Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Bai Fendou felt that he might be falling in love.

The first time he saw Nurse Tao Yuyue, it felt like spring flowers had bloomed. This girl was exactly the type he liked, and his face turned red as he gazed at Tao Yuyue and stammered, "Nurse... Nurse Tao..."

Tao Yuyue's hand trembled, and she missed the injection.

Bai Fendou: "Ah!"

Tao Yuyue quickly apologized, "I'm so sorry, Comrade Bai Fendou. I got nervous when you called me..." Her face turned red as she bit her lip in apology.

Bai Fendou: "It's okay! It doesn't hurt! Go ahead and try again."

Tao Yuyue: "Oh!"

She said, "Then... please don't talk to me..."

Tao Yuyue was a bit nervous. After all, this was her first real patient since graduating. Although she had bragged about her top-notch performance in school at the clinic, deep down, she knew the truth.

She took a deep breath and jabbed the needle in, only to see blood spurt out immediately. She quickly pressed her hand on it, but Bai Fendou's face turned red again.

He stammered, "Wh-why are you holding my hand?"

Tao Yuyue forced a smile and said, "Close your eyes."

Bai Fendou obediently closed his eyes. Tao Yuyue took another deep breath and jabbed the needle in. Bai Fendou groaned, "Mmm."

Tao Yuyue: "It's okay!"

After several more attempts, she finally managed to get the needle in place. Bai Fendou winced with each try, but she finally sighed in relief and said, "You can open your eyes now, Comrade Bai Fendou. You're such a nice person. You could tell I was nervous, but you didn't blame me at all."

Bai Fendou immediately patted his chest and said, "A real man doesn't get petty over such things. How could I hold it against a girl like you?"

Tao Yuyue smiled and said, "Then I'll go give the injection to Old Man Bai."

Old Man Bai was trembling in fear. He had heard about the IV and came over, sitting on a stool in the room, watching Tao Yuyue's repeated attempts. The girl had a lovely face, but her skills were... questionable.

Moreover, her judgment seemed off. How did she think his son was a nice person? Even he, as the father, hadn't seen that.

He hesitated, "Ah... well, I... actually, I think I'm almost better. I don't really need the IV."

Tao Yuyue didn't believe him. It wasn't a matter of having a brain; it was a matter of having eyes. Old Man Bai was clearly not "almost better." If that was the case, there would be no sick people left.

She said seriously, "Old Man Bai, this won't do. Your condition has been diagnosed by the hospital. We've already prescribed a week's worth of IVs at the clinic, and the salary has been deducted. If you don't take the IV, the money won't be refunded."

"Ah..." Old Man Bai thought of this and frowned in distress.

He was instinctively afraid, but he didn't want to waste the money. A week's worth of IVs wasn't cheap.

Tao Yuyue: "You should take the IV. If you don't, it'll be a waste. The money isn't going into my pocket, so I think it's better for you to take it. Plus, your injury is serious. If you don't take the IV, it'll be harder to recover. Summer is prone to inflammation, so it's better not to take any risks."

Besides, it was a good opportunity for her to practice.

Although Tao Yuyue wanted to improve her social status through marriage, she was also a practical girl. She knew that she couldn't completely neglect her work; otherwise, she wouldn't have any security.

The clinic didn't have many patients, and she wanted to improve her skills to stand out when giving injections to leaders. She needed more practice to seize opportunities, just like Zhuang Zhixi, who had seized the chance to transfer to the security department. She could also use such opportunities to secure a permanent position.

So she said sincerely, "Old Man Bai, if it gets inflamed, it could be dangerous. I'm sure you understand. Are you afraid of injections? Don't be. My skills are actually very good. I was top of my class in school, but since this is my first job and my first time visiting a single man's home, I'm a bit nervous..."

She was blatantly lying.

Her performance in school had been mediocre. Back then, she had been more focused on using her school's resources to find a partner rather than studying. Now, men were also shrewd and wouldn't just look at her face; they would also consider her background. The ones she liked didn't like her, and the ones who liked her, she didn't like. It was frustrating.

So she wanted to improve her skills in case of future needs.

Opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared.

Hearing her words, Old Man Bai believed her. He hesitated for a moment and nodded, "Alright."

Although it looked terrifying, his injury was in a critical area. Although he hadn't used it in decades, he couldn't risk it getting inflamed, especially since Aunt Su might agree to be with him. If it got infected and became useless, that would be the end.

So he gritted his teeth and agreed. Tao Yuyue: "Should we do it here or..."

"In my room."

Tao Yuyue quickly followed him into Old Man Bai's room. She frowned slightly but pretended not to notice the messy surroundings. A smart woman's first move is to ignore the unpleasant environment. She quickly took out the IV and got to work... "Ah!"

Old Man Bai let out a painful scream.

The women in the courtyard were all looking at each other in confusion. Even Aunt Wang from the back courtyard came over. The four aunties of the courtyard gathered at the Bai family's door, peeking inside. This was quite a rare sight.

If you didn't know it was an injection, you'd think they were slaughtering a pig.

