Chapter 69: with translation of chapter title

"Trash, a bunch of trash." Deputy Factory Director Li angrily pointed at the Supplies Section chief's nose and cursed in the office; he had already decided what color curtains to use, but they actually said the house might not be manageable.

Go have Xu Damao settle this matter; if he can't settle it, let him stay in the Street Cleaning Squad for life—no, let him specialize in cleaning toilets.

When He Yuzhu got this news, he couldn't help feeling pleased; his idea was pretty good, and Deputy Factory Director Li had no way to resolve it.

Using power to suppress, he really didn't have that much authority.

If they come hard, he's even less afraid, and he'll surely be even more unlucky then.

He carefully examined all needed supplies in the Supply Group; over there, Xu Damao had already been berated by the Supplies Section chief, losing face big time today, and he definitely needed to vent this anger.

Xu Damao thought it over and realized someone must be sabotaging things, but he had no recourse—Lou Xiaoe now hated him to death and would surely not listen to him.

What should we do then?

After thinking for a while, Xu Damao came up with a sneaky idea; he planned to first trick He Yuzhu, and if that didn't work, he'd ask Yi Daye of the Courtyard House to intervene.

Not to ask him to find He Yuzhu, but to talk heart-to-heart with Lou Xiaoe, believing it would have some effect.

Seeing that Team Leader Xiao Ma wasn't there, he quickly tossed the broom in his hand and ran toward He Yuzhu's office.

"He Yuzhu, what do you mean? Are you planning to go for a 'fish die, net break'?" Xu Damao burst into the office shouting, not caring that others were still doing business inside.

Everyone's glances swept over the two faces.

"Xu Damao, what's up? Why did you come in? I didn't let anyone come in to mop the floor." He Yuzhu smiled, "Uninvited and still wanting to beat me up—you're pretty bold."

Just as Xu Damao was about to speak, a leader who had come to handle affairs pulled him out, telling him to pay attention, not to meddle wildly with people of different ranks.

This place wasn't originally meant to provide him help.

"Help? I use him?"

"Fine, fine, you don't need the pillar, but this is an office building; keep causing trouble and the Security Section will take you away—I see you have several houses to donate."

Xu Damao was so angry smoke seemed to rise from his head.

"Hurry up and leave, you janitor coming in to stir up trouble—are you asking for a beating?"

Seeing so many people helping He Yuzhu, Xu Damao could only leave resentfully.

"Director He, please keep that floral cloth for me a few days; my daughter-in-law is coming back from out of town soon."

"Right, and I'll try to get some of that floral braid too."

The Supplies Group's office remained bustling.

Since the first plan failed, we'll follow the second plan.

The Garbage Disposal Station is at the northernmost point of the Steel Rolling Mill; they actually guard a water inlet pipe of the mill, but neither inspection nor maintenance ever falls to them, and they've gradually become a lazybones concentration camp.

Xu Damao had just arrived at the area when he saw a middle-aged man in his forties leaning against the wall, basking in the sun, with a teacup before him still steaming slightly.

"Big brother, is Yi Zhonghai here?" Xu Damao asked cautiously.

The middle-aged man glanced at him, shifted his pose to continue sunbathing, and slowly closed his eyes.

"Sleeping in broad daylight—indeed a lazybones concentration camp." Xu Damao thought as he walked inside.

After walking several hundred meters, Xu Damao saw a row of low bungalows; he checked each one and finally found Yi Daye in the third, pushed the door open, entered, and greeted Yi Daye with a beaming smile.

"Xu Damao, you're not in the Sanitation Squad—what are you doing here?" Yi Daye asked while sipping tea. "The sanitation here is taken care of."

The fallen leaves here are about to bury the road, yet someone is supposedly cleaning; Xu Damao muttered to himself while telling Yi Daye he had a private matter.

Could we step aside to talk?

"Don't worry, they won't spread your dirty business." Yi Daye snorted, "They're too lazy to gossip with others."

Xu Damao had no choice but to recount the whole story, hoping Yi Daye would intervene and talk with Lou Xiaoe so she wouldn't meddle here.

Yi Daye didn't show the same enthusiasm as before; he hummed twice, indicating he had to guard the pipe here and couldn't just leave the factory.

"Why don't you call Lou Xiaoe over, or wait until I have time and go then?"

Yi Daye has already been assimilated by this bunch; actually there's nothing going on here—even if they left, the factory wouldn't bother them, but the outside world isn't nearly as simple as this place.

No disputes, no scheming, no one-upmanship, no pursuit of fame and profit.

This place is heaven.

"Yi Daye, you're the elder of our Courtyard House; if you ignore something, it's inexcusable." Xu Damao also grew anxious, "I'm about to become an official—I'll definitely get you out then."

Xu Damao felt maybe his bait wasn't enough.

"What 'elder'—just empty titles. Damao, striving and competing out there is meaningless; why not come join us here?"

"Exactly, young man; this is the best position in the Steel Rolling Mill."

Seeing Yi Daye pour another cup of tea, Xu Damao could only ask when he would head back.

"My work here is great—I usually don't go home; we have food and drink, and it's more comfortable than living at home."

Good-for-nothing.

Xu Damao finally understood why the Steel Rolling Mill workers feared this place: anyone who comes here gets assimilated into a good-for-nothing, unable to work thereafter.

They won't even manage their own household affairs.

They live entirely in their own world.

After leaving the Garbage Disposal Station, Xu Damao clutched his head and squatted under a big tree; Yi Daye had shed his lowbrow tastes, but what about his matter?

If the housing matter isn't settled, he'll never be able to go to high-class places in his lifetime.

"Old Xu, how's the thing going? How much longer will we drag it out?" Old Ma of the Supplies Section suddenly appeared before him, "Deputy Factory Director Li's side can't wait much longer."

"Say a few more kind words to Factory Director Li, and I'll surely get this done quickly."

"Anyway, hurry up, or Deputy Factory Director Li's side won't keep any good-for-nothings." Old Ma glanced around, "Actually this wife is the easiest to manage."

Xu Damao lifted his head and looked at him.

"A wife beaten into shape, dough kneaded into shape."

It was like suddenly finding a warm house in a cold snowy field, or like encountering a faucet in the middle of a desert hundreds of kilometers wide.

In short, Xu Damao felt he had encountered a benefactor.

This method is neat and efficient; just like Lou Xiao'e, I alone can take on three of her. Moreover, now the courtyard house has no one managing it, then it's not just letting oneself have free rein.