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

Chapter 39 Establishment of the Steel Rolling Mill

In August 1953, it was extremely hot. Cicadas were chirping in the trees.

Lou Bancheng came out of his house, wearing a shirt with the collar buttoned up tightly. He Yuzhu followed behind him. A black Ford, gleaming clean, was parked in front of the house. Lou Yi opened the back door, Lou Bancheng got in, and He Yuzhu got in from the other side.

The car started, left the eastern part of the city, and headed straight for the municipal government. There weren't many people on the street, and the midday sun in August was scorching. The cart pullers parked their carts in the shade of the trees and took a nap.

The Ford screeched as it rolled over the road. No one spoke inside. Lou Bancheng stared out the window, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his knee.

A large white sign with black lettering hung at the entrance of the municipal government building. The car came to a stop, Lou Yi opened the door, and Lou Bancheng got out. He stood beside the car and looked up at the brick building.

He Yuzhu stood beside him without saying a word. Lou Bancheng took a few deep breaths and walked inside.

He Yuzhu didn't go in; instead, he walked to the shade of a tree and waited.

Lou parked his car under the shade of a tree, took out a cigarette, and handed it to He Yuzhu.

The two leaned against the car and smoked, the smoke slowly dissipating under the shade of the trees.

"Zhu Zi, do you think this will work out with the master?"

"It will definitely work."

Lou nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Two hours later, Lou Bancheng emerged, followed by several people, all wearing shirts. One of them shook Lou Bancheng's hand, saying something.

There were people taking pictures nearby.

Lou Bancheng nodded, a smile on his face. He only let out a long sigh of relief after getting into the car and the door closing.

"Approved."

He Yuzhu looked at him.

"Deputy factory director. Director, take the dividends." Lou Bancheng turned to look at He Yuzhu, "Zhuzi, you're right. There are many benefits to joint ventures early on. I declined the deputy factory director position, didn't participate in management, and only took the dividends. The leaders appreciate me even more."

"Didn't you mention the shares you received less?"

"I told them. The leader said it wasn't appropriate, but I'm setting an example for them now."

The car started and drove back. He Yuzhu looked out the window. The same people were still on the street—vegetable vendors, cart pullers, children chasing each other. Nothing had changed, yet everything had changed.

The next day, the Beijing Daily published a news item on its front page. The headline, in bold bold letters, read: "Lou's Steel Rolling Mill Takes the Lead in Applying for Joint Public-Private Ownership; Business Leaders Actively Respond to the General Line's Call." A photo accompanied the article: Lou Bancheng standing in front of the municipal government building, wearing a white shirt and with his hair neatly combed, surrounded by several smiling officials.

The report stated that Lou's Steel Plant was among the first heavy industrial enterprises in the city to voluntarily apply for public-private partnership, setting an example for the business community. Lou Bancheng, in an interview, said that the country needs steel, and personal interests must be subordinate to national interests; the company will develop better after the partnership.

The people in the courtyard saw the newspaper.

Yan Bugui squatted at the front gate, flipping through the newspaper twice, his eyes fixed on the photograph behind his glasses. Yang Ruihua leaned over for a look and said, "Isn't that Boss Lou?"

Madam Jia saw it too. She had borrowed the newspaper from Old Li; she couldn't read, so she had Jia Dongxu read it to her.

After Jia Dongxu finished reading, Jia Zhangshi's eyes darted around. "Lou Bancheng has even handed over such a large steel plant? It's under state management now? Dongxu, are you now a state worker?"

Jia Dongxu smiled happily, "Mom, you're right. I'll be a state worker from now on, the capitalists can get lost. As long as I don't make any mistakes, no one can fire me. Just like railway workers, it's a secure job."

Qin Huairu, holding Banggeng, couldn't stop smiling. "Dongxu, when you retire, can Banggeng take over your job?"

Jia Zhangshi glared at her, "Are you stupid? If anyone's going to take over the shift, it should be my son. By then, my grandson will have had children long ago."

