The train driver in the courtyard

The sun sets and a gentle breeze blows.

Today is a rare sunny day since the beginning of winter, and the capital is much warmer than yesterday.

The wind is no longer so biting, but has a hint of gentleness.

At the end of the working day, the road was crowded with many workers leaving get off work.

Bicycles in twos and threes flashed by with a clanging sound.

People walking by saw the shiny bicycles with envy in their eyes.

Xu Damao met Li Aiguo at the gate and walked into the courtyard while talking.

"Aiguo, the New Year is coming soon. I want to buy some bananas for the children. I heard you have connections." Xu Damao said with a wink.

"How much do you want?" Li Aiguo stopped.

"Not much, maybe ten pounds."

"Ten pounds." Li Aiguo looked Xu Damao up and down with a puzzled look on his face.

After this guy married Liu Lan, he was very kind to Hailong and Haitao at first and almost treated the two children as his own sons.

But as time went by, Xu Damao seemed to have awakened a little and usually ignored his two children.

How could I possibly afford to buy so many bananas for the children? I’m afraid they will have to give them as gifts to the leaders’ homes at the end of the year.
Feeling Li Aiguo's gaze, Xu Damao felt inexplicably guilty. Just as he was about to explain, Li Aiguo spoke.

"Okay, I'll ask my friend to put the bananas in the usual place, and you just put the money there in advance."

When Xu Damao saw that Li Aiguo did not pursue the matter, he suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and thanked him repeatedly.

"Patriotic brother, you are really nice."

"You're welcome, Brother Damao. We are neighbors. If I don't help you, who else can I help?"

The two of them walked towards the courtyard while chatting.

"Aiguo, are you off work?" Yan Bugui asked with a smile while standing at the door.

"I went to the countryside. There was nothing else to do today, so I came back early." Li Aiguo said with a smile.

Yan Bugui nodded and said, "I heard that you like flowers very much. I just gave you two pots of chrysanthemums. They are very beautiful. If you want, I will go and buy a flower pot and send it to your home."

"I'm afraid I can't take good care of them. It's troublesome to take care of flowers and plants." Li Aiguo said hesitantly.

"That's easy. Just put the flower pots under the eaves and I'll help you tidy them up when I'm free."

"Oh, thank you so much, Uncle." Li Aiguo nodded.

The third uncle was feeling guilty and was afraid that the news of his arrest would be leaked.

"Haha, you're welcome. Neighbors should help each other." The third uncle said with a smile.

The two were chatting here, and Xu Damao was watching on the side in amazement.

The third uncle was the kind of person who would even pull out a filament from a white paper light bulb, and would consider it lost if he didn't pick up money when walking on the sidewalk. Yet, he was willing to give the chrysanthemums to Li Aiguo.

What happened to this world?
Li Aiguo exchanged a few words with the third uncle and pushed his bicycle towards the central courtyard.

At this time, Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai were queuing up to fetch water by the pool.

When they saw Li Aiguo walk in, they were stunned for a moment. Yi Zhonghai looked at Liu Haizhong, and Liu Haizhong looked at Yi Zhonghai, and their eyes were rolling around.

Liu Haizhong was the first to put down the bucket and walked over, greeting Li Aiguo with a smile: "Aiguo, you're back. Is your family short of water? I'll carry it for you."

"No need, Uncle Er, you forgot, I have a water pipe at home."

Yi Zhonghai saw that Liu Haizhong had taken the lead, and worried that he would be discovered, so he quickly followed: "Aiguo, don't cook tonight. My relatives in the countryside sent some fresh sweet potatoes. Come to my house to eat sweet potato porridge tonight."

"You're welcome. Xueru should have prepared dinner by now."

Li Aiguo greeted the two managers indifferently.

Jia Dongxu was squatting not far away playing in the mud with his son Banggen. When he saw this scene, tears almost burst out of his eyes.

He turned around and ran into the house, looking at Jia Zhang and said, "Mother, the eldest uncle likes Li Aiguo, and he doesn't like me anymore."

"What the hell?" Jia Zhang's eyes widened in shock, "They are having a homosexual relationship?"

