Chapter 151 Bleak Prospects

As soon as Zhang Hao got close to Cui Yue, he was hit by a wave of alcohol stench that made him dizzy.

"How much did you drink last night, kid?"

"Not much, not much, well over three jin."

Zhang Hao spat out a curse, calling out his bluff. "With your scrawny frame, you can't even outdrink me, let alone three jin. Three jin of beer would be more like it."

"You went off to hide and drink your heart out while the rest of us searched all night, worried sick!"

Zhang Hao punched Cui Yue on the shoulder.

Drink my heart out? Why don't you try drinking your heart out with two ghosts, you bastard!

"I'm fine. I just felt like having a drink."

Zhang Hao sighed, knowing Cui Yue was in a bad mood. No matter who ended up in this situation, it wouldn't be easy.

"I heard in the factory that they might make an example of you this time, throwing you right into the jaws of Director Feng and his son. You know what that's called? Killing the chicken to scare the monkey!"

Zhang Hao said indignantly.

Cui Yue was stunned. In truth, he had already anticipated this outcome. But if he were really expelled from the factory, where should he go from there?

He certainly couldn't go back home. Cui Yuanjun truly looked like he wanted to split him in half with an axe!

Could he really end up as the bell-ringing boy by Old Freak Huo's side?

At the mere thought of this image, goosebumps broke out all over Cui Yue's skin, sending a chill through his heart!

"Hey, what are you thinking?"

Seeing him stay silent, Zhang Hao urged him on.

"Nothing much. If I really get fired, this brother of mine will just go to the railway station to carry luggage. Heaven never cuts off all escape routes, right?"

Cui Yue said, feigning nonchalance.

"Stop talking nonsense and think of a way out. The main problem is that Factory Director Feng won't tolerate you this time. It's useless to look for Old Zhang now, and besides, with that bastard Feng Tao hovering around, how could they ever let you off easy?"

Cui Yue rolled his eyes at him. Anyone with eyes could see that. You're asking me to think of a way, but how am I supposed to? Go bow my head to that grandson Feng Tao?

So let them be as strong as they want; I'll just let the clear breeze sweep across the mountain peaks.

A storm is brewing and the wind is sweeping through the tower; let it come. At most, it can oppress me for a while, but it can never oppress me for a lifetime!

Zhang Hao knew Cui Yue's personality well. His bones were as stubborn as an ox; wanting to make him bow his head was impossible, even with a knife held to his throat!

The breakfast on the Cui family's table remained completely untouched, and Auntie Li sat by the table, tears streaming down continuously.

"Old man, tell me what we're going to do! It was so hard to finally get this job..."

***

"What are we going to do, what are we going to do! How should I know? Go ask your precious son what we should do! He has no other skills, but when it comes to causing trouble for his old man, he's second to none! All the other kids' disasters combined don't amount to as much as his!"

"How can you say things like that at a time like this? What good does it do? Why don't you go find Factory Director Chen? Maybe you can put in a good word."

Auntie Li said cautiously.

"Put in a good word? How do you expect me to say it! Where do you want me to put this old face of mine!"

Cui Yuanjun was hopping mad with fury, his eyes bulging larger than an ox's.

With a loud "bang"!

Cui Yuanjun slammed the door and stormed off.

Faint, broken sounds of Auntie Li crying drifted from inside the house.

Production Workshop One Office.

Workshop Director Old Zhang and Master Qin sat on rattan chairs, smoking sullenly.

Master Qin gripped that burnt, deformed circuit board in his hand, his mood sinking to rock bottom. On one hand, he felt terrible about the ruined machine; on the other, he was deeply worried about Cui Yue's future.

"Old Zhang, think of something else. See if the factory can show some leniency. How old is the boy? He still has a long road ahead of him, and besides, he's good material and willing to endure hardship."

Master Qin sighed and tentatively suggested.

Old Zhang stubbed his cigarette butt into the ash tray and waved away the smoke in front of him.

"Old秦, I completely understand how you feel, and it's not like I haven't begged Factory Director Feng for mercy. But this time, it looks like Factory Director Feng has made up his mind. This accident is no small matter. The safety production meeting just highlighted this exact issue, and he walked right into the line of fire!"

Master Qin tapped the circuit board in his hand and said anxiously.

"Then tell me, what do you think of this kid? Ever since he came to our workshop, he's worked harder than anyone else. He's way better than those troublemaking brats!"

"Why are you snapping at me, Old Qin? What kind of kid he is—I know that better than you do. Why else would I assign him to work under you? Wasn't it to groom him properly so he could take over for us old-timers in the future?"

Old Zhang sighed.

"I've thought of every possible method, but this time they are determined to make an example out of someone. It's useless no matter who pleads for him!"

Master Qin suddenly stood up with a start.

"Are you saying there's not a single shred of room for maneuver in this matter? Is Cui Yue bound to be fired?"

"If there were even a sliver of a way out, would I be this worried?"

Old Zhang shook his head helplessly.

Just as his voice fell, a loud "clang" sounded from outside the door, as if something had been dropped onto the floor.

***

Yang Liu had been holding some machine tool parts to ask Master Qin to check their wear and tear, and incidentally to catch up on any news. Who would have thought that just as she was about to knock, she would overhear Old Zhang and Master Qin discussing Cui Yue's disciplinary outcome. She immediately perked up her ears to listen closely.

The moment she heard the verdict, Yang Liu felt the world spin around her, and the metal parts in her hand crashed heavily to the ground.

"Who's outside?"

Master Qin pulled open the door to take a look, but the doorway was empty. All he saw was Yang Liu running away toward the workshop gates, wiping away her tears.

Yang Liu ran and cried. The thing she feared most had finally happened—this time, Cui Yue could not escape his fate and was about to be expelled by the factory.

She ran back to the workshop, slumped over her workbench, and could no longer restrain her emotions, sobbing softly.

Widow Chen nearby found it strange. The girl had been fine just when she went out, so why was she in tears now?

"Yang, girl, why are you crying out of nowhere? Did some jerk bully you again?"

Yang Liu shook her head and refused to say a word.

Widow Chen grew anxious and was just about to speak up when Sister Gao pulled her aside.

"You are so dense! Can't you even tell what's going on?!"

"What's going on?"

Sister Gao glared fiercely at Widow Chen and lowered her voice.

"What else could it be? It's about that business with the Cui family's third son! I heard from my old man that Old Feng is out to make an example of Cui Yue and is going to expel him directly!"

"Expelled? It's that serious?! Old Feng plays dirty."

Widow Chen gasped in shock, then continued, "Why didn't you have my Brother Zhang go talk to Old Feng? After all, they're old-timers who've been eating out of the factory's pot for years."

Sister Gao retorted irritably, "He tried! Because of this, my old man didn't sleep all night and went straight to Old Feng's office bright and early this morning!"

"Such a good kid, what a waste..."

Filled with regret, Widow Chen sighed at the worsening state of the world and shook her head as she returned to operating her machine.

Sister Gao wanted to comfort Yang Liu, but she didn't know what to say. Since the girl was going through such a painful hurdle, letting her vent it out might be for the best.

"Xiao Yang, take a rest for a bit. Sister Chen and I are going to load the materials, so you don't need to run the machine."

With that, she gently patted Yang Liu's head and went off together with Widow Chen.