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

"That damned bastard!" Yi Zhonghai slowly walked into the house, and even Jin Yumei couldn't tell what he was planning to do.

Li Xiangdong went fishing in the afternoon and returned home around 5 p.m.

This time, Li Xiangdong caught more than a dozen large fish, each weighing twelve or thirteen pounds. He'll leave them outside to freeze solid; they'll be ready to eat when spring arrives.

"Dong-ge was just looking for someone," Yu Li said as she approached. "It was the two of them."

Li Xiangdong was surprised to see that the two men were Fan Wenlong and Secretary Lin.

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Xu Damao Becomes an Official (Seeking flowers, votes, and full subscription!)

"Hey, Director Fan and Secretary Lin, what brings you here!"

Lin Xiangdong threw a string of large fish onto the ground. The fish were frozen solid, making a splashing sound as they hit the ground.

"Um, I've come to pay a visit to Chief Engineer Li." Factory Director Fan said with a smile, "I apologize for being so presumptuous."

Factory Director Fan and Secretary Lin sat in the main room drinking tea. On the octagonal table was a piece of dark blue cloth, which looked very high-quality at first glance.

"Well, you're here now, why did you bring cloth with you?"

Li Xiangdong raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying, "Xiao Li, go and make two plates of preserved eggs and peanuts. I'll get the hot pot ingredients ready."

"Director Fan and Secretary Lin, let's eat and talk at the same time."

Factory Director Fan and Secretary Lin immediately stood up and said politely, "Chief Engineer Li, you're too kind. We're here to invite you out for a couple of drinks. We'll go take care of the hot pot..."

"No need, no need, I have plenty of beef and mutton here." Li Xiangdong said with a smile, "By the way, Xiaoli, take this piece of cloth to the bedroom first. It looks like wool to me, and this stuff absorbs smells. If we have hot pot here, the cloth will get smelly."

"Tsk tsk, Chief Engineer Li has a really good eye. He recognized it at a glance." Secretary Lin said with a smile, "This is made of wool, and it can be used to make clothes for both men and women."

"This thing is incredibly valuable," Li Xiangdong exclaimed in surprise. "Giving away so much..."

"It's alright, it's alright, our textile factory wouldn't be short of cloth," Factory Director Fan hurriedly said. "Please accept it without worry."

"Consider this our payment to you. You've fixed eight of our flower-opening machines."

Secretary Lin also smiled and said, "The more you work, the more you earn; nobody can argue with that."

Yu Li left with a smile, carrying the piece of cloth. As she entered the bedroom, she began to think about what kind of clothes she wanted to make for Dong Ge.

Li Xiangdong set up the small table for the hot pot and then went to the kitchen to cut beef and mutton.

Yu Li carried the coal stove, now devoid of soot, over from the living room and placed it under the table. Then she placed the pair of copper basins on top of the stove.

The top edge of the copper basin was just slightly higher than the table. Yu Li poured the thick, white bone broth onto both sides. This was real bone broth, made from wild boar bones.

Yu Li originally intended to use these bones to make noodles because they were itchy.

After pouring the bone broth, still covered in flakes of white pork fat, into the copper basin, Yu Li opened two small jars. One contained a white, semi-solid substance with red dates and other ingredients. The other was dark red, resembling chili oil.

But the smell it emitted told me it was more than just chili oil.

Yu Li used a spoon to scoop a little of each ingredient and tossed them to both sides, and soon a fresh and spicy aroma wafted out. This made Director Fan and Secretary Lin widen their eyes and sniffle.

Li Xiangdong had just finished cutting five jin of beef and five jin of mutton in the kitchen and hung the knife up when he saw Yu Li walk in.

"Dong-ge, you cut so much meat again? We can't waste money like this. It's too much for several people to finish," Yu Li said, frowning her pretty eyebrows.

"Take some back and eat," Li Xiangdong said. "I'll entertain the guests here."

