The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 115 My Background? Let's Forget About It [Please Subscribe]

It seems very similar, but he remembered his daughter saying that Zhou Zhiqiang seemed to have a family. Is this just a coincidence?

Chen's father hesitated to make a decision for a moment, but as he observed, he increasingly felt that Zhou Zhiqiang resembled his comrade-in-arms.

Especially when they smile, the dimples at the corners of their mouths are almost identical.

"That's all for now, Deputy Section Chief Chen. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to come to me."

Zhou Zhiqiang briefly explained his plans for the technical department, and then continued: "Our factory has now entered a stage of steady development, and the most important thing now is the technical training of apprentices."

If their technology improves, the production efficiency of small tractors next year will also increase significantly, and after completing their foreign exchange earnings targets, they can also supply the domestic market.

"However, I feel that compared to small tractors, we need small seeders and the thresher I just gave you more, as they consume less energy than tractors."

However, in some areas of the Northwest with poor road conditions, tractors are even more needed; it's hard to say, it depends on how the higher authorities assign production tasks.

Chen Li nodded and said, "I understand, Section Chief. If there's nothing else, we'll be going now."

If she hadn't brought her father along, she wouldn't have had much to do today and would have liked to see Zhou Zhiqiang's children.

They're chubby and pink, quite cute.

But with her father by her side, Chen Li just wants to leave as soon as possible.

"Don't rush, daughter. You came here early this morning and have been busy until noon. At least have a meal before you leave."

Chen's father's sudden words startled both Chen Li and Zhou Zhiqiang.

It's polite to invite guests to dinner, especially since Zhou Zhiqiang's family isn't short of food, and Chen Li did indeed come early in the morning to run errands for him.

It's strange that it was Chen's father who brought it up; he doesn't seem to care about a meal, considering he drives a Jeep.

Chen Li's face flushed instantly, like the blush of someone who's drunk. She couldn't help but stand up and say, "Dad, what are you saying? Come home with me!"

“Deputy Section Chief Chen, a meal is only right. I was just about to invite you to stay, but it turns out I had the same idea as Uncle Chen. We're like-minded, haha.”

Zhou Zhiqiang stood up and said, "Please sit and wait a moment, I'll go and make the arrangements."

After saying that, Zhou Zhiqiang left the house where they were being hosted. He told Guo Yuting that Chen's father and Chen Li would stay for lunch, and then went to the kitchen to prepare to cook.

When he and Guo Yuting were resting at home, Mao Pingping usually didn't come over, so he had to cook for them himself.

After cutting a piece of cured pork and taking a look around the kitchen with the three ounces of meat he bought yesterday, Zhou Zhiqiang quickly made up his mind.

Cabbage and cured pork, shredded potatoes and pork, stir-fried radish, and a soup—this is a decent lunch to serve guests, not too meager.

The staple food is steamed buns made from a mixture of wheat and refined grains. Although it is called a mixture of wheat and refined grains, more white flour is used. It tastes similar to refined grain steamed buns, but it looks like a mixture of wheat and refined grains.

Zhou Zhiqiang now feels he has very precise control; with a light scoop of the large spoon, he can determine exactly how much salt to use, and as a result, his cooking skills have improved considerably.

Even when slicing potatoes into shreds, he can do it with perfect precision; after all, these are hands that can produce shreds with such precision that cutting potato shreds is very simple for him.

He's currently missing some cooking secrets. If he had those secrets, Zhou Zhiqiang could become a master chef.

Inside the main house, Chen Li couldn't sit still any longer, so she pulled her father to the courtyard.

However, they realized that this place was quite close to the kitchen, and Zhou Zhiqiang might be able to hear their conversation, so Chen Li dragged her father to the front yard.

"Dad, why did you suddenly decide to stay for dinner?"

Chen Li stamped her foot anxiously and said, "This is too much, too wrong. Our family isn't short of a meal, and you noticed it just now, didn't you?"

My section chief is mentoring me. If the small threshing machine he gave me is successfully developed, it will be a huge achievement that can generate foreign exchange. Logically, I should be treating him to dinner.

“How can you talk to your father like that, Lili? You’ve always sided with me before.”

Mr. Chen originally wanted to explain the reason, but when he heard his daughter protecting Zhou Zhiqiang so much, he felt uneasy.

"Besides, that threshing machine you mentioned, how can it generate foreign exchange just like that? Maybe that's just something to comfort you."

"Dad, you're not a researcher, you don't understand how capable our section chief is."

Chen Li waved her hand to interrupt, saying, "He's not just a technician, he's also an eighth-level lathe operator and an eighth-level fitter, and he was even seconded to participate in an important project. Do you think I would just submit to anyone?"

