Chapter 5
Luo Mei stood in the corridor leading from the workshop to the Party Committee office, like a wild rose forgotten in a corner, every feature exuding a captivating aura. This woman, only twenty-five years old, possessed a heartbreaking beauty—not the innocence of a young girl, but a complex charm tempered by fate, carrying three parts sorrow and seven parts allure.
Her eyes were always moist, as if perpetually veiled by a thin mist—not from crying, but simply her natural state. This gave her an air of perpetual melancholy and tenderness. Men, under the gaze of those eyes, would unconsciously feel a protective instinct; while women would secretly envy her, seeing them as two alluring pools of gentle embrace.
Everyone who has seen those eyes believes that some beauty is destined to become legend, while some passion is destined to become tragedy. And she was Xu Zhenguo's tragedy…
"Don't treat me like a three-year-old. Do you even believe that yourself? Brother Xu, if you don't have any other ulterior motives, why don't you just go and ask Director Li directly? You've been working at the factory for over ten years, always diligent and hardworking. In terms of management skills, you're no less capable than Li Junsheng. He became the director only because his father is a senior figure in the factory. The factory director and the party secretary have to give his father face. We all know that. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come to me about this, right? If you can use this opportunity to completely turn your life around, I'm very willing to help you! As long as you don't have so many reservations..."
Luo Mei's words made Xu Zhenguo's heart itch with desire...
The hum of the machine tools still lingered in his ears. Xu Zhenguo clutched his greasy work badge, his fingertips repeatedly tracing the words "Level 3 Technician." A hint of resentment flickered across his face. Over the years, from apprentice to a capable master craftsman, he had watched three team leaders move to the office, while his own paycheck never kept up with his child's tuition. This opportunity was different; it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
But turning around, he saw Li Junsheng bustling about in the workshop, personally overseeing production, a smear of thick black machine oil on his face. Xu Zhenguo's heart sank. He recalled eight years ago when his wife, Wang Lili, was hospitalized giving birth to their son, Xu Chen. Li Junsheng wasn't the director yet, and Li Junsheng had stood guard over the stamping machine for him for three days in the sweltering heat, without uttering a single extra word, only saying simply, "It's good that your wife and child are safe!" If he were to walk into the secretary's office now, and they met in the locker room tomorrow, would Li Junsheng's greeting of "Zhenguo" still be as warm as before?
Luo Mei was still urging him to hurry upstairs. He remembered Wang Lili telling him at the door when he left that morning, "Don't push yourself too hard, there's enough room at home." He also remembered the cigarette Li Junsheng had just handed him, the cigarette holder still warm from Li Junsheng's body.
At this moment, Xu Zhenguo felt like he had an unsolvable knot in his heart. He didn't know whether he should take a step forward or stay where he was, and he felt as if he were carrying an entire machine tool on his back.
"Brother Xu, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and go up. You have to give it your all for your future! My sister-in-law is an accountant now, and her salary is so much higher than yours. Are you just going to be content with that? And Xiao Chen is only in second grade now. She still has to go to high school and take the college entrance exam. You should think about Xiao Chen..."
Luo Mei reached out from behind and gave him a hard shove...
(To be continued)
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