All the heavens begin with the love in the courtyard.

"If there's anything you need, just stand there and say it!"

"Yes, yes, Director Li, I'd like to raise some issues with you. It's a matter that can't be explained in a short time. I think it's almost time to get off work, so why don't we find a restaurant and talk it over in detail!"

Just as Deputy Factory Director Li was about to refuse, Xu Damao continued speaking.

"Director Li, I'm a little embarrassed to talk about this, but let me put it simply. It's like this: my ex-wife, who is now my ex-wife, was from a family that used to be a big capitalist. You should have heard of Lou Xiao'e's father, Lou Dongcheng!"

When Deputy Factory Director Li heard about Lou Dongcheng, he immediately nodded. After all, Lou Xiao'e's family used to be a major shareholder of the steel plant, and as the deputy factory director, he had heard about it.

Seeing that Deputy Factory Director Li seemed interested, Xu Damao quickly continued.

"Here's what happened. A while ago, someone reported that Lou Dongcheng had some kind of propaganda material in his home, implying bourgeois or restorationist behavior. Our steel plant security officer, Liu Haizhong, personally led a team to seal off Lou Dongcheng's home, and Lou Dongcheng and his wife were arrested!"

Deputy Factory Director Li nodded. Liu Haizhong had reported this matter to him, and he thought it was done very well. These kinds of capitalists should all be overthrown!

Deputy Factory Director Li thought Xu Damao had come to plead for leniency, but Xu Damao's next words made his eyes light up.

"Director Li, Lou Xiao'e and I were husband and wife for seven years. I know a little about her family situation. I once saw her parents open a safe behind a bookcase, and it was full of gold... What happened to that gold...!"

At this point, Xu Damao deliberately paused for two seconds and looked towards the door. Deputy Factory Director Li also looked towards the door and saw people passing by in the corridor from time to time. He immediately understood what Xu Damao meant, and quickly stood up and whispered.

"You go find the land first, I'll come over later!"

"Okay, I'll wait for you at the restaurant on the side of Fourth Alley."

"Row!"

The two exchanged a glance, and Xu Damao knowingly spoke loudly on purpose.

"Director Li, I've reported this matter to you. Please continue with your work!"

"Okay, okay, I understand!"

Two hours later, on the second floor of a restaurant at the corner of Hutong No. 4, Xu Damao stood up, his eyes blurry with drunkenness, a blush appearing on his face, and said in a fawning tone.

"Director Li, you can rest assured. I am not a hypocrite like Liu Haizhong. Your words are like imperial edicts to me. If you point east, I will definitely not go west. Look, this is the receipt that Liu Haizhong wrote to me. Don't worry, I will not keep a single piece of the gold and jewelry in it. It will all be delivered to your home tonight!"

Deputy Factory Director Li was also a little excited. He took the note and saw that it was indeed Liu Haizhong's handwriting. He immediately understood that Xu Damao was indeed good. Not only was he more shrewd than Liu Haizhong, but he was also loyal and honest. He was a good dog that could bite!

"Alright, Xu Damao, tomorrow I will nominate you to succeed Liu Haizhong in all his positions. It's time to kick that good-for-nothing Liu Haizhong out of the revolutionary ranks!"

"Thank you so much, Director Li! I will definitely serve you with all my heart and soul!"

"Good, good! I didn't misjudge you!"

Xu Damao's ambition was growing and spreading step by step, like wild vines climbing higher and higher.

Now that He Yuzhu has lost his position as the canteen director, his life has become leisurely again. He leaves work on time and returns to his old, laid-back work life. The factory doesn't offer him any special treatment now, which suits him perfectly.

The only pity is that the lunchbox I usually carry with me is gone. I haven't brought any home from the cafeteria for two months. Now, when I drink, I have to go to the black market to find some snacks to go with my drinks.

These days, peanuts are in limited supply. Although city dwellers live more comfortably than rural people, they can only barely make ends meet. The monthly ration coupons are set according to the minimum living standard.

People across the country are still striving to have enough to eat; they are far from being able to eat well.

He Yuzhu had just finished get off work that day when he saw Lou Xiao'e taking a walk with a deaf old lady by the arm. Upon seeing this, He Yuzhu quickly went up to her and greeted her warmly.

