Autumn, 1965
Canteen at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill in Beijing.
A group of people looked at the man with some helplessness. Seeing that he didn't speak, one hot-tempered man pushed him and said, "Hey, Ma Hua, people say you're a 'twisted dough stick,' and you actually believe it? You're going to take the blame for this?"
"Ah." Ma Hua rubbed his head, somewhat confused. What crime? Wasn't he watching TV after work? What crime? Could it be that he got arrested for secretly watching adult films? That shouldn't be the case; wasn't it said that watching them wasn't illegal?
Ma Hua opened his eyes, somewhat confused, and then took in his surroundings. The dilapidated house was blackened by smoke; what had happened? Had it been on fire?
Suddenly, his head swelled up, and a flood of memories that weren't his own rushed into his mind. "Ah!" Ma Hua felt like his head was about to explode. After a long while, he realized that he had transmigrated, actually transmigrating into that brothel full of beasts called "Love in the Courtyard."
What's going on? Just because he's also called Ma Hua? And he's a cook too? That's unfair! Why should he be allowed to wear it? Fine, he can wear it, but can't he be a second-generation rich kid?
The short-tempered middle-aged woman, seeing Ma Hua staring at the ceiling without saying a word, grew impatient and shouted, "Ma Hua, I'm talking to you! I'm telling you, you can't take this lying down! Did you hear me?"
Ma Hua slowly turned his head and realized that the person speaking to him was actually Liu Lan, Li Huaide's lover. Ma Hua instinctively asked, "Liu Lan?"
Liu Lan was displeased to see Ma Hua address her by her full name. "What's wrong with this silly boy today?" she thought. "Hey," she said, "don't be ungrateful! Take my advice, we can't admit to this crime, you hear me?"
Ma Hua nodded subconsciously, "Oh." Then she racked her brain trying to recall what Liu Lan had mentioned.
It turns out that his nominal mentor, He Yuzhu, is actually just a simpleton. Yesterday, he was reported for stealing vegetables from the kitchen after work, and now Ma Hua needs to confess on his behalf. Ma Hua, thinking about the simpleton, also felt a headache coming on; what kind of mess is this?
You can steal all you want, just don't let anyone know. But Sha Zhu is different. Every day he carries a net bag with the lunchboxes he steals from the cafeteria inside, as if he's afraid no one will see them.
Now, someone with envy reported him, and Sha Zhu was caught by the steel mill's gatekeeper when he left work. Sha Zhu naturally didn't want anyone to accuse him of stealing. After all, stealing factory supplies is a serious crime.
That idiot Zhu, he's such a jerk. Why didn't he just lower his head? He had to yell in front of so many workers that the factory manager allowed him to take it. Besides, in his mind, he's the head chef of the steel mill; what's wrong with taking a few dishes? The factory allowed it, what's it to you?
Seeing Sha Zhu's attitude, the onlookers were outraged. They'd seen arrogant people before, but never one this arrogant. More and more workers gathered, and the situation escalated. Seeing this, the factory manager dared not admit to saying those words. Not wanting to lose Sha Zhu's cooking skills, he needed a scapegoat. And just like that, our protagonist, Ma Hua, stepped in to take the blame.
Ma Hua, that simpleton, is also stupid and honest. As soon as Sha Zhu finished telling him what happened, he volunteered to go to the director's office to take the blame himself. The director immediately gave Ma Hua a good scolding.
Seeing this, Liu Lan and the others immediately pulled Ma Hua back. This fool doesn't know his own limitations. Even a simpleton like Sha Zhu, the head chef, dared to challenge the supervisor. You're just a junior apprentice; they can fire you without warning. Are they stupid?
“Ma Hua, you’re such a scoundrel. If you get fired, we won’t say a good word for you. Look at how much you’ve suffered at Sha Zhu’s hands. He even beat you up because of Qin Huairu’s matter, and now you’re rushing to take the blame for him. I’m speechless. Think about it carefully.”
After Liu Lan finished speaking, she flicked her sleeves and led the group of onlookers away. Liu Lan was really angry; this silly boy. How could he be so dense? Oh well, if all else fails, she'll just have to talk to Li Huaide herself.
"Ouch," Ma Hua subconsciously moved his face away. Why does it hurt so much? It turns out he was beaten up at noon. The cause of the incident was simple: Ma Hua saw Xu Damao hugging Qin Huairu while queuing for food in the cafeteria, and he also heard Xu Damao and Qin Huairu talking about going into the small warehouse.
She ran excitedly to Sha Zhu, "Master, you weren't here, so you didn't see it, but Qin Huairu and Xu Damao were hugging and cuddling in the cafeteria. They even said they were going to sneak into the small storeroom later!"
After Ma Hua finished speaking, Sha Zhu couldn't wait to ask, "That Qin Huairu?"
"Who else? There's only one in our factory, the one you always talk about, Sister Qin. I saw her hugging and kissing Xu Damao in the cafeteria with my own eyes, Master. Let me tell you, she's really not good enough for you."
Before Ma Hua could finish speaking, Sha Zhu took off his sleeves, threw them on a bench, and ran out. A moment later, Sha Zhu stormed back to the cafeteria and started punching and kicking Ma Hua.
"I'll teach you to spread rumors about my Sister Qin. Let me tell you, kid, if you dare to spout nonsense again, I'll tear your mouth apart."
Thinking back on what happened at noon today, Ma Hua felt sorry for the original owner of this body. He had kindly told him what was going on, but not only did he get no benefit, he also received a severe beating. What kind of situation was this? What kind of person was that?
What did the original owner gain from fawning over Sha Zhu? Sha Zhu was demoted to the workshop after hitting Li Huaide, and the original owner went with him without a word. Sha Zhu went to Yu Li's restaurant to earn extra money without taking the original owner along. But when Sha Zhu ran out of money supporting his three wealthy patrons, he came to the original owner for a loan, and the original owner lent him 2000 without hesitation.
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