Siheyuan: Starting from Building a Village

Steel mill, Monday, morning.

"Director Li, please save Cui Dake."

As soon as Li Huaide arrived at the office door, he met Qin Huairu. To be exact, Qin Huairu had been waiting at the door of the deputy director's office since early morning, just to wait for Li Huaide as soon as possible and ask him to save Cui Dake.

"Qin Huairu, where did you go to hold the banquet yesterday?"

Li Huaide knew Qin Huairu. She used to be Jia Dongxu's wife. After Jia Dongxu's death, he had been interested in Qin Huairu, but he never had a good opportunity. Who would have known that in the end, this flower was picked by Cui Dake, who had just arrived in the city.

Just pick it, and Li Huaide won't think about it anymore. In Li Huaide's opinion, it is immoral to think about the women of subordinates.

Logically speaking, people like Li Huaide should have been discovered and reported long ago.

The result was quite unexpected.

He likes women and he has his own theories.

First, be determined not to look for a married woman, which will avoid most of the troubles.

Second, under normal circumstances, we never force anyone, and focus on the principle of mutual consent.

Third, there is no need to talk about feelings. This is the most important point. To put it bluntly, it is a transaction between the two parties. As for the length of the transaction, it is up to Li Huaide to decide.

It is because of these three points that Li Huaide has been able to remain safe and sound in his work and life over the years.

"Director Li, it's like this..."

Qin Huairu recounted what happened yesterday.

After listening to Qin Huairu's story, Li Huaide frowned slightly, sat behind his desk, and remained silent.

The office was quiet, so quiet that it was a little scary.

Li Huaide's facial expressions were very rich, so rich that Qin Huairu felt a little scared. She now knew what it meant to be uneasy.

No matter how anxious she was inside, Qin Huairu could only wait patiently.

"Jingle Bell"

The phone rang, interrupting Li Huaide from his thoughts.

The call was from the Hongxing Police Station, and its main purpose was to verify that Cui Dake had arbitrarily misappropriated one thousand yuan of purchase funds.

Yes, it was one thousand yuan. Cui Dake explained at the police station that it was all purchase money. He didn't dare say that five hundred yuan of it was earned by him by taking the price difference or kickbacks. This would directly ruin Cui Dake's future. He wouldn't be stupid enough to admit it.

The people at the police station didn't know, but Li Huaide knew that he had personally approved Cui Dake's purchase payment.

Li Huaide understood as soon as he heard it. Cui Dake was indeed a very courageous guy. His monthly gray income was comparable to that of him, the deputy factory director.

He is in a complicated mood now.

Firstly, Cui Dake was easy to work with and had strong handling capabilities. In the past two or three months, the small canteen in the factory had been booming, all thanks to Cui Dake.

Secondly, Cui Dake was too bold. He dared to do this after only two or three months in the factory. What would happen if he worked for a long time, one year, two years, or many years later? Wouldn't his appetite grow bigger and bigger?

Li Huaide was very conflicted.

He is not a person who is intolerant, but you can't go too far. All buyers will take a bite of the price difference, which is only an extra ten or twenty yuan every month, which is understandable. Cui Dake is different. This guy is a bit cruel.

"Director Li, Director Li?"

After answering the phone, Li Huaide remained silent for a long time. Qin Huairu couldn't wait any longer. Cui Dake was still detained in the police station, waiting for Director Li to save his life. They couldn't wait here any longer.

Without that thousand dollars, Shazhu wouldn't be able to pass that level.

When I went to the police station yesterday, the kitchen knife was also brought to the police station as evidence. There were also cut marks on the door of Sha Zhu's house. All of them were investigated, and the neighbors of the courtyard were also interviewed, which indirectly verified Sha Zhu's statement.

The police station also said that the prerequisite for Cui Dake not to be prosecuted is that both parties reach an understanding, and in the end he will only be detained for a few days.

