MM Racing Chapter 1163 He Yuzhu is very comfortable
Chapter 1163 He Yuzhu is very comfortable
Yi Zhonghai hummed in agreement, then didn't press further. He stood up, dusted off his pants, and said slowly, "Alright, I'm going back now. There are still some things to take care of at the factory. Don't worry too much, take care of yourself, and don't overwork yourself."
Watching Yi Zhonghai's figure disappear through the doorway, the wooden door creaked shut, and the shoe sole in Qin Huairu's hand fell to the kang (a heated brick bed) with a dull thud. She bit her lip, her nails digging into her flesh, cursing inwardly: Useless thing! She thought finding an older man would be reliable, caring, and helpful, but she couldn't even count on a child. How was she going to live from now on? Was she really going to have to raise these two teenagers until her hair turned white?
Her gaze drifted to the window, looking at the bare branches of the old locust tree in the yard. Her mind raced, quickly forming an idea. She couldn't count on Gu Nan; that kid was a stubborn block of stone. Last time, when the family ran out of food coupons and she tried to borrow a couple of pounds from him, he coldly rejected her, saying something like "rules can't be broken." He was a heartless bastard. Now, even speaking to him required careful consideration to avoid getting a cold shoulder.
Of the men in the courtyard, only He Yuzhu and Xu Damao were somewhat communal. But Xu Damao, despite being married to Lou Xiao'e for so many years, hadn't conceived. People in the factory had long been gossiping behind his back, calling him a "barren hen," implying he probably had some problem and was definitely unreliable.
That leaves only He Yuzhu.
Thinking of this, Qin Huairu's eyes brightened, as if she had found a glimmer of light in the darkness. Although He Yuzhu was currently just a junior cook in the canteen kitchen, he was incredibly popular and had a sweet tongue, especially close to the new factory manager—he had personally brought the equipment to the manager's mother's home to prepare the banquet for her sixtieth birthday, and she had heard that the manager's mother praised him highly. Recently, rumors were circulating that he was about to be promoted to head chef, in charge of purchasing and overseeing the kitchen—a considerable amount of power.
More importantly, that silly boy had always had a crush on her, his eyes always holding a warm glow, like he was burning with desire. Before, she hadn't dared to take things too far because of Yi Zhonghai's influence and her relationship with Jia Dongxu, but now… Jia Dongxu was gone, and she couldn't rely on Yi Zhonghai, wasn't this an opportunity?
Qin Huairu raised a hand to touch her temple, tucking a stray hair behind her ear, a barely perceptible, calculating smile playing on her lips. She had to hold onto He Yuzhu tightly. If she could win him over and make him willingly work for her, not only would the matter of Bang Geng being transferred back be a possibility, but she might even be able to secure the household expenses, the children's tuition and book fees. With money in her own hands, she could stand taller and speak with more authority in the courtyard.
She picked up the shoe sole from the ground, threaded the needle, and the "shh-shh" sound echoed in the quiet room as the steel needle pierced through the thick cloth, as if she were mending her plans stitch by stitch. The world in this courtyard house was about to change.
Qin Huairu watched Yi Zhonghai's figure disappear around the corner of the courtyard. His dark blue jacket looked like a tiny dot in the dim light. Just as she was about to turn back into the house, she caught a glimpse of a figure swaying into the courtyard gate out of the corner of her eye. By the dim light of the lamp under the eaves, she recognized him as He Yuzhu.
He Yuzhu has been a very busy man in the factory lately. Ever since Zhu Tao came to the steel rolling mill as the factory manager, he's been keeping a close eye on him like a predator eyeing its prey. Whenever there's a business dinner at the factory, he always calls on He Yuzhu to cook. Zhu Tao doesn't trust Gu Nan's people, and he feels that He Yuzhu is a veteran of the steel rolling mill, someone he knows well, and a straightforward person who doesn't have many hidden agendas, so he can trust him.
He Yuzhu has indeed lived up to expectations. The laziness he used to have when he was just loafing around in the kitchen is gone. He is full of energy all day long, either learning new dishes from the master chef or practicing his knife skills with radishes and potatoes. He is single-mindedly trying to impress Zhu Tao and hopes to become a master chef as soon as possible. Now he speaks more confidently in the yard than before and walks with a swagger.
Qin Huairu's gaze immediately fell on the net bag in He Yuzhu's hand, her eyes widening instantly—the net bag contained half a glistening roast chicken, its skin gleaming amber, clearly stewed until tender; beside it was a bundle of vibrant green vegetables, glistening with moisture, looking incredibly fresh; the bottom of the net bag was bulging, and she could vaguely make out the outline of a glass wine bottle, suggesting he was also carrying a bottle of good wine. Her heart skipped a beat; He Yuzhu hadn't brought home such a decent meal in a while. Before, he'd only ever brought leftover scraps and dough from the canteen, never anything this savory.
Thinking of the thin corn porridge on her own stove, so thin you could see your reflection in it, and the way Huaihua and Xiaodang held their empty bowls, staring longingly at the pot, Qin Huairu's feet seemed to be drawn to her, and she involuntarily took a few steps forward. Her face put on her usual pitiful look, and her voice was as soft as cotton: "Zhuzi, why are you so late today? All the lights in the yard were on, I thought you weren't coming back."
He Yuzhu was humming a little tune as he walked home, the aroma of roast chicken and the crispness of greens wafting from the dish in his hand. He was happily planning: a couple of drinks with Lu Jia tonight, along with this roast chicken—life couldn't be more comfortable. Hearing Qin Huairu's voice, he turned around with a smile, a hint of smugness on his face: "Oh, it's Huairu. The new factory manager, Zhu, really likes me, so he specially invited me to a dinner party tonight to show off my cooking skills. It just ended." He shook the net bag in his hand, the roast chicken swaying enticingly under the light, his pride barely concealed. "See? The factory manager gave it to me as a special reward, saying my cooking suited his taste. This roast chicken is an extra bonus for me."
Qin Huairu didn't care who he ate with or who rewarded him; her eyes were glued to the half-eaten roast chicken, and her throat bobbed involuntarily. She took two more steps forward, almost touching He Yuzhu, and said in a low voice with a deliberately suppressed sob, "Zhuzi, I knew it! With your excellent cooking skills and sharp knife work, you'd catch the eye of a big shot sooner or later."
Her tone shifted abruptly, and her eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up. "You know how difficult things are for our family right now. Dongxu passed away early, and Banggeng went to the countryside. It's just me and my two daughters at home. We eat cornmeal three times a day, and the children have almost forgotten the taste of meat... Look at all the vegetables you brought back, could... could you share a bite with the three of us? Just a bite, to satisfy their cravings. Seeing them licking their lips so eagerly, it really breaks my heart as their mother..."