"Grandma, are you out shopping? Have you eaten yet?"

"My dear grandson, time to get off work!"

"Yes, Grandma, are you hungry? I'll go back and cook for you!"

"Okay, okay, I love eating my grandson's food, I want to eat meat!"

"Okay, let's eat meat!"

As he spoke, he stepped forward, and he and Lou Xiao'e each took one side of his arm. The two of them smiled at each other.

However, He Yuzhu could still clearly sense the sadness and depression in Lou Xiao'e's eyes.

He Yuzhu still thought Lou Xiao'e's divorce was the reason for the divorce. He thought Xu Damao was a cunning old man, so what if she got divorced? It would be better if she did. With Lou Xiao'e's qualities, she could easily find someone else.

The two helped the old lady into the house. He Yuzhu brought a piece of cured meat from his own room. It was brought by He Yushui for the New Year, but he hadn't eaten it himself. The old lady always liked to eat meat, and he wondered if her teeth were still strong enough to eat it.

He Yuzhu started chopping vegetables, while the deaf old lady and Lou Xiao'e sat on the edge of the bed watching. Lou Xiao'e rested her chin on her hand, staring blankly at He Yuzhu cooking, but her mind was clearly on something else.

The deaf old lady next to her pointed at He Yuzhu with a smile and whispered with a beaming smile.

"Xiao'e, let me tell you, when you're looking for a man, you have to find one like my silly Zhu. He's reliable and loyal!"

Lou Xiao'e's gaze began to focus on He Yuzhu after the deaf old lady's words. She looked at the honest man in front of her and the way he was cooking so earnestly.

Lou Xiao'e recalled the night she ate stewed mixed meat at his house, and how He Yuzhu found red antiseptic for her, and how carefully he tried to wipe it on her. She felt a warmth in her heart.

The man in front of me is actually a good person. He's honest, kind, loyal, and has a decent income. Why have I never noticed him before?

Lou Xiao'e stared blankly at He Yuzhu, and then, as if struck by a sudden thought, a smile appeared on her lips.

When the deaf old lady next to them saw the two of them, she immediately showed a kind, crescent-shaped smile!

Chapter 33: Telling a Story

With three side dishes and steamed buns, He Yuzhu accompanied the old lady for dinner. The old lady didn't eat much, but she was very happy.

The three of them ate in perfect harmony, like a family of three. Lou Xiao'e, perhaps reminded by the deaf old lady, occasionally looked away from He Yuzhu, or perhaps her parents' affairs made her temporarily unwilling to discuss the matter.

He Yuzhu didn't notice the change in Lou Xiao'e's eyes. Now that he had returned to his lazy lifestyle, he was actually living quite well.

I have enough to eat and drink on my salary, and I occasionally enjoy a few drinks. Every day after get off work, I have dinner with my mother. After a while, I'll ask my third uncle to pass on a message to Teacher Ran. It's time for me to start thinking about marriage.

He Yuzhu really did plan it that way. His drive to get up early every day was getting stronger and stronger, and it was time to unleash his full potential.

After the three finished eating, Lou Xiao'e took the initiative to clear the dishes and wash them, while He Yuzhu chatted with the old lady.

Seeing that Lou Xiao'e had gone to the yard to wash the dishes, the old lady took He Yuzhu's hand, patted it gently, and said earnestly.

"My dear grandson, you should be thirty this September! It's time to settle down, find a wife, and start a family!"

"Yes, I'll be thirty this year, Grandma. I'll try my best to find someone!"

The deaf old lady then picked up her cane, pointed to the door, and said mysteriously.

"My dear grandson, your future wife is right in front of you. Where are you going to find her?"

He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment. His first reaction was that the deaf old lady was talking about Qin Huairu, but he quickly realized that the old lady was talking about Lou Xiao'e!

"Grandma, are you talking about Lou Xiao'e?"

"Yes, my dear grandson, I think you two are a perfect match!"

He Yuzhu was taken aback. To be honest, he hadn't really considered Lou Xiao'e. Mainly because he had read the original novel and knew that Lou Xiao'e would eventually leave the mainland with her parents.

