Chapter 696: Speaking Without Thinking

Time is like sand, years are like a flowing river...

After the matters of the Nine Gates Commandant and Broken-Down Hou passed, Cao Cao Weiguo went on a long business trip to the Shu region. After returning, he continued to slack off as usual, occasionally being assigned some work by Director Li, inevitably doing some things that made certain people unhappy.

Nowadays, inside and outside the city, the situation is surging and vigorous. Countless monsters and demons have become rats that everyone shouts to beat. Those who were once arrogant and lived in luxury now wish they could crawl into the sewers...

As the committee director, Li Li Huaide has been extremely active during this period, as if he had been injected with chicken blood every day. At night, he would rather not sleep than work on his career. As for how much profit he took from it, that is unknown.

Just like this, Liu Haizhong submitted a document, and Director Li immediately arranged for manpower to turn the Dong, Tong, and Su families in Nanluoguxiang upside down, digging three feet deep to find a large number of antiques, calligraphy, and paintings.

Some were destroyed in the street, some were registered and handed over, and some were secretly intercepted... Under Director Li, Liu Haizhong was able to show off his skills, biting people everywhere like a mad dog, scaring the neighbors so much that they avoided him. As long as he appeared, people would immediately shut their mouths, fearing they would say the wrong word and be arrested by Liu Haizhong to earn merit.

Regarding this situation, Liu Haizhong took it as an honor. Returning to the Sihe Academy, he called Yi Yi Zhonghai and Yan Yan Fugui to the middle courtyard, shaking his fan while saying: "Let's be straightforward. Old Yi, Old Yan, and I discussed it. Look, the revolutionary movement is vigorous now, the great airing of views, great debates... isn't it? Outside, schools, factories, supply and marketing cooperatives, grain stations... are all hot and bustling. Eh, why is it like entering another world when you enter our courtyard? Why is everyone so indifferent? Especially you, Old Yi, you set a very bad example for the people in the courtyard, so Old Yan and I both believe this is your responsibility. You have ruined the atmosphere of the whole courtyard and held everyone back."

Yan Yan Fugui held his tea mug and shook his head, sighing: "Old Yi, as an old worker, I think your awareness is too low. You can no longer keep up with the pace of our era's development. I think you should seriously reflect, strengthen your studies, and don't always hold on to outdated and backward old thoughts and concepts."

Yi Yi Zhonghai pulled a gloomy face: "Just say it directly, what exactly do you want me to do? However, I want to tell you one thing: this courtyard is for living. If you keep going like you are outside, won't it be a mess? Who can live peacefully anymore?"

Once these words were out, Xu Xu Damao's eyes widened, and Liu Haizhong slammed his fan on the table, standing up excitedly and pointing at Yi Yi Zhonghai: "How can you say that! How can you say that the movement is a mess!"

Yan Yan Fugui echoed: "Yes! If you said this outside, you would definitely be educated!"

Liu Haizhong glared: "You can't say it in this courtyard either!"

Yan Yan Fugui: "Old Yi! Your words are too reactionary!"

Xu Xu Damao delivered a cold blow: "Listen to his words and watch his actions! Hmph! Yi Yi Zhonghai! Listening to what you mean, this is resistance and opinion against the revolutionary movement! I really couldn't tell! You are such a person! No wonder you hid so much feudal dross at home!"

Liu Haizhong: "That hits the nail on the head. Guangtian, go tell Director Cao this right now and ask Director Cao to come over."

First Mother hurriedly grabbed Liu Guangtian's arm: "You can't! Old Liu! Old Yi is just an ordinary worker, he doesn't have much education, he was just quick with his tongue, he didn't mean that! Old Liu, Old Yan, we are all old neighbors who have lived in the same courtyard for decades. If we have something to say, let's say it well. You must not misunderstand Old Yi!"

Yi Yi Zhonghai panicked, placing his tea mug on the table: "Old Liu! Old Yan! I know what you are thinking! I know I am no longer suitable to be the First Master. I resign, I will make a self-criticism. Can you forgive me then? My education is too shallow, and my awareness is not enough. In the future, whatever happens in the courtyard, you make the decisions. You don't need to tell me anymore, I will just listen to the orders."

Liu Haizhong pulled a straight face: "Old Yi! At least you have self-awareness!"

Yi Yi Zhonghai pulled a long face, picked up his enamel tea mug, and stood up with a slightly hunched figure to leave.

