Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

With Deputy Factory Director Li's endorsement, Zhou Feng's entry into the steel rolling mill went much more smoothly.

The three of them arrived at Deputy Factory Director Li's office, and Xu Damao shamelessly followed them in.

"Zhou Feng, just say what's on your mind."

Li Huaide sat behind his desk, his fingers lightly tapping the surface.

"For... cough, for Xu Damao's sake, I'll do my best to help you with what I can."

There was nothing he could do. The leader who made the call strictly demanded that he keep Zhou Feng's identity a secret, and he really couldn't find any other excuse, so he could only let that idiot Xu Damao get away with it.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Xu Damao's face turned bright red with excitement. Although he was still standing in the same spot, his hands, which were crossed in front of him, were twisted so excitedly that his fingers were almost twisted into pretzel shapes, and he was shaking his hands in a frenzy!

"Thank you so much, boss! Thank you so much, boss!"

Xu Damao was even more excited than Zhou Feng. He rushed to the desk, grabbed Li Huaide's hand, and shook it vigorously.

Li Huaide suppressed the urge to pull his hand back, forcing a stiff smile with immense embarrassment: "Da Mao! Aren't you busy in the propaganda department? You go ahead and do your work. Zhou Feng and I will discuss the rest privately. Don't worry!"

The impatience in his voice was almost overflowing in the last three words.

Xu Damao, however, showed a hint of awkwardness on his face.

If it weren't inappropriate, he would have loved to tell Deputy Director Li right now that Zhou Feng's matter was no longer a concern!

Such a huge favor, it's such a waste to use it on Zhou Feng!

But looking into Deputy Factory Director Li's eyes, Xu Damao hesitated for a few seconds before turning around and leaving Deputy Factory Director Li's office.

But the moment he closed the door, he had already made up his mind: a piece of pork belly a finger wide wouldn't solve the problem!

At least three fingers... No, this isn't about the meat!

He needed to think carefully about what he could ask Zhou Feng for today!

As Xu Damao left, Li Huaide and Zhou Feng breathed a sigh of relief almost simultaneously, then smiled at each other, and the atmosphere in the office became less awkward.

"Zhou Feng, you can tell me directly if there's anything you need, and I'll try my best to help you arrange it."

After brewing tea from his desk, Li Huaide poured a cup of it into an enamel mug for Zhou Feng as well.

This left Zhou Feng completely bewildered.

Didn't I come here to ask him for a favor?

Why does this Deputy Factory Director Li seem so humble, unlike the sycophantic, greedy, and lecherous characters portrayed on TV?

Does Xu Damao have that much influence?

It seems we can't completely trust the original stories depicted on TV!

Li Huaide's idea was actually quite simple. Although the leader said that Zhou Feng should not be informed, the fact that Zhou Feng could get that leader to personally call and give instructions proved that his identity was definitely not simple!

At this time, building a good relationship with him is definitely a profitable deal!

Under this strange tacit understanding, the two actually got along very well, and were almost ready to assign Zhou Feng his position.

Seeing that it was almost time, Li Huaide asked before Zhou Feng could speak, "Comrade Zhou Feng, are you here today hoping to join our factory? Specifically, in which position...do you want to make a difference?"

He didn't mention anything about procurement; instead, he waited for Zhou Feng to bring it up himself.

But looking at his expression, Zhou Feng felt increasingly uncomfortable. This guy's enthusiasm was a bit too much; his persona was completely ruined!

But since the conversation had already started, he naturally had to bring up his own thoughts, following Li Huaide's lead.

"Director Li, to be honest, I'm quite interested in procurement. I do know some people at home who can procure some unplanned supplies. I was thinking that becoming a procurement officer at your factory would not only allow me to contribute to the factory, but also... make the best use of my talents!"

Zhou Feng's words were indeed somewhat subtle, but Li Huaide immediately grasped the meaning of the phrase "unplanned supplies"!

He was originally in charge of logistics, so he naturally understood the value of this relationship.

Someone with that kind of ability wouldn't let him go even without being told to do so by his superiors!

"That would be wonderful if you could be a purchasing agent!"

Li Huaide's smile widened: "Our factory's logistics department is desperately short of capable young people like you. Don't worry, I'll handle this. I'll write the paperwork for you, and I know the labor relations department well! You just need to wait for the paperwork to be processed!"

With his approval and recommendation, the biggest obstacle for Zhou Feng to enter the factory was actually the political vetting process.

Someone who can get a leader to call him for favors, how could he possibly fail the political background check?

So this matter is basically a done deal!

However, Zhou Feng was taken aback by his straightforwardness.

This isn't right, they just agreed like that?

There's absolutely no symbolic embarrassment or hint here!

The character Li Huaide in the TV series wasn't portrayed like that at all!

He still had the little gifts he had prepared in his pocket, but before he could even take them out, the matter was already settled!

"Director Li, thank you so much! I just don't know if there's anything I can prepare, or..."

Zhou Feng deliberately left himself an opening, and also put his hand in his pocket, carefully giving the other party a hint.

"No need! Nothing at all!"

Li Huaide waved his hand, glancing briefly at the pocket where Zhou Feng's hand was, but quickly looked away.

"Serving the people and bringing talent to the factory is my duty. Just go back and wait for news. At the latest, the clerk will definitely come to your compound to find you the day after tomorrow."

"Um... Director Li, I happen to have some little trinkets here, brought back from abroad by my family. I'll give them to you!"

As he spoke, Zhou Feng had already taken his hand out of his pocket.

In his hand were two bars of Safeguard soap, the outer packaging of which had been removed.

The soap is printed with "Safeguard," which is originally a brand from the United States, so it's not unreasonable to say it was brought back from abroad.

Li Huaide reached out and took the two bars of soap, one purple and one rose-red. Even before he got close, the enticing fragrance wafted over.

"These aren't anything valuable. You can take them back for your family to use, factory manager."

"Eh—"

Li Huaide squinted as he put the soap away, then patted Zhou Feng on the shoulder: "Why call me Factory Manager? Call me Brother Li!"

"Once you fill out the registration form and get a letter of introduction from the subdistrict office, you can go to the labor and personnel department to file your documents and collect your certificate."

This taste is just right!

He readily accepts gifts and gets things done efficiently—that's his persona!

"If you need anything in the future, just come to my office directly. There's no need to let any outsiders get involved."

Although he didn't say it explicitly, Zhou Feng understood from Li Huaide's disdainful tone that he was referring to Xu Damao!