Chapter 4 Exploration

  When Zhang Shaocai returned to the office, he couldn't help but think of Xu Shaojie. Was there really something different about him? From the way he treated people and things, Xu Shaojie was indeed different from others, and he was also very good at talking. But these didn't count for much, if Xu Shaojie continued to work like this, it would be hard to say whether he would amount to anything in the future.

  Zhang Shaocai was lost in thought and didn't notice Yan Yuhuan coming in.

  Yan Yuhuan was not yet 30 years old and had not married. After graduating from high school, Yan did not get into college, so she went to work in Xilin City. At first, she worked in a factory, which was very hard work, often working night shifts, and the salary was not high. Yan's heart was high, after all, she was an educated woman, and she was very dissatisfied with this situation. Later, she changed jobs many times, and when she was working at a building materials factory, she met Zhang Shaocai. Yan thought that Zhang had prospects and would definitely make something of himself in the future, so she followed him without hesitation. As they spent more time together, the two developed feelings for each other. However, Zhang was already married, but Yan did not care, feeling that with her own conditions, she would eventually win Zhang over.

  Zhang Shaocai was very fond of Yan Yuhuan. The main financial management on the construction site was in charge of Yan Yuhuan. Everyone on the construction site knew about the relationship between Yan Yuhuan and Zhang Shaocai. Zhang Shaocai was a generous person, sometimes he would rather suffer losses than lose face, but Yan Yuhuan was different. Since Yan Yuhuan took over the financial management, Zhang Shaocai had fewer things to worry about. Yan Yuhuan knew which expenses were necessary and which ones could be cut back on. The workers on the construction site were somewhat afraid of Yan Yuhuan because she was strict and would criticize anyone who did a poor job, regardless of their seniority. When it came to paying wages, she never showed favoritism. Everyone knew that the actual power was in Yan Yuhuan's hands, so who wouldn't be afraid?

  "Zhang Ge, what's on your mind?"

  "Oh, Yuhuan, I was thinking about that little brother who came to work on the construction site a few days ago, what's his name?"

  "You're talking about Xu Shaojie, aren't you? He's very young, probably just graduated from high school. His family conditions are not good, he came out to find work. What happened to him?"

  "This Xiao Shaojie is not simple."

  Zhang Shaocai spoke out about the drips and drops on the construction site. At first, Yan Yuhuan didn't pay attention to it. After hearing that Xu Yijie wasn't going out to fool around with women, a careless smile appeared on her face.

  "Hmph, which man doesn't have a roving eye? I wouldn't believe it if you told me otherwise. This Xu Shaojie is so patient, probably because he's never experienced the taste of a woman before. But when the time comes, won't he be just the same, seeing a woman and wanting to take her?"

  "What if Xu Shaojie doesn't go up?"

  "This is easy, just find someone to try it out with him and you'll know. If Xu Shaojie is really like what you said, then I think you can get along well with this Xu Shaojie."

  "Hello, you're just probing. Generally, women like Xu Shaojie wouldn't even give a second glance to those beauticians from the nearby beauty salons."

  Looking at the sparkling eyes of Yan Yuhuan, Zhang Shaocai's scalp felt numb.

  "Yu Huan, don't get any strange ideas."

  "What's the big deal? I just want to try Xu Shaojie myself, see what kind of person he is. If he really endures it, then Xu Shaojie is not an ordinary person, and you must treat him well."

  Zhang Shaocai strongly disagreed, but Yan Yuhuan's determination was firm. Zhang Shaocai could only yield in the end. After careful discussion, they came up with a plan, and this matter was simpler than ever.

  When Xujie went to Zhang Shao's office, he really couldn't think of anything, Zhang Shao said it was an invitation to dinner, but there was no reason, Xujie had only been on the construction site for a few days, and was just a low-ranking laborer, they were everywhere on the streets, and he couldn't think of a reason, so Xujie simply stopped thinking about it. These days, almost every meal was stir-fried potatoes and cabbage tofu, Xujie also felt that he couldn't eat it anymore, Zhang Shao's invitation to dinner wouldn't be cabbage tofu.

  As he walked into the office, he saw a small table set up inside, with several dishes already cooked and placed on it. There were bean curd with shredded meat, stir-fried pork belly, Mapo tofu, tiger-skin green peppers, and in the middle, a bowl of braised meat that was so tender it was falling apart. Seeing these dishes, Xu Shaojie's stomach involuntarily growled, having not eaten meat for a long time.

