Chapter 42 Apprentice?

Li Jiandong did not refuse, took it and said, "Thank you, Brother Xu."

"You're welcome. Come visit us often when you have time. Just treat Xujiatuan as your home. We welcome you at any time."

Second uncle smiled and waved.

Li Jiandong handed the chicken to Jia Dongxu, and then the four of them got on the cart and left.

When they arrived at the machine repair factory, Li Jiandong put Ding Qiunan and Liang Ladi down, and left the two old hens to Liang Ladi.

Originally Liang Ladi refused to accept it, but Li Jiandong told her to keep him and use it as a dowry when the time comes.

Liang Ladi then accepted it with a blushing face.

Then he and Jia Dongxu continued walking into the city.

On the way, Li Jiandong asked Jia Dongxu, "How is it going? Have you discussed the marriage with Xiao Liang? What did she say?"

Jia Dongxu grinned and said, "It's settled. We've made an appointment to have her come to our hospital next Wednesday. Then I'll let her see my mother first, and then we can discuss a wedding date together."

Li Jiandong nodded: "Xiao Liang is a good person, but he has a blunt temper. You know your mother's temper.

Apart from anything else, that mouth is really easy to offend people, if you say something wrong, you will lose your wife again."

Jia Dongxu thought about it and agreed deeply.

"Master, you are right. I need to talk to Xiao Liang in advance, but my mother never listens to me. How about you help me persuade her?"

Li Jiandong didn't want to talk much with Jia Zhang either.

However, for the sake of his disciple Jia Dongxu, he had no choice but to agree.

"Okay, I'll talk to her when I get back."

When we returned to the courtyard, Yan Bugui had just returned from fishing.

Seeing Li Jiandong, he quickly hid the bucket of fish behind him, then smiled and greeted him: "Old Li is back, are you going to the eastern suburbs again?"

"Yeah, it takes three hours to go back and forth, and my butt is numb from riding. What are you hiding behind that, Old Yan? What good stuff are you unwilling to show us?"

Li Jiandong asked deliberately, in fact he looked down upon those small fry.

What's more, they had just eaten fish at noon today. Li Jiandong just wanted to tease him because he was stingy.

Yan Bugui was discovered and felt a little embarrassed. He took out the bucket from behind and said,
"How could I hide it? It's just a small piece of trash. I'm afraid you'd be interested in it. You, Old Li, make a lot of money. How could you possibly be interested in my junk?"

"Well, you're going to stop me with words."

Li Jiandong smiled and nodded at Yan Bugui, and only spoke when he saw that he was serious.

"Okay, Old Yan, I was just kidding you, go home and cook and eat, Dongxu and I are leaving first."

"Okay, see you later."

Yan Bugui breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Jiandong also took Jia Dongxu to the Intermediate Court.

Jia Zhang was sitting on the kang, sewing shoe soles.

Li Jiandong followed Jia Dongxu and walked straight in. When he saw Li Jiandong coming, he hurriedly walked out of the house enthusiastically.

"Hey, Lao Li, why are you here? Come in and sit down."

Jia Zhang brought a stool for Li Jiandong to sit on.

Li Jiandong didn't waste any time and said to her directly: "Sister-in-law, I came here to talk to you about Dongxu and his girlfriend. The marriage of our two children is almost settled now, so I wanted to ask you what you think."

Jia Zhang sighed and said, "What else can I do? A grown-up son is no longer under the control of his mother. Who made my Dongxu fall in love with a country girl?"

"Mom, why do you always bring up the countryside?"

Jia Dongxu was a little unhappy, because he knew that Jia Zhang was concerned about Liang Ladi's rural household registration.

Jia Zhang glared and shouted, "What's wrong? Isn't what I said the truth? She is just a country girl, and she doesn't allow me to say it.

If it weren't for the fact that she's a worker, I wouldn't have let a country girl into our Jia family."

"Cough cough."

Li Jiandong coughed twice.

Jia Zhang immediately realized that Qin Huairu was also married from the countryside.

He immediately put on a flattering smile and said, "Old Li, I didn't mean to target your Qin Huairu."

"I mean, my Dongxu doesn't have your ability. He married a country girl and brought her back without a fixed amount. He has to take the food from us, don't you think?"

Li Jiandong said: "Sister-in-law, let me tell you this, Xiao Liang is really a good girl, and she is also in the eyes of Dongxu.

As elders, we can’t just look at others from our own perspective, we need to consider the future happiness of our children.”

"We work hard all our lives, isn't it just for the happiness of our children?"

Jia Zhang laughed awkwardly and said, "Old Li, I am just thinking about Dongxu."

