"Principal Jiang, Lao Yi, Lao Liu, can you help me analyze this? Should we wait for Jie Cheng's uncle? Should we send someone to pick him up?" Yan Fugui couldn't make a decision himself, so he could only consult the people in charge of the wedding banquet.
"The wedding banquet can only begin after Uncle is seated; this is a rule passed down from our ancestors. It's not that Uncle Jie is not coming; he just twisted his ankle on the way, so we still have to wait."
Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong spoke in unison. As the managers of the compound, they naturally hoped that everyone would abide by the traditional rules, which was also the source of their power.
If anyone in the compound dares to get married today and start the banquet without waiting for their uncle, they'll dare to rebel against the managers tomorrow. Especially Yi Zhonghai, who constantly talks about respecting the elderly and caring for the young, strongly insists that they must wait.
"Old Yan, look, it's still early. Should we send one of the kids to ride their bikes and pick up Uncle Jiecheng?" Jiang Changkong's question got straight to the point.
"Principal, his uncle is in Shunyi right now. Even if we send someone to ride a bike there, it will take at least four hours round trip, and it will be afternoon by then. What are we going to do?"
Yan Fugui's explanation quieted everyone down. Bicycles need someone to ride them, but a person isn't a machine. Going there might be fast, but bringing someone back over such a long distance is something no one has the stamina for.
“Principal, does your school have cars? Why don’t we borrow one for a while? It only takes an hour and a half to drive there and back, so it won’t delay the auspicious time.”
When everyone was silent, Da Congming spoke up. In Lao Liu's eyes, with several hundred students, it was only right that the school had a car.
Old Liu's words put Jiang Changkong in an awkward position. He was just a deputy section-level principal; how could he be entitled to a car? He didn't even own a sidecar, let alone a sedan. Even when he applied for a vehicle, the transportation department wouldn't approve it because the school never had any emergencies.
“Old Liu, you don’t understand. There’s a shortage of vehicles right now, and our principal voluntarily gave up his car to those who needed it more. That’s truly admirable,” Yan Fugui said.
Liu Haizhong didn't understand, but Yan Fugui knew that his principal would probably never be worthy of a private car in his lifetime. But since he had invited the principal to be the officiant at the wedding, he couldn't let the principal lose face, so he could only say this to make up for it.
"Haha, Lao Yan is exaggerating a bit. But we teach and nurture students every day, so we really don't need a car," Jiang Changkong said.
After that, the group fell silent again. Without a car, all that talk was pointless.
"Why don't you go talk to Xu Damao and ask him to send a vehicle over, just a tricycle from over there will do."
All the vehicles in our factory are in the transportation department, and it's the weekend, so no one else should need them. If Xu Damao needed a vehicle, it would be a piece of cake.
Yi Zhonghai offered a suggestion. However, he meant for Yan Fugui to speak to him himself. He also knew that given his relationship with Xu Damao, Xu Damao might not give him that kind of face.
“Yes, there are quite a few vehicles in the factory, and Xu Damao is the head of the transportation department, so it's appropriate to ask him for help. Lao Yan, should you talk to him or should I? Or Lao Yi can talk to him too.”
"This is a small matter for him. I think with the prestige of the three of us old men in the courtyard, he'll give us that much face. If we can't do it, we'll have Principal Jiang talk to him," Liu Haizhong said.
Comrade Lao Liu always misjudges his influence in the entire courtyard and fails to see the situation clearly.
"This is an internal matter for your compound, and I shouldn't get involved," Jiang Changkong said with a smile, declining the offer.
Although I'm not under the management of the Transportation Section, I'm still under the Logistics Department. Who knows, he might become the deputy director someday. It's not worth offending him for Lao Yan's sake.
"Old Liu, why don't you go and ask him for me? After all, Xu Damao is your backyard." Yan Fugui didn't dare to judge his own importance in Xu Damao's heart, so he could only try to fool Liu Haizhong.
“Alright, I’ll go ask. We people in the backyard are all quite helpful, and I believe Xu Damao is willing to do so.” Liu Haizhong immediately agreed.
And so, Comrade Liu found Xu Damao, who was chatting with the young woman, and explained the situation. The others were also watching from a short distance away, ready to step in and salvage the situation should Xu Damao become unhappy or refuse, so as not to ruin the atmosphere of today's wedding.
Xu Damao hadn't expected that his own affairs would be involved in today's wedding, but the other party's situation was special, and what they said was reasonable. Besides, everyone knew that the transportation department had several vehicles that could be mobilized, and in this day and age, there was no concept of not being able to use official vehicles for private purposes.
"Alright. Today is Jie Cheng's wedding day, how can things be done without your uncle? Besides, since you, Second Uncle, have spoken up, I have to make sure things are done properly."
Therefore, out of respect, I suggest that you, Second Uncle, represent the Yan family and go with Jie Cheng to bring his uncle over.”
Old Liu likes to show off, so Xu Damao lets him show off to his heart's content.
“Da Mao is good. I’m going. This is the only way to show our compound’s respect for our elders.” Liu Haizhong never expected that he would have this opportunity to represent the compound.
The others, including Liu Haizhong, hadn't expected it to be so easy to talk to Xu Damao today. Old Liu had been preparing several plans to persuade Xu Damao, but none of them worked, leaving him somewhat disappointed. Fortunately, the goal was achieved.
So Xu Damao rode his bicycle directly to the factory. Unexpectedly, Huang Shu and several other people in the auto repair team were still working overtime; it seemed the auto repair business had been doing quite well lately.
After telling the dispatcher on duty that he needed to use the car, Xu Damao simply drove the car parked in the parking lot away.
When Xu Damao parked his car in the courtyard, there were already quite a few people watching at the entrance.
While Xu Damao was getting his car, Comrade Lao Liu had already spread the word throughout the compound that he was going to pick up Uncle Yan Jiecheng, emphasizing his image as the compound's second-in-command who respected rules and overcame all difficulties.
Not only Liu Haizhong, but Lao Yan was also going to pick someone up and take a ride in the car. You see, in his more than 40 years of life, he had never experienced what it was like to ride in a car, and he was really reluctant to miss this opportunity.
Fortunately, Lao Liu finally managed to persuade Yan Fugui by explaining that a family cannot be without a head for even a day.
Yi Zhonghai didn't say he would go pick them up, but everyone knew what he meant. Someone, oblivious to the situation, actually suggested that an older man from the compound should be the one to pick them up, and almost got a tongue-lashing from Liu Haizhong.
"Alright, everyone, stop watching. Go back inside and wait for us to bring Uncle Jiecheng back safely. We'll be there and back quickly, and we'll make sure Jiecheng has a smooth wedding night."
Before setting off, Liu Haizhong took the opportunity to give a brief speech. He felt that the imposing image of his compound had grown even more impressive.
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