"Yes, yes, Mother, you're right. I was confused. As long as the work is passed down, that's fine."

The Jia family members were all smiling happily.

Yi Zhonghai had also heard about it. He was now just a repairman in the self-help group, and his pay was much worse than that of the steel rolling mill.

Yi Zhonghai turned his head to face the window and sat there for a long time without moving.

The courtyard. He Yuzhu sat under the pomegranate tree, holding the newspaper in his hand. In the photo, Lou Bancheng was standing in front of the municipal government building, a slight smile on his lips.

In the evening, He Yuzhu went to Lou Mansion.

In the living room, Tan Yali was sitting on the sofa, holding the newspaper in her hand. Seeing He Yuzhu enter, she put down the newspaper and stood up. "Zhuzi's here."

He Yuzhu called out, "Aunt Lou." Lou Xiao'e and Yushui ran downstairs, both of them with their braids swinging back and forth, holding hands and chattering away.

Lou Bancheng came out of the study, a cigar between his fingers. He nodded when he saw He Yuzhu.

"Uncle Lou, congratulations."

Lou Bancheng sat down on the sofa and placed his cigar on the edge of the ashtray. "Zhuzi, if you hadn't persuaded me last year, I'd still be stubbornly holding on."

He Yuzhu smiled and exchanged a few polite words.

Lou Bancheng picked up his teacup and took a sip. "All the servants in the house have been dismissed, leaving only a few servants. The housekeeper and a few guards like Lou Yi. I'll listen to you and arrange for Zhao Shufen to work at the Nanluoguxiang Cooperative, plus Xu Fugui working as a projectionist at the steel mill. The couple both work for state-owned enterprises, so they've done their job properly."

Tan Yali chimed in. "Shufen has been with me for so many years, it's really hard to get used to her leaving all of a sudden." She paused, "But Zhuzi is right, the cooperative will become a supply and marketing cooperative, a secure job. It's better than being a maid in the Lou family."

Lou Xiao'e saw the photo in the newspaper and picked it up to look at it. "Dad, you're in the newspaper!"

Lou Bancheng smiled, trying to maintain a facade in front of his daughter, but he simply couldn't resist.

Tanya tied on her apron and said that she would cook today to thank Zhu Zi properly.

Braised pork belly, sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed fish, stir-fried pea shoots, and scrambled eggs with tomatoes. As the dishes were served, Lou Xiao'e sat down next to He Yuzhu, picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of braised pork belly, and placed it in He Yuzhu's bowl.

"Brother He, eat meat."

He Yuzhu glanced at Lou Bancheng. Lou Bancheng held his rice bowl, his lips twitched slightly, but he didn't say anything and continued eating.

Lou Xiao'e picked up another piece of pork rib and put it in Yushui's bowl. "Yushui, eat." Yushui held the rib with both hands and gnawed on it, oil overflowing from the corners of her mouth as she chuckled.

Tan Yali placed some bean sprouts on He Yuzhu's plate. "Zhuzi, eat more vegetables."

After dinner, it got dark. He Yuzhu said goodbye, his face wet with rain.

Lou Xiao'e saw Yu Shui to the iron gate, holding his hand tightly. "Yu Shui, why don't you stay a few more days?"

Rainwater was in a dilemma. "I'm afraid my brother will be lonely at home. Sister Xiao'e, I'll go home and stay for a few days before I come back."

The two chattered away for quite a while before finally ending.

He Yuzhu rode his bicycle away, leaving the rain behind, and glanced back.

Lou Xiao'e stood inside the iron gate, her two pigtails and round eyes shining brightly. She waved to him.

Back in the courtyard, after taking a shower, Yu Shui went into the west wing and the lights went out.

He Yuzhu was taking a walk in the courtyard when the moon was round and bright.

In her past life, Lou Xiao'e brought He Xiao back with her. Everyone in the courtyard advised him—Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui—to not divorce Qin Huairu.

In this lifetime, he looked up at the full moon. No one could stop him.