Siheyuan: My wife is Xu Huizhen

Chapter 648

But what he received in return was a constant stream of indifference. Those suggestions he cherished, those he sincerely hoped would bring about change for the factory, seemed to be thrown into an endless abyss, sinking into the sea without a single ripple. All his efforts and dedication seemed to be swallowed up by darkness, receiving no due attention or reward.

"Hmph, you're so blind and don't treat me the way I deserve. I won't serve you anymore!" He Yuzhu gritted his teeth and cursed inwardly. The resentment that had been pent up in his heart for so long, like a tinderbox that had been lit, completely erupted at this moment.

A flicker of determination flashed across his eyes, and he had already made up his mind to leave this place that he felt was unfair. He firmly believed that in the vast world, there must be a place for him to realize his ambitions, and that the outside world was the stage where he should truly venture out.

He Yuzhu took a deep breath, took steady steps, and headed towards the slightly mottled gate of the vehicle factory. His steps were firm and powerful, each one a farewell to the frustrations and setbacks of the past, a determination to leave the past behind.

The sunlight falls on his shoulders, outlining his tall figure, as if sending him silent blessings as he embarks on a new journey.

However, as he reached the door, filled with anticipation, he was suddenly stopped by an elderly gatekeeper. The man was dressed in faded work clothes, etched with age, and his old hat drooped, as if a reminder of the passage of time. His eyes held a wary look, like a wary old hound.

"Hey, comrade, which unit are you from?" the old man asked seriously, with unquestionable majesty in his tone. During his years of persistence, any stranger who approached the vehicle factory without revealing his identity had to be treated with caution and no carelessness was allowed.

He Yuzhu stopped, his cheerful mood was instantly interrupted by this accident. He turned around in confusion, looked at the strange old man in front of him, and subconsciously asked, "Where is the old man from before?" In his memory, the gatekeeper was always smiling and amiable. He had met him many times and they got along quite well, but he was nowhere to be seen today, which really made He Yuzhu feel strange.

The old man straightened his back and answered seriously, "I'm retired. But even though I'm retired, I can't break the rules. Which unit are you from? Do you have a letter of introduction?" He stared at He Yuzhu, as if he had not heard the questions he had asked before. He was only thinking about continuing to perform the duties he had held for many years, and strictly controlling the entry and exit of personnel with an iron hand.

A look of indifference flashed across He Yuzhu's face, and he said in a relaxed tone: "I don't have a letter of introduction." In his cognition, he originally came from this factory and spent countless days and nights here in the past. He was very familiar with every tree and blade of grass here. Now he just came back to take a look, so why would he need such a troublesome letter of introduction.

When the old man heard this, his eyes widened instantly and he immediately raised his voice and said in a voice like a bell: "No letter of introduction? Then you absolutely cannot come in. We are a confidential unit!" His voice was extremely penetrating, echoing back and forth in the empty doorway, his eyes were full of unquestionable firmness, and from his attitude, it can be seen that he has no room for compromise on this matter.

He Yuzhu's brow knitted into a knot upon hearing this, feeling a little puzzled. How could the ordinary, bustling vehicle factory he remembered suddenly become a classified unit? Confused, he couldn't help but retort, "It's just a shabby vehicle factory. It looks just like it used to be. When did it become a classified unit?" In his memory, the vehicle factory had once been nothing more than a routine production of ordinary vehicles, steadily moving forward with the tide of the times. But now, looking around, everything around him had been turned upside down. The stark contrast left He Yuzhu muttering to himself.

The old man standing nearby heard these words clearly and was instantly enraged. His brows knitted tightly together, his eyes wide with disbelief, and he retorted at the top of his voice, "What are you talking about? How can you degrade our factory to a mere scrap yard? You know, this is a vital enterprise supported by the state, vital to the nation's economy and people's livelihood! Since its founding, countless passionate workers have shed their sweat, and countless researchers have dedicated themselves to research, bringing this factory to where it is today."