Li Jiandong shook his head and said, "You are thinking from your own perspective and for Dongxu. Just look at Dongxu's reaction and you will know that he doesn't think you are good to him.

The child is grown up, so you should respect his ideas more and stop making decisions for him. If you keep doing this, he won’t dare to tell you about anything in the future.”

Although Jia Zhangshi is a bad person, she still cares very much about her son Jia Dongxu.

Li Jiandong's words made her reflect a little bit.

After a while, he sighed and said, "Old Li, you are right. Dongxu is getting older and older, and I always feel like a grown-up son is no longer under his mother's control."

"But my Dongxu is so outstanding, I really can't bear to marry a country girl."

Li Jiandong smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, if you are unwilling, just think about me. Didn't I marry Huairu?"

"All the girls in the North City are very ambitious. Country girls also have their own advantages."

After being enlightened by Li Jiandong, Jia Zhang suddenly understood.

He smiled and said, "That's right, rural girls are all tough. If this girl is capable of working, I can accept her."

Jia Dongxu laughed when he heard this and couldn't help showing off.

"Mom, don't worry. Ladi works very efficiently and likes to work. I want her to take a break, but she can't sit still."

Li Jiandong also laughed and said, "How could it be so lucky? Your mother can't carry anything on her shoulders or lift anything with her hands. She can't even wash clothes. It will be much easier for her when Xiao Liang gets married."

Jia Zhang also grinned happily and said, "Look at what you said, Old Li. Did I say that?"

The three of them burst into laughter, and Jia Zhang's confusion was temporarily resolved.

Li Jiandong said goodbye and returned home, where Qin Huairu was preparing dinner.

Li Jiandong said: "Huai Ru, cook two more dishes later. I am going to invite Xu Fugui from the backyard to come over for dinner."

Qin Huairu said: "Okay, then I'll fry some eggs and smash some cucumbers?"

"Whatever, just do it as you see fit."

After Li Jiandong finished speaking, he went out to the backyard and knocked on Xu's door. It was Sun Xifeng who opened the door.

Sun Xifeng was surprised to see that it was Li Jiandong. She quickly made way for him and said, "Old Li, why are you here? Please come in."

Li Jiandong stood at the door and said, "No need, Mrs. Xu, is your Lao Xu at home? I want to invite him to my house for a drink and chat about Damao."

"At home, Lao Xu, come out quickly, Lao Li is here to see you."

Sun Xifeng shouted into the house, and soon Xu Fugui came out.

"Old Li, you're looking for me?"

Li Jiandong said, "Let's go to my house for a couple of drinks. I just saw Damao is also at home, right? Let him come over too, and we can discuss the matter you talked to me about last time."

"Okay, Damao, come out quickly."

Xu Fugui was very excited. Soon Xu Damao came out of the house and called out to Li Jiandong, "Uncle."

Li Jiandong nodded, and the three of them went to Li Jiandong's home in the central courtyard together.

When Qin Huairu saw the guest coming, she took the initiative to greet Xu Fugui.

Xu Damao also called Qin Huairu "Auntie".

Li Jiandong pointed at two stools and asked Xu Fugui and Xu Damao to find a place to sit.

Then, he sat down opposite the father and son.

"Lao Xu, I've been thinking about Damao these past few days, and today I finally came up with some ideas. How about I tell you about them first?"

Li Jiandong doesn't like beating around the bush and goes straight to the point.

Xu Fugui nodded: "Old Li, you speak, and we listen."

Although Xu Damao didn't say anything, he straightened his back and stared at Li Jiandong seriously, waiting for him to speak.

Li Jiandong said: "Da Mao, let me ask you first, can you endure hardship?"

Xu Damao quickly responded: "Uncle Li, I can endure hardships. As long as you can accept me as your apprentice, I can endure any hardship."

Li Jiandong nodded and said, "That's good. I was afraid that you couldn't endure the hardship, so I gave you a shot of prevention first."

Xu Fugui was a little confused and asked in confusion: "Old Li, what kind of work do you want to assign to Damao? Isn't he going to learn technology from you?"

Li Jiandong shook his head.

"Lao Xu, I would like to ask Damao to learn some skills, but your family doesn't have any workers available.

You all know about Zhuzi's previous quota, which was the militia quota that He Daqing asked Director Yang for.

Then, Zhuzi himself was promoted to a regular employee because he made contributions during his secondment. You let me teach Damao the skills first and arrange him to work in the workshop first. "

"This……"

Xu Fugui was speechless. He wanted Li Jiandong to accept Xu Damao as his apprentice because he saw that Li Jiandong had the ability to quickly make Sha Zhu a regular employee.

