r18novel Chapter 1194 He Yuzhu Flattery
Chapter 1194 He Yuzhu Flattery
He Yuzhu walked towards the office building, his heart pounding like a rabbit's, repeatedly pondering why Zhong Yi had targeted him. Who was Zhong Yi? Gu Nan's apprentice, always trained by him, known for his arrogant and aloof demeanor in the factory, his every step exuding a sense of unapproachability, and his conversations always tinged with distance. But today, he'd stopped him at the kitchen door, a smile plastered on his face, politely asking, "Don't hesitate to ask if you have any difficulties." This whole affair was as strange as peach blossoms falling in the dead of winter. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, and he quickened his pace—he had to talk to Factory Director Zhu about this; after all, Zhu Tao and Gu Nan were notoriously at odds, and perhaps he could glean some information from him.
Zhu Tao's office was at the very back of the second floor of the office building. The door was ajar, and the sound of rustling paper turning could be heard from inside, like silkworms munching on mulberry leaves. He Yuzhu knocked lightly on the door twice, making two soft "tap-tap" sounds, with just the right amount of force—not too presumptuous, but loud enough to be heard.
"Come in," Zhu Tao's voice came from inside, tinged with impatience at being disturbed, clearly indicating he was busy.
He Yuzhu pushed open the door and entered, a faint smell of ink wafting towards him. He saw Zhu Tao buried in a pile of reports, a pair of black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, his eyes narrowed behind the lenses, his fingers flying across the paper with a red pen, occasionally furrowing his brow. He stood at the doorway, not daring to approach, and waited a moment. Seeing Zhu Tao rub his temples, he cautiously spoke, "Director Zhu, busy?"
Zhu Tao glanced at him, his gaze sweeping over him through his glasses with a hint of scrutiny. He then took off his glasses and placed them on the table, pressing his knuckles against his temples. "Zhu Zi, what do you want? Isn't the kitchen busy? Is the lunch ready?"
He Yuzhu quickly stepped forward, his face beaming with smiles, and recounted in detail how Zhong Yi had stopped him at the kitchen door, offering cigarettes, exchanging pleasantries, and saying, "Don't hesitate to ask if you have any difficulties." Finally, he asked with a puzzled look, "Director Zhu, what exactly does Zhong Yi want? He's Gu Nan's apprentice, the one who's on Gu Nan's side. Why is he suddenly trying to curry favor with me? Is he trying to get information out of me, to find out about you?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Tao's lips curled into a cold smile, a smile that didn't reach his eyes but rather resembled a crack in the ice. He tapped his fingers on the table, making a soft "tap-tap" sound, as if he were calculating something: "Zhong Yi? He's still a bit green." He leaned back in his chair, casually crossing his legs, his eyes gleaming with cunning. "This kid was personally trained by Gu Nan, just like Gu Nan. He looks honest and simple, but he's full of tricks. But don't worry, this matter is fine—I have leverage over him, he doesn't dare to play tricks on me. He can't do whatever he wants."
He Yuzhu opened his mouth, feeling like he had a fishbone stuck in his throat. He wanted to ask what kind of leverage it was, but he swallowed the words back. He knew Zhu Tao's personality; he always left things unsaid, and it was pointless to ask questions that weren't worth it. Besides, he himself wasn't very confident. If he had the ability to deal with Gu Nan, the position of cafeteria director wouldn't be in the hands of the current person who was bullying him. How could he let the other party constantly make veiled accusations against him?
He pondered for a moment, making plans in his mind, and tentatively said, "Director Zhu, how about... I keep an eye on Zhong Yi for you? If he makes any moves, I'll let you know immediately. To be honest, I'm still a little worried about him; who knows what kind of bad intentions he might be plotting?"
Zhu Tao hadn't originally planned to involve He Yuzhu—in his eyes, He Yuzhu was just a brute who could only wield a ladle, all strength and no brains, more trouble than he was worth. But then he thought, He Yuzhu had worked in the cafeteria for over a decade; he knew everyone in the kitchen, who was on good terms with whom, who didn't—he was incredibly well-informed. Having him keep an eye on Zhong Yi would save him the trouble. Besides… people like He Yuzhu were the easiest to manage; a little reward and they'd work for him, unlike some people who were too calculating.
"Alright." Zhu Tao nodded, his tone softening, like a fisherman casting out bait. "I'll leave this to you. Remember, keep a close eye on things, but don't alert them. If anything happens, don't act rashly; just let me know." He then changed the subject, his gaze landing on He Yuzhu's face with a meaningful look. "You know, the cafeteria director position has been vacant. Right now, the time isn't right, so I can't give it to you yet. But as long as we take down Gu Nan, I guarantee the cafeteria director position will be yours. How about it, isn't this a good deal?"
He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat, as if he'd been hit hard by something, and his eyes instantly lit up like two lamps. The head of the canteen! That was the position he'd always dreamed of! Not only would he be in charge of dozens of people in the kitchen, but he'd also receive a significantly higher monthly allowance, and even walk with a more upright posture. He nodded hurriedly, thumping his chest loudly, and assured him, "Director Zhu, don't worry! I'll definitely handle this perfectly! As for Zhong Yi, I'll report to you immediately if he even blinks twice!"
He knew perfectly well that Zhong Yi held a high position and had Gu Nan backing him up. If he couldn't bring down Gu Nan, not only would he lose his position as director, but he might not even be able to stay in the canteen. But he wasn't afraid—when it came to cooking, no one in the entire steel mill could compare to him. The factory couldn't do without him at any banquet, big or small. Even if he didn't succeed this time, there would always be a time when he would be needed, and his day would come sooner or later.
"Then I'll head back now, Director Zhu." He Yuzhu smiled, his face crinkling with wrinkles, the lines around his eyes forming a flower shape. "There's still a ton of work waiting for me in the kitchen. The braised pork for lunch hasn't been cooked yet, and that's your favorite."
Zhu Tao waved his hand, put his glasses back on, and looked at the report form: "Okay, keep a close eye on the kitchen. Remember, don't let anything go wrong in the near future. You need to know that the kitchen is not just a place to cook, it's also one of my bases, understand?" He needed the canteen to be stable, and even more so, he needed someone like He Yuzhu, one of his own, to keep things in check and not give Gu Nan any opportunity to find fault.
He Yuzhu was flattered by Zhu Tao's high regard for him, and straightened his back considerably, like an inflated balloon: "Director Zhu, you can rest assured! I guarantee I'll keep a close watch on the kitchen, not a single scallion or garlic will be out of order! After we deal with Gu Nan, we'll have braised pork with drinks and celebrate properly!"
Zhu Tao didn't reply, but continued looking at the report with his head down. The pen tip moved across the paper, making a soft "scratching" sound, which was considered tacit approval.