Transmigration: On the Gossip Front
Chapter 758 - 759: 60s Siheyuan 7_1

Chapter 758: Chapter 759: 60s Siheyuan 7_1

"It’s his own lack of effort," Yi Zhonghai refused to take the blame, clearly thinking it was Jia Dongxu’s fault for not trying hard enough.

If it weren’t for the thought of letting him provide for him in his old age, Yi Zhonghai really wouldn’t want to bother with the kid.

A grandma had indeed mentioned to her husband, saying the Jia Family’s ethos was bad and with someone as troublesome as Lady Jia Zhang around, Sha Zhu was far better.

Yi Zhonghai had invested so much in this apprentice, and now to switch people, wouldn’t all the money and effort previously put in be wasted?

As for Sha Zhu, he was particularly tactless when it came to speaking, just look at how many people he had offended with that mouth of his.

The most important thing was, Sha Zhu had He Daqing around, who he was sure to care for in his old age.

Although Yi Zhonghai still insisted that his choice was not wrong, he couldn’t help feeling bitter about it.

Now, being directly and ungraciously confronted by Zhang Yu, he was certain to be angry.

"Yeah, it’s Jia Dongxu not trying hard," Zhang Yu responded with a nonchalant "oh," "but it seems like of all the apprentices you’ve trained, the best has only reached Level 4, right?"

"Master Liu is different. Although he’s a Level 6 Worker, he started accepting apprentices later than you, but he already has an apprentice who’s reached Level 5."

Everyone knows that passing from Level 1 to 4 is relatively easy, but starting from Level 5, one needs to learn how to read blueprints and such, which really isn’t easy to achieve.

"You, a Level 7 Worker, how come your best apprentice only managed to reach Fourth-Level Worker?"

"So for Jia Dongxu to get a Level 2, I really don’t see a problem."

"After all, Comrade Yi, you are really good at teaching apprentices."

"Is it that you lack the skills or that you’ve been holding back?" Zhang Yu genuinely felt that Yi Zhonghai’s apprentices deserved better.

Originally thinking that having a highly skilled master meant they could learn a lot, they ended up being worse off than the average-skilled Liu Haizhong, who at least took his teaching role seriously.

Of course, Yi Zhonghai held back when teaching apprentices. It wouldn’t have seemed strange to anyone before liberation; it would’ve been considered quite normal.

But now that we are liberated, if such practices of his spread, what would people think? What would the leadership think?

No matter what, this was absolutely something he could not admit to, "How would I know if they can’t learn?"

"My master taught me that way, and I’ve taught my apprentices the same."

"I’ve never held back when teaching my apprentices," Yi Zhonghai said firmly, indicating it really wasn’t his teaching, but rather the apprentices were just not good enough.

Oh, drawing out her words, Zhang Yu said, "Comrade Yi, you are serious about imparting skills, it’s just that the apprentices aren’t skilled."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai felt even worse. If these words got out, how would those apprentices look at him?

Putting aside everything else, would Lady Jia Zhang let him off the hook? Yi Zhonghai quickly tried to explain, "No, it’s not like that?"

"Then it’s either your skills that are lacking and you can’t guide the apprentices further, or you’re hiding something up your sleeve," Zhang Yu was not about to let Yi Zhonghai off easily.

To deal with this hypocrite was simply to strip bare his pretenses without mercy.

To let him know she was a sharp-eyed and sharp-tongued girl, not one to be bullied at will.

Ahh, why does the conversation always come back to this topic? Yi Zhonghai realized that no matter which choice he made, there really were no good outcomes.

Having no other option, he could only helplessly shut his mouth, hoping that by keeping quiet, she would let him be.

"Forget it, I’m not your apprentice. Why should I worry about all this?"

"Master Yi, it’s getting late. Shouldn’t you be going to work?" Zhang Yu reminded him again.

Yi Zhonghai glanced at the people at the gate and stormed off, knowing that many had heard his previous exchange.

But his headache lasted only a minute or two; after all, he was a Level 7 Worker at the factory. With the upcoming promotion assessment, he was about to become a Level 8 Worker.

Then he would see who dared to criticize him, and no doubt, many would vie to become his apprentice.

In the past, of course, everyone wanted to find a skilled master for their children so they could learn more.

But having heard Zhang Yu’s words, many started to second guess, realizing this concerned their children’s futures, of course, they needed to discuss it with their men at home.

Unbeknownst to Yi Zhonghai, some were already contemplating whether to let their children become his apprentices as he angrily returned to his unit.

"This time I must urge them to study earnestly and diligently, they must achieve Level 5," he thought.

Yi Zhonghai, who had never been too bothered about his apprentices not surpassing Level 4, used to think it was their lack of skills, that a master opens the door, but learning depends on the individual.

But given the current circumstances, if those apprentices remain stuck at Level 4 and not one reaches Level 5, the words that girl said today will certainly spread.

After returning to the workshop, Yi Zhonghai called his apprentices over in a fury, "The Skill Level exam is coming up."

"I don’t care what you’re busy with usually, but this time, you must take it seriously and get your act together," he directed.

"Make an effort to level up successfully this time," Yi Zhonghai laid out his demands clearly.

Having said what needed to be said, Yi Zhonghai signaled they could leave; from now on, it was up to their own efforts.

"Jia Dongxu, you stay behind," Yi Zhonghai called out as Jia Dongxu turned to leave.

Under normal circumstances, Yi Zhonghai wouldn’t care where Jia Dongxu went to hang out, but things were different now, emphasized by Zhang Yu.

If he didn’t pass Level 3 this time, the conversation they had today would become a significant barrier between them as master and apprentice.

Determined to see Jia Dongxu pass the assessment, he naturally kept a close watch on him; otherwise, Lady Jia Zhang was sure to make trouble.

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai was worried that Lady Jia Zhang would cause a stir, never considering that if he gave Jia Dongxu special treatment, the other apprentices would take note and harbor their own thoughts.

Even if he knew the other apprentices had their opinions, Yi Zhonghai wouldn’t take it seriously.

The other apprentices, watching Yi Zhonghai’s actions, were clearly very displeased. Yet, what could they do about it?

Could they really confront Yi Zhonghai and accuse him of favoritism?

Their experience of their master’s various acts of favoritism was deep, knowing that even if they brought it up, they’d still be the ones at fault.

"I originally thought I had found a good master, but in the end..." someone muttered under their breath.

Hearing this, the others sighed softly, "I really regret it."

Initially, when Yi Zhonghai taught them, his attitude was fairly consistent, so they didn’t see any problem with it.

But ever since Jia Dongxu became Yi Zhonghai’s apprentice, they literally witnessed how patiently Yi Zhonghai guided Jia Dongxu.

It was truly a stark contrast to the way he taught them.

"It’s no use regretting now," one of them sighed softly.

Even if they wanted to change masters now, they doubted anyone would want to clash with Yi Zhonghai.