Chapter 36: Director Song’s Deep Waters

Tao Yu got what she wanted and stood up to leave.

However, before she could exit the office, Song Hecheng handed her something.

As she walked out of the office, Tao Yu examined the ointment in her hand.

She opened the lid, and instantly, a faint herbal scent wafted up to her nose.

Tao Yu fluttered her long lashes as she recalled what Song Hecheng had said earlier.

“This ointment is made from traditional Chinese medicine. It’s great for sprains and bruises, with good healing properties. Give it a try.”

Oh, and at the end, Song Hecheng had lightly coughed and added:

“Once your hand heals, it will help you work better.”

Tao Yu happily closed the ointment lid, a wide smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

Her smile was growing bolder and more mischievous.

She had tested him, and it seemed that Song Hecheng had quite a good temper.

He really did take her teasing without resistance.

He seemed to be very accommodating to her.

But little did the “bad fish” know…

After she left, Song Hecheng, alone in his office, took another bite of the “bala fish” with wasabi sauce.

It wasn’t just about submitting…

In the evening

It was time for the workers at the factory to leave.

Since Tao Yu was now being watched by Director Li, there was no need for her to stay late.

However, she approached Director Li with a draft of a die-casting machine.

“Director, is this material for the die-casting machine still needed?”

Tao Yu asked with a smile, looking unassuming.

“I’ve noticed it’s been sitting in the filing cabinet for a long time.”

Director Li took the document and skimmed through it before waving his hand.

“Ah, this blueprint is useless for now. We’re swamped with current projects at the factory, and besides our own, we have commissioned projects from various cities. We can’t possibly focus on this small component right now.”

“But if you’re interested, you can take it and contact the salespeople at the second factory. They have a division for small projects assigned by the director. It might be worth trying to get it done there.”

Tao Yu’s interest was piqued, and she asked:

“Can I personally keep this blueprint? I’m really interested, and I’ll find time to go to the second factory. If we can develop it, it’ll benefit our factory’s business.”

Without hesitation, Director Li handed the blueprint to her.

He was joking, but this was nothing compared to a capable colleague like Tao Yu.

The director was committed to supporting her as a key talent, so he wouldn’t hesitate to accommodate her request.

After all, with the director’s backing, there was nothing to worry about.

Tao Yu had a successful day and tucked the die-casting machine blueprint away carefully.

Just as she was about to leave, Xiao Zhang arrived.

Seeing Tao Yu, Xiao Zhang greeted her casually and even praised the taste of Aunt Li’s pickles.

Tao Yu lowered her eyes, remembering something. She subtly asked Xiao Zhang a question.

“Does Director Song like to eat wasabi?”

Xiao Zhang immediately shook his head vigorously, waving his hand.

“No, no, no. Director Song doesn’t like that stuff. Anyone in Beicheng who’s ever tried to invite him to dinner knows he doesn’t like wasabi.”

Then, Xiao Zhang rambled on, mentioning a recent trip with Song Hecheng to Hong Kong.

“Last time, when I was with Director Song in Hong Kong, the locals tried to offer him wasabi at dinner, but no one dared put it on the table.”

“Even in the dishes, there couldn’t be a hint of wasabi flavor.”

“If anyone really dares to feed that dangerous thing to our General Song, then they can forget about anything else they want to do…”

After saying this, Xiao Zhang sighed nostalgically.

“Me, on the other hand, sitting in the outer room, the plates of raw fish and shellfish on the table, all went into my stomach. Dipped in wasabi sauce, it tasted really good!”

Tao Yu understood after hearing this.

So, no one dared to give Song Hecheng wasabi?

She then recalled how Song Hecheng had suddenly coughed when eating wasabi earlier.

Perhaps there was an exception, someone bold enough to try.

After chatting for a bit, Tao Yu bid Xiao Zhang farewell. On the way home, her mind was heavy with thoughts.

It seemed that Song Hecheng’s patience with her was unusually good…

At the small house at the alley’s entrance, when Tao Yu got home, Li Juan had already set the dinner on the table, and Tao Hongping was staring greedily at the braised pork on the table.

