As usual, Xu Damao returned home late that evening, but Yan Fugui, as if equipped with radar, precisely blocked him just as he stepped through the gate.
"Da Mao, what did they say over there?" Yan Fugui asked impatiently.
"Oh dear, Uncle, you almost scared me to death. Someone suddenly jumping out in the middle of the night." Xu Damao was genuinely startled.
"After the founding of the People's Republic of China, animals were not allowed to become spirits, nor was the promotion of feudal superstition permitted. Uh, let's not change the subject. Let's talk about what's going on today."
“Uncle, I explained your situation, but they said they’d think about it first. You know, their family doesn’t need your 1,000 yuan or so. They’re thinking of keeping the job for their own relative.”
Xu Damao rambled on. Things that are too easily obtained are not easily cherished. Xu Damao wanted to support that old bastard Yan Fugui for now.
"Da Mao, you really need to take this matter seriously. Your brother Jie Cheng is just waiting for this job to get married. If he doesn't get this job, he might be a bachelor for life." Yan Fugui started to use moral blackmail.
"No, Uncle, I will definitely take this matter to heart, but I can't guarantee anything. If you say that, you'd better be prepared that you might end up a bachelor for life."
Xu Damao has no morals and is not afraid of being kidnapped.
"Alright. Just keep an eye on things, and report any good news to your third uncle as soon as possible. I won't forget your kindness."
After saying goodbye to Yan Fugui, Xu Damao went home. He had just finished preparing something to eat when the door was pushed open.
"Da Mao, haven't you eaten yet?" It was Yi Zhonghai who pushed open the door.
"Uncle, is something the matter that you need so late?" Xu Damao asked, somewhat surprised.
During this period, Xu Damao tried his best to avoid Yi Zhonghai, Jia Dongxu and others. If they did meet, he would just greet them and not say much.
To be honest, Yi Zhonghai has no shortage of ability and skill, except for the fact that he has no son to support him in his old age. This makes him extremely insecure, and he tries every means to plan his retirement, eliminating anything that poses a threat to him.
Xu Damao is currently insignificant and powerless, so he can only avoid things if possible.
"Da Mao, I heard you're a team leader now?" Yi Zhonghai asked.
"It was just mentioned, but it's still the same, just with an added title," Xu Damao said modestly.
"Look, last time, because of you, the group leader didn't approve Zhu Zi's proposal. Can you think of a way to resolve this?" Yi Zhonghai was indeed up to no good.
"Uncle, you overestimate me. Sha Zhu was caught by Secretary Song for embezzling his colleagues' food rations. Later, when the leaders questioned me, I didn't exaggerate the situation, otherwise Sha Zhu wouldn't have been punished so lightly."
The punishment has been handed down; he's banned from promotion for two years, which is beyond my control. Given Secretary Song's character, I reckon even the factory director would have a tough time dealing with him.
Xu Damao said.
"Sigh, I just wanted the best for you both. You and Zhuzi grew up together, and now you've made something of yourself, but Zhuzi hasn't been able to advance in two years. He must be a little unhappy about it. I was wondering if you had some connections. But since there's nothing we can do, let's just leave it at that."
"By the way, when you got promoted to team leader, did you invite everyone in the compound to celebrate? It's been a long time since there's been any good news in this compound."
Yi Zhonghai said.
"This is nothing to celebrate, just a normal promotion. Well then, since you think highly of me, I'll prepare some good food these next few days and invite you three gentlemen for a drink. I hope you'll do me the honor."
Xu Damao didn't mind normal social interactions. But when it came to inviting people from the compound, he wasn't willing to be the one to suffer the loss.
"Okay, you decide. Call me, and I'll definitely come." Yi Zhonghai said before going home.
When Yi Zhonghai returned home, an older woman was still busy at home.
"Xu Damao really became the team leader?" an older woman asked.
"He's the only one from the projection team, so it doesn't matter whether the team is formed or not. He's still a worker, just with one more person under him. But this kid has been keeping a low profile lately; he doesn't show off to Sha Zhu anymore, and he's not as loud and boisterous as he used to be."
"Given his shameless nature, there's no guarantee he won't have more opportunities in the future," Yi Zhonghai analyzed.
"You mean he has more potential than Dongxu and Zhuzi?" an older woman asked with concern.
"That's hard to say. But Dongxu is a bit soft-hearted and doesn't talk much with outsiders; Zhuzi, on the other hand, is too impulsive and easily offends people."
Both of them are at a disadvantage in terms of personality. Now that Xu Damao is ahead, it will be too difficult for them to catch up. However, they are not without their advantages; at least they have our help.
Yi Zhonghai placed high hopes on the two men, especially on Jia Dongxu, whom he treated like a son. At this time, Jia Dongxu was also largely obedient to Yi Zhonghai.
At this time, Yi Zhonghai and his wife were in their early forties and still had the possibility of having another child. They were also taking medication, so they had not yet made up their minds to adopt a child.
When they get older and lose the ability to have children, they will have already given so much to the Jia family, putting them in a difficult position. Moreover, if they were to adopt a child, the child would grow up before they are old enough to care for them.
This is why Yi Zhonghai wanted to create an atmosphere of respect for the elderly and care for the elderly living alone in the compound. He wanted to control the residents' minds.
The next day, Xu Damao started thinking about treating everyone to a meal as soon as he got to work. Considering he was going on a date with Wang Minzhi that weekend, he decided to schedule the dinner for the evening.
If we wait any longer, the residents in the compound might start spreading rumors, or malicious people might spread the word that we're inviting the entire compound. If people have high expectations and we don't invite them, we'll offend them.
Believe it or not, Xu Damao's guess was spot on. Sha Zhu had already been having this idea. He planned to spread rumors in the compound over the next few days, saying that Xu Damao was treating the entire compound to dinner. With nearly a hundred people in the compound, that would be enough to give Xu Damao a run for his money.
He had just been warned not to confront Xu Damao directly, but he could always annoy him.
During lunch, Xu Damao approached Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong, mentioning his idea of inviting the three old men to dinner that evening. Yi Zhonghai also wanted to include Jia Dongxu and Sha Zhu, but Xu Damao immediately refused.
"Uncle, I came here mainly to thank the three of you for managing the compound and for taking care of me. If we expand the number of residents, what will the other two uncles think? What will the other residents think?"
Yi Zhonghai thought of Liu Haizhong's ambition for officialdom and decided not to let anyone else participate, so he gave up on the idea.
He had arranged to invite the old men in the compound to dinner that evening. She was quite curious about whether Xu Damao could cook, since men rarely went into the kitchen these days, and women rarely sat at the table in formal settings.
"You really know how to cook? Is it bad?" Wang Minzhi asked like a curious child.
"I wouldn't say it's delicious, but it's definitely super delicious," Xu Damao said mischievously.
“I’ve been living alone for a long time, and I prepare all my own meals. Although I may not be as good as a professional chef, I can manage to cook most home-style dishes,” Xu Damao said.
In the TV series, after Xu Damao married Lou Xiao'e, he was the one who cooked and took good care of her. As a modern-day Xu Damao, a single man, his cooking skills naturally improved.
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