Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

As night fell, the courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang gradually quieted down, with only the dim yellow light shining from the windows and occasional voices indicating that life continued. Wang Huanbo had just finished organizing his initial ideas for improving the steel rolling mill equipment under the lamplight when he heard a soft knock on the door.

A slight smile played on his lips; he already had a guess in mind. He opened the door and, sure enough, it was Xu Damao.

Xu Damao had clearly dressed up carefully tonight; his hair was slicked back and shiny, and he had changed into a nearly new Zhongshan suit, which, although slightly faded from washing, was perfectly ironed. He was carrying two things: a net bag of high-quality Guoguang apples, a rare find in those days; and a square package wrapped in oiled paper, emitting an enticing aroma of soy sauce and fruitwood—Wang Huanbo's nose twitched; it was authentic Beijing roast duck.

"Section Chief Wang, you're still up? Sorry to bother you!" Xu Damao greeted him with a warm yet measured smile, bowing slightly and speaking respectfully. "You've just returned. The conditions in the compound are simple; I was afraid you wouldn't be used to the canteen's plain food. This is an old friend my father knew from his apprenticeship at Fengzeyuan. He now runs a small stall on Qianmen Street; his cooking is absolutely authentic! I also have a few apples for you to enjoy."

Wang Huanbo secretly praised Xu Damao, thinking that he was indeed a clever person. The gift was understated yet highly targeted and practical, expressing his feelings without being too expensive to be acceptable; the balance was just right. Compared to Yi Zhonghai's calculated "concern" and Sha Zhu's naive and impulsive attempts to curry favor, Xu Damao's approach was more in line with the social rules of adults.

"Brother Da Mao, you're too kind. Please come in." Wang Huanbo stepped aside and addressed him more warmly, using the word "brother," which was both friendly and maintained a sense of distance.

Upon hearing the word "brother," Xu Damao's eyes lit up, and he felt more at ease. He quickly said, "I'm sorry to bother you," and carefully entered the house.

Although the furniture in Wang Huanbo's west wing was simple, it was clean and tidy. Blueprints and English books were spread out on the table, further highlighting the owner's extraordinary status. Xu Damao quickly glanced at it, his opinion of Wang Huanbo rising even higher.

"Section Chief Wang, your room is so tidy!" Xu Damao put down his things, rubbed his hands and said with a smile, "It's much better than our room, which was a mess like a pigsty."

"Just moved in, just tidied up a bit. Sit down, Brother Da Mao, don't stand." Wang Huanbo poured him a glass of water, his attitude casual and natural.

Xu Damao sat down, half his backside against the chair, adopting a very humble posture: "Section Chief Wang, you really made a name for yourself at the factory today! Now everyone in the factory admires your skills. Even my dad came home and said you're a true genius! Much better than those arrogant technicians!"

Wang Huanbo smiled but didn't respond to that question. Instead, he asked, "Is Brother Da Mao promoting science-themed movies?"

"Yes, yes!" Xu Damao perked up. "I learned the trade from my dad, and now I mainly help out and source film materials. But in this line of work, you meet a lot of people and get good information. If you need anything at the factory, or if you want to know anything about what's going on, Section Chief Wang, just let me know! I, Xu Damao, may not be good at much else, but I'm definitely good at running errands and gathering information!"

This was quite blunt, practically an expression of surrender. Wang Huanbo looked at Xu Damao, his mind racing. Just as he suspected, Xu Damao was shrewd, pragmatic, and adept at assessing situations. He had a strong desire to climb the social ladder, but also knew when to advance and retreat, and was loyal (as evidenced by his act of collecting Sha Zhu's body). In the original story, his "badness" was largely forced upon him by circumstances, driven by self-preservation and self-interest. Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu used "morality" to blackmail Sha Zhu, while Xu Damao pursued practical benefits more directly. In some ways, Xu Damao was easier to control and more useful than Sha Zhu, who was blinded by "loyalty."

"Thank you so much, Brother Da Mao." Wang Huanbo nodded, his tone calm. "I just got back and I'm not very familiar with the factory and the surrounding area. I'll definitely need your help in the future."

"No trouble at all! No trouble at all!" Xu Damao was overjoyed. Wang Huanbo's words were tantamount to accepting his surrender. "It's my honor to be able to do things for you!"

Wang Huanbo picked up an apple, weighed it in his hand, and said casually, "The situation in the compound is complicated. There are some people and some things, just keep them in mind. When dealing with people and things, take a long-term view and don't always focus on the trivial matters in front of you."

His words were pointed out, highlighting the complexity of the courtyard and implying that Xu Damao should stop picking on Sha Zhu and instead have a broader perspective.

Xu Damao, being a shrewd man, immediately understood the underlying meaning and quickly reassured him, "Section Chief Wang, don't worry! Although I, Xu Damao, can be a sharp-tongued person at times, I know perfectly well who's good to me and who's using me as a pawn! I just hadn't met anyone who understood before, but now that you've given me guidance, I know what to do!"

Wang Huanbo nodded in satisfaction. This was exactly the effect he wanted. Supporting Xu Damao would not only help to counterbalance Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu, but also allow him to become a key figure in his future business empire. As for Xu Damao's minor flaws, as long as they were used for good, they would be harmless.

The two chatted about interesting things at the factory and rumors in the alley, creating a pleasant atmosphere. Xu Damao was a good conversationalist, choosing topics that Wang Huanbo might be interested in, offering valuable information without being obsequious.

Before leaving, Wang Huanbo picked up the bag of roast duck and stuffed it back into Xu Damao's hand: "Brother Damao, take this roast duck back and have Uncle Xu try it. I'll keep the apples, thank you for your kindness."

"This...this won't do! Section Chief Wang, this is just a small token of my appreciation..." Xu Damao quickly declined.

"Take it." Wang Huanbo's tone left no room for refusal. "There's plenty of time in the future, it's not something to worry about right now. I'm all alone here, and I can't possibly eat it all. Take it back and give my regards to Uncle Xu."

Looking into Wang Huanbo's sincere eyes, Xu Damao felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He knew that Wang Huanbo didn't consider him an outsider, and it was also a way of saving face for him. He no longer refused, accepted the roast duck, and said gratefully, "Section Chief Wang, you...you're so kind! I, Xu Damao, will work for you from now on!"

After seeing off the profusely grateful Xu Damao, Wang Huanbo closed the door, a meaningful smile on his face. Xu Damao had made his move. Now, it was time to see what other tricks Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu had up their sleeves.

Meanwhile, in the Yi family compound at the Central Courtyard, Yi Zhonghai was whispering instructions to an older woman: "...Tomorrow, find a way to get Qin Huairu to go see Wang Huanbo. The excuse... say she needs to ask him about some literacy issues, or maybe she wants to thank Sha Zhu on his behalf. Have her sound out Wang Huanbo's attitude, especially towards Sha Zhu..."