“What's going on? Slaughtering a pig?” Auntie Lian curiously joined in, knowing that watching a lively scene was a must.

"How can you say that? Didn't you hear Old Man Bai's painful screams?" This was undoubtedly Aunt Su.

Auntie Lian didn't respond. Fortunately, the Bai family's windows were all broken, so they could see clearly from outside. Everyone was curious. They watched as Tao Yuyue tried again and again.

Old Man Bai's suffering wasn't any less than Bai Fendou's.

Finally, the IV was in place, and Old Man Bai looked utterly defeated.

Tao Yuyue instructed, "Once this IV is finished, don't remove the needle. Just remove the bottle and replace it with the next one. You have two IVs a day, and it usually takes four hours to finish both. I'll be back in three and a half hours. During this time, don't move around, or something might go wrong, and I won't be here to help."

Old Man Bai nodded painfully.

Meanwhile, in the opposite room, Bai Fendou called out, "Nurse Tao, are you leaving already? Why not stay here? What if something happens to us? You're supposed to be serving us, so shouldn't you stay until the end?"

He had taken a liking to the pretty nurse at first sight.

Outside the window, Aunt Su's face darkened. She thought, "Men can't be trusted. It's right to take their money. Even if they don't spend it on others, they'll waste it. Men are never honest until they're hanging on the wall."

Bai Fendou looked expectantly at Tao Yuyue: "Nurse Tao..."

Tao Yuyue: "That's not possible. The clinic isn't just for your family. We've already been specially approved by the factory to come here because of your serious injuries. For minor injuries, we wouldn't even consider coming. Anyway, I'm leaving now."

Having finished the injections, she no longer spoke softly and quickly packed up her things to leave. Seeing a group of old women watching the commotion, she despised these gossiping, uneducated old ladies.

She nodded slightly and then rode her bike away.

Aunt Zhou leaned her head toward the window and said to Bai Fendou, "Oh, Bai Fendou, this nurse is quite pretty. Do you like her?"

Bai Fendou's face turned slightly red, and he said, "What are you talking about? Don't ruin Nurse Tao's reputation."

Aunt Zhou saw through his intentions immediately. She chuckled coldly, exclaiming, "What a toad lusting after a swan's flesh! Just look at yourself—what do you think you are?" She continued, "If you've set your eyes on someone, why don't you ask Aunt Su to arrange a match for you? Oh, but I wonder if Aunt Su would be willing to part with her."

Aunt Su responded, "What nonsense are you talking about? If Bai Fendou had a good family, I would be absolutely delighted. But I'm not familiar with Nurse Tao, and besides, her conditions are obviously very good. She's young, and I doubt she would be interested in Bai Fendou."

Bai Fendou, hearing this, became anxious: "Why wouldn't she be interested? I'm in top-notch condition too!"

This man's lack of self-awareness was truly astounding, leaving the aunts speechless.

Back when you were in the security department, you could barely say your conditions were decent. But now that you're cleaning toilets, do you think young girls don't care about appearances? Although all jobs are equal, cleaning toilets in a factory is different from being a street cleaner. Yet, it's still cleaning toilets. In the factory, the salary for cleaning toilets isn't the lowest—apprentices in the workshop only make about ten yuan. Even first-level workers in the workshop don't earn more than twenty-five yuan.

So, earning twenty-five yuan a month cleaning toilets isn't bad. But while it's not bad, it's still embarrassing to talk about.

When someone asks, it's just mortifying.

And the salary for cleaning toilets doesn't increase—no matter how many years you work, it's always twenty-five yuan. Unlike in the workshop, where you can get a raise after advancing in rank.

If you had no job, cleaning toilets would be the best option. But being transferred from the security department to cleaning toilets is quite shameful.

Bai Fendou and Old Man Bai even had their salaries reduced because of this, yet Bai Fendou still felt his conditions were quite good. He had never thought he would stay cleaning toilets forever. Instead, he deeply believed this was just a temporary setback. With his excellent performance, he estimated he would be back in no time—maybe in two or three months. So, he remained optimistic.

"My job is actually pretty good. I wonder when Nurse Tao arrived? Oh, I also wonder if she's a formal employee." Bai Fendou was even being picky about himself. If she wasn't a formal employee, he wouldn't consider her.

Zhao Guihua looked at him as if he were a big fool, deeply believing he must be out of his mind.

Did he even have the right to dislike Tao Yuyue?

Although Tao Yuyue's family conditions were ordinary, she had a good relative. Aunt Wang, her older sister, would help her plan her future. Aunt Wang's husband was the director of the factory's office, so her prospects were undoubtedly better than Bai Fendou's.

Moreover, she was under twenty, while Bai Fendou was over thirty.

Where did his confidence come from?

Zhao Guihua wasn't very familiar with Tao Yuyue, but she vaguely remembered that Tao Yuyue would marry well. Of course, anyone with sense wouldn't consider Bai Fendou. Zhao Guihua rolled her eyes and turned to leave.

Aunt Wang called out to Zhao Guihua, saying, "Old Zhao, wait a moment. I need to ask you something."

