Shazhu gazed at Xushu’s calm and composed demeanor, and he felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He knew better than anyone that if he didn't swallow his pride today and bow his head to apologize to Xushu, there was no way he would be getting those ingredients back. If the state banquet were to suffer because of his mistake, he would undoubtedly have to shoulder all the responsibility, and he would be in deep trouble at the Rolling Mill. At this thought, a chill ran down Shazhu’s spine, and cold sweat began to stream down his back.
Despite his extreme reluctance, the situation gave him no choice. Gritting his teeth, Shazhu hardened his heart and decided to humble himself. He lowered his head slightly, forced a smile onto his face that looked even worse than crying, and spoke in a tone filled with unwillingness:
"Xushu, what happened just now was my fault. I was small-minded and blinded by prejudice, letting our personal grievances spill into our work. You are a man of great character—a man whose heart is vast enough to row a boat—so please don’t hold this against me. We both need to look at the big picture; we can't let our little issue ruin the important task that Deputy Director Li entrusted us with."
Chapter 71