Siheyuan: I am different He Yuzhu

The middle-aged man who was a passenger on the International Village and entered the soft sleeper compartment was stunned for a moment when he saw He Yuzhu. Then he hurriedly smiled at He Yuzhu, found his seat and put down his luggage. Then he took out a cigarette from his pocket and handed it to He Yuzhu cordially, "Hello, comrade, my name is Jiang Dashan, from the Foreign Trade Department of Yanzhao Province."

"Hello, Comrade Jiang, thank you. I don't smoke. My name is He Yuzhu, and I work at the Red Star Steel Plant in Sijiucheng."

When Jiang Dashan heard He Yuzhu say that he was from the Red Star Steel Plant, he immediately said enviously, "Is there a Red Star Machinery Manufacturing Plant under your plant? That plant is not only good at producing cars, but also good at exporting."

"Yes, the Red Star Machinery Manufacturing Plant is indeed a subsidiary of our factory." He Yuzhu said with a smile.

At this time, Jiang Dashan kept repeating He Yuzhu's name. Suddenly, as if he remembered something, he pointed at He Yuzhu and said excitedly: "I remember now. The director of the Red Star Machinery Manufacturing Factory has the same name as you. You should be the director of the Red Star Machinery Manufacturing Factory, right?"

He Yuzhu looked at Jiang Dashan in surprise, but did not deny it. Instead, he asked curiously, "Comrade Jiang, how do you know the name of the director of the Red Star Machinery Manufacturing Plant?"

Jiang Dashan chuckled and explained, "We have a factory in Yanzhao Province that produces diesel heating stove parts for your factory. Diesel heating stoves are the largest order in our country's foreign trade sector. When I went to the Ministry of Foreign Trade for a meeting, the leader emphasized your Red Star Machinery Manufacturing Factory. Later I asked someone about your factory. I heard from others that the director of the Red Star Machinery Manufacturing Factory is young and promising. Today I see that his reputation is well-deserved!" After saying that, Jiang Dashan extended his right hand to He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu quickly extended his hand and shook hands with Jiang Dashan, and said modestly: "It's all because of other people's flattery. I'm not as good as others say."

"Director He, you are also going to attend the Lingnan Province Export Fair this time, right? I didn't expect your factory to attach so much importance to this fair that you actually came in person."

"I wonder what area Comrade Jiang is in charge of?"

"I am not very talented. I am currently the deputy director of our department. This time, I was assigned by the department to go to the export trade fair held by Lingnan Province to learn and see if I can find some business opportunities at the trade fair."

"Deputy Director Jiang is so modest!"

"No way, they are nothing in front of Director He. By the way, Director He, I heard that you built the Red Star Machinery Manufacturing Factory. I believe that Director He is very proficient in factory management. If there is a chance in the future, please come to our province to give us guidance so that our factory can also have several excellent enterprises like the Red Star Machinery Manufacturing Factory."

“I can’t say I’m giving you any guidance, but we can learn from each other when we have the chance.”

Jiang Dashan then talked to He Yuzhu about his views on foreign trade.

On the other side, in the four-person hard sleeper car of the Red Star Machinery Manufacturing Plant, after several people packed their luggage and sat down, Zhang Wanshun asked, "Deputy Director Fan, Director Feng, according to the regulations, you two can take the soft sleeper car at your level. Why don't you take the soft sleeper car with Director He?"

"As for me, I'm a heavy smoker, and Director He doesn't smoke. If I live with him, I'll have to pay for my cigarettes. So it's better for me to live with you guys to save trouble." After saying that, Fan Youxiang took out a cigarette and started smoking.

After listening to Fan Youxiang's reasons, Zhang Wanshun looked at Feng Rui, the director of Sijiucheng Automobile Manufacturing Plant. Feng Rui smiled and said, "I snore a lot when I sleep, and I'm afraid that it will affect Director He's rest, so I have to inconvenience you guys."

"Haha, then Director Feng, you can start to make plans. I snore even when I sleep." Fan Youxiang said with a smile.

"Deputy Director Fan, do you think we can get orders from foreign companies at this trade fair?" Feng Rui asked.

"Well, I'm not sure. Anyway, Director He said that the main purpose of attending the trade fair this time is to try to contact foreign businessmen and understand their purchasing needs. Even if we can't make any sales at this trade fair, we can still improve our products based on the needs of foreign businessmen when we return to the factory. Maybe there will be a chance next time."

At this time, Xu Damao said, "Deputy Director Fan, Director Feng, Section Chief Zhang, it's almost noon, should we go and ask Deputy Director He to have lunch with us?"

Fan Youxiang looked at his watch and said, "Yeah, it's already noon. Let's go and call Director He for dinner. This is a good opportunity for you to taste my wife's cooking." After that, he took out a jar of pickles from his luggage bag, held it in his hand and walked out of the car. Seeing this, others also hurriedly took out the food they had prepared for the journey from their luggage.

After Fan Youxiang asked the conductor which carriage He Yuzhu lived in, he followed the conductor's instructions and came to the outside of He Yuzhu's carriage, "Director He, I'm Fan Youxiang."

