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

Watching Li Weidong's retreating figure, Yi Zhonghai's face was so dark it could drip water. He wasn't particularly angry, though; it wasn't worth arguing with a dying man. But when he turned around and saw everyone in the yard staring at him, his temper flared instantly: "Don't you have to work this early in the morning? Get to work!"

Yi Zhonghai still wielded some influence, and the onlookers scattered in a flash.

Liu Haizhong's face alternated between pale and flushed as he went to work, bag in hand. He had been standing right next to Li Weidong when he was yelling at him, and he was terrified. He knew retribution was imminent, and he was second in line.

"His path to becoming an official is completely blocked; he probably has no hope of it in this lifetime."

Liu Haizhong shook his head and walked out.

The deaf old woman had a sinister look on her face, but the moment her gaze fell on Sha Zhu, her expression immediately turned kind: "Zhu, hurry up and go to the factory with this old man. Work hard and don't embarrass the leaders."

"Okay, Grandma!"

Sha Zhu threw down the washbasin in his hand and followed Yi Zhonghai outside.

As soon as they stepped out of the courtyard gate, Yi Zhonghai began to berate Sha Zhu: "Zhu Zi, why did you provoke that little bastard so early in the morning? You just let him scold you for nothing."

"Who knew he'd act like a mad dog?"

Sha Zhu looked indignant. "He's just a chief engineer, what's so great about him!"

Xu Damao happened to be riding by when he heard this and immediately braked. He braced himself on one leg and put the other leg on the pedal.

"Silly Zhu, Li Weidong is really something else. You're like a lapdog in front of him, all you can do is bark when he kicks you."

Xu Damao had a disdainful expression on his face.

"Fuck you!"

Sha Zhu punched Xu Damao in the eye, instantly turning one of his eyes into something resembling a panda's.

"Zhu Zi, what's wrong with you... sigh!"

Yi Zhonghai was exhausted. He grabbed Sha Zhu and turned to Xu Damao, saying, "Xu Damao, aren't you asking for a beating? Calling someone a dog first thing in the morning?"

In one sentence, the blame was pinned on Xu Damao, making him appear to be in the wrong. Sha Zhu himself felt perfectly justified and wished he could deliver a few more punches.

"Fine, I can't handle the two of you. You just wait, you idiot Zhu!"

Xu Damao threw down those words and sped off on his bicycle.

Li Weidong didn't turn on the electric assist; he slowly pedaled forward on his bicycle, glancing at the slogans and mottoes on the roadside wall as he went.

The words written in red paint on the mottled gray wall have become somewhat blurred.

He was just getting into the vibe of this era when suddenly he heard a "rat-a-tat-tat" sound behind him.

The noise.

Immediately afterwards, Xu Damao's shouts rang out: "Chief Engineer Li! Chief Engineer Li!"

Li Weidong stopped on one foot, turned around, and almost burst out laughing.

Xu Damao has one eye that's black and purple, making him look exactly like a giant panda.

"Xu Damao, what are you yelling about?"

"Chief Engineer Li, I have a favor to ask of you."

Xu Damao rubbed his eyes, "If you have time tonight, could you take a look at my wife? She hasn't been able to conceive, and no amount of traditional Chinese medicine has helped."

Li Weidong's mind raced.

Xu Damao is a bad guy to the core. We need to find a way to get Lou Xiao'e out of there and let the Lou family develop their business in Hong Kong as soon as possible.

When the 10th anniversary sports meet comes, I can also use the Lou family's resources to accumulate some wealth.

"Seeing a doctor is possible."

Li Weidong nodded. "Just prepare the consultation fee. My private consultation fees are not cheap. Why don't you come to the clinic to see me? If you go through the official channels, you'll only have to pay half the fee."

"Then you definitely won't come, right?"

Xu Damao shook his head, "I'll come to your house tonight."

Li Weidong's eyes darted around: "Did Sha Zhu hit you in the eye socket?"

"You bet you are, that bastard!"

Xu Damao gritted his teeth, "I have to kill him."

Li Weidong casually remarked, "The big pot of stew for lunch today, I think it was stir-fried pork with chili peppers."

"Stir-fried pork with chili peppers?"

Xu Damao was stunned for a moment, not understanding why Li Weidong brought this up.

Seeing his silly look, Li Weidong knew this guy only had a little bit of cleverness. He decided to give him another nudge: "Shazhu must be overjoyed, he can take meat back to please that young widow."

After saying that, Li Weidong rode away on his bicycle.

Xu Damao stood there muttering, "Silly Zhu using meat to coax the young widow? Yeah! Isn't this the perfect opportunity to mess with Silly Zhu!"

He strode into the factory, intending to report Sha Zhu for stealing public property to Factory Director Li.

When Li Weidong arrived at the infirmary, everyone was already there.

He held a morning meeting and outlined the work requirements.

Finally, he instructed: "From now on, Comrade Ding Qiunan will be in charge of the daily operations of the infirmary. I'm busy and may not be here every day. If you encounter any patients you can't handle, just call me."

Ding Qiunan's delicate face was filled with surprise.

She never expected to be promoted to a leadership position.

"But...I..."

Ding Qiunan wanted to decline.

"No buts, I'll talk to Director Li. You'll be temporarily employed as a worker and become the head of the medical room team."

Li Weidong said, "If you achieve good results, you can be promoted to a permanent position."

"Thank you, Section Chief Li!"

