Siheyuan: I just came across and wanted to chase me away

Chapter 1207 Zhu Tao's Unconventional Plan

He Yuzhu's smile deepened, tinged with a boastful tone. He recounted his conversation with Zhong Yi in the canteen in detail, even mimicking Zhong Yi's confident assurance that he would "follow the factory director closely from now on, without hesitation." Finally, rubbing his hands together, he asked expectantly, "Director Zhu, you see, Zhong Yi is definitely one of us now, without a doubt! What should we do next? Should we strike while the iron is hot and give Gu Nan another push?"

Zhu Tao's heart skipped a beat, his eyes brightened, and he nodded—it seemed Zhong Yi had truly come over, and wasn't pretending. This was perfect; Gu Nan trusted this apprentice most, grooming him as a confidant and keeping nothing from him. If Zhong Yi were to betray him at a crucial moment, it would surely destroy him completely. The feeling of being betrayed by the person he trusted most, the chilling coldness that seeps into his heart, would be enough to break Gu Nan.

On the other side, Gu Nan felt quite pleased with himself after finishing his business at the factory. Those who had offended him had all been dealt with. Although he hadn't directly targeted Zhu Tao, he had given him a warning, letting him know his place – a significant lesson indeed. He hummed a little tune as he walked home, his steps lighter. He had learned a lot of new things during his trip and was exhausted; a couple of days' rest at home would be perfect. Besides, he really missed his wife, Ran Qiuye, and the children; he wondered how much the kids had grown.

On his way home from get off work, as he approached the factory gate, Gu Nan bumped into Zhu Tao. Zhu Tao wore a forced smile, a smile that looked more like a grimace, and took the initiative to greet him: "Deputy Factory Director Gu, are you off work? What happened today was truly a misunderstanding. It was all because the subordinates were ignorant and caused trouble, which upset you. Don't worry, I will definitely rectify the situation properly and address the root cause to ensure that this kind of thing never happens again in our steel rolling mill."

Gu Nan smiled, his tone as calm as if he were talking about the weather: "Director Zhu, you're too kind. It's all for the good of the factory. There's no need to make a fuss. Let bygones be bygones. Just focus on production in the future."

Zhu Tao smiled insincerely and agreed, "Yes, yes, you're right." But inwardly he sneered—just wait, this score will be settled sooner or later, and you'll be crying then. Let's see who laughs last! The two brushed past each other and went in different directions. The sunlight stretched their shadows long, but the air seemed to be filled with silent gunpowder, exuding a tense atmosphere like an impending storm.

Gu Nan returned to the courtyard house in the pre-dinner light, the setting sun casting a reddish glow on the "Fu" (福, meaning good fortune) character on the screen wall. Just as he turned the corner, he saw Lu Jia coming out of her own courtyard, carrying an empty, coarse blue-rimmed porcelain bowl with traces of rice porridge on the rim. It looked like she had just borrowed something from Ran Qiuye—most likely soy sauce or vinegar, as neighbors often shared.

The two exchanged glances. Gu Nan's gaze lingered on her bowl for half a second, then he merely nodded indifferently without stopping. He never exchanged many pleasantries with the people in this courtyard, especially with Lu Jia. He always felt that her eyes darted around too quickly, and she smiled warmly at everyone, but the smile never really reached her eyes, revealing an inexplicable deliberateness, as if she was always plotting something.

"Deputy Factory Director Gu, you're back from your training?" Lu Jia spoke first, a perfectly timed smile on her face—neither obsequious nor overly familiar, as if the two had known each other for a long time. She shifted her foot to the side to make way for Gu Nan, gently shaking the empty bowl in her hand.

Gu Nan nodded again, squeezing out a soft "hmm" as a response, but still didn't say anything more. He was always direct and didn't like beating around the bush. He could be very open with people he clicked with, but he wouldn't bother to waste a single word on those he didn't get along with.

Lu Jia understood perfectly well—Gu Nan's attitude clearly showed he held a grudge against her. He probably thought her recent tendency to associate with Ran Qiuye—bringing her vegetables one day, borrowing candy the next—was suspicious. But she wasn't in a hurry. A smile played on her lips as she watched Gu Nan walk away, secretly calculating: once she and Ran Qiuye were as close as sisters, able to confide in each other while sewing shoe soles, how could Gu Nan be wary? With Ran Qiuye mediating, it wouldn't be difficult for her to inquire about factory matters, or even ask him to find her husband an easy job.

She wisely refrained from saying anything more, nodded, turned around, and went back to her room. The wooden door creaked shut, shutting out the last rays of sunlight from the courtyard.

Gu Nan watched her figure disappear through the neighboring door before turning his gaze away and pushing open his own courtyard gate. As soon as he stepped over the threshold, he smelled a faint aroma of coal smoke mixed with the scent of scallions. Looking up, he saw Ran Qiuye wearing a faded blue apron, busy at the stove, a tattered cookbook in her hand, her brow slightly furrowed, seemingly pondering what to cook for dinner. Steam rose from the iron pot on the stove, indicating that water had just been boiled.

"Gu Nan, you're back!" Ran Qiuye was the first to hear the noise. When she looked up and saw him, her eyes lit up like two stars. She quickly put down the recipe and came to greet him, her voice full of undisguised joy. "You've finished studying? Why didn't you tell me beforehand? I could have gone to the market to buy more vegetables. Look at me, I only prepared some cabbage and potatoes."

Gu Nan placed the canvas bag he was carrying on the table with a thud, its weight evident at the bottom. He stepped forward and naturally reached out to tidy Ran Qiuye's slightly disheveled hair, which had been messed up by the stove fire. His fingertips brushed against the soft, warm strands of hair behind her ear. "What groceries are you buying?" he asked with a smile, his usual detachment completely gone. "I've been preparing them for a while. I haven't shown you my cooking in days, so today I'll let you taste my culinary skills and nourish your body."

Ran Qiuye blushed slightly at his affectionate gesture, like a light layer of rouge. She gave him a reproachful look and patted his arm, saying, "You're so sweet-talking." But her heart was warm, like having a small charcoal stove inside her. Gu Nan, though seemingly calm and taciturn, was actually incredibly thoughtful. Every time he returned from a trip, he never forgot to bring back some of her favorite foods. Last time he went on a business trip, he even specially brought back a bag of osmanthus cakes she had been craving, saying he was afraid they would spoil, and he carried it with him the whole way.

She turned around and helped take the contents out of the canvas bag. First, she pulled out a package of braised meat wrapped in oil paper. Opening it, she saw it was glistening with oil, perfectly marbled with fat and lean meat, and had a rich, savory aroma. Further inside was a net bag tied with a rope, containing several fresh, silvery fish, their gills still slightly moving—clearly, they had just been brought ashore. "Oh my, these fish are so fresh!" Ran Qiuye's eyes curved into crescents. "Looks like we're in for a treat today. I won't bother with anything else; I'll help you out, picking vegetables and peeling garlic will do."