"Da Mao, come over here and help me button this shirt." Xu Da Mao was playing with Xiao Yongjun at home when Wang Minzhi called from the inner room.
"Come on, let's go see what Mom is going to do." Xu Damao carried his son inside.
Wang Minzhi struggled to put on a work uniform, but she couldn't button the bottom button. From pregnancy to childbirth, Wang Minzhi had gained at least 30 pounds, which was understandable.
“Those clothes are from before, it’s normal that you can’t fit into them now. You’ll be fine once you lose weight. Why are you making such a fuss now?” Xu Damao asked, puzzled.
"Normal? I'm starting work tomorrow, okay? On my first day back, I'm going to the logistics department to pick up new clothes. I don't know what they'll say about me," Wang Minzhi said.
Xu Damao has been busy with the auto repair shop lately. Since the Song Yucheng incident, he has organized various departments to compile the "Internal Management Regulations of the Auto Repair Shop," which covers safety production, logistics management, personnel changes, and job responsibilities. It can be said to be the result of the hard work of everyone in the auto repair shop.
After the regulations were issued, they were tested for a period of time, and modifications were made to address any unreasonable aspects before finally being printed and officially released for wider implementation. Therefore, Xu Damao basically didn't manage household affairs during this period, and naturally, he didn't pay attention to his wife's work.
"I remember you just rested for a short while, right? What about our son?" Xu Damao was a little worried about his son. He's so young, still breastfeeding, and weaning him all of a sudden won't be good for his development.
“I also think the time is too short, but that's how the country stipulates it. What can I do? I can't just make you go to the leader over such a small matter.”
"I'll feed her in the morning, then again when I get back at noon every day, and then again after I get off work in the afternoon. The number of feedings should be about the same, but it'll be a bit rushed," Wang Minzhi said.
Her words reminded Xu Damao that maternity leave for employees was only 56 days, less than two months. In his later life, Xu Damao remembered a female colleague who took a six-month leave, then went back to have a baby after only six months back at work. During that time, Xu Damao did all her work, so he remembered her vividly.
"Why don't you stay home and take care of the kids full-time?" Xu Damao voiced his idea. In those days, many married women didn't work and stayed home to take care of their children; this was the norm in the compound.
"That won't do. If that's the case, I'm afraid that if this goes on for too long, I'll end up like those women in the compound, gossiping about this and that all day long. Besides, I've finally become the station chief, a job that many people envy. You want me to stop going to work?" Wang Minzhi said fiercely.
"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you. But I'll find some time to talk to your section chief and ask him to be a little more lenient on your attendance. You're going back and forth four times a day, how can you stand it for long?" Xu Damao was genuinely worried about his wife.
"It's okay, isn't that how it is for everyone when they get married and have children? At least I have a bicycle, and some people even walk to work." Wang Minzhi was very open-minded.
Actually, Wang Minzhi was in such a hurry to go to work because she was worried that if she stayed too long, someone else would want her position. Ever since Xu Damao became the factory manager, some people had been saying things to her that made her worry that Xu Damao would fall in love with someone else.
Especially the jokes Li Tong made; she knew they were just joking, but sometimes she couldn't help but overthink them. Now, all she could do was focus on improving herself and not falling too far behind.
Besides, she knew Xu Damao only liked women with good looks and figures, so Wang Minzhi was even less willing to stay at home. Over time, her demeanor would become that of an old woman, and her figure would become round and unattractive; she herself disliked herself, let alone Xu Damao, that lecherous man.
"You two can talk tonight, Da Mao, you should go eat first. An old man came over before you got off work and said there will be a hospital-wide meeting after dinner." Xu Ma came over while the two were talking inside.
It had been a long time since the entire college had held a general meeting, and Xu Damao had almost forgotten about it. In previous years, they would sit together every year during the Spring Festival, but these past two years have been difficult, and everyone has been looking after their own families, so the general meeting hasn't been held.
"Mom, did she say anything?" Xu Damao asked.
“He didn’t say. But I guess it’s related to the Jia family. Today, Banggeng beat up a classmate at school again and even took him to the hospital. The classmate’s parents came here demanding compensation. I guess that’s what it is,” Xu’s mother said.
During this period, Xu's father went to work, while Xu's mother and Wang Minzhi stayed in the courtyard to take care of the children. They lived a comfortable life and were well aware of everything happening in the compound.
"Why is this kid so arrogant now? I remember something similar happened a while ago?" Xu Damao asked.
"Yes, it hasn't been long. They paid several tens of yuan in compensation back then, which was supposedly paid by Uncle Yi and Sha Zhu. I guess they don't want to be taken advantage of again and drag everyone down with them," said Xu's mother.
This kid is young, only in elementary school, but he's already causing trouble everywhere. In less than a year of school, he's beaten up many students, and his parents have been called in countless times. These last two times were even worse; he injured a classmate's head and almost got expelled from school.
It was actually Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu's doting that made the little guy arrogant and think that as long as he hit someone, his family would clean up the mess.
Xu Damao hurriedly ate a few bites of food when he heard the sound of a meeting being called outside.
"Da Mao, if anyone wants to donate, don't be the first to do so," Xu's father, experienced in this matter, reminded his son. In his eyes, there was no such thing as a factory manager.
"I know, I'm aware of it. Why don't you go and see what's going on?" Xu Damao said with a smile.
"You go first, we'll just watch from outside later." It seemed that Mr. Xu also wanted to see the excitement.
When Xu Damao arrived at the Intermediate People's Court, a square table and long benches had already been set up, and the three old men were in their places. There were no melon seeds or peanuts, only a pot of boiled water, which looked a bit meager, but it was in line with the state of affairs at that time.
"Da Mao, come sit over here. You sit in the middle! Lao Yi, move over a bit so Da Mao can sit in the middle."
Xu Damao was just about to find a place when Liu Haizhong, who was sitting there, called out. He also asked Yi Zhonghai to move. Yi Zhonghai was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to move or not, and could only watch awkwardly.
"No, Second Uncle, please sit down. We are just ordinary residents in this compound, under the management of you three stewards. I'll just sit here casually." Xu Damao quickly waved his hand.
That spot was cold and windy, and he didn't want to join in the fun. Besides, if he actually sat there, he'd have to lead the way in donating money later.
After declining Liu Haizhong's offer of a seat, Xu Damao casually found a sheltered spot to sit down. To his surprise, he saw that the people next to him were Sha Zhu and his sister, He Yushui.
"Rain Water, you're on holiday now?"
Xu Damao hadn't seen her for a long time and was quite curious. The girl seemed to be graduating from high school; she was pretty, but too thin, like a big bamboo pole.
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