Siheyuan: Reborn Silly Pillar, Taking Control of the Entire Courtyard

He Yuzhu waited at home for several days.

As the days passed by, he felt a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

After all, this was the way out arranged by the Military Control Commission, which concerned his livelihood and future.

Just as he was about to lose his composure and go out to the military control commission to inquire about the news.

Finally, the postman's loud voice came from the courtyard gate, saying that there was mail for him.

He Yuzhu strode out of the house and took the envelope bearing the signature of the Military Control Commission from the postman.

Holding the thick envelope between his fingers, he instantly knew that the long-awaited news had finally arrived.

Upon opening the envelope, I found it contained an interview notice from the military control commission.

The notice clearly stated that he should go to an office in Xidan for an interview.

He Yuzhu stared at the address for a moment, thinking to himself that this place was really far from the courtyard house.

Starting from the courtyard house, it takes a lot of time just to take the bus and transfer between different places.

But he didn't slack off at all; this job opportunity was hard-won, and he had to hold on to it tightly.

On the day of the interview, He Yuzhu got up early, just as dawn was breaking.

He specially changed into a set of clothes that were washed clean and without a single wrinkle.

He carefully tidied his appearance, and only after looking at his energetic self in the mirror did he nod in satisfaction.

After quickly eating a couple of bites of steamed bun to fill his stomach, He Yuzhu hurried out the door and headed towards the bus stop.

There weren't many people at the bus stop in the early morning; most were workers and office workers heading to work.

After waiting for only a few minutes, the bus heading to Xidan slowly arrived.

He Yuzhu boarded the bus with the crowd, took out his change to buy a ticket, and found a window seat.

The bus bumped along the way, passing through the still somewhat deserted streets of Beijing in the early morning.

The street scene outside the window kept receding into the distance. He Yuzhu's eyes were calm, but he was silently sorting out his own advantages in his mind.

He had been to the battlefield, knew multiple languages, and had a background in mechanics and civil engineering, so he was confident.

After nearly an hour's bus ride, the bus finally arrived at a stop near Xidan.

After getting off the bus, He Yuzhu followed the address on the notice and asked around until he found the office where the interview was to be held.

It was an impressive two-story building with a sign for a hardware and electrical import company hanging at the entrance. People coming and going hurried by, looking quite serious.

The security personnel at the entrance carefully verified his identity information before allowing him to enter the building.

Stepping into the office lobby, the staff members all appeared capable and worked at a very fast pace.

There was absolutely no sign of procrastination or perfunctory work; it was clearly a unit with a decisive and efficient work style.

As soon as He Yuzhu walked to the front desk and explained his purpose, the front desk staff immediately got up and led the way.

Without any unnecessary pleasantries, they led him directly to the interview room.

This efficient manner made He Yuzhu feel even more satisfied with the company.

Pushing open the conference room door, I saw three solemn-looking interviewers sitting inside.

They had documents and notebooks in front of them, and their sharp eyes looked at He Yuzhu as he walked in.

He Yuzhu calmly walked to the center of the conference room and nodded slightly to the three interviewers.

Before he could exchange any pleasantries, the interviewer sitting in the middle spoke directly, asking him to state his identity.

He Yuzhu spoke calmly and clearly, stating his name, place of origin, and the relevant information provided by the Military Control Commission.

After listening, the interviewers didn't say a single unnecessary word and immediately began the interview process.

The first to speak was the interviewer on the left, who immediately began speaking fluent and standard Russian.

The questions were all from everyday conversations, and the tone was calm, yet they carried a sense of examination.

He Yuzhu answered calmly in the same fluent Russian language with almost no pause, his tone natural and his pronunciation standard.

Immediately afterwards, the interviewer on the right switched to English and asked several questions in succession.

The questions were still mainly based on everyday conversation, occasionally interspersed with a few simple professional expressions.

He Yuzhu answered fluently as always, handling both everyday conversations and impromptu professional terms with ease.

Upon seeing this, the interviewers' eyes gradually lit up.

They originally thought that He Yuzhu was just an ordinary person who had been forcibly assigned by the Military Control Commission.

Unexpectedly, this young man's foreign language skills were so solid, far exceeding their expectations.

Subsequently, the interviewers' questions gradually became more in-depth, eventually touching on mechanical-related technical content.

He Yuzhu, drawing on his prior mechanical knowledge, provided a targeted and well-organized answer.

As for other fields that do not involve machinery and that he is completely unfamiliar with, he frankly admits that he never pretends to know what he doesn't.

His candid and solid performance made the interviewers even more satisfied.

The group exchanged glances without making a sound, their surprise and approval no longer concealed.

This is no ordinary staff member who was assigned by force; it's clearly a precious talent sent to them by their superiors!

The main interviewer, sitting in the middle, looked at He Yuzhu with eyes full of approval.

He stopped using foreign languages ​​and switched to standard Mandarin, speaking slowly and clearly.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, we have asked all the questions."

He Yuzhu stood up straight and waited quietly for the interviewer to continue.

Let me introduce us to you first.

"I am Zhang Weimin, the director of the Steel Import and Export Division."

Zhang Weimin spoke calmly and first introduced himself.

Then, he pointed to the person on his left.

"The man on the left is Xu Zhongguo, the director of the Nonferrous Metals Import and Export Division."

Xu Zhongguo nodded slightly to He Yuzhu, his expression becoming much more amiable.

Zhang Weimin then turned to the person on his right.

"The man on the right is Huang Zhibang, the director of the Electrical and Telecommunications Equipment Division."

The fact that three department heads personally conducted the interviews demonstrates the importance they placed on this recruitment process.

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu immediately stood up and greeted the three section chiefs respectfully with upright posture.

"Good morning/afternoon, leaders!"

He was well-mannered, neither arrogant nor humble, and showed no sign of nervousness or unease.

"Sit down, sit down." Zhang Weimin quickly raised his hand, gesturing for him to sit down and talk.

Zhang Weimin continued speaking only after He Yuzhu sat down again.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, we really didn't expect you to be so young."

"The military control commission called us before and explained your situation in detail. We actually still had some doubts."

"But after today's interview, we are completely convinced."

"We have all heard about your heroic performance on the Korean battlefield and admire you very much."

"However, the nature of our job is special, and we must assess your abilities through an interview. I hope you don't mind."

He Yuzhu nodded slightly, his tone sincere: "It is only right for the leaders to conduct rigorous investigations, and I fully understand."

A relieved smile appeared on Zhang Weimin's face.

"We are very optimistic about your abilities and recognize your overall qualities."

"Now I want to confirm one thing with you: would you be willing to work for our hardware and electrical import company?"

He Yuzhu was overjoyed, but he remained calm and subconsciously asked a question.

"Did I pass the interview?"

