AGN -Chapter 384 Xu Nuo (Part 4)

Qin Huai glanced at Shi Dadan and noticed that although he was still in full “storm-level” eating mode—shoveling food into his mouth rapidly—the pace was relatively steady. It wasn’t as exaggerated as when they were at Cao Guixiang’s house. Maybe it was because Huaiyang cuisine wasn’t something he usually ate and he wasn’t very familiar with it.

Seeing that Shi Dadan wasn’t eating too fast, Qin Huai felt relieved. After all, he was quite interested in today’s dishes himself.

“Sorry, I’m going to the restroom,” Qin Huai said, then hurried off.

He flashed into a stall, quickly opened the game interface, and first checked the title.

[Wang Gensheng’s Approval]:
Approval from Wang Gensheng, a professional accountant with 40 years of experience. With this title, when you encounter accounting problems, there is a high chance you will receive enthusiastic help from Accountant Wang. Of course, if you are involved in tax evasion or other illegal activities and are discovered by him, the fair and just Accountant Wang will show no mercy.

Qin Huai hadn’t received a similar title reward in a long time. The system’s rewards were usually either popularity-driven traffic boosts, memories/dreams, or titles.

He had obtained many titles, each with different effects. In Qin Huai’s view, these titles were essentially a tangible expression of the favorability points he had accumulated with these “spirits.”

Each spirit had different personality traits. For example, Gong Liang liked giving red envelopes, while Wang Gensheng was willing to help friends in his professional field. Rather than “titles,” these were more like the system’s confirmation of Qin Huai’s favorability progress.

After briefly reviewing [Wang Gensheng’s Approval], Qin Huai turned his attention to the main reward of this side quest.

[A Fragment of Wang Gensheng’s Memory]

This was the first time Qin Huai had obtained Wang Gensheng’s memory. It was memory, not a dream, meaning it was an actual experience from the old man’s life. After seeing so many memories and dreams, Qin Huai had roughly figured out the system’s pattern: wherever a spirit’s breakthrough lay, the system would provide that corresponding fragment.

The root cause of Wang Gensheng’s failed tribulation must have appeared in his first life, but since this current life was already about to awaken him, the key must lie in this one.

He wanted to see it.

Qin Huai looked at the narrow restroom stall and hesitated.

Watching someone else’s memory in a bathroom… wasn’t that a bit impolite? A bit inappropriate? A bit abnormal?

Didn’t that make him look kind of like a pervert?

But he really wanted to see it right now. And he knew clearly that the bathroom was actually the best place to view it—once he returned to the private room, they would start eating. He couldn’t both enjoy the feast and watch the memory at the same time.

By the time he returned, he would only want to eat.

But at this moment, he truly wanted to watch it.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Qin Huai finally clicked [Wang Gensheng’s Memory] → Confirm.

[Memory loading…]

Unexpectedly, Qin Huai suddenly felt as if he had returned to the familiar textile factory gate.

Because he really had returned to the textile factory gate.

“Xiao Wang, you’re the second batch of university graduates assigned to our textile factory…”

A group of middle-aged leaders surrounded a young, green-looking Wang Gensheng at the factory gate, chatting enthusiastically with him without even entering the factory.

Qin Huai observed Wang Gensheng carefully. The freshly graduated accountant looked very inexperienced. The leaders were clearly trying to keep him engaged at the gate for some reason, but Wang Gensheng himself seemed unaware—he just looked like he wanted to leave immediately, whether to go to his dorm or start work.

Qin Huai felt that the time period of this memory was likely similar to the one he saw in Shi Dadan’s memory last time.

Not only was the factory gate the same, but even the surrounding environment and the security guard were identical.

The young accountant clearly wanted to escape, but was forced to stand there chatting.

The guard, watching from afar, was grinning like he was enjoying a show—if he had sunflower seeds, he probably would’ve been spitting shells everywhere.

