After being criticized and having it recorded, Sha Zhu will not be promoted or given a higher position in the short term. In other words, he will not be able to take up the position of group leader in the first canteen for the time being. Of course, for Sha Zhu, this group leader position only adds a few yuan to his salary and doesn't affect his power in the first canteen.

For Xu Damao, this meant that he had temporarily escaped the threat posed by Sha Zhu. But what about the longer term? Xu Damao planned to find a worthy opponent for Sha Zhu, Yi Zhonghai, and the others.

This opponent will keep Sha Zhu and the others occupied, preventing them from having the time and energy to harass me. As for the choice of person, I don't have a clue yet; I'll just have to take it one step at a time.

As for leaving the courtyard house, Xu Damao will not choose that option, at least not in the short term.

On the one hand, Xu Damao's house in the courtyard is quite large; if they were to move to another large courtyard or house, the conditions certainly wouldn't be as good. Furthermore, the population of Beijing is increasing, and housing is becoming increasingly scarce.

Furthermore, while the people in the courtyard house might be eccentric, at least Xu Damao knew them well and could handle them with ease. If they were moved to another courtyard house, who knows what kind of "surprise" might occur? Human nature doesn't change much, no matter where or in what era.

For the next few days, there were no screenings scheduled, so Xu Damao had some free time. He wandered around the factory, sometimes reporting to the leaders, sometimes gossiping in his older sister's office, and sometimes plotting his future partner in the broadcasting room.

Xu Damao has now firmly set his sights on Wang Minzhi. As for Li Tong, her family is wealthy and powerful, and Xu Damao is simply not good enough for her. According to her, she is also going on blind dates, and the men are all introduced by relatives from wealthy families.

Wang Minzhi's family consisted of an ordinary family; her father worked at a train station and her mother worked at a textile factory. As for how she ended up at the broadcasting station, it was entirely by chance.

Wang Minzhi and Li Tong were high school classmates. Coincidentally, the steel mill's broadcasting station was short-staffed, and through Li Tong's connections and some savings from her family, she managed to get the job. It was a very relaxed job, but the pay wasn't high, and promotions were difficult.

"Xu Damao, why are you always running around showing movies instead of coming here? Let me tell you, don't even think about making a move on my Minzhi." Li Tong teased Xu Damao as soon as he arrived at the radio station and approached Wang Minzhi.

"Can you speak properly? With your loud and boisterous manner, no wonder no one has been interested in you after so many blind dates." Xu Damao knew Li Tong's personality, so he knew she wouldn't be upset by his words.

"Come on, that's for sure. It's because I don't like her. Besides, I'm planning to give Minzhi one less person soon, so you won't be thinking about her all the time." Li Tong pulled out her trump card right away.

"Ah. You guys must be pretty busy lately. I was just about to discuss with you about going to Donglaishun tonight. Looks like we'll have to wait a bit." Upon hearing that Li Tong was planning something like this, Xu Damao immediately pulled out his trump card.

"No, please. You should have told us earlier if you wanted to invite us to Donglaishun. I heard that the mutton at Donglaishun has become even more delicious recently, and it's very popular. Last time I went with my friends, there were no seats available."

Okay, Xu Damao, go grab a spot as soon as you get off work. I'll ride my bike with Minzhi after get off work; we'll ride slowly.

Okay, go and get ready. Don't linger any longer.

Xu Damao knew he couldn't handle Li Tong's impulsive and fiery personality.

Once Xu Damao left, Li Tong surprisingly became serious.

"Minzhi, Xu Damao's wolfish ambitions are obvious. What exactly do you mean? You don't actually have feelings for him, do you? His reputation outside isn't very good; I've heard he's been flirting with quite a few women."

If Xu Damao heard this, he would definitely cry foul. This was the trouble caused by his predecessor, but he was being made to bear the consequences.

"Tongtong, what nonsense are you talking about? He didn't say anything, don't overthink it. Besides, I think Xu Damao has changed a lot lately."

Perhaps Xu Damao's "sycophantic" behavior had some effect these past few days, because Wang Minzhi said some nice things about him.

"You should think it over carefully. I'm just giving you a heads-up. But we still have to have mutton tonight."

Li Tong, being from an official family, was more mature in her thinking. She and Wang Minzhi had a good relationship, but they weren't true relatives. She could only offer advice, not directly interfere, since no one could guarantee the future.

Wang Minzhi, on the other hand, was also struggling with her decision. She was of marriageable age, and her elders were urging her to get married. However, people were relatively conservative in this era, and Wang Minzhi hadn't had much contact with men before.

Xu Damao is the one she's had the most contact with, especially in recent years, with this guy always hanging around her. The saying goes, "Even a good woman fears a persistent man," and Xu Damao has certainly achieved his initial goal.

That evening, the three of them had a hearty meal at Donglaishun. The two women didn't have big bellies, but they ate just as much as Xu Damao.

After dinner, Xu Damao insisted on escorting the two home, begging and pleading. His shamelessness from his previous life, coupled with the painful memories of being single in his later life, made Xu Damao extremely determined to get married.

When Xu Damao returned to the courtyard house, Yan Fugui had already locked the gate. He knocked on the door, but the Third Uncle circled Xu Damao repeatedly.

"Mmm, it still tastes the same. The mutton at Donglaishun is truly exceptional. Damao, when are you going to invite your third uncle to eat there? I haven't been there in years."

Yan Fugui truly has a keen sense of smell; he could tell just by smelling it that Xu Damao had eaten at Donglaishun.

"Uncle, your nose is truly amazing. I was invited here by someone else. Here, have a taste."

After Xu Damao finished speaking, he took a small handful of peanuts from his pocket—actually from his spatial storage—and handed them to the Third Uncle. Getting someone to open the door so late at night—if you don't give them something in return, they won't be so eager next time.

"Da Mao, you're a true gentleman." The Third Uncle laughed as he accepted the gift.

Back home, Xu Damao washed up and went to bed. In those days, there was no entertainment at night, so people could only go to bed early or try to conceive. If you stayed up late, you could hear the sounds of people making babies when you passed by someone's house on your way to the toilet.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, Xu Damao was woken up by the sounds of people washing up outside. He glanced at the watch his father had given him; it was only 6 a.m., but the sun was already up outside.

Xu Damao quickly got up, washed up, made himself something to eat, and went to work before it got too hot.

Along the way, Xu Damao spotted many of his fellow workers, so he decided to push his bicycle along with them, chatting and joking. This was, in a way, a way to improve his image among his coworkers.