"Alright, alright, you two stop talking. I have things to do! Can we not waste our time here?"
Seeing that Sun Zhengguo had spoken, the two who were arguing finally stopped.
"Hmph! I won't bother with you for the sake of our old classmate relationship." After saying that, Xu Damao walked into the yard with an arrogant look on his face.
"Look at you, you coward. You're lucky you ran fast..." Sha Zhu was quick to criticize, and after a string of curses, he opened the car door and got in.
Sun Zhengguo shook his head and quickly got into the car. After all, cooking would take time, and they couldn't afford to delay any longer.
But then, out of nowhere, bangs appeared.
He ran all the way to the car, panting heavily.
"Wait, Director Sun, I just found out you were coming, so I rushed over to report."
Upon hearing this, Sun Zhengguo frowned. These people aren't even from the same unit. What the hell are you reporting to?
However, one shouldn't hit a smiling face, so Sun Zhengguo still replied politely.
"Second Uncle, I'm really sorry, but I have to rush to report to my boss right now. How about we talk about it another time?"
"Of course, of course. Director Sun, please go ahead with your work. I'll report to you in person tonight."
Well! Sun Zhengguo didn't expect that Liu Haizhong couldn't tell good from bad words and still wanted to come and report.
"Whatever you want." With that, Sun Zhengguo started the engine, shifted gears, and stepped on the gas, sending the car speeding away into the distance.
He was standing there dumbfounded, with only his bangs remaining, waving at the car incessantly, his face revealing an expression of utter satisfaction.
On the way, Sha Zhu couldn't help but laugh when he thought of Liu Haizhong's comical appearance.
“Zhengguo, do you think this second uncle is obsessed with becoming an official? He’s been running around the factory lately, I’ve seen him doing it several times. He’s even secretly gone to Director Li to pledge his loyalty.”
"Hahaha!" Sun Zhengguo laughed loudly, "We're all neighbors. Don't you know who Uncle Er is? This is his lifelong dream. Don't you want him to make progress?"
"But he's not cut out for it! Why would Director Li approve of him? If he can do it, so can I..."
Sha Zhu was still talking, Sun Zhengguo was listening, and Ning Xiaowei, who was sitting in the back of the car, was also listening, just to enjoy the story.
Soon, the car arrived at the gate of a heavily guarded compound.
After showing his identification, Sun Zhengguo drove directly into the yard.
Sha Zhu was curious when he saw that the place was full of small Western-style houses.
Wow! What high-ranking leader lives here? The house is so luxurious!
"What, you've taken a liking to this house?" Sun Zhengguo joked casually.
"No, no, no, I was just curious." Sha Zhu shook his head.
His name is Sha Zhu, but he's not stupid. Even Sun Zhengguo couldn't get a share of this house, so what's the point of him wanting it?
"Creak!"
As the two were talking, the car stopped in front of Vice Minister Bai's house.
Then everyone in the car got off, and Sun Zhengguo opened the back cover, took out a cloth bag and handed it to Sha Zhu.
He then carried a box and followed closely behind into the yard.
Meanwhile, the commotion outside also caught the attention of the people inside.
Zhang Nan, the wife of Vice Minister Bai, was tidying up at home when she heard what sounded like someone outside and couldn't help but start to wonder.
"Strange, almost no one has come to our house since my husband stepped down. Who could it be this time?"
She quickly put down what she was doing, walked to the door, and opened it.
Upon seeing the person who arrived, Zhang Nan was overjoyed.
"Oh! Zhengguo, and Xiaowei too, the children are here too, come in quickly, please come in."
"Madam, I apologize for disturbing you."
Sun Zhengguo nodded in greeting.
Ning Xiaowei quickly added, "Aunt Zhang, we're sorry to bother you today."
"Hello, Grandma Zhang," the three children greeted in unison.
Zhang Nan was overjoyed, "Oh, hey, hey! Children, come inside with Grandma and have some candy."
To be honest, since her husband stepped down, Zhang Nan has experienced firsthand what it means to be cold-hearted and indifferent to others.
Back when Vice Minister Bai was in power, those people practically camped out at the door every day.
But now? Everyone's trying to hide!
That's why she was so happy to see Sun Zhengguo's family come over.
As for Sha Zhu standing to the side, she didn't recognize him at all, so she didn't ask him anything.
He's definitely a background character.
After the group entered the house, Zhang Nan first brought out candy, and after greeting the children, she poured a few cups of tea before saying with a humble expression.
“Zhengguo, you guys have some tea first. I’ll go upstairs and call Lao Bai down. You know, he’s really something. He’s already stepped down, but he’s still worrying about those trivial matters every day.”
Upon hearing Zhang Nan's words, the people in the room simply smiled slightly and did not offer any further comments.
Soon, a hearty laugh came from the staircase, and then Vice Minister Bai came down from upstairs.
"Comrade Zhengguo! I never expected that you would come to see me when I, an old man, am about to pass away tomorrow."
"Vice Minister Bai, what are you saying? You've been helping me out a lot lately, so it's only right that I come to see you."
Seeing Sun Zhengguo stand up to greet her, Ning Xiaowei also stood up shyly, "Hello, Uncle Bai."
The children, well-trained, shouted in unison, "Hello, Grandpa Bai!" and then continued eating candy.
"Hey, hey, hey! Hello, Xiaowei, don't be shy. This old man is nothing now. It's an honor that you came to see me."
At this moment, Vice Minister Bai noticed Sha Zhu standing next to him. He racked his brains for a moment, but still didn't recognize him.
"Who is this...?"
"Oh~!" Sun Zhengguo quickly explained, "Vice Minister Bai, this is Master Liu Dachuan's apprentice. I brought him here to help you cook a meal."
After listening, Vice Minister Bai nodded, a look of satisfaction on his face. "Zhengguo, you've put your heart into this."
After all, it is precisely at times like these that a person's character is truly revealed.
Sun Zhengguo was a person worth befriending, it's just a pity that back then...
Vice Minister Bai felt increasingly distressed as he thought about it, and went to sit down on the sofa.
When Zhang Nan learned that Sha Zhu was a chef, she called him to go to the back kitchen together.
Ning Xiaowei was afraid of disturbing the two's conversation, so she took her child and followed Zhang Nan to the back.
Now there were only two people left in the room. Vice Minister Bai was filled with emotion and began to talk about the current situation.
Sun Zhengguo didn't interrupt, but just listened attentively.
It wasn't until noon that Vice Minister Bai stopped rambling on.
"Zhengguo, I'm sorry to have troubled you today. You've listened to this old man rambling on all morning."
"Vice Minister Bai, you are too kind. Your words are invaluable and have deeply impressed me. I have learned a great deal from them."
"Haha! You!" Vice Minister Bai burst into laughter, then his expression turned serious as if he had thought of something.
"Jung-guk, I remember we made a two-year agreement back then. You didn't foresee this situation, did you?"
"Impossible. Who can predict how the situation will change?" Sun Zhengguo naturally wouldn't admit it and casually denied it.
"Never mind, Zhengguo, I don't care about all that. But before I leave, could I ask you for a favor? Could you help us develop an eight-roll rolling mill?"
Upon hearing Vice Minister Bai's request, Sun Zhengguo fell into deep thought.
As the saying goes, "If you're not in a position, you shouldn't meddle in its affairs."
What kind of magnanimity is it that allows someone who has already stepped down to still care about his past work?
Perhaps this is the persistence of the older generation; even if they are no longer cadres, they still have great enthusiasm for the places where they once worked.
...
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