Courtyard House: In this life, I have a new home!

Qin Huairu was extremely disgusted with Sha Zhu at this moment. Although she treated Sha Zhu like an ATM, she really looked down on this lecherous old man.

She was thinking of someone like Li Weidong, and was figuring out how to hook up with him. If she could get close to Li Weidong, she could kick Sha Zhu far away and never have to fake a smile at that idiot again.

Jia Zhangshi and Bang Geng were vomiting so badly they saw stars. Qin Huairu pulled Bang Geng to another spot to lie down and brought him a bowl of water.

Banggeng took the water and rinsed his mouth frantically. He was seething with hatred; the nickname "Shit-Eating Gang" was something he could never shake off.

Yan Jiekuang gave him such a name, and he'll probably never be able to shake it off in his lifetime.

After cleaning up the sticks, Qin Huairu gave a bowl of water to Jia Zhangshi, who was lying on the ground.

Sha Zhu had almost finished cleaning up the mess on the ground, and Qin Huairu took a bucket of water and rinsed it off, finally getting the ground clean.

"Zhu Zi, be more careful when you do things in the future."

Yi Zhonghai sighed.

"How was I supposed to know that Sister Qin was making mung bean soup today?"

Sha Zhu looked wronged. "If I had known earlier, I would have given you more instructions."

"I brought back mung beans two or three days ago, didn't you see them? Don't you even consider that we might make soup with them?"

Qin Huairu glared at him.

"Make him pay! Make him pay! That bastard owes me ten dollars!"

Jia Zhangshi's voice was very weak, but she became energetic when money was mentioned.

"You want money? No way. Go ahead and sue me if you want."

Sha Zhu wasn't going to tolerate her bad habit. "Trying to extort me? Look at yourself—fine, I'm not saying anything more."

Before he could finish speaking, Qin Huairu gave him a look, and Sha Zhu immediately cowered.

"Zhu Zi, what food do you have at home? Bring some over to fill their stomachs."

Qin Huairu said, "I vomited it all out; there was nothing left in my stomach."

She didn't make Sha Zhu pay back the money, not because she didn't want it. She knew perfectly well that once the money was in Jia Zhangshi's hands, there was no way she could get it back.

It would be better to wait until she gets the chance and slowly extract the money from Sha Zhu. Then the money will belong to Qin Huairu, and will have nothing to do with Jia Zhangshi.

"Pay me back! Pay me back now! And don't skimp on the food!"

Jia Zhangshi regained some of her strength, and her voice became loud again.

"Jia Zhangshi, shut up already. You still want money? Don't forget you have two disciplinary actions against you."

Yi Zhonghai reminded her of something.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi immediately wilted. The thought of another month in prison and another month in the cowshed made her feel like she was living a life worse than death.

"I'll go ask Chief Engineer Li what they can eat now. Let's not cause any more trouble."

As Qin Huairu spoke, she turned and walked towards the backyard.

The onlookers dispersed in a flurry.

"What happened?"

Liu Haizhong swaggered in, still reeking of alcohol, and asked with an air of superiority, "I haven't even come back yet, and this whole-hospital meeting is already underway? They really don't respect me, Team Leader Liu, or their second uncle!"

He had just drunk the drinks of two of his group members and returned to the courtyard feeling dizzy. Seeing that the party was about to end, he quickly came out to put on airs.

"Pah! Old Liu, are you drunk? Second Uncle? If the neighborhood committee finds out about this, you'll lose your position as group leader."

Sha Zhu wasn't afraid of him. "You're a level seven blacksmith, after all. Your skills aren't bad."

"What's wrong? Once you become an official, you've forgotten your working-class identity?"

Liu Haizhong choked, his face turning a deep purplish-red. Gritting his teeth, he cursed, "Idiot Zhu, this isn't over! You wait, you'll get what's coming to you sooner or later!"

Sha Zhu chuckled smugly, "I'm a leader now, Team Leader Liu! Being an official is about serving the people, don't you understand?"

Liu Haizhong took two sips of wine, his tongue was slurred, and he felt like he was speaking with great skill.

Li Weidong pushed his bicycle outside, carrying a thermos lunchbox. He planned to get some ice cream; he couldn't very well take it out at home in front of others, otherwise he wouldn't be able to explain why the ice wasn't melting.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw that almost all the people in the courtyard had arrived, and Xu Damao was also standing on the side watching the fun.

The moment Liu Haizhong saw Li Weidong, he sobered up considerably. There was nothing he could do; Li Weidong was a high-ranking leader, while Liu Haizhong was just a low-level cadre. Besides, if Li Weidong said he was going to slap him, he really meant it.

Sha Zhu's eyes darted around, and he leaned closer to ask, "Chief Engineer Li, you be the judge, is a team leader considered an official?"

Li Weidong casually replied, "An official? Being an official means taking responsibility; it's not something to show off. Whether it's a workshop foreman or a factory manager, everyone serves the workers; we're all comrades in the same trench."

Liu Haizhong was itching to learn from him. "Look at that guy's smooth talk," he thought, "no wonder he has a master's degree." He realized he needed to learn from him.

As long as he doesn't get influenced by Qin Huairu, Sha Zhu is actually quite shrewd and hasn't suffered much loss against anyone. He understood the meaning behind Li Weidong's words at this moment.

"Chief Engineer Li, you just mentioned workshop directors. Does that mean those below the workshop director aren't considered officials?"

Sha Zhu pressed for an answer.

