Chapter 45
After they were dressed, Lu Ze took his hand and went out. After saying hello to Accountant Li, Lu Ze took Xu Qingyan and openly skipped work.
The factory was in the suburbs. Although it was not far from the city center, it was still some distance away. Xu Qingyan sat on the back seat of the car and wrapped his arms around his waist. Lu Ze, on the other hand, was thinking that he had to put buying a car on his agenda before the New Year.
The two of them hadn’t eaten well these past few days. When they arrived at the state-run restaurant, they first ordered three dishes and a soup, including a braised fish. Lu Ze didn’t eat much, and most of the time he was helping Xu Qingyan pick out the bones.
Xu Qingyan was embarrassed. “You don’t have to always take care of me. You should eat too.”
“I’m almost done eating,” Lu Ze said. “And I heard from Auntie before that when you were eating fish, you were accidentally choked by a fish bone and almost had an accident.”
Xu Qingyan said, “That was so long ago.” He picked up the deboned fish that Lu Ze had prepared and smiled. “I was still young then. Now that I’m older, how can I be pricked by a fish bone?”
Lu Ze picked up a piece of white and tender fish and held it to his lips. “Just think of it as me wanting to take care of you, okay?”
Xu Qingyan’s face turned red, and he was at a loss for words for a moment.
After waiting for a while, Lu Ze saw a piece of deboned fish suddenly placed in his bowl. He looked up and saw the young man pursing his lips and smiling. “You eat too.”
Lu Ze’s eyes were gentle, and he followed his wishes and put the fish in his mouth.
The meat was tender and melted in his mouth.
It was indeed delicious.
The restaurant was not far from where Lu Ze lived. The two of them didn’t ride their bikes, but just walked side by side. Although there was no intimate contact, just a glance at each other was sweet.
At the end of 1985, the openness of the small city was already evident. Occasionally, you could see fashionably dressed girls walking on the street. The shops on the side of the street also gradually introduced new things. All kinds of clothing stores and small accessories from the coast were also shining through the transparent glass windows, novel and eye-catching.
Xu Qingyan looked around, his eyes occasionally showing surprise, and said to Lu Ze in a small voice, “She’s wearing our factory’s clothes!”
Lu Ze glanced at him and, under the cover of his sleeve, squeezed his hand. “The factory has been developing well recently. It has opened up markets in the surrounding cities and some coastal areas, and the goods are generally in short supply.”
Xu Qingyan’s face turned red from his action. He struggled with his hand and said in a low voice, “Be careful not to be seen by others…”
“Don’t worry,” Lu Ze comforted him. “If others see us, they’ll just think we’re brothers.”
Xu Qingyan paused and muttered, “Then let’s not.”
Lu Ze looked down at him and couldn’t help but laugh.
Xu Qingyan glared at him. “It’s true… or do you really think of yourself as a brother just because I call you Gege?”
“No,” Lu Ze said. “Compared to Gege, I’d rather you call me something else.”
Xu Qingyan didn’t understand. “What?”
Lu Ze glanced at him, touched his head, and smiled without answering. “You’ll understand in the future.”
Xu Qingyan pouted, inexplicably feeling that it would definitely not be a good word.
As he walked forward, he continued the topic from just now. “Then isn’t it not good if it’s always in short supply? Should we expand production?”
Seeing that he understood with just a hint, Lu Ze smiled and said, “Yes.” He explained to Xu Qingyan bit by bit, “It’s almost the New Year, so it’s too late to expand the factory now. And even if we expand, we can’t continue to do it here.”
Xu Qingyan was half-understanding. Lu Ze said, “After all, we’re inland here, and the development in all aspects is not yet complete. But the factories in the coastal areas have already had some success. Whether it’s for domestic or foreign markets, they have their geographical advantages.”
Xu Qingyan suddenly realized. “Lu-ge, you want to… sell the products abroad?”
Lu Ze said, “We have a product advantage. Selling abroad is also a necessary path for future development. We can’t just be satisfied with the domestic market.”
Hearing his vision, Xu Qingyan was stunned for a moment. He looked at him and couldn’t help but say, “Lu-ge’s ideas are very big…”
Lu Ze looked down at him and held his hand. “But I hope that you will be with me to complete all my ideas.”
Xu Qingyan looked at him for a long time, then lowered his head and squeezed his hand. “Of course I’ll always be by your side…” As long as you still want me…
Lu Ze’s eyes were gentle, and he looked at him again. “If that’s the case, I’ll probably be very busy after the New Year.”
Xu Qingyan was silent for a while. Lu Ze added, “I don’t have to worry about anything here, but for the planning of the new factory, I’ll definitely have to go there myself. And after the factory is built, the recruitment and management of personnel…”
“I plan to transfer all the people I’ve trained now to the new factory, and then recruit new people here to train.”
Xu Qingyan listened quietly and said, “That’s all good. It’s far away, so it’s indeed necessary to use some experienced hands to be at ease.”
Lu Ze looked at him again and said, “This time, we have to recruit a few more people. The place we’re renting is big, and it won’t be a problem to expand production a little more. At that time, not only will we be short of workers, but the logistics department will also be short of people.”
Xu Qingyan nodded. “But we’re short of everything here, except for labor. Recruiting people is not a problem.”
“Yes,” Lu Ze said. “So what do you think if I ask Auntie to be a cook in the factory then?”
Xu Qingyan was stunned for a moment. He had never expected Lu Ze to turn the topic to this.