Xu Xu Damao snorted disdainfully, then smiled at Liu Haizhong: "Team Leader Liu, Yi Yi Zhonghai is gone, shouldn't you sit here now?"

Liu Haizhong looked at Yan Yan Fugui: "Third Master, what do you think!"

Yan Yan Fugui straightened his posture: "Since Old Yi has resigned, then from now on, you are the First Master, I am the Second Master, and Xu Damao was the Third Master for a period of time before, has experience, and is now a young cadre at the Rolling Mill. I think Xu Damao should serve as the Third Master."

Xu Xu Damao clapped happily: "Hahaha! Good! I've joined in again, good!"

Watching Yi Yi Zhonghai being driven away and Liu Haizhong and Xu Xu Damao taking their positions, the residents of the courtyard discussed it. Sha Zhu was so angry his eyes widened, but he didn't dare to challenge Liu Haizhong like before, so he had to suppress his anger and go find Yi Yi Zhonghai.

"First Master! You just admitted defeat like that! You just let these bastards Liu Haizhong and Xu Xu Damao shit and piss on your head! You! You are so spineless, you might as well cut off your dick and become a eunuch."

Sha Zhu shouted with his arms crossed. Yi Yi Zhonghai's eyes were sinister: "Times change. I am retreating to advance. As the saying goes, as long as the green hills remain, there's no need to worry about firewood. Right now, Liu Haizhong and Xu Xu Damao are villains who have gained power, and I have to avoid their sharp edge. However, the world is impermanent, and evil cannot suppress righteousness. One day, I will make these two villains pay a painful price."

(Note: The text in 【1366-5】 and 【1366-6】 was split mid-sentence in the source; this is the reconstructed flow.)

Qin Qin Huairu glared at Sha Zhu: "Sha Zhuzi! Stop stirring up trouble here! Isn't your arm hurting anymore! Be careful that Xu Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong don't clean you up if they hear you. First Master, don't be angry either. Isn't it just a managing master? If you don't be one, you don't be one, it's no big deal. What is really important for you now is to quickly restore your status as an eighth-grade worker. Otherwise, you are doing the work of an eighth-grade worker but receiving the treatment of a fourth-grade worker; what a huge loss that is."

First Mother agreed: "Yes, Old Yi! If you aren't a managing master, you aren't one. Anyway, there aren't many people in this courtyard willing to listen to you. Instead of fighting with Liu Haizhong, it's better to put your heart into your work, strive to restore your eighth-grade worker treatment as soon as possible, and earning money to support the family is the real business."

Yi Yi Zhonghai also wanted to restore his eighth-grade worker treatment, but what could he do?

Work hard? Perform actively?

Forget it!

Even if he performed as actively as possible, the workshop director wouldn't credit him, and the factory leaders wouldn't look at him straight.

This was also his fault for having too stiff a relationship with the workshop director in the past and having poor interpersonal relationships.

Yi Yi Zhonghai frowned: "I also want to restore my treatment as soon as possible, but the factory leaders don't like me; what can I do?"

Qin Qin Huairu said in a low voice: "Why don't you go ask Cao Cao Weiguo for help and ask him to pull some strings."

Sha Zhu: "Hmph! Ask Cao Cao Weiguo for help? It's a loss that you can think of that! Who in the factory or courtyard doesn't know that the First Master and Cao Cao Weiguo are at odds? It would be Amitabha if Cao Cao Weiguo didn't kick us while we're down, let alone expecting him to help. Forget it."

Qin Qin Huairu: "Then what should we do? Do you know any other factory leaders? Can you help the First Master? The First Master and Cao Cao Weiguo are at odds, but we all know that Cao Cao Weiguo is someone who only cares about money. As long as the First Master is willing to spend money, can Cao Cao Weiguo bear not to take it?"

Yi Yi Zhonghai sighed: "Qin Huairu, your idea is good, but where do I still have money now?"

Sha Zhu said: "Exactly, in order to get out of the security section, the First Master long ago emptied his family's foundation. He is poorer than me now; where can he find money to bribe that villain Cao Cao Weiguo? Your idea has no chance."

Looking at the gray-haired, disheveled Yi Yi Zhonghai, Qin Qin Huairu couldn't help but feel contempt.

It seems Yi Yi Zhonghai is really finished!

Don't expect to get much benefit from Yi Yi Zhonghai in the future.

It's better to spend more effort on Cao Cao Weiguo.

Should she agree to that request of his?

But that would be too shameful!

Thinking and thinking, Qin Qin Huairu's pretty face flushed, and her eyes filled with thick spring desire.