Ding Qiunan's beautiful eyes were filled with gratitude.

Her family was struggling financially. Although her parents were both educated, their class background was problematic, which caused them a lot of trouble. Having grown accustomed to a comfortable life, they were now forced to make do, and how could they possibly adapt? It was pure suffering. Otherwise, those two honest, simple people wouldn't have been so easily bribed by Cui Dake with just a few bites of food and drink.

"Don't mention it. Your monthly salary is thirty-six yuan, right? Now that you've been promoted, that's forty-two yuan, plus various subsidies, you can get forty-five yuan."

Li Weidong said.

He knew in his heart that these were the results of what he had learned over the past few days.

Forty-five yuan a month is not a low amount. You know, an average person can survive on five yuan a month.

"Xiao Ding, you'll have to treat us to a meal."

Dr. Meng, standing nearby, spoke up with a sour tone. He was forty years old and hadn't had this good fortune. Why? He knew perfectly well why.

The reason is simple: Ding Qiunan graduated from a legitimate medical school and has a genuine medical license. Dr. Meng simply cannot compare.

Li Weidong had a brand-new yellow canvas bag slung over his shoulder, the strap just long enough to sit at his waist, completely concealing the bulge that clung to the hem of his shirt.

He walked to the door of Director Li's office and was about to knock when the door was suddenly pulled open from the inside, and Xu Damao was walking out.

"Hey, Chief Engineer Li!"

Xu Damao quickly called out.

"Um."

Li Weidong nodded and gave a curt reply.

"You must be looking for Director Li, right? Please, please!"

Xu Damao was incredibly attentive.

As soon as Li Huaide saw Li Weidong enter, he immediately stood up from his chair and rushed around the desk to greet him.

This scene was witnessed by Xu Damao, who was still standing at the door closing it. It made his face burn and his eyes turn red. When he went in, Li Huaide was sitting steadily behind his desk, not even lifting his buttocks.

Ultimately, it's because I'm not good enough.

As Xu Damao walked out, his heart was burning with desire. He dreamed of becoming that deputy section chief.

A deputy section chief from the propaganda department had just retired, leaving the position vacant, and Xu Damao had been eyeing it for a while. Just now, he gritted his teeth and forced a large yellow croaker into Director Li's hand.

But Director Li spoke vaguely, giving no definite answer whatsoever. Xu Damao knew in his heart that this matter was probably hopeless. And they wouldn't be able to get that big yellow croaker back either. However, Director Li did vouch for the report against Sha Zhu.

Li Weidong sat down after entering the room and told Li Huaide about Ding Qiunan's situation.

"That's no problem. According to the rules, you should have two section chiefs under you."

Factory Director Li smiled meaningfully, "Brother, you have a really sharp eye. Dr. Ding's looks... tsk!"

"You're quite efficient. You can decide how to use these two staff member positions yourself."

Li Weidong paused for a moment, opened his mouth as if to say something, but then thought better of it—anyway, that old lecherous factory director Li shouldn't provoke Ding Qiunan.

"Thank you, Director Li, but one section chief is enough for me."

Li Weidong said, "The remaining spots..."

"You can give it to another department."

Director Li's smile had a sly edge to it. "Take the supply and marketing department for example. There are quite a few people there, one section chief and one deputy section chief, plus two section clerks."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Give this spot to Yu Li. She's doing a great job. On her first day at work, she sorted out the coke supply issue, and the supply increased by 30%."

"The factory pays bonuses, but there are only so many positions available. With only one opening, isn't that...?"

Li Weidong rolled his eyes: "Fine, you decide what to do."

"Two stunning beauties."

Factory Director Li smiled broadly, his face crinkling with wrinkles. "Don't let them down."

Li Weidong shook his head and turned to leave. He had to go and tell Yu Li.

There weren't many people in the supply and marketing department right now. People in supply and marketing can't just sit in the office and wait.

Yu Li was carrying a floral cloth bag and was about to go out.

"Hey, Chief Engineer Li!"

Yu Li's eyes lit up. "You're here to see Section Chief Ren? He went to the meat processing plant."

"I'm looking for you."

Li Weidong said, "There's something I want to tell you."

Two blushes rose on Yu Li's fair face as she wondered to herself: Could it be that he's about to confess his feelings?

"You did a good job; Director Li even mentioned it to me."

Li Weidong said, "I have a spot for a stock member, you can have it."

"The organization will talk to you tomorrow, just keep that in mind."

Yu Li was stunned: "You... want me to be a cadre?"

"He's not a cadre yet, just someone with the qualifications."

Li Weidong smiled and said, "If you really want to become a cadre, you still have to rely on your own hard work."

Seeing that he didn't mention anything about women, Yu Li turned to leave, then anxiously asked, "Chief Engineer Li, why are you so nice to me?"

This was essentially giving Li Weidong a way out—"You say you like me? Then I'll let you find a matchmaker." Yu Li felt she wasn't good enough for Li Weidong, but if he really liked her, she had to seize the opportunity.

"Because you are worth my investment."

Li Weidong said seriously, "You should learn some skills so you can help me in the future. Alright, you go ahead and do your thing."

After saying that, he nodded, turned around, and left.

Yu Li stood there, her mind full of questions—how could learning new skills help him?

Yu Li thought to herself, "He definitely wants to be the factory manager! If I learn his skills, I can help him with some practical things in the future."

She became more and more excited as she thought about it, "At the very least, I'll be able to become the head of the supply and marketing department."