aircannonsinc Chapter 1025 He Yuzhu Accompanies Drinking
Chapter 1025 He Yuzhu Accompanies Drinking
Deputy Factory Director Li had originally wanted to invite Xu Damao to join the drinking, since Xu Damao was sweet-talking and good at getting things done, capable of creating a lively atmosphere. However, he had recently heard that Xu Damao was frequently visiting Gu Nan's office and even helping Gu Nan organize the warehouse's inflow and outflow accounts. Xu Damao's eagerness made him uneasy, adding a layer of unease to his mind—at this critical juncture, he couldn't afford any mishaps, lest Xu Damao already be won over by Gu Nan. He simply put Xu Damao out of his mind and turned to wave at He Yuzhu, who was standing there dumbfounded: "Yuzhu, what are you standing there for? Come over and pour drinks for the leaders!"
He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat, followed by a surge of joy. His face crinkled into a wide grin—this was Deputy Factory Director Li who had personally invited him to the table, clearly treating him like family. He quickly wiped the grease from his hands with his sleeve, straightened his wrinkled blue cotton jacket, grabbed the glass bottle of wine on the table, and hurried over. He first filled the glass in front of Section Chief Wang, who sat at the head of the table, the wine frothing with fine bubbles. He held the glass with both hands and handed it over, bending over so low his back was almost touching his knees: "Section Chief Wang, please give me your feedback! From now on, when you come to the factory to inspect our work, I promise to cook you a different dish every day—braised pork knuckle, stir-fried pork cubes, sweet and sour fish… I guarantee it will suit your taste!"
Section Chief Wang raised his eyelids slightly, took a sip of wine, the liquid trickling down his chin and down his cheek. He casually wiped it away with the back of his hand, giving a nonchalant "hmm," though a hint of satisfaction lingered in his eyes. He Yuzhu's smile remained unchanged as he moved to Director Zhang's side, deliberately shaking the bottle as he picked it up—he remembered Deputy Factory Director Li mentioning a couple of days ago that Director Zhang loved this 60-proof liquor, finding it strong enough. "Director Zhang," he lowered his voice, his tone slightly ingratiating, "I heard from Factory Director Li that you love braised pork with some fat, so I specially stewed it for an extra half hour today. The fat has melted into the broth, it'll melt in your mouth, why don't you try some?" He poured himself a small glass, tilted his head back, and gulped it down. The pungent liquor made his throat feel hot, but he forced a smile, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand: "I'll finish it, you can have as much as you like!"
Director Zhang was flattered by his words and put a trembling piece of braised pork into his mouth. After savoring it for a while, he nodded and praised, "Hmm, that's the taste! It's softer than what the canteen usually makes, and it's very fragrant. Chef He is very thoughtful."
He Yuzhu's eyes shone like stars as he quickly refilled Director Zhang's glass: "I'm glad you're satisfied. If you want some in the future, just let me know in advance, and I'll save it for you!" He then turned to refill Deputy Factory Director Li's glass, stopping just as the bottle touched the rim—Deputy Factory Director Li's glass was still half full. He immediately changed to a sincere expression, raising his empty glass towards Deputy Factory Director Li: "Director Li, I toast you! I feel at ease working under you! From now on, if you point east, I will never go west. Even if it's a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, I will follow you forward!" He spoke these words deliberately loudly, so that everyone in the living room could hear them clearly; it was clearly a declaration of loyalty.
Deputy Factory Director Li squinted with satisfaction and lightly clinked glasses with him: "Good lad, you're honest! I like your straightforward nature. Keep up the good work, and once things are settled, I think you should take over the canteen and become the canteen manager. You'll be guaranteed to do well!"
He Yuzhu felt a huge weight lifted from his heart and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Factory Director! I will definitely work hard and never let you down!"
He then toasted the other leaders one by one, saying only polite phrases like "Please give me your guidance," "We'll need your help with the canteen," and "Come visit often in the future." He never mentioned the factory's disputes, nor did he ask a single question about the factory director's position, appearing both sensible and dutiful. After toasting, he discreetly retreated to the kitchen doorway, picked up a rag, and began wiping the dishes he had just used. However, his ears were like radars, picking up every word spoken in the living room—listening to Deputy Factory Director Li talking to the other leaders about the factory's personnel matters, saying things like "We'll need your help in the future" and "We'll be troubling you all a lot." His heart was pounding like a rabbit's.
The moonlight outside the window, like a thin veil, silently climbed onto the windowsill, casting a faint silver glow on the mahogany tables and chairs in the private room. The atmosphere at the table was lively, with the crisp sound of enamel cups clinking against glass cups. Bottle after bottle of baijiu was emptied, and empty bottles piled up in the corner. The strong smell of alcohol mixed with the aroma of braised pork and stir-fried pork intestines filled the small private room, making one's nose burn.
He Yuzhu sat at the lower end of the table, his cheeks flushed as if he had applied rouge, but his eyes shone brightly with excitement. He watched as Deputy Factory Director Li, seated at the head of the table, chatted and laughed with several of the factory's veteran leaders, sometimes patting each other on the shoulder and calling each other brothers, sometimes clinking glasses with a crisp sound. The warmth in his heart grew stronger—he could tell from the leaders' words that they all recognized Deputy Factory Director Li's talent, saying things like "Deputy Factory Director Li is young and promising" and "The factory will be in your hands from now on," every word of which resonated with him.
As someone specially brought by Deputy Factory Director Li, his efforts in shielding the leaders from drinks and putting on a smiling face hadn't been in vain; the older leaders all looked at him with a hint of friendliness. He secretly pondered that, judging by this momentum, he was probably one step closer to his dream position as the canteen director. At that time, not only would he be in charge of cooking, but the entire canteen's purchasing and scheduling would be at his disposal!
Little did he know, he was merely a pawn on Deputy Factory Director Li's chessboard. But at that moment, Deputy Factory Director Li's gaze towards He Yuzhu did indeed carry a hint of satisfaction. He hadn't expected that He Yuzhu was not only quick-witted and adept at handling situations, but also far more capable of drinking than Xu Damao—that Xu Damao, after just three cups of wine, would turn red-faced and stammer, always having to find someone to prepare beforehand to avoid saying the wrong thing and offending someone. Unlike He Yuzhu, who, after a round of toasts, though his steps were slightly unsteady, remained articulate and eloquent.
He could even chat with the leaders about some funny stories from the factory, like "Chef Wang forgot to add salt when cooking" or "Logistics Lao Zhang got caught stealing cooking wine," which amused the older leaders, who kept saying, "This cook is interesting." Deputy Factory Director Li secretly thought that he should take He Yuzhu with him more often when going out for social events. He could both handle the drinking and liven up the atmosphere, much better than bringing along a sycophantic, good-for-nothing, Xu Damao, who always talked nonsense.
The meal lasted from dusk till the moon was high in the sky. He Yuzhu himself couldn't remember how many cups he drank. He only felt his head getting heavier and heavier, as if it were filled with lead. The figures in front of him swayed back and forth, and gradually they became double.