Wait a minute, there's a problem here. It seems that in the original story, Lou Xiao'e's parents had to ask a powerful figure for help to finally be released, which gave Lou Xiao'e's family a chance to escape.

But now it seems Lou Xiao'e hasn't mentioned this matter.

Lou Xiao'e's parents are now in jail.

He Yuzhu almost forgot about it when the deaf old lady didn't mention it. In the original novel, this part was only mentioned very subtly, so He Yuzhu almost didn't remember it.

I need to ask Lou Xiao'e properly later. To be honest, Lou Xiao'e is a good woman, but she's too domineering, and He Yuzhu doesn't like her very much.

This world is not the original story, and he may not have a relationship with Lou Xiao'e again, but this world is just as cruel as the original story. Therefore, He Yuzhu felt that he should try his best to let Lou Xiao'e leave with her parents as in the original story.

As I said before, Lou Xiao'e was born in the wrong era. If she had been born a few decades earlier or later, she would have lived a leisurely life. But in this era, she can only silently endure it!

The deaf old lady opened up He Yuzhu's mind and made him re-examine Lou Xiao'e for the first time.

Thinking back to the original novel, Lou Xiao'e is a strong-willed woman, but deep down she still has traditional female values. If Xu Damao hadn't gone too far, the two of them might have actually lived together for a lifetime.

Unfortunately, fate is often unkind, and in matters of the heart, he remains indifferent to love. Just as he was thinking this, Lou Xiao'e had finished washing the dishes and returned with them.

He Yuzhu thought for a moment and said.

"Lou Xiao'e, let's talk later!"

Lou Xiao'e was surprised that He Yuzhu would take the initiative to find her. She looked up at He Yuzhu and nodded somewhat shyly.

Seeing this, the deaf old lady next to her thought that He Yuzhu had feelings for Lou Xiao'e, so she quickly stood up, leaned on her cane, and said with a smile.

"Then you two have a good talk, preferably until evening. I'm going out for a stroll. Remember, the couple needs to have a good talk!"

Upon hearing the deaf old lady mention the couple, Lou Xiao'e said shyly.

"Grandma, what are you saying?"

"Hehe, I think you two look like a married couple, you'll become a couple sooner or later!"

As the deaf old lady spoke, she pushed open the door, quickly closed it, locked the door, picked up the key, and called out to the house with satisfaction.

"You two remember this, you need to have a good talk. My dear grandson, you need to work hard too!"

He Yuzhu responded helplessly, and as the deaf old lady's footsteps faded into the distance, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became somewhat awkward.

Neither of them knew how to start the conversation for a moment, but He Yuzhu quickly realized what was going on. He had approached Lou Xiao'e to discuss something, not to start a relationship with her.

Thinking of this, He Yuzhu quickly realized what was happening and coughed to break the increasingly awkward atmosphere.

Lou Xiao'e, how are your parents now?

Lou Xiao'e was instantly jolted awake by these words, and a trace of melancholy reappeared in her eyes. She looked up at He Yuzhu and said with some sorrow.

"I don't know where they are now, but they were captured by Liu Haizhong and his men. It was that bastard Xu Damao who did this... Waaah... Waaah!"

Even a strong woman like Lou Xiao'e couldn't continue speaking at this point. These past few days, she had been suppressing her grievances and distress, and had no one to confide in.

Although the people in the compound sympathized with Lou Xiao'e, no one would take the initiative to talk to her about it.

He Yuzhu hesitated for a moment, then found a chair and handed it over.

"Please sit down. What are your plans regarding this?"

What plans could Lou Xiao'e possibly have?

She sat there blankly, without saying a word.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu could only sigh helplessly, go forward to pour her a glass of water, and after thinking for a moment, he said.

"Tonight, I'm taking you to meet someone. Tell him in detail about your parents. As for whether he will help your parents, I'm not so sure yet!"

Lou Xiao'e's eyes lit up when she heard He Yuzhu's words. She stood up excitedly, grabbed He Yuzhu's hand, and shook it almost uncontrollably.

"Then let's hurry. I'll do anything to save my parents. I've asked so many people for help lately, but when they hear about my parents, they all... they all refuse to see me... Waaah!"

He Yuzhu sighed, patted Lou Xiao'e on the shoulder, and said helplessly.