Seeing his straightforward manner, Zhang Weimin couldn't help but laugh and gave a clear answer.

"Yes, you have officially passed our interview, and the company is willing to hire you."

Upon receiving a positive answer, He Yuzhu felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders.

Unable to contain his excitement, he immediately asked, "Which department will I be assigned to?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Huang Zhibang on the right spoke first.

"Come work for us in the electrical and telecommunications equipment department! With your solid mechanical background, you'll have no problem working here and can get up to speed quickly."

Huang Zhibang's eyes were burning with desire, as if he was afraid that He Yuzhu would be snatched away by someone else.

Not to be outdone, Xu Zhongguo quickly chimed in.

"If you ask me, our non-ferrous metals import and export division would be a better fit! We mainly deal in metal raw materials, which aligns better with your knowledge background."

Zhang Weimin also slowly began to speak, explaining the advantages of his department.

"My department is similar to Director Xu's in terms of focus, but it is more specialized and precise. It is mainly responsible for importing various finished special steel products."

The three section chiefs were all trying to recruit He Yuzhu into their respective departments.

He Yuzhu listened to the three section chiefs arguing over the matter, feeling somewhat helpless and amused.

He was unfamiliar with the operations of these departments and had no idea how to choose.

After thinking for a moment, he decided to tell the truth.

"Dear leaders, I am not familiar with the work of each department, and I really don't know which one to choose."

"In my opinion, no matter which department you are assigned to, you will have to start from scratch, so there is not much difference."

Upon hearing this, the three section chiefs exchanged glances, unable to reach a conclusion for the time being.

Zhang Weimin then said to He Yuzhu, "Then you go outside and wait for a moment while we discuss it and will give you the final result later."

"it is good."

He Yuzhu stood up in response, walked slowly out of the conference room, and gently closed the door behind him.

As he walked out of the meeting room, he secretly grumbled to himself.

You leaders can keep arguing about it; I'll just wait for the final result.

He leaned against the wall of the corridor, looking relaxed and showing no signs of anxiety.

After all, no matter which department you're assigned to, it's a respectable and promising job.

I waited outside the door for a full ten minutes.

The meeting room door was pushed open, and Zhang Weimin walked out alone.

As soon as he saw He Yuzhu, a warm smile immediately appeared on his face, and he quickly stepped forward.

He reached out and firmly grasped He Yuzhu's hand, his tone full of joy.

"Welcome to the Steel Import and Export Department of the Hardware and Electrical Equipment Import Company, Comrade He Yuzhu!"

He Yuzhu felt reassured and firmly shook Zhang Weimin's hand back, his tone respectful and sincere.

"I am honored to join the Steel Import and Export Division. I would like to thank Director Zhang for his continued support in the future."

At this moment, Xu Zhongguo and Huang Zhibang also came out of the conference room.

Xu Zhongguo patted Zhang Weimin on the shoulder, his tone tinged with regret.

"Old Zhang, if it weren't for your urgent mission recently, we definitely wouldn't have given up this rare talent to you."

Huang Zhibang chimed in, "Exactly! Next time we find someone like that, we absolutely have to be the ones to choose first!"

Zhang Weimin smiled and agreed, "No problem, I'll definitely give you priority next time."

He turned to look at He Yuzhu, his tone urgent: "Come on, Xiao He, I'll take you to meet the company's general manager and deputy general manager first."

"After I've reported to the leaders and confirmed your specific position, I'll take you to the personnel department to complete the onboarding procedures."

"Okay." He Yuzhu obediently agreed and followed Zhang Weimin toward the general manager's office.

The general manager and deputy general manager already knew about He Yuzhu's situation and valued this combat hero and foreign language talent highly.

After a brief conversation, I was very satisfied with his demeanor and abilities, and I finalized his position on the spot.

He Yuzhu was appointed as the acting head of the fourth purchasing section of the Steel Import and Export Department.

After leaving the general manager's office, Zhang Weimin pulled He Yuzhu aside and explained the situation of the fourth department in detail.

"Xiao He, the fourth purchasing department you work in is a newly established department in the company."

"The main business I am responsible for is the procurement of carbon structural steel, low alloy high-strength structural steel, bridge-specific steel, weathering steel, and high-strength steel wire."

He Yuzhu looked completely bewildered; he couldn't understand a single one of these professional steel names.

Seeing this, Zhang Weimin explained it to him in the simplest and most common language.

Simply put, all the steel purchased is intended for the construction and repair of large bridges.

He Yuzhu then realized that he was in charge of purchasing steel for bridges.

Zhang Weimin then explained why he was assigned to this newly established fourth department.

Besides his outstanding foreign language skills, another key reason is that he had studied civil engineering.

The department's existing Section 1 and Section 2 are mainly responsible for the procurement of military steel and steel for factory equipment.

There was another department, which Zhang Weimin didn't elaborate on, but he gave serious instructions.

That department is subject to confidentiality regulations, so don't ask questions you shouldn't. Just focus on doing your job well.

He Yuzhu nodded obediently, remembering the director's instructions, and didn't ask a single question.

Afterwards, Zhang Weimin took He Yuzhu to the personnel department to complete the formal onboarding procedures.

The staff in the personnel department were all surprised to see the young He Yuzhu and to learn that he had been appointed as the acting department head as soon as he arrived.

Their eyes were filled with surprise, and they couldn't help but secretly peek at He Yuzhu, whispering among themselves.

After all, in this era where seniority matters, it's extremely rare to see such a young section chief.

After the onboarding procedures were completed, the personnel department staff announced He Yuzhu's level and salary.

His administrative rank was set at level 18, and his monthly salary was a full 89 yuan.

This treatment is equivalent to that of a battalion-level officer in the military.

Keep in mind that he was only an acting section chief, so to receive such treatment was truly exceptional.

The main reason he received such preferential treatment was because he was multilingual, had battlefield achievements, and possessed multiple areas of expertise.

If it were an ordinary person, even as an acting section chief, being given a level 20 rating would already be quite good.

He Yuzhu was pleasantly surprised when he heard about his salary and benefits.

This salary level is among the top in the entire working class of Beijing.

After completing the onboarding procedures, He Yuzhu went to the logistics department to collect the welfare supplies provided by the company.

There were cafeteria meal tickets, enamel mugs, aluminum lunch boxes, work notebooks, and fountain pens.

As for the work clothes commonly found in factories, they were not provided here.

After all, this is an import and export unit of an agency, not a front-line production factory, so there is no need to wear uniforms.

After collecting all the items, Zhang Weimin led He Yuzhu back to the office area of ​​the steel import and export department.

Upon arriving at the location, Zhang Weimin called over all the staff who remained in the office.

He Yuzhu looked up and saw only two or three people scattered around, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

This department is so understaffed, there are practically only a handful of people.

