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Xiao Shan couldn't help but wonder why Qin Huairu's family, which wasn't short of money, was still trying to get close to Xu Damao.

So Xiao Shan concentrated his inner energy on his ears and quietly listened to the two's conversation.

Xu Damao leaned close to Qin Huairu's ear and whispered, "Sister Qin, are you out of money?"

Qin Huairu's eyes darted around, and she chuckled, "As expected, Da Mao understands me the most! My family of five depends on my salary. I just got it and haven't even spent it yet. I have to pay three yuan for retirement savings first."

"Sister Qin, wait for me in the small storeroom later. Lunch is on me today, all you can eat!" Xu Damao said lecherously.

Qin Huairu's eyes lit up immediately: "Then I'll have to trouble you, little brother!"

Xiao Shan and his coworkers got their food and sat down at a random table to eat.

While eating, Xiao Shan kept glancing at Xu Damao and Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu got her food and walked straight out of the cafeteria, presumably to take it home to eat.

Since we've finally gotten a good deal, the whole family should benefit from it.

It seems Qin Huairu has gotten used to taking advantage of others. Even though her family is not short of money now, she still subconsciously tries to play the victim to make money.

After finishing their meal, the coworkers went back to the workshop, while Xiao Shan found Xu Damao, who was still eating: "Brother Mao, eating!"

"Oh, it's Xiaoshan!" Xu Damao looked up and saw Xiaoshan, then smiled and said, "Have you finished eating?"

Xiao Shan nodded: "Hmm! Brother Mao, I saw you were with Sister-in-law Jia just now. You're not thinking of having your cake and eating it too, are you?"

"No, that's not true!" Xu Damao quickly retorted. "I just saw that Sister Qin's family was having difficulties and wanted to help her!"

Xiao Shan didn't argue with Xu Damao: "Oh, I see! It seems I was overthinking it!"

"That's right, everyone knows I can't stand seeing others suffer!" Xu Damao said with an air of righteous indignation.

After chatting with Xu Damao for a few minutes, Xiao Shan left the cafeteria and prepared to go home.

However, at the gate of the steel rolling mill, they encountered Ding Qiunan.

"Dr. Ding, where are we going?" Xiao Shan asked curiously.

When Ding Qiunan saw it was Xiao Shan, she smiled and said, "Oh, it's Brother Xiao Shan! I'm going to the hospital to get some medicine!"

Ding Qiunan is only 24 years old, several years younger than Xiao Shan, so she calls Xiao Shan "Brother Xiao Shan".

"Why don't you ride in my car?" Xiao Shan said to Ding Qiunan.

Ding Qiunan hesitated for a moment and said, "Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"There's nothing wrong with it. We're all from the steel mill, so helping each other is only right!" Xiao Shan said with a smile.

Hearing Xiao Shan say that, Ding Qiunan nodded and said, "Brother Xiao Shan, then I'll have to trouble you!"

Xiao Shan drove Ding Qiunan towards the nearest hospital.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Ding Qiunan went inside to get the medicine, while Xiao Shan waited at the entrance.

Then Xiao Shan saw Jia Zhangshi sneaking out of the hospital.

Xiao Shan called out curiously, "Aunt Jia!"

Hearing someone suddenly call her name, Jia Zhangshi immediately jumped, clearly feeling guilty.

When she saw it was Xiao Shan, Jia Zhangshi tightened her clothes, frowned, and said, "Xiao Shan, what are you doing here? Don't you have to go to work this afternoon?"

"I got off work early today and came to the hospital with a friend. I didn't expect to see Aunt Jia!" Xiao Shan said to Jia Zhangshi with a smile. "Aunt Jia, what are you doing sneaking around the hospital like this!"

Jia Zhangshi glared at Xiao Shan: "Xiao Shan, can't you speak properly? How have I been sneaking around? I just came to the hospital for a check-up to see if my leg is fully healed!"

"Really?" Xiao Shan looked at Jia Zhangshi with a half-smile. "Aunt Jia, you don't seem to be here to see about your leg, you seem more like you're here to buy painkillers!"

Upon hearing Xiao Shan's words, Jia Zhangshi's expression instantly changed: "Xiao Shan, you dare not talk nonsense! I gave up painkillers a long time ago!"

Having said that, before Xiao Shan could ask any further questions, Jia Zhangshi hurriedly ran away.

Seeing Jia Zhangshi's appearance, Xiao Shan knew that he was probably right!

This Jia Zhangshi hasn't actually given up painkillers; she's just taking them secretly so Qin Huairu won't see!

Chapter 240, Xu Damao's Malice Fails! (Please Subscribe!)

A while later, Ding Qiunan came out of the hospital with the medicine.

Xiao Shan took Ding Qiunan back to the infirmary, and then rode his bicycle back home.

After returning home, Xiao Shan took out books related to welding and began to read them.

This led me to dinnertime.