  "Little brother, come sit down. Today I heard you speak and I knew you were a cultured person. I love dealing with cultured people, there's much to learn from them. Let's have a good chat today."

  Xu Shaojie sat down, and the phrase "useless bookworm" emerged in his mind. Zhang Shaocai didn't know what he was thinking about. On a construction site, the most useless people were bookworms, or as Zhang Shaocai called them, cultured people. Xu Shaojie couldn't understand what Zhang Shaocai meant, but the dishes on the table were really tempting.

  Zhang Shaocai took out a bottle of Baogu wine and filled two glasses to the brim.

  "Little brother, no wine means no banquet, that's what I heard from the cultured people in town. Let's have a big drink first."

  During dinner, Xu Shaojie didn't say much, most of the time it was Zhang Shaocai who spoke. Although there were many delicious dishes on the table, Xu Shaojie still paid attention to his manners and didn't appear disheveled. The two drank wine and ate, with Zhang Shaocai constantly serving Xu Shaojie food, urging him to eat more. Eating meat and eating rice are different, Xu Shaojie soon felt that he wasn't hungry anymore. His drinking speed was neither fast nor slow, always keeping an eye on Zhang Shaocai's wine cup, the two maintaining the same pace.

  After drinking a bottle of wine, Zhang Shaocai's face turned red. At this time, Xu Shaojie also felt full and didn't want to say goodbye, so he just followed the host's lead. Zhang Shaocai took out another bottle of wine and they poured themselves glasses. This time, Zhang Shaocai drank much more slowly, but Xu Shaojie didn't decline and kept drinking with him. As they continued drinking, Zhang Shaocai suddenly fell asleep on the table, not responding to Xu Shaojie's calls of "Zhang Ge".

  Xu Shaojie also felt the heat, drinking strong liquor in summer is not a good choice, Xu Shaojie realized that from now on he should drink less strong liquor, at least in summer. Looking at Zhang Shaocai who was sleeping soundly, Xu Shaojie didn't want to leave, so he helped Zhang Shaocai onto the sofa and directed the electric fan at him. Then, Xu Shaojie prepared to leave the office.

  A fragrance wafted over, and Xu Shaojie felt a little dizzy.

  Yan Yuhuan appeared in the office, summer, women's clothes were originally not worn much, at this moment Yan Yuhuan was wearing a bit too little, a round-necked sweater with a very low neckline, her cleavage was exposed, and she was wearing shorts on the bottom. Yan Yuhuan saw Zhang Shaocai lying on the sofa and pretended to be surprised.

  "Hey, little brother, your drinking capacity is pretty good, Zhang Ge has been drunk by you."

  "No, Sister Yan, Brother Zhang might be a bit tired today and not in good spirits for drinking, so it's just like this."

  "Hehe, little brother seems to be quite good at reading books, has a good writing style. I'm also a high school graduate and I like young people with a good writing style. Little brother is really not bad."

  Yan Yuhuan smiled and bumped into Xu Shaojie with her body, through the thin clothes, Xu Shaojie felt Yan Yuhuan's soft body. To be honest, Yan Yuhuan looked pretty good, with big watery eyes, high nose bridge, cherry lips, if not for a slightly larger face, she could have participated in beauty pageants. Yan Yuhuan had a great figure, exuding a mature flavor, like a ripe apple, Xu Shaojie felt dry mouth and tongue, and had a primitive impulse.

  "Little brother, let's go to the office next door and have a chat. There are many things I'd like to ask you about. This construction site is full of rough people, it's really annoying."

  Yan Yuhuan pulled Xu Shaojie's hand and walked out of the office.

  Xu Shaojie had never experienced such a thing, and at first he was a bit confused, almost following Yan Yuhuan away. However, the grinding of his childhood and adolescence gave Xu Shaojie extraordinary control, and he quickly sobered up. In the days on the construction site, migrant workers spoke without any scruples, and Xu Shaojie also heard rumors about Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan's relationship. Looking at the wine and dishes on the table and the sleeping Zhang Shaocai, Xu Shaojie suddenly understood something.

  Xu Shaojie gently broke free from Yan Yuhuan's hand.

  "Yan jie, I'm going back now. I still have work tomorrow afternoon. I'll go take a shower and get some rest early."

  "Hehe, little brother, it's very convenient to take a bath at my place, the conditions are great, come to my place to take a bath, it's very comfortable."

