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

Chapter 1078 Ignoring

Originally, she had hoped that Deputy Factory Director Li could intervene and keep Banggeng in the city, even if it was just as an apprentice in a small street factory, rather than letting him suffer in the countryside. Unexpectedly, this very person who had been her backer had fallen into trouble first. The way he looked, handcuffed and dejected as he was led away, extinguished Qin Huairu's last glimmer of hope like a bucket of ice water. This sudden turn of events caught her completely off guard, leaving her feeling empty and panicked—did she really have to beg Gu Nan for help?

But she had no connection with Gu Nansu. Back in the courtyard house, she had even gone so far as to gossip about his youthful arrogance with Yi Zhonghai and the others, looking down on him quite a bit. Now that he was a powerful deputy factory director, would he really look down on an ordinary family member like her and put aside the past to help him?

Qin Huairu stood under the sycamore tree in the factory area for a long time, her shoes crunching on the gravel. If she didn't beg, Banggeng's assignment to the countryside was a done deal; that child had been spoiled since childhood, how could he withstand the wind and sun in the countryside? But if she went to beg, she couldn't bring herself to do it, and besides, her past actions might still be remembered.

But now that things have come to this, what other way is there? Qin Huairu gritted her teeth and thought to herself: I'll talk to him properly and lower my stance. After all, we live in the same courtyard and see each other all the time. Gu Nan should at least give me some face, right?

Clutching the hem of her clothes, she asked around until she found Gu Nan's office. The door was ajar, and she could hear the scratching of pens on paper and the occasional rustling of documents being turned. Qin Huairu knew that the factory had been very busy lately, and Gu Nan was probably extremely occupied. She hesitated at the door for a moment, her fingers scratching at the rough wooden door, before finally mustering her courage and gently knocking.

"Come in." Gu Nan's voice came from inside, carrying a hint of busy composure.

Qin Huairu pushed open the door, and a faint scent of ink mixed with tobacco wafted out. Gu Nan was buried in a stack of documents, his brows slightly furrowed, his pen flying across the reports, his profile illuminated by the lamplight, showing remarkable focus. Looking at this young man, once looked down upon by her and the others in the factory, now the undisputed deputy factory director, and with rumors circulating that after Director Yang's retirement, this position would most likely be his, Qin Huairu felt a mix of emotions. Her legs felt like lead, and she didn't dare move for a long time.

Gu Nan didn't even look up, his pen still in his hand, and asked directly, "Speak, what do you want from me?"

Qin Huairu composed herself, rubbed her hands together, and tried to make her tone sound earnest: "Deputy Factory Director Gu, it's still... it's still about Bang Geng going to the countryside. Do you think... could you make an exception?"

Gu Nan then put down his pen, raised his head, and calmly looked at her face. He put down his pen, leaned back slightly, and looked at Qin Huairu: "Qin Huairu, I said this in the courtyard last time: going to the countryside is a national policy, not something I can decide. This is a major issue, concerning the overall situation. I can't control it, and I shouldn't control it. Do you understand?"

"Deputy Factory Director Gu!" Qin Huairu cried out anxiously, her voice trembling with tears. She took two steps forward, about to kneel down. "Please help me! Banggeng is still young; he can't endure the hardships of the countryside!"

Just then, the office door was pushed open with a bang, and Xu Damao barged in with a file bag in his hand. He was obviously not expected to be there, and after a moment of surprise, he stood at the door with a smile of anticipation, arms crossed.

Qin Huairu didn't care about hiding her feelings. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Gu Nan, her tone pleading yet tinged with the familiarity of a neighbor from the courtyard: "Gu Nan, you're the deputy factory director now, you're very capable! But we're still neighbors in this courtyard, how can you just stand by and watch him die? Bang Geng is just a child. If something happens to him in the countryside, how will I live!"

Gu Nan frowned, his tone becoming more serious: "Qin Huairu, there are no exceptions when it comes to policy. Banggeng is your child, and I understand that you feel sorry for him, but so many young people across the country are responding to the call, so why can't he go? Besides, going to the countryside for training is not a bad thing; it can help people grow."

“Growth? He’s just a kid, what kind of growth can he get in a place like that? He’ll be lucky if he doesn’t get ruined!” Qin Huairu’s voice rose a little higher, and tears finally fell. “Gu Nan, I’m begging you, for the sake of living in the same courtyard, please think of a way, even if it’s just to let him work as a temporary worker in the factory!”

Xu Damao stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe, watching with great interest. A smile of anticipation played on his lips, and he occasionally let out a soft "hiss" sound. The sarcasm in his tone was like needles, pricking one's ears painfully—he clearly thought Qin Huairu had asked for trouble, that she had no choice but to come and get a cold shoulder instead of having a good life, and that she deserved it.

Gu Nan glanced at Xu Damao indifferently, the coldness in his eyes making Xu Damao behave somewhat, but he still didn't move. His gaze returned to Qin Huairu, his tone softening slightly, but still conveying an unyielding firmness: "Temporary workers also have to follow the factory's regulations. Files, medical reports, letters of introduction—none can be missing. Only with complete procedures can you start working. It's not something I can make an exception for with a single word. Go back now, don't waste any more time here; it's not a good look."

After saying that, he turned to Xu Damao without looking up and instructed, "Xu Damao, you've come at the right time. Go to the security department and tell them that someone is causing trouble in the office area and disrupting normal work order. Have them come and deal with it."

Xu Damao's eyes darted around, and he immediately understood the meaning behind Gu Nan's words—this wasn't a real call for the security department; it was clearly a way to use him as a pretext to give Qin Huairu a hard time and make her back down. He suppressed a laugh and deliberately drew out his words, saying, "Okay, sure! Don't worry, Deputy Factory Director Gu, I'll go right away! I guarantee I'll handle things perfectly!" As he spoke, he made a move to leave, but his steps were hesitant, and his eyes were still glancing at Qin Huairu's face out of the corner of his eye.

When Qin Huairu saw that Xu Damao was really going to go find someone, she panicked. She took half a step forward, her chest heaving, and pointed at Gu Nan's nose, shouting, "Gu Nan, you're a real scoundrel! We're neighbors living in the same courtyard, we see each other all the time, what exactly do you want? Bang Geng is about to be sent to the countryside, I just want to find a temporary job to supplement my family's income, how can you just stand by and watch me die? Can't you help me out of consideration for our neighborly relationship? Is your heart made of stone?"

Gu Nan didn't even lift an eyelid, his pen scratching away on the document, completely ignoring her tantrum. Wasting time arguing with someone so unreasonable was a waste of time and would only cause trouble. He picked up the document on the table, turned to the next page, as if the person in front of him was just an eyesore, too lazy to even respond to his breath.