Chapter 652: Xu Damao Offers a Scheme

Early the next morning, as soon as Xu Damao stepped through the factory gate, someone called out to him: "Xu Damao, Deputy Factory Director Li wants you to come to his office."

His heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm; he straightened his collar and walked toward the office building.

The reason Li Huaide was in such a rush to see Xu Damao had to start from last night.

After parting ways with Zhou Hao yesterday, he had gone straight to his father-in-law's house without a moment's delay.

He repeated everything Zhou Hao had promised word for word, thinking his father-in-law would nod in approval, but to his surprise, the man's face darkened the moment he finished listening.

"Huaide, I don't know much about this Zhou Hao, but I don't approve of you being so eager for quick success and instant benefits."

The smile on Li Huaide's face froze instantly.

His father-in-law continued: "You should be clear about the connections He Yuzhu has behind him, right? Even if you catch an opportunity to topple him, there's no guarantee that one day he won't bring you down instead. When that time comes, I won't be able to help you either."

Li Huaide disagreed in his heart, but he dared not talk back to his face.

He felt his father-in-law was getting old and acting too conservatively—in this day and age, if you don't seize the opportunity to climb up, are you supposed to wait for opportunities to come knocking on your door?

He tentatively asked: "Dad, just how much influence does that uncle of Zhou Hao's have?"

His father-in-law pondered for a moment and said: "His influence is certainly much greater than mine. But he is a man with very high standards for himself and would not approve of Zhou Hao tossing things about like this. Zhou Hao is merely a fox borrowing a tiger's might. If he really takes things too far, his uncle won't help him clean up the mess."

After hearing this, Li Huaide remained silent for a long time.

After returning home, he tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. If he couldn't be promoted to Factory Director this time, he feared there would truly be no hope for the rest of his life.

Just as dawn was breaking, a person suddenly popped into his mind: Xu Damao.

This man had dealt with Zhou Hao before; why not bring him in to ask about the inside story?

Xu Damao pushed the door open and entered, his face piled with smiles: "Factory Director Li, you were looking for me?"

It was rare for Li Huaide to stand up and personally pour him a cup of tea.

Xu Damao was flattered; he held the teacup with both hands, his waist subconsciously bending a few inches.

Li Huaide sat down, his gaze circling Xu Damao's face before he asked: "Damao, what exactly is your relationship with Deputy Director Zhou?"

Xu Damao picked up the teacup and took a sip, his eyes darting around as he began to fabricate a story: "Actually, I don't have much of a relationship with Deputy Director Zhou. However, my wife and Duan are cousins; our two families were separated while fleeing from famine when we were young, and we only found each other again in the last two years. Remembering this bond, Duan arranged for her to work at the Coal Company."

Li Huaide nodded.

Xu Damao looked up to gauge Li Huaide's expression and continued to make things up: "Later, Section Chief Liu found out that I was a childhood friend of Factory Director He, so he introduced me to work under Bureau Chief Zhou, having me help collect materials on He Yuzhu."

Li Huaide nodded without interrupting.

Xu Damao grew bolder: "I'm not making this up; I live in the same courtyard as He Yuzhu, and I know all his affairs like the back of my hand. I just reported the facts, telling Deputy Director Zhou one by one about the things he had done. Deputy Director Zhou submitted the materials, but later, when the Investigation Team came to check, they couldn't find any issues with He Yuzhu... I was even handled as a typical case of speculation and profiteering... Where can I go to appeal this injustice? At the time, I just saw that the fellow villagers were having a hard life and wanted to help them out. If you don't believe me, go ask in the various villages; is there anyone who speaks ill of me?"

After listening, Li Huaide took a sip of tea and asked again: "Then how did Duan and Deputy Director Zhou end up at such odds?"

Xu Damao sighed, a look of helplessness appearing on his face: "This Deputy Director Zhou has a flaw: he only sees himself. How should I put it? If things succeed, the credit is all his; if things fail, the fault is all someone else's. With a temperament like his, who could be comfortable working with him?"

He lowered his voice and said: "Duan has a very low opinion of Zhou Hao. Section Chief Liu was supposed to be promoted to Section Chief, but because of Zhou Hao's meddling, he's still stuck in the same place..."

After listening, Li Huaide stared at Xu Damao for a long while, then suddenly smiled: "Alright, Damao, I know now. You go back and get busy first."

Xu Damao curried favor: "Factory Director Li, could you let me continue showing movies? That way, if there's anything in the district, I can still help you put in a word with Duan."

Li Huaide hesitated for a moment and said: "I'll look into your matter first, then give you an answer."

Xu Damao suddenly spoke up: "Deputy Factory Director Li, it's probably quite difficult to catch He Yuzhu in the act now. The bad things he's done have likely all been wiped clean. If you want to topple him, you must lure him into it!"

Li Huaide immediately perked up and beckoned to Xu Damao: "Come back, tell me more specifically."

"He Yuzhu is the type who likes to help acquaintances. For example, you could start with the friends he knows..."

Li Huaide nodded: "Damao, what are you doing right now?"

"I'm working as a repairman in the Broadcasting Section."

Li Huaide thought for a moment and said: "Your identity isn't suitable for being in the public eye. Keep your affiliation with the Broadcasting Group, but every day after you start work, come to my office first and serve as a Staff Officer for me."

Xu Damao hurriedly gave a salute: "From now on, I will certainly follow Deputy Factory Director Li's lead!"

Li Huaide waved his hand, and only then did Xu Damao retreat.

Three days later, Liu Haizhong knocked on the door of the Factory Director's office.

"Come in!"

Liu Haizhong walked in and saw He Yuzhu looking at documents.

He hurriedly asked with a smile: "Zhuzi, can you do your Second Uncle a favor?"

"Speak your mind!" He Yuzhu poured a cup of tea for Liu Haizhong.

"Zhuzi, Guangtian is about to go to Shaanbei to join the production teams, and I hear the conditions there are extremely harsh. I was wondering if you could pull some strings and arrange for him to come to our Farm?"

He Yuzhu shook his head: "Second Uncle, if you had said this earlier, maybe we could have thought of a way. Now that it's been reported to the city, no one can change it."

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong said regretfully: "Sigh, I didn't know earlier either. I'm a director in the workshop, busy from morning till night, and I really didn't get around to this matter."

He Yuzhu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked casually: "Then who told you about this?"

Liu Haizhong looked up: "Xu Damao. It was he who told me to come find you."

He Yuzhu's hand holding the teacup paused.

His mind raced through a few thoughts—that grandson Xu Damao must have ill intentions.

Chen Xueru had just told him earlier that Li Huaide had hooked up with Zhou Hao again, and now Xu Damao was pointing Liu Haizhong down this path.

If there wasn't something fishy in this, he would write his name backward.

He Yuzhu suddenly smiled and said: "Second Uncle, as long as Xu Damao is involved, even if I could handle this matter, I can't help you with it."

Liu Haizhong was stunned: "Why?"

He Yuzhu looked at him and said: "There are people in the factory now who want to fix me; they've rounded up a bunch of lackeys and are just waiting for me to make a mistake."

Liu Haizhong asked tentatively: "You mean... Xu Damao wants to set a trap to make you commit an error?"

He Yuzhu smiled: "That kid is probably already in league with some big shot in the factory."