Yang Xuan suddenly became the brightest star at the steel rolling mill, with Director Yang and Chief Engineer Xiao treating him like a treasure.
The veteran fitters participating in the skill level assessment all tried to curry favor with Yang Xuan at the banquet.
Old Zhao, an eighth-level fitter from the second workshop, raised his glass and said to Yang Xuan, "Engineer Yang, Chief Engineer Xiao has assigned you to handle the technical reform. You should prioritize our second workshop. Our equipment can't compare to yours in the first workshop; you have the equipment of the big brother. Although some of the blueprints were taken away after the big brother withdrew the experts, the equipment is still relatively advanced. A lot of our equipment is leftover from the previous dynasty, and some even dates back to the Qing Dynasty."
Director Guo immediately disagreed: "Old Zhao, Engineer Yang came from our first workshop. If there's going to be a technical reform, it should be for our first workshop. Engineer Yang is most familiar with our equipment, so the reform will be much easier for him."
Old Zhao replied, "Come on. Engineer Yang was just an apprentice in your first workshop. I heard that when it came time to assess Engineer Yang's skill level, people from your workshop even tried to obstruct it!"
Everyone's gaze turned to Yi Zhonghai, who was the one obstructing at that time.
Yi Zhonghai naturally denied it: "I admit I underestimated Yang Xuan's abilities before. However, this time for the skill level assessment, I was the first to support Yang Xuan's recognition as an eighth-level fitter. I think it's a bit of a waste to have Yang Xuan just be an ordinary fitter."
Everyone showed disdain on their faces. Who didn't know that at that time, you were certain Yang Xuan wouldn't pass the eighth-level fitter assessment? Now you’re picking up cheap words to say.
He Yuzhu originally wanted to seize the opportunity to ask Yang Xuan a few questions, but now Yang Xuan was the center of attention, and as a cook, he couldn't get close. Frustrated, He Yuzhu pushed around two full boxes of meat and vegetables.
On the way home, He Yuzhu didn't catch up either. He cleaned the dining table with his apprentice, and Yang Xuan had already gone home.
Xu Damao did catch up, but he had some previous disagreements with Yang Xuan, and now that Yang Xuan was successful, he felt a bit irritated. Seeing Yang Xuan walking ahead, he deliberately slowed his pace. Only after Yang Xuan walked far away did he slowly head towards the courtyard.
Yang Dacheng, on the other hand, enjoyed a banquet because he had a good son. Normally, with his position, he wouldn't qualify to attend this banquet. Later, Director Yang specifically sent someone to call him over for the meal.
"Stinky boy, why are you drinking so much?" Yang Dacheng looked at his son, who was stumbling, feeling heartbroken.
Yang Xuan was also helpless; he hadn't had the chance to level up a drinking skill. Moreover, he couldn't find a skill for being invincible after a thousand cups on his panel.
"I didn't want to drink. But how could I refuse the drinks today? If it weren't for Director Yang, you would probably have to carry me back today," Yang Xuan said with a smile.
Yang Dacheng replied irritably, "I won't carry you! I'll just throw you on the road and let you wake up on your own."
"If you do that, just wait until we get home to see how your wife deals with you!" Yang Xuan laughed.
"I'm the head of the family; does your mother dare to deal with me? She'd be the one in trouble!" Yang Dacheng said loudly.
Yang Xuan laughed heartily. In their home, it was always Comrade Zeng Wenfang who called the shots. Despite Yang Dacheng's loud tone, he was quite afraid of his wife at home. If it weren't for Comrade Zeng Wenfang always taking care of Comrade Yang Dacheng's face, this henpecked husband would have long been notorious. In fact, it was no secret in the courtyard.
Yang Dacheng felt a bit guilty: "Usually, I let your mother have her way! In fact, I make the big decisions at home. Comrade Zeng Wenfang is very convinced of me in this regard. But, you know, what kind of man shows off in front of his wife?"
Yang Xuan just smiled and said nothing.
Once they got home, seeing Yang Xuan drunk, Zeng Wenfang started glaring at Yang Dacheng: "Oh, so now you know to take your son out drinking! Yang Dacheng! You're something else!"
Yang Dacheng quickly explained, "Wife, let me explain myself."
"Explain?" Zeng Wenfang casually picked up a feather duster. She was used to this method of teaching Yang Xuan a lesson. She rarely used the feather duster on Yang Dacheng, at least not in front of Yang Xuan.
"No, wife, let me explain. Today, it wasn't me who took him drinking; it was the factory! The factory's banquet. The drinks were poured by Director Yang and those factory leaders; I couldn't stop them!" Yang Dacheng said at lightning speed just as the feather duster was about to hit him.
"Wasn't today the day Yang Xuan was recognized as a fitter? Why did the factory still let you go to the banquet?" Zeng Wenfang was taken aback.
"Not only did he pass! Starting next month, our son will earn over a hundred in salary every month. The factory is arranging for him to work in the technical department as an engineer; he'll be a technical cadre in the future!" Yang Dacheng said excitedly.
"Huh? Recognized as a fitter, how did he become a technical cadre?" Zeng Wenfang was ecstatic but also confused.
"Haha, you wouldn't understand this." Yang Dacheng carefully explained what happened today.
Yang Xuan supported himself against the wall as he entered the room and immediately collapsed onto the bed, quickly falling asleep.
After work, He Yuzhu brought two lunch boxes to Yang Xuan's house.
"Zhuzi, Yang Xuan drank too much today and is lying in bed," Zeng Wenfang said.
"Auntie, I brought two boxes of dishes; I'll leave one for you," He Yuzhu said.
"No need, your Uncle Yang and Yang Xuan have already eaten. I can just have a little something," Zeng Wenfang said.
"I know. Yang Xuan will be a cadre from now on. The banquet in the cafeteria today was arranged by me," He Yuzhu said with a smile.
"What cadre? Isn't he still Yang Xuan? If it weren't for you, he wouldn't have this opportunity. You're truly a benefactor to our family!" Zeng Wenfang said.
"What benefactor am I? I'm just a cook. In the future, Yang Xuan will have to help me," He Yuzhu said.
"Don't say that. If Yang Xuan doesn't help you in the future, I'll deal with him!" Zeng Wenfang said.
He Yuzhu still left a box of dishes for Zeng Wenfang; after all, he didn't want to bring the food back to anyone. Those were all ungrateful wolves.
Yang Xuan slept until dawn, but when he woke up, he found himself covered with a quilt. His clothes were still on.
"Stinky boy, if you dare to drink so much again, don't come home!" Zeng Wenfang warned.
"Isn't it my dad who said that when leaders toast, you have to give them face? Otherwise, I wouldn't drink a drop," Yang Xuan replied.
Zeng Wenfang immediately shot a displeased look at Yang Dacheng.
Yang Dacheng panicked and tried to run: "Stinky boy! Why are you putting the blame on me? By the time I got to the cafeteria, you were already almost drunk; I was just blocking for you!"
Zeng Wenfang knew these two were trying to shift the blame and didn't bother with them: "Hurry up and go to work! Don't stand here and annoy me."