"I won't take it, we have plenty of meat at home." Yu Li said excitedly and gratefully, "Mom is making dumplings at home. I'll go back now."

"Oh, right, I'll make you some clothes at home tomorrow."

Li Xiangdong nodded and said, "Okay, but you don't need to do the wool work. We'll go out and find someone to do it."

“That’s right, that’s right, otherwise it would be a waste.” Yu Li was self-aware.

Li Xiangdong brought the meat, along with some other side dishes, into the living room. This made Director Fan and Secretary Lin stare wide-eyed.

"Wow, that's really extravagant! This is all meat!" Factory Director Fan smacked his lips.

"Yes, and there's sesame paste too! Mmm, this spinach looks so appetizing." Secretary Lin didn't stand on ceremony and stood up to help set the various meats and vegetables down.

"Chief Engineer Li has guests? Shall I help greet them?" Xu Damao poked his head in through the crack in the door, carrying four bottles of Moutai liquor in his arms.

Li Xiangdong was very aware of potential dangers; he didn't use a coal stove to cook hot pot indoors. He closed the door, leaving a small crack about a foot wide.

He was absolutely determined not to give himself a chance to get carbon monoxide poisoning.

"Come in then, let me introduce you to these two leaders." Li Xiangdong nodded and said, "But why did you bring alcohol?"

"I got this from my father-in-law's family; it's for drinking during the New Year. It's not unusual to offer it as a gift to a leader now," Xu Damao said with a smile.

Li Xiangdong had to admit that Xu Damao was shameless and shrewd. If such a person were in later generations, he would definitely be very successful.

Xu Damao came in with a grin. He sat down, opened the bottle, and started pouring wine.

After having a few drinks, Li Xiangdong said directly to Factory Director Fan, "Factory Director Fan, if you have something to say, say it now, otherwise, if you drink too much later, what I say will not count."

"It's like this, you said you can manufacture high-quality flowering machines, and we would like to ask you for your help." Factory Director Fan said directly, "This would also contribute to the country's development."

"Um, I don't have time before the New Year, and I have a lot to do after the New Year." Li Xiangdong pondered for a moment and said, "How about this, I'll make time to work overtime in the mornings and evenings to get the blueprints done."

"thanks, thanks."

Director Fan and Secretary Lin thanked him repeatedly.

If Xu Damao were here, the atmosphere at the banquet would definitely be quite lively. His somewhat shrill voice drifted out from under the door.

Liu Haizhong heard Xu Damao enter the house with a laugh and the aroma of hot pot. His face darkened, and he raised his hand to strike, but Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu had already dodged. His eldest son, Liu Guangqi, was nearby, and he couldn't bring himself to slap him.

Liu Haizhong had been soaking in the bathhouse for the past two days; his skin was practically peeling off. He hadn't gone to work, and he went to the public bathhouse every morning and afternoon without fail. He finally managed to get rid of the smell.

And you know what? All that extra weight in Liu Haizhong wasn't for nothing. After all that commotion that day, he only sneezed a few times and that was it.

Sniffing, Liu Haizhong said indignantly, "That ill-mannered bastard. He invites Xu Damao to accompany him, but doesn't even invite me, his second uncle."

"They're completely disregarding me! They really don't treat me, their uncle, like an official!"

"Dad, let it go," Liu Guangqi said indignantly. "Don't you know what kind of position Li Xiangdong holds in the factory?"

"I'm in the publicity department now, so I know a lot of information. Anyway, you can't afford to offend him again. Also, your assessment needs to be done as soon as possible, otherwise everyone will say you're skipping the assessment. Your skills are simply not up to par."

Liu Haizhong's stomach trembled with anger: "Who, who's talking nonsense? I'll go for the assessment tomorrow!"

“That’s good. Also, our department is short of a deputy section chief…” Liu Guangqi said.

