In 1992, a small village owner became the richest man in the village by owning a car.

Chapter 487 Director Yu's Hesitation
Hou Wanqiang still remembers that when he was a child, the walls were all made of adobe bricks, and when he passed by the factory, he would smell a very strong wheat aroma.

In recent years, when I buy noodles outside, I rarely smell such a rich wheat aroma anymore.

However, today, as he stood at the entrance of the flour mill, he could smell that faint aroma of wheat again. In addition, there was the fragrance of various snacks from the vendors who had come to the market, all of which rushed into his nostrils.

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle, you didn't even tell me you were coming. You only told me when you got to the door."

Yu Dawei hurriedly walked out of the factory area with his axe. At this time, everyone in the factory area was queuing up to receive their items. After receiving their items, they started to stroll around the factory area, looking for something to buy, since things were cheap today.

"I just wanted to surprise you," my second uncle said with a smile, then asked, "Do you deliver rice and flour here if you buy them?"

"Where to? Oil City?" Yu Dawei raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Yes, if I can send some, I'll buy more. Anyway, the project team will need them next year." My second uncle nodded.

"Sure! Big client, please come in." Yu Dawei smiled and gestured for you to come in. "I'll show you around first. They've even cooked noodles, steamed rice, and made dumplings inside. You can try them all later."

"That's quite an original idea," the second uncle exclaimed, following Yu Dawei inside while asking who came up with the idea.

Outside, apart from those going to the market, most people were still queuing. Some of the people at the end probably knew they wouldn't get the free noodles, so they simply stopped queuing and walked straight in through the gate.

On the other side, Director Yu had just left his house today and was about to leave when he heard a shrew yell at him from inside the yard.

"Don't forget to buy flour!"

"I know!" Director Yu waved his hand impatiently at the air behind him, as if trying to shoo away flies, wishing he could run to the grain depot right now to find some peace and quiet.

Nowadays, working at the grain depot is considered a leisurely job. At first, he thought it would be a prestigious and rewarding profession, but after going there, he realized that apart from being a little busy in the autumn, there was practically nothing to do at other times.

However, he still habitually goes to get off work early and leaves on time every day, except for today.

It's not for any other reason than that the flour mill recently held an "anniversary celebration," which caused quite a stir in the entire town of Luhe and even alerted several other towns in the surrounding area.

The old factory director was initially unhappy when he heard this, thinking that Duan Dahai was definitely messing things up again!

However, as the factory was being renovated for the anniversary celebration, he found that those dead memories were surfacing. Every morning when he passed by the flour mill and glimpsed the renovation and singing from the gate, certain people and events would come to mind.

He was somewhat hesitant to pass by that gate anymore, and he even experienced insomnia, a rare occurrence for him.

Insomnia! This bad habit that I haven't had for a very long time has resurfaced.

Yesterday, Duan Dahai personally came to me and invited me to visit the flour mill today.

He just didn't want to go. He even considered skipping the "on the way" visit to the flour mill today, but his wife insisted on queuing up to buy rice and flour, hoping to save money.

The worst part is that he doesn't go himself, but makes him go instead! It's utterly upside down!

If he didn't still have some scholarly integrity, he would have argued with this shrew long ago.

"It's just some small favors. Do they really think Duan Dahai is stupid? Giving it away for free? It's all just a trick to deceive people." Director Yu muttered to himself as he walked towards the flour mill.

Despite her sharp tongue, she had a kind heart and was ultimately somewhat worried about the flour mill, fearing that this event would tarnish its reputation.

If there really is a problem, his advice as the old factory director should still be somewhat effective.

When Director Yu arrived at the flour mill gate, he was stunned. There were people lining up to receive noodles, and people were coming and going inside and outside the mill.

He was startled. So many people! If anyone in the factory accidentally stirred up a spark, the control room would definitely be in trouble!

He had just stepped inside when he found the control room completely silent, without a sound at all.

"So all the work had been suspended." Factory Director Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

He was about to leave when he remembered that his wife had asked him to buy flour. He quickly went to a registration point and asked, "Hello comrade, I would like to buy some flour, but I don't know where to trade."

"Go inside the office building; there's a place at the main entrance where they handle ordering," the young man pointed towards the office building in the distance.

"Okay, thank you." Factory Director Yu nodded and started to walk inside.

"Old Factory Director!" A voice, both unfamiliar and familiar, reached the old factory director's ears.