He Yuzhu, who was chatting with Jiang Dashan, heard Fan Youxiang's words in the compartment. He quickly stood up from the lower bunk, pushed open the door of the soft sleeper compartment, and saw that the four people were outside. He asked, "What's wrong, Deputy Director Fan?"

"Director He, it's almost noon, and we're here to invite you to have lunch together!"

"Oh, wait a moment then." He Yuzhu then turned to look at Jiang Dashan and asked, "Deputy Director Jiang, do you want to have dinner with us?"

"You guys go ahead. I ate before I got on the train."

After hearing what Jiang Dashan said, He Yuzhu didn't tell his client. Instead, he picked up his luggage and walked out of the box and said to the others, "Let's go. I'll treat you all to lunch today."

He Yuzhu led the four people to the dining car in the middle of the train. He found the staff on the dining car and said, "Hello, comrade. The five of us would like to have some food. What kind of food is provided in our dining car?"

"The only thing we have available right now is rice with toppings. It's 30 cents a box. How many boxes would you like?"

"Do you need food coupons?" He Yuzhu continued to ask.

“No food stamps.”

"Then give each of us one portion first. Five boxes of rice with toppings cost a total of 5 yuan. Comrade, this is the money for you." After saying that, He Yuzhu took out the money from his pocket, counted out 1 yuan and handed it to the conductor.

"Here are your meal tickets. They will be delivered to you when we sell meals later."

He Yuzhu came to the dining table, looked at everyone and said with a smile: "Everyone, the food on the train is limited. We only provide rice with toppings. I hope everyone can make do with it. I have ordered one portion for everyone. If you think it is not enough, you can always add more."

Fan Youxiang hurriedly said, "Deputy Director He, we are already very embarrassed that you have invited us to dinner. How can we ask you to pay for the food coupons? After all, we are on a business trip and the factory has given us corresponding subsidies!"

He Yuzhu waved his hand and replied with a smile: "It's okay, I've just asked the conductor, you don't need food coupons to eat on the train. Don't be polite, try the food I carefully prepared first." As he said that, he opened his luggage bag and took out the prepared food one by one, including pickled salted duck eggs, crispy and delicious peanuts, delicious dried fish, fragrant fermented bean curd, and finally took out a bottle of wine.

When all the food was neatly placed on the table, He Yuzhu said, "This bottle of wine weighs two kilograms. Those of us who can drink can enjoy it later, and those who can't drink can do as they please. In short, we should follow one principle: don't force others to drink. Everyone can decide how much to drink based on their own alcohol tolerance and willingness."

"Today we are lucky enough to follow Deputy Director He. Just by smelling these things, I can tell that they were made by Deputy Director He himself." Fan Youxiang said with a smile as he looked at the side dishes on the table, "By the way, Director Feng and Section Chief Zhang may not know this yet, right? Our Director He has passed the first-level chef exam." As he spoke, he greedily sniffed the aroma in the air, as if he couldn't wait to taste these delicious dishes.

"Okay, stop talking and eat." He Yuzhu smiled and stopped Fan Youxiang from continuing. He knew his cooking skills very well, but he didn't want to show off too much. He hoped that everyone could focus on enjoying the food.

"Director He is right. The world is big, but not having enough food is a big problem." Fan Youxiang agreed, then picked up the chopsticks on the table and carefully gave each person a pair.

Xu Damao stood up quickly, picked up the wine bottle and wine glass, and enthusiastically poured wine for everyone. His face was full of smiles, and his eyes revealed his anticipation and excitement for the party.

After Xu Damao finished pouring the wine, He Yuzhu picked up the glass, looked at everyone affectionately, and said slowly: "Although there have been large-scale disastrous weather in the past two years and our country's food supply is relatively tight, I believe these disasters will soon be overcome. Let us raise our glasses together and wish our great motherland prosperity!" His words were full of firmness and confidence, as if conveying a kind of power and expectation for the future to everyone.

The four of them also hurriedly raised their glasses and said in unison: "I wish our great motherland prosperity." Then they raised their glasses and drank them all.

At this time, the food delivery staff came to He Yuzhu and the others with five boxes of rice with toppings, and said with a smile: "Hello, this is the rice with toppings you ordered, a total of five boxes."

He Yuzhu quickly took out the meal ticket that the conductor had just given him from his pocket and handed it to the food delivery staff for inspection. After confirming that it was correct, the food delivery staff turned around and left.

He Yuzhu picked up the lunch box and handed it to everyone in turn, saying with a smile: "Eat some staple food to fill your stomach first, so you won't get drunk on an empty stomach later." After that, he opened his own portion, looked at the ordinary vegetarian dishes and rice on it, then picked up the chopsticks, picked up a mouthful of rice and put it into his mouth, savored it carefully, found it tasted just okay, so he picked up a piece of fermented bean curd and put it on the rice and continued eating.

Fan Youxiang and others ate rice with toppings and tasted the side dishes carefully prepared by He Yuzhu.

Feng Rui took a sip of wine and exclaimed: "I was right, wasn't I? Director He's dishes are so delicious!"

Others echoed: "Well, Director He's cooking skills are simply amazing."