Chapter 24: Agreement

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“Lou Zhenhua, what exactly do you mean by this? I came here to help you. You should know that your family background is not exactly favorable.”

Li Huaide was not intimidated by Lou Zhenhua in the slightest. In the past, he might have shown Lou Zhenhua some respect, but these days, Lou Zhenhua should consider himself lucky if Li Huaide did not cause him trouble.

Lou Zhenhua’s face was so dark it seemed ready to drip water, yet he did not dare fall out with Li Huaide.

“Could you explain the matter more clearly, Deputy Director Li?”

Lou Zhenhua forcibly suppressed his anger and did his best to keep his voice calm.

Li Huaide had no intention of beating around the bush. Moreover, he had noticed Lou Xiaoe secretly listening nearby. As a man with experience, he was certain that Lou Xiaoe had feelings for Wang Lin. If he helped bring the two of them together, he did not believe Lou Xiaoe would fail to appreciate the favor.

What was more, he could make both Wang Lin and Lou Zhenhua owe him one. It was a fine opportunity that accomplished three things at once.

“Our factory has another deputy director named Wang Lin. His background is rather special—he belongs to one of the highest-ranking leaders. He transferred here after leaving the military specifically to find a wife. The higher-ups have instructed him to marry at least five women. As soon as I learned of this, I thought of you. Just look at your—”

Li Huaide did not finish. They were all intelligent people, and he did not believe Lou Zhenhua failed to understand his meaning.

“This…”

Lou Zhenhua fell into deep thought.

He knew this was an opportunity to preserve his family, but Lou Xiaoe was his precious only daughter. Still, after considering the position the Lou family was in, he understood that this was the best possible outcome.

Just as Lou Zhenhua was struggling with his decision, Lou Xiaoe came running downstairs.

“Uncle Li, is the Wang Lin you mentioned the one from the Red Star Steelworks? And does he already have a wife named Qin Huairu?”

Li Huaide smiled and nodded.

“Yes, that’s him. He’s an exceptionally capable man.”

After confirming that this was the person she had been longing for, Lou Xiaoe anxiously looked toward her father and spoke without the slightest hesitation.

“Dad, I agree to marry Wang Lin.”

The troubled look on Lou Zhenhua’s face eased somewhat. He looked at his daughter and asked, “Xiaoe, are you sure? He already has one wife, and there will probably be more in the future. He may not treat you well when that happens.”

Seeing that her father still had not agreed, Lou Xiaoe grew even more anxious.

“Dad, I’m sure. Brother Lin isn’t that kind of person.”

She immediately wrapped her arms around Lou Zhenhua’s and began acting coquettishly.

Seeing this, how could Lou Zhenhua fail to understand what was going on? His little padded jacket had sprung a leak.

“All right, all right.”

Li Huaide wore a smile the entire time, silently watching without saying a word.

How could Lou Zhenhua not know what was happening? He was certain that Li Huaide already knew about the relationship between Lou Xiaoe and Wang Lin.

“Then I’ll trouble you with this, Director Li.”

At this moment, he had no choice but to show Li Huaide proper respect. Even the word “Deputy” had disappeared from his title.

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Li Huaide’s smile remained unchanged as he spoke calmly.

“Then, Director Lou, just wait for good news. I’ll inform Deputy Director Wang tomorrow and have him come to your home to propose.”

“Good.”

Lou Zhenhua agreed immediately.

Marrying Lou Xiaoe to Wang Lin would benefit both sides. Since Lou Xiaoe herself liked Wang Lin, he had no reason to refuse.

“Then I won’t disturb you any longer, Director Lou. I’ll be going back.”

“Wait. Why not stay and have something to eat?”

“No, thank you. There’s still work to be done at the factory.”

After watching Li Huaide leave, Lou Zhenhua returned to the house and sank into thought.

He did not believe that Factory Director Yang was unaware of Wang Lin’s circumstances. But why had Li Huaide come to his home instead of Factory Director Yang?

The question forced him into deep contemplation. He had a feeling that Factory Director Yang had set his sights on him and was planning to make trouble for him.

Lou Zhenhua turned to his precious daughter and asked, “Xiaoe, do you know where Wang Lin lives?”

Lou Xiaoe nodded.

“Of course. He lives at Courtyard No. 95 in Nanluoguxiang.”

“He doesn’t live in official housing?”

Lou Zhenhua was somewhat surprised. As a senior leader, Wang Lin should certainly have been assigned an official residence. He could not understand why Wang Lin had chosen not to live there.

Lou Xiaoe nodded and was about to continue praising Wang Lin when her mother, Mrs. Lou Tan, came over.

“Zhenhua, I was thinking of introducing Xiaoe to someone. He’s the son of Aunt Xu, our housekeeper—the young man named Xu Damao.”

Before Lou Zhenhua could say anything, Lou Xiaoe objected.

“Mom, I’m not going. I already have someone I like.”

Mrs. Lou Tan’s expression fell, and she put on the air of a mother who was acting entirely for her daughter’s good.

“Xiaoe, would your mother ever harm you? Just look at Aunt Xu. Her son Xu Damao can’t possibly be a bad match.”

Lou Zhenhua waved his wife off.

“All right, don’t mention Xu Damao again. It wouldn’t be good if Wang Lin found out.”

“You…”

Mrs. Lou Tan had never expected her husband to reject the proposal as well. She knew exactly what he had wanted all along.

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He had intended to marry Lou Xiaoe into a family with a sound background. He had merely been unable to find anyone he trusted whose character met his standards, which was why the matter had been delayed all this time.

But she could not understand why, now that they had finally found a suitable family, her husband had rejected it.

“You should listen to me. Also, tell Aunt Xu to leave and never come back.”

There was a reason Lou Zhenhua was known as Lou Half-City. His abilities extended far beyond simply making money.

From the few things that had happened that day, he had already realized that Aunt Xu must have overheard Li Huaide’s conversation.

That was precisely why Xu Damao’s mother had hurried to find Mrs. Lou Tan and recommend her son.

Seeing the cold look in Lou Zhenhua’s eyes, Mrs. Lou Tan understood that he was serious this time and no longer dared say anything more.

“All right.”

Lou Xiaoe was no longer anxious. Her father was supporting her.

“Xiaoe, get yourself ready. We’re going to Wang Lin’s home right now. It would be best if you registered your marriage with him today.”

“What?”

Lou Xiaoe and her mother, Mrs. Lou Tan, were both stunned. Mrs. Lou Tan was especially astonished—this was the first time she had ever seen her husband take the initiative so eagerly.

After recovering from her surprise, Lou Xiaoe cried out excitedly, “All right, all right! I’ll get ready right now.”

With that, Lou Xiaoe bounced away to prepare herself. She wanted to show the person she loved the most beautiful version of herself.

Mrs. Lou Tan went upstairs to find Aunt Xu and spoke coolly.

“Aunt Xu, here is your pay. Pack your things and go home. You won’t need to come back after today.”

“What? Madam, did I do something wrong?”

Xu Liushi, Xu Damao’s mother, panicked. She had never imagined that she would lose her job.

Mrs. Lou Tan no longer paid her any attention and merely offered an explanation.

“We have no choice. The authorities are conducting strict inspections, so we have to let you go.”

Xu Liushi nodded, but her expression became vicious.

She was not a fool. If the authorities were conducting such strict inspections that she had to be dismissed, then why were none of the other servants being let go?

But she knew that although the Lou family had fallen into decline, it was still not a family she, a mere servant, could oppose.