Zhao Guihua replied, "Alright, let's talk inside."

The old ladies' alliance dispersed. Aunt Zhou's eyes darted around and she said, "Auntie Lian, come, let's go to my place."

Looking around, only Aunt Su remained in the courtyard. She glanced left and right, fell silent for a moment, then quickly entered the Bai household. Aunt Zhou whispered to Auntie Lian, "Look at this old widow. Isn't she shameless? She's always hanging around with Old Man Bai..."

Auntie Lian replied, "Your courtyard is indeed lively."

"That's for sure."

Aunt Zhou continued, "Auntie Lian, I invited you over because I wanted to ask about my daughter-in-law's pregnancy. Some say she can't have children. I don't know who to believe..."

She scrutinized Auntie Lian, hoping to discern something from her expression. Auntie Lian remained calm: "It's impossible. I don't think that's the case. If you don't believe me, you can ask someone else. I don't mind. But you should trust that time will reveal everything. Let's leave it to time."

Having done many superstitious acts, Auntie Lian was very composed. Her calmness made Aunt Zhou immediately believe her. She nodded, "You're right. Look..."

The two began to chatter, engaging in more superstitious activities.

Even Aunt Wang, who went to Zhuang's house to chat, was discussing this.

She whispered to Zhao Guihua, "Old Zhao, do you think our alley's toilet is really haunted? Otherwise, why so many strange things happen? Should we do something to ward off the evil spirit?"

This was a sign of deep friendship. Anyone with a less close relationship wouldn't dare to discuss such a sensitive topic.

Zhao Guihua replied, "I don't think so. Not that I don't believe in it, but our toilet is about to be rebuilt. Even if there were issues, they'll be gone. Why bother? It's not about the money. If word got out, it wouldn't be good."

Aunt Wang agreed, "That's true. I don't want to engage in superstition, but this matter is quite eerie. A perfectly fine man suddenly went crazy in the toilet. This isn't the first time."

Regarding the incident with Zhou Qun, Aunt Wang also leaned towards the idea of a haunting.

Most people thought the same. Zhao Guihua didn't argue, saying, "Let's not act yet. Let's see how things go after the reconstruction. I've heard that houses said to be haunted, after being torn down and rebuilt, no longer have those issues."

Aunt Wang said, "I hope so."

She looked at the old hen in the courtyard and became interested, asking, "This hen is nice. How much is it?"

Zhao Guihua replied, "Four yuan each."

Aunt Wang gasped—outside, a hen costs only two yuan. This was double the price! She looked at the hen as if it were a golden nugget.

Zhao Guihua explained, "It's expensive, but it starts laying eggs right away. And look at this hen—it's not big, so it can be kept for a long time."

She continued calculating, "Egg prices fluctuate, but let's take an average of four cents. If it lays a hundred eggs, the price difference is covered. On average, a hen costs fifty yuan and can be kept for two months, so the extra money is made up. If we keep it for one or two more years, we can eat it later without any loss. Besides, eggs are so hard to buy nowadays."

"Did Auntie Lian persuade you?"

Zhao Guihua nodded, "She may be a bit pricey, but she's fast. If you want a hen that lays eggs immediately, you'd have to look for a long time. But with her, it's done in a day or two. Time is money, you know."

Aunt Wang chuckled, "You're right about that."

She whispered, "I bet Aunt Zhou will want to raise some too. Since that's the case, I'll get two."

When no one was raising chickens, no one did. But once someone started, everyone followed. People always have a herd mentality. Zhao Guihua unintentionally started a new trend. She smiled and said, "I've already planned it. I'll go to the scrap collection station to get an old basin or a large dish, then plant some scallions or garlic in it. Since we're raising chickens, the chicken manure will fertilize the soil, and the plants will grow well. It won't delay anything, and we'll have extra vegetables. It saves money on buying vegetables."

Aunt Wang's eyes lit up, nodding, "That's a great idea."

If they were to open a plot in the courtyard to grow vegetables, it wouldn't work. This is different from raising chickens. Raising chickens only takes up a small space, but growing vegetables requires a larger area. If everyone did it, there would be disputes over territory, and some might even try to freeload by stealing vegetables, which would be frustrating.

But if they used a large basin to grow plants, placing it on the windowsill, it wouldn't take up much space or public area. Although the yield would be small, it could be brought inside if needed, protecting it from extreme weather and thieves.

"When are you going?" Aunt Wang said, "I'll go with you. I can't miss out on this. Lao Zhao, I've noticed you've got a lot of great ideas. You're more suited to managing the courtyard than I am."

Zhao Guihua's face changed instantly, and she waved her hands so fast they blurred, quickly saying, "No, no, I can't do it. You're doing a great job, don't say someone else is more suitable. I'm not at all suitable. I'm selfish, I only care about myself. I'm not the right fit."

Managing the courtyard was just too much trouble—a thankless task. Zhao Guihua was terrified that Aunt Wang might recommend her, so she quickly and firmly stated her position.

Why was she so adamant?