"That's not the case." Jia Dongxu realized that his words were ambiguous and quickly recounted what had just happened.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhang's face turned as black as ink, and her triangular eyes squinted: "This damn Li Aiguo is so abominable. Not only did he demolish our house twice, but now he has also taken your master away. I, an old woman, will never let him off."

Qin Huairu frowned and asked in confusion: "This shouldn't be the case. Yi Zhonghai and Li Aiguo are big enemies. Why would he take the initiative to greet Li Aiguo and invite him to his home for dinner?"

Jia Dongxu was furious: "And Liu Haizhong, he wanted to fetch water for Li Aiguo! We have such a good relationship, but Liu Haizhong has never fetched water for our family."

Qin Huairu's eyes widened and her mouth could no longer close.

Now the uncles one and two in the compound have started to build relationships with Li Aiguo. How did he do it?
Now Jia Dongxu and Yi Zhonghai have fallen out, and he is not liked by other residents in the compound.

Compared with the two, one is in heaven and the other is underground.

Qin Huairu regretted it
After Xu Damao returned home, he sat in a chair, smoking and squinting his eyes.

Liu Lan was alone helping the children with their homework. No matter what era it was, this was a difficult job.

"Hailong, how come you got 91 points in this exam again? I remember you got 91 points in the last two exams."

".Maybe it's because my grades are stable."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao stood up and walked over, took the test paper, flipped through it, and frowned.

"You didn't get a single question right on the entire test. If you were given one point, it would be fine. There's no way you could get 91 points."

Liu Lan took a closer look and realized that the "9" was obviously drawn by the child with a red pen.

"Hailong, you only got 1 point. And that was for several times."

".Maybe it's because my grades are stable." Hailong raised his little face and said, "The teacher also praised me?"

"??"

“The teacher praised me for my potential for improvement.”

"."

Xu Damao almost laughed out loud: "Good boy, you are a talented person."

Liu Lan was furious at this time. She pointed at Xu Damao's nose and said, "Is it because Hailong is not your biological child that you don't care about his studies?!"

Xu Damao: "."

Last time, he beat Hailong up because Hailong was causing trouble, but Liu Lan felt that he was reluctant to do it because he was not his biological father.

Being a stepfather is so difficult.

In the past, Xu Damao would have definitely had a good argument with Liu Lan.

But he had something on his mind today and couldn't care less about these things.

Xu Damao asked Haitao to take Hailong out to play, pulled Liu Lan, asked her to sit on a chair, and then told her what he had seen today.

"I am increasingly confused about this compound. The third uncle is such a stingy person, but he actually gave Li Aiguo flowers. The first and second uncles are Li Aiguo's old enemies, but now they are actively showing goodwill."

"You are stupid, these things have nothing to do with you, you just need to learn from Li Aiguo.

By the way, when will you bring back the two bananas you promised Hailong and Haitao? "

"Hey, if you hadn't told me I would have almost forgotten. I'll go now."

It was already dark.

Xu Damao took out a handful of money and rolled it in an old newspaper. He sneaked to a big tree at the end of the alley and stuffed the old newspaper into the tree hole.

Then he trotted all the way to a big tree at the entrance of the alley, reached in and felt around, and took out two bunches of bananas.

"Aiguo is really cautious, worried that I would betray him. Am I that kind of person?"

Xu Damao put the banana in his arms, stood up and laughed, "Don't tell me, if it weren't for this, I would really like to take this opportunity to blackmail him!"

Zhang Da Kui, who was hiding in the dark, heard Xu Damao's mumbling and curled his lips.

The patriotic brothers had long anticipated that you were the kind of person who was two-faced, so they took double insurance.

The first level is not to trade directly with Xu Damao.

Even if Xu Damao was arrested, there was no way to implicate Li Aiguo.

The second level was when Zhang Da Kui touched the earth sprayer on his waist.

This thing was brought from the countryside. The bullets and gunpowder are homemade and there is absolutely no way they can be detected.

After Xu Damao's figure left, Zhang Da Kui waited for a long time before walking out of the darkness, taking out the newspaper from the tree hole and putting it in his pocket.

