Chapter 44: Li Heshan, the Black Whirlwind

Following Hu Ping into the room, Zhao Guoyang found himself standing before a figure as imposing as a black iron tower. He couldn’t help but feel a touch of surprise at the sight of this sturdy giant. Zhao was already considered tall, yet the man before him towered over him by a full head—he must have been at least one meter ninety, with a waist as thick as a barrel and legs like tree trunks. He looked every bit the part of those legendary characters from “Water Margin,” like the “Black Whirlwind” Li Kui.

In his mind, Zhao Guoyang gave this man a fitting nickname—Black Whirlwind.

Seeing this unfamiliar young man, the Black Whirlwind regarded Zhao with a hint of suspicion, scratching his beard as he asked, “Old Hu, is this the young technician you mentioned? He doesn’t look particularly special to me!”

Hu Ping chuckled at that. “Old Li, you can’t judge a technician by appearances. Have you already forgotten? That girl on Old Liao’s team, she looks delicate and frail but she’s a real expert—already head of the technical department now.”

“That’s true!” the Black Whirlwind admitted, rubbing his head in embarrassment. He reached out his hand to Zhao and said, “Young man, I’m Li Heshan, director of the Jiangyu Town Supply and Marketing Cooperative.”

Zhao shook his hand with a smile. “Director Li, nice to meet you. I’m Zhao Guoyang, head of the technical department at Hongda Machinery Factory in Ninghai City.”

“What? Zhao, last time we met, you introduced yourself as just a technician. It hasn’t been that long, and now you’re already head of the department?” Hu Ping exclaimed in surprise.

Zhao smiled modestly and produced a brand new work ID from his pocket. “Well, I was lucky. I went on a business trip to the south and managed to secure a new order for our factory. The director was so pleased, he promoted me.”

Zhao spoke lightly, but Li Heshan and Hu Ping exchanged glances, each thinking otherwise. Their own positions at the supply and marketing cooperative were official posts, equivalent to section chiefs in the state enterprise hierarchy. In other words, Zhao, at such a young age, was now their peer in rank. If this was explained away as mere luck, that was a bit too mystical.

“You’re truly accomplished for your age!” Hu Ping praised sincerely.

“I didn’t expect you to be such a talent, young man!” Li Heshan added, giving Zhao a thumbs-up.

Zhao responded with a reserved smile and asked, “Director Li, Director Hu, should we wait until you’re off work to visit Xiangyang Machinery Factory, or shall we go now?”

“Off work? What for? It’s just me and Old Hu in charge here; we can leave whenever we like!” Li Heshan laughed heartily. “Let’s go! As soon as you called this morning, Old Hu was over the moon and kept urging me to call my old subordinate to get everything ready for us.”

Noticing Zhao’s confusion, Hu Ping pulled him aside with a grin and explained, “Zhao, you might not know this, but Director Liao Jingsheng of Xiangyang Machinery used to serve under Director Li. When he calls, we’re guaranteed a good meal tonight.”

Now Zhao understood. Still, something occurred to him, and he glanced outside with a puzzled look. “But Director Li, Brother Hu, the road to Xiangyang Machinery isn’t exactly short. We’re not going to run all the way there, are we?”

“That’s easy—just a phone call away!” Li Heshan declared, waving his hand grandly. He picked up the old-fashioned telephone from the desk and began dialing.

After a few booming words into the receiver, he hung up and grinned at Zhao and Hu Ping. “No worries, the vehicle will be here soon.”

No sooner had they begun chatting again than the sound of an engine rumbled outside—it seemed Li Heshan’s ride had arrived.

“Let’s go, Zhao, Old Hu—the vehicle is here!” Li Heshan laughed as they headed out.

The prospect of a ride delighted Zhao, saving him the trouble of walking. But as soon as he stepped outside the supply cooperative, his face fell. The “vehicle” Li Heshan had called for turned out to be a tractor, nothing like the car Zhao had imagined.

As Zhao stood there momentarily stunned, Li Heshan was already greeting the tractor driver.

“Zhao, this tractor is the pride of our cooperative. Not just anyone gets to use it. Director Li is really pulling out all the stops for you today,” Hu Ping said, patting Zhao on the shoulder.

Zhao could only smile wryly; he knew Hu Ping was telling the truth. Cars were a rare luxury in rural towns at that time—even tractors were hard to come by. The fact that Li Heshan could secure one was impressive enough.

Sitting in the bed of the tractor, listening to its rattling and clattering, Zhao gradually found there wasn’t much to complain about after all. In his previous life, he’d grown accustomed to planes and luxury cars, but seeing people on the road walking or riding bicycles brought an unexpected smile to his lips.

“How is it, Zhao? Riding in my vehicle feels grand, doesn’t it?” boomed the voice from the cab up front—it could only be Li Heshan.

After summoning the tractor, Li Heshan had Zhao and Hu Ping take the “back seat.” It wasn’t for his own comfort, either; anyone who’d driven a tractor knew the cab was far bumpier than the back, and it took more effort to handle. Both Hu Ping and Li Heshan could drive, but when it came to hard work, Li Heshan was never one to shrink back, so he insisted on driving himself. Perhaps it was this selfless spirit that earned Hu Ping’s deference.

Xiangyang Machinery Factory was on the western outskirts of Jianghai County, not far from Jiangyu Town. The tractor chugged along for just over half an hour before arriving.

The guard at the gate clearly recognized Li Heshan and hurried out from the guardhouse to let the tractor through.

“Thanks, Little Ma. Here, have a cigarette,” Li Heshan said, tossing a cigarette to the guard before driving straight into the factory.

The tractor’s ruckus had already alerted the factory director, Liao Jingsheng. As soon as Zhao and the others got off, a man of medium build, with a straight, commanding posture, strode out to greet them.

“Captain! What wind blows you here today? Come in, come in—we must have a good drink together tonight! Ah, Director Hu, you’re here too!” This was, of course, Liao Jingsheng, director of Xiangyang Machinery Factory.

“Hey, Old Liao, cut the small talk. We’re not just here for your hospitality tonight. Look—this young man, Zhao, is the technician you’ve been wanting to meet. It was his idea that helped us repair all those hoes at our cooperative!” Li Heshan clapped Liao on the shoulder and introduced Zhao Guoyang.