Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Director Wang also looked helpless.

"Da Biao, although Director Yang's behavior was a bit abrupt, you didn't have to..."

"Alright, since this question has been raised, you'd better explain the origin of the chocolate."

"I bought it from a spendthrift young master at the pigeon market."

"..."

After thinking about it, everyone thought about the old guard, the good-for-nothing children of cadres, and the children of down-on-their-luck capitalists...

It is quite common to sell rare items.

Not to mention the black market, where people sell the beautiful watch their father captured on the northern battlefield, and even the medals of their elders.

In those days, supplies were scarce, and they were willing to sell anything to buy food.

Therefore, everyone tacitly accepted Zhang Dabiao's statement.

They're just picking up bargains. It's not like they haven't done it before. It's just the pigeon market; most people have been to the black market.

"Fine, then let them eat and drink extravagantly and live a life of luxury..." Director Wang was just doing his job.

But Xu Damao and others helped him answer this question: "Director Wang, Da Biao is just a teenager. You've heard the saying, 'A teenager can eat his father out of house and home,' right? He's been eating a lot lately."

"Yes, yes, I saw him eat a whole tub of noodles last time, and wow, a pound of meat too! His stomach is like a bottomless pit!"

"Director Wang, Da Biao is currently in a period of rapid growth. He has money and can get food, so why would he let himself go hungry? Don't you think so?"

Director Wang nodded and explained, "Da Biao, this was an anonymous tip. We were just conducting a routine inspection, so don't take it to heart."

Zhang Dabiao understood that this wasn't Director Wang's fault; it was just that someone was jealous. It was really hard to find out who did it through anonymous reporting.

The people in the compound had already reported me, and they knew it was pointless to accuse me, so it was highly unlikely to be them. Why waste my time? If I found out, they wouldn't be able to handle my retaliation.

So it probably wasn't them; they were beaten up, they're not that stupid.

that--

Were the guests at Guangqi's wedding the same people from the neighboring No. 97 tenement?

If I can't guess, then I won't guess.

"Alright, Director Wang, I understand that this is for work purposes. But since you're already here, could you please write me a certificate?"

"What?"

"This proves that I did not engage in speculation or profiteering, that my excessive eating and drinking was due to the needs of physical development, and that my extravagant lifestyle, capitalist practices, and the claim of a treasure trove of massive resources are all fabrications."

"If you don't give me a certificate, it will be a hassle to run around explaining if someone slanders me again. It would be better if you just gave me a certificate to explain."

Director Wang thought about it for a moment and realized it made perfect sense. Spreading rumors is fun for a moment, but clearing your name and proving your innocence is exhausting. Since she was already there, she simply wrote a statement for Zhang Dabiao and stamped it with the official seal.

Li Huaide was very good at interpersonal relationships. He took the initiative to step forward and, in his official capacity as the logistics director of the steel rolling mill, signed his name as a witness.

Compare Li Huaide's behavior with that of Director Yang, and you'll see what true vision and character are.

No wonder time travelers all like to be friends with him.

After finishing their business here, most of the neighbors dispersed, but Li Huaide and the others hadn't left yet. Director Wang stayed behind to see if there was anything else going on, as she was afraid Zhang Dabiao would cause trouble again if no one was watching her.

"Director Li, what brings you here today?" Zhang Dabiao carefully put away the certificate, planning to take a photo and scan it later for double backup.

I have met Li Huaide before, so I can just address him by his title.

Li Huaide smiled and asked directly, "Da Biao, I have a good relationship with your father, Zhang Banxian. From now on, you can just call me Uncle Li."

Aunt Wang and Uncle Li are both eager to claim kinship with me... Are they afraid I'll cause trouble or trying to win me over?

Zhang Dabiao didn't care anyway, so he didn't agree and just nodded slightly.

"I heard you can get your hands on chocolate and cream, and even bake cakes?"

Zhang Dabiao looked at Li Huaide suspiciously. How did this matter get out so quickly?

Looking back, Xu Damao and Sha Zhu, who were following behind, were both looking at the sky at a 45-degree angle, occasionally touching their noses or coughing.

Zhang Dabiao immediately understood; those two idiots had gone off to show off.

"Yes, that's possible, but the ingredients are a bit hard to gather; it takes more than a week to prepare one batch."

"Director Li, no, Uncle Li...is it some junior member of your family having a birthday party?"

"I really can't gather all the materials."

He didn't tell anyone about Xu Damao's reservation. Whether or not Xu Damao wanted to use the reservation to pull strings was his business; we wouldn't interfere.

And what if Xu Xiaoling is disappointed? That would be such a pity.

However, Li Huaide quickly waved his hand: "No, no, it's our factory's bear expert."

"The Suzhou-style meals they've been serving lately have been getting worse and worse. They say they don't taste like the food from their hometown, and they miss the chocolate from back home..."

"We're out of options, we've tried foreign-related restaurants and the Moorish restaurant... We can't possibly order from the Moorish restaurant every meal, can we? Besides, the Moorish restaurant is short of ingredients lately. So we came to ask you for help."

Several boiler upgrade projects at the factory have recently reached a critical stage, and we cannot afford to make any mistakes.

But even the most skilled cook can't cook without rice. The factory has special funds, but we can't buy anything.

So when Li Huaide heard about this thing from Xu Damao, and when Director Yang heard about it from Shazhu, they both rushed over.

Factory Director Yang actually wanted to find out who was supplying Zhang Dabiao, so that the factory could hire someone to make the chocolate and cream later. If all else failed, he could ask Zhang Dabiao to reveal the secret recipe.

Li Huaide's approach was cooperation: "I'll just pay you, and you get the job done. You can bring up any requests you have separately to discuss."

No wonder Lao Yang couldn't beat Li Huaide during the strong winds.

Zhang Dabiao understood now, but he was also troubled: "Uncle Li, this is a bit difficult. It's not that I'm unwilling to help. I can make several cakes a day, and I can buy chocolate with some money, but it's just too expensive."

"But cream is really hard to come by."

Li Huaide pondered for a moment. He had indeed inquired around about this, and currently, cream could neither be produced domestically nor imported. Only Friendship Store, foreign-related hotels in Beijing, Lao Mo, and the embassy district had some.

Even someone of their rank might not be able to get it. Li Huaide had even inquired with his father-in-law, and the answer was simply that they didn't have it.

The popsicle factory only makes some cream-flavored ice cream in the summer. Where are they supposed to get it now?

But he wasn't giving up and continued to ask, "Da Biao, can't we make this cream ourselves?"

His words really reminded Zhang Dabiao, who slapped his thigh—

"It's actually doable, but it's a bit tiring! It's hard on your arms!"

He just looked up the information today!

A glint of light flashed in Li Huaide's eyes: "If you can do it, that's fine! Da Biao, do you think you could make a few for Uncle Li?"

"Just tell me what materials you need, and I'll have someone deliver them. If it's too much trouble for you, I'll find someone to help you make it."

Zhang Dabiao didn't doubt Li Huaide's words, but he still hesitated: "What if it's done badly and wastes materials?"

Li Huaide patted his chest and said, "It's on me, Uncle Li!"

So, why not take advantage of this opportunity to try and fail?

So in the afternoon, the experiment began at Zhang Dabiao's place, and Director Wang was also kept behind to taste it later.

[I'm in for a treat!]