If he had the ability to arrange Xu Damao to work in the steel rolling mill, there would be no need for him to worship Li Jiandong as his master. Wouldn't it be better for him to teach him the projection technology himself?

"Uncle, I don't have to go to the workshop. I can do anything you arrange for me to do."

Xu Damao spoke suddenly. Despite his young age, he was quite capable.

Li Jiandong knew that what this kid said was definitely not the truth.

But being able to speak the truth to people and lies to ghosts is a skill in itself.

So he smiled and asked, "Da Mao, are you serious?"

Xu Damao nodded seriously: "Uncle, everything I said is true."

"Well."

Li Jiandong hesitated for a moment and said, "In this case, I would like to arrange for you to stay in the countryside for a while and learn farming from the farmers in the village. Can you bear this hardship?"

This question made Xu Damao dumbfounded.

Xu Fugui was also stunned.

After a long while, he said, "No, Lao Li, you are not kidding, are you?"

Seeing Li Jiandong shaking his head, as if he was not joking, Xu Fugui immediately became discouraged.

"Old Li, you can't do this. I, Xu Fugui, have worked hard for so many years to get a city hukou. With just one sentence, you send my son back to the countryside."

"This... Even if I die, I won't be able to face my ancestors."

Li Jiandong smiled and said, "Not really, Lao Xu, you're overthinking it. I just want Damao to go to the countryside for training. His household registration is still in the city, so he can come back anytime."

Xu Fugui said, "Then you have to tell me why you want Damao to go to the countryside, right?"

Li Jiandong nodded and gave the excuse he had prepared long ago.

"It's actually very simple. My Huairu has a rural household registration, and the ration at home is not very large. The grain is under the management of Liang Station."

"I thought about letting Damao go to the countryside to learn some agricultural knowledge. Then, I'll find an opportunity to send him to a grain station. That way, in the future, whether my family needs grain or other residents in our compound are short of food, we'll have someone to take care of them."

When they heard that Li Jiandong's goal was to arrange Xu Damao to work in the grain station, Xu Damao and Xu Fugui were both pleasantly surprised.

Liang Station is the best unit among the eight major units, and many people try their best to get in.

It's a more popular job than working in a supply and marketing cooperative or driving a car. Wherever you go, people offer you tea and cigarettes, and you receive gifts all the time behind your back.

If I could get into that kind of unit, it would be much better than working in a steel mill workshop.

"Old Li, are you serious? Do you really have a way to arrange for Damao to work at the grain station?"

Xu Fugui asked excitedly.

Li Jiandong smiled and said, "I'm not sure about this, but if Damao is hardworking and willing to endure hardships, I can find someone to help him arrange it. Just like Zhuzi, wasn't it because of his own hard work and achievements that he was promoted to a regular employee? Don't you think so, Damao?"

Xu Damao and Sha Zhu have been sworn enemies since childhood. If Sha Zhu can do it, Xu Damao certainly cannot be outdone.

However, Xu Damao is smarter than Sha Zhu after all, so he changed his mind.

As for making meritorious contributions, you can't do it just because you want to. It depends on the opportunity.

What if there is no opportunity? How many years will I have to work in the countryside before I can get a permanent job?

Although Sha Zhu was a militia member at the beginning, he was not a formal worker.

But, at least he was hanging around in the city. This time he was asked to go to the countryside. The thought of it made him unacceptable.

"Uncle, I don't have any objection, but I'm afraid my dad won't be able to accept it."

Xu Damao implicitly refused, thinking that the risk was too great.

Xu Fugui also understood the meaning of his son's words and quickly responded.

"Yes, Lao Li, this is such a big matter, I need to think about it carefully, how about I give you a reply in two days?"

"Okay, don't be in a hurry."

Li Jiandong smiled slightly. He didn't have to accept Xu Damao as his disciple.

At this time, Qin Huairu had already prepared the meal and brought the dishes to the table. The four of them began to eat and drink without talking about work.

Li Jiandong knew that Xu Fugui and Xu Damao still didn't want to endure this hardship.

…………

Wednesday, sunny.

Liu Guangqi came to Li Jiandong early in the morning.

"Uncle, my brother is celebrating his first month today, and my dad asked me to invite you. If it's convenient for you at noon, can you take a leave and come back to have a meal with my aunt?"

Li Jiandong lamented that a month had passed so quickly, and responded with a smile: "We will definitely go there at noon."

Liu Guangqi left and Li Jiandong was washing up.

