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

"Tsk tsk, what a damn waste!"

Yan Bugui felt a pang of heartache watching the cucumber, and after smelling its fresh fragrance, he tucked the cucumber's bottom into his pocket. As for how he would use this cucumber to show off, Yan Bugui had already figured it out.

"When I get back to school, I'll be chewing on this cucumber."

Yan Bugui thought to himself, "Hehe, this will surely attract everyone's attention."

"As for where this came from, I'll just say it was a gift from a relative of mine."

"Having relatives like that means they must be powerful and influential. They'll definitely treat me differently!"

Thinking of this, Yan Bugui returned home, picked up the student homework he had hastily corrected the night before, put it in his bicycle basket, and was about to push the bike away when he remembered something important.

He rushed to the kitchen door, reached inside, and pulled out a small piece of pigskin. It was hanging from the door frame with a rope.

Yan Bugui wiped his mouth with pigskin, making his lips shiny with oil. It made it seem like he must have had a very oily breakfast.

This is Yan Bugui's standard procedure, and many people do it too. But most of them are down-on-their-luck guys with prominent forehead lines. There's a saying: "Even if a donkey dies, its frame must not fall."

Yan Bugui then rode his worn-out bicycle to work.

Li Xiangdong arrived at the steel rolling mill and had just entered the technical department when he saw Yu Dajiang and Yu Li sitting there.

Upon seeing Li Xiangdong, Yu Li hurriedly stood up, walked up to him, her eyes filled with surprise and tenderness, and she couldn't utter a single word as she looked at him.

Chapter 42 Yu Li Joins the Company (Seeking Flowers and Votes!)

"You're here! I'll take you to register. Oh, and bring all your documents."

Li Xiangdong said with a smile.

Yu Li felt that Li Xiangdong's smile was like sunshine shining into her heart.

"Okay, let's go!" Yu Li smiled shyly.

Yu Dajiang left with a smile; he had to go back to the workshop to work.

"Tsk tsk, Section Chief Li, you're treating us!" Deputy Section Chief Zhang said with a smile.

Some technicians were egging them on.

"A treat is a must. Everyone wants to work, and the five people in charge of prototyping the machine tool need to keep a close eye on things. Don't let the workers make any mistakes," Li Xiangdong said.

"I have something to do, I'll be there soon."

Those people all said, "Section Chief Li, don't worry, we will definitely do a good job."

Li Xiangdong was quite adept at winning these people over. He divided the ten technicians into two shifts, one shift going to the research and development workshop, and the other shift patrolling the various workshops.

This way, the research team will have all their names listed. This also allows them to get a share of the profits.

Li Xiangdong led the pretty Yu Li directly to Li Huaide's office. At that moment, Li Huaide was looking at his watch and fiddling with a lighter. Needless to say, he was very pleased with himself.

"I need to find some time to go and check out that watch seller. I wonder how much this lighter is worth," Li Huaide thought to himself.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, causing Li Huaide to hurriedly pull down his sleeve to cover his watch. He then stuffed his lighter into his pocket before calling out, "Come in!"

Li Xiangdong led Yu Li in.

"Director Li needs to trouble you for a bit!" Li Xiangdong said with a smile as he entered.

"Section Chief Li, please have a seat!" Li Huaide hurriedly stood up. "This must be your wife, please have a seat. Sit on the sofa here, and Xiao Li, quickly make some tea!"

Li Huaide's secretary, Xiao Li, brought over three cups of tea and had just placed them on the coffee table when Li Huaide said, "Xiao Li, take these documents and go process Yu Li's onboarding."

"Go quickly and come back quickly."

Xiao Li nodded and said, "Okay, okay. I'll go right away."

"There's one more thing, Yu Li will be staying in the dormitory for a few days," Li Xiangdong said. "We just got the apartment there today, so we need to tidy it up. It'll probably take three to five days."

"No problem, no problem at all," Li Huaide said with a smile. "Then this afternoon after get off work, I'll go with you to the courtyard house and get the house sorted out."

"There just happens to be some old furniture and such in the warehouse, let's get it ready! Go see what we need and deliver it directly by car."

Li Xiangdong raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying, "Thanks! I'll treat you to dinner tonight! Let's go for hot pot! The one at the end of our alley is really good."

"No, it would be much better to eat at your house," Li Huaide said, puzzled.

"I'll finalize things with Yu Li on Sunday. I don't want the people in the compound to know before then." Li Xiangdong raised an eyebrow and said, "Those people in the compound... I'll take these next few days to talk to Yu Li about the situation there."

“That’s true. What’s with that Yi Zhonghai? Old Yang treats him like a treasure. And that Liu Haizhong is an even bigger idiot. He’s always thinking about becoming a cadre.” Li Huaide shook his head.

After chatting for a short while, Xiao Li came over with the documents. Yu Li's onboarding procedures were complete, and she had her work permit back. As for her work uniform, Yu Li would have to pick it up herself.

“Then let’s take Yu Li to her job.” Li Xiangdong looked at Li Huaide.

“Okay, let’s go.” Li Huaide stood up.

Li Huaide took one of Li Xiangdong's lighters. He knew how heavy it was. Those two diamonds could probably be exchanged for two small gold bars. Not to mention the exquisitely crafted lighter with its silver casing.

The three of them arrived at the purchasing department, where the head of the purchasing department hurriedly came to greet them.

