MM Racing Chapter 1147 Gu Nan already knows
Chapter 1147 Gu Nan already knows
Gu Nan glanced at him, her eyes calm, but a knowing smile played on her lips. "Alright, I understand. Thanks for your hard work, go back now. Remember, just keep an eye on him discreetly, don't let him notice anything amiss, understand?"
The worker nodded emphatically and tiptoed out, the sound of the door closing so softly it was like a leaf falling to the ground. If Zhu Tao were here, he would be astonished—this young man was none other than Xiao Wang, the driver the factory had specially assigned to him when he first took office. He usually seemed dull and taciturn, never daring to say more than a few words. Who would have thought he was someone planted by Gu Nan?
Gu Nan leaned back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of the table, his mind suddenly clear. Zhu Tao was clearly targeting him; he'd probably been plotting against him ever since he stepped into the steel mill, just waiting for a pretext. He was somewhat puzzled. He'd never met this new factory director before, had no past grudges or recent conflicts, so what had he done to offend him? But puzzled as he was, since the other party had come knocking, he wouldn't sit idly by. The confidence he'd built up over the years wasn't for nothing.
He felt things were fine as they were. The position of deputy factory director wasn't too high, but it allowed him to firmly control the factory's production scheduling and technical backbone, giving him enough room to maneuver. Besides, the list of people to go to the countryside had been finalized, which meant that the major event involving all parties had already begun. At this point, there was no need to fight Zhu Tao to the death over power within the factory; it wasn't worth it.
Meanwhile, Yi Zhonghai was walking home happily, his steps lighter than when he arrived, his heart filled with joy. He hadn't expected the new factory director to be so courteous, offering him cigarettes and water. It seemed his title of eighth-grade fitter still carried some weight in the factory. If he could cling to Director Zhu's coattails and slowly bring Gu Nan down, perhaps the factory could invite him back to train apprentices, allowing him to retire with honors as an eighth-grade fitter—that way, his retirement pension would be significantly higher, he'd have more confidence in the factory, and Qin Huairu would be more subservient.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Qin Huairu standing behind the screen wall, clutching a rag in her hand, her eyes fixed anxiously on the entrance. Seeing him return, she hurried to greet him, her voice trembling slightly: "Uncle Yi, you're finally back! How did it go? What did the factory manager want with you? Was it... was it about my family's Banggeng?"
Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat, realizing something was wrong. He didn't want to say much to Qin Huairu—this woman was a chatterbox and couldn't keep secrets. If word got out that he and the factory director were plotting against Gu Nan, it would give others grounds for criticism. So he vaguely said, "It's nothing serious, she just wants to know some old things about the factory, ask about the old production procedures and stuff."
Qin Huairu was not about to give up. Her mind was full of Bang Geng's story about going to the countryside, and she didn't care about the old news at the factory. She stepped forward and almost grabbed Yi Zhonghai's arm to ask, "Uncle Yi, what about my Bang Geng? Did you mention it to the factory director? Can he think of a way to remove Bang Geng's name from the list? The child is still young, how can he endure the hardships in the countryside..." As she spoke, her eyes reddened.
Looking at her red and anxious eyes, Yi Zhonghai's mind raced. If he didn't bring it up directly, given Qin Huairu's personality, she would definitely cling to him relentlessly, crying and wailing, and might even make a scene known throughout the entire hospital, leaving him with a reputation for "refusing to help someone in distress." Besides, sending Banggeng to the countryside would only benefit him—for years he had wanted Qin Huairu to have a child with him, but she always used the excuse that Banggeng was too young and needed constant care. If Banggeng went to the countryside, without this burden, his plan could gradually be implemented.
So he softened his tone, a confident look appearing on his face, and patted Qin Huairu's arm: "Huairu, don't worry, I mentioned it to Director Zhu. The director said he just took office and doesn't know much yet, but he's already sent people to investigate the situation of the stalks. He said he'll get back to you as soon as he has any news. Just wait patiently, okay?"
Qin Huairu breathed a sigh of relief, a glimmer of light appearing in her eyes. She quickly wiped her eyes and said, "Really? That's wonderful! Uncle Yi, you're so resourceful, thank you so much! Once this is done, I'll make you your favorite braised pork!"
Yi Zhonghai waved his hand, his face smiling kindly: "No need to thank me, we're all neighbors." But inwardly he sneered—Investigate? Investigate what? By the time they investigate, Banggeng will be back in the countryside digging in the sun. By then, it will be too late, and no matter how anxious she is, it won't matter.
Qin Huairu knew Yi Zhonghai was a familiar face at the factory and was always willing to help her family, so the weight on her heart eased a little. However, she still couldn't help but offer a few more words of advice. Looking at Yi Zhonghai, her eyes held an almost pleading earnestness, and her voice softened: "Uncle Yi, although you just mentioned the Dongxu job change to Director Zhu, I'm still quite uneasy. How about… I go and talk to the director myself? At least I can tell him about how badly his father's back injury is. He strained his back while carrying steel a while ago, and now he's sweating profusely even in the rainy weather. He really can't do heavy work anymore. Maybe the director will see how reliable I am and pay more attention, and settle things sooner."
Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat, fearing that her impulsive nature might lead her to barge in recklessly and ruin things. He quickly waved his hand, his tone urgent, his voice rising slightly: "Qin Huairu, you can't go over there!" He glanced around to make sure no one was watching before lowering his voice and leaning closer, "Didn't you see what was going on in the office just now? Director Zhu was around the table with several directors, looking at reports, his brows furrowed tightly. He's probably investigating the factory's internal affairs, planning layoffs or job transfers. If you go over there and say your husband is changing jobs at this crucial moment, and you disrupt the director's business, he'll get annoyed. Forget about changing jobs, he might even reject me, and then there won't be anyone to help you!"
Qin Huairu was taken aback by his words. She opened her mouth to argue, but then she thought about it and realized that what Uncle Yi said made sense. She was just a woman with little education, dressed in patched clothes. If she barged into the factory manager's office, not only would she be unable to get anything done, but she might also be seen as a troublemaker and end up making things worse. She bit her lower lip, her fingers unconsciously twisting the handle of the vegetable basket, and finally nodded, her voice tinged with helplessness: "Then... I'll have to rely on you, Uncle Yi. Bang Geng's condition right now... he really can't hold on any longer."