Just as Xiao Shan put down his book and was about to make dinner, Xu Damao's voice rang out from outside: "Xiao Shan, open the door, it's me, your brother Mao!"

Xiao Shan came out of the house, opened the door, and looked at Xu Damao standing at the door, asking, "Brother Mao, what's wrong?"

"I bought some braised meat, would you like to have some with dinner?"

Xiao Shan smiled and nodded: "Sure! It's such a cold day, a little wine will warm us up!"

"Okay, I'll come back later!"

After watching Xu Damao leave, Xiao Shan began to prepare dinner.

When Xiao Shan had almost finished preparing dinner, Xu Damao came over carrying a bottle of wine and a large plate of dishes.

The plate contains braised pork and half a roast chicken.

After Xiao Shan set the food on the table, Xu Damao picked up the wine he had brought and said to Xiao Shan, "Xiao Shan, I managed to snag a bottle of Xifeng liquor this time. Tonight, let's drink until we drop!"

"Brother Mao, as long as you don't get drunk, I'll drink with you!" Xiao Shan said with a smile without hesitation.

Hearing Xiao Shan's words, Xu Damao couldn't help but blush.

Because when I drink with Xiaoshan, I'm always the one who gets drunk.

After three cups of wine, Xu Damao became more talkative.

Xu Damao said somewhat indignantly, "Xiaoshan, tell me, how can I win over Qin Huairu?"

"Brother Mao, didn't you say you had no feelings for her and only helped her because you couldn't stand seeing others suffer?" Xiao Shan picked up a piece of braised meat and put it in his mouth, looking at Xu Damao with a half-smile.

Xu Damao scratched his head awkwardly: "It's because there are too many people in the cafeteria, and I'm worried that too many people will attract unwanted attention!"

Xu Damao then told Xiao Shan that he went to find Qin Huairu after having lunch in the cafeteria, but Qin Huairu didn't go to the storeroom with him at all. She only said that the money for the food today was a loan to Xu Damao.

"Waiting to pay her back when she has money later? Isn't that just fooling people? Right now, Qin Huairu is still an apprentice. Waiting for her to have money is like the sun rising in the west!" Xu Damao said indignantly.

Seeing Xu Damao's indignation, Xiao Shan smiled and said, "Brother Mao, Jia's sister-in-law is not so easy to get along with! The Jia family may look poor, but they are not short of money. Bang Geng even has a great-uncle as his godfather! It's just that Jia's sister-in-law likes to pretend to be poor and borrow money from others."

Xu Damao thought about it for a moment, then nodded and said, "I didn't notice it before, but now that I think about it carefully, you're right! If it weren't for Jia Zhangshi needing five yuan a month to buy painkillers and three yuan for her old age, the Jia family might be living a much more comfortable life!"

“Brother Mao, didn’t Uncle say that Jia Zhangshi had given up taking painkillers? We should save those five yuan!” Xiao Shan corrected Xu Damao after hearing him say that.

Although Xiao Shan knew that Jia Zhangshi was secretly buying painkillers, he was sure it wasn't Qin Huairu's money, but rather Jia Zhangshi's own secret stash.

Xu Damao laughed and said, "Xiaoshan, when have you ever seen a dog stop eating shit? Do you think someone as lazy and gluttonous as Jia Zhangshi can give up painkillers?"

Xiao Shan looked at Xu Damao with some surprise, thinking: It seems that Xu Damao knows something!

So Xiao Shan deliberately put on a puzzled expression: "Brother Mao, didn't Uncle Yi say that Jia Zhangshi had given up taking painkillers? Given Uncle Yi's personality, he wouldn't joke about something like this!"

"Of course, an old man wouldn't joke about something like this, but what if Jia Zhangshi secretly eats it?" Xu Damao whispered to Xiao Shan in a mysterious manner.

Xiao Shan, playing along perfectly, feigned curiosity: "Sneaking a bite? Did Brother Mao discover something?"

“I came home early a few days ago and saw Jia Zhangshi sewing shoe soles outside. I noticed a small white bottle sticking out of her pocket!” Xu Damao said to Xiao Shan. “I’m sure it was the bottle that contained painkillers!”

Xiao Shan was surprised that Xu Damao had discovered the clue in this way: "Oh, so that's how it is! Didn't they say that the old man deceived Director Wang? If Director Wang finds out about this, the old man is probably in big trouble!"

Xu Damao's eyes lit up: "That's right! If we tell Director Wang about this, then Yi Zhonghai's days of being a big shot are over!"

Judging from Xu Damao's appearance, he was clearly thinking about getting Yi Zhonghai removed from his position as an old man.

Just then, the sound of gongs rang out in the courtyard.

Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Shan and Xu Damao knew that the three old men were in a hurry to hold a meeting again.

Xu Damao glanced at the snow that hadn't melted yet outside and said somewhat indignantly, "Those three old guys, holding a meeting in this freezing weather, they must be bored out of their minds! If I were the leader, the first thing I'd do is cancel this bullshit all-staff meeting!"