Li Weidong nodded: "It can't be generalized. Whether you're a cadre or not depends on where your connections are. If they're with the organization department, even if you're a worker, the state will recognize you as a cadre. Generally speaking, a workshop director is at the deputy section chief level, and a deputy director is at the staff member level. There are also workers who take on cadre positions. To become a cadre, you first have to be a staff member; that's the starting point."

He said this to make Liu Haizhong give up completely and realize that he was nothing.

Sha Zhu's eyes lit up: "What about the team leader?"

"Of course he's not a cadre, just an ordinary worker. The workshop director can replace him with a single word. If he were a cadre, his appointment or removal would require an official document from the organization department."

Li Weidong said.

Liu Haizhong's face turned deathly pale, and his lips trembled. Only then did he realize that he was nothing at all.

Sha Zhu's mouth is truly something else; it would be a waste not for him to be a comedian.

"Chief Engineer Li, what exactly is your rank?"

Sha Zhu leaned closer, looking on with curiosity.

"Division-level".

Li Weidong said calmly, "I'm a section chief now, that's a demotion. Our steel rolling mill is a provincial-level unit, and the factory director is equivalent to a mayor outside the province. In the county, he's like a county magistrate. A workshop director is a section chief, which is roughly equivalent to a town mayor."

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu's eyes widened in disbelief: "You...you're already a division-level cadre at your age?"

"Yes, he was promoted exceptionally."

Li Weidong said, "First, I have a master's degree, and second, my father was a martyr."

Sha Zhu turned to Xu Damao and grinned, "Did you hear that? You actually want to be the deputy head of the propaganda department? That's equivalent to a deputy town mayor. You really dare to dream of it."

Li Weidong didn't even look at Xu Damao, but his words were indifferent: "The deputy section chief is a deputy section-level position. To get that position, you first have to be a staff member, and then serve for two years. Unless you make a great contribution, it's impossible to be promoted."

He paused, his tone even more indifferent: "You're still a worker, and you want to jump straight to deputy section chief? Dream on. Making a fuss over this is just foolishness; you know nothing."

After saying that, Li Weidong pushed his bicycle and left.

Liu Haizhong's face turned pale, and he looked like a deflated balloon. Xu Damao's face was flushed red, and he was breathing heavily. Li Weidong felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

As soon as the person left, Sha Zhu started showing off: "Hey, old man Liu, you still dare to call yourself an official? You don't even understand what an official is."

"And you, Xu Damao, a nobody who dreams of becoming a section chief overnight? What a pipe dream!"

Yi Zhonghai quickly tried to smooth things over: "Zhuzi, what nonsense are you talking about? Old Liu can manage people, that makes him an official! This is just the beginning, he'll rise through the ranks gradually."

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong calmed down: "Right, I still have more than a dozen people under me, so I'm the officer. As for what rank, I'll just have to work my way up."

He thought to himself, "I'll go find Shan Dahai when I go to work tomorrow. I have to get the clerk status first."

Xu Damao glared at Sha Zhu and pushed his wheelchair home.

When he got to his doorstep, the steps got stuck.

"Dad, get me up there."

Xu Damao shouted.

Xu Fugui came out of the house: "Why did you go out to join in the fun?"

His wife went back to her parents' home and hasn't returned for several days, fearing that their house might be burglarized.

"Dad, you can go to work for me tomorrow."

Xu Damao gritted his teeth and said, "Otherwise, if someone else takes my spot as projectionist, it will be difficult to get it back once my leg heals."

Xu Fugui is now considered retired. He has reached an agreement with the cinema to give up his position as soon as possible and let the leader's son take over.

"I'll retire if I want, but if I go to the countryside, I'm afraid my old bones won't be able to handle it."

Xu Fugui frowned and said, "You've managed to get a bicycle with a motor, but where's the fuel? Where are you going to get it?"

Xu Damao currently has no way to get oil.

"Ask the factory for it. How much fuel can that engine possibly drink?"

Xu Damao replied, "They will definitely approve it."

"Then...then the salary should be mine. You're not short of money, are you?"

Xu Fugui muttered irritably.

"Okay, I agree!"

Xu Damao gritted his teeth so hard they almost broke.

Ever since he learned that he couldn't have children, Xu Fugui and his wife's attitude towards him changed completely, growing colder day by day.

Li Weidong went for a stroll, estimating that about an hour had passed, before riding his bike back. As he entered the compound, he casually stuffed an ice cream and some snacks into his insulated lunchbox.

As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, I sensed something was off. Sha Zhu was fiddling with cold dishes, and five or six men and women sat in the corridor, each with an arrogant air about them.

Those people were all wearing silk clothes, which looked faded, but were clean and dry. They were all over fifty years old.

Li Weidong immediately understood—these people were all Manchus, just like Yu Mei.

He shook his head, pushed his bike and was about to walk inside when he suddenly heard the sound of a bicycle bell behind him.

Li Weidong turned his head and saw that Yan Jiefang and Liu Guangtian had returned.

The two men each pushed a 28-inch bicycle, a Forever brand. Behind them followed their partners, carrying some vegetables, tofu, and a small piece of pork belly.

Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong were discussing something with Yi Zhonghai when they saw Yan Jiefang and Liu Guangtian pushing their bicycles in. The two of them immediately jumped up from their chairs.

"Yan Jiefang, what kind of car is this...?"

Yan Bugui grabbed the handlebars and wouldn't let go.

"Liu Guangtian, where did you get this car? Where did you get the money?"

Liu Haizhong also shouted a question.

"Look at what you're saying, would I steal or rob? It was borrowed, Brother Dong lent us the money and the bicycle ticket."

Liu Guangtian looked smug.

"Yes, yes, Dad, let go, you're almost bending the steel pipe."