Zhang Weimin noticed his confusion, moved closer to him, and whispered an explanation.

"Most of the staff in the department are away on business trips, which is why the office feels so deserted."

Then, Zhang Weimin formally introduced He Yuzhu's identity in front of everyone.

When it was mentioned that He Yuzhu was a combat hero who returned from the Korean battlefield, enthusiastic applause immediately erupted in the audience.

Everyone looked at He Yuzhu with admiration and respect.

He Yuzhu stood in the crowd, a faint smile on his face, calm and composed, without the slightest arrogance or complacency.

After the applause subsided, Zhang Weimin began to introduce He Yuzhu to his colleagues in the fourth department.

He Yuzhu felt increasingly uneasy as he listened. Looking at the two people in front of him, one old and one young, he couldn't help but look at Zhang Weimin.

He pointed at Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng, and asked directly, "Director, are these the only two colleagues in our Fourth Section?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Weimin smiled somewhat embarrassedly, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"It would be good enough if we could provide you with two people; all departments in the company are short-staffed right now."

"Don't underestimate them. Old Wei is practically a bridge expert; his professional knowledge is very solid."

"Xiao Zheng is a top student who graduated from Tsinghua University with a major in materials science. He is very capable."

He Yuzhu nodded, then, thinking of the subsequent external communication issues, asked another question.

"How are their foreign language skills? They'll definitely need to communicate in foreign languages ​​when dealing with foreign business partners later on."

Zhang Weimin did not answer directly, but looked at Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng and said with a smile, "You two introduce yourselves to the section chief."

Old Wei spoke modestly, saying slowly, "I know a little Japanese and English, which is barely enough for daily communication."

Younger Zheng was more ambitious and spoke with greater confidence: "I speak German and English, and I can handle professional conversations."

After listening, He Yuzhu understood the situation and took the initiative to introduce his foreign language skills.

"I speak Russian, English, Korean, and Japanese, and I can communicate fluently in all of these languages."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Weimin's face instantly showed surprise, and he couldn't help but ask further questions.

"You can speak Korean and Japanese? Your previous resume only listed Russian and English."

He Yuzhu nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Yes, I'll learn it whenever I have time if I need it on the battlefield."

Zhang Weimin's eyes lit up, and he asked curiously, "Then these two languages ​​must be very useful on the Korean Peninsula battlefield, right?"

He Yuzhu smiled faintly, his tone casual.

"It really works. I've fooled South Korean soldiers quite a few times using Korean and Japanese, and even American soldiers have been fooled by me many times."

Upon hearing this, everyone present burst into laughter.

The initially slightly reserved atmosphere instantly became harmonious and relaxed.

Seeing He Yuzhu quickly become friends with his colleagues, Zhang Weimin felt completely relieved.

He patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder and said, "Alright, you guys take your time getting to know each other. I have other work to do, so I'll head back now."

"Okay, Director, please go ahead with your work." He Yuzhu, Lao Wei, and Xiao Zheng responded respectfully at the same time.

After watching Zhang Weimin leave, the three of them went together into a small, separate office belonging to the Fourth Section.

The office is not large, but it is clean and tidy, and the lighting is also very good.

The desk furthest inside, by the window, in the best position, had already been set up in advance; it was the spot for He Yuzhu, the section chief.

Xiao Zheng, whose full name is Zheng Weiguo, is a hardworking young man who quickly stepped forward to help He Yuzhu tidy up his desk.

She wiped the table, organized the drawers, and arranged the notebooks and pens with quick and meticulous movements.

Old Wei, whose full name is Wei Hongcai, is a calm and composed man. He sat down to the side and gave He Yuzhu a detailed introduction to the department's specific situation.

"Section Chief, our Fourth Section was only recently established, and we haven't officially started any of our work yet, so we don't have any procurement tasks for the time being."

He Yuzhu nodded slightly upon hearing this, listening attentively.

"The current domestic situation is special. The front line is still fighting, and Western countries have completely blocked our steel supply channels, so we can't rely on them at all."

"The only country we can cooperate with is Russia, but Russia is now providing us with military supplies at all costs, and our domestic steel production capacity is severely insufficient."

"Therefore, our department's procurement work has been unable to move forward."

Old Wei sighed and then revealed the key reason why the department had always been short-staffed.

"The department has long wanted to start procuring steel for bridges, but we have been lacking a professional who is fluent in the Russian language."

"We submitted many reports, but either there were no suitable candidates, or other departments were unwilling to let people go on temporary assignment."

"Since the initial tasks weren't urgent, this matter has been delayed until now, until you came."

After listening quietly, He Yuzhu gained a clear understanding of the department's predicament.

He then casually inquired about their ranks and salaries.

Old Wei said calmly, "I am an assistant engineer, technical grade 9, with a monthly salary of 80 yuan."

Xiao Zheng smiled and said, "I'm a technician, grade 13, and my monthly salary is 52 yuan."

He Yuzhu instantly understood.

In total, he was the only one in the entire fourth department with a cadre position, while Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng were both in professional and technical positions.

Just then, Xiao Zheng tidied up He Yuzhu's desk.

The two stopped talking about work and looked at He Yuzhu with eager eyes, full of curiosity.

"Section Chief, please tell us some stories from the Korean War. We all have great admiration for the war heroes."

Working in such government agencies, they have access to more battlefield information than ordinary people, but it is still very limited.

He Yuzhu did not refuse and briefly recounted some of his battlefield experiences that did not involve classified information.

Even with just a brief recounting, the scenes of gunfire and bloody battles left Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng utterly shocked and deeply moved.

The way the two looked at He Yuzhu was not only respectful, but also filled with heartache and admiration.

Xiao Zheng couldn't help but speak up, his tone tinged with regret: "Section Chief, with your abilities and achievements, isn't it a bit of a waste of your talents to come to a government agency like ours?"

He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, "Then where do you think I should develop my career?"

Without hesitation, Xiao Zheng replied, "Of course I'd go back to the army! With your abilities and combat achievements, staying in the army might just lead to you becoming a division commander or corps commander in the future—your future is limitless!"

"Even if you don't go back to the military, working in the public security system is also a good option; you can still make a great contribution there."

He Yuzhu gently patted his leg, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"I was wounded on the battlefield, and my body could no longer keep up with the high-intensity training and missions, so I could no longer stay in the army."

Old Wei quickly tugged at Xiao Zheng and said to He Yuzhu with a smile, "Section Chief, don't listen to him. Young people yearn for the battlefield."

"I think it's great that you've come to our department. You're fluent in foreign languages, knowledgeable in mechanics, and have also studied civil engineering. You'll be able to put all your skills to good use. Our department is just missing someone like you."

He Yuzhu smiled mysteriously and nodded slightly: "That's what I think too."