She was also a college student, but Chen Li found that compared to Zhou Zhiqiang, she was like a junior high school student.

She learned a lot from being around Zhou Zhiqiang, and she realized how big the gap was between herself and Zhou Zhiqiang.

"I'm staying for dinner to ask you a few questions. It's none of your business, so don't get involved later."

Mr. Chen was at a loss with his daughter, but since he loved her dearly, he could only explain, "Your business is over soon; it's my business with this young comrade next."

Chen Li asked warily, "What are you going to do? Tell me first. I won't allow you to use your position to do anything to our section chief."

"You silly child, I'm an old filer, why are you so suspicious? I'm just confirming something, just don't make a sound later!"

Mr. Chen was furious but couldn't express his anger at his daughter's suspicions because of an outsider.

But Zhou Zhiqiang looks too much like his comrade-in-arms, but his comrade-in-arms is not in the country now, and his comrade-in-arms has a wife and children, who are only five years old.

However, Chen Li persisted, saying, "What is it? If you don't tell me, I'll drag you away right now."

I brought you here today; I can't stand by and watch you harm our section chief.

Mr. Chen was so angry that his breathing became heavy. He then waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about it. I'm not even sure how to tell you. What if it causes a misunderstanding?"
Besides, what's wrong with having a meal? We can just leave him some food coupons and money later!

After saying that, Chen's father left Chen Li behind and walked towards the backyard.

Seeing this, Chen Li couldn't get any information out of him, so she had no choice but to follow. However, she was determined to keep a close eye on her father to prevent him from doing anything impolite.

Not long after, Chen Li was still in the inner room looking at the baby with Guo Yuting.

When she came with Professor Fei Yunzhi last time, she couldn't participate in the discussion, so Guo Yuting pulled her aside to chat.

So, his relationship with Guo Yuting was alright, and his request to see the baby was naturally a small matter.

However, after Zhou Zhiqiang called out that dinner was ready, the two women put the child down and came out from the inner room.

After putting down the last dish, Zhou Zhiqiang said with a smile, "We were a bit rushed and the hospitality wasn't quite up to par. Please forgive me."

After seeing the dishes on the table and smelling them, Chen Li immediately said, "Section Chief, this is already very good. It tastes much better than my mother's cooking."

Mr. Chen sat down without refuting this statement. His wife's cooking was only so-so; if he had the chance to eat at the cafeteria, he definitely wouldn't eat at home.

"It's just something I made, Deputy Section Chief Chen, and Comrade Chen, please sit down and eat with us," Zhou Zhiqiang said, then pulled his wife to sit down beside him.

There were four people, three dishes and a soup. Zhou Zhiqiang made a lot of food, so it was definitely enough.

After taking a bite, Mr. Chen nodded and praised, "It's really good, almost as good as the food prepared in our workplace."

After taking a bite, Chen Li nodded in agreement; it was indeed delicious.

Zhou Zhiqiang laughed and said, "You flatter me, you flatter me. I just did it casually. I'll get used to it as I do it more."

After taking a few bites, Mr. Chen suddenly asked, "Comrade Zhou, you cook so well, did you often cook when you were a child?"

"I think I started cooking when I was six or seven years old, and I've been cooking ever since."

Zhou Zhiqiang recalled that he forgot exactly how old he was, but he started working very early. Back then, the original owner of the body cooked two meals a day, and if the food wasn't good, he would be scolded and beaten.

Chen's father glanced at Zhou Zhiqiang and said with emotion, "It's really not easy. How can your parents let go of something like this?"

"Oh, right, I still have some pickled vegetables at home. I'll go get them for you to try."

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't want to answer that question, so he got up and ladled out a plate of his pickled vegetables.

"These are pickled vegetables that I made. Yuting really likes them. They're on the sour and spicy side."

After taking a bite, Mr. Chen's eyes lit up. The sour and spicy flavor made him instantly like the pickled vegetable.

He hasn't had much of an appetite lately, but if he had this pickled vegetable, he could eat three steamed buns.

After taking a couple of bites, Chen Li couldn't help but say, "Section Chief, your cooking is really good! Even the pickled vegetables are so delicious with rice."

Zhou Zhiqiang laughed and said, "It's for stimulating the appetite in the summer. Section Chief Lü used to really like it and even asked me for a bottle."

Suddenly, Mr. Chen said, "Xiao Zhou, could you fill one bottle for me too?"

"dad!"

Before Chen's father could finish speaking, Chen Li interrupted him with a shout, then glared at him rudely.

I came here to benefit from the trip, receiving a lathe and milling technology training manual and design and development drawings for a thresher.

They shouldn't even be allowed to freeload a meal.