“My… mom?” He still hadn’t reacted.
Lu Ze nodded. “Auntie’s cooking is very good. It’s more than enough for the factory. But I don’t know if she can let go of the land at home and come to the city with peace of mind.”
Xu Qingyan’s lips opened and closed. “But, my dad…”
Lu Ze said, “I’ve looked into it. Although Uncle’s legs are inconvenient, his upper body is still fine. In addition, he’s always been doing bamboo weaving, so his hands are still flexible.”
He said, “You’ve also been to the workshop. Some of the production processes in our factory actually don’t require much movement. You usually stay in one place for a day.”
Xu Qingyan opened his mouth, not knowing why his throat felt a little dry.
Lu Ze stopped and looked at him seriously. “Uncle is not old. Although he’s very optimistic on the surface, if he really has to stay in bed for the rest of his life, he’s definitely not willing.”
Xu Qingyan didn’t know what to say.
Lu Ze said, “I’ll be busy next year, and I’m afraid I won’t have much time to spend with you. If your uncle and aunt can come here, I’ll be at ease with them accompanying you.”
“If they’re always at home, you’re probably not at ease either, right?”
Xu Qingyan’s eyelashes trembled, and he called out in a hoarse voice, “Lu-ge…”
Lu Ze put his arm around him and continued to walk forward. “Next year is your most critical half-year. You can put the factory’s affairs aside for now and focus on your studies. If you’re tired or bored, you can go and have a look.”
“I…” Xu Qingyan wanted to say that he could balance his own work, but Lu Ze said, “Be good.”
He lowered his eyes and said, “Actually, I’d rather take good care of you and let you not worry about anything, but you definitely wouldn’t be willing.”
Xu Qingyan pursed his lips and didn’t speak.
He was a man after all. How could he spend his partner’s money with a clear conscience?
Lu Ze said, “If your uncle and aunt are willing to come, according to the factory’s standards, their monthly salary will not be low. At the very least, you won’t have to worry about living expenses.”
“At the beginning of next year, after the new factory’s affairs are settled, the factory will definitely have to develop in the capital in the future. That’s the place closest to all kinds of policies.”
He reached out and brushed away the bangs on Xu Qingyan’s face. “At that time, I want to go to the capital with you.”
Xu Qingyan looked up at him for a long time before he nodded. He didn’t say anything more to refuse and just said:
“Okay.”
…
By the time the two of them reached Lu Ze’s house, it was not yet completely dark. Xu Qingyan looked at the familiar main door, and his steps paused for a moment.
Lu Ze stopped and said very naturally, “Let’s stay here today.”
Xu Qingyan was a little hesitant for a moment. “But… I didn’t bring my clothes, books, or anything…”
Xu Qingyan had not planned to stay here at the beginning.
Lu Ze said, “I’ve prepared all your clothes for you. They’re all at home. As for your books… someone went to the provincial capital a while ago, and I asked him to bring back a set of review materials that are used in the high schools in the provincial capital. You can make do with them today. It should be fine.”
Hearing about the review materials from the provincial capital, Xu Qingyan’s eyes couldn’t help but light up. After a moment, he couldn’t help but ask, “You… when did you prepare them?”
Lu Ze smiled. “I’ve already said, I’ve had ulterior motives for you for a long time.”
Xu Qingyan was still a little hesitant.
In the past, he would have just stayed. It was nothing. But now, they had just confirmed their relationship, and he was staying at the other person’s house. Wouldn’t it seem like he was a bit too eager and not reserved enough?
Xu Qingyan had never been in a relationship, but he had heard some gossip in the village, and he had also seen young men and women in relationships. They all took it slowly. Being too proactive would inevitably make people look down on them.
Lu Ze seemed to know what he was thinking. He raised his hand and held his hand, and said, “I’m not thinking too much. I just want to have more time to spend with you.”
“You’ll still live in your previous room. I promise I won’t do anything, okay?”
Since he had already said so, Xu Qingyan’s heart wavered for a while, and he still agreed.
…After all, he was actually a little reluctant to part with Lu Ze.
Even if it was just for one night.
The two had just eaten and were not hungry for a while, so Lu Ze took out the set of review materials that he had asked someone to bring back for Xu Qingyan, and the two of them, as before, one read a book and one dealt with work.
The only difference from before was that Lu Ze was sitting next to Xu Qingyan, one on the left and one on the right, without disturbing each other.
Except for Lu Ze occasionally touching Xu Qingyan’s left hand, which was on the side, and kneading it like a toy, there was only the sound of paper and pen rubbing in the room.
At first, Xu Qingyan’s face would turn red and his heart would beat faster at his actions, but later he slowly got used to it. He even felt a little unaccustomed when Lu Ze withdrew his hand and took the initiative to reach for his hand.
The room was quiet and comfortable for a while.
By the time the moon was high in the sky, Lu Ze looked at the time, and only then did the two of them prepare to rest.
Lu Ze did as he said and really didn’t do anything. He just held the back of Xu Qingyan’s neck and kissed his lips before leaving, and said in a gentle voice, “Goodnight.”
Xu Qingyan half-raised his head, his eyelashes trembling slightly, and also said, “Goodnight.”
The wind blew through the treetops, and the door was gently closed.
Xu Qingyan burrowed into the bed and looked at the dark sky. It was a familiar scene, but his state of mind was completely different.
He slowly closed his eyes and fell into a sweet dream.
