Siheyuan: He Yuzhu since 1958

After He Yuzhu left, Lou Xiao'e walked out of the hotel again. Looking at He Yuzhu's back, Lou Xiao'e showed a girlish smile on her face.

The next morning, He Yuzhu arrived at the factory and checked the work schedule. He also went to several canteens. Around ten o'clock in the morning, He Yuzhu returned to the office and planned to call Lou Xiao'e, but unexpectedly, the phone on the table rang first. He Yuzhu picked up the phone and said, "I'm He Yuzhu! Who is this?!"

Director Yang on the other end of the phone said, "He Yuzhu, come to my office."

"Yes!" He Yuzhu responded, and hung up the phone helplessly, mumbling unconsciously: "Good things take time!"

He Yuzhu soon arrived at the door of Director Yang's office and knocked on the door. Director Yang heard the knock and shouted, "Come in!"

He Yuzhu pushed the door open and walked into the office, and asked, "Director, you're looking for me!"

"Sit down!" Director Yang asked He Yuzhu to sit down and said, "Zhuzi, I heard that you have a good relationship with the Lou family, the former major shareholder of our steel mill?!"

He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment, then said, "Boss Lou's wife is my master's aunt." Then he asked, "What's the matter?!"

Director Yang said, "I heard that the Lou family is back?!"

He Yuzhu nodded and said, "I'm back!"

Director Yang did not hide anything and said directly: "The senior leader called me just now. The people from the Lou family came back to collect the debt."

He Yuzhu pretended to be dumbfounded and said, "What do you want to pay for?!"

Director Yang said: "When the public-private partnership was established, it was clearly written in the contract that the Lou family would enjoy dividends and interest every year until 1966. When the Lou family left Beijing, they did not give up the dividends and interest. But they did not keep the money either."

He Yuzhu asked, "Director Yang, what does this have to do with me?! It's no use for you to look for me! You should look for the Lou family for this matter."

Director Yang said, "The senior leader said that the department will not take care of this matter, and let us solve it ourselves! If we give the money to the Lou family, our factory will go bankrupt! Are you going to watch the workers lose their jobs?!"

He Yuzhu said, "Director Yang, I'm just a small canteen director. No matter how much this matter goes on, it has nothing to do with me. If we lose our jobs, we all lose our jobs together. Besides, Director Yang, you're going to retire soon. Why do you care so much?! If I were you, I would file a report to retire right now and leave this mess to the new director."

Director Yang shouted, "He Yuzhu! You are being irresponsible!"

He Yuzhu asked back: "Director Yang, then tell me, what should we do to take responsibility?!"

Director Yang was immediately stumped by He Yuzhu's question. He didn't know how to respond and could only stare at He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu said unmoved: "Director Yang, if there's nothing else, I'll leave first! Also, I have something going on at home, so I want to take a few days off."

"Get out!" Director Yang gathered all his strength and yelled at He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu glanced at Director Yang, then turned and left Director Yang's office.

After He Yuzhu left, Director Yang suddenly felt a headache. After thinking for a while, Director Yang took his briefcase and left the office.

More than an hour later, Director Yang hurried to the department. As soon as Director Yang got off the car, he saw the leader coming out of the office building. Director Yang hurriedly stepped forward and shouted, "Old leader!"

The senior leader who was about to get into the car heard the call, stopped, looked at Director Yang, and asked, "Xiao Yang, why are you here?!"

Director Yang asked, "Old Chief, do you have time? I want to talk to you."

The big boss raised his wrist, looked at the time on his watch, and said, "I have to go to a meeting, so I can only give you ten minutes." After that, the big boss got into the car.

Director Yang got in the car and said, "Old Chief, if we give the money to the Lou family, the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill will go bankrupt. What will happen to the workers if it goes bankrupt?!"

The big boss said, "The workers can go to other factories. Besides, isn't the money you have recovered in the past few years enough to give to the Lou family?!"

Director Yang said, "Old Chief, the equipment in the factory has not been replaced for many years. I am not planning to purchase a batch of new equipment."

The senior leader rolled his eyes at Director Yang and said, "We can buy new equipment later. If you owe someone money, you have to pay it back. Many people in Hong Kong are eyeing the Lou family right now. If this matter is not handled well, the reputation that we have worked so hard to build will be ruined! Are you going to harm the interests of the country for your own selfish reasons?!"

On the way here, Director Yang had already thought about what the big boss would say, but he didn't expect that the big boss would say such a harsh word. Director Yang was immediately shocked. Just when Director Yang was in a daze, the big boss said, "Get off the car! Go back and think about it carefully."

Director Yang was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and got out of the boss's car. After the boss left, Director Yang returned to his car and muttered to himself: "Am I really wrong?! It seems that I am old and it is time to step down and let others take over."

At the same time, He Yuzhu rode his bicycle to the entrance of Sijiucheng Hotel, saw Lou Xiao'e standing on the steps, and asked, "Have you been waiting for a long time?!"

Lou Xiaoe replied, "I just came out too." Then she raised her wrist to check the time on her watch and said, "It's time for dinner. Let's go! I'll treat you to dinner!"

He Yuzhu said, "I am the host and you are the guest. How can a guest treat a guest?! Get in the car! I will take you to dinner."

Lou Xiao'e smiled and sat on the back seat of He Yuzhu's bicycle. She said, "Next time I come to Sijiucheng, I'll give you a motorcycle. It's time to replace your bicycle."

He Yuzhu said: "Motorcycles are called flesh wrapped in iron. They are not safe. When there is a chance in the future, just give me a motorcycle!"

Lou Xiao'e punched He Yuzhu on the body and said, "You are really greedy!!"

He Yuzhu pretended to be hurt and said, "How can this be considered greed?! I am just telling the truth." Then he warned, "Sit tight!"

Lou Xiao'e asked: "Where are you going to take me to eat?!"

He Yuzhu asked back: "What do you want to eat?!"

Lou Xiao'e looked conflicted and replied, "I haven't thought about that. Aren't you the one treating?! Then you decide!"

He Yuzhu thought for a moment and said, "Okay! I'll take you to a place. You'll definitely like it."

He Yuzhu was very familiar with the alleys of Sijiucheng. He Yuzhu rode his bicycle with Lou Xiaoe and walked around for more than half an hour. Finally, they stopped in front of a courtyard. Lou Xiaoe looked at the red gate in front of them and asked, "What is this place?!"

He Yuzhu smiled and knocked on the door. Not long after, the door opened. A young man stuck his head out and saw He Yuzhu. He smiled and called out, "Master He!" and then made way.

After He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle and brought Lou Xiaoe in, he asked, "Xiao Liuzi, is there any room left today?!"

Xiao Liuzi smiled and replied, "If anyone else comes, there will be no room. Master He, if there is no room, I will find a way to make room for you." Then he asked, "How many people are you here today?!"

He Yuzhu replied: "Two!"

"Come with me!" After saying that, Xiao Liuzi helped He Yuzhu park his bicycle, and then took He Yuzhu and Lou Xiaoe into the backyard.