The Fitter Master in the Courtyard: Surrounded by Dead Men

Yang Ping witnessed this scene, his gaze sweeping over Ma Xiaoling who was approaching not far away, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

Gao Yue frowned, her eyes filled with disgust—she had never liked Xu Damao at all and was about to expose his background to Zhou Xiaobai when Yang Ping gently stopped her.

He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Don't rush, look, Xu Damao's wife is here."

He wasn't worried that Zhou Xiaobai would be easily swayed by Xu Damao's words.

He knew perfectly well who her heart belonged to.

Once they get back, Gao Yue will naturally tell her about Xu Damao's character. At that time, Zhou Xiaobai will probably find it annoying to even look at him, let alone anything else.

Gao Yue's expression hardened, and she looked up to see a stout woman striding towards her, stopping directly behind Xu Damao.

The woman stood there with her hands on her hips, her face full of anger, like a door god.

A hint of surprise flashed across Gao Yue's eyes—she never expected that such a frivolous person as Xu Damao would marry such a wife.

"Xiaobai, come with me backstage later. What kind of movie do you want to see? I'll show it to you separately."

Xu Damao pointed behind the screen, his tone solicitous.

To please Zhou Xiaobai, he was even willing to change the screening order at the last minute.

"Yeah?"

A voice, suppressing its anger, suddenly rang out.

Xu Damao subconsciously replied, "Of course, I'm the projectionist at the factory. What we show and what we don't show is entirely up to me."

As soon as he spoke, he realized something was wrong—Zhou Xiaobai didn't say anything, but the voice sounded strangely familiar, as if... as if it had been ringing in his ears every day.

It's Ma Xiaoling! That tigress at home!

Xu Damao's face turned deathly pale instantly, and terror filled his entire face.

He hurriedly stood up and tried to squeeze into the crowd.

"Xu Damao! Where do you think you're going!"

Ma Xiaoling grabbed him by the back of his collar, pulling him back and causing him to stumble. "Tell me! What happened?"

"N-nothing happened!"

Xu Damao stammered in his defense, "She's Yang Ping's friend, so I... I just got to know her, it was just a casual greeting, I really didn't mean anything by it!"

Seeing that there was nowhere to escape, Xu Damao could only wave his hand repeatedly at Ma Xiaoling, his voice filled with urgency.

"I just wanted to teach you a lesson, that's all!"

Before Ma Xiaoling could finish speaking, her fist had already been thrown out, landing squarely on Xu Damao's cheek.

"Oh!"

Xu Damao cried out in pain and shouted in a panic.

"Stop hitting me, Ma Xiaoling! I still have to show a movie later, it would be embarrassing if others saw us!"

"Now you realize how unsightly it is? When you were flirting with those women outside, did you ever think about how unsightly it was?"

As Ma Xiaoling spoke, she continued to deliver punch after punch.

She harbored a strong determination, determined to make Xu Damao suffer enough to remember his mistake and abandon his wicked thoughts before she could feel at ease.

"I... Ouch! Stop, stop hitting me!"

Xu Damao was speechless, stammering and unable to find a single word to defend himself, when he received another heavy blow to the face.

This scene left Zhou Xiaobai, who was standing to the side, stunned.

As a police officer, she instinctively wanted to step forward to stop the conflict, but Yang Ping gently tugged at her sleeve.

"This isn't the first time Xu Damao has been involved with women outside the marriage. His wife has caught him doing it several times, but he just won't change."

"They dare to try and take advantage of you again? This kind of person doesn't deserve any sympathy."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiaobai felt a surge of anger—she despised men who behaved this way the most.

She had thought that Yang Ping was only talking to her out of neighborly courtesy, since they lived in the same compound. She never expected that he had such filthy thoughts behind his words.

She clenched her fists in anger, almost wanting to rush up and teach that guy a lesson along with Ma Xiaoling.

"What's all this commotion! Stop it!"

The security personnel arrived and sternly ordered them to stop.

They were in charge of guarding this movie, and if anything went wrong, the factory leaders would not let it go easily.

Several people quickly stepped forward and forcefully pulled Xu Damao and Ma Xiaoling apart.