In her previous life, Aunt Wang had recommended her for the role. Fortunately, Aunt Su, the Bai family, and others like Aunt Zhou didn't support her, so she didn't end up with the burden. They had unintentionally done her a favor by being malicious.

Zhao Guihua had no desire to serve the people.

Why should she go out of her way for them? She wouldn't get a single word of gratitude, and she'd end up with gray hair sprouting everywhere.

So no matter if Aunt Wang was just casually mentioning it or had some other idea, Zhao Guihua was frightened and extremely resolute.

Aunt Wang was stunned, then sighed in exasperation, "You really are... why are you putting yourself down like that?"

Zhao Guihua stood her ground, "I'm just afraid you're feeling overwhelmed by those 'talented' families in our courtyard and thinking of passing the buck to me. I can't handle that. Those people are all oddballs. An ordinary person like me can't deal with them. Besides, wouldn't it be better to spend that time taking care of my own family? Why get involved with them?"

Aunt Wang sighed and nodded, "You're right, I suppose."

Even someone like her, who loved meddling in others' affairs, was feeling exhausted by the role.

She said, "It's just too tiring."

Zhao Guihua sympathetically patted her shoulder.

Aunt Wang: "I'm so frustrated."

Zhao Guihua chuckled and said, "Alright, come on, let's go find Auntie Lian..."

...

Those who weren't working at home were busy with their own chores, while those who were working didn't seem to be too busy. Zhuang Zhixi spent the entire morning writing an article. It was something their factory planned to submit to the local newspaper. However, after writing several beginnings, he wasn't satisfied. They were too conventional, and he doubted they'd be accepted.

Although Sister Cui had mentioned that their submissions often got rejected, Zhuang Zhixi, being new to the job, was eager to showcase his abilities and establish himself. He scratched his head, got up to get some water, and on his way back from the water room, saw a few people crowding by the window. Zhuang Zhixi raised an eyebrow in surprise and asked, "What's going on out there?"

"It's Section Chief Liu. He's scolding the security team."

Zhuang Zhixi joined the onlookers and saw Section Chief Liu berating the guards with great intensity. Listening closely, everyone could piece together what had happened. Yesterday, after dealing with Bai Fendou's case, Section Chief Liu returned to the factory and found some security personnel napping on the job.

You see, many steel thieves operate at night, so the security team is responsible not only for the safety of the factory's personnel but also for protecting the factory's valuable materials. This is of utmost importance.

So Section Chief Liu was furious and today, when assigning patrols, he was especially strict, scolding anyone who moved even a bit slowly.

"I think Section Chief Liu is taking out his anger over Bai Fendou on everyone else," someone commented.

However, Sister Cui and the others disagreed. Sister Cui shook her head, "No, that's not how Section Chief Liu is. He's the kind of person who keeps things separate. Besides, you all know how serious he is about his work. When he was transferred from the military, the factory lost some steel materials. It was him who tracked and followed the thieves, eventually recovering the stolen goods and bringing the gang to justice."

"Oh, yeah, I remember that. I heard the leader of the gang even had a gun. He tried to shoot Section Chief Liu, but somehow, he survived."

Zhuang Zhixi: "When did that happen?"

"You wouldn't know. You're too young. That was about fourteen or fifteen years ago. You were probably not even in elementary school then. That was back in the '50s."

Zhuang Zhixi scratched his head, "How old is Section Chief Liu? He doesn't look that old."

"Section Chief Liu is forty-two this year. But he joined the military early. Both his parents were martyrs, and he grew up in the military. He was injured and transferred at the age of twenty-seven. Sometimes, you just can't help but believe in fate... I'm not promoting superstition, but it's hard to explain. When he was transferred, it was in the '50s, and there were still enemy agents causing trouble. Big and small thieves were still active. Our machinery factory often lost steel materials. He led the chase, and the leader of the gang shot at him. The bullet hit his chest. Everyone thought he was a goner, but guess what? He survived."

Zhuang Zhixi listened intently, amazed, "Why?"

"The bullet happened to hit his military medal. Can you believe it? He always wore three military medals on his chest, one for each of his parents and one for himself. The bullet hit the medal, and he didn't get injured."

Zhuang Zhixi's eyes widened, "Wow."

"You could say it was divine intervention... or maybe he just has a strong life force."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "That's impressive."

"Yeah, not long after he took office, the atmosphere at the factory improved significantly. I heard he had a chance to be promoted, but he's attached to the factory and chose to stay."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I didn't know Section Chief Liu had such a history."

"Yeah, so if the security team slacks off, Section Chief Liu really loses his temper. He's always said that no matter what other departments do, the security team must never slack off or have integrity issues. Look at Bai Fendou—once he was transferred out, he'll never be able to return to the security team."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Speaking of Bai Fendou, I saw him being discharged from the hospital this morning... He's not fully recovered, so why did he leave?"

He mused aloud, and Sister Cui immediately chimed in, "Oh, you didn't know? The hospital kicked them out."

Zhuang Zhixi: "What?!"

Sister Cui: "It's really strange. The hospital just couldn't handle them anymore. Now, many of the male colleagues at the factory are worried. Bai Fendou is so bitter that he seems to hate everyone else. There's a rumor that he's grabbing men..."

