Chapter 61 Face
Yi Zhonghai stayed in the house and refused to go out. He didn't have the face to ask for the meat.

But he went to buy meat these past two days but failed. No matter how he tried to find connections, it was all in vain. The New Year was approaching and he was not able to go home without some meat.

So when Li Huilan went out to get the meat just now, although he was a little reluctant, he did not stop her.

When He Daqing saw Li Huilan open the door and go home, he sneered at Li Jiandong and said, "See? I thought this grandson was very strong-willed, but two kilograms of wild boar meat exposed his true colors."

Li Jiandong smiled and said, "Say less. The remaining goods are now handed over to you. Just tinker with them. As for the two rabbits and two pheasants, keep one for New Year's Eve. The rest we brothers will get together alone tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

"Don't worry, just leave it to me."

When He Daqing heard that they could get together and have a drink again, he felt very happy.

Li Jiandong went home to sleep.

The next day, Li Jiandong brought the wild boar meat he left for Ding Qiunan to the dormitory building. "Qiunan, are you up?"

"I am up. Please wait a moment, Master."

Ding Qiunan was reading a book in the room. When he heard Li Jiandong's voice, he ran over to open the door.

Li Jiandong looked at the room that didn't even have a stove and said, "Why do you have to stay here for a night? If you get frozen, it will be a lifetime problem."

"It's also my fault that I didn't think of it yesterday. I asked you to go to Xiao Hutao's house first and stay there for one night."

Xiao Hutao is a widow in the Central Courtyard. She is very young and has young children. It wouldn't have any impact if Ding Qiunan stayed there for a night.

Ding Qiunan shook his head and said, "I don't like living in other people's homes."

"Then go back to your own home. I brought you some wild boar meat and some candy. Pork is hard to buy this year, so it should be enough for you to eat at home. Hurry up and pack your things. I'll take you to the bus stop. Go straight to school and study hard after the New Year. You are young now, so this is not the time to have wild thoughts, okay?"

Li Jiandong said a lot in one breath.

He also said everything he had wanted to say to Ding Qiunan before.

Although Ding Qiunan is 18 years old this year, she is shy and not good at interacting with others.

Therefore, the actual mental age may not be even older than that of some little girls of 15 or 16 years old.

Li Jiandong knew that she had a good impression of him, so as a master he had to teach her seriously.

"understood."

Ding Qiunan lowered his head and replied in a low voice.

"Okay, stop standing there, pack your things and go home to see your parents. You haven't seen them for almost half a year, they must miss you too."

As Li Jiandong spoke, he helped her stuff the things into the cloth bag.

After sending Ding Qiunan to the car and watching her waving through the car window as she walked away, Li Jiandong turned around and returned to the courtyard.

Li Jiandong brought two kilograms of wild boar meat and two pig's trotters to Director Zheng's house.

Seeing Li Jiandong coming with something, Director Zheng welcomed him warmly.

"Jiandong, look at you. You always bring something with you every time you come. I feel embarrassed for always doing this. Come on, come in and sit down."

Director Zheng took the things and invited Li Jiandong into the house.

Although he was spending the New Year alone, Director Zheng kept his house very clean. However, no matter how good the home is, it would not be pleasant to spend the New Year alone.

Li Jiandong asked, "Director Zheng, are there any relatives coming to your house for the New Year this year?"

Director Zheng smiled helplessly: "How can there be any relatives coming? My hometown is in the south. During the war, we all fled to different places. After liberation, I tried to go back and look for it, but even the village was gone."

Li Jiandong nodded: "Why don't you come to our hospital this year? We have a few rooms in the dormitory building of our tavern. I'll have someone vacate one for you, and we can celebrate the New Year together."

Director Zheng was somewhat tempted.

He came to Beicheng after the war. Before that, his comrades in the army celebrated the New Year with him, but after arriving here, he had no acquaintances at all.

Although the neighbors usually respect him very much, during the Chinese New Year every family gathers together at home, so who would be willing to invite an elderly person from another family?

Seeing Director Zheng's hesitation, Li Jiandong didn't want him to get hung up, so he said, "How about this, Director Zheng? I'll put someone on the stove first. If you want to live there, you can just go there. If you want to go home, you can come back after dinner. Anyway, you're not far from the tavern."

