Factory Director Yang really knew how to get things done; he quickly arranged an examination slot for He Yuzhu.
For a veteran driver who had been driving for over a decade, all he needed was to adapt to the roads and vehicles of the 1960s. The rest was simply familiarizing himself with the traffic regulations again.
On the streets of the 2020s, traffic was bustling, and the conditions every driver had to handle were countless times more complicated than those of the 1960s.
The process of taking the driver's license examination went extremely smoothly. He passed it effortlessly on his first try, and this practically became major news at the Steel Rolling Mill.
He Yuzhu was somewhat well-known at the factory, especially after recently being promoted to Workshop Director. Quite a few people knew him.
Everyone was saying that He Yuzhu had learned to drive simply by riding in a car a few times and watching carefully. What was more, he drove even better than veteran drivers, which left people unable to help admiring him!
As the news spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, it naturally reached Xu Damao and Qin Huairu. First Uncle Yi Zhonghai and Second Uncle Liu Haizhong had heard about it as well.
When the workday ended, He Yuzhu had just entered the Siheyuan when Qin Huairu greeted him with a smile.
This beautiful widow no longer dared to ask He Yuzhu for anything directly. She was already grateful enough if she could let her children go to his home each day for a decent meal.
The self-assured expression she usually wore had now become cautious and timid.
“Zhuzi, I heard you passed the examination to become a driver. I really had no idea you had such ability. Congratulations.”
As the saying went, one did not strike someone who wore a smile. Since Qin Huairu had become so obedient, He Yuzhu did not want to roast people the moment they met.
In the end, the widow truly had it difficult. She had three children and a mother-in-law, while earning only apprentice wages herself. Other than humbling herself to beg people for help, she really had no other choice.
He Yuzhu had also come from hardship and understood the difficulties of the poor, so he said with a smile, “If you need to use a vehicle in the future, just let me know. I’m quite familiar with the Drivers' Team, so arranging a vehicle won’t be a problem.”
Qin Huairu hurriedly said with an ingratiating smile, “That would be wonderful. If I need your help, I’ll tell you directly. The weather has been cold these past few days, and the children at home have all been saying they miss Uncle He…”
He Yuzhu said nothing aloud, but thought to himself, “How is that missing Uncle He? They clearly miss the lunchboxes Uncle brings home!”
But the oldest of the children was only six. What could they understand?
Seeing Qin Huairu, who was usually as haughty as a kitten, turn into a cautious little white rabbit, He Yuzhu could not help feeling a pang in his heart.
He returned carrying two lunchboxes, but since he had had no reception duty that day, there was nothing with much oil and calories inside.
Seeing how pitiful Qin Huairu’s family was, He Yuzhu said, “When it’s time to eat later, I’ll make the meal. Once I call out in the courtyard, have the children come over.”
After speaking, he hesitated briefly before adding, “Have Bang Geng bring a lunchbox. You haven’t looked well these past few days, so you should eat a little too.”
Qin Huairu nodded repeatedly in excitement, her eyes shimmering as they became moist.
He Yuzhu had only taken a few steps toward home when Second Uncle and Third Uncle came out.
Second Uncle Liu Haizhong was an officialdom enthusiast. After working hard for most of his life, he was still merely an ordinary worker. When he heard that He Yuzhu had become Workshop Director, he had remained unconvinced.
He had thought it was merely workers serving as cadres, like a poor man suddenly receiving a lame donkey, and that He Yuzhu might be stripped of the position after a few days.
But today he heard that He Yuzhu was valued by Factory Director Yang and had just obtained his driver's license. This meant that the leadership genuinely appreciated him!
Officialdom enthusiasts always changed their attitude when they saw someone with power. Usually, Liu Haizhong looked at He Yuzhu askance, but today his aged face smiled like a chrysanthemum.
“Zhuzi, congratulations! You’ve been promoted to Canteen Director and even obtained your driver's license. I think it won’t be long before you’re transferred to the factory office!”
