Siheyuan: I just came across and wanted to chase me away

Chapter 893 Xu Damao asks Deputy Director Li for money

Xu Damao nodded quickly, his face a bit flattering and embarrassed. He looked at Deputy Director Li and said, "As you know, I've been in prison for a while now, and I really don't have a penny. Can you help me out first?"

Deputy Director Li was immediately furious when he heard this. Xu Damao had always found ways to give him money and gifts, but when had he ever turned around and asked for money? He frowned and said unhappily, "Xu Damao, I'm not well off. I'll give you thirty yuan, which should be enough to get you by for a few days."

Xu Damao took the money, thanked him repeatedly, turned around and walked out. As soon as he walked out of the door, he ran into Gu Nan head-on.

Gu Nan was a little surprised to see Xu Damao. He didn't expect him to come out, so he smiled and greeted him: "Xu Damao, you are out."

Xu Damao initially didn't want to bother with Gu Nan, but then he realized that Gu Nan was now the deputy director of the steel mill, on par with Deputy Director Li, and he couldn't afford to offend him. He quickly put on a humble expression and pleaded, "Deputy Director Gu, I was wrong before. I know I was wrong. Please be magnanimous and give me another chance."

Gu Nan knew that something important was about to happen, and Xu Damao's incident was nothing to worry about. He smiled and said casually, "Okay, now that you're out, live your life well. I'm going to work now."

Seeing that Gu Nan didn't give in, Xu Damao didn't dare to say anything more and hurried away with the thirty yuan in his pocket. He thought to himself that he had to go back to his hometown and ask his mother to help him pack up so that he could have a place to stay.

Gu Nan returned to the office and didn't take Xu Damao's matter to heart at all. He went straight into work.

After a bumpy ride back home, Xu Damao opened the door and saw his parents sitting in the yard picking vegetables. His eyes suddenly reddened. Xu Damao's father looked up and saw him. He was startled at first, then put down the vegetables in his hand, stood up, and said in a tone that was a bit angry but also hard to hide his concern: "You're finally out, little brat! Your mother has been worried sick these days."

Xu Damao knew that his parents were money-loving and not particularly generous. He pulled ten yuan from his pocket, handed it to his mother, and said, "Mom, you know my yard has been empty for a while, and it's definitely covered in dust. I'll give you ten yuan. Can you please help me clean it up?"

Xu Damao's father was quick to take the money from his wife and said with a smile, "Okay, your mother is idle at home anyway, so I'll go over and clean up for you."

Xu Damao's mother looked a little reluctant, muttering, "It's such a hassle to clean up," but she finally nodded. After all, her son's house really needed cleaning, and besides, she'd get ten yuan, so it wasn't a loss.

Xu Damao's father carefully tucked the crumpled bills into his pocket, pressing them against the outside with his fingers as if he were afraid they'd sprout wings and fly away. He looked up at his son and asked, his face filled with worry, "Damo, where are you going to work next? Are you going back to the steel mill?" It was a serious question. Everyone in the neighborhood knew that Xu Damao, in his quest for social status, had offended the powerful Lou family. Logically, he had no place at the steel mill.

Xu Damao raised his chin proudly, with a disdainful smile on his lips: "Dad, don't worry! Deputy Director Li told me in person that I will be able to go to work in the Propaganda Department in two days. By then, I will have a stable foothold and power in my hands, so why worry about not finding a wife?" He was holding back a fire in his heart, especially when he heard a while ago that the silly cook He Yuzhu had married a pretty girl named Lu Jia, he was even more dissatisfied - that girl looked smart and capable, he really didn't know what was blind that she fell in love with He Yuzhu, a fool.

In the afternoon, Gu Nan returned home in the sunset. Just as he sat down at the table and took a sip of boiled water from his enamel pot, Ran Qiuye stormed out from the inner room, still wearing her apron. She spoke angrily, "Gu Nan, did you know? That bastard Xu Damao is back!"

Gu Nan was stunned for a moment, then looked at Ran Qiuye's flushed face and couldn't help but laugh. He had always remembered her as a gentle person, and this was the first time he'd heard her swear. He put down the jar and said slowly, "Yeah, I ran into him at the entrance of the alley this morning. He looked so cocky, I knew it was up to no good. What's going on? Did he cause you trouble?"

Ran Qiuye shook his head vigorously, his chest still heaving, and said indignantly, "He dares! He wouldn't dare touch me even if he had the guts! But he went to pick a fight with Sister Xiao'e, blocking the gate and saying a lot of nasty things! Why did he make a mistake and get out so easily? He should have suffered more in prison and reflected on his mistakes!"

The smile on Gu Nan's face faded a little. He reached out and patted her arm, soothing her. "Qiuye, don't get angry and get yourself sick. Don't worry, even if Xu Damao shows up, I have ways to deal with him. It's just that now is not the time. Think about it, that guy He Yuzhu has been targeting me openly and covertly these days. Does he really think I know nothing?"

Ran Qiuye frowned, a little puzzled: "But I think He Yuzhu has been quite honest recently. I haven't seen him bother you. When we met on the road, he just nodded and didn't say much."

Gu Nan snorted, his eyes growing colder. "You didn't see that? That bastard has been doing a lot of things behind my back. A while ago, when the factory was evaluating advanced workers, he was the one who was most enthusiastic about badmouthing me in front of the boss. I've been wanting to deal with him for a long time." What he didn't say was that He Yuzhu had Lu Jia's backing. She looked like she was no ordinary woman, and if he tried to confront her head-on, he'd be in trouble. That's why he was planning to use Xu Damao to disrupt the situation—as long as that idiot Xu Damao could cause trouble for He Yuzhu, he didn't believe Lu Jia would stay hidden forever. Then he could get a good look at her.

Seeing his confident look, Ran Qiuye's anger subsided a little, and she turned to ask, "Gu Nan, I believe you. By the way, who will eventually own the house in the backyard that caused such a big fight a while ago? Qin Huairu's family has been talking about it every day lately, and it's really giving me a headache."

Gu Nan waved his hand and said, "That has nothing to do with us. Whoever wants it can go. Don't worry about it. By the way, try not to hang out outside recently. It's a bit chaotic out there. I heard that several bicycles were lost in the alleys nearby."

Ran Qiuye nodded quickly: "I understand, don't worry. I asked someone to buy some cloth a while ago and made a lot of clothes, enough to wear for a while. It's true that it's not peaceful outside, but home is more secure. With you around, I'm not afraid of anything."

Gu Nan looked up at the old calendar hanging on the wall, tapping his fingertips on the table, his brows furrowed slightly. He knew that the event that would determine the fate of many people was drawing nearer.