Go home and open the newspaper.

Zhang Dagui counted the money and said with a sigh: "No wonder Brother Aiguo likes to do business with Xu Damao, the profit is twice as much.

Xu Damao is just a small projectionist, but I never expected that he is so rich."

The next morning.

Li Aiguo woke up early in the morning, and Chen Xueru poured hot water and brought it to him to wash his face.

"Brother Aiguo, you can't drive today, why don't you sleep a little longer?"

"There will be a seminar in the section this morning."

When Chen Xueru learned that Li Aiguo was busy with work, she turned around and went into the kitchen to busy herself.

After a while, a plate of meat buns and a bowl of corn porridge were brought out.

The juice from the meat filling of the buns soaks through the dough, making it tender white with a hint of golden brown, soft and elastic.

The skin is thin, the filling is large, and the meat is rich in flavor.

Li Aiguo took a light bite, and the greasy meat filling instantly filled his mouth with fragrance!

The corn is delicious, and the plump corn kernels are fresh and refreshing.

After eating a bowl, my whole body feels warm.

After eating and drinking, Li Aiguo put on a cloak and an oil-covered hat and rode his bicycle along the street towards the locomotive depot.

The cold wind was howling. Li Aiguo looked up at the dark clouds in the sky and whispered, "I guess there will be a heavy snow."

In the locomotive depot at this time.

Zhu Deqing was holding the arm of Director Zhang of the maintenance workshop and walking towards the meeting room.

"Director, don't worry. I have received an award from the department this time, and I will definitely not forget your contribution."

Zhu Deqing has been in high spirits ever since he invented the [Reminder Device].

Today he was wearing a woolen Zhongshan suit, with hair oil smeared on his middle-parted hair and cold cream on his face. The smell made Director Zhang almost vomit his breakfast.

Director Zhang couldn't help but feel uncomfortable and said with a smile: "Xiao Zhu, what exactly is your [reminder device]? Can you tell me first?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Deqing let go of his arm, tightly covered the canvas bag and said, "Director, it's not that I'm stingy, but I have to be on guard against others. What if you steal my invention?"

"." Director Zhang almost fainted because he couldn't catch his breath.

Driver Li had worked with him so many times and had never worried about his designs being plagiarized, but he even brought it up with an apprentice.

If Director Zhang hadn't thought that Zhu Deqing was a worker in the maintenance workshop, he would have really not bothered to take care of such trivial matters.

"Zhu Deqing, I am a few years older than you and I am still your leader. I just want to check for you to avoid any trouble."

Director Zhang means well.

But in Zhu Deqing's view, the more he explained, the more it proved that he was guilty.

Zhu Deqing is a smart man, and he knows that a man is innocent but guilty of possessing a treasure. He is an apprentice now, and if he makes such an explosive invention, it will definitely be coveted by bad guys.

"Director Zhang, you can't hide your little tricks from me."

"But I will soon be valued by the department and become the next Li Dache, so I won't bother with you now."

Zhu Deqing turned around and ran quickly towards the meeting room.

Looking at his back, Director Zhang pinched his brows: Is this kid's brain broken? Why does he think everyone looks like a bad guy?
But he is so confident, could he really come up with an invention that is more powerful than Li Da Che's?

With doubts in mind, Director Zhang followed Zhu Deqing closely.

The locomotive depot technical seminars are the highlight of this month.

Because train technology is not perfect.

Many technologies were invented by workers in practice.

So this section is to verify these technologies.

A technical seminar was specially convened with the participation of technical masters, train drivers and section leaders.

This can be regarded as the implementation of the principle of coming from labor and returning to labor.

Over the years, many practical technologies have indeed been discovered through technical seminars.

Of course, most of them are just whimsical inventions.

For example, at the last technical seminar, everyone conducted in-depth research on the train rear-view mirror. This was invented by the fireman of train No. 2134.

The end result was that the stoker was advised to continue shoveling coal.

Another example is the windmill wheel installed on the locomotive.

The inventor was a crew member of crew 312.

This device is amazing, it’s definitely black technology.