Tao Hongping was both shocked and craving it.

This mother and daughter had really struck it rich!

Without any holidays or special occasions, they were already eating braised pork!

If it were before, her family wouldn’t have touched meat all year long!

Tao Yu came out of the kitchen after washing her hands, just as Li Juan was serving soup. Tao Hongping was about to sneak a bite.

Tao Yu saw the black, muddy nails on her ten fingers, just like He Saihua’s.

She expressionlessly knocked on Tao Hongping’s hand with her chopsticks.

Tao Hongping yelped in pain, but when she met Tao Yu’s cold gaze, she immediately quieted down and didn’t dare to speak.

Tao Yu put down her chopsticks and coldly spoke.

“Did you treat what I said yesterday as a wind passing by?”

Tao Hongping glanced at Tao Yu and quickly averted her eyes, now frightened of her.

She stammered, “No, no, I didn’t forget, I just wanted to taste…”

Li Juan came out just in time. Tao Yu took the soup from her and threw a sentence.

“I’ll repeat the rules we set yesterday. If you forget even one, you’re not eating today.”

Hearing she might not get food, Tao Hongping immediately focused on the braised pork on the table, becoming anxious.

“How could I forget? My brain’s working fine!”

“First, listen to Aunt’s instructions, don’t bring people home or open the door for anyone.”

“Second, no sneaky tricks; you get food by working.”

“Third, keep… keep things clean.”

“Fourth… Fifth…”

Tao Yu sat there as Tao Hongping took a while to stammer through the conditions she agreed to yesterday.

Tao Hongping wouldn’t dare to refuse these conditions. If she did, Tao Yu would surely kick her out. She had no chance of staying.

And honestly, with that plate of braised pork on the table, Tao Hongping would rack her brains, exhaust all her ideas—she had to memorize them!

After hearing her finish, Tao Yu silently glanced at Tao Hongping’s black nails.

Without a word, a single look from her made Tao Hongping instantly understand and rush to find a pair of scissors.

After Tao Hongping left, Li Juan hesitated before speaking.

“Yu’er, how about we send her back to the Toothpaste Commune tomorrow? Old Lady Qiu wants to sell her, and her own parents are there to look after her. We don’t have to play the good Samaritan, don’t worry about it. I’m afraid those wicked people might drag you into their mess…”

Tao Yu shook her head after hearing this.

“I’m not trying to help her. I’m not that kind-hearted.”

“I’m keeping her around because she’ll be useful to me in a few days.”

She looked at Li Juan’s worried face but decided not to share her plan to deal with Tao Lijun and the rest of the Tao family yet.

Forget it, it’s not something good anyway.

Let her handle it herself.

Tao Yu comforted Li Juan.

“Don’t worry, the old Tao family doesn’t have the ability to hurt me.”

She then asked, “Was Tao Hongping obedient today? Did she help you with the work?”

Li Juan frowned at the mention of Tao Hongping but nodded.

“She was pretty obedient. You focus on your job, don’t worry about this. I can handle her.”

Just then, Tao Hongping came out, having finished her work.

She quickly glanced at the braised pork on the table, then immediately raised her cleaned-up ten fingers to Tao Yu and asked eagerly.

“Sis, I’ve cleaned them, see, I even washed them. Can I sit at the table now?”

Only after Li Juan nodded did Tao Hongping sit down to eat.

As the moon rose, the last light in the machinery factory office went out.

Song Hecheng opened the car door and got in. Xiao Zhang, who had been dozing off, finally woke up and started the car to head home.

On the silent journey back, Song Hecheng pressed his hand to his temple, his tired thoughts drifting back to the scene in the office earlier that day.

His expression relaxed slightly.

But after a moment, those deep, abyss-like eyes grew thoughtful and hesitant again.

Hesitant?

What could Song Hecheng be hesitating about?

No one could guess or speculate.

But facing such a strong opponent, even the bad fish might slip up, who knows?

After all, Director Song wasn’t that easy to control