Courtyard Houses: Starting with the principle of hard work paying off

Chapter 250 The Clash at the Drinking Party: Xu Fugui's True Intentions

Li Hongbing's words reminded Sha Zhu that the next event he was to attend was Xu Damao's apology banquet.

Regardless of what happened before, now that he has accepted Xu Fugui's request for reconciliation and agreed to resolve the past grievances with Xu Damao, he is no longer in a position to say those things just now, otherwise he would be seen as someone who deliberately stirs up trouble.

If any unpleasant things happen later, it will be others finding fault with him.

Sha Zhu wasn't ignorant of these things; he was just too complacent, and coupled with years of habit and his "special feelings" for Xu Damao, that's why he acted this way.

to be frank.

If Li Hongbing hadn't reminded us earlier, and things had continued like this after everything was served, it would have caused a lot of trouble.

That's why Sha Zhu was so grateful to Li Hongbing.

"Come, come, Hongbing, Shazhu, please come in."

As Li Hongbing and Sha Zhu arrived from the Intermediate People's Court, Xu Fugui, who had been waiting at the entrance with Xu Damao, hurriedly greeted them.

"Uncle Xu, you're too kind of you to personally greet me here."

Sha Zhu was quite pleased with this level of welcome and couldn't help but speak up.

Upon hearing Sha Zhu's words, Xu Damao, who was standing to the side, curled his lips and was about to make a comment when Xu Fugui stopped him with a look.

Swallowing back his complaints, Xu Damao completely ignored Sha Zhu and instead warmly greeted Li Hongbing, who was standing to the side, saying, "Hongbing, please come in. We've prepared some good wine and food, just waiting for you!"

Seeing this, Sha Zhu wasn't angry at all, and happily followed them inside.

Just as Li Hongbing and Shazhu were being invited to sit down by Xu Damao and his son Xu Fugui, Tao Cuilan brought over a plate of freshly cooked scrambled eggs and said with a smile, "The last dish, scrambled eggs, is ready."

After placing the plate of scrambled eggs on the table, Tao Cuilan said somewhat apologetically to Li Hongbing, "Hongbing, my cooking skills are just average. My dishes can't compare to those of a master chef like you. Please make do with them and don't be too critical..."

"Aunt Tao, you're too kind."

Upon hearing this, Li Hongbing quickly said, "Your skills are already quite good. Restaurants have their own way of cooking, and home cooking has its own flavor. Don't underestimate yourself."

Moreover, your dishes, with fish, chicken, and braised pork, look so appetizing; it's clear you put a lot of thought and effort into them."

"Oh, really?"

Li Hongbing's words sounded like heavenly music to Tao Cuilan, and her face lit up with a bright smile.

It's one thing if others say these things, but who is Li Hongbing? Tao Cuilan was extremely proud to receive his affirmation.

She was genuinely worried.

After all, Tao Cuilan knew very well that her cooking skills were not even as good as Sha Zhu's, let alone Li Hongbing's, and she was very afraid that her cooking would not satisfy Li Hongbing.

Seeing his wife's excited expression, as if she wanted to ask Li Hongbing for cooking tips in person again, Xu Fugui frowned and couldn't help but say, "Don't you know your own limitations?"

Hongbing was just being polite, giving you and our family face. Did you really take it seriously?

"Uncle Xu, you can't say that."

Seeing this, Li Hongbing retorted, "After all, Aunt Tao isn't a professional chef. To have this level of cooking skills is truly impressive. I wasn't just saying nice things to make Aunt Tao happy."

Li Hongbing said these things not entirely to flatter or give face to the host.

Tao Cuilan was, after all, an amateur, so Li Hongbing naturally couldn't judge her skills and level by professional standards.

For an average person, Tao Cuilan's dishes are indeed not bad.

Moreover, this meal, though not as extravagant as Sha Zhu's roe deer feast a few days ago, was still quite lavish and thoughtfully prepared for this era. Li Hongbing would certainly not be so tactless as to undermine the meal or nitpick at this time.