Third Uncle Yan Bugui was unwilling to fall behind and also said ingratiatingly, “Zhuzi, you’re truly young and promising. After three days apart, one should look at you with new eyes.”
He Yuzhu smiled and nodded, then returned to his room and immediately obtained five pounds of pork belly through the Exchange.
He had been busy studying the traffic regulations these past few days and had not had much time for roasting people. He had only a little over fifty System Currency left, so he simply spent it all.
Seeing that his System Currency had fallen to single digits, He Yuzhu felt somewhat panicked. It seemed he could not slack off in his roasting-people work. If everyone remained so harmonious, he would have nowhere to earn money.
Since he had promised Qin Huairu, He Yuzhu did not dawdle. He neatly cut the five pounds of pork into large chunks, placed them in a Clay pot, and made Dongpo pork.
As the saying went, use a slow fire and a little water; when the heat was sufficient, the dish would naturally become delicious. This was precisely the secret to making Dongpo pork.
Fortunately, the Clay pot in He Yuzhu’s home was large. An ordinary-sized one truly could not have held five pounds of pork. Before long, the fragrant aroma filled the air, and every household smelled it.
Qin Huairu smelled it from home. She hugged several children beside the stove, swallowing saliva as she waited bitterly.
Once upon a time, even if she could not be said to have complete control over He Yuzhu, she had at least been able to get him to obey her every word.
But ever since a few days ago, this former Silly Zhu seemed to have become a different person. He made people afraid to approach him, yet also stirred feelings of admiration and affection.
Only when a man was self-reliant, independent, and self-respecting could he truly win a woman’s heart. If Qin Huairu had once merely used Silly Zhu, she now genuinely had feelings for him.
“The meat’s ready!”
A loud voice echoed through the Siheyuan, jolting Qin Huairu awake as if from a dream.
“Go on, go on! He’s calling you to eat meat! Bang Geng, come back and bring the lunchbox. Whatever you do, don’t ask first. Wait until Uncle He asks for the lunchbox, then give it to him. Remember that!”
Qin Huairu truly was a clever woman. She now understood that only by adopting the attitude of a little woman and accommodating him could she obtain any benefits.
The three children had been craving it so badly that their mouths were watering. They rushed into He Yuzhu’s home as one swarm, unable to sit still from hunger when they saw the Dongpo pork in the Clay pot.
Yet even so, not one of the children dared to be the first to pick up their chopsticks!
Over the past few days, He Yuzhu had already established rules for them and corrected their bad habits. The children now behaved properly, looking as though they had been well brought up.
“Come on, dig in.” He Yuzhu said with a smile.
The children picked up their chopsticks and grabbed food at once, stuffing it desperately into their mouths without caring whether it was hot. The sight was heartbreaking.
“Eat slowly. It’s all yours. I’ve already set aside portions for Deaf Old Madam and myself, so eat as much as you like.”
The children’s chopsticks moved like flying arrows. They ate until grease glistened around their mouths, happy smiles appearing on all their faces.
But as they continued eating, Bang Geng’s chopsticks gradually slowed. It seemed he was deliberately leaving more for his two younger sisters, while he merely dipped a black-flour steamed bun into the oily broth.
“Bang Geng, why did you stop eating? You usually eat meat like a wolf. Your two sisters together can’t eat as much as you do alone.” He Yuzhu said in surprise.
“I... I’m not hungry. I’m full.” Bang Geng firmly remembered his mother’s words and lowered his head to stare at the lunchbox without speaking.
He Yuzhu was a clever man, and he could not help feeling deeply moved.
The child clearly wanted to save the meat for his own mother. This child, who had once stolen things everywhere, had now become filial!
“I’ve set aside your mother’s portion too. Eat without worry.”
At that moment, He Yuzhu experienced an indescribable emotion. For the first time, he truly began to like the 1960s.