Chapter 5: Righteousness and Chivalry

  After eating meat, his body recovered a lot faster, however, Yan Yuhuan's seduction also made Xu Shaojie angry. After all, he was a vigorous man and Xu Shaojie didn't sleep well for almost half the night.

  In the morning after getting up, Xu Shaojie felt particularly good in spirit. After eating three steamed buns, Xu Shaojie arrived at the construction site.

  "Little brother, Zhang Ge treated you to meat yesterday, haha, not bad treatment."

  "Liu Ge, it was all because of your one sentence yesterday, saying I could drink, as a result, Zhang Ge looked at me to see how much I could drink, but I'm no match for Zhang Ge."

  "Drinking is a good thing, tomorrow I'll also ask Brother Zhang to drink with me. Little brother, Brother Zhang is a good man, he's all about loyalty and righteousness, we're brothers who came out together, following Brother Zhang will definitely be no mistake."

  "Thanks Liu Ge, Song Ge, I feel it too. Zhang Ge is a generous person. If not for the care of several big brothers, I would still be drifting around now. A drop of water in need, a fountain to repay."

  Xu Shaojie thought of a scene from last night and felt a little wary. Even if Zhang Shaocai was being righteous, he wouldn't suddenly show such affectionate attitude. And then there's Yan Yuhuan's behavior... In this world, there is no love without reason, nor hatred without cause. He himself was just an ordinary laborer, not worth Zhang Shaocai's efforts.

  At noon, when Xu Shaojie spoke, Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan both knew. At this moment, Zhang Shaocai made up his mind to reassign Xu Shaojie, and Yan Yuhuan also expressed her support. As for how to arrange Xu Shaojie, Zhang Shaocai racked his brains. Xu Shaojie was definitely unfamiliar with the construction industry, so participating in supervision was not feasible. An outsider leading insiders would not work, and it couldn't happen in his construction team. Arranging Xu Shaojie to follow Yan Yuhuan for financial work made Zhang Shaocai uneasy. Although Xu Shaojie could endure, this young man looked refined and elegant, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. If something happened between him and Yan Yuhuan, wearing a green hat would be uncomfortable. After some thought, Zhang Shaocai decided to let Xu Shaojie follow him directly, letting Xu Shaojie get familiar with the construction industry's ways. Unexpectedly, Yan Yuhuan raised an objection. She suggested first letting Xu Shaojie choose for himself, giving him two options: either learn about architecture or do financial work, and see what Xu Shaojie would choose. As for the final decision, it was still in Zhang Shaocai's hands. Zhang Shaocai agreed and kissed Yan Yuhuan heavily on the mouth.

  In the afternoon, Xu Shaojie received a notice that Zhang Shaocai was inviting him to dinner again. The implication was that since they hadn't settled who was better at drinking yesterday, they would continue today to see who was more skilled. Xu Shaojie felt somewhat embarrassed as Liu Fugui and Song Guangming were technicians, while he was just a laborer. He thought it was inappropriate for Zhang Shaocai to always invite him to dinner, neglecting Liu Fugui and Song Guangming, which might cause trouble in the future.

  Xu Shaojie told the person who brought the message that he had always been following Liu Ge and Song Ge, and as a way of thanking them for their care, he planned to go out with the two brothers tonight to find a place to drink. Xu Shaojie's response was very clever, without directly refusing.

  Liu Fugui and Song Guangming heard this and were extremely happy, repeatedly saying that they didn't want Xu Shaojie to treat them as guests; instead, they would invite him. They said that since Xu Shaojie hadn't received his salary yet, he could treat them after getting paid.

  The person who brought the message came back quickly, saying that all three were invited together. Liu Fugui and Song Guangming were honest men who wouldn't mind not being invited earlier. They and Zhang Shaocai were from the same place, so they understood his temperament and wouldn't hold it against him.

  After finishing work, Xu Shaojie suggested washing up before going out again. This sweat stinks and it's not good when eating. Liu Fugui and Song Guangming smiled and agreed. The weather was scorching hot, the work was really done under the blazing sun, except for a two-hour break at noon when it was hottest, everyone else was drenched in sweat all the time. This money is hard to earn.

