That evening, Xu Damao and Shen Xingwang, the two aggrieved parties, also joined the reception at the machinery factory's special canteen, a case of "becoming friends after a fight." And Director Zhang truly lived up to his word, focusing solely on eating. Only after he was half-full did he begin to drink.
"Old Shen, what was the news you mentioned last time? Can you tell me now?" Xu Damao asked Shen Xingwang while the leader was drinking.
Previously, Shen Xingwang had kept the news a closely guarded secret and hadn't revealed a single detail.
Upon hearing Xu Damao ask about this matter, Shen Xingwang's seemingly dazed eyes immediately cleared up. After glancing around and seeing that everyone was drinking and no one was paying attention to them, he picked up a glass of wine and leaned closer to Xu Damao.
"Da Mao, brother, this is absolutely firsthand information. No more than two people in the entire factory know about it. The clerk knows, and even the factory manager might not." Shen Xingwang boasted.
"Did you know that our factory is going to set up a new branch factory, a machine repair shop, a department-level unit? Your opportunity has come."
Shen Xingwang's voice was so soft that Xu Damao had to put his ear right next to Shen's mouth. Shen said that someone was planning to merge the current machine repair workshops of the steel rolling mill with the casting and maintenance workshops to form a new machine repair plant.
However, Xu Damao finally understood why Comrade Shen was so cautious. Personnel issues, especially in a newly established factory, could affect far too many people, just like when the branch factory was first established.
In the initial planning and decision-making stages of such matters, most people are unaware, and by the time everyone finds out, the leadership has essentially been finalized. This gap in time is the operational phase for those who knew the information in advance.
"Is your information reliable?" Xu Damao asked, somewhat doubtful.
This old guy may have some connections, but they're supposedly only within the factory; otherwise, he wouldn't still be a section chief at his age. Clearly, the other party couldn't have gotten this information from the factory; it could only have come from the ministry.
"Remove the 'me' at the end. Hehe, I can't say the source, but it's absolutely reliable. It's said that someone is already pushing for it, and the top leaders have also expressed their intentions."
"Brother, don't even think about the top two positions, but start preparing now. You might as well try to get a lower-ranking deputy factory director or assistant factory director. Think about it, right now you're just a section chief, but over there you'll be a factory leader. That means you'll save yourself several years of hard work." Shen Xingwang said mysteriously.
Xu Damao wasn't surprised by the establishment of the new factory, but he didn't think he could get a share of the profits. With the establishment of such a new factory, besides the main leaders, there were plenty of leaders to be assigned from the previously merged departments, making it difficult for outsiders to get in.
Moreover, Xu Damao didn't care because he was too inexperienced and had no outstanding achievements in mechanical repair.
"Really? Well, you've been a section chief for quite some time now, so why don't you take the opportunity to move up a rank?" Xu Damao asked deliberately.
"Hehe, you're making fun of me, brother. I'm planning to retire as section chief, how could I have the energy to compete with you young people?" Shen Xingwang said.
However, Xu Damao didn't believe the other party had no ulterior motives. Shen Xingwang had been in the position of section chief for ten years, and like Gao Jin before him, he had missed out on the deputy director position every time he competed for it. But he was clearly still a few years away from retirement, so naturally he was unwilling to retire as section chief.
“Brother, I know my limitations. It’s not easy for me to just manage my own little corner right now. We’re in the transportation department right now, with too much work and too few people. Plus, the car repair business is getting bigger and bigger, and there’s a lot of communication to do. I don’t have time to think about anything else,” Xu Damao said.
And so, the two put the topic aside and chatted casually at the dinner table, but Xu Damao kept the matter to himself.
"Xu Damao, wait for me a moment, go back and give me a ride on your bike."
After the group finished their meal and saw Director Zhang off, Xu Damao was about to leave when Sha Zhu called him back.
Sha Zhu was the head chef for tonight's special dinner. Because the head of logistics was treating everyone, Sha Zhu didn't dare leave early and has been busy until now. So, Sha Zhu isn't truly stupid; his stupidity is selective.
"No, I've had too much to drink tonight, I can't ride my bike, I'll push it back." Xu Damao was unwilling to ride his bike and give a big man a ride.
"Then I'll give you a ride on my bike." Sha Zhu absolutely had to take a ride today.
"No, my car is broken and can't fit two adults," Xu Damao refused.
“Then I’ll walk back with you,” Sha Zhu said.
"Silly Zhu, just say what you want to say, I'm not afraid of you, okay?" Xu Damao said.
Ever since Xu Damao became a junior leader, he has been unwilling to associate with Sha Zhu. The two have not been alone together for a long time. Of course, there have been no conflicts or communication. They usually just exchange a few sarcastic remarks in the compound.
Today, Sha Zhu insisted on going with Xu Damao, which means there's something important going on, something that Sha Zhu himself or Yi Zhonghai can't handle.
"We'll talk as we walk," Sha Zhu said, then pushed Xu Damao's bike and drove off.
Once outside the steel rolling mill, there was no one around, only a few dim lights along the roadside. Luckily, it was two grown men; a woman would have been too scared to walk like that.
"Xu Damao, what's wrong with me lately? Every blind date I go on seems to go wrong," Sha Zhu asked.
But this question completely baffled Xu Damao. He thought Sha Zhu would want to use him to ask his superiors for a promotion or to borrow a car for a favor, or at the very least, to borrow money, but he never expected this question.
"You've been going on a lot of blind dates lately?" Xu Damao asked curiously.
To be honest, ever since he decided to stay away from those beasts in the compound, Xu Damao generally didn't care about things there, only focusing on his own life. After returning from the branch factory, he and Wang Minzhi were also leaving early and returning late, barely having time to eat dinner at home, so naturally they knew nothing about Sha Zhu's blind date.
"Recently, I've asked quite a few matchmakers, about ten in total. Some of them aren't good-looking, while others are more to my liking, but once my blind date comes to my house, there won't be a second chance."
"Xu Damao, tell me, with my looks and circumstances, I don't deserve this, do I? Even you with your long face found a beautiful wife, and Yan Jiecheng, with his weak appearance, also found a wife. I don't lack anything from you."
Sha Zhu poured out his frustration. After Yan Jiecheng's wedding, he decided to seriously pursue blind dates. Local matchmakers wouldn't take his business, so he spent more money to find matchmakers from further away, and finally someone agreed to go on a blind date with him. But every date ended badly—who could stand that?
Sha Zhu was beaming with joy, but Xu Damao was feeling down. Who did his long face bother? Why did people always use it to criticize him? He might have a long face, but who knew his little brother was also long? Everyone who used it said it was good.
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