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

He Yuzhu walked out of the courtyard with his lunchbox slung over his shoulder. His smugness had been dampened by Lu Jia's words, deflated like a punctured balloon. He was seething inside, angry that Lu Jia had spoiled his mood, yet also vaguely aware that she had a point—Gu Nan, in terms of skill, was unmatched in the steel mill; in terms of popularity, the veteran workers in the workshop all gave him a thumbs up, and even the factory secretary treated him with utmost respect. If it came down to connections, Deputy Factory Director Li probably couldn't possibly surpass him.

He kicked at the pebbles at his feet, growing increasingly frustrated. He had finally managed to latch onto Deputy Factory Director Li's "big tree," hoping to rise to prominence alongside him, and Lu Jia's words were undoubtedly telling him that this tree might not be reliable. But then again, Lu Jia had always been more thoughtful and far-sighted than him; her saying "always leave room for maneuver" wasn't without merit.

As He Yuzhu reached the alley entrance, he suddenly spotted Qin Huairu standing under the old locust tree in the corner, clutching a cloth bag in her hand, her eyes glancing in his direction. He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat; he knew without asking that she must be here for the matter of the stick.

When Qin Huairu saw him coming, she quickly went to greet him with a smile on her face: "Zhuzi, going to work?"

"Hmm," He Yuzhu mumbled in response, his steps unwavering, but his mind racing with how to handle the situation. He was currently focused entirely on the factory's affairs; how could he possibly have time to deal with the Jia family's troubles? But if he were to turn his back on them, he feared being branded as ungrateful.

“Zhu Zi,” Qin Huairu quickly caught up with him, her voice low, “about Bang Geng… do you think we can think of another way? The child is still young, and I, as his mother, am really worried if he goes to the countryside.”

He Yuzhu frowned and quickened his pace: "Sister-in-law, it's not that I don't want to help, it's just that this is a difficult matter. The factory's list is almost finalized, and I'm just a cook, my voice carries little weight..."

“I know it’s difficult,” Qin Huairu followed closely behind him, her eyes reddening, “but you’re close to Deputy Factory Director Li. If you plead for him, maybe a word from him will do the trick. I’m begging you, Zhuzi, just for the sake of our past relationship…”

Unable to get through to this, He Yuzhu remembered Lu Jia's words and stopped, sighing, "Sister-in-law, it's not that I don't want to help, it's just that I really can't. Deputy Factory Director Li is busy arguing with Gu Nan right now, how can he have time to deal with this? Besides, Gu Nan gave his approval for the stick incident. If we let Deputy Factory Director Li get involved, wouldn't that be the same as openly going against Gu Nan? It's not appropriate at this critical juncture."

His words were half true and half false, both shirking responsibility and revealing a sense of helplessness that "I also have my difficulties."

The color drained from Qin Huairu's face instantly. Her lips moved, as if she wanted to say something but then swallowed it back. She knew He Yuzhu was telling the truth, but the thought of Banggeng possibly going to the countryside made her heart ache as if it were being torn apart.

Seeing her like this, He Yuzhu felt a pang of pity, but then he thought about his own precarious situation. If he got involved in the Jia family's affairs and angered Gu Nan, he wouldn't even have time to cry when Gu Nan gained power. He gritted his teeth, took out a few grain coupons from his pocket, and stuffed them into Qin Huairu's hand: "Sister-in-law, take this and buy some food for the children. I really can't help with anything else, so please bear with me."

After saying that, fearing that Qin Huairu would pester him further, he turned and walked hurriedly towards the bus stop, as if something was chasing him. After walking a long way, he looked back and saw Qin Huairu still standing under the locust tree, her figure lonely in the morning mist. He felt a strange pang of sadness in his heart.

"Forget it, for God's sake, everyone looks out for themselves." He Yuzhu shook his head, banishing those inexplicable emotions. The most important thing now was to protect himself; he couldn't let the Jia family's affairs drag him down with him. As for Gu Nan, he should try to avoid offending him if possible.

He Yuzhu pushed open the door, carrying his lunchbox, and was about to head towards the steel mill when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Gu Nan standing at the alley entrance locking his bicycle. The morning light fell on Gu Nan's shoulders, stretching his shadow straight, and his unhurried demeanor inexplicably stirred a sense of unease within He Yuzhu.

He'd recently become close to Deputy Factory Director Li, who often consulted him on matters big and small within the factory. Feeling increasingly confident, he thought he could get away with something sarcastic when he saw Gu Nan's aloof demeanor. He wanted to say something like, "Deputy Factory Director Gu is so diligent, getting up earlier than the rooster every day." But before he could even finish his thought, Gu Nan acted as if he hadn't seen him at all, locking his bike, turning around, and striding into the factory without even glancing at him.

He Yuzhu opened his mouth, but swallowed the words that were about to come out, feeling as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat. He cursed inwardly, "What's with the attitude? He's just a deputy factory director, what makes him think he's some big shot?" But the other person completely ignored him. He couldn't exactly chase after him and grab his arm to pull him apart, could he? He could only sullenly purse his lips, admitting he had no chance, and walk forward with his head down.

He had only taken two steps when he saw Qin Huairu huddled under the old locust tree in the corner. She was wearing a faded blue cotton jacket and clutching a rag in her hand. Judging from her appearance, she had clearly been waiting there for quite some time, her eyes fixed on the alley entrance as if she were eagerly awaiting something. But when she saw Gu Nan's figure, her eyes flickered noticeably, as if she were a little intimidated. Then she composed herself, put on a fawning smile, and quickly went to meet him.

"Deputy Factory Director Gu, are you going to work?" Qin Huairu's voice was cautious, completely different from her usual boisterous manner in the yard. "Regarding the matter of the sticks, do you think... could you make an exception? The child is still young, just thirteen, unable to carry heavy loads. If he really goes to the countryside to earn work points, I'm afraid he won't be able to endure the hardship..."

Gu Nan stopped, his brows furrowing slightly. His gaze fell on her face, and his tone was calm yet firm, leaving no room for argument: "Sister Qin, I told you last time that this is not something I can decide. Going to the countryside is a national policy, and the factory is following the procedures. The files have already been submitted, and I have no right to interfere."

Qin Huairu wanted to say something more, such as mentioning how sensible Banggeng was, helping the family fetch water and chop firewood, or lamenting how difficult her family's life was, how her husband had passed away early, and how hard it was for her to raise three children as a widow. But Gu Nan didn't give her a chance at all. He jumped onto his bicycle, gave it a light push, the chain clicked, and it quickly disappeared at the end of the alley, leaving only a trail of dust.

"Who is he..." Qin Huairu looked at his back, feeling both angry and anxious. Her palms were sweaty, but she could only stomp her feet and couldn't say anything.