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

Chapter 1064 Method

Now she had to swallow her pride and beg He Yuzhu for help. Her heart was heavy, and her steps felt like they were made of lead. As soon as she pushed open the door, Jia Zhangshi rushed out from the inner room, clutching a crumpled blue cloth bag with a bit of cornmeal showing at the opening.

"How's it going? Any news from Deputy Factory Director Li?" Jia Zhangshi's voice was shrill, like fingernails scraping glass. "Bang Geng has to fill out the rural application next week. If we don't find a way, my grandson will be sent to that poor mountain village to eat dirt! He'll be tanned like charcoal and develop a herniated disc. I won't be able to live like that!"

Qin Huairu paused in taking off her shoes, rubbing her temples wearily, her forehead stray hairs stuck together with sweat: "Mom, I went to see He Yuzhu. He said he's already mentioned this to Deputy Factory Director Li, and told us to wait a little longer. Deputy Factory Director Li said he'll help find a solution."

"Wait? Can we afford to wait?" Jia Zhangshi slammed the cloth bag on the table, spilling a lot of cornmeal that piled up into a small mound. She slapped her thigh, her voice even shriller: "If the corn cobs really go to the countryside, exposed to the wind and sun, earning just a few work points a day won't even be enough to fill their teeth. If they get sick from the hard work, I'll lose my life too! Go and urge He Yuzhu again! Make him give Deputy Factory Director Li some gifts. If that doesn't work, pawn my pair of silver bracelets! They were part of my dowry, and I can't worry about that now!"

Qin Huairu frowned, her heart feeling heavy. "I understand. I'll go talk to Yuzhu in a bit." She knew that He Yuzhu had already gone to the factory three times for the sake of the sticks, which was more than enough. If she continued to push him like this, she was afraid that even this little bit of neighborly affection would be severed.

Suddenly, Jia Zhangshi lowered her voice and leaned close to Qin Huairu's ear like a thief, her eyes gleaming with a mysterious light: "You have no idea who I just saw?"

"Who is it?" Qin Huairu asked listlessly, too lazy to even untie the apron in her hand.

"Silly Zhu!" Jia Zhangshi curled her lip and spat on the ground. "I just went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy soy sauce, and I saw him coming out of Deputy Factory Director Li's house from afar. He was carrying a bulging net bag, which looked heavy. I wonder what good stuff it contained, maybe some cured meat or eggs! I was wondering why he was so eager to help you. He probably already got on Deputy Factory Director Li's good side and wanted to use this to his advantage!"

Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat, as if she had been hit hard by something. Why hadn't He Yuzhu told her when he went to give a gift to Deputy Factory Director Li? Although he usually loved to boast, he was always straightforward in his dealings. Why was he being so secretive this time? Did he have some other plan? Was he trying to use the incident with Banggeng to ask Deputy Factory Director Li for a raise, or was he trying to get a less demanding position? In an instant, her mind became even more chaotic, like a tangled mess. Even the anger she felt from being scolded by Jia Dongxu earlier was overshadowed by this sudden cloud of doubt, leaving only a deep sense of unease.

Jia Zhangshi stood in the courtyard with her hands on her hips, her face red and her neck thick with anger. Spittle flew out with each word she spoke, almost splashing onto Qin Huairu's face: "It's all because of that old bastard Liu Haizhong! He took his son Liu Guangtian around the courtyard, telling Zhang San, 'My Guangtian doesn't have to go to the countryside anymore,' and when he met Li Si, he said again, 'He got special permission from above to stay in the city.' He was so smug, his tail was practically wagging in the air! He really thought this courtyard was his own little plot of land, showing off however he wanted. It makes me so angry!"

Qin Huairu was also burning with anger, her throat tightening. But as angry as she was, she was helpless. Liu Guangtian had connections to stay in the city, while her own family's notice to go to the countryside weighed heavily on her mind, making it hard to breathe. What could she do? She couldn't very well try to steal someone else's spot, could she?

As for asking He Yuzhu for help, forget about it. Lu Jia has gone back to the courtyard house lately. The girl looks quiet and refined, but her eyes reveal a sharp, uncompromising nature. Last time, she only said a few words about the joke with He Yuzhu, and Lu Jia coldly retorted, "Sister Qin is busy with family matters, and Zhuzi has to take care of his work in the canteen. Don't keep bothering him." She was speechless for a long time. If she went to him now, Lu Jia might misunderstand, and He Yuzhu would be even less willing to lend a hand.

Meanwhile, Gu Nan was incredibly busy at the steel rolling mill. Having just been promoted to senior engineer, a mountain of backlogged technical upgrade projects were piling up, all waiting for him to take the lead. He spent his mornings holding technical seminars, his afternoons overseeing revisions to new blueprints, even eating lunch of steamed buns in the workshop, finally finding a moment of respite as dusk fell.

When he returned to the courtyard house, night had already fallen over the walls, and warm yellow light shone from the windows of every household. Pushing open the door, he saw Ran Qiuye sitting on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), playing with the child in her arms. The food on the table was covered with enamel bowls, and steam was still rising from the uncovered bowls. "Gu Nan, why are you so late today?" Ran Qiuye looked up and saw him, quickly getting up to take the heavy briefcase and handing him a clean towel.

Gu Nan smiled and took off his coat, which smelled of engine oil: "I was busy finishing up the assessment today. There was a bunch of documents to sign and file, so I was a little delayed."

"Congratulations, senior engineer." Ran Qiuye's eyes were filled with genuine smiles as she handed over a glass of warm water. "Everyone in the factory has heard about it."

Gu Nan raised an eyebrow, took the water glass, and took a sip: "How did you know? I haven't told you yet."

"It's almost the whole courtyard that's talking about it." Ran Qiuye couldn't help but tease him, picking up a comb to tidy his messy hair. "Especially Liu Haizhong from the backyard, he keeps telling everyone that 'Deputy Factory Director Gu has become a senior engineer,' with a sour tone, like he's drunk vinegar; at the same time, he's busy dragging Liu Guangtian around the courtyard, showing off that 'my Guangtian has returned from the countryside, and the higher-ups value him,' as if he's afraid others won't know that his son is capable and can outshine everyone else."

Gu Nan smiled knowingly. He had long since figured out Liu Haizhong's little scheme—he simply wanted to elevate himself by using other people's affairs, both to appear well-informed and to flaunt his own family's "glory." However, he didn't take this little trick to heart at all. What can make someone smug forever? Ups and downs are just the way things are.

Meanwhile, Deputy Factory Director Li hadn't been idle these past few days either. He sat in his office, his fingers tapping absently on the desk, his face grim, as if he were holding back a storm. He hadn't expected Gu Nan to so easily obtain the title of senior engineer. If Gu Nan continued like this, given his skills and prestige, his position as factory director might truly be in jeopardy.