Seeing that someone was blocking his way, Xu Damao didn't dare to stay any longer. He turned around and plunged into the crowd, disappearing in a flash.

Others might get away with a few words and then go home and sleep; but he can't. The woman standing in front of him is his own wife. If he gets away with his words now, he'll be in for a real beating once he gets home.

It's better to get away early and have some peace and quiet.

"Xu Damao, you stop right there!"

Ma Xiaoling's voice trembled with anger.

She wanted to chase after him and hit him a couple more times, but the factory's security guards raised their hands to stop her.

No matter how hard she struggled, those people stood there like a wall, completely unmoved.

"You assaulted one of our factory workers, and now you need to come back with us to explain what happened."

The security guards spoke in a flat tone, revealing no emotion.

They were unaware of the relationship between Ma Xiaoling and Xu Damao. Seeing that she had assaulted someone in public and nearly ruined their plans for the evening, they decided to take her back to the factory to prevent further trouble.

"I'm Xu Damao's wife! He was arguing with other women outside, shouldn't I beat him up?"

Ma Xiaoling raised her face, her voice hard and sharp.

The security guards exchanged glances.

"I can testify,"

Yang Ping then stepped out from the crowd. "Ma Xiaoling is indeed Xu Damao's lover."

"Tonight, Xu Damao started it by provoking my friend, and his wife caught them, which led to the whole thing."

The factory security guards relaxed slightly when they saw someone stand up and speak.

"If there are any conflicts between husband and wife, they should resolve them at home behind closed doors."

Fighting in the street has a terrible impact.

They left with this as a warning, then turned and left.

"Brother Yang Ping, thank you so much this time."

Ma Xiaoling turned to Yang Ping, her tone softening with gratitude.

If he hadn't spoken up, he probably would have already been taken to the factory for questioning.

"It's nothing."

"Come and sit down first. We can deal with Xu Damao when we get back tonight."

Yang Ping smiled and pointed to the empty seat next to him.

"become."

Ma Xiaoling nodded and sat down next to him.

Gao Yue knew that if she continued to argue, things would get ugly, and the security personnel wouldn't be polite to her.

She composed herself and sat down next to Yang Ping.

Yang Ping gestured to the two women beside him and said, "This is Gao Yue, and this is Xiao Bai."

This is my neighbor, Ma Xiaoling. I've always treated her like an older sister.

The two immediately greeted her politely, "Hello, elder sister!"

Ma Xiaoling smiled and nodded in response, her gaze shifting between the two young women before she turned her head and softly asked Yang Ping, "Which one are you sure about?"

Both of them.

Yang Ping answered decisively.

Zhou Xiaobai had previously made it clear that everyone should be treated equally, and he naturally complied.

As for Gao Yue—he knew she wouldn't get angry over such polite words.

Ma Xiaoling paused for a moment, then covered her mouth and chuckled twice before turning to Gao Yue and Zhou Xiaobai to smooth things over: "My brother just likes to joke, so please don't take it to heart."

Especially Gao Yue, you should be more tolerant of him.

"Don't worry, sister."

Gao Yue pursed her lips and agreed.

Ma Xiaoling secretly breathed a sigh of relief, reached out and gently patted Yang Ping's arm, giving him a warning look.

She genuinely treated Yang Ping like her own younger brother, and couldn't help but worry about him a lot.

Yang Ping simply smiled faintly and said nothing more.

Too much talk leads to mistakes, and Zhou Xiaobai, being a meticulous person, didn't want to give anyone cause for gossip.

"Sister, try this."

Gao Yue handed over a crispy peach kernel pastry.

"Thank you, little sister."

Ma Xiaoling accepted the snacks.

She had heard of the factory's loud and clear-voiced announcer before, and now this call of "sister"...

It sounds natural.

"I also have some candied fruit here, sister can have it with them."

Zhou Xiaobai pushed the paper package containing the dried fruit closer.

Zhou Xiaobai handed over a candied fruit.

Thank you.

Ma Xiaoling accepted it with a smile.

"I'm practically your sister-in-law too."

Zhou Xiaobai said softly.

"What?"

Ma Xiaoling was stunned for a moment and stood there dumbfounded.

