Siheyuan, Me and the Yu Sisters

At the gate of Louji Plastic Flower Factory, Zhang Renkang and Tang Fu were led by the security guard to Lou Huaijin's office. As soon as they arrived at the gate, Zhang Renkang saw a curly-haired young woman wearing a loose shirt, holding a child and sitting on the sofa shaking a rattle. After seeing Zhang Renkang and Tang Fu, Lou Huaijin signaled the security guard to go back and asked expressionlessly according to the words he had discussed with Zhang Renkang last time:

"Chief Zhang, long time no see. I never thought I would see you again in Hong Kong Island."

"Why, Chief Zhang, do you want to talk to me about something?"

Zhang Renkang looked at Lou Xiao'e, his eyes moistened. He tried not to look at her and the child, and turned to Lou Huaijin and smiled.

"Chairman Lou, you are still as charming as ever after we parted ways in Sijiu City."

"Is it possible that I can't come visit you if there is nothing going on?"

"No matter what, we are old acquaintances."

Then he smiled and introduced Lou Huaijin

"This is Mr. Tang Fu, an engineer from our steel mill. I apologize for interrupting you, Chairman Lou."

Lou Xiao'e stood up as soon as Zhang Renkang entered the room, staring at this beloved whom she hadn't seen for more than a year. She couldn't control the tears in her eyes. In order to prevent Tang Fu from seeing it, she could only hold the child and turn her head to hide her excitement.

Lou Huaijin smiled and said

"Chief Zhang, we are old friends, right? It is said that there are old friends everywhere in the world."

"You two, let's get straight to the point."

"You guys are not here to reminisce about the past or to take me back with you, right?"

"Boss Lou, you know what? I really have given you a chance to go back. It all depends on whether Boss Lou is willing or not."

Lou Huaijin smiled, sat down at his desk, pointed at the chair next to him and said

"Please, both of you, I would like to hear the details."

Zhang Renkang repeated to Lou Huaijin the words he had spoken to his superiors and the words they had discussed at the hotel.

It is nothing more than cooperating with the mainland. The mainland will also consider accepting the Lou family and agree to forgive the past when the Lou family returns.

Lou Huaijin also pretended to think carefully, and then said

"Chief Zhang, I'm afraid what you said doesn't represent the higher-ups, right?"

Then he smiled and said

"Actually, for me, it would be a good thing to be able to return home one day, but how can I dare to go back now? I can't say that you, Section Chief Zhang, can reassure me with just one word, right?"

"Excuse me, Chief Zhang, your rank is not high enough, and I don't trust you."

Zhang Renkang said with a smile

"I understand. As long as Mr. Lou is willing, the office will give you a written commitment."

"But Mr. Lou, I remember when we were drinking together before, you said that when you were young, you also hoped that we could improve our industrialization. Now that you can contribute to our industrialization construction, doesn't this also fulfill your wish?"

Lou Huaijin smiled, shook his head and said

"I can help you contact Western suppliers, but whether we can reach an agreement is up to you."

"My request is simple. You cannot touch the ancestral home of my Lou family in Sijiu City. The previous matters must be written off. And my Lou family can be allowed to return home later."

"As for the rest, just consider it as my support for the country."

"How is it? This is not difficult for you, right?"

Lou Huaijin's meaning was very clear. After discussing with Zhang Renkang, he decided to only take the Lou family's ancestral home, give the Lou family legal status in the mainland, and no longer pursue responsibility. As for the things and properties that had been confiscated, he would no longer ask about them.

As for what responsibilities to pursue, the higher-ups naturally knew what Lou Huaijin meant. It was nothing more than some debts and historical relics from the old society.

Zhang Renkang nodded and said with a smile

"I will report this to my superiors. Also, I am now the deputy director of the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, so at least what I say represents the opinions of my superiors to some extent. Otherwise, I would not dare to promise you anything."

Lou Huaijin smiled and said

"Oh, then congratulations to Director Zhang. Let's hope."

Then, Lou Huaijin suddenly said

"Don't you want to purchase mechanical equipment?"

"That's perfect. We're also going to have a batch of equipment coming to our factory. Although it's light industrial equipment, we can let you take a look at it for reference, right?"

"The equipment will be arriving soon. How about coming with me to receive it?"

"You know what, this William-made machinery is really different from the Japanese and American equipment we used before, not to mention the crude ones made in the north."

Lou Huaijin had noticed that his daughter was about to lose control of her emotions, so he had to think of a way to create time and opportunity for Zhang Renkang and the others.

Zhang Renkang looked at Tang Fu. Tang Fu was a little moved when he heard it. He was a typical technician and was very interested in Lou Huaijin's proposal. Seeing Zhang Renkang looking at him, he nodded subconsciously. Tang Fu also wanted to take this opportunity to see the workmanship of Western equipment. After all, the industrial system in the north of China has basically not used Western equipment. He was also curious about how far Westerners have developed now.

Zhang Renkang said

"Engineer Tang, how about you and Director Lou go for a tour?"

"Let's also see how advanced foreign equipment has developed to what extent?"

Tang Fu asked in confusion

"Deputy Director Zhang, don't you want to take a look?"

Zhang Renkang glanced at Lou Huaijin and smiled.

"I don't understand the equipment, so I still have to rely on you for technical issues. It would be useless for me to go there."

"If Mr. Lou is willing, you might as well go with him and take a look."

Tang Fu didn't have so many thoughts. He was so eager to get some advanced Western equipment that he didn't care what Zhang Renkang was going to do.

Seeing this, Lou Huaijin smiled and said to Tang Fu

"Let's go, Mr. Tang."

"If Director Zhang is not interested, just sit in my office for a while. We will be back after receiving the equipment. Director Zhang can take a rest first."

As he said that, he led Tang Fu out. Tang Fu also followed Lou Huaijin eagerly, without considering why Zhang Renkang didn't go.

As soon as the two left, Lou Xiao'e could no longer control herself. She turned around and threw herself into Zhang Renkang's arms with her child in her arms. She could no longer suppress her emotions and started crying. Even the child in her arms was affected and started crying loudly along with Lou Xiao'e.

Zhang Renkang hugged Lou Xiao'e and their child, greedily looking at the appearance of him and Lou Xiao'e's child, trying hard to carve his appearance into his mind.

Patting Lou Xiao'e gently, he said with a sob

"Xiao'e, I finally see you"

"Finally I get to see you and the child."

Lou Xiao'e cried so hard that her whole body trembled, and she sobbed and spoke intermittently.

"I"

"I thought I would never see you again in this life"

"Renkang, do you know how much I miss you?"

"Especially when I hold my child in my arms, I just think how nice it would be if our family could be together."

"I'm so scared. When our child asks me where his dad is, I won't know how to tell him the truth."

"Renkang"

Zhang Renkang bent down and kissed Lou Xiao'e on the lips. The longing they had felt for each other for more than a year suddenly ignited like a raging fire. For a moment, even the child sandwiched between the two stopped crying. Instead, they stared at them curiously with their big eyes, giggled, and patted their faces with their tender little hands.