Director Zheng smiled and said, "Who knows, I might really bother you by then."

At this time, the water boiled. Director Zheng made a cup of good tea and chatted with Li Jiandong while drinking tea.

Li Jiandong mentioned Qin Huairu's household registration issue.

However, given Li Jiandong's conditions, whether Qin Huairu has a rural or urban household registration will not affect their family's quality of life.

However, urban household registration always sounds better than rural household registration, and it can also make Qin Huairu more confident.

Director Zheng said that this matter was easy to handle, and that he would help him register Qin Huairu's household registration as soon as the street office resumed work after the New Year.

By the way, he also joked that it was Li Jiandong's fault for not wanting to come to work in the street office.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have to look for anyone else to get Qin Huairu's household registration and could just handle it himself.

Li Jiandong knew that Director Zheng really wanted to promote him, but since he was not interested in working in the street, he could only decline again.

After returning from Director Zheng, I met Xu Fugui.

To be precise, it was Xu Fugui who was waiting for him there. When he saw Li Jiandong, he came up to him and said, "Old Li, I need a favor from you."

"what's up?"

'';:Li Jiandong stopped the car and asked.

"It's actually not a big deal."

Xu Fugui smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"Doesn't He Daqing often cook for Lou Bancheng? I think he has been cooking for Lou Bancheng for more than a year. Since they are close, can we ask him to ask Lou Bancheng for help and arrange a job for my wife? It doesn't have to be a formal one, as long as there is a job to do."

Li Jiandong smiled and asked, "Lao Xu, haven't you reconciled with Daqing? Can't you just talk to him about this matter yourself?"

"Oh, I told you."

Xu Fugui said helplessly, "That bastard He Daqing said that I have a bad character and he was afraid that if he introduced my wife to him and she didn't do a good job, Lou Bancheng would blame her. You know my Xifeng, and He Daqing can't discriminate by association."

Li Jiandong laughed out loud.

Said: "Lao Xu, you also know that you are discriminated against."

Xu Fugui sighed. His character did have some flaws, and he knew that too.

Ever since Li Jiandong became the boss, the atmosphere in the courtyard has become more and more positive. Living in such an environment, Xu Fugui would occasionally reflect on himself.

Now, he is much better than before, the key is that his wife Sun Xifeng and he are not the same kind of people.

He is now paying for the stupid things he did in the past, and can only endure being discriminated against.

But even though you are discriminated against, you still have to find a job.

"Old Li, I know I was wrong. He Daqing listens to you the most. You must help me with this matter."

Li Jiandong looked at Xu Fugui, but he didn't expect that he was still targeting Lou Bancheng.

It seems that some things are bound to happen and will happen after his wife becomes a servant in Lou Bancheng's family.

It is estimated that Lou Xiao'e will still marry Xu Damao.

However, Xu Damao's personality has changed a lot now. He has also gone to the Agricultural Research Institute to study agriculture with a professor.

In the future, she will definitely do work that benefits farmers. Lou Xiao'e is the eldest daughter of a capitalist. Although her family is rich, she may not be worthy of Xu Damao.

It is difficult for an honest official to judge family affairs. Li Jiandong did not want to interfere too much, so after a brief thought, he said to Xu Fugui:

"Old Xu, you know Daqing well. How about this? You prepare a table of good food tonight and I will invite Daqing to your house for you. Remember to prepare two bottles of good wine as well. Ordinary wine won't fool him."

When Xu Fugui heard this, he knew that Li Jiandong agreed.

He immediately smiled and said, "Okay, thank you, Lao Li, I'll go get ready now."
Back in the yard, Li Jiandong found He Daqing playing mahjong.

"Daqing, don't prepare dinner tonight, someone is inviting you."

He Daqing casually played a card: "Red center."

Then he turned around and asked, "Who's treating?"

"You'll know then."

Li Jiandong kept it a secret, and then Yan Bugui next to him asked,
"Lao Li, do you know the person who is treating me? Can you bring me along? I have half a bottle of Fenjiu at home. How about we take it out and drink together?"

