Chapter 172: Drinking with Xiao Shitou

Xiao Shitou let me get on the electric bike.

He added power, and the electric bike climbed up the ridge again.

Because the road was terrible, my butt was jolted painfully.

Finally we arrived at the construction site,

Shi Jinhe had already had people prepare food and drink in the site canteen.

There were no good dishes, just the workers' leftover big‑pot stew, placed in a few stainless‑steel basins.

Seeing me and Xiao Shitou arrive together, Shi Jinhe happily said, "Brother, Xiao Shitou came specially to pick you up."

I laughed, "No, I came on a tricycle. Damn it, as soon as I hit the ridge there was no power, so I dumped it halfway."

"The chairman of Da Heng Group riding a tricycle—if others knew they'd die laughing." Shi Jinhe also said, laughing.

"Chairman is nothing; hearing those three words these years I'm sick of it. Come, let's go into the shed to drink." I said and went into the canteen.

Now the site canteen is far better than the one we had at Niushiling before; it has a proper restaurant and tables.

I took a seat, and Shi Jinhe and Xiao Shitou came over and sat down.

Shi Jinhe opened a bottle of wine,

casually found three cups,

"Brother, eating here we can't talk about hygiene. I also don't have time to find you new cups."

I said, "Alright, I'm not unaware of the site conditions. Pour."

Xiao Shitou said, "Uncle Jinhe, let me pour the wine."

Having said that, he snatched the wine bottle from Shi Jinhe's hand.

I looked at Xiao Shitou and said, "Xiao Shitou, do you drink alcohol?"

Xiao Shitou nodded,

"Dad, I drink. Now I've learned to drink at the construction site."

I laughed heartily, "Sure, guys, coming to the site you learn nothing else but drinking. Good, I support. A man who doesn't drink and get drunk a few times isn't really a man."

Xiao Shitou poured the three cups full nicely,

I lifted my cup,

"Jinghe, Xiao Shitou, tonight Building One of Guanghua Garden launched sales; first I wish Building One sells big."

"Right, when our houses sell big, good days will come." Shi Jinhe said.

Xiao Shitou also said, "Dad, I believe it will sell big; I wanted to go to the stadium to watch a performance, but couldn't get in—too many people. Fortunately Uncle Jinhe called me, so I returned to the construction site."

I downed the wine in one gulp,

then used chopsticks to scoop up the vegetables from the basin and started eating.

Still the taste of that big‑pot stew,

After a few bites I said to Shi Jinhe, "Jinghe, this time our houses can sell early, mainly thanks to your nonstop work; as brother I thank you."

After hearing my words of thanks,

Shi Jinhe felt embarrassed,

laughed,

"Brother, what are you saying? I'm embarrassed. If the building materials kept up, our houses would be even earlier. Now there's still a shortage of building materials; at night Building 2 is working overtime, Buildings 3 and 4 are idle."

"As long as the money from Building One goes straight into building materials, then Buildings Two, Three, Four can finish quickly; the remaining two estates also need to be rushed, aiming for October to launch them to market. That way we might be able to repay Southern Group's debt." I said, holding my wine cup.

"I understand, rest assured; as long as building materials keep up, I guarantee that by October all estates will be completed. Then you can just sell." Shi Jinhe said.

"Having brothers say this is enough; come, let us two brothers have a drink." I said, clinked cups with Shi Jinhe, then drained the wine in my cup.

Xiao Shitou himself also took a big gulp.

I asked Xiao Shitou, "Xiao Shitou, you've also worked a spell at the construction site—how do you feel?"

Xiao Shitou said, "Dad, I feel pretty good. Working every day, when tired I sleep; I haven't thought of anything else. Days pass very fulfilling."

I said, "Can't just work; must have ideas. How's the rebar workers' training?"

Xiao Shitou said, "I've just started on the scaffolding. The knowledge there is deep; I find this harder than basketball."

I laughed,

patted Xiao Shitou's shoulder,

felt Xiao Shitou's shoulder much stronger than before,

"Every trade has its way; to master a craft or skill, one must bend low. To become a leader in the industry, one must put in more than ten times the effort of others.

"To play basketball well is also very hard. Look at flying man Jordan—his training intensity is far above others'.

"Of course there is also a natural height advantage.

"Xiao Shitou, if you were a bit taller I would continue to train you, but you've already reached your limit in basketball, so there's no way to improve further; you can only develop elsewhere.

"Having you come to work at the construction site, its main purpose is to train you, to let you first endure hardship.

"Knowing that wanting to support oneself is not easy.

"Dad's painstaking hope is that you can understand."

Xiao Shitou then lifted his wine cup,

"Dad, I certainly understand your intention; come, let me toast you."

I happily laughed, "The son's toast, I must drink; Jinghe you also accompany."

I drained the wine in my cup again.

Shi Jinhe said, "Brother, drink a little less, don't drink too much."

I shook my head and said, "Jinghe, I really just want to get drunk once; this time I'm getting drunk mainly for Xiao Shitou; among these kids, only Xiao Shitou has filial piety, does things solidly.

"Xiao Shitou, I always worry, you raise opinions, because you also know our family's situation: dad has many children, wanting to balance the water bowl is too hard."

Let you go to the construction site to work; I'm afraid you'll hate me, really, Xiao Shitou.

Dad's feelings, you can't understand.

I want you to work at the Group Company, enjoy life, but I'm afraid of raising you to be like your brother Sun Dajun.

Sigh, I'm having a tough time. As long as you don't hate me, that's enough.

Just understanding my difficulties is enough; let's have another drink, you and I.

After I finished speaking, my eyes got wet, and I picked up the wine cup again.

Xiao Shitou also picked up the wine cup,

"Dad, drink a little less, I know your difficulties. Now the Group Company is in this state, advancing with difficulty, and the people are not united."

Everyone is thinking about their own interests. Dad, I can share too little of your burden.

My and Xiao Shitou's cups clinked together,

Then I gulped down the wine in one go.

After drinking this cup, I cried,

I really cried,

I shed tears in front of Xiao Shitou.

I want to cry in front of Xiao Shitou to show him; being a father is really not easy.

Shi Jinhe hurriedly found two sheets of paper for me to wipe my tears.

After I wiped my tears, I looked at Xiao Shitou,

"Xiao Shitou, no matter when, you must know that this Da Heng Group was founded by your dad single-handedly."

This contains all my painstaking effort.

If the Da Heng Group one day really gets transferred to someone else,

Son, remember, you must definitely take it back for me.

We have been schemed against,

Son, I have placed my hope in you; work well at the construction site, learn skills, follow Uncle Jinhe to learn management, and someday it will be useful.

Xiao Shitou, you must keep this in mind: the Da Heng Group is ours; you must safeguard the family business.

You must develop and glorify the Da Heng Group.

You must take the Da Heng Group public.

You must become the richest person, Dad, to make you proud.