"That's great!" Xiao Shan said with a smile. "But, Brother Mao, meetings are also a way to relieve boredom. Anyway, we're just killing time, and meetings allow us to get together, chat, and have some fun."

Xu Damao looked at Xiao Shan speechlessly: "Xiao Shan, only you think like that. Everyone else in the courtyard probably finds it very annoying."

Soon, Liu Guangtian's voice rang out from outside: "Xiaoshan, open the door, it's me, Guangtian!"

"What's wrong, Guangtian?" Xiao Shan asked Liu Guangtian as he opened the door.

Liu Guangtian sniffed, inhaling the aroma in the air, and swallowed hard: "Brother Da Mao is here too!"

"Yes, I'm drinking with Xiaoshan right now!" Xu Damao nodded, his face flushed.

Liu Guangtian glanced enviously at the food and wine on the table, then said to the two men, "Xiaoshan, Brother Damao, there's a meeting in the courtyard. My dad asked me to call you over!"

After saying that, Liu Guangtian went to inform the others in the courtyard.

Xiao Shan took the food to the kitchen to heat it up, and then he and Xu Damao took stools and headed towards the central courtyard.

Soon, the residents of the courtyard came to the central courtyard one after another.

Because of the cold weather, many people yelled at the three old men.

"Gentlemen, is there something important that you need to discuss in this freezing weather?"

"Yeah, hurry up and say what's on your mind! Don't let us freeze before the meeting is over."

"That's right, that's right, gentlemen, hurry up!"

……

The three old men exchanged glances, and Liu Haizhong spoke first: "Quiet, everyone, quiet!"

Seeing that the noise from the crowd had subsided, Liu Haizhong continued, "It's quite cold today, so let's get straight to the point. Now, let's hear from this gentleman!"

Chapter 241, Qin Huairu, who cries on cue! (Please subscribe!)

Hearing Liu Haizhong's words, everyone present was speechless.

I thought he would have something to say since he was the first to speak, but instead, an old man was given the floor.

Yi Zhonghai tapped the table with the ceramic jar in his hand before slowly saying, "This meeting is because the weather is getting colder, and some families in our courtyard don't have the money to buy coal. We are a civilized courtyard, and we should help each other!"

Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's words, someone immediately asked, "Grandpa, isn't coal for winter sold by the hair per person? How come you can't afford it?"

"Besides, this coal isn't expensive; who in our compound can't afford it?"

Yi Zhonghai immediately replied, "I've done the math. It's mainly the Zhao family in the front yard, the Jia family in the middle yard, and the Zhou family in the back yard!"

Xu Damao, having just been tricked by Qin Huairu during the day, naturally wanted to cause trouble for the Jia family: "Uncle, the Jia family isn't poor! Sister Qin earns twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents a month, plus the subsidies you give her, and Aunt Jia has given up painkillers, so how come they can't afford coal?"

As he spoke, Xu Damao glanced at Jia Zhangshi and said meaningfully, "Could it be that Aunt Jia hasn't given up painkillers yet, and Sister Qin still has to give her five yuan every month, so she doesn't have money to sell coal?"

"If that's the case, then you're just fooling Director Wang and hindering the work of the subdistrict office!"

Upon hearing Xu Damao's words, Jia Zhangshi immediately became agitated: "Xu Damao, you're talking nonsense! Who's fooling Director Wang? You keep spouting lies everywhere, no wonder you're still childless!"

Jia Zhangshi's words not only insulted Xu Damao, but also Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai's face immediately darkened, and his heart skipped a beat.

He hadn't thought about it that way before, but now that he'd thought about it carefully, he realized there was something fishy about Jia Zhangshi's affair, and he might have been tricked by her.

While Jia Zhangshi was still cursing, Xu Damao got up and walked out.

Yi Zhonghai quickly said to Xu Damao, "Damao, the meeting is still going on, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to find Director Wang and tell her that Jia Zhangshi hasn't given up her painkillers!"

Yi Zhonghai quickly said, "Da Mao, let the hospital handle this! Besides, do you have any evidence that your wife didn't quit taking painkillers?"

Although Yi Zhonghai now suspects that Jia Zhangshi has not actually given up painkillers, he has already spoken to Director Wang and released Jia Zhangshi, so he has to swallow his anger.

Because once Director Wang finds out that Jia Zhangshi hasn't given up painkillers at all, then this old man will probably be out of a job.

“Da Mao, my mother has really given up painkillers. I haven’t seen her take any painkillers these past few days, and I haven’t bought any for her either!” Although Qin Huairu knew that Jia Zhangshi hadn’t given up painkillers, she could only stand on Jia Zhangshi’s side and speak up for her at this moment.

After all, if Jia Zhangshi takes painkillers again after six months or even a year, it can be said that she has secretly started taking them again.

But how much time has passed?