He reentered the compound's collective fringe and sneered, "Old Yan, just forget it. They're treating us, and you only bring half a bottle of wine. How is that different from just eating for free?" "Half a bottle of wine costs a little over ten cents."

Yan Bugui was not angry at all when being ridiculed. Instead, he explained seriously to Liu Haizhong.

His face has long been worn thicker than the sole of a shoe. As long as he can gain an advantage, what does face matter?
When Li Jiandong is present at a dinner party, the food will definitely be delicious.

There was only so much meat in Yan Bugui's house, so if he ate one more bite outside, he could leave one more bite for his wife and children.

Li Jiandong smiled and said:
"Forget about it, Old Yan. We can get together alone tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

"Daqing, I'll call you in the evening. You don't have to prepare Yushui's meal. Just come to my house and eat with Huairu."

He Daqing drew a useless card and played it directly, saying, "Okay, call me when the time comes."

…………

In a blink of an eye, it was evening.

He Daqing played mahjong all day and only stopped when Li Jiandong called him to eat.

"Hey, Lao Li, Daqing, you are here, open the door quickly."

Xu Fugui opened the door and saw Li Jiandong bringing He Daqing in, and his face immediately lit up with joy.

Sun Xifeng and Xu Damao were also standing behind the door waiting.

"Come on, Daqing, don't just stand there. This must be your first time eating at Old Xu's house. Come and try the cooking skills of his wife."

Li Jiandong greeted He Daqing and then walked into the house first.

Sun Xifeng smiled and said, "Old Li, you're here."

Xu Damao also shouted, "Master, sit inside."

He Daqing looked at Xu Fugui and shook his head, but still followed Li Jiandong into the house.

Several people sat down one after another. Xu Fugui poured wine for them. Before they started drinking, Li Jiandong said, "Daqing, I asked you to come here today. You should have guessed what it is. I need to talk to Lao Xu and Sun Xifeng first."

Li Jiandong turned to look at Sun Xifeng and said:

"Mrs. Xu, working in Daqing is different from other places. Lou Bancheng is a famous boss in the whole northern city. He is a very particular person. If you do a good job, everyone will be happy. If you don't do a good job, not only will you lose your job, but even Daqing will be implicated with you."

"It may even affect the relationship between Daqing and Lao Xu. You have to take this into consideration."

Sun Xifeng said seriously:

"Old Li, I've thought about what you said. Big bosses must have different requirements for servants, so I've been looking for someone to help me recently. I think I should be able to do the job."

Li Jiandong nodded, he believed that what Sun Xifeng said was not an exaggeration.

If Sun Xifeng did not serve the Lou family well, how could they possibly marry Lou Xiao'e to Xu Damao.

The reason I mentioned this one more thing is mainly for He Daqing to hear.

At this moment, after listening to Sun Xifeng's statement, He Daqing slapped his thigh and said,
"Well, now that Lao Li has come forward, it would be a shame for me to reject you. I'll speak up for you some other time when I get the chance, but I can't guarantee it will work."

Xu Fugui felt relieved when he heard this.

He Daqing is not the kind of person who goes back on his words. Once he says something, he will definitely do it.

"Daqing, I want to thank you first, and Lao Li, I want to toast you two."

Xu Fugui picked up the wine glass and drank it all, and Li Jiandong also responded to He Daqing.

After dinner, Li Jiandong sent the slightly drunk He Daqing home, handed him over to Xu Huizhen, and then went home to sleep.

The next few days were spent eating and drinking. Compared to other compounds, Compound 40 had a wide variety of food and entertainment.

The rich life made people from other courtyards envious, and they wished they could move into Courtyard 40 and accept Li Jiandong's leadership.

Another year has passed.

The time has come to 52.

It was snowing lightly on the first day of work. After mobilizing everyone last night, Director Yang immediately called together all middle-level and above cadres to hold an enlarged team meeting.

The meeting only discussed a few things, one of which was to study the appointment of Li Jiandong as deputy director of production and concurrently deputy director of the hydropower station.

As for why he is only the deputy webmaster.

That's because the hydropower station was built in the name of the street, and the stationmaster had to be appointed by the street.