With a wind-powered mill wheel installed, as long as the train runs on the rails, the fan blades can drive the mill wheel to rotate, thereby generating electric current.

Electric current is then used to heat the furnace, generating steam to drive the steam engine, which in turn drives the train.

The train's movement generates wind power, which generates electricity. The electricity heats water and drives the train, making it a perfect perpetual motion machine.

It’s just that train drivers are all high-level intellectuals.

It only took a moment to suggest that he continue selling instant noodles on the train.

Therefore, every technical seminar is just like watching the fun.

Both the drivers and the leaders are very positive.

When Li Aiguo pushed open the door of the conference room in the cold wind, the large conference room was already full of people.

Li Aiguo immediately spotted Zhu Deqing sitting in the front row, who was saying something loudly.

Seeing Li Aiguo coming in, Zhu Deqing walked over and said with a smile: "Li Dache, I heard that you are in charge of the review today. I hope you can be fair and open. Don't deliberately give me a low score just because I threaten your position."

"Who are you?" Li Aiguo looked Zhu Deqing up and down with a confused look on his face.

"."

Zhu Deqing's face turned red and then pale.

Director Zhang, who was sitting next to them, almost laughed out loud.

Zhu Deqing's behavior may seem reckless and even brainless, but he is actually very shrewd.

He stopped Li Aiguo because he actually wanted to tell everyone in advance that he could pose a threat to Li Aiguo's position.

In this case, no matter how Li Aiguo gives scores later, he will be criticized by the workers.

But I didn't expect that he was a train driver and didn't need to know a junior apprentice at all.

Li Aiguo ruined his plan with just one sentence, and also slapped him in the face.

"I am." Zhu Deqing had never suffered such a great insult in his life. His face turned red and he wanted to introduce his identity.

At this time, Director Xing saw Li Aiguo and waved to him: "Aiguo, sit here."

"Okay, Chief."

When Zhu Deqing saw Li Aiguo walk up to Duanchang Xing and sit in the main seat, he almost fainted from anger.

It's just a few small inventions, what's so great about that?

Once he takes out his [reminder device] later, it will shock the whole audience and the Dragon King will return to his position.

With confidence, Zhu Deqing slowly sat down.

Wait patiently for your own glorious moment.

Soon, the technical master, the train driver, Director She from the Education Office, Deputy Director Huang and Vice Chairman Zhang from the Trade Union all arrived.

When Section Chief Xing saw that most of the people had arrived, he patted the table, waited until the meeting place quieted down, and then said loudly: "Today's technical seminar is about the [reminder device] of Zhu Deqing, an apprentice in the maintenance workshop.

It is said that it can prevent train drivers from falling asleep, it is a good thing."

He looked at Zhu Deqing and said, "Zhu Deqing, come up to the stage and introduce your [Reminder Device] to everyone.

Everyone, please give this apprentice some encouragement."

Amid the applause, Zhu Deqing slowly stood up, his eyes became determined, and he walked onto the stage with unyielding steps.

Looking at the people below the stage, Zhu Deqing felt an irrepressible sense of pride.

He worked hard in the maintenance workshop for several years, endured humiliation, and fought a desperate battle. Finally, he succeeded!

He is about to reach the peak of his life!
He wants the Dragon King to return to his throne.

He wanted everyone to know the name "Zhu Deqing".

Seeing Zhu Deqing standing there without saying a word with his teeth clenched, Duanchang Xing frowned slightly.

Is this person a fool?

"Ahem, Zhu Deqing, everyone is busy with work, so stop nagging."

"Oh, well, now I'll show you what a great invention is!"

Under dozens of gazes, Zhu Deqing opened the canvas bag.

A round object was taken out from it, with two small hammers on it, and an alarm clock with hour and minute hands!

The venue suddenly became quiet. Although the alarm clock was rare, it could not be considered an invention.

Zhu Deqing took the alarm clock in his hand without explaining.

He was waiting for the question.

really.

Director She of the Education Office frowned and said, "Zhu Deqing, this looks like an alarm clock, right?"