Factory Director Yu turned around and saw a man he barely knew. He nodded to him instinctively and smiled, saying, "Boss Yu Dawei, I didn't expect you to be here to buy grain too." "Yes, but not entirely. Besides buying some rice and flour, I'm also helping Brother Duan look after people." Yu Dawei looked at Factory Director Yu with a smile. "Factory Director, you're here to buy rice and flour, right? Come with me, I'll give you a fast track."

"Green channel?"

"Yes, that means customers who can order directly without queuing, and the first batch will be delivered this afternoon."

"Oh dear, this, this is too much trouble."

"It's nothing. You're a veteran of our flour mill, so it's only right that you enjoy these benefits."

As Yu Dawei spoke, he moved closer to the old man and said, "Factory director, the decorations for our anniversary celebration were all based on what we heard from our old colleagues. We don't know if they'll turn out well. Since you're here, you can tell us some stories about the flour mill's history."

Yu Dawei said this to remind the old factory director of the good old days.

The old factory director hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help reaching out to touch the old millstone in front of him: "Sigh, where did you all get these things from? These are things that only existed in the early days of a flour mill."

"It was quite difficult when the flour mill was first established; the country was going through a period of great upheaval at that time..."

Then the old factory director vividly recounted some of the people and events from the past.

Yu Dawei deliberately led Factory Director Yu on a long detour, bringing him some old objects that looked quite vintage and asking about their origins.

Gradually, some of the old employees of the flour mill saw the former factory director and began to chat with him about the past.

Several people were older than Director Yu, already old enough to have many children and grandchildren. They came here today specifically to visit the flour mill and pick up a bag of rice.

That's right, what Duan Dahai and the others thought of was that the old man who used to work for Director Yu could get a free bag of rice whenever he came to the factory.

This way, the product is promoted, and Factory Director Yu can also have a wave of nostalgia.

In fact, Yu Dawei did achieve his desired effect. During the conversation between Director Yu and several elderly men, one of them couldn't help but shed tears of aging.

Some people remarked that it was fortunate the flour mill was preserved, even though it is now privately owned, the noodles made from the flour from that mill still taste the same.

After chatting with some of the elderly workers, Director Yu felt a bit uncomfortable with the atmosphere. Seeing Yu Dawei's barely suppressed smirk beside him, he sighed helplessly, "These old coworkers weren't specially invited by you, were they?"

"Hehe, nothing can escape your eyes, old man." Yu Dawei led the old factory director to the rice and flour ordering area, helped him fill out the form and buy rice. "Isn't this a commemorative anniversary celebration? If it weren't for the predecessors who went through those glorious years, it wouldn't be a commemorative edition."

"The rice has been ordered for you, and a truck will deliver it this afternoon." Yu Dawei handed a bill the size of a business card to the old factory director.

The old man hesitated for a moment after taking it, then finally sighed, "To be honest, I was indeed a little moved just now. For a fleeting moment, I really wanted to come back and continue contributing to the flour mill, but... but..."

“We’re all old-fashioned and can’t keep up with the times anymore. I learned this when I was diligently managing the flour mill. Hard work doesn’t necessarily guarantee good results; making the right choices and seizing opportunities are more important.”

The old factory director, Chao Yu, rarely smiled: "Please thank President Duan for me. I'll be going now that we've had such a memorable anniversary celebration."

"Hey? Old factory director, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Since you're already here, have some noodles with braised meat sauce before you go." Seeing that the old man was about to leave, Yu Dawei quickly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

Yu Dawei's grip strength, even with just two fingers, was enough to render his opponent completely immobile.

The old factory director felt as if he had been frozen in place. He turned around and looked at Yu Dawei, who was smiling brightly at him, and was speechless and embarrassed.

Then I thought that I had received a favor from the other person when I bought the things, so I decided to agree. It wasn't because the other person was tall and big!
“That’s more like it! Old factory director, let me tell you, this time the braised noodles will definitely taste just like they did years ago.” Yu Dawei said, pulling the other man toward the office building.

"This is it. Stay in this office for a while. I still need to go outside to greet people. Someone will bring you some braised noodles in a bit." After saying this, Yu Dawei turned and left without paying any attention to how the old factory director called him.

The old factory director sat on a red folding chair in the room, his expression showing some restraint and trepidation. He was the only person in the room, with a small desk, a cabinet, and a spring bed next to him.

At first glance, this room looks like it's an office, but there are no signs of it being used on the table.

The old factory director stood up, looked at the factory he used to manage, and felt a complex mix of emotions once again.

He had actually told his wife that he wanted to come back here, but she was right. He could retire after a few years at the grain depot, so why choose to resign at this time?

But he also knew that Duan Dahai had just taken over the flour mill and was facing the difficulties of rebuilding everything.

(End of this chapter)