Gu Qijun's face was full of confusion: "Who is it?"
"Her!" Liu Xinnian replied.
Gu Qi thought for a moment and asked, "At the branch factory? I've seen him there?"
"Yes!" Liu Xinnian answered loudly.
Gu Qi frowned in embarrassment: "There are more than 200 workers in the branch factory, and there are so many people inside and outside. I have only been there twice, so how can I recognize who is with whom?"
"She recognized you." Liu Xinnian explained, "Moreover, she admired you very much. When you went to the branch factory to repair the engine, she was the person in charge... She was busy following you around for more than two days. You don't remember her, but she always remembers you. She even followed you to learn for a while, and always called you 'Master Gu'."
Gu Qi listened to his vivid description and quickly remembered the time he went to the branch factory to repair the engine.
At that time, the branch was repairing an old ship. For some reason, the engine could not be operated even though no faults were found. Several technicians worked for more than half a month but could not find the problem.
The branch factory was afraid of delaying work, so it had to ask for help from the main factory, hoping that a master from the mechanical department could come to help.
Old Guo was just going to the branch factory, so he hurriedly pulled him into the car to help.
"Yeah." Gu Qi nodded: "That's true. But there were so many people watching and learning at the time, how can I remember who followed whom."
No matter how good his memory is, he will only remember people he has come into contact with. Moreover, he was only focused on work at the time, so how could he remember an unrelated woman?
Liu Xinnian was dissatisfied and angrily scolded: "I regard you as my master, but you don't even remember it!"
Gu Qi didn't bother with the drunkard and wiped the corner of his mouth.
"When people from the main factory go to the branch factory, no matter if they are senior or junior chefs, they all call me 'Master' respectfully. How can I remember who is who?"
He put his handkerchief aside and asked, "Brother Liu, do you want some more noodles? Tomatoes are delicious and very appetizing."
"No." Liu Xinnian shook his head: "I'm full."
Gu Qi had finally changed the subject and was about to send him to the study next door to have some tea to sober up, but unexpectedly Liu Xinnian came back.
"Aqi, she came to the main factory to study...she studied with you for a while...you really don't remember?"
ah? ? ?
After hearing what he said, Gu Qi suddenly remembered a female apprentice who had studied with him for more than two months more than a year ago.
"You mean—Liu Qing'er?"
Liu Xinnian's eyes flickered slightly, and then he nodded slightly.
"Yes, that's her."
Gu Qi whispered, "After the engine was repaired, the branch factory sent several technicians to learn here. Lao Guo assigned three of them to stay with me - two girls and one boy. They were all older than me, one of them was two or three years older than me. They studied very hard and bought each of us a large enamel cup before leaving. I remember her name was Liu Qing'er."
Liu Xinnian sighed and held his forehead, his voice slightly choked.
"She...she has known me for many years. She has been waiting for me...but I couldn't give her anything at that time, not even a promise. I had no choice...I really had no choice."
"Aqi, you know... I am really helpless. I applied for divorce many times, but the organization always refused. Lao Guo persuaded me again and again, and I had no way to escape."
"If I had been more mature back then, and if I had been willing to persevere, maybe... I wouldn't have made such a mistake and ended up losing everything. I really didn't want to marry that hag back then. Lao Guo kept trying to persuade me and coax me, hoping for a closer relationship."
"I thought we could live a good life, but she hurt me again and again. When I ran away to the branch factory, I was depressed every day, and she was the one who accompanied me. I knew her feelings for me. But I couldn't... because I was still married at that time."
"She's very good, really very good. If I wasn't married, I would definitely accept it. But I still have a legitimate wife behind me, so I can't mess around. If I do that, I won't be a good person either. She didn't say it at the beginning, so I knew it but I could only pretend I didn't know."
"Later, she cried and asked me what to do. I was very sad at that time and didn't dare to make any promises to her... However, I started to resist. I came back and confronted her, forcing Lao Guo to comply. Time and time again, I would even rather provoke her and let her hurt me, as long as I could get away from here quickly."
Gu Qi frowned when he heard this, secretly feeling sorry for his good brother.
"...Brother Liu, you are drunk, stop talking."
Liu Xinnian covered his eyes and whispered angrily: "Aqi, it was just a little bit - really just a little bit. I had planned to tell her to wait patiently for another year or two after the New Year. But I... it was still too late. She just left like that - and never contacted me again."
Gu Qi couldn't help but ask, "Can't you find someone?"
"I can't find her." Liu Xinnian sighed, "She...she went abroad with her aunt. After I got divorced, I went to look for her immediately. But her family said that she left with her aunt after the Chinese New Year. Her aunt has no children, so she came to China specifically to find a blood relative to take care of her in her old age. I asked her family when she would be back, but they said they didn't know, and maybe she would never come back."
After saying this, Liu Xinnian closed his eyes feeling uncomfortable.
"It's been a year. A whole year. When the branch factory stopped production last year, she packed her bags and waited for me for a day and a night, and then she left quietly. I didn't know... I really didn't know that it was the last chance she gave me. If I knew, I would be willing to go find her even if I was torn to pieces."
Gu Qi looked at him hesitantly and asked in a low voice: "Really... can't let it go?"
"I feel sorry for her." Liu Xinnian choked up, "She waited for me for so many years, and I felt so guilty towards her. Now I feel so regretful."
Gu Qi had no choice but to remind her: "Although she has gone abroad, she should have left her contact information. It is impossible that she has nothing. Have you asked her family? Find out her contact address, and then send her a telegram to tell her that you are divorced and you are waiting for her to come back."
"I asked." Liu Xinnian sighed and whispered, "My family said they moved and they don't know the address of their new home. And I don't know how to use telegraphs and telephones abroad."
"I understand." Gu Qi suggested: "After moving, they must have reconnected later. It is impossible that they lost contact. Unless Liu Qing'er's family knows you, and she told her family not to disclose her information to you, they must have her new address now."
Liu Xinnian was stunned and stared at Gu Qi with wide eyes.
"...Yes! Why didn't I think of this! Her...her brother used to work part-time in the branch factory. He - must recognize me!"
"Don't get excited." Seeing that he was blushing and half drunk, Gu Qi had no choice but to persuade him, "I'll tell you tomorrow when you're sober."
"I-I'm not drunk!" Liu Xinnian loudly defended: "My mind is clear now, I'm not drunk at all! Really!"
Gu Qi didn't believe it at all and said, "Calm down. I'll take you to the study next door to drink some tea to sober you up. I'll go upstairs to take a shower first and come back to see you later."
“No, no!” Liu Xinnian came over and held Gu Qi’s arm: “Tell me what to do! Quickly!”
Gu Qi frowned at the smell of alcohol on him and pushed him away without any courtesy.
"Go ask for the address first, I will be able to help you."
Liu Xinnian was embarrassed and sighed, "I'm a familiar face. If they still refuse to tell the truth, I - I can't make a scene in someone else's house."
"Show them your sincerity." Gu Qi reminded: "If that doesn't work, find someone reliable to ask. Just explain that it's an old business of the branch factory, and once you hand over your work permit, they will believe it. Anyway, it's just asking for the address, and it's not intentional to deceive them. It's not something shameful. It's just a change of approach, so you can be bold and do it."
"Yes, yes, yes!" Liu Xinnian turned around and was about to walk to the door, but he was too drunk and almost fell after staggering a few steps.
"Brother Liu!" Gu Qi hurriedly held him.
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