Old Wei and Xiao Zheng looked at his mysterious smile, feeling a little puzzled, but they didn't ask any further questions.

The three chatted for a while longer, and before they knew it, it was lunchtime at the company cafeteria.

Old Wei and Xiao Zheng, who should have been excited to eat, both hung their heads and showed no interest whatsoever.

Seeing the two looking listless, He Yuzhu couldn't help but laugh and tease them.

"What's wrong with you guys? As the saying goes, if you're not enthusiastic about eating, there's something wrong with your brain. Hurry up and go eat."

With a worried look on his face, Xiao Zheng said with a bitter expression, "Section Chief, you have no idea, the food in the unit's cafeteria is really hard to swallow."

"Once you've tried it once, you'll understand why we don't want to go anymore."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu immediately became interested, his face full of disbelief.

"Huh? How bad could it be? Is it worse than the fried noodles we ate with ice on the battlefield?"

Old Wei quickly waved his hand and explained, "No, no, Xiao Zheng was just exaggerating a bit. It's not that bad."

"It's just eating the same food every day, the taste is really average, and you get tired of it after a while."

He Yuzhu stood up, picked up his lunchbox, and spoke with a firm tone.

"Come on, I want to taste for myself what this awful food you're talking about really tastes like."

Seeing this, Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng had no choice but to pick up their lunchboxes and follow He Yuzhu to the company cafeteria.

As soon as He Yuzhu entered the cafeteria, he subconsciously scanned the cafeteria's hygiene.

This is a professional habit he developed on the battlefield; wherever he goes, he always pays attention to the surrounding environment and hygiene first.

The cafeteria floor was clean, the tables were neatly arranged, and the hygiene conditions were quite good, much better than he had expected.

The three of them lined up to get their food and found an empty table to sit down.

He Yuzhu picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of food, and slowly put it in his mouth to savor it.

The food was indeed very ordinary, lacking any aroma and using very limited ingredients, but it wasn't exactly bad.

He put down his chopsticks and casually said, "The food is alright, I guess. It's edible."

Xiao Zheng shook his head, his tone certain: "This is your first time eating it, and you think it's acceptable. Once you've eaten it for a while, you won't say that anymore."

Old Wei, also chewing slowly, nodded gently in agreement: "That's true. If you eat it every day, even the best food gets boring."

He Yuzhu smiled, said nothing more, and quickly finished his lunch.

He wasn't a picky eater to begin with, and having endured the hardships on the battlefield, this little bit of food was nothing to him.

Back in the office in the afternoon, He Yuzhu immediately got to work.

He looked at Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng and said seriously, "Lao Wei, Xiao Zheng, find me a few professional books related to our department."

"I need to hurry up and learn professional knowledge, otherwise I will know nothing about steel and procurement, and I will not be able to carry out my work at all."

Old Wei and Xiao Zheng exchanged a glance, both thinking that he was just having a passing fancy, a fleeting interest.

After all, it's rare to see someone who studies so diligently right after starting a job.

But they still obediently took out several professional books related to bridge steel and materials science from the filing cabinet and handed them to He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu took the book and solemnly placed it on his desk.

He wasn't just acting on a whim; he genuinely intended to settle down and study hard.

As the head of the fourth purchasing department, I can't just act as a translator every time I negotiate with foreign clients, leaving my subordinates to handle the technical details.

If he has to rely on his subordinates for everything, then he is a very unqualified section chief.

When he got off work, He Yuzhu took these thick professional books home with him.

He plans to use his evenings to make the most of every moment to brush up on his professional knowledge.

As soon as He Yuzhu stepped into his courtyard house, he smelled a rich aroma of food.

Father He Daqing was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen.

When his stepmother, Chen Lanxiang, saw him return, she immediately went to greet him and asked him with concern.

"Zhu Zi, you've been gone all day. What were you doing? I was so worried about you."

He Yuzhu smiled happily and, without keeping anyone in suspense, pulled out his newly issued work permit from his pocket.

He handed his work ID to Chen Lanxiang, excitedly saying, "Mom, I got a job! I officially have one now!"

Chen Lanxiang took the work permit, looked at it carefully, and a bright smile instantly bloomed on her face.

Her hands trembled with excitement as she nodded repeatedly, "Good! Good! My Zhuzi has finally made something of himself!"

The old lady also came out from the inner room upon hearing the noise. When she learned that He Yuzhu had been hired, she couldn't stop smiling.

After calming down, Chen Lanxiang quickly asked, "Zhuzi, how much do you earn a month doing this job?"

He Yuzhu answered truthfully: "89 yuan per month, level 18."

Upon hearing this, Chen Lanxiang's eyes widened in shock.

She couldn't help but exclaim, "My God, this salary is almost two months' worth of your dad's income!"

When He Daqing heard this in the kitchen, he paused for a moment, his eyes filled with surprise.

He Yuzhu quickly gave Chen Lanxiang a wink and whispered, "Mother, you mustn't say this in front of Father. He'll be upset if he hears it."

Chen Lanxiang pursed her lips and said casually, "He's already heard it, so why do I need to say it again?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu looked helpless and could only feel resigned to the situation.

Since he had already said what he wanted to say, he didn't want to dwell on it anymore. As long as his family was happy, that was all that mattered.

During dinner, the whole family sat around the dining table.

With a proud look on her face, Chen Lanxiang announced to the public the good news that He Yuzhu had joined the government agency and become a section chief.

The whole family was overjoyed and picked up their water glasses to toast each other, using water instead of alcohol.

The old lady held He Yuzhu's hand, her face beaming with smiles, and kept praising him.

"My eldest grandson is truly accomplished; he became a section chief at such a young age, almost at the same level as that girl from the Wang family!"

He Yuzhu smiled and said modestly, "The levels are about the same, but I only have two people under me, while Aunt Ping manages dozens of people."

Wang Hongxia is the girl from the Wang family that the old lady was talking about. She works in the public security system and has considerable power.

Chen Lanxiang waved her hand dismissively: "As long as we earn the same amount of money, why worry about so many people? It's exhausting. Besides, her job is dangerous all the time. Your job is more stable and respectable."

He Yuzhu smiled and didn't say anything more, focusing on eating the food in his bowl.

After dinner, He Yuzhu said goodbye to his family and went straight to find Xu Damao.

Taking the bus to work today was so bumpy and uncomfortable, and it wasted so much time going back and forth.

He had already made up his mind to buy a bicycle to make commuting easier.

Xu Damao had been helping to inquire about the trust company's bicycle sales, so he had to go and ask about the progress.

When Xu Damao saw He Yuzhu coming over, he immediately greeted him with a smile.

"Brother Zhu, you've finally arrived. I've almost finalized the deal with the bicycle."

He Yuzhu's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "How's it going? Is the price right?"

