Xu Damao originally wanted to finish everything in one go, after all, he would have to live in this Courtyard for the next fifteen years.
As for the wind picking up next year? What did that have to do with him?
Why did Lou Bancheng let Lou Xiao'e marry Xu Damao? Wasn't it because he valued Xu Damao's background as a third-generation poor peasant?
With that background, as long as he didn't actively cause trouble, no matter how strong the wind was, it wouldn't affect him!
"Boss, this job isn't difficult, but it's not simple either. It will probably take about five people, and we'll just need lunch provided! Do you want us to provide both labor and materials, or will you buy the materials and we'll do the work?" Master Zhao asked.
"Just give it all to you. Please pick out a good door for me. I'll add some money for you, and you can sort out your own lunch. I don't have time to cook for you by myself! Can you calculate the total cost?"
Master Zhao said, "According to your requirements, the cost won't be cheap. Hmm... it will be between 1500 and 2000, mainly depending on whether you want to use better materials!"
Xu Damao said without hesitation, "Go for the good stuff. I don't have any channels anyway. Do you have a toilet?"
"Yes, we do, but the price of a toilet isn't cheap!" Master Zhao said.
Xu Damao laughed, "It's fine, just do it according to the good quality. I'll give you half first, and the other half when the inspection is done!"
"No problem!" Xu Damao's straightforwardness also made Master Zhao very happy. People in their line of work feared stingy clients, and Xu Damao was clearly someone who wasn't short on money.
Xu Damao counted out a thousand yuan, handed it to Master Zhao, and asked, "Master Zhao, how long will it take to finish the installation?"
Master Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "If it's fast, half a month; at most, it won't exceed twenty days!"
Xu Damao nodded and said, "Alright, it's settled then. You must supervise it well for me!"
Master Zhao smiled, "Don't worry, Boss!"
Master Zhao and Xu Damao's actions also attracted the attention of the women in the Courtyard.
After Master Zhao left, the former Third Aunt Yang Ruihua and Second Aunt Liu Xiaofeng immediately stepped forward and asked, "Oh, Damao, I saw that the person you just sent off seemed to be Master Zhao, who specializes in renovations from Zhima Hutong. What's wrong? Does your house, which is already so nice, need to be redecorated?"
"Yes, Second Aunt, Third Aunt. While I still have money, I'm just renovating it. It's like starting fresh!" Xu Damao said with a chuckle.
"Alas, you are also a child of misfortune. Sha Zhu has caused so much harm!"
"Who says he hasn't? That bastard Sha Zhu, he ruined people's marriages!"
"I say, Damao, you really shouldn't have let him out. Sha Zhu should have stayed inside and been properly reformed!"
"Exactly! How could that scoundrel Sha Zhu, hanging out with those two childless people, get anything good?!"
...
Xu Damao's words drew sighs from the women. Xu Damao usually had a good reputation, and he would share some of the local specialties he brought back. Except for Sha Zhu, he was quite polite to the neighbors in the Courtyard and could talk to anyone.
In contrast, Sha Zhu had a foul mouth, a stubborn temper, and was prone to hitting people. He also liked to help the Jia family, so ordinary people couldn't get any advantage from Sha Zhu.
Comparing the two, Xu Damao naturally gained more popularity. A simple phrase like "starting fresh" aroused the sympathy of the people in the Courtyard.
This was also why he was so determined to divorce Lou Xiao'e that day!
Let Sha Zhu bear all the blame; he, Xu Damao, was an innocent victim!
"Aunts, you all chat. I haven't been back for so long, I still need to report to the Steel Rolling Plant!" Xu Damao said with a smile, greeting everyone.
"Go quickly, work is important!"
...
At the Steel Rolling Plant, in the Factory Director's office, Li Huaide, beaming with joy, was holding a teacup and leisurely leaning on the sofa.
Ever since Yang Factory Director had trouble, he had naturally become the head of the Steel Rolling Plant through his father-in-law's connections.
The struggle methods he had prepared were not used at all; the enemy himself was uncompetitive and inexplicably fell.
As for Secretary Nie, the plant secretary, he was already nearing retirement age and was currently in the process of power transition. Moreover, Secretary Nie had long since sided with Li Huaide.
Yang Factory Director's downfall undoubtedly made Li Huaide the biggest beneficiary. He did nothing and became the head of a large factory with ten thousand people. After a few days of consolidation, the current Steel Rolling Plant only had his voice.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
Hearing the knock, Li Huaide stood up, placed his teacup on the desk, adjusted his collar, and sat down in his office chair.
"Please come in!"
The door slowly opened, revealing a familiar face. The moment he saw this face, a subtle smile appeared on Li Huaide's face.
Li Huaide's ability to become Factory Director, in addition to He Yushui's series of astonishing actions, was also inseparable from the man in front of him.
"Factory Director Li, I just returned from the countryside. I came today to report on my work!" Before Li Huaide could ask, Xu Damao spoke. Xu Damao, who walked into the office, also held a large piece of cured meat and continued, "Factory Director Li, when I was in the countryside, a hunter in the village happened to catch a male deer, so I shamelessly brought it to you to try something fresh!"
Regarding Li Huaide, opinions varied; some called him greedy for money, some called him lustful, etc., but Xu Damao had a good impression of him.
Li Huaide was indeed lustful, but he never forced anyone. He was also truly greedy for money, but he got things done when he took money.
In fact, Li Huaide and Xu Damao had many similarities; they were both egoists. Ultimately, they were born in the wrong era.
People like them would be perfectly normal twenty years later, but in the current era, they seemed a bit unconventional.
(The author is not whitewashing Li Huaide, just objectively evaluating him!)
"Comrade Xu Damao, your ideological consciousness is good, you are a good comrade!" Li Huaide said with a smile. At his position, he had no shortage of money, but he just enjoyed that particular taste. In the original story, Sha Zhu offended Li Huaide repeatedly, but Li Huaide never did anything to Sha Zhu, wasn't it because Sha Zhu had excellent cooking skills?
Xu Damao sat grinning opposite Li Huaide, took out his divorce certificate, handed it over, and said, "Factory Director Li, I have already severed ties with the capitalist!"
In the past, Xu Damao had no problems with his conduct and often gave gifts to leaders, but he just never got promoted. Leaders wouldn't think of him when there were benefits. It wasn't that he didn't give enough gifts, but that his own identity was problematic.
The son-in-law of a capitalist, and the son-in-law of a major capitalist in Si Jiu City, with such an identity, no leader would dare to promote him!
It was already good enough to be an honest worker. If Xu Damao hadn't committed any major offenses, he would have been the first to suffer.
But the original self failed to recognize the reality and kept showing off, acting like a big shot.
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