"Forget it. You've only been there a few days, and you're already thinking about becoming a deputy section chief." Liu Haizhong shook his head and said, "You have no chance. You're not qualified enough, unlike me who's worked in the factory for so many years..."

“I’m not eyeing the deputy section chief. There’s a section chief in the blackboard bulletin board section who might be promoted to deputy section chief this time. I’m eyeing you, section chief. Even if you’re lowly, you’re still an official, right?” Liu Guangqi shook his big head and said, “Give me some money, and I’ll give you a gift tomorrow night.”

“That’s right, your line of thinking is spot on.” Liu Haizhong nodded, his face beaming with excitement. “Damn it, I’m an official, but my son is an official! So being an official is practically the same as being me…”

“Dad, if you want to be an official, you’ll have to watch your mouth from now on. You’ve gotten used to talking like that at home. You’ll be able to say it without thinking when you’re out in public,” Liu Guangqi said.

"I've got it, I've got it." Liu Haizhong nodded and said, "I'll give you a hundred yuan. Who are you going to give it to tomorrow?"

"I can only give it to the section chief. I can't get anything else," Liu Guangqi said. "This position will be finalized before the holiday."

While they were discussing the section chief's position, Xu Damao quickly raised a question before things had settled down.

"Chief Engineer Li, what do you think about me trying to get the position of deputy section chief? Like, deputy section chief of our publicity department?" Xu Damao said cautiously.

"Oh...you seem to be a worker, right?" Li Xiangdong asked.

“Yes, I’m a worker. I just wanted to get a deputy section chief position…” Xu Damao said.

“You’re a worker, not part of the system. How come you suddenly want to be a deputy section chief?” Li Xiangdong shook his head.

"Uh, why can't I do this..." Xu Damao looked completely bewildered.

“You need to be a cadre first. Look, isn’t there a clerk in the factory office?” Li Xiangdong said.

“Yes, many secretaries are actually clerks,” Xu Damao said.

“They are on the cadre payroll, they are within the system,” Li Xiangdong said. “For them to become section chiefs or something, that’s just a promotion.”

"And you don't even qualify. It's like playing a game, and you're still standing outside. You don't even have a ticket."

"Of course, in special circumstances, such as when you make a great contribution, that can make you a cadre within the system."

Xu Damao was a little dumbfounded: "Huh, there are so many different interpretations?"

“Yes, you shouldn’t be aiming for the deputy section chief position right now. You should get a permanent position first. Of course, that’s very difficult.” Li Xiangdong shook his head and said, “First, get a position as a temporary worker. Then you can figure out how to get a permanent position later.”

"Great, great. Then please put in a good word for me, Chief Engineer Li..." Xu Damao said excitedly.

"It's no use coming to me about this," Li Xiangdong shook his head and said, "Go find Director Li. There are some things I can't interfere with. The publicity department is under Director Li's jurisdiction."

"Understood, understood, I'll go right now. Those two distinguished guests... I'm sorry." Xu Damao stood up.

"Go ahead, go ahead," Li Xiangdong waved his hand and said, "It's something that needs to be announced the day after tomorrow morning."

Xu Damao rushed home, grabbed two small yellow croakers, and rode his bike straight to Li Huaide's house. It was a little after seven in the evening.

"Xu Damao, what are you doing here?" Li Huaide asked, looking at Xu Damao with some surprise.

"It's almost Chinese New Year, so I've come to visit the boss," Xu Damao said with a smile. As he spoke, he placed the small yellow croaker on the coffee table.

"Hey kid, just say what's on your mind," Li Huaide said, reeking of alcohol.

"I want a cadre position," Xu Damao said directly. "Do you have any..."

“Your propaganda department is short of a deputy section chief,” Li Huaide said. “We have someone in mind. But there’s a vacancy for a section chief. Why don’t you take on that role? You can manage two people.”

"I'll give you a position as a temporary worker. If you want to become a full-time employee later..." Li Huaide smiled and remained silent.