Xu Damao rubbed his hands together and said, "I've already negotiated with them for a five-yuan difference per bicycle. I'd like to try and haggle a bit more, though, because I think the current price is a bit high."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu did not hesitate at all and waved his hand.

"No need to haggle anymore, let's stick with this price and finalize the deal quickly."

Xu Damao looked surprised, then gave He Yuzhu a thumbs up, his face full of admiration.

"Brother Zhu is so generous! When will that car arrive?"

He Yuzhu replied decisively, "I can have it anytime. Just make an appointment with them and let me know as soon as possible."

"Okay, Brother Zhu, don't worry, I'll let you know as soon as I have any news!" Xu Damao patted his chest and assured him.

Meanwhile, in the main room of the He family's house.

He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang, a married couple, sat in the house talking quietly.

He Daqing took a drag of his cigarette and spoke to Chen Lanxiang with a hint of deliberation in his voice.

"Zhu Zi is earning so much money now and has a full-time job. Don't you think we should have him give some money to his family every month?"

"There are two younger children in the family who will be many years away from adulthood, and we need money for everything."

Upon hearing this, Chen Lanxiang immediately waved her hand and firmly refused.

"You should talk to Zhu Zi about this yourself; I can't bring myself to say it."

"In the past few years, Zhuzi has taken care of everything our family eats and wears. He also brought back those scarce items from outside, which saved the family a lot of money."

"I've seen all the money he makes from reselling things. Don't think I don't know. I will absolutely not say a word about it."

He Daqing was speechless after being rebuked by Chen Lanxiang. He remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a sigh.

"Then let's talk about it when I can't work anymore. Surely he won't abandon our family or me, his father."

Chen Lanxiang rolled her eyes at him and gave him a serious warning.

"Is your son the kind of ungrateful person? Let me tell you, don't bring this up again. Don't let it cause a rift between you and your son."

He Daqing nodded, his voice low: "I understand, let's not talk about it anymore."

He Yushui, who happened to be passing by the door, overheard the couple's conversation.

Chen Lanxiang turned her head and saw He Yushui, then quickly waved her away.

He Yushui obediently turned around and ran to He Yuzhu's room to secretly tell her brother.

She leaned close to He Yuzhu and whispered back the conversation she had just overheard between her parents.

After listening, He Yuzhu reached out and ruffled his sister's hair, praising her with a smile.

"You little rascal, you even know to come and tattle on me to your brother."

He Yushui chuckled and said innocently, "Our dad is stingy with money, unlike you, brother, who's so generous."

He Yuzhu was speechless. So, in his sister's mind, he was a big spender.

However, he didn't really care about paying money for his family.

He now has a high salary, plenty of food and drink, and no shortage of pocket money. In this day and age, there's not much to spend money on.

It's only right that I contribute some money to the family to make my stepmother and father happy.

After all, his parents had worked so hard to raise him, and he would always remember their kindness.

He planned to find an opportunity to proactively discuss the money with Chen Lanxiang, so that his family could feel at ease and happy.

The next morning, He Yuzhu took the initiative to bring up the matter of paying money to the family every month with Chen Lanxiang.

Unexpectedly, Chen Lanxiang waved her hands repeatedly, saying she refused to take it no matter what.

"You've just started working, which is a time when you need money. Save your salary for when you get married and live a good life. You don't need to worry about things at home."

Seeing this, He Yuzhu did not insist any further and kept this sentiment in his heart.

Before they knew it, it was the weekend, and the He family prepared a large, sumptuous meal to entertain their guests.

Although it was called a dinner party, only Zhao Fengnian's family was invited.

When He Yuzhu returned from the battlefield, he encountered many problems, and it was only with the help of Zhao Fengnian's family that they were able to resolve them smoothly.

I've been so busy looking for a job and getting hired that I haven't had a chance to properly thank them.

Now that my son has officially started his job and has a bright future, I really need to express my gratitude properly.

The Zhao Fengnian family of five all arrived at the He family's house on time, each carrying a number of gifts; none of them arrived empty-handed.

When Chen Lanxiang saw that they had brought gifts, she quickly pulled Wang Hongxia aside and complained that she was being too formal.

Wang Hongxia simply smiled and didn't refute, but in her heart she greatly approved of He Yuzhu, her nephew.

In her opinion, helping the He family back then was completely worthwhile, and He Yuzhu certainly did not disappoint.

Life went on peacefully, day after day.

Before long, Xu Damao helped He Yuzhu finalize the bicycle deal and successfully obtained two bicycles.

He Yuzhu and Xu Damao each got a brand-new bicycle, which was quite eye-catching in the courtyard.

He Yuzhu also asked his neighbors in the courtyard if they wanted to ask someone to help them buy bicycles.

As a result, everyone refused, saying that riding a bicycle in this day and age is too conspicuous and will easily attract envy.

As for the fact that Old He's family bought a bicycle, even if the neighbors in the courtyard were envious, they couldn't say anything.

The He family bought one right after liberation, and now that their son is working and earning money, it's perfectly normal for them to buy another one.

Moreover, given the He family's circumstances, they could easily afford it.

The neighbors in the courtyard didn't know He Yuzhu's exact salary, but they knew how good his administrative rank of 18 was, just by asking around at the steel rolling mill.

The neighbors in the front yard were filled with envy and jealousy as they watched He Yuzhu have such a respectable job and such a high salary at such a young age, but they were helpless.

Looking at He Yuzhu's success and then at her own husband Jia Dongxu, Qin Huairu couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.

Jia Dongxu has worked hard at the steel rolling mill for many years, but his monthly salary is only 32 yuan.

However, He Yuzhu's monthly salary was over 80 yuan as soon as he started working, making their situations worlds apart.

She couldn't help but feel that her husband, Jia Dongxu, was utterly useless.

But then she thought about it again. Jia Dongxu had always been considerate and loving towards her, and now the two had a son, Banggeng.

Qin Huairu could only suppress the disappointment and resentment in her heart, and comfort herself by thinking that she should just live a peaceful and ordinary life.

Time flies, and it's July 1953.

Armistice negotiations have finally begun on the front lines of the Korean Peninsula, and the domestic situation has gradually stabilized.

Meanwhile, the fourth purchasing section of the steel import and export department, where He Yuzhu worked, finally received its first official assignment.

After being idle for so long, He Yuzhu felt like he was about to grow mold.

Seeing his colleagues in other departments so busy that they barely had time to breathe, while his fourth department spent all their time reading and studying, he had long been itching to join them.

During this period, He Yuzhu never stopped learning, immersing himself in professional books every day.

In their spare time, they would pull Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng aside to discuss technical issues related to steel and procurement.

At first, Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng thought he was just infatuated.

