Courtyard House: Starting as an engineer, crushing a yard full of poultry

Li Xiangdong said in surprise.

"Your administrative rank has been reduced," Li Huaide said with a smile. "You've been given the rank of section chief. You'll enjoy the benefits of a deputy division chief."

"Oh, this?" Li Xiangdong said nonchalantly. It was just some extra money and tickets. Li Xiangdong felt he didn't need those things.

In later generations, if he were given a section-level administrative rank, he would be overjoyed. But in this era, a major upheaval was imminent in a few years, and an administrative rank might not necessarily be a good thing for him.

“Yes, based on your technical title and administrative rank, you earn 188 yuan a month,” Li Huaide said with a smile. “That’s more than what I, a division chief, earn.”

The steel rolling mill is a provincial-level unit. However, Director Yang is at the deputy provincial level. Secretary Zhang is also at the deputy provincial level, while Li Huaide is only at the division level.

"Oh, I see. By the way, there's something I need Director Li's help with."

Li Xiangdong touched his nose and said.

"Tell me, why are we being so polite!" Li Huaide said excitedly.

Li Xiangdong came to him with something, but didn't go to see Director Yang, which speaks volumes.

“My partner is unemployed, and I’d like to find him some work in your support system. By the way, how about being a purchasing agent?” Li Xiangdong said with a smile.

“Okay, no problem. I’ll hand over the liaison with the grain department to her.” Li Huaide immediately said, “Those tasks involving going to the countryside to collect goods are not suitable for a girl.”

"Okay, thank you, thank you." Li Xiangdong nodded and said, "Then I'll have her come and report for duty tomorrow morning. Also, I'll give her a spot in the dormitory."

"What do you mean by dormitory? I'll just arrange an apartment for her."

Li Huaide had really done a great favor: "I went to your house last night and then I remembered that there are three more rooms in the back building."

“I’ll remember this favor, Director Li. By the way, my girlfriend’s father works at the factory. He hasn’t been allocated a house either. How about we give those three rooms to them?” Li Xiangdong said.

“Sure, that’s not something that can be done with just a word,” Li Huaide nodded.

Li Xiangdong smiled and nodded, then pulled a lighter from his pocket. This lighter was custom-made for his livestream.

The old-fashioned lighter still uses flint and kerosene.

However, it is extremely well-made, with a silver casing and embossed patterns. The sound it makes when opened is also exceptionally pleasant.

The lighter is inlaid with two artificial moissanite diamonds the size of soybeans. In this day and age, those are real diamonds!

"Here, you can have this lighter for a bit."

Li Xiangdong handed the lighter to Li Huaide and said, "It's nothing valuable, just very well-crafted."

"What material is it made of?" Li Huaide held it in his hand, admiring it; he clearly liked it very much.

"The outer shell is silver, and the inside is stainless steel!" Li Xiangdong said casually. "Those two sparkly things are diamonds, one carat each!"

"Then... I can't accept it. This thing is too valuable," Li Huaide said in surprise.

Although Li Huaide said that, he didn't want to let go of the lighter.

“Let’s go, it’s just a thing.” Li Xiangdong stood up.

Li Huaide clutched the lighter in his hand and escorted Li Xiangdong to the office door. After watching Li Xiangdong leave, Li Huaide went into the office, grinning from ear to ear while still holding the lighter.

"Not bad, not bad. Li Xiangdong is a sensible person. We can get along with him."

Li Huaide lit the lighter with a clang.

He had no idea that Li Xiangdong had hundreds of these things. Diamonds, in later generations, would only cost a dozen or so yuan, equivalent to six or seven kilograms of rice.

Li Xiangdong arrived at the preparation workshop and called Yu Dajiang outside.

"Uncle Yu, why don't you take leave and go back home? You can take my bike," Li Xiangdong said with a smile.

"Um, is there something you want to tell Xiaoli?" Yu Dajiang asked with a smile.

“I’ve found Yu Li a job; she needs to come and report for duty tomorrow,” Li Xiangdong said. “I’ve also arranged three rooms for the two of you in the back of my courtyard house.”

"Ah, that's great. This is wonderful!" Yu Dajiang exclaimed with delight. "With a house, I can bring my whole family up here."

"Then I'll ask for leave now and go back! I won't ride the bike; it's very convenient to take the bus back."

Yu Dajiang went to ask Zhao Dafa for leave and then left in a hurry.

When Li Xiangdong got off work that evening, he talked to Factory Director Yang about the progress of the machine tool.

"I estimate that the machine tool will be finished by the Lantern Festival," Li Xiangdong said. "You can rest assured about that, Director Yang, Director Li, and Secretary Zhang."

The three of them felt somewhat relieved upon hearing this.

"Section Chief Li, you've been demoted today, shall we have a drink together?" Factory Director Yang said with a smile, "How about we do it at the factory? Sha Zhu's cooking skills are pretty good."

"I'm so sorry, I have something to do tonight." Li Xiangdong rubbed his nose and said, "We've almost finished eating the fish, hurry up and get some more!"

"Why don't we go together? I'll get some and we can share it," Li Xiangdong said with a smile. "There's a small reservoir not far from here."

"It's four o'clock now, we'll finish at five-thirty!"