"Section Chief Zhang, this is Yu Li, the one I told you about, the best and brightest person I found for your purchasing department," Li Huaide said. "We'll leave the rice purchase to her."

"Let the experienced purchasing agent teach Yu Li how to do it."

Section Chief Zhang wore a bitter expression, but he was powerless to do anything about it. This was an order from his direct supervisor. There was no room for shirking responsibility.

Jobs like purchasing goods for the government are very easy. You just need to make a phone call once a month to have the goods delivered. You can do whatever you want with the rest.

The job of buying rice is especially easy. People in the old city of Beijing rarely eat rice.

"Okay, that's easy, you'll learn it in ten minutes." Section Chief Zhang forced a smile as he exchanged a few pleasantries with Li Xiangdong.

Section Chief Zhang could also see that Yu Li and Li Xiangdong standing together clearly indicated their relationship.

"Section Chief Zhang, I'm so sorry to have troubled you. How about this, I'll treat you to drinks next Monday," Li Xiangdong said with a smile. "Everyone from your purchasing department can come."

The purchasing staff only numbered around ten people a month, so entertaining guests was no burden for Li Xiangdong at all.

Yu Li is going to work today, but she doesn't need to be in the purchasing department. She can go and arrange her own tasks.

Yu Li also received a perk: a slightly worn women's bicycle. This was for the purchasing department's work.

Of course, not everyone in the purchasing department is provided with a car. Those who understand the ins and outs know the reasons behind this.

At noon, Li Xiangdong took Yu Li to a small restaurant outside the factory for lunch. They each ordered a bowl of large meat noodles and sat down to eat.

“Yu Li, this is what I’m thinking. I’ll tell you about those beasts in that yard in the next couple of days. That way you’ll be prepared,” Li Xiangdong said while eating.

“We’ll go public with our relationship once you move in. I’ll go to your house on Sunday and we’ll finalize things.”

Yu Li blushed, her delicate face turning red. She lowered her head and ate her noodles while softly saying:

"Dong-ge, I'll do whatever you say. But you don't need to think so much about me and arrange everything for me. That makes me seem useless."

“Yes, yes, I know you are capable when you have the chance to demonstrate your abilities in the future.” Li Xiangdong said seriously, “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to let you move into the compound so easily.”

"Brother Dong, you're making it sound so mysterious, like everyone in the compound is a bad person," Yu Li said, somewhat surprised.

"Good people? Maybe one or two. But the rest are beasts."

Li Xiangdong sneered and shook his head, saying, "You'll understand when the time comes. There's not enough time now. I'll explain it to you in detail tomorrow."

"Mmm!" Yu Li nodded, stealing a glance at Li Xiangdong's handsome face. The joy in her heart flowed from her eyes.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Li Xiangdong accompanied Yu Dajiang and Yu Li to the logistics warehouse with Li Huaide. There was a small truck waiting at the warehouse entrance.

Chapter 43 Yan Bugui Eats a Big Ear Sticker

I selected an eight-immortal table and a small table. A long, narrow table will serve as an altar; I found one there too.

They also found two bunk beds with metal frames. Yu Dajiang didn't hesitate to move them onto the truck. He also added two large beds, two desks, two wardrobes, and a chest of drawers. All of this stuff filled a truck.

“Okay, I’ll ride my bike back first,” Li Xiangdong said.

"Okay, don't worry, Dong-ge. I'll follow behind the truck later." Yu Li smiled brightly.

Yu Dajiang had already jumped into the truck cab. When they came back later, he would throw Yu Li's bicycle into the back, and then the two of them could ride back to the factory.

When Li Xiangdong returned to the courtyard house, he saw Yan Bugui arranging several pots of wintersweet and daffodils at the entrance as soon as he entered the gate.

Over there, there were two scallions, a clove of garlic, a few cabbage leaves, and a potato.

This wasn't Yan Bugui's spoils for tonight. Perhaps it didn't meet his expectations, but he stubbornly stood at the door waiting, hoping to find something else.

Upon seeing Li Xiangdong, Yan Bugui's face immediately fell. He thought to himself, "I miscalculated, I really miscalculated!"

This morning, Yan Bugui arrived at school and entered the office with a cucumber in his mouth.

As soon as he entered, he saw the school principal, Zhang Hongyang, rushing over: "Old Yan, where did you get these cucumbers? How many do you have?"

Yan Bugui was startled, then composed himself and said, "Hello, Principal Zhang, this was a gift from a distant relative of mine. This is all that's left."

Yan Bugui reluctantly chewed the remaining cucumber slowly, letting its fresh aroma fill his mouth and nose.

Upon hearing this, Principal Zhang hurriedly replied, "Great! Great! Ask your relatives for some more, and I'll buy them. Since your relatives are willing to give you cucumbers, it means they have greenhouses."

Yan Bugui was stunned; he really couldn't agree to this. But if he didn't, he would have a hard time explaining it to Principal Zhang.

"Then I can only ask, I really can't guarantee anything," Yan Bugui said cautiously.

"Alright, alright, my elderly mother isn't feeling well. She's craving cucumbers with sauce!" Principal Zhang said, "I've asked many people but haven't been able to help. I'll have to trouble you with this, Old Yan."

Yan Bugui never expected that showing off would lead to such a situation. But Yan Bugui knew this was also an opportunity. If he handled things well, he could get rid of his incompetent title.