However, as time went on, the two were completely impressed by He Yuzhu's learning ability and dedication to research.

Many of the professional questions raised by He Yuzhu were becoming increasingly in-depth, often requiring them to go back and consult a large amount of material, or even seek advice from other experts, before they could provide answers.

They knew in their hearts that this young section chief had truly mastered the professional knowledge and his abilities far exceeded those of ordinary people.

Just then, the department issued an urgent task, which was directly handed over to He Yuzhu.

They need to travel to Russia immediately to purchase a batch of specialized steel.

This batch of steel is intended for the reconstruction and maintenance of the Yalu River Bridge; the task is urgent and of great significance.

He Yuzhu, holding the purchasing list, carefully reviewed it with Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng.

Looking at the list of steel types and quantities, all three of them frowned deeply.

The purchase volume this time was enormous, far exceeding their previous expectations.

The difficulty of successfully completing this procurement task is self-evident.

The higher authorities granted them time to expedite the processing of passports, travel permits, and other related procedures.

In the following days, He Yuzhu and his two companions were extremely busy.

First, I went to a photo studio to take passport photos.

I had to run to the neighborhood office and police station again and again to obtain various identity and travel permits.

Fortunately, their workplace was of a high level and had a strong background, so all the procedures were handled very smoothly.

After all the personal documents were submitted to the company, the company handled them all on a unified basis, which was extremely efficient and everything was done in just a few days.

In addition, the company also provided them with a sufficient amount of Russian currency for use within Russia.

A thick stack of various business trip introduction letters, work certificates, and procurement authorization letters were also prepared, with everything included.

Everything was ready, and August arrived.

He Yuzhu, Lao Wei, and Xiao Zheng officially embarked on their business trip to Russia.

Their destination was Mariupol, an industrial region in Ukraine on the Black Sea coast, with their sights set on the Azov steel plant.

In those days, they didn't have the luxury of traveling by plane for business trips and could only rely on trains for transportation.

The three boarded an international train bound for Russia, and traveled northwards amidst the clattering of the train.

The long train journey was very difficult; the carriages were crowded and stuffy, and the food and lodging were very basic.

The long journey and numerous stops took a toll on the three of them, leaving them physically and mentally exhausted.

Their route took them through most of the territory of the Russian bear.

Starting from Beijing, the journey proceeds to Harbin, then to Manzhouli, where it officially exits China.

It then entered the long Trans-Siberian Railway, passing through several cities including Irkutsk and Novosibirsk.

After a bumpy ride to Moscow, we transferred to another train to Kyiv, Ukraine.

This train journey took a full 18 days.

When they finally arrived at Kyiv train station, the three of them got off the train with their legs swollen and their whole bodies aching and weak.

Even He Yuzhu, whose physical fitness far exceeds that of ordinary people, felt exhausted and unable to muster any strength.

The three of them rested briefly at a guesthouse in Kyiv for one night, which helped them somewhat alleviate the fatigue of their journey.

The next morning, the three of them set off again without delay, heading to Mariupol.

Young Zheng was thinking that since he was on a rare trip abroad, he wanted to visit some cities in Russia along the way.

However, Lao Wei and He Yuzhu were both very clear-headed and knew that this mission was arduous and there was no time to waste.

The staff of that era all had a strong sense of responsibility and were only focused on completing the task as quickly as possible.

In addition, the three of them had limited travel expenses and no extra money for sightseeing or spending.

He Yuzhu looked at the street scenes along the way but didn't think there was anything worth visiting. He just wanted to get to the Azov Steel Plant as soon as possible.

After several transfers, the three finally arrived safely in Mariupol.

Without taking a break, they immediately followed the address and found the renowned Azov steel plant in the area.

Standing at the entrance of the steel plant, the three looked up at the magnificent and imposing reinforced concrete building in front of them.

The entire steel plant is enormous, resembling a colossal steel beast coiled on the earth, and is truly awe-inspiring.

Even the well-traveled He Yuzhu couldn't help but stare blankly.

As he looked at the Azov steel plant in front of him, a vague memory suddenly flashed through his mind.

He vaguely remembered that decades later, a fierce battle would break out here.

This seemingly ordinary steel plant is not as simple as it appears on the surface; its internal structure is complex, resembling a sturdy military fortress.

But right now, he doesn't have time to think about these distant things; his immediate priority is to complete the procurement task.

He Yuzhu came to his senses, and led Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng to the steel plant gate, where he took out the letter of introduction and work certificate that he had prepared in advance.

The guards at the steel mill gate were very strict, carefully checking all the documents, but they did not allow them to enter the factory area.

They were simply told to wait at the door, and that they needed to report to their superiors.

The three had no choice but to wait obediently at the steel mill gate.

Not long after, a person strode out of the steel mill.

He was a typical big, strong man, tall and robust, with a full beard.

He was Mikhailovich, the third sales manager of the Azov steel plant.

Mihajlovic greeted the three with a warm smile.

But He Yuzhu was sharp-minded and saw through his superficial enthusiasm at a glance; it was just polite perfunctory and had no sincerity whatsoever.

What bothered the three even more was that even after the contact person arrived, they still couldn't get into the steel plant area.

Mihajlovic did not discuss any work; he simply took the three of them to the guesthouse arranged by the steel mill to rest.

From the outside, the guesthouse looks quite nice and the environment is clean.

However, Mihajlovic arranged for the three of them to have the worst three-person room.

The room was small and simple, with outdated facilities, which was out of place with the overall environment of the guesthouse.

He Yuzhu became suspicious and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, quietly went to check the guest rooms on other floors of the guesthouse.

Upon seeing this, he instantly understood the other party's intention.

The other guest rooms in the guesthouse are either single rooms, double rooms, or even luxurious suites.

The three of them were the only ones who were assigned to the worst room.

These are clearly people from the Azov steelworks who don't value them at all, and even show some contempt and neglect.

He Yuzhu returned to his room without revealing anything, but remained secretly on guard.

He knew that this procurement task was destined to be unsuccessful; the other party was clearly trying to give them a hard time.

The three of them quickly unpacked their luggage in the room.

That evening, Mikhailovich came to their room again, saying he wanted to formally receive them according to the etiquette of the Russians.

He Yuzhu looked at the fake smile on his face and saw through his ill intentions at a glance.

He remained calm and politely declined, then offered to host a banquet for the other party.

Mihajlovic waved his hand, his tone seemingly enthusiastic, but in reality carrying an undeniable forcefulness.

"Hey, this is our territory, the home ground of our Azov Steel Plant. How can we let guests who have come from afar treat us?"

"You have come all the way from faraway China. As your hosts, we should treat you well. Our Russian people have always been the most hospitable."

He Yuzhu's eyes turned slightly cold. He knew that it was no use refusing. He wanted to see what tricks the other party was up to.