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

He twitched his mouth, finding the rumor too absurd. Bai Fendou might not be the best person, but to specifically target men's... well, that was just too much.

Probably not.

Zhuang Zhixi's obvious disbelief made someone else say, "Don't dismiss it so quickly. Some things might seem impossible for a normal person, but think about it—is Bai Fendou really normal?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "You've convinced me with that."

"Since you live in the same courtyard, you'd better be careful."

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

He nodded seriously, "I'll definitely keep my distance from him."

"Don't take it as a joke. The guy's really gone crazy."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I understand."

He chuckled, looking out the window. Suddenly, Zhuang Zhixi slapped his head and said, "Hey, what if we write about outstanding individuals for our submission? Focus on some of the excellent older colleagues in the factory."

Everyone looked at him. Zhuang Zhixi pointed to Section Chief Liu, who was still energetically scolding people outside, and said, "Like him, for example."

Everyone: "..."

Their looks said, "You're treating him like a circus act."

Sister Cui swallowed hard and said, "It might work. But... Section Chief Liu has a bad temper and is suspicious. He tends to overthink things. If you approach him, he might not be willing."

Zhuang Zhixi remained calm, "It's okay. If Section Chief Liu agrees, that's great. If he doesn't, I'll just ask someone else. It's worth a try."

Old Huang, who was listening nearby, thought Zhuang Zhixi's idea was quite good. He suggested, "Sometimes, you don't need to write about important positions. Even ordinary jobs have people who work diligently. Ordinary people are more relatable."

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "In that case, I'll start by asking Section Chief Liu. If he's not willing, I'll try to find someone else. I only recently learned about Section Chief Liu's story, and I'm even less familiar with others. I'll try to find someone with a clear and specific story so we don't have to make things up."

"Exactly!"

Little Xu, who was nearby, sneered at Zhuang Zhixi, thinking that this guy was just trying to flatter Section Chief Liu. As if no one could see through that.

Zhuang Zhixi, however, didn't pay attention to Little Xu. Why would he waste time noticing another guy when he had better things to do? After making his decision, Zhuang Zhixi went to see Section Chief Liu in the afternoon. When Section Chief Liu heard what he had to say, he burst out laughing and firmly refused, "No way, I don't like getting involved in such things. You'd better find someone else."

Zhuang Zhixi, seeing his strong refusal, said, "You know, I only know about you. I don't know anything about others. Besides, you are someone we should all learn from."

These words made Section Chief Liu feel quite pleased, but he still insisted, "I really don't like being in the spotlight. If I wanted that, I wouldn't have waited until now. If you really want to write..." He glanced at Zhuang Zhixi, seeing that he seemed sincere, and said, "Then go find Old Niu at the gate. Uncle Niu is the one worth writing about. Don't underestimate him just because he's a gatekeeper. His story is quite moving. His son died protecting important materials for our factory, and he himself is quite remarkable..."

Zhuang Zhixi always carried a small notebook with him and immediately started taking notes.

Seeing how seriously Zhuang Zhixi was writing, Section Chief Liu smiled and said, "Let me tell you more."

Section Chief Liu wasn't busy at the moment, so he sipped from his tea mug and started telling Zhuang Zhixi about Old Niu. He curiously asked, "Will this be published?"

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and said, "To be honest, I don't know if it will be published, but I want to try. Everyone writes about the same things traditionally, but I want to try promoting our factory through individual stories. It's worth a shot."

Section Chief Liu nodded, "You're a straightforward guy. If you had told me it was guaranteed to be published, I would have thought you were being dishonest. Since you're being honest, I understand." He had been with the factory for over a decade and was quite familiar with many aspects of it.

Although he wasn't an expert, he had a good grasp of the general situation. So, Zhuang Zhixi's honesty impressed him, and he was quite happy to talk more with this young man.

The two of them seemed to be having a great conversation, at least that's what Zhou Qun thought when he walked in carrying an electrician's toolbox. Zhou Qun had come to fix the circuit, though the problem wasn't in this office. The weather was already getting hot, so the doors and windows were open for ventilation, making it easy to see inside.

Zhou Qun was surprised to see Zhuang Zhixi sitting there, his eyebrows furrowing in displeasure. What was this guy doing here? He was always trying to flatter people.

Zhou Qun believed that Zhuang Zhixi had only been transferred to the Publicity Department by sucking up to people. Now he was even trying to get into the good graces of the Security Department. It was really... "Watch out!"

Zhou Qun was distracted and didn't notice his footstep. Section Chief Liu, casually glancing around, saw Zhou Qun trip over a bag of cement in the hallway. He quickly stepped forward and grabbed Zhou Qun.

"Be careful."

Then he said, "Zhang San, why is this bag of cement still in the hallway?"

Their Security Department building was old and full of problems. It had leaked during the recent heavy rain.

So, the leftover cement from the repairs was left in the hallway.

Zhang San hurried over, "I'll move it right away."

He asked, "Zhou Qun, are you okay?"

