Chapter 201
Unfortunately, his feelings are likely to be in vain. Liu Guangtian is currently dating a staff member in the propaganda department, a girl whose job and family background far surpass those of Yu Haitang, who is currently unemployed. This guy's mind is no longer on this, and he'll probably remain unmoved by Yu Haitang's advances.
As expected, Liu Guangtian simply nodded politely, his expression calm and unwavering.
On the other side, Sha Zhu's face grew increasingly grim, and he had inwardly blamed Yan Jiecheng countless times. He was almost thirty and still unmarried. With such a good girl, Yan Jiecheng didn't even think of him first, but instead introduced her to Liu Guangtian. But how could he know that Yu Haitang had never even considered him from the very beginning?
Xu Damao glanced at Sha Zhu's pale face and almost burst out laughing. Although Yu Haitang didn't sit next to him, seeing Sha Zhu humiliated was more satisfying than anything else. He was a married man, and in the compound, he only cared about the banter and didn't dare to do anything real. Seeing Sha Zhu unhappy made him feel comfortable.
"Sitting here, don't be shy!" Xu Damao's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone at the table to hear. He then deliberately raised his chin at Sha Zhu, "Sha Zhu, what are you standing there for? If you don't pick up your chopsticks soon, the food will get cold!"
After a few drinks, the atmosphere at the table gradually became lively. Yan Jiecheng raised his glass to Liu Guangqi and said, "Guangqi, it's rare for you to come back. Let me toast you first."
Sha Zhu, suppressing his anger, raised his glass and said, "That's right! You're a national model worker now, and our whole hospital benefits from it!"
Xu Damao grinned and said, "Brother Guangqi, there's nothing else to it, but I admire and respect you from the bottom of my heart!"
Amidst the chatter and clinking of glasses, everyone's conversation inevitably revolved around Liu Guangqi. Even though he didn't actively participate in the discussion, the focus of the gathering remained on him, as if his mere presence naturally made him the center of attention.
Beside Yu Haitang, her bright eyes hardly left Liu Guangqi. She had only known him as a leader in a ministry before, but tonight, listening to the conversations of Sha Zhu, Xu Damao, and the others from the institute, she gradually pieced together a clearer and more astonishing picture of him—
National Model Worker.
This title is far more prestigious and carries more weight than any "big leader" title.
Her gaze shifted slightly and landed on Liu Guangtian's face.
This man had an ordinary appearance, and seemed rather lackluster compared to his much-discussed older brother. But then again, he was Liu Guangqi's younger brother, and he himself worked as a technical cadre at the Hongxing Factory. With such a powerful and influential older brother to rely on, would his future be difficult?
With this thought in mind, Yu Haitang's mind began to stir, and when she looked at Liu Guangtian again, her eyes couldn't help but show a more realistic consideration.
Liu Guangqi had already noticed Yu Haitang's several subtle glances, but he pretended not to know and remained silent.
As the moon rose higher, the banquet in the courtyard finally came to an end. Each person, with their own thoughts, left in twos and threes.
Interestingly—
Sha Zhu pondered whether he should visit Uncle San's house tomorrow to inquire whether Yu Haitang was still unmarried;
Xu Damao was plotting how to secretly trip up Sha Zhu;
Yu Haitang was pondering how to find a wealthy family to marry into.
Night fell, and the courtyard returned to silence.
But the calculations in their hearts had only just begun to click.
The 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Wednesday.
The almanac says: It is auspicious for cleaning, house cleaning, moving, and marriage.
The next morning, the rustling sound of bamboo brooms scraping the frozen earth mingled with the smell of coal smoke wafting from a few houses, exuding the festive atmosphere of the approaching New Year.
Liu Haizhong, holding an enamel mug with the words "Model Worker of the Steel Rolling Mill" printed on it, was chatting with several old coworkers in the courtyard. Some were carrying empty vegetable baskets, while others were clutching several color-printed coupons; they were all rushing to the supply and marketing cooperative at the alley entrance early to buy New Year's goods.
That's right. If you don't go and buy some New Year's goods after receiving your wages, it's like you've just taken the money for nothing.
It was still early, so the conversation revolved around Liu Haizhong's eldest son, Liu Guangqi—after all, now that he was back in the courtyard, it was inevitable that others would ask him a few more questions when they saw Liu Haizhong.
