RNP Chapter 1026 He Yuzhu has his own ideas
Chapter 1026 He Yuzhu has his own ideas
He Yuzhu slumped on the table, his elbows propped on the surface, his hand still tightly gripping his wine glass. He would occasionally look up and smile at the leaders, mumbling incoherently, "Leaders, please feel free, I'll drink it all," his voice reeking of alcohol.
At this moment, Deputy Factory Director Li walked over with a wine glass in hand. He reeked of alcohol even more than He Yuzhu, and his steps were slightly unsteady, but his face held a hint of sober smugness. He patted He Yuzhu on the back, the pressure just enough to sober him up a bit: "Zhuzi, today… today I owe you a lot." He let out a burp, his breath fuming He Yuzhu's face, but his voice was resolute, "Well done! Don't worry, once I'm in the factory director's position, that canteen manager position will definitely be yours, no doubt about it!"
He Yuzhu groggily raised his head, and the image of Deputy Factory Director Li before him blurred into several shadowy figures, flickering back and forth. He tried to stand up, leaning on the table, but his legs were as weak as overcooked noodles. He swayed a couple of times before finally managing to steady himself. He grabbed Deputy Factory Director Li's arm as if it were a lifeline, his tongue slurring, "Director Li... don't worry! I, He Yuzhu... am your man! From now on... from now on, wherever you point, I'll go, no questions asked! Even... even if you ask me to go against Gu Nan, I... I won't hesitate!"
Deputy Factory Director Li was amused by his loyal demeanor and patted him on the shoulder: "Good lad, I'm relieved to hear you say that. Alright, you've had too much to drink, haven't you? I'll have someone take you home."
He Yuzhu waved his hand, still muttering "director's position" and "I'll listen to you," but his feet wouldn't obey him, and he was half-supported, half-carried by the staff member beside him towards the door. Moonlight shone on his face, reflecting the excitement and anticipation he felt after drinking, a silly grin still lingering on his lips. He was still unaware that the position he so desperately wanted was nothing more than bait casually offered at the dinner table, and that the liveliness and attentiveness of this drinking party had ultimately benefited someone else, becoming a stepping stone for Deputy Factory Director Li to win people over.
Deputy Factory Director Li was very satisfied with He Yuzhu's attitude. Although this young man seemed straightforward and a bit naive, he was actually quite shrewd, knew how to assess situations, and knew his own limitations—unlike Xu Damao, who was arrogant, always looking for loopholes to take advantage of others, and so slippery that he was unreliable. This kind of person was dependable, always on the right track, and much more trustworthy than Xu Damao.
As for Xu Damao, he's now nothing more than Gu Nan's shadow in his eyes. At the last factory dinner, that guy was constantly fawning over Gu Nan, offering him tea and cigarettes, chattering on and on. Anyone with eyes could see he was trying to figure out Gu Nan's thoughts. Now that he's already aligned himself with Gu Nan, there's no need to bother trying to win him over further; abandoning him wouldn't be a loss—the most important thing right now is to keep someone like He Yuzhu under his control so he can contend with Gu Nan.
Deputy Factory Director Li picked up his teacup, took a sip, and watched the tea leaves unfurl in the water. He waved to He Yuzhu, "Zhu, you can go back now. I'll contact you again if the factory needs to prepare a meal for a business dinner."
He Yuzhu nodded quickly in agreement, a smile plastered on his face, his heart filled with sweetness as if coated with honey, and he retreated with light steps.
It was late at night when He Yuzhu returned to the courtyard house. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the treetops, casting long shadows on the ground. The alley was so quiet that only the sound of his own footsteps could be heard. He Yuzhu felt a surge of joy. Just thinking about the appreciative look in Deputy Factory Director Li's eyes made him smile. He never expected that his falling out with Gu Nan would lead him to connect with Deputy Factory Director Li. It was truly a case of "after the darkest hour comes the dawn."
Pushing open the door, a dim oil lamp still shone inside, its tiny flame flickering and casting a warm glow on the walls. Lu Jia sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), wearing an old coat and holding a needle and thread; she was clearly still awake. He Yuzhu walked over, sat down next to her, and asked with a smile, "Lu Jia, why aren't you asleep yet? It's so late; you have to go to work tomorrow."
Lu Jia looked up at him and saw that he was beaming with joy, his eyes and brows radiating smugness. She knew that things had gone smoothly and said softly, "Judging from your appearance, you've struck up a conversation with Deputy Factory Director Li? Did he offer you a reward?"
"Of course!" He Yuzhu scooted closer to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), proudly raised his chin, and raised his voice a little higher. "Deputy Factory Director Li has taken a liking to my skills! He said that once he's settled into his position as factory director, the canteen manager position will be mine! At that time, I'll be in charge of all the canteen's purchasing and scheduling!"
Lu Jia, however, was not as excited as he was. She just looked at him calmly, her needle and thread moving across the cloth: "Brother Zhu, it's good to be on good terms with Deputy Factory Director Li, but don't offend Gu Nan easily. You know his capabilities; he has deep roots in the factory, and many of the older workers in the workshop respect him."
He Yuzhu's smile faded slightly, and his tone carried a hint of displeasure: "Lu Jia, you don't know, Deputy Factory Director Li really values me. Besides, he's very confident of getting promoted this time; he has powerful backers. Why should we bother currying favor with Gu Nan? If we offend Deputy Factory Director Li because of this, we'll be picking up a sesame seed and losing a watermelon. Wouldn't that be foolish?"
Hearing this, Lu Jia's anger flared up. She was burning with rage and wanted revenge on Gu Nan, but she also knew that the current situation was uncertain, so how could she act so rashly? She put down her needlework, frowned, and said, "Brother Zhu, are you confused? Until the very last moment, who can confidently say that Deputy Factory Director Li will definitely become the factory director?"
"Doesn't Deputy Factory Director Li have powerful backers? Doesn't Gu Nan have them too?" She emphasized, her eyes filled with urgency. "Think about it carefully. He rose from an ordinary employee to the position of deputy factory director in just a few years, and he still holds real power over production. If he didn't have a powerful backer, could he have gotten so smoothly?"
The message was clear: he was being advised not to be so stubborn. At this point, the safest approach was to avoid offending either side and to have his cake and eat it too.
He Yuzhu was speechless, opening his mouth to retort but unable to find the right words. Though still somewhat annoyed, he knew Lu Jia was right. He changed the subject, diverting the conversation: "I understand. By the way, how did it go when you went to see Gu Nan today? He didn't give you a hard time, did he?"
Lu Jia nodded: "The conversation with him went well; he didn't say anything harsh. That's why I told you, you can't offend either side, understand?"
He Yuzhu responded sullenly, "I understand. From now on, I'll be a neutral party and not offend anyone."
But how could he truly be content? Deputy Factory Director Li was the canteen manager, in charge of the entire canteen's procurement and scheduling, and overseeing a dozen or so people. That was a tremendous amount of power. Who wouldn't look up to him when he went out into the world?