Li Xiangdong brought his fishing rod and bait to work. He rode his bicycle to the small reservoir. Fifteen minutes later, Secretary Zhang, Factory Director Yang, and Li Huaide arrived in a jeep.

After cutting a hole in the ice, Li Xiangdong began his work.

Of the large fish Li Xiangdong caught last time, the bighead carp was all eaten. The grass carp was turned into smoked fish by Li Xiangdong in the kitchen of the mysterious villa.

I'm planning to bring it out tonight; it'll make a great snack to go with drinks from now on.

Yu Li is getting her new apartment tomorrow, and I should definitely send her something. Nothing beats sending fish. Ideally, a big carp.

Director Yang and the other two were completely dumbfounded. Li Xiangdong's fishing speed was as if he were pulling fish out of the warehouse.

They brought up more than twenty fish of varying sizes. Among them, the grass carp and bighead carp were given by Li Xiangdong to Director Yang and his two companions.

Li Xiangdong carried two carp weighing six or seven pounds each, and six or seven large crucian carp weighing over eight ounces each. Only then did he hurriedly ride his bicycle back.

After entering the courtyard house, Yan Bugui walked out of the house with his hands behind his back, still not home yet.

"Li Xiangdong is about to start a meeting, I'm letting you know!"

Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses and said.

"A meeting? Don't you guys have anything else to do all day?" Li Xiangdong said disdainfully. "No time, I haven't eaten yet. Let's talk in an hour."

After Li Xiangdong finished speaking, he completely ignored Yan Bugui and pushed the cart home himself. Looking at the fish on the cart, Yan Bugui's eyes were filled with greed.

"Going fishing again!" Yan Bugui thought to himself. "He has time to go fishing, but no time for meetings! Really... I need to go and tell Lao Yi and the others."

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Exposing the Mask (Seeking Flowers and Votes!)

Li Xiangdong was fed up with these beasts; they held meetings all the time, no matter what. He couldn't stand watching them put on airs and act like officials.

But since they were appointed by the neighborhood committee, I couldn't be too disrespectful to the neighborhood committee.

Li Xiangdong opened a can of beef hot pot and heated it up on the stove. The instant rice was also ready, so they could slurp down their dinner.

I put on my coat, locked the door, and went to the courtyard to find a corner to stand in. It was almost seven o'clock, and almost everyone had arrived.

"Meeting time! Meeting time! Today we'll convey some directives from the neighborhood committee." Yi Zhonghai slapped the table and said, "It's almost Chinese New Year, everyone be careful with fire and theft!"

"The kids will be on holiday soon, so parents need to keep a close eye on them."

……

Yi Zhonghai rambled on and on.

Then Liu Haizhong repeated Yi Zhonghai's words like a mantra, going over and over again.

"Alright, Second Uncle, shut up. You're just repeating what First Uncle already said. Everyone's freezing!" Sha Zhu interrupted Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong was talking animatedly, fantasizing that he was the factory manager of a steel rolling mill, addressing the workers below. Just as he was enjoying himself, he was interrupted by Sha Zhu.

"What are you doing, Sha Zhu? Do you have the right to interrupt when the leader is speaking?" Liu Haizhong shouted angrily.

"What kind of leader are you? What kind of leader are you?" Sha Zhu said disdainfully. "Hurry up and move on to the next item. Everyone is shivering in the cold here. We're not in the mood to listen to your sermons!"

"How dare you talk to Second Uncle like that, Zhu Zi? Shut up right now!" Yi Zhonghai shouted, then said, "Then let's move on to the next item. I have a suggestion for this year: let's not go door-to-door to exchange New Year's greetings. Let's have a group New Year's greeting gathering here on the first day of the Lunar New Year."

"Of course, you still need to wish the old lady a Happy New Year!"

"The last thing is about the Jia family. Qin Huairu has started working and is learning the trade of fitter from me..."

Yan Bugui pulled his coat tighter and said, "Qin Huairu is already at work, what else could be wrong?"

“Qin Huairu’s health is clearly not good, and it’s not easy for her to come and go,” Yi Zhonghai said. “In our compound, the only people who have bicycles and work at the steel rolling mill are Xu Damao and Section Chief Li.”

"Section Chief Li, would it be no problem to bring Qin Huairu along? Xu Damao is going to the countryside to show a movie, and he won't be on time."

"If there are no objections, then it's settled. Of course, Qin Huairu will also repay you. For example, she'll help you with housework and laundry."

"That's settled then, let's call it a day..."

"Yi Zhonghai, have you forgotten who you are again! Who do you think you are, talking to me and making decisions for me like this?" Li Xiangdong said as he walked forward to the table, grabbed Yi Zhonghai by the collar, lifted him up, and handed him two large pen bags.

"Crack!"

These two slaps may not be very physically damaging, but they are extremely insulting.

"How could you hit someone? Does being an official give you the right to hit people?" Liu Haizhong shouted. Yan Bugui, knowing better, shrank back and hid to the side.

Li Xiangdong put Yi Zhonghai down and looked at Liu Haizhong with a cold gaze.

"What? You want to make a name for yourself too?" Li Xiangdong looked Liu Haizhong up and down.

Liu Haizhong's wife, Zhang Cuihua, hurriedly stepped forward and pulled Liu Haizhong aside.