She then raised her hand and gently patted her cheek, suspecting that she hadn't slept well the night before, which was why she was hallucinating.

"The movie has started."

Yang Ping offered a reminder from the side.

Just as Ma Xiaoling was about to speak, she turned her head to look at the screen upon hearing this.

Gao Yue and Zhou Xiaobai also regained their composure.

The group then watched a movie together.

During the screening, several directors from the factory arrived one after another, including Lü Shuitian, and eventually even Deputy Director Li came.

When they saw Yang Ping, they all went up to greet him.

Everyone knows that Yang Ping has a bright future ahead of him, so it's good to make an impression early on so that it will be easier to deal with him in the future.

Yang Ping responded politely to each question.

After the movie ended, he left with Gao Yue and Zhou Xiaobai, had dinner out, and then went home.

……

Technology Research and Development Department.

In the deputy director's office, Yang Ping sat at the desk, his gaze fixed on the stack of mechanical blueprints in his hand, a slight smile playing on his lips.

The redesign of the fitter's machine tool is finally complete; all that remains is to debug the machine and test its operational stability.

"Ring ring—"

The phone on the table suddenly rang.

Yang Ping picked up the receiver.

"Yang Ping? This is Factory Director Yang. Come to my office and bring Cao Dayu and Song Zixu with you."

Director Yang's voice came from the other end of the microphone.

"OK."

Yang Ping responded.

He put down the receiver, tidied up the drawings scattered on the table, and got up to walk towards the door.

"Hey, Da Yu, Zi Xu, come with me to the factory manager's office."

The two moved at the sound.

"Okay!"

Cao Dayu readily agreed and followed after him in a few steps, while Song Zixu also stood up immediately.

"By the way, Director Yang,"

Cao Dayu suddenly remembered something and took out a stack of banknotes from his pocket. "I almost forgot to give you the money for modifying the bicycle. It's eight hundred yuan in total."

"Why is there an extra hundred?"

Yang Ping was somewhat surprised.

He had already accepted the fifty yuan from Weicheng East. With the remaining fourteen people, fifty yuan each, it should be seven hundred yuan.

"My and Zixu's shares are in there too."

Cao Dayu explained with a smile.

"You two don't need to give them any, just take this hundred back."

Yang Ping then understood and pushed the money back in front of the two of them.

Cao Dayu and Song Zixu wanted to decline, but seeing Yang Ping's insistent expression, they didn't insist anymore and took it back.

"Let's go."

Yang Ping put away the seven hundred yuan, and the three of them walked together toward the factory director's office.

Before long, the three of them were seated on the reception chairs opposite the factory director.

"The main reason I called you here today is to recognize your previous research and development achievements."

The higher authorities attach great importance to the lithium battery project and have decided to set up a dedicated production line.

Factory Director Yang gently placed the teacup back on the table and continued, "The factory has also studied this and is preparing to add an electric bicycle assembly workshop specifically for producing the models you designed."

Cao Dayu and Song Zixu almost jumped up.

They never expected that the research and development of lithium batteries alone would lead to the addition of two dedicated workshops in the factory.

With such influence, it's hard to find another person like him in the entire factory area.

Yang Ping remained calm and listened silently.

He knew the factory must have a backup plan, so he wasn't in a hurry.

"After deliberation by the factory management, it has been decided—"

Factory Director Yang's voice rang out again, "Comrade Yang Ping is appointed concurrently as the director of the newly established lithium battery workshop and electric bicycle workshop, and will be fully responsible for the production management of both."

Comrade Cao Dayu was appointed Deputy Director of the Lithium Battery Workshop, and Comrade Song Zixu was appointed Deputy Director of the Electric Bicycle Workshop.

"This, this is really..."

Cao Dayu and Song Zixu were speechless with excitement.

In the blink of an eye, they became deputy directors—even the lowest-ranking leader is still a leader, and from then on, they could straighten their backs a bit more when they returned home.

Both of them knew perfectly well who this promotion was for.

"In addition, the factory has decided to issue a factory-wide commendation to the three of you, and each of you will receive a bonus of one thousand yuan and related vouchers."

Do you have any objections?