Chapter 16 Some are proud while others are sad

"Who said it wasn't? Otherwise, why am I so angry?"

Yi Zhonghai slammed the table hard. He still couldn’t figure it out.

The news that Li Jiandong became an eighth-level worker quickly spread throughout the institute, and reactions varied from one organization to another.

Jia Zhang took her son's hand and said, "Dongxu, your master is so capable. From now on, even an apprentice like you will be able to walk around the factory with ease."

Jia Dongxu said seriously: "Mom, please don't say such things again. Master is now an eighth-level worker. As an apprentice, I should be more cautious. How can I be so arrogant and bring shame to Master?"

After Yan Bugui in the front yard learned the news, he also called his eldest son Yan Jiecheng to his side.

"Jie Cheng, your job is now secure. Li Jiandong is now an eighth-level fitter. As long as he helps you speak up in front of the leader, your job will be secure."

Yan Jiecheng was very excited and grinned:
"Dad, you are so foresighted. You established a good relationship with Li Jiandong early on."

Yan Bugui was very pleased to hear this and nodded with his eyes narrowed.

"Of course. Do you think your father got his reputation as a wise man for nothing? But this is just the beginning. From now on, you will be Li Jiandong's apprentice. You must devote yourself to him and treat him as your real father. At least you can't do worse than Jia Dongxu, understand?"

Yan Jiecheng laughed and said, "Dad, if you regard Li Jiandong as your real father, then what are you?"

"I'll be your godfather, okay? You little brat, don't you even understand metaphors?"

Yan Bugui pretended to fight, but Yan Jiecheng quickly ran away with a smile.

The family is still very warm now, far from the situation ten years later where the father and son were scheming against each other.

When Li Jiandong came back from the steel rolling mill, he was sent back by Director Yang's driver.

Being promoted to level eight fitter is a great joyous event, so I must get drunk during this dinner.

The driver, Xiao Zhang, helped Li Jiandong into the courtyard. As soon as they reached the middle courtyard, they saw a group of people gathered there. Someone said, "Master Li is back."

Everyone's eyes turned to Li Jiandong.

"Hello comrade, I'm Xiao Liu, the secretary of the street office. What happened to Master Li?"

Xiao Liu, the clerk, didn't know that today was the day for the steel rolling mill to hold an exam for worker grades. When he smelled the strong smell of alcohol on Li Jiandong, his brows immediately frowned.

Before the driver could ask, He Daqing next to him said casually: "Brother Li just passed the eighth-level fitter exam today. The leader invited him to dinner at noon. At the leader's banquet, he must have drunk too much."

When clerk Xiao Liu heard that Li Jiandong was an eighth-level worker, there was suddenly a bit more respect in his eyes.

But he still said:

"Master Li is an eighth-level worker. Logically speaking, his qualities in all aspects are better than ours. But how could he do such a thing as hitting an old man?"

The residents then suddenly realized that it was about what happened between Li Jiandong and the deaf old lady yesterday.

No wonder I didn’t see the deaf old lady all morning. It turns out she went to the street office to make a scene again.

Originally, according to the deaf old lady's wishes, the leaders of the street office must come forward, but the leaders of the street office all knew what kind of person the old lady was, and they all found excuses to hide.

Finally, a young and inexperienced person who had just started working was brought in to solve the problem.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhang immediately said, "Secretary Liu, you may have misunderstood. Please listen to me and I will explain it to you slowly."

Jia Zhang recounted what happened last night with exaggeration.

He Daqing and others nearby also interrupted from time to time, all of them were speaking up for Li Jiandong.

Jia Dongxu and the driver Xiaozhang first sent Li Jiandong into the house, and then helped him to the bed.

I don’t know how long it took, but Li Jiandong woke up in a daze and it was already dark outside.

There was a light on in the outer room, and two people were chatting.

"Dongxu? Zhuzi?" Li Jiandong's mouth was dry and his voice was hoarse.

The two people outside were Jia Dongxu and Sha Zhu. Upon hearing the sound, they both rushed in.

"Master, you're awake."

"Uncle Li, are you hungry? My dad told me to wait here. If you wake up and eat first, I'll make it for you."

Li Jiandong waved his hand: "I won't eat anymore. I haven't digested what I ate at noon yet. Pour me a glass of water first."

The two ran out at the same time, and Jia Dongxu came in with a glass of water.

Sha Zhu also followed behind him, ready to serve at any time.

Li Jiandong took a sip of water and felt warm in his heart. He was very satisfied with the two young men guarding the bed.

This is probably what Yi Zhonghai has always pursued - raising children to provide for his old age. He didn't expect to experience it accidentally after getting drunk.

"what time is it now?"

"Master, it has been ordered now." Jia Dongxu replied quickly.

"It's already so late?"

Li Jiandong calculated that he had slept for seven hours. "Thank you two for your hard work. Go home and get some rest."

Jia Dongxu said to Sha Zhu, "Zhu Zi, you go back and rest first. Master doesn't have an appetite at night so he doesn't need to eat. I'll help him wash up later, and then he can go back to sleep."

Sha Zhu was a very honest man. Seeing that Li Jiandong didn't want to eat, he just agreed and went back.

Jia Dongxu first washed the towel and asked Li Jiandong to wipe his face and body, then he added water and squatted on the ground to help him wash his feet.

Li Jiandong deserved it very much. After all, a master these days is like a father.

It's the son's normal thing to do to wash his father's feet.

"Dongxu, this time we, the master and the apprentice, took the exam together and passed it together, so it's reasonable for us to set up a few small tables. So, you tell your mother that I'll pay for the banquet and you can ask someone to take charge of the arrangements."

"There's no need to make a big fuss. I'm getting married to Qin Huairu in a few days. I'll just invite a few acquaintances first and then have a grand celebration on the day of my wedding."

The country was short of supplies, and many families could not eat meat once a month. They were just waiting for something good to be celebrated so that they could have a few more bites of meat at the banquet.

Li Jiandong originally wanted to put the two tables together for the banquet, but he was afraid of being gossiped about.

So I decided to just do a small celebration first, invite the people I know well in the yard and workshop, and take care of the rest after the wedding.

"Okay, but Master, it's not good to always ask you to spend money. I'm now a third-level worker, and my monthly salary is more than 40 yuan. How about I pay this time?"

Jia Dongxu is grateful and repays kindness.

I can't do that kind of thing of relying on my parents for support.

Li Jiandong smiled and said, "You are being too polite to Master. You don't have to worry about spending money. Just learn the locksmith skills well and get to the same level as Master as soon as possible. Master will be satisfied. As for this little money, Master can afford it."

Li Jiandong is now super rich.

Every day Jia Dongxu works, he can receive dozens or hundreds of dollars in cash and bill rewards.

There is really no need to be too fussy about spending money.

After washing his feet, Jia Dongxu went home to sleep.

Li Jiandong opened the disciple-recruiting system.

(End of this chapter)