The issue now is about the one thousand yuan. Sha Zhu is determined not to give in. He will not forgive Cui Dake without the one thousand yuan.

In other words, Cui Dake's "life and death" is in the hands of Li Huaide.

It’s just a thousand yuan. As long as Li Huaide doesn’t pursue the matter and pays the money within three months, Cui Dake will be able to pass this hurdle.

"Ugh!"

“It’s a very difficult problem.”

"What does Cui Dake do? This is a typical case of undermining socialism. It not only damages the interests of the farmers, but also the interests of the factory. It can also be said that it damages the interests of the workers."

"Qin Huairu, how can I save such a person? It is true that I am the deputy director of the factory, and my power comes from the people. Now you ask me to save a person who harms the interests of the people. What will others think? This is putting me in an unjust position."

Qin Huairu was stunned. She originally thought that Cui Dake’s matter was not a big deal, but she didn’t expect that it would become more serious when heard from Li Huaide’s mouth.

Seeing Qin Huairu standing there in a daze, Li Huaide stopped talking, lit a cigarette, and smoked silently, while observing Qin Huairu's reaction through the smoke.

"Director Li, is there really no other way? You can't just stand by and watch him die!"

"Comrade Qin Huairu, let me ask you a question first. Do you really like Cui Dake? Or is your union just a last resort?"

"I.."

Qin Huairu was stuck. How should she answer this question?

It's not like she liked him, it was just her own miscalculation at the beginning, she didn't expect that a bumpkin who had just moved to the city from the countryside would have such a treacherous mind and courage, so she had to continue to get along with Cui Dake, more for the physical enjoyment.

It's not entirely true to say that she doesn't like it. Ever since she got together with Cui Dake, she no longer had to worry about food and clothing. Even if it was only for a short two or three months, she had already come to like this feeling, the feeling of having no worries about food and clothing.

Seeing Qin Huairu's embarrassment, Li Huaide's eyes lit up. This incident seemed to give him a good opportunity, an opportunity to win over Qin Huairu.

What he had to do now was to give Qin Huairu a final blow and give her a choice.

"Qin Huairu, I'm giving you two choices now."

"Director Li, please go ahead."

"One option is that I come forward to protect Cui Dake, but the factory will fire him. The other option is to have him go in for a few years of reform."

"what?"

Qin Huairu was startled, and then she saw Li Huaide's eyes, a look that was very familiar to her.

Qin Huairu had seen that kind of look in Yi Zhonghai's eyes, in Yan Jiecheng's eyes, in Sha Zhu's eyes, and in the eyes of those men in the workshop. Now she saw that look in Li Huaide's eyes as if he wanted to swallow her up.

"If you are following Cui Dake for love, I won't say anything. If not, I hope you will reconsider."

Li Huaide's words were very explicit. Since it's not for love, isn't it better for you to follow me, a deputy factory director, than to follow a small purchasing agent?

Qin Huairu fell into deep thought.

Thinking back on the little things I had experienced with Cui Dake over the past few months, apart from physical contact, there was really no emotional exchange between us.

Then she thought of how Cui Dake beat her last night.

"Director Li, as long as you promise that Cui Dake will not show up again."

Qin Huairu made up her mind. All she wanted was to live a good life and successfully raise her children. It didn't matter whether there was any emotional connection or not.

Besides, in the past two or three months, she has become accustomed to a life of no worries about food and clothing, and she doesn't want to live a life of hunger and hunger again.

"I can guarantee this. Now it depends on your performance."

Li Huaide put out his cigarette, stood up, closed the office door, and then sat next to Qin Huairu.

"Director Li, I hope you keep your word."

"I always keep my word to my woman."

Then Li Huaide closed his eyes and waited for Qin Huairu's next move.

Since the choice had been made, Qin Huairu let it go. After all, it was just a matter between men and women, so it didn't matter who she did it with.

The only thing about things in this world is that you have to let go of it. As long as you can overcome your psychological barrier, all problems will be solved.