu Shui, you've suffered these past two years.

Brother, I haven't taken good care of you.

Brother plans to save money to buy you a bicycle; you should come home more often to see him.

He truly fears that Yu Shui won't recognize him.

Although married, he could feel an invisible barrier between him and Liu Shumin, preventing them from ever opening up to each other.

He remained lonely.

No eldest uncle, no eldest aunt, the Jia family gone, having offended the third uncle, Xu Damao, and also grown distant from Yang Qing.

In the courtyard, he felt loneliness.

He still couldn't get into Liu Simin's heart.

He tasted loneliness and solitude.

It also let him realize how precious his younger sister Yu Shui is.

If Liu Shumin ever left him, he might have only this younger sister left.

As for a daughter?

She'll eventually have to marry out.

A married daughter is like spilled water—maybe not even as good as one's own younger sister.

After all, they've depended on each other for many years.

He Yushui heard He Yuzhu's words, felt foolish, and thought she must be dreaming.

How could that be?

Has He Yuzhu's conscience surfaced?

Is that possible?

She didn't believe it.

Brother, no need, I'm fine like this.

She thought Sha Zhu was just talking.

She's become savvy and won't do things that embarrass others.

He Yushui's expression suddenly panicked, like a sharp sword piercing Sha Zhu's chest.

Panicked? Is she afraid of him?

Why would she be afraid of me?

He felt a huge fear, feeling ashamed to stay here.

Buy, definitely buy, Yu Shui, you're a grown young lady now—you need your own bicycle.

That way you'll have confidence and be able to find a good family.

Then he took out ten yuan and shoved it into He Yushui's hand.

Then he ran off, fleeing in disgrace.

That money was his private stash.

That's all he could offer as compensation.

He Yushui looked at the money in her hand, completely dazed.

What happened?

Am I really not dreaming?

She pinched herself hard, then convinced herself she wasn't dreaming.

Something must have happened.

Sha Zhu's behavior was too strange.

Only after returning home on Sunday did she find out what had happened.

She never expected Xu Damao to speak up for her.

He Yushui specially bought some apples to visit Xu Damao.

Xu Damao was still feeling guilty, afraid Lou Xiao'e would find out ahead of time.

Upon seeing He Yushui, he was very enthusiastic.

Yu Shui, how did you come here?

He Yushui handed the apples to Xu Damao.

I came to see Brother Damao and Sister Xiao'e.

Lou Xiao'e saw He Yushui and pulled her over to sit.

She also washed a bunch of grapes and brought them over for her to eat.

(Don't ask, just saying it's Yang Qing's own grapes. The yield is really not small.)

How's school going for you?

You haven't come back in so long—is anyone bullying you at school?

How's your studies? Can you keep up?

………

They are all words of concern.

They are things that cannot be obtained from He Yuzhu and Liu Shumin.

Perhaps she once got a little from Qin Huairu.

But it was too brief.

Lou Xiao'e, I'm doing quite well……

…………

She chattered on and on, saying a lot, as if she had endless words to say.

Xu Damao just listened there, not daring to interject.

He was still praying in his heart.

Keep chatting, best to keep talking, absolutely don't let Lou Xiao'e recall the examination matter.

But some things cannot be avoided.

On the third day after He Yushui returned.

Lou Xiao'e finally felt that Xu Damao was about recovered, and she raised the matter of going for a check-up.

During this period, Xu Damao spent a lot of money bribing a doctor.

He nervously agreed to Lou Xiao'e to go for a check-up on Sunday.

Lou Xiao'e told Chen Hong about the plan to go for a check-up.

Yang Qing listened beside them, feeling torn.

Seeing that Lou Xiao'e was about to be trapped, he also felt a bit uneasy.

He was finding excuses for himself in his heart.

"It's fine, it's fine, in another two years she'll be leaving."

"At this time divorcing Xu Damao and remarrying might instead cause problems."

"What if Lou Xiao'e marries, has a good relationship with her husband, and even has a child?"

"By then would she still be willing to leave?"

"If she doesn't leave, what if she gets bullied to death?"

"This is all for her own good."

"Well-intentioned deception."

He believed Xu Damao would surely resort to tricks.

This also suited Yang Qing's wishes.

Doing nothing is currently the best outcome.

He is not speaking alarmist nonsense.

In those ten years, how many couples turned against each other?

Too many.

If it cannot be avoided, Yang Qing had prepared himself mentally to let Chen Hong report him.

One person suffering is better than the whole family suffering.

Chen Hong doesn't know these things.

"Going to have a look is fine, no problem, you can also rest assured."

"Otherwise you suspect him, she suspects you, and whatever feelings remain will be eroded by suspicion."

"After the check-up, one's heart will be at ease."

Lou Xiao'e also thought so.

If both are fine, she can still wait a bit longer; if there are problems, then nobody should delay anyone else.

Her feelings for Xu Damao have been mostly worn away by Xu Damao himself.

Although during this period Xu Damao seemed like a different person, treating her much better.

But she not only didn't feel happy, she actually felt a bit annoyed.

Her heart has changed, she knows.

Regarding Xu Damao's matters, Yang Qing no longer paid much attention.

Because of the foundry workshop, results finally began to appear.

Engines and such, strangled parts, they can finally produce them themselves.

With their own foundry workshop, Ge Hongtao's small four-wheel research progressed faster.

What surprised Yang Qing even more was that, with the support of the foundry workshop, the Agricultural Machinery Factory's tractor output began to surge.

Xiao Lin beside him, holding a list, reported to Yang Qing with excitement.

"Factory Director, 300 units, we can now produce 300 tractors per month."

"Well drilling machines, we can also produce 200 per month."

Yang Qing, upon hearing these figures, waved his hand excitedly.

"Good, great, Xiao Lin, quickly compile the data."

"In a moment, I'll go report to the superiors."

This was the original promise.

If each vehicle or well drilling machine earns 500 yuan, then in a month they could earn about 500*500 =, which is 250,000.

After deducting labor costs of 50,000, giving the street a 30% profit share of 60,000, then subtracting 20% tax of 50,000, the factory can earn 90,000 per month.

Annual earnings would be 1,080,000.

Repaying the bank loan is no problem.

The Agricultural Machinery Factory has, up to now, officially gotten on the right track.

Yang Qing, carrying the data, went off excitedly to find Wang Dechao.

The Mayor was also very pleased.

Yang Qing is so capable; he follows through on his words.

It wasn't in vain that he bore so much pressure to back him.

He gave Yang Qing a hard pat on the shoulder.

"Well done, Yang Qing. With this data, I can not only shut many mouths, but also slap many faces."

"You kid are truly commendable."

Yang Qing chuckled, feeling he had not betrayed others' trust; the feeling was quite good.

But he wasn't here just to show off.

"Mayor, look, the task you gave, I have completed; does your promise still hold?"

Wang Dechao was bewildered.

"What promise?"

Yang Qing pointed out.

"You said you'd take full responsibility for the Well Drilling Machine our factory produces."

Wang Dechao stared, not comprehending.

"Did I say that?"

Yang Qing affirmed.

"It was said, absolutely certain; if you don't believe, we can go ask Aunt Wang."

Go find Director Wang?

She is your caretaker, not on your side.

"No, I didn't say that; you must have misremembered."

He resolutely could not admit it; the city doesn't have that much money.

Yang Qing hadn't expected that even a mayor of this magnitude could act rogue.

He immediately leaned onto Wang Dechao's desk.

He too could act rogue.