Zhou Qun shook his head, "I'm fine."

Looking at Section Chief Liu again, Zhou Qun felt even more admiration for this manly man.

He said, "Section Chief Liu, you saved me just now. If it weren't for you, I would have fallen flat on my face. Let me treat you to dinner tonight to show my gratitude."

Section Chief Liu waved his hand dismissively, "No need. If you fell here in our Security Department, it would be embarrassing for us."

"That's not how it works. For others, it might be a small thing, but for me, it's very important. I had a lot of tools with me, and if they had gotten damaged, it would have been a hassle. You really helped me out, so please don't be polite, let me treat you..."

Section Chief Liu looked at Zhou Qun's persistent grip on his hand, pulled it away forcefully, and said, "Really, no need."

Seeing that Zhou Qun was about to continue his insistence, Zhang San quickly intervened, "Zhou Qun, could you give me a hand and help me carry this to the back storage room?"

Zhou Qun's face darkened. Damn it, I almost got tripped, and you still have the nerve to ask me to work?

He was very unhappy, but his reputation in the factory was already delicate, so he didn't want to offend anyone. He reluctantly glanced at Section Chief Liu one more time before helping Zhang San carry the cement away.

Zhang San, however, was completely oblivious to Zhou Qun's displeasure and continued to chatter cheerfully, "Zhou Qun, did you hear? Bai Fendou was discharged from the hospital. You better keep an eye on your wife from now on. Even though Bai Fendou is crippled, he might still try something..."

Zhou Qun almost dropped the cement bag on Zhang San's face, his voice hard, "What are you talking about? Bai Fendou has nothing to do with my wife. The last time was an accident. If there was anything going on, I wouldn't let him off. Besides, my father-in-law wouldn't agree either."

He glanced back at Section Chief Liu's office, unhappy, and asked, "What is Zhuang Zhixi doing here?"

Zhang San replied, "Oh, just work. The Publicity Department has a lot of miscellaneous tasks."

Zhou Qun didn't like hearing that. He said, "What work does the Publicity Department have? I think they're pretty idle, just lazing around all day, doing nothing."

Zhang San stammered, "You... you shouldn't say that."

He added, "I think every position has its challenges."

Being a gossip, Zhang San quickly steered the conversation back to gossip, saying, "Do you know the new nurse at the medical room, Tao Yuyue? The prettiest one, the one who replaced Zhuang Zhixi. She went to Bai Fendou's house today to give him and his father an IV. I heard their windows were smashed. Hey, was it your mom who did it?"

Zhou Qun: "..."

How could this guy be so clueless? He glanced back at Section Chief Liu's office again. It was clear that Section Chief Liu, being such a brave man, had no decent people under him. Apart from Bai Fendou, the waste, there was Zhang San, the chatterbox, and Li Si, the one who loved to watch the commotion. Being the head of the Security Department was no easy job.

"Your section chief has a tough job," Zhou Qun said.

Zhang San agreed, "That's true. Take Bai Fendou, for example. All the things he's done have brought shame to our Security Department. Even though he's been demoted to cleaning toilets and carrying manure, he's still technically part of our department when things go wrong. Our section chief must be really stressed. He's been speaking more loudly today. Sigh, the heat makes people irritable, and there are all these troublesome things."

Zhou Qun pursed his lips, deep in thought.

Zhuang Zhixi, sitting in his chair, happened to have a good view of the window. He saw Zhou Qun looking back repeatedly, which caught Zhuang Zhixi's attention. Zhuang Zhixi thought, "Hmm, what is Zhou Qun looking at?"

He chuckled and said, "Zhou Qun keeps looking over here. Maybe he thinks I'm gossiping with you about something?"

Section Chief Liu replied, "It's possible. He tends to overthink things."

Section Chief Liu had a very poor impression of Zhou Qun. Given the things Zhou Qun had done, anyone with a normal mind wouldn't have a good impression of him. Although... Zhou Qun had once given the deputy section chief a carton of expensive cigarettes, which the deputy later shared with him.

Even though he had smoked those cigarettes, Section Chief Liu couldn't bring himself to say that Zhou Qun was a good person.

He said, "You should be careful around him, and also around Bai Fendou. Neither of them is any good."

He truly felt emotional: "What kind of feng shui do you have in your courtyard? Why are there so many strange people?"

Zhuang Zhixi laughed: "Section Chief, we shouldn't be saying that."

Section Chief Liu chuckled: "I was just making a casual remark. Anyway, be careful around them."

This was said with genuine sincerity, even though the two weren't particularly close. The fact that someone would take the time to give him such advice was appreciated. Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I understand that, but they probably won't have time to bother with me. As you mentioned, those two don't get along at all and are always at each other's throats. I doubt I'll even get involved in their quarrels."

When it came to fights, Zhuang Zhixi wasn't even on the radar in their courtyard.

Section Chief Liu understood and was momentarily at a loss for words.

Zhuang Zhixi: "I'm used to it."

Section Chief Liu laughed and said, "You certainly have an interesting life."

