Chapter 2613

Su Xinghui went downstairs, went out, hailed a taxi, and arrived at the gate of Hujiang Machinery Factory. After getting out of the car, he looked around and indeed saw a Xinhua Hotel. The hotel was not big; it was an old-fashioned four-story building, just an ordinary private guesthouse.

Su Xinghui walked over and saw the young worker Li Jun. Beside him was a middle-aged man in his forties.

Li Jun also saw Su Xinghui. He waved his hand happily and said, "Director Su, we are here."

Su Xinghui walked up to them and said to Li Jun with a smile, "Li Jun, hello. This must be your uncle, right?"

The middle-aged man wore a pair of glasses. He smiled and reached out his right hand to Su Xinghui: "Hello, Director Su! I am Li Jun's uncle. My name is Li Yimiao."

Su Xinghui shook hands with Li Yimiao. Although Li Yimiao wore glasses and looked like an intellectual, his hands were still very rough, like the hands of a working person. Su Xinghui knew this was a characteristic of engineers at machinery factories.

Engineers at machinery factories would definitely not be weak scholars; they often had to tinker with various heavy mechanical equipment.

Su Xinghui said, "Hello, Engineer Li! I wonder what you need me for today?"

Li Yimiao said, "How about this? It's almost dinner time. Let's go somewhere and talk while we eat."

Su Xinghui nodded and said, "Alright, I'll treat."

Li Yimiao smiled and said, "After all, I am the host and you are the guest. Let's follow the host's convenience for this meal today. I'll treat!"

Su Xinghui was not a pretentious person. He nodded and said, "Alright, next time you go to the capital, I'll treat!"

Li Yimiao and Li Jun led Su Xinghui into an alley next to the Xinhua Hotel and walked into a small restaurant. This restaurant didn't even have a sign.

Li Yimiao was obviously very familiar with this place. He said to the boss, "Old Huang, I have a guest today. Give me a few side dishes for drinking, and bring another bottle of liquor."

Old Huang agreed: "Alright!"

Li Yimiao led them to the courtyard in the back, entered a room, and sat down at a table. He said to Su Xinghui, "The conditions are a bit simple, can't compare to the small dining room in our factory. Director Su won't mind, will you?"

The conditions here were indeed a bit simple, especially since the room was too small. Once a small table was placed, nothing else could fit. It could seat at most three or four people. A tall person like Su Xinghui had a bit of trouble trying to stretch his legs while sitting next to such a low table.

This was also a characteristic of ordinary Hujiang residences; this is what they call "holding a ceremony in a snail shell."

Su Xinghui smiled: "If I minded, I wouldn't have left the small dining room that day and gone to the big canteen to eat."

Li Yimiao and Li Jun, uncle and nephew, both laughed out loud. Li Jun said, "Director Su, I really admire you! This is the first time I've seen a leading cadre like you."

Su Xinghui smiled: "There are many people like me; maybe you just haven't met them."

Li Yimiao shook his head. He smiled and poured a cup of tea for Su Xinghui: "Director Su, the boss of this small restaurant used to be a worker in our factory. He was laid off last year and opened this restaurant. Those who come to patronize it are all poor fellow workers like us."

Su Xinghui said, "Business should be good, right?"

Li Yimiao said, "Sigh, it's just enough to make a living. His parents are both in poor health, and the monthly medical expenses are not small. His food and drink prices are not high, and rice is free. How much profit can he make doing this? But then again, if he set the prices too high, not many people could afford to eat. Everyone's life is not easy!"

Su Xinghui said, "Engineer Li, then let me treat this meal today, okay? At least my income is higher than yours."

Li Yimiao said, "It's fine, I can still get by. My burden is not as heavy as theirs. Besides, you are a guest in Hujiang. If I let you treat, wouldn't that be a joke? This meal doesn't cost much, don't argue with me."

Su Xinghui nodded and stopped talking about this. He picked up the teacup and took a sip of water.

While they were talking, Old Huang had already brought up two dishes: one was deep-fried peanuts, and the other was stir-fried pork ears. He held the two dishes in his hands, with a bottle of local cheap white liquor tucked under his arm, and placed them on the table one by one.

Old Huang said to Li Yimiao, "Engineer Li, you guys eat and drink first, there are two more dishes coming soon."

Li Yimiao nodded and said, "Old Huang, hurry up. By the way, don't put sugar in the dishes."

Old Huang agreed and went out. Li Yimiao pushed a set of tableware on the table in front of Su Xinghui and said, "Director Su, can you drink?"

Su Xinghui nodded and said, "I can drink a little."

Li Jun opened the bottle of white liquor, filled Su Xinghui's glass first, and then filled Li Yimiao's and his own.

Li Yimiao raised his glass and said, "Come, Director Su, a toast to you, for the day you went to the big canteen to eat!"

Su Xinghui picked up his glass, clinked it with Li Yimiao and Li Jun, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

This liquor was naturally not as mellow as Moutai, but it was quite strong. As soon as it entered his mouth, it felt like a line of fire flowing down his throat.

Su Xinghui nodded and said, "This liquor is strong enough."

Li Jun poured another glass for Su Xinghui, then poured for his uncle and himself. Li Yimiao said, "This isn't good liquor, it's cheap, but it relieves fatigue. We workers drink a couple of sips when we're tired from work. Director Su, have some food."

Su Xinghui nodded, picked up his chopsticks, picked up a piece of stir-fried pork ears, and tasted it. The food here certainly couldn't compare to what a top chef would make, but it was home-style flavor and was quite good.

After eating a few bites, Li Yimiao raised his glass again: "Director Su, I'll toast you again, for the words you said to the factory managers in the canteen that day. It's a pity I left a bit early that day and couldn't witness it with my own eyes, but after hearing Li Jun tell me about the scene at the time, I felt very satisfied!"

Su Xinghui raised his glass and said, "Sigh, I just said some inappropriate things, it's nothing."

Li Yimiao smiled and clinked glasses with Su Xinghui, drank the liquor, and then said, "I am also an inappropriate person, so I like your inappropriate words!"

Su Xinghui also laughed out loud and said, "Inappropriate person, inappropriate words, good, good, good!"

After Li Jun poured the liquor, Li Yimiao raised his glass again and said, "Director Su, I'll toast you a third time. For this third glass, I want to ask you for a favor!"

Su Xinghui said, "Engineer Li, what is it?"