The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

The morning's assessment finally came to an end as the next few apprentices took their turn.

When Zhou Zhiming and his group of eight walked out of the waiting area together, Director Xie couldn't wait to greet them.

"Good! Good! Good!"

He patted each of them on the shoulder, saying, "You guys really made our station look good today!"

"Director Xie, that's all thanks to your excellent leadership." Zhou Zhiming approached with a grin.

"You little brat, stop with that nonsense!"

At this moment, Li Huaide, who was following behind, also came up and greeted him with a smile: "Zhiming, long time no see!"

"Hello, Director Li!" Zhou Zhiming hurriedly greeted him.

"Zhiming, why are you calling Director Li? Just call me Uncle Li, like your master does."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiming scratched his head sheepishly, "Uncle Li, I was thinking we were outside!"

Seeing this, Chen Long and the others standing to the side felt a pang of envy, and even the joy they had just experienced from passing their driving test faded considerably.

Li Huaide is the deputy director of the steel rolling mill; normally, it's difficult for them to even exchange a word with him.

Zhou Zhiming's familiarity with him was ultimately due to Li Kaixin's influence.

"Old Li, they're already calling you uncle. It's almost noon, shouldn't you treat them to a proper meal?" Director Xie said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Huaide laughed heartily: "Sure! Why not?"

"Old Li, you've treated Zhiming, but you can't leave out the people I brought, can you?" Director Xie continued, seizing the opportunity.

Li Huaide glared at him irritably.

"Old Xie, you're trying to freeload off me!"

"Old Li, what are you saying?" Director Xie chuckled. "You, the deputy factory director, are you really that stingy treating a few young people to a meal?"

"Alright, alright, let's go together, is that alright?" Li Huaide nodded helplessly.

Director Xie, seeing that things were going well, turned around and called out, "Did you all hear that? Hurry up and come over to thank Factory Director Li!"

"Thank you, Director Li!" Wu Tian, ​​Qian Dazhuang, Chen Long, and the others immediately realized what was happening and thanked him in unison.

Just then, Li Kaixin walked over from the other examination room.

"Uncle Li, Uncle Xie, what are you talking about here?"

Upon seeing Li Kaixin, Director Xie smiled and said, "Kaixin, you've come at the right time! Your Uncle Li was just about to treat us to dinner!"

"Kaixin, why don't you come along too? You don't have to go to the cafeteria with Master Niu and the others." Li Huaide chimed in.

Li Kaixin smiled slightly upon hearing this: "Uncle Li, I'm so sorry."

"You little brat, you're being so polite with me now."

Li Huaide put his arm around his shoulder and said, "Come on, come on, it's been a while since we last saw each other. Let's sit down and have a good chat."

Li Kaixin did not refuse and let Li Huai pull her forward.

Seeing this, Wu Tian, ​​Qian Dazhuang, Chen Long, and the others quickly followed.

On the way, Zhou Zhiming approached from behind and asked, "Master, guess whether I passed the exam this time?"

Li Kaixin didn't even glance at him, only giving a soft "hmm".

Seeing that his master didn't respond, Zhou Zhiming quickly walked a few steps and stood in front of him.

"Master, aren't you curious?"

"What's so curious about that?"

Li Kaixin glanced at him and slowly said:

"You're already at the fifth-level in this area, and with Master Bai and the others going easy on you, it would be strange if you couldn't pass."

Zhou Zhiming's face immediately fell.

"Master, can't you just pretend you don't know? I've really lost all the excitement I felt after passing the exam."

Li Kaixin was amused by his apprentice's adorable expression and nodded.

"Alright, Zhiming, ask me again!"

"Let's forget it. Master, you already know. There's no point in me asking again," Zhou Zhiming said, retreating back to Wu Tian and the others.

Li Huaide, who was standing to the side, couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter: "I'm so happy! Has Zhiming always been this lively and mischievous?"

"Yeah, Uncle Li!" Li Kaixin shook his head helplessly, "He's always so unserious, except when he's driving."

Hearing this from behind, Zhou Zhiming quickly defended himself: "Uncle Li, don't listen to my master's nonsense. I'm actually quite honest most of the time."

"Are you honest?" Director Xie turned around and glanced at him. "I wonder who it was last time who got cornered at the door by that girl."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiming's face flushed red.

Wu Tian, ​​Qian Dazhuang, Chen Long, and the others all burst out laughing.

It was lunchtime in the canteen, and workers carrying lunchboxes were everywhere.

Li Huaide led them through the lobby and straight to a small cubicle on the side.

As soon as he entered, he sat down in the main seat and began to greet everyone.

Director Xie and Li Kaixin didn't stand on ceremony and sat down on either side of him, right next to each other.

Zhou Zhiming, Wu Tian, ​​Chen Long, and the others then sat down in turn.

After everyone was seated, Li Huaide leaned out and shouted, "Xiao Wang, I'm entertaining distinguished guests today, so have Sha Zhu cook a few more good dishes!"

The person outside simply responded but did not come in.

Half an hour later, the dishes were served one by one.

Zhou Zhiming, Wu Tian, ​​Chen Long, and the others stared wide-eyed.

Braised pork belly, sweet and sour pork ribs, scrambled eggs with scallions, plus a big bowl of sauerkraut and pork soup—it's so much better than the food at the cafeteria.

"Old Li, this is quite a feast! You're living a good life!" Director Xie teased, looking at the table full of dishes.

"Old Xie, don't talk nonsense. If you guys hadn't come today, I wouldn't have been willing to eat like this."

As Li Huaide spoke, he picked up his chopsticks: "Come on, everyone, stop standing there!"

Zhou Zhiming, Chen Long, and the others couldn't wait any longer and picked up their chopsticks to start eating.

For a moment, the only sounds in the small cubicle were the clatter of bowls and chopsticks and the smacking of lips from the people.

After lunch, because the invigilation wouldn't start until 1:30 in the afternoon.

Li Kaixin had nothing to do, so he said goodbye to Director Xie and Li Huaide and wandered around the steel rolling mill alone.

The workers at the steel rolling mill had just finished lunch and were taking a midday break in their respective workshops.

After walking around the entire factory, Li Kaixin headed straight for his father's workshop.

As soon as I turned into an empty side door, I heard a series of lewd voices coming from inside.

"Sister Qin, if you agree to my request, you can have ten catties of wheat flour every month."

"Da Mao, could you... could you let Sister Qin think about it again?"

"What are you still thinking about? You have three kids to raise, these days haven't been easy for you either, come here, let me give you a kiss first!"

"No, Damao, I'm not that kind of person."

Li Kaixin frowned, slowed her steps, and walked towards the direction from which the sound came.

Inside the side door was a warehouse filled with scrap iron.

A man's figure was blocking Qin Huairu's way, his hand already on her shoulder.