After over a minute of awkward small talk, the leaders finally waited for the person they were expecting.

One of them was someone Qin Huai recognized.

Xu Nuo.

Xu Nuo was talking to a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit—refined-looking, but with sharp decisiveness in his expression. Most importantly, he looked about 70% similar to Xu Nuo.

Clearly, this was Factory Director Xu.

The man was scolding Xu Nuo in a low voice:

“You always sneak off to the state-run restaurant. It’s not like you can’t study. Just stay at home and prepare properly. If needed, I can even get you back into school for another year…”

Xu Nuo sighed and muttered, “Dad, stop. Everyone’s waiting at the gate.”

Factory Director Xu ignored him and instead put on a formal, standard professional smile.

Everyone quickly began explaining why they were gathered at the gate.

Director Xu nodded, then looked at Wang Gensheng with satisfaction.

“A talented young man. Our factory really got lucky this year.”

The finance department head immediately flattered him further.

Qin Huai watched from the side, realizing that all these leaders were basically just waiting there to flatter the director—only the finance head was the fastest and most precise at it.

Seeing that one person had already started flattering, the others quickly prepared to join in, but Director Xu stopped them.

He assigned Xu Nuo to take Wang Gensheng around the factory and help him settle in.

Then, Director Xu even took out money and tickets and handed them to Xu Nuo:

“Take him out for a good meal tonight.”

Xu Nuo grinned and accepted immediately.

But the finance department head quickly chimed in:

“Director, our department already prepared a welcome banquet for Xiao Wang tonight…”

“That’s fine, just add another good dish. Talent is hard to come by these days. Xiao Wang coming to our textile factory means he values our factory—we can’t let talent down.”

With that, Factory Director Xu quickly walked into the textile factory, and the other leaders hurriedly followed. Only Xu Nuo and Wang Gensheng were left standing at the gate.

Wang Gensheng, who had barely spoken the entire time, looked a bit uneasy. He clearly hadn’t expected that a newly hired employee like him would actually attract the factory director’s attention.

He had just completed his onboarding procedures and hadn’t even been officially confirmed yet.

Xu Nuo smiled as he sized Wang Gensheng up, then suddenly asked a question that left Wang Gensheng puzzled—but Qin Huai immediately understood why he asked it.

“Bro, you look about two years older than me. I’ll call you Old Wang then.”

“I’m Xu Nuo. The guy who just gave me the money is my dad—he’s the factory director here. You’re the new university graduate in the finance department this year, right? The whole factory’s already talking about it. Last year all the graduates were technical people. I’m not saying you’re not technical, but you’re really the first finance hire.”

“Do you usually dream? Like… do you often dream that you’re not yourself?”

The usually reserved Wang Gensheng was stunned by the last question. But strangely, Xu Nuo’s way of asking worked, because Wang Gensheng almost instinctively answered:

“Sometimes… I do.”

“Sometimes I dream I’m an accountant.”

“Wow, no wonder you studied finance,” Xu Nuo exclaimed dramatically. He immediately slung an arm around Wang Gensheng’s shoulder. “Come on, I’ll show you around the factory. Walk with me and I guarantee everyone will remember you after one lap.”

“W-why?” Wang Gensheng asked blankly.

“Because I’m famous. Didn’t I say it already? My dad is the factory director.”

Wang Gensheng froze again, thinking to himself that these so-called second-generation factory kids really didn’t even try to hide it anymore.

“And me? I graduated high school three or four years ago. Didn’t go to college, don’t have a job, never took any exams. Basically what people call a drifter—a social idler.”

“Also, I spend money pretty freely. Last year I spent over 700 yuan buying a bun recipe, so now I’m a locally famous prodigal son. Basically everyone around here knows me.”

Wang Gensheng: ?

“You walk with me, you’ll definitely become famous too.”

