Today, Wang Dabao plans to go back to Wangjialou Village to pick up Third Uncle's youngest son, Wang Tiangao.
I'll help him with his onboarding process when I go to work tomorrow.
However, having learned from his previous experience, he plans to sleep in until he naturally wakes up before leaving today.
Anyway, there's nothing urgent. As long as he's back before dark, it won't interfere with watching the movie. Wang Tiangao can also join in the fun and experience the atmosphere of a city compound.
The idea was good, but the constant clanging and banging in the yard made it impossible for him to sleep.
Wang Dabao got up, put on his clothes, and stood by the window. He pulled back the curtains and saw that, to his surprise, the already meager courtyard, which was already poor because everyone had moved their clotheslines to the backyard, now had two large pots set up.
Meanwhile, two older women were standing in front of the pot, stirring the dry sand inside, seemingly preparing to fry melon seeds and peanuts.
Fifteen minutes later, Wang Dabao pushed his bicycle out the door.
"Oh, Da Bao, did we disturb you?"
When Yan Bugui's wife saw Wang Dabao come out, she quickly greeted him, and Liu Haizhong's wife, standing to the side, also had a big smile on her face.
Although Wang Dabao had been in the compound the shortest of all the residents, both women could tell how important he was to their husbands.
Moreover, Wang Dabao had saved Yan Jiekuang's life, and his second aunt, Yan Bugui's wife, was always incredibly enthusiastic whenever she saw him.
Meanwhile, Liu Haizhong's wife, an older woman, knew Wang Dabao's identity as the deputy head of the security department, so she naturally wouldn't neglect him.
"You two are busy."
Wang Dabao waved one hand, "It's okay, you guys go about your business, I'm going to class."
Yan Bugui's wife also raised her shovel and waved it at Wang Dabao: "Then come back early this afternoon, our courtyard will be lively today."
"Alright, don't worry, I'll definitely be back then."
After Wang Dabao left, Yan Bugui's wife realized, "Wait a minute, isn't today the weekend? Dabao is a full-time employee at the steel rolling mill, why is he going to work?!"
Liu Haizhong's wife knew about Wang Dabao's job, but her husband had repeatedly told her not to tell anyone, so she couldn't say no now.
He could only laugh it off with Yan Bugui's wife: "Maybe Da Bao's job is different, or maybe the workshop is rushing to meet deadlines and requires overtime or something."
"Sigh, they won't even let us rest on the weekend. I don't know what position Da Bao is in, but this job is really not good."
Yan Bugui's wife muttered to herself.
Liu Haizhong's wife took a deep breath, glanced at Yan Bugui's wife, and thought to herself, "If you knew, you wouldn't say that. You can only envy those who flatter."
Because Liu Haizhong knew Wang Dabao's identity, he collected all the rumors about Wang, the deputy head of the security department, in the factory, and used this information as bragging material with his wife and children at the dinner table.
Why does Liu Guangtian always fawn over Wang Dabao? Isn't it because this old lady is always trying to please Wang Dabao so that he can find her a good job?
Of course, Liu Haizhong has always maintained that the time is not yet right.
Wang Dabao took his motorcycle from the factory and headed straight for Wangjialou Village, only taking a small amount of rice, flour, oil, and other items from his spatial storage along the way.
This time when he went back, he didn't plan to do what he did last time; he just brought some daily necessities for a few close relatives.
Wang Tiangao had been waiting at the village entrance for a long time. Being able to leave the village and work in the city was something to be proud of.
Based on Wang Dabao's previous letter, Wang Tiangao had already prepared all the necessary documents and procedures, and all that was left was to complete the household registration process after entering the city.
They had some drinks and lunch at Third Uncle's house, and then the two of them set off in the afternoon.
These days, Wang Tiangao's father also instructed him that he could do whatever he wanted in private, but at work he couldn't call Wang Dabao his nephew; he had to call him section chief.
Wang Tiangao, fearing he might make a mistake, stopped calling him that in private and started calling him Da Bao directly.
This was Wang Tiangao's first time in the city, and he was incredibly excited. He even switched places with Wang Dabao along the way, and Wang Dabao gave him a ride on his sidecar motorcycle for a while.
To Wang Dabao's regret, he was still unable to fulfill his hunting dream this time.
......
The Hongxing Courtyard was even more lively than it had been in the morning.
Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui went to register the number of people coming to watch the movie in the neighboring courtyard, but they were surrounded as soon as they arrived at the first courtyard.
People aren't stupid. Showing movies in a courtyard is not like in the countryside. There's only so much space, it can't hold many people. At most, it can only accommodate the population of three or four courtyards, and that's not even a courtyard with a large population.
The stewards of about ten courtyards, having received the news, rushed to the Hongxing Courtyard early in the morning, only to be told that Liu and Yan had gone out.
Now the twenty or so stewards and managers who had come to investigate began to search.
This led to the scene where Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui were surrounded.
These people guessed correctly. According to Wang Dabao's so-called system statistics, the Intermediate Court could only accommodate neighbors from three nearby courtyards to come and watch movies.
This is putting people in a difficult position! Which department should come? Which department won't come?!
Having failed to secure a spot, the manager was met with complaints from the residents, and Liu and Yan were subjected to the most flattering words they had ever heard in their lives.
Yan Bugui's eyes were practically invisible from laughing so hard, and his pockets were stuffed full of cheap cigarettes.
Liu Haizhong was equally enthusiastic, showering her with compliments until her ears were practically calloused. She hadn't been flattered like this in her nearly fifty years of life.
Moreover, those who fawned over him were all high-ranking officials in charge, whose status was similar to his own.
Liu Haizhong really got his fill in this round.
In the end, one of the managers, seeing that things couldn't continue like this, proposed drawing lots.
More than twenty of the managers from each courtyard entered the Hongxing Courtyard in a grand procession, leaving the residents who were working in a daze.
After Yan Bugui's introduction, Xu Damao, the third uncle, also made an appearance.
As a result, he was showered with praise by this group of old men, which almost overwhelmed someone like Xu Damao.
The three elderly men from the compound who were finally chosen by lottery left happily, and went back to organize people to bring over benches and stools to reserve their spots.
Those who didn't draw a prize continued to cling to Liu Haizhong and the others, insisting that they organize another film screening. And they weren't going to let them do it for free; these residents were willing to chip in some money as event expenses.
The idea of organizing another event was already appealing to Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui, since they still needed to make money selling melon seeds and peanuts in the yard. Wouldn't this be a good thing?
Until the other party offered to give the activity funds to Hongxing Courtyard.
Both sides quickly reached an agreement to continue the lottery, but the three colleges from this time would be excluded.
The courtyard became increasingly lively. Xu Damao was supervising each household as they painted their doors and windows. The aroma of roasted melon seeds and peanuts from the two older women filled the air, attracting everyone to run to the backyard to try them.
At this moment, the entire courtyard was filled with a warm and joyful atmosphere, and even Xu Damao found Sha Zhu and Jia Dongxu much more agreeable.
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