Doing that isn't a matter of emotional intelligence; it's a complete lack of basic manners.

"Look at how eloquent Hongbing is."

Tao Cuilan was indeed a little annoyed and taken aback when Xu Fugui spoke, but as Li Hongbing took the initiative to offer a way out and affirm her, Tao Cuilan's mood improved, and she immediately confronted Xu Fugui head-on.

However, after saying that, Tao Cuilan also said tactfully, "The dishes are all served. You guys eat and drink to your heart's content. If you need more dishes, just call me. I won't disturb your drinking."

As a "woman of virtue," Tao Cuilan naturally wouldn't be at the table for tonight's banquet; her job was to cook and serve the food.

Not only Xu Fugui and Tao Cuilan themselves, but even their son Xu Damao didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

Faced with this situation, Li Hongbing did not say anything, nor did he make any attempt to ask Xu Fugui to keep Tao Cuilan in order to show respect for gender equality.

Even if we do this, they will still be the same as before, so it doesn't matter.

Li Hongbing was self-aware and never had any idea of ​​changing this era, nor did he like to do such superfluous things.

“Hongbing, thank you for agreeing to be a witness today. On behalf of the Xu family, I would like to raise a glass to you.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Xu Fugui invited Li Hongbing and Shazhu to eat a few bites of food, then took the initiative to raise his full wine glass and toast Li Hongbing.

"Uncle Xu, you're too kind."

Although Li Hongbing wasn't initially interested in being a witness, he couldn't refuse Xu Damao's two warm invitations.

Since you're already here, there's no need to put on a grumpy face and make yourself and everyone else unhappy.

As Li Hongbing raised his glass and downed it in one gulp, Xu Fugui unconsciously smiled and also emptied his glass.

After refilling his glass, Xu Fugui changed direction this time and toasted Sha Zhu, saying, "Sha Zhu, you and Da Mao had a lot of conflicts in the past. Regardless of who was right or wrong, it's all in the past."

I invited you here today because you know what I mean. I hope that after we finish this drink, all the grudges between you and my son Da Mao can be wiped clean, and that you two will no longer have any conflicts or deliberately target each other.

This glass of wine, Uncle Xu, is a toast to you!

After saying this, Xu Fugui tilted his head back and downed the glass of wine in one gulp, then turned the glass upside down to show Sha Zhu, proving his "sincerity".

Seeing this, Sha Zhu naturally felt respected, and immediately stood up with his wine glass in hand, saying to Xu Fugui, "Uncle Xu, although Xu Damao often took the lead in the past, I also had my faults."

"For your sake today, I promise you that as long as Xu Damao doesn't cause me any more trouble, I won't bully him either."

No idea.

As soon as Sha Zhu said this, Xu Damao, who was standing next to him, was displeased and directly questioned, "Sha Zhu, what you're saying... who's bullying who?" The way Sha Zhu just said it made it seem like he was no match for Sha Zhu at all, and that he had only set up this drinking party because he couldn't beat him.

Seeking peace does not equate to surrender; both sides are equal.

Xu Damao naturally lost face after Sha Zhu said those things, especially with Li Hongbing present.

"Da Mao, sit down!"

The atmosphere was fine until Xu Damao opened his mouth and completely ruined it. Xu Fugui said irritably, "Have you forgotten why we're having this apology dinner today?"

This whole thing was your fault, how dare you yell at me? Why don't you personally offer a toast and apologize to Sha Zhu?

As soon as Xu Fugui spoke, Xu Damao's momentum weakened. Somewhat hesitantly and dejectedly picked up his wine glass and said to Shazhu, "Shazhu, I'm sorry about what happened before. I apologize to you."

Even though he felt ashamed, Xu Damao had no choice but to comply when Xu Fugui asked.

Only then did Xu Damao realize that he was indeed in the wrong regarding what had happened a couple of days ago.

same.