  After the three of them finished bathing, they slowly made their way to Zhang Shao Cai's office. Everything was as usual, but there were more dishes on the table than before. Zhang Shao Cai was waiting for them in his office and burst out laughing when he saw the three of them. He patted Liu Fu Gui and Song Guang Ming on the chest and then patted Xu Shao Jie on the shoulder. This time, they implemented a "one person one bottle" system with packaged wine, no need to worry about not having enough. With Liu Fu Gui and Song Guang Ming participating, the atmosphere was different during dinner. The two of them were eating voraciously, while Zhang Shao Cai and Xu Shao Jie were still calm and composed. Zhang Shao Cai had already changed a lot from his previous self, becoming more knowledgeable and experienced. Yan Yu Huan often reminded him to behave properly, while Xu Shao Jie was naturally well-behaved due to his father's education. The difference in their drinking abilities soon became apparent, with Liu Fu Gui and Song Guang Ming's faces getting redder and redder until they couldn't hold on anymore. Before they passed out, Zhang Shao Cai ordered someone to escort them back, leaving only Xu Shao Jie behind.

  "Little brother, you must be thinking about last night's things, haha, you are a bookworm, I am a rough guy, my thoughts are not as many as yours, if there is anything wrong, you should forgive me more."

  This sentence made Xu Shaojie thoroughly understand what happened last night. Judging from today's drinking situation, Zhang Shaocai is a good drinker. The wine yesterday was not enough to get drunk like that. Xu Shaojie had nothing to be dissatisfied with. He was just a laborer and followed Zhang Shaocai to do things. Zhang Shaocai didn't have any requirements for himself.

  "Brother Zhang is so considerate of me, I'm grateful and haven't had time to think about any opinions."

  "Good, little brother is straightforward, I like people who are straightforward. Over the years, I've traveled all over the place, seen a lot of people and things, and I have a very good impression of you, little brother. There's something I want to ask, but I'm not sure if I should."

  "Feel free to ask Zhang Ge anything."

  "Little brother, what do you actually do? I see that you're refined and courteous, not like someone who does hard labor. If you look up to me, then speak up; if you don't, then forget it."

  Xu Shaojie somewhat understood, the Zhang Shaocai in front of him was not a simple person. On the surface, he seemed to be making a big fuss, but in reality, he was very meticulous and must have figured out something through his own behavior over the past few days. Facing such a person, Xu Shaojie decided to tell the truth.

  "Zhang Ge, I'm a student at Xilin University, I just got in this year. My family is having some difficulties, so I came out to find something to do and earn my own living expenses to reduce the burden on my family."

  Zhang Shaocai didn't show any surprise, staring at Xu Shaojie for a long time.

  "Little brother, I knew you weren't simple. I didn't expect you to be a university student, and at Xilin University, which is the best in Xishan Province! Being able to get into this school is impressive. In our hometown, only a handful of people can get into Xilin University every year. You're only 18 years old, and yet you've thought about reducing the burden on your family - that's filial piety, I admire it. Here's to you, have a cup of wine!"

  The two of them downed a small cup of wine.

  "Little brother, with your talent, it's a pity you're doing manual labor here. I have two suggestions for you to consider: first, follow me and learn about construction knowledge, also help me keep an eye on things. You're a knowledgeable person, with a lot of expertise and a quick mind, sometimes we can discuss things together. I'll pay you according to the highest technical standards. Second, follow Yan Yuhuan and do finance work, helping manage all financial matters on the construction site, including salary payments. The salary will be the same for both options. You choose, big brother is telling you the truth, I don't like playing games."

  "Zhang Ge, I'm not familiar with the construction industry, can't help you out. Your kindness is appreciated, but I'll just stick to being a laborer."

  "Little brother, don't say such things. I'm most afraid of hearing this kind of talk. No one is born knowing everything. In the past, I was also a farmer at home, but now I've led a construction team. Anything can be learned with practice. At first, the provincial city seemed mysterious to me, but after really coming here, it doesn't seem like anything special. So don't be modest, choose one of the two suggestions I put forward."

  It's not true to say that Xu Shaojie is unwilling, who wouldn't want a job with good pay and comfortable working conditions? Xu Shaojie declined because he thought Zhang Shaocai might have been drunk when he said it. Since Zhang Shaocai has already said so, if Xu Shaojie declines again, it would seem impolite. With two options, Xu Shaojie wouldn't hesitate to choose to work with Zhang Shaocai. Yan Yuhuan is a woman, and who knows what might happen in the future when a man and a woman are together?

  "Since Brother Zhang has said so, I won't decline either. I'm happy to follow Brother Zhang and learn from him, so I'll just follow him."

  "Little brother, working in finance is very relaxing, every day is spent inside the office."

  "No, I'll follow Zhang Ge. I think finance is a woman's job, Yan Jie is very familiar with finance, if I go, I won't be of much help, and might even affect Yan Jie. I'd better follow Zhang Ge, he's familiar with the rules of the construction industry, I can learn from him, it'll definitely be beneficial in the future."

  "Haha, okay, fine, you're coming with me then. I'm thrilled, brother, let's have a drink."

