Sha Zhu's Rebirth in the Courtyard: Starting with Hitting Someone in the Head

Chapter 100 Reinstatement

In August 1960, the Municipal Supply and Marketing Cooperative issued a notice that the matter had finally been resolved. An investigation had shown that the accounts were clear and the receipts complete, rendering the allegations unfounded. Effective immediately, Comrade He Yuzhu's position and benefits were reinstated, all wages owed during his suspension were paid retroactively, and a verbal clarification was given at an internal meeting.

The day He Yuzhu returned to the supply department office, Director Zhou personally led him to his old desk, smiling as he patted the surface. "Same room, same desk. The key hasn't been touched, and the tea canister is still in the drawer."

He Yuzhu opened the drawer; there was still a small amount of Longjing tea left in the jar. He picked it up, smelled it, brewed two cups, handed one to Director Zhou, and smiled. "It's not spoiled, Director, please try it."

Director Zhou laughed heartily, took the teacup, took a sip, and carried the tea back to his office.

Section Chief Sun from the opposite office leaned over and offered a cigarette. "Zhu Zi, you're finally back. The whole department has been working non-stop these past two months. Without you, no one could cover our trips to Inner Mongolia."

He Yuzhu took the cigarette and tucked it behind his ear, then picked up the enamel mug on the table and blew away the foam. "The cattle and sheep in Inner Mongolia are mostly ready for slaughter in September and October, what's the rush? I'm a distinguished guest of the grasslands, and my Inner Mongolian brothers are storing cattle and sheep for me."

Old Sun was amused by him, and the atmosphere in the office immediately became much more relaxed.

A few days later, the Ministry of Industry issued a document. With the case of Yang Honglin's disappearance still unresolved, and after deliberation by higher authorities, it was decided that Comrade Li Huaide would act as the director of the steel rolling mill.

Li Huaide moved into the factory director's office, officially taking over Yang Honglin's position. He twirled the pen between his fingers several times, knowing in his heart that Brother He must have done a great favor behind the scenes; no one else had that ability.

On Saturday evening, Li Huaide booked a private room at Quanjude and personally poured wine for He Yuzhu. On the table were roast duck and several familiar dishes, with the addition of braised beef, the ingredients of which he had brought.

Li Huaide picked up his wine glass, his voice unusually calm. "Brother, I'm officially the acting factory manager now. What about that thing I told you about before? What have you thought about?"

He Yuzhu picked up a piece of beef, chewed it, and clinked glasses with him. "What's up?"

Li Huaide downed his drink in one gulp, put down his glass, and said, "When you come to the steel mill, you'll be the head of the logistics department. Your rank can only be section chief, but you'll be in charge of the entire logistics department. Procurement, the canteen, the vehicle fleet, the warehouse—you'll be in charge of everything. If you need to transfer here at the supply and marketing cooperative, I'll handle the paperwork for you. Nobody will use your records to make things difficult for you."

He Yuzhu offered him a special supply of cigarettes. "Brother Li, you're too kind. I think I'll just stay at the supply and marketing cooperative." He leaned back in his chair, lit a cigarette, and took a puff. "You manage your steel rolling mill, and I'll manage my supply department. We each have our own units, so it's good that we can look out for each other if needed."

Li Huaide wanted to persuade him further, but He Yuzhu waved his hand. "Brother Li, if you really need more manpower, I'll send Ma Hua over next year. That kid will be trained enough by then, he can work as a waiter in your canteen without any problem."

Li Huaide paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, pointing at He Yuzhu with his finger. "Fine, you just don't want to come out of retirement. I, the acting factory manager of a large factory with tens of thousands of employees, have asked you twice and still couldn't get you to come."

"I was right not to go. If I stayed at the steel mill, I'd have to listen to you every day, wouldn't that be wonderful?" He Yuzhu picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

Li Huaide smiled and shook his head, no longer trying to persuade him. He picked up a piece of roast duck, rolled it up, and stuffed it into his mouth. After chewing, he started talking about things at the factory again. After Yang Honglin ran away, the old Party Secretary came back and took charge for a few days. Seeing that he was doing a good job, he went back to recuperate.

The factory is very busy right now. The convoy made a trip to Inner Mongolia and brought back dozens of tons of beef and mutton. The canteen has more meat than before the famine, the workers are more motivated, and the production targets have been raised.

"That's great. Li Ge, keep up the good work, maybe one day you'll be able to get rid of the 'agent' label." He Yuzhu raised his glass.

After a few rounds of drinks, Li Huaide lowered his voice and asked, "Zhu Zi, tell me the truth, where exactly did Yang Honglin go?"

He Yuzhu picked up a piece of duck gizzard and chewed it slowly. He put down his chopsticks and looked at Li Huaide. "Brother Li, I really don't know. If I wanted to kill him, would I have let him live until now? I could shoot a wild boar in the eye with an arrow. He was probably the one who reported me. It's normal that he ran away because he felt guilty."

Li Huaide nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

After returning to work, the courtyard returned to its former tranquility. Every morning, He Yuzhu rode his tricycle to work at the supply and marketing cooperative, and in the afternoon he came back to teach Ma Hua and Ma Qiang how to cook. He Xiao could already sit up, and she sat in a small bamboo cart, waving her little fists and babbling.

The first thing Yu Shui did when she got home from school was to throw her schoolbag into the house, squat down in front of her stroller, and gently poke He Xiao's cheek with her finger. "He Xiao, did you miss your aunt?" He Xiao grabbed her finger and put it in her mouth. Yu Shui cried out, "Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law! He Xiao bit me again!"

Lou Xiao'e peeked out from the inner room, holding He Xiao's diaper in her hand. "Did you wash your hands?"

"I've already washed!"

"You just came in, when did you wash your hands?"

Rain stuck out its tongue and ran into the bathroom to wash its hands.

A few days after He Yuzhu was reinstated, Lou Xiao'e started going out. She didn't tell He Yuzhu where she was going, but took Ma Hua to visit the resettlement site.

She had always remembered the method her mother had taught her: among the women who fled to Beijing, there were always some with good health. But now, the famine had lasted for more than a year, and the women in the resettlement centers were so hungry that they were unrecognizable. She had been there several times but hadn't found anyone she liked.

That afternoon, she took Ma Hua there again. The entrance to the resettlement site was still crowded with disaster victims, their clothes tattered, holding bowls and queuing for porridge. Lou Xiao'e stood by the roadside, her gaze sweeping over the faces of the young women one by one. After scanning several rows, her brows slowly furrowed.

Suddenly she stopped.

A young woman, who looked about eighteen or nineteen, was sitting in a corner of the resettlement site. Several tall women were sitting around her, protecting her in the middle.

The girl's face was smeared with dirt, her hair was messy and stuck to her forehead, and her clothes had a hole in them, revealing her fair skin. Her features were extremely beautiful: an oval face, a high nose, and large, bright eyes with a stubborn air about them.

She was pushing her bowl of porridge into the hands of the little boy next to her. The porridge was still full, but she didn't drink any. She shook her head and said softly, "I'm not hungry. You drink it."

Lou Xiao'e watched for a long time. The girl had deliberately smeared ash on her face, but her features and eyes couldn't lie. Moreover, the women beside her looked fierce, as if they were putting on an act. They were probably fellow villagers fleeing together, protecting each other, afraid that the young girl might get into trouble on the road.

This girl knows how to protect herself, and she's also in good health. Lou Xiao'e turned and whispered a few words to Ma Hua. Ma Hua nodded and walked towards the resettlement site.

Lou Xiao'e glanced back at the girl again, thinking to herself, "This one should be fine; she should be able to catch Brother He's eye."