Wang Gensheng was deeply shocked by Xu Nuo’s self-introduction. At this moment, he was certain of one thing:

Whether or not Xu Nuo was a prodigal son, his brain was definitely a bit off.

Sigh. Factory Director Xu really has it tough.

“Come on, I’ll show you around. First the finance department. At least let you recognize the door so you don’t get lost tomorrow. I remember there’s a woman named Liu Shufen in your department—she’s the deputy director’s relative, super gossipy, talks way too much, and loves playing matchmaker.”

“I’ve got a good buddy in the transport team. Everyone thinks he’s a bit slow and that I tricked all his money away. In the past, people loved introducing him to girls, but now nobody bothers anymore. Except your Liu Shufen—she’s still persistently matchmaking for him. You’ve gotta be careful. She’ll definitely try to introduce you to young girls since you’re the ‘quality type.’”

“Though… do you want to get married? If you do, you can just tell her. The girls she introduces are actually pretty decent.”

Wang Gensheng opened his mouth but couldn’t say a word. His face turned bright red.

Xu Nuo, completely socially fearless, continued:

“Oh, so you do want to get married? Alright, I’ll tell her later. What kind of girl do you like? Any requirements for work? Thin, plump, tall, short? Do you like hot-tempered ones?”

Before Wang Gensheng could speak, Xu Nuo already continued as if reading his mind:

“Oh, you prefer slightly plump, height doesn’t matter, and not too bad-tempered. Got it. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you start going on dates this week.”

Only then did Wang Gensheng manage to squeeze out a sentence:

“Xu Nuo… you’re… amazing.”

Xu Nuo grinned.

“Really? Then I’ve finally been praised by a university graduate today. Remember to say it again in front of my dad next time—he keeps forcing me to take the college entrance exam.”

“Oh right, what do you like to eat? We’ll just walk around the factory. I’ll show you where you can and can’t go, where the canteen is, and where your office is.”

“Then I’ll take you to the department store. Don’t even think about buying anything there—I can’t afford it myself anymore. You don’t need to buy daily necessities either. You can get them from logistics: bedding, money coupons, haircut tickets, cups, toothbrushes—all prepared by the factory. Our textile factory is one of the best-performing factories in the area, and the benefits are top tier.”

“After that, I’ll take you straight to the state-run restaurant. I’ll show you the fastest route from the factory to there. You must remember this route—you’ll be rushing there every day after work to grab food.”

“Why?” Wang Gensheng asked, confused.

“You’ll know once the steamed buns come out.”

“Oh right, what do you like to eat? Don’t be fooled by your department head—it looks like he’s easygoing, but he’s actually incredibly stingy. The welcome banquet will probably just be boiled tofu, stir-fried greens, and at most some eggplant with minced meat.”

“And even that eggplant will probably be something he brought from home.”

“My dad just gave me a lot of money and meal tickets, so I can order you two good dishes and still keep some for myself.”

Wang Gensheng felt a bit embarrassed.

“T-this… that’s not appropriate.”

“What’s inappropriate? My dad is the factory director. He earns the most. Don’t feel bad spending his money.”

“Do you like braised pork? I saw some pork belly hanging in the kitchen at the state-run restaurant at noon. We can get braised pork with quail eggs, and fry a few small fish to go with the tofu your department head arranged.”

Wang Gensheng didn’t respond. Instead, he followed behind Xu Nuo, studying him curiously, then hesitantly asked:

“Xu Nuo… do you not like our department head?”

“Not really,” Xu Nuo said with a smile. “I just don’t like his way of doing things. His accounting… has some serious problems.”

Wang Gensheng clearly didn’t understand.

“From now on, we’re friends. If you have any problems, come to me. If I can solve it, I’ll solve it. If I can’t, I’ll go ask my dad.”

Wang Gensheng: ?

“We… only just met, right?”

“Yeah, but we’ve already met,” Xu Nuo said with a grin. “I’m a very familiar kind of person.”

“I feel like we’re destined to be friends.”