As he spoke, the old man straightened his back, like a pine tree weathered by wind and rain but standing tall. His face was filled with undeniable anger, and he was determined to protect the dignity of the vehicle factory. He then shouted, "Judging from your appearance, I'm afraid you don't have a letter of introduction with you. If not, then get out of here right away and don't mess around here!"

He Yuzhu frowned slightly, feeling anxious. He really didn't want to waste time talking in circles with this old gatekeeper. He stepped forward with an anxious look on his face and asked directly in a crisp and clear tone, "Where's Yuan Hongtao? Call him quickly!"

He Yuzhu remembered Yuan Hongtao, the factory director, as a man who handled all matters, big and small, with swift and decisive action. There was nothing he couldn't handle. He was certain Yuan Hongtao knew exactly what was going on with his situation, and given his status and power as factory director, it would be easy for him to make some concessions.

But who could have imagined that upon hearing the words "Yuan Hongtao," the old man's already cloudy eyes would instantly widen, the color draining from his face. His body trembled uncontrollably, as if he had heard something terrifying. As if sensing some danger, he subconsciously shrank his neck, his eyes flashing with panic, like a frightened deer.

However, this panic was only short-lived. In the blink of an eye, he returned to his expressionless look and said calmly: "The former factory director has been transferred and promoted to a ministry." When he said this, he narrowed his eyes slightly, and his tone unconsciously carried a bit of awe. It was not difficult to see that he was full of respect for the promoted former factory director from the bottom of his heart.

Hearing this, He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat, as if a stone had suddenly fallen, sending ripples through the air. Without time to dwell on it, he quickly asked, "What about Liang Weijie, Secretary Liang?"

He Yuzhu entered the vehicle factory with a heart full of trepidation. His gaze roamed throughout the factory, silently praying for a familiar figure to appear and help him resolve his doubts and gain smooth entry.

He walked quickly to the guard room and, with a hint of expectation, asked the old man guarding the door: "Uncle, do you know if Secretary Liang is at the factory today? Also, I'd like to find [specific name], could you please be accommodating?"

The old man, the gatekeeper, looked He Yuzhu up and down, a look of embarrassment on his face. He said helplessly, "Secretary Liang isn't here today, and besides, I can't just call him for you!" He spread his hands as he spoke, as if expressing his helplessness. From his expression and tone, He Yuzhu could clearly sense that the old man was truly unable to meet his request.

If He Yuzhu hadn't accurately named two key figures, Secretary Liang and [specific name], from the outset, the gatekeeper would have lost his patience and unceremoniously dismissed him. After all, this was a vehicle factory, with strict and standardized entry and exit regulations. It wasn't just any place where anyone could come and go as they pleased. Every process and every rule was crucial to the factory's normal operation and safety.

Seeing this, and seeing the other party's obvious unwillingness to talk further, He Yuzhu knew that it would be futile to ask further questions, so he thought about it and changed the question: "Is Wang Yifeng here? He couldn't have been transferred with them, right?"

As soon as he said that, the image of Wang Yifeng instantly surfaced in his mind. Wang Yifeng was a man of considerable pedigree, having once served as a secretary to a high-ranking official, diligently serving him and managing his affairs effectively, earning him considerable recognition. After retiring from that position, he had joined the vehicle factory as deputy director.

He Yuzhu believed that Wang Yifeng was knowledgeable and well-connected, and perhaps he could help him out in his immediate situation. Regardless, he had to find an opportunity to talk to him. During his time working alongside his superiors, he had carefully cultivated his connections and absorbed their experience. These valuable assets served as a solid foundation, helping him thrive at the factory.

He walked confidently towards the guard room and politely asked the old man at the gate, "Excuse me, is Director Wang here at the factory?"

