Back at the auto repair shop, Xu Damao sat alone in his office for a while, thinking about his future development. After a while, Xu Damao notified Li Tong to have the deputy factory manager come to a meeting.
"Li Tong, take notes at today's meeting," Xu Damao said to Li Tong, who looked much more mature than before.
"I just came from the steel rolling mill. The mill's leaders have decided to have me participate in a three-month off-the-job training program."
Xu Damao finished speaking slowly and then glanced at everyone's expressions. Sure enough, including Li Tong, no one showed much change, indicating they all knew the news beforehand. The fact that Xu Damao, as the person directly involved, was the last to know suggested that Li Xuewu had intentionally kept it from him.
Xu Damao knew the reason without anyone telling him. In recent years, because Li Xuewu's actions had become increasingly excessive, Xu Damao had begun to intentionally distance himself from him. Although on the surface he was still Li Xuewu's top general, Xu Damao had failed to carry out many of the things Li Xuewu had arranged, including promoting people and assigning them positions.
Li Xuewu remained outwardly calm, but one can imagine how angry he was inside. Therefore, he often bypassed Xu Damao and arranged work through Gao Yan. Xu Damao knew this but didn't stop him. This training might be the last chance she gave him.
If his performance satisfies Li Xuewu, he might have a chance to be promoted to an important position again. If he doesn't show any interest, then Xu Damao will probably just retire in some obscure corner. Reality is that cruel.
"Regarding my work during this period of leave for further study, here's my thought: you are all responsible for your respective departments. For major and complex issues, consult the steel rolling mill leadership. Or for less urgent matters, wait for me to return and make a decision."
Contrary to Huang Xian and Li Xuewu's suggestion, Xu Damao did not appoint a specific person to oversee the work. Instead, he continued to let them manage their assigned tasks. This appeared to be Xu Damao's lingering attachment to his power, but it was actually a further act of separation. He was doing this for Li Xuewu's benefit.
Zuo Chang'an and Gao Yan seemed quite surprised; this result was completely different from what they had expected.
"Factory manager, this training period is so long, shouldn't we appoint a temporary person in charge? It seems to be against regulations." Gao Yan couldn't help but say.
Everyone changes, and Gao Yan is no exception. In recent years, thanks to Xu Damao's presence, Gao Yan and Zuo Chang'an have been relatively well-behaved at the factory, and their minor actions have remained within Xu Damao's tolerance. But upon hearing the news that Xu Damao might leave, Gao Yan is determined to secure the greatest possible benefit.
"Does Director Zuo have any opinions?" Xu Damao did not answer Gao Yan's question, but turned to work on Chang'an.
"I have no objection. To be honest, it's only a three-month period, so there's really no need to appoint a temporary person in charge. If it really doesn't work, we can wait until you're on vacation and then go to you to ask for your instructions and report on the work."
Zuo Chang'an had anticipated that, given his ranking behind Gao Yan, it would be difficult for him to take charge of the work. However, maintaining the status quo was also a good option, at least he wouldn't have to report to this woman.
"Then it's settled. Li Tong, make sure all departments and workshops are informed of the meeting minutes."
After Xu Damao finished speaking, he picked up his briefcase and left the office.
Li Tong seemed to have something to say, but ultimately said nothing. As Li Xuewu's niece, she knew what her uncle had been doing these past few years, and also knew that Xu Damao and Li Xuewu had been somewhat at odds. When the conflict was about to erupt, she was caught in a dilemma.
Xu Damao went straight back to the courtyard house. Since Jia Zhangshi was driven away, the atmosphere in the courtyard house has changed a bit in the past few years. At least now it is rare to hear anyone cursing like a shrew in the courtyard.
"Uncle, you're back quite early." Xu Damao greeted Yan Fugui, who was sitting at the door.
The Yan family's life has improved considerably. Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li are both employed workers with regular jobs, and Yan Jiefang has just started working as a temporary worker at a car repair shop, which is enough to support himself. Therefore, Old Yan no longer has to constantly ask people for favors or bribes like before. However, he's still used to being a doorman and enjoys sitting at the entrance chatting with people.
"Da Mao, is there a meeting today? You're here so early." Many neighbors greeted him.
There are quite a few people working at the auto repair shop in the courtyard now. As long as they have the ability and willingness to work, and the steel rolling mill also needs them, Xu Damao will make things convenient for them. Most of them start as temporary workers, and if there are openings for permanent positions, everyone will line up.
Over time, everyone realized that although Xu Damao was the factory manager, he worked and left work just like any other worker. If he came home early, it was definitely because there was a meeting that day.
As Xu Damao was greeting people, his son ran over.
"Dad, Dad, my sister wet the bed again." Xu Yongjun ran to Xu Damao's side with his long little legs.
This little guy is four years old now, but he's already quite chubby-cheeked, about the same age as other five or six-year-olds. He doesn't want to stay home all day; he's either playing with the kids in the yard or pushing his little sister around in a wheelchair.
Xu Damao's daughter, Xu Xuan, is just two years old. She's the type who can walk but isn't steady, and can run but isn't fast. She always follows her brother around. At this moment, she's hiding behind her brother, watching Xu Damao.
She was young, but she knew that bedwetting was not a good thing, and she was quite embarrassed when her brother said it to her in public.
"Xuanxuan, did your brother bully you today?"
Xu Damao picked up his daughter, kissed her on the cheek, and then asked, "When my daughter was first born, my son Yongjun treated her like a toy, messing with her every day."
"No. Dad, I only wet the bed once today, and it was just a small patch," Xu Xuan explained to herself.
"It's okay. My older brother wet the bed even worse than you when he was little."
Holding his daughter and holding his son's hand, Xu Damao slowly walked towards the backyard.
When Xu Damao saw a chicken coop in front of his house, with a chicken inside, he suddenly realized that the plot of the TV series "Siheyuan" seemed to have started in 1965, beginning with the chicken in Xu Damao's house.
However, the Jia family is much better off now, so Banggeng probably won't steal chickens. Even if he did, with his limited intelligence, he wouldn't dare steal from Xu Damao's house.
Since the Jia family became related to Yi Zhonghai's family through marriage, the Jia children have truly lived like Yi Zhonghai's own grandchildren, eating at the Yi family's house every day, with the best food in the entire compound. After a while, Yi Zhonghai and the older woman couldn't take it anymore, but the sword had already been drawn and couldn't be sheathed.
It harmed Yi Zhonghai, but it saved the compound; at least now the "Stealing Saint's Stick" incident hasn't caused trouble in the compound because of food and drink. But I heard that this kid often causes trouble outside of school, and Qin Huairu has paid out a lot of money.
That little bit of money is nothing. Now that Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu are married, Sha Zhu is openly helping out financially and physically. So, since the Jia family has three families supporting their children, it's unlikely they would steal anything from the compound.
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