Although the steel rolling mill contributed money, manpower and labor, it was only an investor after all, so it could only send a deputy station manager to assist in management.

After a round of voting, Li Jiandong was successfully appointed.

As a department-level unit, the steel rolling mill has the right to directly appoint section-level cadres.

Therefore, the announcement that Li Jiandong was promoted to deputy director of production and deputy director of the hydropower station was broadcast over the loudspeaker that day.

He was promoted to officer last year and has been promoted to deputy section chief this year.

Moreover, he is a very important deputy director of production. The workers were excited when they heard the news.

"Li Jiandong is amazing. In less than a year, he made a triple jump from a workshop worker to deputy director of production. It's amazing."

"It's more than a triple jump. The cadre is level 24, and the deputy director of production is treated as level 18. This is definitely a six-level jump."

"You only saw that he made a six-level jump, but didn't you think about what he did? Not to mention inventing solar power generation, the hydroelectric power station in the Grand Canal is such a huge project, and he is only a deputy director. I think it's a waste of money."

"You know what, with this hydroelectric power station, there seems to be no power outage since the beginning of the year, and we no longer have to eat by candlelight."

The workers were talking about it a lot. Li Jiandong's promotion gave them a lot of motivation.

"Jiandong, congratulations on joining our factory's middle-level cadres. From now on, the important task of training workers in our workshop will be entrusted to you."

In the small conference room in the office building, Director Yang took the lead in congratulating Li Jiandong on his promotion to deputy director of the production department.

Although there were factory directors, deputy directors, and quite a few directors present, Li Jiandong's official position was considered low.

But his growth momentum was so rapid that it took Li Jiandong less than a year and a half to go from a level 7 worker to a level worker, and then to workshop director and deputy director of production.

His performance in the past year and a half has also been very impressive.

He repaired trucks, promoted his apprentices six times in half a year, invented solar power generation, and single-handedly led people to complete the construction of a hydroelectric power station.

None of these could be achieved by a normal person, so everyone was convinced that he could become the deputy director of production.

"Thank you Director Yang, and thank you leaders. I will work hard in my new position and live up to the trust that leaders have placed in me."

What Li Jiandong said was typical polite talk.

Director Wang of the Production Department said, "Director Yang, Li Jiandong's previous workshop No. 7 was full of level 6 and 7 fitters.

Now that he has been promoted to production director, does he need to find someone suitable to manage the people in his workshop? "

Because Li Jiandong was the workshop director of Workshop No. 7, many veteran fitters from the steel rolling mill were recruited there through connections.

The more steel mills are willing to set up such a workshop to use it as a breakthrough workshop.

So this workshop is basically full of senior fitters.

Old workers, especially senior workers, are difficult to manage, and most workshop directors have to coax them.

So, when Li Jiandong left, the deputy director complained bitterly on the spot.

Director Wang was also worried about who would replace Li Jiandong.

Deputy Director Zhou also nodded and said, "The problem that Lao Wang mentioned really needs to be solved as soon as possible. After all, Workshop 7 is our factory's key fitter workshop. The workers here are all senior workers. Once they have ideological problems, it is easy to have a huge impact on our factory's production tasks."

Director Dai of the Political Affairs Office also said, "We don't have enough cadres in our factory. Li Jiandong was promoted from a worker before. I think we should try the same trick again and let the Level 7 workers in Workshop No. 7 vote for themselves and choose one of them to be the workshop director."

Director Dai’s words were recognized by many people.

However, Director Yang shook his head and said, "Voting may seem democratic, but it actually has its drawbacks. Some people are not very capable. However, they are good at socializing and getting along with everyone. Workshop No. 7 is a tough workshop. Choosing a leader with only half the ability will easily lead to problems."
.
After saying that, he looked at Li Jiandong again.

"Jiandong, you were in charge of Workshop No. 7 for a while before. If you were allowed to choose, who would you choose?"

Li Jiandong thought for a while and said:

"Director Yang, Deputy Director Zhou, and all the leaders, I think it would be more appropriate to let Ma Xiangguo, the former deputy director of the workshop, become his permanent position and let Jia Dongxu be his deputy."

(End of this chapter)