Zhuang Zhixi: "That's true. By the way, Section Chief, let's talk about the gatekeeper, Uncle Niu, shall we?"

"Sure," he replied. "Uncle Niu's story is really worth writing about. It would be great if it could be published in the newspaper."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I'll try my best, but I can't guarantee anything."

Section Chief Liu: "Of course, I understand."

As they chatted, they soon saw Zhou Qun returning. This time, his eyes were glued to the window. Section Chief Liu, with his heroic and powerful demeanor, looked like a tough guy, while Zhuang Zhixi, with his gentle and refined appearance, always had a warm smile and a clear, refreshing face. He seemed to have some talent as well.

Zhou Qun stopped at the door, coughed lightly, and said, "How about I treat both of you to dinner tonight?"

Section Chief Liu: "Oh, come on, are you never going to stop? Don't pull this fake politeness on me. I'm not going!"

Was he trying to bribe him?

Was he?

What kind of person did he think he was?

Zhuang Zhixi also laughed: "Zhou Ge, there's no need for that. My wife is pregnant, and I need to pick her up from work."

Who knew if Zhou Qun had some scheme in mind?

Better to be cautious, very cautious!

Seeing that both men had refused, Zhou Qun was quite dissatisfied and let out a soft sigh from his throat.

He said, "Then next time, when there's an opportunity, we must definitely go together."

Section Chief Liu: "..."

What kind of bootlicker was this? He had already given him a cold shoulder, yet he still didn't get the hint? No wonder Zhou Qun had risen so quickly; he just stuck to people like glue, making it impossible to shake him off. But why was he sticking to him?

Thinking about it, he asked, "Zhou Qun, if you have any difficulties, just say so directly. There's no need for these fake gestures. Tell me, are you afraid that Bai Fendou will come back and take revenge on you?"

He sighed and said, "Although I don't know why you didn't pursue the matter, regardless of anything else, in this situation, you are the victim. Since you've already forgiven Bai Fendou, if he doesn't let it go, you can come straight to our security section, and we will definitely stand up for you."

Zhou Qun's eyes lit up and he said, "Thank you so much, Section Chief Liu."

This man wasn't just a man's man; he also had a strong sense of responsibility!

He looked at Section Chief Liu with glowing eyes, and Zhuang Zhixi couldn't help but rub his arms, feeling goosebumps rise. It was a perfectly fine, warm day, but suddenly he felt a chill run down his spine and his scalp tingle.

Zhou Qun's gaze was just too creepy.

Even though it wasn't directed at him, it was so uncomfortable that he felt like vomiting up his lunch.

Section Chief Liu also felt uneasy under his gaze and said, "You should hurry up and fix the wires."

Zhou Qun: "Alright."

He happily left.

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."

Section Chief Liu: "..."

Zhuang Zhixi: "I'll be heading out too."

As he reached the door, he felt something was off. Unable to hold back, he pursed his lips and finally turned back to say, "Section Chief, I feel like he's acting a bit strange... You should be careful too."

Section Chief Liu nodded gravely.

He was even more perceptive than Zhuang Zhixi.

This guy was just so... strange.

Zhuang Zhixi didn't head straight back to the office but instead went to the gatehouse to see Uncle Niu. It was undeniable that although Uncle Niu was just an ordinary man, like any other ordinary person in the factory, there was something extraordinary about him.

He had dedicated his entire life to the factory, working tirelessly without ever uttering a single complaint. His son had even sacrificed his life for the factory, and Uncle Niu had never expressed any resentment. To him, his son's death while trying to save the factory's assets was a tragedy, but it wasn't the factory's fault.

Zhuang Zhixi left with a sense of respect.

Back in the office, Sister Cui asked, "How did it go?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Section Chief Liu turned down the offer, but he recommended the gatekeeper, Uncle Niu."

He added, "I went over and talked with Uncle Niu."

"Uncle Niu? Yes, he's also a good choice..."

As they discussed, Zhuang Zhixi, who had been at the factory for a short time and didn't know many people, quickly took notes. Old Huang, seeing his serious attitude, nodded with approval.

This young man had a vibrant, upward spirit. If he got caught up in all sorts of unnecessary nonsense, it would be quite disappointing.

The day passed quickly. Zhuang Zhixi felt like he hadn't done much, just gathered some information, and yet it was already time to leave work. Although he had just joined the publicity section, when it came to leaving work, Zhuang Zhixi didn't hesitate at all. As soon as the clock signaled the end of the workday, he was out the door.

Sister Cui: "Are you going to pick up your wife?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "Yes, she's pregnant, and I can't feel at ease."

Sister Cui fully supported a man taking good care of his wife. If a man didn't treat his wife well, what kind of man was he? She said, "Then hurry up and go."

Recently, Zhuang Zhixi had been picking up Ming Mei, so he rode a bike to work. He rode a lady's red Phoenix bicycle without any hesitation, looking perfectly calm. It just so happened that when Zhuang Zhixi left work, he ran into Zhou Qun again.

Uh, why was it him again?