The old man raised his head, adjusted his reading glasses, looked him up and down, nodded, and answered enthusiastically: "Director Wang is here." Hearing the name "Director Wang", his originally slightly tense expression instantly relaxed, and his tone became noticeably softer. From his words, it was not difficult to hear his full respect for the deputy director. After all, in the factory, Director Wang's character and ability were highly recognized.

He Yuzhu's heart, which had been hanging high, seemed to find its place when he heard it. It "clicked" and his tense nerves relaxed. He hurriedly looked at the old man guarding the door, his tone full of urgency and expectation, and his speed unconsciously increased: "Uncle, please call his office and tell him that He Yuzhu is here and is troubling you!"

As he spoke, his eyes sparkled with hope, just like a ship persistently searching for a lighthouse in the dark night. He was hoping to take advantage of Wang Yifeng's favorable conditions to successfully enter the vehicle factory and find out what earth-shaking changes had taken place in the factory in recent days.

The old man who was guarding the gate looked at He Yuzhu from head to toe with a bit of doubt in his eyes. He looked unfamiliar, but from his tone, he seemed to be familiar with the factory director. For a moment, the old man secretly speculated about He Yuzhu's identity.

He frowned slightly, hesitated for a long time, stroking his fingers on the phone, and finally sighed lightly, reached out to pick up the receiver, skillfully turned the dial, and dialed the number of the factory director's office.

The monotonous ringing of the phone receiver rang out, like a hammer, hammering at the very tip of He Yuzhu's heart. He stood still, his feet shifting unconsciously back and forth, his eyes fixed on the office building's door, filled with anxiety and anticipation. Time seemed to freeze, and every passing second seemed to stretch infinitely longer.

Finally, after a long wait, the door to the office building slammed open, and Wang Yifeng appeared at the door. He was agile and swift, trotting out.

The well-cut suit he wore was straight and neat, without a single wrinkle, highlighting his capable character. His hair was meticulously groomed, each strand perfectly smooth and glistening in the sunlight.

At this moment, his face was filled with an irrepressible smile of excitement, which was like the warm sunshine in spring, dispelling the gloom around him.

As soon as he saw He Yuzhu, Wang Yifeng took bigger steps and walked closer in a few steps. He stretched out his hands, held He Yuzhu's hands tightly, and shook them vigorously while saying enthusiastically: "Boss He, welcome home!" His voice was loud and full of affection, and he was so happy that it was as if He Yuzhu in front of him was his best friend who had been lost for many years and whom he had finally met again.

He Yuzhu's face instantly broke into a brilliant smile, and he responded enthusiastically, "Haha, Director Wang! It feels like ages have passed in the blink of an eye. I'm finally seeing you again!"

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and tightly held Director Wang's hand. Their palms touched, transmitting each other's warmth.

Their eyes were filled with joy of reunion after a long separation, and the light was like the brightest stars in the night sky.

The friendship of struggling together and going through hardships together in the past, at the moment when these hands were tightly held, was like a sleeping seed quickly awakening and revived in an instant, and every bit of the past flooded into the heart like a tide.

The two stood at the corner of the slightly dim corridor.

A few brief greetings were exchanged.

He Yuzhu raised his hand and scratched his head.

Suddenly I remembered the trouble I had when I entered the door just now.

His face was full of curiosity.

I couldn't help but ask, "Old Wang, when did this vehicle factory become a classified unit? When I first came in, your guards stopped me like they were interrogating a spy. They had to talk me into it, and it took a lot of effort to get me in."

Wang Yifeng heard this.

I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He raised his hand and gently patted He Yuzhu's shoulder.

He explained, "Hey, it's all because of you! Ever since you came in so hastily last time, everyone in the factory has taken it seriously. Security measures have been drastically strengthened. Now, no matter who enters or leaves, they have to be carefully and strictly registered. Not a single word can be wrong."

"What does it have to do with me?"

He Yuzhu widened his eyes.

Confused.

My head feels like it's filled with a mess.

I have no idea where Wang Yifeng is coming from.