Chapter 74: The Match

Extra B, go peel the potatoes.

Extra C, go help with kneading the dough.

By the vegetable-washing pool, originally three people were washing vegetables.

Now only Yang Qing remains.

Seeing this, Yang Qing turned and left without hesitation.

He Yuzhu, seeing this, shouted.

Yang Qing, what are you trying to do?

Yang Qing turned his head and gave a faint smile.

Ah, nothing much—I'll go ask the logistics department: if three people's work is to be done by me alone, should I get triple the wages?

If my ability is limited and I can't complete the task, would that be my responsibility?

If so, I'd like the logistics department to issue a written report.

That way I can take it to the Jiedao and tell them it's not that I'm slacking, but that someone is targeting me, retaliating, trying to frame the workers.

He Yuzhu, hearing this, was startled and shuddered.

Stop—who told you to do it alone?

I'm just temporarily assigned.

Yang Qing pretended to just understand.

Ah, like that—then let's do this: divide the wild vegetables into three portions; each person does their own task, and what they do in between is up to them.

I don't care.

He Yuzhu, hearing this, directly refused.

That's impossible—I'm injured, the canteen is short-staffed, and assigning temporary workers is normal.

Wherever you go, that's the principle.

Yang Qing pretended to think for a moment.

Given the canteen's actual situation, in the spirit of dedication I can take on more tasks.

But this needs a standard.

I can't accept a target I can't achieve.

So, as I said before, split it into three shares; I'll wash as much of the remainder as I can—that's my contribution to the factory, big or small, I'll do my best.

He Yuzhu didn't expect Yang Qing to be so troublesome, but do you think this way I have no recourse against you?

You're too young.

It's my turf, I call the shots—there are plenty of ways to deal with you.

This won't work, I'll switch to the other side.

How about this: you take half, and the rest you don't need to worry about—how does that sound?

He was also a bit anxious, and saying these things to Yang Qing had already wasted a lot of time.

If things are really delayed, Yang Qing will feel bad, and I'll also find it hard to avoid blame.

Yang Qing thought for a moment and nodded.

Okay.

Afterwards, Yang Qing divided out half of the wild vegetables.

He began to wash them in silence.

The other two, because their shares were smaller, finished early and, following Sha Zhu's instructions, went to help the other kitchen hands.

Yang Qing, hurrying slowly, managed to finish washing the vegetables before ten o'clock.

Sha Zhu, seeing this, pretended to be kind and said.

Alright, you can leave now.

Sha Zhu could really be that kind-hearted? Yang Qing didn't believe it.

So he not only didn't leave, but walked straight up to Sha Zhu.

Please, Section Chief He, issue a task completion form.

It should note the amount of work I completed, the time, and the quality.

He Yuzhu didn't expect Yang Qing to know what he was about to do next.

He became angry out of embarrassment.

Yang Qing, who do you think you are?

What gives me the right to issue you this slip?

Yang Qing said calmly.

He Yuzhu, do you want me to repeat yesterday's incident in front of everyone?

He Yuzhu paused, almost choking.

Fine, say it—anyway, I can't possibly issue you that slip.

You'd better think it through—what crime is it to disrupt the factory's production order?

Yang Qing thought for a moment—he's not a worker at the steel mill, so he really can't do this.

But he can't compromise now; if he leaves, things will be out of his control.

He Yuzhu could try to frame him in any way.

Afterwards Yang Qing thought of something and then said with a smile.

I heard yesterday that someone is going on a blind date with Liu Shumin.

I don't know whether, once the other person learns about that individual's character, they'd still be willing to marry someone like that.

He Yuzhu, hearing the words, his veins bulging with anger, gritted his teeth and spoke softly.

"Is the Qiu Fengling matter also something you did?"

Yang Qing looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"You already have the answer? Do you still want to keep pretending to be stupid?"

"As expected, you can never wake someone who is pretending to sleep."

"He Yuzhu, speaking frankly, you followed others to target me—what did you gain?"

"How many of those things from my family have you taken?"

"You are the one who charges into battle, but when the spoils are divided, who still remembers you?"

"You pretend to be stupid—how long will you keep pretending? Do you really think that by compromising like this you can get what you want?"

"Open your eyes and look—how many people in our courtyard are ruthless, eating people without spitting out bones?"

"Do you really think that by associating with wolves you become one of them?"

"Be careful, lest you be completely eaten up."

Yang Qing's words were very pertinent.

However, He Yuzhu didn't listen much.

Nevertheless, there was still some effect.

He Yuzhu said fiercely.

"I know all this; you don't need to remind me. What you've done to me won't be over just because of a few of your words."

Yang Qing knew he still needed to raise the stakes.

"I can tell you a secret that is very important to you, and our grudges will be cancelled."

He Yuzhu paused.

"Then it depends on whether your secret is worth this price."

Yang Qing smiled slightly.

"It's enough, and it could even let you shift from passive to active."

He Yuzhu thought for a moment, decided to agree first, seeing Yang Qing's appearance, this secret is not simple.

First get the secret in hand, other things can be discussed later.

"If it's true, I can promise you that our grudges will be cancelled."

Yang Qing, hearing that, walked outward.

He Yuzhu also followed him out.

Although they spoke very softly, what if someone's hearing is too good?

They arrived at an open, empty place outside.

Yang Qing spoke softly.

"Your father didn't abandon you; it was all a pretense by Yi Zhonghai and your father to show others."

He Yuzhu grabbed Yang Qing.

"What did you say?"

Yang Qing raised his head at a 45-degree angle, looking toward the sky.

"Your family's ancestral Tan family cuisine—how then did your family's three generations of poor peasant origins come about?"

"If your family truly were three generations of poor peasants, where did your family's house come from?"

"Think about it—your father, as a famous chef, could he have escaped whether it was warlords, the Japanese, or the National Army?"

"Without your father's abandonment, you two would now be descendants of lackeys."

"Think about my fate."

Although He Yuzhu had already guessed it, hearing it from Yang Qing's mouth still left him drenched in cold sweat.

He looked at Yang Qing, feeling a surge of fear—if today he really provoked Yang Qing, what would the consequences be for him?

He dared not think about it.

"Why doesn't my father tell me the truth? If he has difficulties, why does he not care about us at all?"

"Back then, we did go look for him."

"Why can't we even meet face to face?"

"Isn't he afraid we'll starve to death?"

"Even if the matter is serious, aren't his son and daughter still important?"