  "No, Yansister and I have different identities now. I'm a worker and she's our supervisor. Going to her place to take a bath would be inappropriate for her image, but thank you anyway, Yansister."

  Yan Yuhuan didn't give up and looked at Xu Shaojie.

  "Little brother, is it because you think your sister looks ugly or that she's too old?"

  "Yan sister, you're smiling, you're my sister, where's the brother who thinks his sister is ugly? Yan sister looks very beautiful and will definitely find a good husband in the future. Yan sister, I'm going to take a bath now."

  At this moment, Yan Yuhuan was slightly moved, unexpectedly Xu Shaojie was so good at talking, from head to toe without hurting her self-esteem, nor did he have a dignified appearance. One word "sister" made Yan Yuhuan feel different, if it wasn't for her feelings with Zhang Shaocai, Yan Yuhuan would really like this Xu Shaojie, even as a nominal husband.

  Xu Shaojie left, Zhang Shaocai woke up, somewhat unhappy.

  "Alright, Zhang Ge, I knew you'd be jealous. You're so narrow-minded and can't even handle a small situation like this. How are you going to do big things in the future?"

  Upon hearing Yan Yuhuan's coquettish words, Zhang Shaocai's face quickly changed, and he was all smiles.

  Yu Huan, how is it? This Xiao Shaojie is quite good, isn't he?

  "Hmm, this time I believe you've found the right person, Zhang Ge, what are you going to do?"

  "What can be done about it? Give him a raise, leave some human feelings, and maintain good relationships. What else can be done?"

  "Zhang Ge, you're stupid. This Xu Shaojie is definitely not simple. I'm now suspicious of his true identity. Didn't he say he's been working on the construction site for a month? Exactly in mid-September. Is this Xu Shaojie a university student? I noticed that the luggage he brought is different from others, why bring such thick quilts? And this Xu Shaojie, when speaking and doing things, reveals stability and carefulness about his image."

  "Yes, you didn't mention it and I hadn't noticed, but now that you say so, it really does seem similar."

  "Zhang Ge, this Xu Shaojie is worth getting to know. It's not easy to do well in the construction industry. You've always been looking for someone capable, and Xu Shaojie might just be that person. You must win him over, he might come in handy someday."

  Zhang Shaocai quickly calculated and opened up, he and Yan Yuhuan's style of doing things were different, once they were prepared to invest, they would be wholeheartedly invested, not playing virtual, this was also related to his own personality. So when Yan Yuhuan said these words, Zhang Shaocai began to consider that if Xu Shaojie was a university student, he would definitely have a future, now it's possible that his family encountered difficulties and came out to find things to do, such young people, Zhang Shaocai had not seen before.

  "Alright, I'll do as you said and get along well with this Xu Shaojie."

  "Zhang Ge, don't think I'm a woman with long hair and short sight. I know your character, when you're preparing to make friends with someone, it's true that you put in effort. By looking at how you treat me, I can tell that this Xu Shaojie will definitely have a good future, but he needs help. It won't be too fast for him to stand out. Zhang Ge, if you're thinking of getting a return in the short term, you'll probably be disappointed."

  "Haha, Yuhuan, you still don't truly understand me. Don't look at the fact that I'm from a rural area and didn't read many books. I know that in the future, those who will make something of themselves are still the educated ones. We 'mud legs' are just bold and dare to take risks, we don't have anything to begin with, so we're not afraid of losing anything, which is why we can succeed. I believe in educated people, but I dislike those who only read books superficially. This Xu Shaojie, I've decided to befriend him. From now on, his difficulties are my difficulties. I appreciate young people like him. It's worth investing in him, I don't know how many benefits those officials have given me, but I'm willing to invest funds in Xu Shaojie."

  "Zhang Ge, I really didn't know you had such guts."

  "Haha, you just know, tomorrow I'll invite this kid to dinner and must get his true identity out of him. If he's a migrant worker, I'll let him be my assistant; if he's a university student, I'll fully support him."

  Zhang Shaocai finished speaking and chuckled towards Yan Yuhuan.

  "Yu Huan, I'm so outstanding, shouldn't you be treating me to something?"

  Zhang Shaocai held onto Yan Yuhuan tightly, and Yan Yuhuan struggled free.

  "Look at you, all anxious and reeking of alcohol, sweating profusely. Follow me to take a bath, and only after you're clean can you touch me."

  At this moment, Xu Shaojie is deep in thought about what happened today and why it did.

  (New book seeking recommendation, if you like it, please recommend it to readers)