Li Huaide took the divorce certificate, flipped through it briefly, and said, "Damao, I've heard about your situation. As a person, you should look forward!"
"Yes, yes, Factory Director Li is right. Through this failed marriage, I've also discovered my own shortcomings. That's why I thought of a way to better serve the factory!" Xu Damao said with a smile.
Hearing this, Li Huaide smiled slightly and asked curiously, "Oh? What good ideas do you have? You can tell me!"
"Factory Director Li, you know that as a projectionist, I don't have many other skills, but when I go to the countryside, I have a very good relationship with the villagers. Several hunters are my good brothers. I was thinking of working part-time as a procurement officer, which would also allow me to serve the factory better!" Xu Damao said with a smile.
Upon hearing Xu Damao's words, Li Huaide's eyes lit up, and he said, "Good, good. Wanting to improve is a good thing, but you also need to do your main job well. You're the only projectionist in our factory!"
He had initially thought that Xu Damao's move today was to ask for an official position, as Xu Damao's identity had already shed its capitalist ties.
However, Li Huaide had not expected Xu Damao's idea to be so surprising!
This, in turn, left him a bit bewildered!
"Factory Director Li is right, so I'd like to ask Factory Director Li to arrange someone to learn projection from me, so I can better serve the factory!" Xu Damao said solemnly.
Li Huaide's eyes narrowed, and he asked incredulously, "Are you sure?"
One should know that in this era, although a projectionist was not among the eight major professions, it was still a good job. Not only was the salary high, but the local specialties alone were more than enough to eat.
Although the Steel Rolling Plant was a large factory with tens of thousands of people, it only had one projectionist. The root cause was that being a projectionist required technical skill. As the saying goes, 'teaching an apprentice starves the master,' so who would teach their livelihood to others without reason?
"Of course, isn't this for the factory's service!" Xu Damao said.
Xu Damao had already thought it through before coming. With his attitude towards life, a procurement officer suited him best, as the working hours were the most flexible, and he only needed to complete tasks on time.
As for the projectionist job, it was only rare in the current era; in another ten years, it would be nothing.
But to switch to a procurement officer, the projectionist job was his obstacle. The factory only had one projectionist. If you went to do procurement, who would show the movies?
Soon, a storm would brew, and during the ten years of that storm, Li Huaide would thrive. Moreover, after the storm ended, he would still land safely.
Xu Damao had no ambition to become an official, but knowing the situation of the next ten years, following Li Huaide's footsteps was inevitable. Xu Damao also did not want to be implicated for no reason.
And the position of projectionist was his best pledge of loyalty to Li Huaide.
As long as Li Huaide was not foolish, he would arrange his own person to apprentice with Xu Damao.
And Xu Damao would then be able to shed his identity as a projectionist, comfortably work in procurement, and live the laid-back life he desired.
For Xu Damao, why not do something that kills two birds with one stone?
"Good, good, good, I didn't misjudge you. Xu Damao is a good comrade!" Li Huaide said, his face filled with a satisfied smile!
"Then I'll trouble Factory Director Li to help arrange it. I've disturbed you today, so I'll go back to work now!" Xu Damao said, getting up to bid farewell.
After Xu Damao left the office, Li Huaide smiled slightly and said, "What a wonderful person!"
In Li Huaide's view, Xu Damao was willing to give up such a good job as a projectionist to show his loyalty, which was an incredibly rare and valuable act. He was a good prospect and could be cultivated well!
...
Li Huaide did not make Xu Damao wait long. Just three days later, he arranged for his nephew, Li Jianguo, to learn projection from Xu Damao. Xu Damao observed Li Jianguo for a few days and found that although the young man was not old, he had a cleverness about him and showed great respect to Xu Damao, not acting superior due to Li Huaide's connection.
Xu Damao also did not hold back, teaching Li Jianguo everything, whether it was the skill of a projectionist or how to conduct oneself in society, all of which greatly helped Li Jianguo.
This also led to Li Jianguo respecting Xu Damao even more, indirectly increasing Li Huaide's good impression of Xu Damao.
Days passed one by one, and in the blink of an eye, three months had gone by. Xu Damao had taken Li Jianguo to the countryside several times, and Li Jianguo was already able to project independently. Although he still had some shortcomings, this talent was the makings of a natural projectionist!
Ever since Li Jianguo could stand on his own, Li Huaide repeatedly hinted at promoting Xu Damao, but Xu Damao consistently declined. Xu Damao's attitude left Li Huaide somewhat bewildered. Why would someone who clearly wanted to advance give up the opportunity when it came?
Evidently, Xu Damao's previous actions had led to Li Huaide misunderstanding him. When Xu Damao expressed his desire to live a laid-back life, Li Huaide not only showed no blame but even thought more highly of Xu Damao.
A person who is both capable and not power-hungry is definitely a good comrade.
From then on, Xu Damao truly became Li Huaide's confidant, but this confidant was not that kind of confidant. Xu Damao's role was more about finding ingredients for Li Huaide. Xu Damao also made many business trips, traveling to places like Shandong and Tianjin, ostensibly to find ingredients, but in reality, to fill his own space.
As time went on, the outside world became increasingly turbulent, but only the Steel Rolling Plant remained largely stable. Li Huaide had long held significant power, and now with the added title of Committee Director, it was merely icing on the cake.
The storm had little impact on Xu Damao. Besides his daily routine work, Xu Damao would have a drink and chat with He Yushui. Ever since the day He Yushui's attempt to follow Xu Damao failed, their relationship had grown increasingly close. Perhaps two lonely souls had found a safe harbor. He Yushui also managed, by some unknown method, to transfer her job from the Textile Factory to the Steel Rolling Plant's finance department.
This also led to more and more contact between the two, creating a feeling of being more than friends but not yet lovers.
The Courtyard, without the Nanny Group (Retirement Group), became much more amicable. Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong were always polite whenever they saw Xu Damao. At first, Xu Damao didn't understand why, but later he realized that they felt somewhat embarrassed around him.
When he was forced to divorce, these two elders were also present. Not only did they not try to stop it, but they even aided and abetted. The reason for their change was that they had personally witnessed the Deaf Old Lady's execution. The demise of the Nanny Group (Retirement Group) indirectly changed the two of them.
After that, their courage diminished. Yan Bugui no longer guarded the gate, and Liu Haizhong no longer hit his children.
One must know that Xu Damao had lost the opportunity to be associated with the immensely wealthy Lou Family. They were also afraid that Xu Damao might, in a moment of despair, seek revenge on them.
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