"Second Uncle, are we really going to the auto repair shop?" Xu Damao asked Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong's body, which had been swaying back and forth, suddenly stopped moving. At that moment, Old Liu seemed to have a feeling similar to his wedding night; he knew this was a job interview.

“Da Mao, you know what kind of person Second Uncle is. In terms of character, I'm always the first to lend a hand whenever anyone in the compound needs help; in terms of ability, I've been promoted to Level 7 forging worker. Although I'm one level below Lao Yi, I'm still one of the top workers in the steel rolling mill. As for energy, I'm over 40 years old, in the prime of my life.”

But someone like me hasn't even become a team leader in the factory. Can you believe how wronged I am? Even the current workshop director was someone I trained back in the day. Before, he called me "Master Liu," but now that he's a leader, he just calls me "Old Liu."

Tell me, how could I possibly feel good about this? So, I was thinking of changing jobs and seeing if I could get a minor leadership position.

Today, Liu Haizhong really went all out and spoke his mind. He also felt terrible. In the compound, he was always suppressed by Yi Zhonghai and could only be second; in the factory, he was a dignified seventh-grade worker, but he didn't have any official position. It was too painful for someone like him who had such a strong desire for power.

As Xu Damao listened, he considered Liu Haizhong's question. Did the auto repair shop need someone like Lao Liu? Absolutely, they'd be scrambling to get him. With Lao Liu's level seven forging skill, he'd be a top-tier talent at the auto repair shop.

It's precisely because there's little freedom to choose a career in this day and age that, otherwise, with Lao Liu's skills, other companies would be vying for him.

There must be a reason why Lao Liu, with his exceptional abilities, has never been promoted to team leader. The problem lies in his lifelong obsession with authority. For some reason, ever since childhood, he's loved bossing everyone around, acting like someone important.

As a worker in a steel rolling mill, I often offended many people unknowingly because of this personality. My superiors also thought that I was a bit careless and unreliable, and over time I was excluded from the promotion list.

Xu Damao had always been somewhat wary of Liu Haizhong, mainly because Liu Haizhong had done a lot of bad things with Xu Damao during a special period in the drama, an impression that was too deep. But now, thinking about it, he realized he had fallen into a logical fallacy.

First of all, in that era, quite a few people did that kind of thing, including many well-known figures. Or rather, many people wanted to do it, but they weren't high enough in rank to be anything more than low-level soldiers.

Secondly, even if Liu Haizhong didn't come to the auto repair shop, if that storm were to break, there would still be Wang Haizhong and Li Haizhong; no one could prevent chaos from erupting inside and outside the shop. If Liu Haizhong were there, Xu Damao might be able to use him to maintain some balance. After all, he knew Liu Haizhong and knew his weaknesses.

After thinking about it, it seems that Lao Liu coming to the auto repair shop is more beneficial than harmful.

"Second Uncle, we're from the same compound, I know you best. I won't say much else, but when you get to the auto repair shop, you'll go to the parts workshop and be the workshop director's assistant, helping the workers improve their skills."

Don't worry, we're all from the same compound, I won't treat you badly, Second Uncle.

Xu Damao filled Liu Haizhong's glass, then raised his own glass and clinked it against Liu's before drinking it all in one gulp.

As for Liu Haizhong, the person involved, he never expected that the position he had been longing for would fall into his lap like this. His mouth trembled, and his hand holding the wine glass was also shaking. Before the wine even reached his mouth, he spilled more than half of it.

"Da Mao, is this true?" Liu Haizhong was starting to doubt it.

"It really is real, even more real than pearls."

"When should I go?"

"The formal transfer order will have to wait a while, as we haven't secured the venue or all the necessary personnel yet. But you can talk to your workshop director and ask him to come help out at the transportation department ahead of time."

"You'll be considered a middle-level manager by then, so you'll have to do a lot of work in the early stages of factory construction," said an ordinary citizen.

Yan Fugui and Yi Zhonghai, who were standing nearby, were quite impressed to see that the two had settled on a mid-level position so quickly through their question and answer. Yan Fugui, in particular, wondered if Xu Damao could help him if he proposed a leadership position at the school, given that he had helped resolve the venue issue.

Yi Zhonghai, however, was a bit different. He definitely wouldn't want to go to a car repair shop. He was currently at the main factory, one of only two level-eight workers, respected wherever he went. Going to the new factory meant an uncertain future. But seeing others promoted was more painful than being demoted himself.

Regardless of what they thought in their hearts, the two of them had to congratulate Liu Haizhong on the surface.

"Come on, Lao Liu, congratulations! All these years of hard work have finally paid off. Let's have a drink. Do you have any food or drinks at home? Bring them out. We're in a good mood today, so let's have some more."

Yan Fugui, true to his reputation as a shrewd strategist, was still thinking about whether he could eat more good food at this moment.

"Absolutely. Second Aunt, quickly fry all the eggs in the house for me, and we'll have some more to drink." Liu Haizhong was unusually happy, and his tone was even more forceful.

"Second Uncle, you're about to become a leader, so you need to act like one in your dealings with others. You must never resort to violence so easily. You must always try to persuade people with reason, otherwise it will damage the reputation of our auto repair shop."

Looking at the Liu brothers not far away, secretly smelling the aroma of eggs and drooling, Xu Damao said to Liu Haizhong.

Living in this large compound, I see Liu Haizhong beating children almost every day. I'm tired of seeing and hearing it, so I offer some advice, which is also a way for me to accumulate public virtue.

“Da Mao, I never hit anyone normally. I only discipline the kids when they misbehave. But don’t worry, I’ll be more mindful of my behavior in the future. I’ll avoid hitting them if possible, and if it’s really necessary, I’ll do it quietly or cover their mouths before beating them,” Liu Haizhong explained.

“It’s best to avoid fighting if possible. If you’re a leader and there’s nothing you can’t resolve with reason, then it just means you have a problem with your abilities,” Xu Damao said.

"That's right, that's right," Liu Haizhong nodded, like a chick pecking at rice.

The two brothers, who had been watching the group eat and drink, almost burst into tears of joy when they heard Xu Damao plead for them and their father actually agree. These past years, they had lived a life that was utterly inhuman.

Regardless of what happens to Liu Haizhong in the future, the two brothers believe that their lives will be much better during this period, and that makes it all worthwhile.

Actually, Liu Haizhong's beating of the children was also a way to relieve the frustration he had accumulated over the years. Once he became a leader, his mood would be much better than before, and he would naturally beat the children less often.