Liu Haizhong was happy to chime in, his words laced with boasting, and the others laughed and echoed him, though only they themselves knew what they were really thinking.
At the other end of the court, Yi Zhonghai was carrying a small bag of brown sugar wrapped in yellow paper. As soon as he stepped out of the house, bursts of laughter and conversation came from the front yard.
He paused, his gaze passing through the moon gate, and saw Liu Haizhong surrounded by people, his face beaming with joy, which stung his eyes.
When someone else's son comes home, there's something to look forward to during the New Year, something to talk about.
What about himself?
The mere thought of the word "Chinese New Year" weighed heavily on Yi Zhonghai's heart. If you were to ask who in this courtyard dreaded the New Year the most, it would probably be him.
Other families are celebrating with joy, the lights are warm, and laughter fills the room;
His family celebrated the Lunar New Year with only an empty stove and pots, and he and his wife looked at each other in bewilderment.
It's because he has no children and no one to confide in.
In his younger days, he would often visit his apprentice Jia Dongxu's home to join in the fun, but ever since Jia Dongxu left, Qin Huairu has been a young widow raising several children alone. It just doesn't seem right for an old man like him to keep going there.
There's always gossip around a widow's door. Not to mention the gossipy old ladies in the courtyard, even Jia Zhangshi's eyes were like knives, cutting people.
To avoid gossip and to save face, he stopped going there in the last two years.
These days, I mostly spend the Lunar New Year in the backyard with my deaf grandmother. Occasionally, I'll invite Sha Zhu and He Yushui and their siblings to join me at a table, which is enough to make the place a little more lively.
But they are someone else's people after all.
He recalled the lively atmosphere of the Liu family, three generations living together in the backyard every Spring Festival, with the sons making a lot of noise.
Looking back at his room, he realized there was no one else there but him and his wife.
The courtyard was so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.
The bag of brown sugar in Yi Zhonghai's arms made his chest ache. At this time of year, while other families had their children running around helping out, what about him? Not a single person could lend a hand. If he had a son or daughter, even just a girl, he'd be busy shopping for New Year's goods by now. Why was he putting his entire future on that hothead He Yuzhu?
"Old Yi! Shall we take something to the old lady?"
A deep, resonant voice came from the backyard. He was chatting with a few neighbors, his belly protruding.
"Okay, I'll go over there first." Yi Zhonghai put on his usual smile, but didn't slow down. He just tucked the brown sugar into his clothes and headed straight for the deaf old lady's house.
These days, brown sugar is precious and hard to buy for ordinary families. He queued for half a day at the supply and marketing cooperative yesterday to get some—during the New Year, he could only keep the deaf old lady company and chat with her about life's joys and sorrows.
Just took two steps—
"Grandpa! Wait for me!"
He Yuzhu's voice boomed like thunder as he chased after them. Yi Zhonghai turned around and saw that he was wearing a stiff blue cotton-padded jacket, the collar buttoned up a notch, his hair slicked back with oil, and he was clutching a net bag with a few apples dangling from it. He jogged up to him and, without a word, shoved an apple into Yi Zhonghai's hand.
"You're so knowledgeable, give me some pointers!" He Yuzhu said in a low voice, but his eyes burned with desire. "Tell me... how should I strike up a conversation with Comrade Yu Haitang? At least find out if she... has a boyfriend?"
"Yu Haitang?" Yi Zhonghai held the cold apple in his hand, his eyelids twitching suddenly.
He scrutinized He Yuzhu—his face was brimming with eagerness, not joking. Yi Zhonghai took a deep breath, swallowing back the rebuke that was about to escape his lips, and only said in a deep voice:
"Zhu Zi, listen to my advice."
"Give up on that idea as soon as possible. I've met Yu Li's sister; in terms of looks and education, how are they on your side?"
He paused, his tone hardening further:
"They're just visiting relatives, they won't be staying for long. If you go and bother them, aren't you just making a fool of yourself?"
There were some things Yi Zhonghai kept to himself: Yu Haitang's eyes were always glancing at the Liu family in the backyard, whether openly or secretly. Who in the yard couldn't see it? A girl who just graduated high school and was waiting for a job assignment, would she really be interested in you, He Yuzhu? And she even brought apples to fawn over you—she must be out of her mind!
"Hey! Sir, I disagree with what you said!"