  Yan Yuhuan happened to be outside and heard these words. After Liu Fugui and Song Guangming left, Yan Yuhuan arrived at the door and heard all the conversations. Xu Shaojie was indeed not simple, such a young man, Yan Yuhuan had never seen before. Thinking of herself graduating from high school without taking the university entrance exam, she was tearful, and when preparing to go out and do things, she cried several times in front of her parents. If it weren't for the fact that there was nothing to do at home, Yan Yuhuan wouldn't have gone out. Unexpectedly, this Xu Shaojie took the university entrance exam, actively went out to work, and reduced the burden on his family. For a moment, Yan Yuhuan felt that this Xu Shaojie would definitely not be simple in the future, and might even become a great talent. When Xu Shaojie said that finance was a woman's job, Yan Yuhuan gritted her teeth, wasn't this looking down on people who did finance? In fact, Yan Yuhuan thought about being with Xu Shaojie, although she was older than him, but Yan Yuhuan felt that Xu Shaojie was like an elder brother to her.

  "Little brother, how can you say that finance is a woman's job? Are you looking down on your sister?"

  Yan Yuhuan suddenly came in, making Zhang Shaocai and Xu Shaojie both unprepared.

  "Yan sister sits."

  Xu Shaojie hastily pulled out a chair, and Yan Yuhuan sat down without hesitation, her face filled with anger, her beautiful eyes staring at Xu Shaojie. Xu Shaojie's scalp felt a bit numb, he hadn't thought of all this when they were talking earlier.

  "Yan Jie, I didn't mean it that way. The financial procedures are complicated and require careful calculation. Only someone as meticulous as you can do it well. I'm careless with things, if I made a mistake in the accounting, wouldn't that cause trouble for you?"

  "Haha, little brother makes sense, Yuhuan, since you're here, let's talk about it. How should little brother's salary be calculated?"

  "Hmm, that's more like it. The little brother's salary will be calculated according to the management personnel's salary, 25 yuan per day. Regardless of wind or rain, there is a salary. The salary for doing things on the construction site the other day was also calculated this way. It's still all-inclusive, including food and accommodation. Move into the shed next door to live."

  "Alright, alright, let's do it this way."

  Xu Shaojie felt a bit embarrassed, it was Liu Fugui and Song Guangming, also 10 yuan per day, taking such a high salary by himself, isn't it too unrealistic? Of course, if he could get so much salary, all problems would be solved, tuition fees wouldn't need to be sent from home, he could solve it himself.

  "Zhang Ge, Yan Jie, my salary is too high, sorry about that."

  "What's wrong with that? Set the meaning aside, Zhang Ge is the boss, what Zhang Ge says goes, you little brat, don't know how to show gratitude, still being so pretentious."

  "Thank you, Brother Zhang, thank you, Sister Yan."

  Zhang Shaocai took out a cup and poured a glass of wine for Yan Yuhuan as well.

  "Little brother, you're a sensible person. I'm not deceiving you, I really want to be friends with you. I've been through a lot of hardships since I left the countryside, and I've suffered from many cold stares. I hold people like you in high esteem - young people who are knowledgeable and ambitious. Your future will definitely be extraordinary. When you make it big, if you remember me, I'll be delighted. If you forget about me, I'll still remember you, and I'll feel proud to have a brother like you."

  Xu Shaojie's expression turned serious, he picked up his wine glass and stood up.

  "Zhang Ge, Yan Jie, I come from an ordinary family background. When I was young, I didn't suffer much and rarely did physical labor. However, I saw some things that make me dare not think about the future. But today, Zhang Ge and Yan Jie's kindness, I will never forget for eternity. As long as I have a day of success, I will definitely repay you."

  Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan both stood up, and the three of them drank in one gulp.

  "Xiao Jie, now that we've had a drink together, from now on we're like siblings. Your difficulties are my difficulties. If you need anything, I'll support you even if it means selling all my belongings. People say that it's hard to find true friendship in this world, but I don't think so. I believe there is still genuine affection between people. I trust you. For your university expenses, I'll take care of everything. Don't decline, declining would be looking down on me. If you encounter any trouble at school, just look for me. I'm a rough and straightforward person, not afraid of those complicated things. Once I've made up my mind about something, I won't regret it."

  The drinking that followed was really intense, Xu Shaojie and Zhang Shaocai started to drink seriously, Yan Yuhuan could also drink, the three of them chatted and laughed until late at night.

  Xu Shaojie was really drunk this time, it was his first time getting drunk from childhood to adulthood.

  The sense of loss in the wind will slowly spread, hoping readers will give their full support.