He smiled faintly and said calmly, "Since Comrade Mikhail is so enthusiastic, then we shall respectfully accept his invitation."

"That's more like it! That's what good friends should be like!" Mikhailovic laughed heartily.

He suddenly raised his hand and slapped He Yuzhu's shoulder twice.

Mihajlovic is about the same height as He Yuzhu, but he is much more robust and extremely strong.

He thought that even if He Yuzhu didn't wince in pain, he would at least show signs of discomfort after his two slaps.

He was looking at He Yuzhu with great anticipation, eager to see him make a fool of himself.

But He Yuzhu remained standing there, calm and composed, without a trace of pain on his face, as if he hadn't been the one being slapped.

Immediately afterwards, He Yuzhu also burst into laughter.

Without making a sound, he raised his hand and slapped Mihajlovic hard on the shoulder as well.

He Yuzhu had been fighting on the battlefield for many years and his strength far exceeded that of ordinary people. He used all his strength in these two blows.

Mihajlovic's face instantly contorted in pain, he grimaced, and almost cried out on the spot.

He Yuzhu still had a smile on his face, looked at him calmly, and spoke in a nonchalant tone.

"Come on, Comrade Mikhail, show us the hospitality of the Russian bear."

Mihajlovic, enduring the excruciating pain in his shoulder, followed them out of the room.

As he was leaving, he quietly reached out and rubbed his shoulder, then looked down.

Two clear, large handprints were clearly imprinted on his shoulder, and his skin was slightly red and swollen.

He was both shocked and angry, but he couldn't do anything to cause trouble for He Yuzhu.

After all, he was the one who started it by slapping He Yuzhu; he was the one who provoked the situation, so he could only suffer in silence.

The three followed Mihajlovic back to the gate of the Azov steel plant.

With Mihajlovic personally leading the way, the guards at the gate still conducted strict registration and checks before allowing them to enter the factory area.

Upon entering the steel plant, Mihajlovic led the three through the various factory areas to a place resembling an internal kitchen.

There is a separate, fairly large private room here.

The three of them pushed open the door to the private room and were instantly stunned.

Inside the private room, a dozen burly, bear-like men were already seated, each with sharp eyes and a menacing aura.

Mihajlovic, accompanied by three others, exchanged a few simple pleasantries with the people in the private room.

Before anyone could say anything, Mihajlovic waved his hand and shouted, "Let's eat!"

Everyone expected the food to be served first, but to their surprise, the waiter brought in a whole dozen bottles of strong vodka.

Immediately afterwards, the waiter filled each person's large glass with vodka.

Each cup contains a generous amount, more than three ounces.

Old Wei and Xiao Zheng were stunned when they saw the large glass of strong liquor in front of them, and their faces turned slightly pale.

Neither of them usually drinks alcohol, let alone such a high-proof vodka.

Looking at the scene before him, He Yuzhu instantly understood the other party's intentions.

This wasn't a way of entertaining them; it was clearly an attempt to get them drunk, give them a hard time, and put them at a disadvantage in the negotiations.

He lowered his voice and whispered instructions to Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng in Chinese.

"You two can have a couple of sips in a bit, just to show off, then quickly pretend to be drunk. Don't force yourself to drink with them. Wait until they've had enough before you eat anything."

Xiao Zheng looked nervous and asked in a low voice, "Section Chief, are the Russians deliberately trying to make us look foolish?"

He Yuzhu's lips curled into a cold smile, and he said with certainty, "It's still not certain who will make a fool of themselves."

"Remember my words: take a couple of sips, then immediately pretend to be drunk, and leave the rest to me."

Old Wei nodded solemnly, "Okay, we'll all listen to the section chief."

Just then, Mihajlovic picked up his wine glass and stood up.

He spoke in a loud voice, "Hey, and two more Chinese comrades, welcome to the Azov Steel Plant! Cheers to our friendship!"

The dozen or so burly men in the private room also stood up, raised their glasses, and echoed in unison.

"Cheers!"

He Yuzhu and the other two could only pick up their wine glasses and stand up.

This is not a small wine cup, but a real large glass, with more than three ounces of strong liquor in one cup.

The Russians are all skilled drinkers; they pick up their glasses, tilt their heads back, and down the drink in one gulp with swift and decisive movements.

After they finished drinking, everyone's eyes turned to He Yuzhu and the other two.

Old Wei usually has a moderate tolerance for alcohol, but he has never drunk such strong liquor before.

He gritted his teeth, tilted his head back, and drank the vodka in the glass.

The strong liquor burned his throat, and the burning sensation spread throughout his body instantly. He endured the discomfort and plopped back down on the stool, his face turning bright red.

Xiao Zheng was even worse off. He drank less than half of it before feeling nauseous. He pretended to be unsteady on his feet and sat down on the ground.

Watching Xiao Zheng's skillful feigned drunkenness, He Yuzhu secretly praised him, thinking to himself, "This kid is quite clever."

Without the slightest hesitation, he picked up his glass, tilted his head back, and downed the entire glass of vodka in one gulp.

However, although he appeared to be drinking the wine, he actually secretly used his personal space.

He silently stored all the strong liquor in his spatial storage, not a single drop reaching his stomach.

A dozen burly Russian men watched in astonishment as He Yuzhu calmly finished a whole glass of strong liquor.

They originally thought that three cups of wine would be enough to knock out all these Chinese people.

I never expected this young Chinese section chief to be such a heavy drinker.

Mihajlovic was startled, but still maintained a smile and picked up his glass again.

"Come on, let's have another drink! Long live friendship!"

And so, they raised their glasses three times in a row, but still no food was served on the table, not even a single pickled cucumber.

It was obvious they wanted them to drink on an empty stomach; they were deliberately making things difficult for them.

He Yuzhu remained calm and composed, downing each cup in one gulp, his expression unchanged.

He quietly observed the bear-like man in the private room.

These dozen or so people were all heavy drinkers. They drank three glasses of strong vodka in a row and were still not drunk at all. They were obviously seasoned drinkers.

At that moment, Mihajlovic gave a wink to the person next to him.

Everyone immediately understood and raised their glasses, crowding around He Yuzhu.

Mikhailovic led the toast, his tone seemingly enthusiastic: "Come, let's all toast Comrade He. He's come from afar, we must treat him well!"

He knew in his heart that Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng were no match for him. As long as he could get He Yuzhu drunk, this attempt to make things difficult for him would be a success.

Today, he specially invited the group of people with the best drinking capacity in the factory, determined to drink He Yuzhu and the other two under the table, make them back down, and completely lose their confidence in the subsequent negotiations.

For a time, toasts were being made one after another in the private room.

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

He Yuzhu accepted all toasts offered to him, and no matter who offered him a drink, he would tilt his head back and drink it all in one gulp, without touching a drop of alcohol, and then put it all into his spatial storage.

