On New Year's Eve, at nine o'clock that night, Li Ye arrived at the First Branch Factory to relieve Lu Zhizhang on duty.
The two of them had been partners for four years now. Every Spring Festival, Lu Zhizhang always rushed to take the duty shifts, especially on the second day of the lunar new year, making sure Li Ye could visit his father-in-law on time. It left Li Ye feeling rather embarrassed.
Although Lu Zhizhang said that he actually did not want to visit his father-in-law on the second day of the lunar new year anyway, and it was just the perfect excuse to let his wife and children go by themselves,
no matter what, Lu Zhizhang had made things convenient for Li Ye. Li Ye considered that a favor owed, and he absolutely could not take it for granted.
So today, he had brought some New Year's goods, along with a pair of new leather shoes, as a little compensation for Lu Zhizhang.
"Old Lu, a friend gave me three pairs of leather shoes. I think this pair is a little small. It'd be a waste sitting at home, so try them on. If the size fits, help me get rid of them."
"You're giving me something?"
Lu Zhizhang took the shoes and glanced at them, immediately finding it both funny and exasperating.
Of course, he knew the shoes definitely were not "too small." Li Ye wore a size forty-two—how could he possibly wear size forty-one shoes?
Then he looked at their cut, leather, and workmanship. They were plainly not cheap goods. Why would Li Ye need someone to help him get rid of them?
But Lu Zhizhang was not the type to stand on ceremony. If he deliberately refused, it would only make their relationship seem distant.