Seeing Zhuang Zhixi on his bike, Zhou Qun quickened his pace and caught up, frowning as he said, "Are you going to pick up your wife? You don't need to be so good to women; spoiling them won't do any good. You should learn from me on how to deal with women; being too nice to them is useless."

Zhuang Zhixi: "???"

Zhou Qun continued, "How about we have dinner together tonight..."

Zhuang Zhixi firmly replied, "No need!"

He said, "I have an urgent matter; I'm leaving now!"

He quickly got on his bike and sped off.

This Zhou Qun was acting so weird and creepy. Although Zhou Qun was usually cunning, Zhuang Zhixi wasn't afraid of him. After all, he could handle whatever came his way. But today, Zhuang Zhixi felt a bit intimidated.

It seemed like Zhou Qun genuinely wanted to have dinner with him. That was way scarier than any fake politeness.

Plus, Zhou Qun's gaze was just too unsettling.

A grown man, and his eyes were practically oozing with something.

He just couldn't handle it. Zhuang Zhixi felt like a weakling for being unable to withstand such a look. He definitely needed to work on his composure. This just wouldn't do. Zhuang Zhixi quickly rode his bike to Ming Mei's workplace. As soon as he arrived, he saw Ming Mei talking with a man at the entrance. Zhuang Zhixi waved, "Wife?"

Ming Mei turned around and ran over with a smile, to which Zhuang Zhixi said, "Hey, don't run!"

He added, "If you're in a hurry, just call me to run over."

Ming Mei rolled her eyes: "I'm just pregnant, not carrying a panda. Can you stop being so overprotective?"

She happily introduced the man to Zhuang Zhixi, saying, "This is my cousin; you haven't met him before, right?"

Ming Mei's uncle lived in Jinling, and with everyone having to work, it was quite inconvenient to visit. After all, this was the 1970s, and it was rare for people to take several days off for a relative's wedding, especially for such a long distance. Even for local city and rural visits, some people might not go.

So Zhuang Zhixi hadn't met him before.

Ming Mei: "This is my cousin, Lan Xiang, from my uncle's family. He's here on a business trip to the capital, hehe."

Ming Mei was always happy to meet her relatives. She said, "Cousin, this is my husband, Zhuang Zhixi, who works in the publicity section of the machinery factory."

The two men quickly exchanged greetings. Lan Xiang said, "I'm staying at the guesthouse and have already checked in. Tonight, I'm going to my grandfather's place for dinner."

This was his first time here and he didn't know how to get to his grandfather's new place.

As for Aunt's house, he hadn't been there for three or four years, so he was a bit worried about not being able to find it. However, he remembered where his aunt worked. Although Ming Mei had taken over the job, as long as he could find someone, it would be fine. Lan Xiang was quite the natural talker: "Brother-in-law, hello. I've heard a lot about you. You're the younger brother of Ming Cheng's classmate, right? I remember you, but I'm not sure if you remember me. Actually, we've met before. Do you remember, about ten years ago, when we were still in elementary school? My dad and I came to Beijing to visit my aunt, and we went out to play together?"

Zhuang Zhixi: "……?"

May I ask, how old was he back then?

He chuckled and said, "I was pretty young back then, right?"

"Yeah, about three or four years old, very annoying, always clinging to your older brother. We were planning to catch birds, but you clung to his leg, insisting on coming along..." Lan Xiang brought up Zhuang Zhixi's childhood embarrassments.

Zhuang Zhixi: "???"

Hey, wait, something so long ago, do you really remember that?

It seemed this guy did indeed remember, and he kept going: "Back then, you were about three or four years old, still wearing open-crotch pants. I guess we've known each other since we were kids. Never thought you'd become my cousin-in-law. My cousin is really great, so you better treat her well. Otherwise, we brothers won't stand for it..."

Zhuang Zhixi: "Of course, I will."

Lan Xiang: "I came here this time..."

Ming Mei playfully scolded, "You came here just to cause trouble, didn't you?"

Lan Xiang pulled Ming Mei aside and whispered, "I just wanted to remind him of his embarrassing past, to warn him a bit. If he ever dares to treat you badly, I'll write down all these childhood stories and plaster them all over the streets. Everyone knows them anyway."

This "whisper" wasn't exactly quiet.

Zhuang Zhixi smiled: "I heard that."

"So what if you heard? Heard it is what it is."

He said, "Don't think that just because our family isn't around here, my sister is unprotected."

Zhuang Zhixi smirked and said, "Look at my skinny arms and legs. Do you think I could stand up to your uncle, my father-in-law?"

Lan Xiang looked him up and down and sincerely said, "Well, I guess not."

Zhuang Zhixi: "There you go."

He laughed, and it was undeniable that his wife's family was quite quirky.

Could this be what they call genetic traits?

Hmm, that does seem possible.

At this point, Lan Xiang stopped talking to his brother-in-law and instead started whispering to Ming Mei: "Cousin, I heard you're pregnant. Isn't that convenient? I brought you something special."

Ming Mei's eyes lit up.

Lan Xiang chuckled: "This is just for you, no one else has it."

Ming Mei: "???"

She couldn't help but scratch her head. Why did this sound so familiar?