After a round of toasts, Mihajlovic's smile vanished completely, and he stared at He Yuzhu in utter shock.

This Chinese guy has an incredible alcohol tolerance! He drank so much strong vodka and he's completely fine!

He was completely wrong; the people in the company had no idea of ​​He Yuzhu's true alcohol tolerance.

Before setting off, Zhang Weimin had only casually asked about his alcohol tolerance.

He Yuzhu modestly said that he could handle a pound and a half of liquor without any problem, so Zhang Weimin felt that this was enough to handle the drinking party hosted by Mao Xiong, and did not make any other arrangements.

If Zhang Weimin knew that He Yuzhu had a personal space to cheat and that his alcohol tolerance was unfathomable, there would be no need to assign Lao Wei and Xiao Zheng more drinking experts.

With He Yuzhu by himself, he could drink his way through the entire Azov steel plant.

After the first round of toasts ended, the Russians were still not satisfied and toasted for two more rounds.

He Yuzhu gradually lost his patience, and sneered inwardly, thinking that these people were really going to keep going.

He took the initiative, reaching out to stop the Russian man who was about to offer a toast, and looked directly at Mihajlovic.

"Comrade Mikhail, thank you very much for your hospitality. I would like to have a drink with you alone to express my gratitude."

As he spoke, He Yuzhu didn't pick up a glass of wine, but instead reached out and grabbed two full bottles of vodka.

Mihajlovic looked at the two bottles of strong liquor in He Yuzhu's hand, his expression instantly becoming very unnatural, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.

But He Yuzhu was toasted so many times by them, and he didn't refuse or back down.

If he doesn't dare to drink, he will completely lose face at the factory and will never be able to hold his head up again.

Mihajlovic was caught in a dilemma and had no choice but to bite the bullet and accept the bottle of vodka that He Yuzhu handed him.

He gritted his teeth, tilted his head back towards the bottle, and gulped down large mouthfuls of vodka.

In just a few minutes, he drank an entire bottle of strong vodka.

The moment the bottle was empty, Mihajlovic could no longer hold on. His vision went black, and he collapsed under the table, completely unconscious.

The remaining burly men in the private room turned pale when they saw their leader get drunk and passed out on the spot.

They originally intended to make things difficult for the Chinese at today's drinking party in order to establish their authority.

But now, the leader has been completely drunk and has lost all face!

They weren't about to give up so easily, and one by one, according to their drinking capacity from highest to lowest, they took turns going up to toast He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu remained welcoming to all and handled the situation calmly.

By the end of the drinking session, only two of the Russian men were still standing in the private room, their eyes filled with fear and disbelief as they looked at He Yuzhu.

Neither of them dared to pick up their glasses again; they were completely convinced.

This Chinese man in front of me is simply inhuman. He drank a full ten kilograms of strong vodka and yet his face didn't turn red, his heart didn't race, and he didn't even show the slightest sign of drunkenness!

The two exchanged a glance, then awkwardly lowered their heads, admitting defeat to He Yuzhu.

"Hey, you're amazing! We can't outdrink you, we admit defeat."

Both of them were among the best drinkers in the entire Azov Steel Plant, but now they were completely defeated by He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu knew when to stop and didn't make things difficult for them any further, speaking calmly.

"Now, can we serve the food?"

The two then seemed to snap out of their daze, nodding repeatedly, "Yes! Yes! We'll have the food served right away!"

One of the workers, who was from the Russian bear, quickly turned around and ran out of the private room to notify the kitchen to serve the dishes.

Before long, dishes were served one after another.

Large chunks of braised meat, sausages, rich borscht, hearty rye bread, and a variety of refreshing side dishes.

The table was piled high with food, which was quite a feast in this era of scarcity.

He Yuzhu looked at the food on the table, then turned to look at Xiao Zheng, who was still sitting on the ground pretending to be drunk, and gently kicked him.

"Alright, stop pretending and get up to eat."

Xiao Zheng immediately opened his eyes, took a deep breath, and smelled the aroma of meat, instantly perking up.

He smiled, grabbed the chair leg, stood up nimbly, sat down at the table, picked up his chopsticks, and prepared to eat.

Old Wei had indeed drunk some alcohol and was a little tipsy, but the smell of meat instantly sobered him up.

in the country, it's really difficult to eat meat to your heart's content like this.

The two Russian workers, seeing the scene before them, felt aggrieved but couldn't say anything.

After all, they were the ones who provoked and made things difficult first, and as a result, their leader was drunk and knocked out, so they completely lost and had no choice but to admit defeat.

Looking at their rough, calloused hands, He Yuzhu knew they were frontline workers at the steel plant.

Looking at their ravenous and impatient way of eating, you can tell that even they rarely get to eat so much meat.

After the meal, the private room was a mess, and the burly bear-like man who had collapsed was still fast asleep.

He Yuzhu looked at the two still-sane Russian workers and asked, "What should we do with these drunk comrades?"

One of the workers quickly replied, "Don't worry about it, we'll find someone to take them all back to their lodgings."

He Yuzhu then asked, "Comrade Mikhailovich is drunk and can't take us back to the guesthouse. How are we supposed to get out of the factory area?"

Another worker immediately spoke up: "I'll take you back. The security guard knows about this today, he recognizes us, and won't stop you."

"Okay, then I'll leave it to you."

He Yuzhu and his two companions followed the bear-faced worker and successfully exited the Azov steel plant area.

Upon arriving at the guesthouse, the two sides said a brief goodbye and went their separate ways.

Back in the simple three-person room, Xiao Zheng could no longer suppress his excitement and moved closer to He Yuzhu, his face full of admiration.

"Section Chief, you're amazing! That's not just drinking, it's like guzzling it down!"

"Do the math! You've drunk at least ten jin (5 kg), haven't you? I saw them bring in another dozen bottles of liquor, and you've almost finished that too!"

Old Wei quickly tugged at Xiao Zheng, laughing and saying, "You know how to talk, kid! The section chief's good drinking capacity is a huge advantage!"

"If the section chief hadn't been here today, the two of us would have been carried out and thrown out long ago. It would have been incredibly embarrassing!"

He Yuzhu smiled faintly and said modestly, "I can only drink a little more than the average person, it's nothing special."

He naturally wouldn't tell the two that he had a personal storage space to cheat, which allowed him to collect not just ten pounds of vodka, but even the entire liquor from a brewery.

Seeing their exhausted expressions, he said, "Alright, you've had a long day. Go wash up and get some rest."

"Those bears didn't gain any advantage today, but they'll definitely have other tricks up their sleeves when they wake up tomorrow."

"This procurement task is far more difficult than we expected, and everyone should be mentally prepared."