Dinner that evening was naturally very harmonious. The three old men from the courtyard fully demonstrated their years of experience in entertaining guests, praising Old Xu and Old Wang for how outstanding their son and daughter were.
Not to mention how much the Wang family values and is satisfied with Xu Damao now, even Xu Fugui never imagined that after being ostracized in the courtyard his whole life, he would be valued again in his old age because of his son. Of the three old men, two were related to the auto repair shop, so they naturally stood behind Xu Damao; the last one, Yi Zhonghai, also knew what was important, so he naturally said some nice things at this time.
At the end of the meal, the Wang family left because they needed to take their children home.
“Li Tong, it’s not safe for you to go back to the factory alone so late at night. Just go with your older brother and the others, and you can go straight home,” Xu Damao said.
Li Tong's home and Old Wang's courtyard were less than a kilometer apart; otherwise, it would have been difficult for Li Tong and Wang Minzhi to become best friends. Xu Damao thought that it would save him trouble if Li Tong went back with his brother-in-law and his family.
"No need, Uncle and Aunt, you go back first. I'll sleep with Minzhi tonight. Xu Damao, you can sleep in the outer room with Uncle Xu. I'll experience your newly renovated house first and give you some feedback later," Li Tong said shamelessly.
Faced with this scoundrel, Xu Damao really didn't have many options. After all, the man had a good uncle who happened to be in charge of Xu Damao.
After seeing off his father-in-law and his party, the old men remained seated at the table. Looking at the remaining dishes, Xu Damao decided to open another bottle of wine, add some peanuts, and drink to his heart's content.
"Come on, gentlemen, thank you for taking the time to entertain my guests tonight. It makes me feel very honored. I'll toast you separately." Praises are free, and Xu Damao casually slurped them down.
The three were delighted to hear Xu Damao elevate their freeloading behavior to such a high level, and each of them drank a glass with him. It's true, since Xu Damao became the leader, managing this compound has become much easier.
It turns out that Xu Damao and Sha Zhu were always at odds, constantly fighting or playing dirty tricks, making the courtyard a chaotic mess. Now that Xu Damao has suddenly withdrawn from the fray, Sha Zhu is also feeling bored on his own, so apart from the Jia family's little troubles, things are generally harmonious now.
"Old Xu, let me tell you, ever since he was a kid I've felt that Da Mao was destined for greatness. You see, some people say that children should be well-behaved, but I always tell them that it's okay for children to be a little naughty when they're young, that's how they become smart."
Da Mao was notoriously mischievous as a child; everyone else would either beat or scold him, but I always said this kid was destined for greatness. And sure enough, look how well Da Mao is doing at his job!
Perhaps he had drunk too much, Yan Fugui started praising Xu Damao in front of Xu Fugui again, but this time he started to drag the whole hospital down with him, making Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong, who were standing next to him, feel uneasy and curse Yan Fugui in their hearts.
"Da Mao, did Yu Shui come looking for you this morning?"
Yi Zhonghai was a thoughtful man and knew that he couldn't rush to deny it at this moment; it would be better to change the subject naturally. Besides, he was also planning to talk to Xu Damao about this matter tonight.
Xu Damao didn't expect He Yushui to be so concerned. She couldn't find Yi Zhonghai in the morning, so she probably came back after school in the afternoon.
"Yes, it's about work. I told her it would be best to talk to Sha Zhu first, or discuss it with you, Uncle. You are highly respected in this area, fair and just in handling matters, and you consider everything comprehensively," Xu Damao said, praising her.
"Hehe, I wouldn't dare say I'm highly respected, but I've done my best to handle the affairs of everyone in the courtyard." Everyone likes to hear nice things, and Xu Damao was no exception, as was Yi Zhonghai.
"Regarding the rain, she came to see me as soon as I got home and shared her thoughts."
This child is truly pitiful. Old He abandoned him and his siblings when they were so young, and their journey to high school was incredibly difficult. Now that they're about to start working, it's our duty as neighbors in this courtyard house to help them.
"I understand your concerns, Da Mao. Zhu Zi's personality is what it is; no one can change him in over 20 years. If necessary, I'll try to talk to him and persuade him. I'm confident in that regard. I just don't know much about the rainwater work; I'll be able to discuss that with Zhu Zi later."
Yi Zhonghai's logic was clear; he explained the matter in just a few words, stated his own views, and put Xu Damao at ease. Finally, he shrewdly probed Xu Damao's strength or, more accurately, his attitude towards the compound.
"Her situation is actually easy to resolve. She's a high school student from Yushui, so the neighborhood committee will definitely arrange a job for her. Our factory also allocates a quota to the neighborhood committee every year, so we just need to talk to them about Yushui's situation."
Once they arrive at the factory, high school graduates are usually assigned to logistics or administration positions, which are relatively easy and suitable for girls.
"But Uncle, are you sure Sha Zhu won't smash my window? Uncles Er and San are here too. If Sha Zhu acts up, I'll come after you," Xu Damao said.
“Yes, we’re here to testify for Da Mao. Lao Yi, you need to be reliable in this matter. We can’t let Da Mao suffer both physically and emotionally.” Liu Haizhong listened for a while before finally understanding what was going on.
Yan Fugui, not to be outdone, stated that he would definitely testify.
"Da Mao, how about I talk to Zhu Zi again tonight and get back to you in a few days?" With all three of them putting pressure on him, Yi Zhonghai suddenly felt a little insecure about Sha Zhu's character.
This silly Zhu has been getting too close to Qin Huairu lately, and he's definitely acting differently than before. Qin Huairu's words carry more weight than his own. If he takes on too much responsibility and Qin Huairu then tries to sabotage him, he'll be caught in the middle.
“Okay, I’m not in a hurry,” Xu Damao said, taking a sip of his drink.
He sympathized with He Yushui and was willing to help within his means. However, he didn't want to get into any trouble or unpleasantness because of his help.
“Well, it’s getting late. Let’s finish our drinks and call it a day. If you don’t mind, Uncle San, please take the rest back and help me finish it,” Xu Damao said.
"Yes, it's getting late. Minzhi and the others are waiting to clear the dishes. Let's finish this drink and then we'll call it a day."
When Yan Fugui heard that he could take the remaining wine home, he immediately felt that the banquet had ended too late. If it had ended earlier, wouldn't he have been able to take more wine home?
After leaving Xu Damao's house, Yi Zhonghai noticed that the light was still on in Sha Zhu's room and thought of He Yushui's situation, so he knocked on the door.
"Who is it? It's so late at night." Sha Zhu opened the door impatiently.
When Yi Zhonghai saw that Sha Zhu had opened the door, he walked into the room with his hands behind his back, but he didn't expect there to be someone in the room.
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