Qin Huairu muttered beside him,

"The Liu family's Guangfu is celebrating his full moon today, and Dongxu's girlfriend is coming to visit today. How come these happy events are happening at the same time?"

Li Jiandong suddenly had an idea and thought, could this be a coincidence?
Just thinking so.

The door of the Jia family across the street opened, Jia Dongxu walked a few steps to the door and knocked:

"Master's wife, is my master here? Ladi is coming today, and my mother asked you to have a quick lunch with my master at noon."

Li Jiandong thought to himself that it was indeed the case.

However, I still asked one more question: "Dongxu, you and Xiaoliang agreed to meet today. Was it her who took the initiative to propose the date, or was it your mother who set the date for you?"

Jia Dongxu said, "My mother ordered it. She said today is an auspicious day. What's the matter, Master?"

"Nothing, you go back, I will definitely come over at noon."

Li Jiandong sent Jia Dongxu away and said to the bewildered Qin Huairu,
"You see, Jia Zhangshi has learned from Old Yan that she deliberately chose today as the date to save one person's meal."

Qin Huairu was stunned for a moment, and after a while, she finally understood what it meant.

When the Liu family holds a full-month banquet, they will definitely invite Li Jiandong and her.

If Jia Zhang also invites Li Jiandong on this day, then the couple will have to separate, and each will go to one of their families, which means there will be one less person to prepare meals for.

"This Jia Zhang is really calculating, but it doesn't matter. I don't want to go to her house for dinner to avoid embarrassment."

Qin Huairu snorted and said.

Li Jiandong also nodded: "You are right, it is better not to go, so as to avoid embarrassment."

After all, Qin Huairu had also had a blind date with Jia Dongxu, so it would be embarrassing to go there today. From this aspect, Jia Zhangshi was quite thoughtful.

The morning work is over.

Li Jiandong returned to the courtyard and separated from Qin Huairu. Li Jiandong went to the Jia family, while Qin Huairu went to the Liu family.

I don’t know if it was because Li Jiandong was present, or because he heard everything Li Jiandong said last time.

Today, Jia Zhang behaved properly. Although she was not very enthusiastic, she did not give Liang Ladi a cold shoulder.

Liang Ladi is the only one in her family, so the marriage is entirely decided by the Jia family. Both parties agreed to hold the wedding on the weekend of next week, which is 11 days later. As for other aspects, everything will be kept simple.

time flies.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day of Jia Dongxu and Liang Ladi's wedding.

Because of Jia Zhang's stinginess.

This wedding cannot be compared with Li Jiandong's, but it is much more splendid than that of ordinary people.

The main reason was that Jia Dongxu had the help of his master Li Jiandong. On the wedding day, he rode a chariot to pick up the bride, which really dazzled the eyes of all the neighbors.

at the wedding.

After Liang Ladi knelt down to pay homage to Jia Zhang, she and Jia Dongxu knelt down to pay homage to Li Jiandong and Qin Huairu.

Li Jiandong and Qin Huairu each took out the red envelopes they had prepared in advance and handed them over.

"Xiao Liang, I will leave my apprenticeship to you from now on. A harmonious family is the foundation of everything. I hope you will put your family first when you encounter problems. Your master's wife and I will also try our best to help you."

Liang Ladi smiled and said, "Thank you, Master, and thank you, Master's Wife."

Now that she is married to Jia Dongxu, she naturally follows Jia Dongxu and changes her way of addressing him, calling Li Jiandong "Master". This can be regarded as becoming Li Jiandong's apprentice in another form.

Firecrackers rang out all around.

After the wedding, it's time to have a feast.

As the elder in the courtyard, Li Jiandong naturally sat at the main table.

In addition to Jia Zhang and the two newlyweds, there were also two old men, Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui, at the table.

After three rounds of drinks, Yan Bugui joked, "Dongxu, you are really good. Your master has just been married for less than two months, and you are marrying right after that. Are you planning to have a baby before your master?"

"Old Yan, stop talking nonsense."

Li Jiandong nudged Yan Bugui with his leg. This stingy old man must have drunk too much again.

Liu Haizhong also joked: "Old Li, I think what Old Yan said is right. As a master, you have to do your best. Otherwise, if you lose to your apprentice, you will be laughed at."

Li Jiandong was speechless and said, "Can you achieve success just by wanting to?"

Liang Ladi beside her lowered her head and giggled. She was listening with great interest to the topic that was embarrassing for others.

Jia Dongxu said, "Master, don't worry. I will wait for you."

As soon as these words were spoken, not only did they have no effect, but they made others laugh even louder.

(End of this chapter)