He Yuzhu stiffened his neck, his face turning red:
"I, He Yuzhu, am a proper, level-eight cook at the steel rolling mill! These days, you won't go hungry if you work with a cook—where are my conditions lacking?"
As he spoke, he waved the net, the apples thumping against it with a loud thud, as if that was all the confidence he had.
Yi Zhonghai sneered inwardly: Good conditions? If you were so good, would you still be a bachelor at thirty? You're always chasing after Qin Huairu, calling her "Sister Qin" this and "Sister Qin" that. What decent girl would dare to be with you? Now that you've seen Yu Haitang, you're completely infatuated—a leopard can't change its spots!
"I can't help with this." Yi Zhonghai was too lazy to argue, so he stuffed the apple back into the net bag. "If you really want to know, go find Yan Jiecheng, or just ask Uncle San. Yu Li is his daughter-in-law, they know everything."
This is a hot potato; it's best to pass it on to Old Yan's family.
"Alright! Then I'll go find Uncle San!" He Yuzhu twisted his body, stuck out his neck, and headed towards the front yard, his back looking just like a stubborn ox.
Yi Zhonghai shook his head, no longer looking at him, and walked into the deaf old lady's room with the brown sugar in his arms.
In Liu Guangqi's home in the backyard, the aroma of tea wafted through the air. He leaned back in his chair, holding a cup of hot tea, enjoying a rare moment of leisure in the twelfth lunar month.
The New Year is almost here.
The festive atmosphere in the courtyard houses is growing stronger every day, and even the air is filled with a faint sense of joy and unease.
The courtyard was bustling with activity, as everyone was cleaning and tidying up in preparation for the New Year. The usually quiet central courtyard was unusually lively today.
The Liu family, of course, did not remain idle.
However, rough work such as dusting and sweeping no longer falls to Liu's eldest son, Guangqi. His second son, Guangtian, and youngest son, Guangfu, are kept busy and have become the two most capable helpers in the family.
The whole family was busy coming and going, the smoke and voices blending together in a warm and lively atmosphere, which made the desolation of the Yi family's house in the middle courtyard stand out all the more.
"Beep—"
A piercing horn suddenly blared from outside the courtyard gate, like a pebble thrown into a still pond, instantly shattering the tranquility of the courtyard.
Yan Jiecheng, who was sweeping snow in the front yard, paused and looked up.
A brand-new black sedan was parked steadily beside the gate. The door opened, and a man in a Zhongshan suit stepped out—slightly overweight with slicked-back hair.
Yan Jiecheng's eyelids twitched slightly.
It was Li Huaide, the deputy director of the steel rolling mill.
As a worker at the Hongxing Factory, Yan Jiecheng naturally had no reason to be afraid of the deputy director of the steel rolling mill.
But he knew all too well that the only person Deputy Factory Director Li was looking for when he stepped into this courtyard was Liu Guangqi; there was no one else worth his personal visit.
Several steel mill workers who lived in the front yard also gradually gathered around, whispering among themselves:
"Why is Factory Director Li here again?"
"Is there even a question? He's definitely looking for Guangqi! Have you seen him come to our courtyard looking for anyone else?"
"Wow, they've got some serious influence, the deputy factory director even brought New Year's gifts to our door..."
Li Huaide was clearly used to this kind of scene. He smiled and waved to everyone, but kept walking and didn't exchange any pleasantries with anyone.
He slightly turned his head and gave his assistant a wink.
The assistant immediately understood, took two bulging coarse cloth bundles from the car, and followed closely behind him, heading straight for the backyard. The bundles hung heavily, suggesting that what they contained was quite substantial.
The workers in the front yard quickly made way for them, their eyes filled with envy and awe.
Yu Haitang was helping her sister Yu Li hang clothes at the Yan family's house when she heard the noise and peeked out.
"Brother-in-law, who is that?"
"Deputy Director Li from the steel rolling mill is here to see Guangqi."
"The deputy director of the steel rolling mill?"
Yu Haitang's eyes widened instantly, and the clothes in her hands almost slipped from her grasp.
She longed to work at the steel rolling mill day and night, and was still waiting for a job opening at the street office. Who knew that the deputy director would come to her door in person—he came specifically to see Liu Guangqi.
The implications of this left her momentarily bewildered.
Tea smoke curls gently from the stone table in the backyard.
Li Huaide personally refilled Liu Guangqi's tea, his posture humble and unassuming, showing no airs of a deputy director-level factory director.