If she were to accept both food and gifts, she would never have the face to visit Section Chief Zhou's house again.

Zhou Zhiqiang laughed and said, "It's no big deal. I've pickled a jar, and I happen to have some clean bottles at home. I'll pack one for Deputy Section Chief Chen and you to take with you later."

"Section Chief, my dad isn't..."

Zhou Zhiqiang interrupted, "It's just a bottle of pickled vegetables. If you feel bad about it, Deputy Section Chief Chen, you can treat me to a meal cooked by Master Wei when I get back to the factory. It's only fair to reciprocate."

After hearing Zhou Zhiqiang's words, Chen Li stopped talking.

This was considered giving her a way out, allowing her to come back later; otherwise, Chen Li felt that it was a mistake for her to come and bring her father to someone else's house, where he would eat and take things.

"Thank you very much, Xiao Zhou. You're a really good young man."

Looking at Zhou Zhiqiang, Chen's father continued, "I'm starting to really want to meet your parents. They must be very understanding and loving parents to have raised you to where you are today."

Zhou Zhiqiang almost burst out laughing, but he still said, "They're farmers in the countryside, and their legs go weak when they see a big leader. Let's just forget it, leader."

This statement reveals your status; it shows you know you're a high-ranking leader, but also that you should maintain some boundaries.

Zhou Zhiqiang was also somewhat unhappy. He had made Chen Li run errands and do a lot of things, but he hadn't missed the chance to help Chen Li when he should.

This good news can be considered a gift to Chen Li, but Chen Li's father is a bit out of line and keeps asking about her family.

Chen's father could also sense Zhou Zhiqiang's dissatisfaction with the change in address. He had met many people, but beating around the bush was a difficult thing for him.

So Chen's father sighed and said, "Alas, Comrade Zhou, it was wrong of me to keep asking about your family, but you look a lot like one of my comrades-in-arms. You are basically exactly the same as him when he was young."

So I found it very strange, especially when you guys smiled, the dimples at the corners of your mouths looked exactly the same. I was so anxious that I couldn't help but ask.”

"I'm so sorry, Comrade Xiao Zhou, I've caused you trouble."

Chen Li and Guo Yuting were stunned when they heard what Chen's father said; they hadn't expected it to be like this.

Guo Yuting knew about Zhou Zhiqiang's unpleasant experiences when he returned home several times, including the separation from his family and the fact that he was not Zhou's biological son. She had also told her about it.

Guo Yuting then said in surprise and excitement, "Zhiqiang, didn't you say last time..."

"Yuting, eat first."

Zhou Zhiqiang interrupted Guo Yuting and then said to Chen's father, "Sir, this matter is uncertain. It may just be a coincidence. There are so many leaves in the world, it's normal for two leaves to be similar."

"Why don't we eat first? You see, food doesn't stay warm in winter; it almost stops steaming in no time."

This answer was one he had thought about carefully, not something he made on impulse.

To put it bluntly, he is not the original owner of this body, and even if he has the original owner's memories, he is not.

He's now a section chief, has a beautiful and obedient wife, and a newborn son; moreover, he's so young to be a section chief and has participated in important national research and development projects.
Zhou Zhiqiang has his own plans, and his life will proceed step by step, which will surely lead to a very fulfilling future.

He can't handle or wants to deal with things like family reunions; it would be best to just pretend it never happened.

Chen's father understood the meaning behind Zhou Zhiqiang's words, so he nodded and said, "I'm sorry for being so presumptuous today, let's continue eating."

After finishing the meal, Chen Li sensed that something was off. She thanked Zhou Zhiqiang and quickly pulled her father away.

They didn't even take the jar of pickled vegetables that was supposed to be a free gift.

After leaving Zhou Zhiqiang's house, Chen Li finally couldn't help but say, "Dad, you were too presumptuous today, really too presumptuous. Even I could tell that the section chief was dissatisfied, but you still insisted on continuing."

Mr. Chen said, "Isn't this related to my comrade-in-arms? This is the first time I've seen someone who looks so much like Lao Yu. We should really bring him over to see him, but unfortunately he's abroad."
"Wait, Lao Yu should be back by now, right? I need to talk to him about this."

Upon hearing this, Chen Li's eyes widened, and she quickly said, "Dad, what are you saying? Doesn't Uncle Yu have children?"

"This is the woman Lao Yu married later. I heard that his wife had an accident, but he didn't tell us the details. It's something that's hard for Lao Yu to bear, so we didn't press him for details."

After a pause, Mr. Chen continued, "After things settled down, it wasn't a good thing for Lao Yu to be single, so we arranged for him to meet someone, and they had children a few years ago."

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(End of this chapter)