Chapter 61: The Change in Status Seen from Going to the Toilet!

The next day.

Li Xiangdong’s eyes shot open. He looked at Zhou Yuqin, who was tidying up the room, and asked, “What time is it?”

Zhou Yuqin smiled and asked, “It’s 7 o’clock. I was just about to wake you. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Li Xiangdong shook his head.

Yesterday, Father Li was in a bad mood, so under the pretext of celebrating for him, he cut a plate of pickled radishes after dinner and insisted on drinking with his three sons until they were all dead drunk.

Li Xiangdong asked, “Where are the children?”

Zhou Yuqin smiled, “They’re all in Eldest Sister-in-law’s room. Our daughter used to not let anyone else hold her, but now she wants to find her sisters to play with as soon as she wakes up.”

“Mmm, the sisters Xiaomei and Xiaolan are meticulous and have good temperaments. Xiaoqi definitely likes to be with them.”

Li Xiangdong nodded, got off the kang, and threw on the clothes beside him.

Today was his first official day of work, so he had to go early. In the future, when he became an old hand, he could clock in right on time with a clear conscience.

Holding a few sheets of coarse paper, Li Xiangdong dashed out.

There was one bad thing about living in an alley: you had to time your morning trip to the toilet.

Li Xiangdong jogged towards the public toilet. From a distance, he could see seven or eight young men about his age already queuing outside the men’s room.

The elderly usually woke up earlier. At this time, most of the people coming to the toilet were young people who liked to sleep in.

Some of them were clutching their crotches, some were stomping their feet, and some had chamber pots by their feet, but it didn’t stop them from smoking and chatting.

Seeing this scene, Li Xiangdong knew he was late. He slowed his pace and started to walk slowly forward.

The people queuing outside the men’s toilet saw Li Xiangdong in his railway uniform and greeted him one after another.

“Dongzi, here to use the toilet?”

“Morning, Brother Dong.”

“Brother Dong, are you in a hurry? Don’t be late for work.”

Whoa~

They’re even calling me “Brother”…

Faced with the suddenly enthusiastic crowd, Li Xiangdong didn’t react for a moment. He smiled and responded, his heart pounding.

He used to be a nobody in the alley. People would at most nod at him when they saw him. When had they ever been so enthusiastic?

And they weren’t at all curious about Li Xiangdong getting a job in the railway system.

It seemed that Mother Li’s showing off everywhere yesterday had played a big role!

Indeed, a good job could raise one’s social status.

At this moment, the burly young man at the front of the line walked over, pulled Li Xiangdong, who was about to go to the back of the line, and said, “Brother Dong, you stand in front of me.”

Faced with the man’s large and sturdy build, Li Xiangdong couldn’t resist, nor did he really want to. He just felt a little unaccustomed to it.

“Huaizi, it’s not right for me to stand in front of you, is it? Everyone is queuing. What does this make me look like?”

Huaizi said nonchalantly, “What’s the big deal?”

He turned to the few people behind him and asked, “Brothers, do you have any objections to Brother Dong standing in front of me?”

“No objection, I’m not in a hurry.”

“I’m not in a hurry either.”

“It won’t make a difference. Dongzi, go ahead.”

Li Xiangdong smiled and thanked them, “Thank you, everyone. It’s my first official day of work, and I’m indeed a bit anxious right now.”

Although he had only moved forward a few steps, how did he feel his status had risen again?

Standing in the first position, Li Xiangdong took the cigarette Huaizi handed him. It was a harsh “Shengchan” brand. Although he didn’t really want to smoke it, he couldn’t refuse Huaizi’s kind gesture.

Mainly because he had forgotten to bring cigarettes when he left in a hurry. He would need it to combat the smell in the toilet later.

“Someone’s coming out. Brother Dong, let me light it for you.”

Li Xiangdong took a drag, and as soon as he entered the toilet, he held the cigarette under his nose.

Pants down, a moment of leisure.

Apart from the strong smell and the abundance of flies and mosquitoes, this was the place that could most relax one’s mind.

Coming out of the toilet.

Li Xiangdong smiled and greeted the last few people still in line.

He hurried home, washed up, and ate.

Back in the west wing, he put his patch-free clothes into the cloth bag and carried the rain boots he had worn back yesterday.

Everyone in the family knew that it was Li Xiangdong’s first day following the train and that he was going to Tianjin, so they all came out to see him off.

“Everyone go back, no need to see me off.”

Li Xiangdong bent down and stroked Li Xiaohai’s head, then walked to Zhou Yuqin’s side, kissed the daughter in her arms, and then said to his wife, “I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon. You and the children be good at home.”

Old Man Li urged, “Dongzi, be careful when you’re out on your own.”

Old Lady Li said, “Make sure to eat well and sleep well.”

“I know, Grandpa, Grandma.”

Li Xiangdong looked at the crowd at the door and smiled, “A thousand-mile farewell must eventually come to an end. Everyone go back. I will definitely hold Hill 9527!”

He turned and left after speaking.

Old Lady Li looked at her grandson’s back and asked doubtfully, “Old man, what did Dongzi just say?”

Old Man Li didn’t speak, just shook his head and smiled.

Mother Li saw her eldest and second sons’ families all smiling, especially her three grandsons, who were giggling.

She said angrily, “I came to see you off without even washing the pot or the dishes, and you can’t even speak properly. You little bastard, you need a good beating!”

Father Li said with a dark face, “No hair on his lip, just spouting nonsense.”

Li Xiangdong, who hadn’t gone far, heard his parents cursing him and quickened his pace.

Hmph~

If he hadn’t seen his grandmother’s eyes turning red and tears about to fall, would he have said those witty words?

Without stopping along the way, Li Xiangdong pushed open the office door and saw a middle-aged man sitting at the desk, calmly drinking tea and reading the newspaper.

The middle-aged man saw Li Xiangdong come in, put down the newspaper, and asked with a smile, “You must be the new member of our group, Comrade Li Xiangdong, Li Dalaba (Big Loudspeaker)?”

“Uh… that’s me. How should I address you?”

Li Xiangdong’s mind was still processing “Li Dalaba.” He put down the rain boots in his hand, walked over, and extended his hand.

“Wang Dahai.”

Wang Dahai stood up and shook his hand.

Li Xiangdong smiled, “Hello, Uncle Wang. You can just call me Dongzi.”

Wang Dahai waved his hand and said, “Dongzi, call me Uncle Hai. I’m not the only one with the surname Wang in our group. Don’t end up giving us a ‘Big and Little Wang’ situation.”

Li Xiangdong readily agreed, “As you wish. I’ll call you Uncle Hai from now on.”

Wang Dahai nodded and looked at his watch, “Dongzi, you’re quite early.”

“It’s my first official day of work, I want to leave a good impression on the leaders. Uncle Hai, you rest. I’ll go put my things away.”

Li Xiangdong picked up the rain boots, walked to his locker, and put them inside.

Uncle Hai saw Li Xiangdong carrying a kettle to pour water and asked, “Dongzi, do you drink tea? Uncle Hai has good tea here. Have you ever had pre-Qingming Longjing? Want to try some?”

To be able to drink pre-Qingming Longjing, it seems Uncle Hai is a capable person.

“Thank you, Uncle Hai. Then I’ll try your good tea.”

Li Xiangdong stopped what he was doing and walked over with his tea mug.

The Tieguanyin he had taken from Hou Jianshe’s office had been split three ways last night.

Old Man Li got seven parts, Father Li got three, and not even the tea dregs were left for him.