Is it finally coming? Look at me slapping you in the face!
Zhu Deqing, the Dragon King, curled his lips, held up the alarm clock and said, "This looks like an alarm clock, but it's not a simple alarm clock."

Director Xing was getting a little impatient and interrupted him: "If you keep talking too much, get out of here right now. There are still several inventions waiting to be reviewed!"

"Ah" Zhu Deqing was pretending to be cool when his spell was interrupted, looking particularly depressed.

But I don't dare to say any more at this time.

He pointed at the alarm clock and quickly introduced it: "This alarm clock is specially designed. It will ring every thirty minutes. As long as it is placed in the train driver's building, I guarantee that the train drivers will not be able to sleep.

As long as the alarm sounds, train drivers must wake up and drive well! "

An alarm clock that goes off every thirty minutes can be made by simply modifying the inside of the alarm clock. No wonder this guy stole the idea and was able to develop it so quickly.

The train drivers and technicians in the audience looked at the alarm clock thoughtfully, and none of them said a word.

Director Xing looked at the alarm clock and felt that it seemed to be somehow related to an article, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

He looked at Li Aiguo and asked, "Driver Li, what do you think of Zhu Deqing's reminder alarm?"

“I only analyse it from a technical perspective.

Thirty minutes is too long to set off an alarm; accidents often happen in an instant.

In addition, if the driver does fall asleep, the alarm clock alone will not be able to wake him up.”

Li Aiguo analyzed the matter based on the facts.

Well, if you dare to stop me, the Dragon King, from returning to my throne, you will be wrathful. Zhu Deqing was anxious: "I can improve it to ten minutes. Then install a needle on the alarm clock.

It’s like a sewing needle. When the train drivers turn off their alarms, they get pricked with it so they perk themselves up.”

"enough!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Deputy Director Huang of the Education Office, who had been frowning all the time, slammed the table and stood up.

He pointed at Zhu Deqing's nose and said righteously: "Using alarm clocks to force workers to work, isn't this the behavior of Zhou Paopi in "The Cock Crows at Midnight"?
We workers have turned the tables, but we are still being oppressed. I think Zhu Deqing has bad intentions. He is Zhu Baopi!"

"The Cock Crows at Midnight" was published two years ago. It caused a warm response as soon as it was published, and later became a must-read book for locomotive depot employees.

The workers in the audience were all startled when they heard what Deputy Director Huang said.

This is going to be a big deal!

Only then did Director Xing remember why he felt that this thing looked familiar. It turned out to be something from the article.

Zhu Deqing had also read "The Cock Crows at Midnight" and was aware of the seriousness of the problem.

He panicked now and quickly explained, "This is an alarm clock, not Zhou Paopi imitating the crowing of a chicken."

But his explanation seemed very weak at this time.

Deputy Director Zhang of the labor union also stood up and pointed at Zhu Deqing and said loudly:

Before liberation, the enemy turned the workers into ghosts. After liberation, we workers finally stood up.

Zhu Deqing, you invented the alarm clock in order to continue to oppress the workers and to be their enemy.

You are trying to destroy the good situation we have built with great difficulty.

I now hope that you can turn back and realize your mistakes.

Otherwise, no one can save you!"

The two cannons opened fire.

The workers below also stood up and denounced Zhu Deqing's actions.

Zhu Deqing became Zhu Baopi.

In the corner, this was not the first time Huang Jing had experienced this kind of scene.

But her face turned pale involuntarily, and her heart was filled with relief.

If driver Li had pushed out the "death pedal" directly at the beginning, he would probably have ended up like this.

But she was more worried about how Driver Li would convince these people to install the death pedal on the train under such circumstances.

The meeting room was filled with deafening condemnation.

Zhu Deqing, who was waiting for the Dragon King to return, suddenly discovered that he had become a bad guy.

He wanted to explain, but facing those serious faces, he was simply unable to do so.

Zhu Deqing looked at Li Aiguo sitting there leisurely, his eyes turned, and suddenly pointed at Li Aiguo and said: "What a misunderstanding, the reminder alarm clock was actually Li Aiguo's idea, he is the one who is guilty, it has nothing to do with me! He is the bad guy."

(End of this chapter)