Sha Zhu also remembered Li Hongbing's reminder before he came to the door, so he put on a smile and said in a very "generous" manner: "It's okay, it's all in the past. I, Sha Zhu, am not a petty or vengeful person."

"Alright, alright, finish this drink, and let bygones be bygones. Neither of you can bring up the past, nor can you cause trouble for the other."

Seeing Xu Damao bowing his head and expressing his stance to Shazhu, the atmosphere eased. Xu Fugui smiled again and began to guide and control the situation, saying, "Shazhu, Damao, you are neighbors in the same courtyard and have been playmates since childhood."

When you were younger, you were immature at times, and it's normal to have some conflicts and friction. But in the end, there's no hatred between you that can't be eliminated, so there's no need to keep fighting.

Now that you've all grown up and have jobs, and will each get married and have children, you'll be living in this compound for the rest of your lives. It's always better to have more friends than more enemies..."

Today's apology dinner, although it was a condition offered a couple of days ago in order to win an alliance with Sha Zhu to deal with Jia Dongxu, was also Xu Fugui's genuine desire for his son and Sha Zhu to reconcile.

Sha Zhu is not someone to be trifled with; Xu Damao alone might not be a match for him.

The issue is.

In Xu Fugui's view, even if Xu Damao wins the fight against Shazhu, it won't bring him any real benefit.

What is the point of such a struggle?
Although He Daqing has already been imprisoned, Sha Zhu, his master, and his fellow disciples are not so easy to bully.

More importantly.

Xu Damao is now well past the age of going on blind dates and finding a partner, even later than most people. If he delays any longer, he might not be able to find a wife at all.

In Xu Fugui's view, the most important thing now is to find a wife for Xu Damao and complete the task of continuing the Xu family line.

Over the past few years, Xu Damao has made things difficult for Shazhu in finding a partner, and he is even one of the main culprits.

It is no coincidence.

Sha Zhu has done something similar.

When they were at the steel rolling mill and in the yard, Sha Zhu often spoke ill of Xu Damao.

Xu Damao's reputation isn't very good these days. Although a large part of this is due to Xu Damao's own actions, Sha Zhu's help in "publicity" is also indispensable.

If Xu Damao continues to entangle with Sha Zhu and target each other like this, and Sha Zhu tries anything funny or causes trouble, it will be enough to give them a headache.

Simultaneously.

Taking this opportunity, Xu Fugui also wanted Xu Damao to settle down and stop thinking about messing with Shazhu. He should focus more on his own marriage, which would be the right path.

“Hongbing, I need you to be a witness to what happened today. If my son Damao does anything wrong in the future, please tell him and help educate him.”

As Xu Damao and Shazhu made up over drinks, Xu Fugui picked up his full glass of wine again and said to Li Hongbing, "If Damao and Shazhu ever have any problems in the future, I'd appreciate it if you could step in and mediate and say a few fair words."

Today, Xu Fugui specially asked Xu Damao to come and be a witness, not only to have more contact with Li Hongbing and get closer to him, but also to have him keep a close eye on Shazhu and Xu Damao in the future, so as to avoid and ease the conflict between them as much as possible.

Despite being around the same age as Sha Zhu and Xu Damao, Li Hongbing is a special case in the courtyard house.

Not only was Sha Zhu completely convinced of his abilities, but even Xu Damao, who was equally proud and arrogant, dared not be presumptuous in front of Li Hongbing.

Even the two senior administrators, Yan Bugui and Du Jianguo, couldn't do that.

Even as his own father, Xu Damao sometimes felt resentful. Most of the time, when he was suppressed by bloodline, he would only outwardly comply but inwardly disagree.

"Uncle Xu, I'm flattered by what you've said."

Li Hongbing understood Xu Fugui's meaning and realized his intention in asking him to be a witness. He then said, "If anything happens in the future, there are still Uncle Yan and Uncle Du, the two caretakers of the courtyard!"
Today I will bear witness that Da Mao and Sha Zhu have officially shaken hands and made peace. If either of them causes trouble for the other without reason, then that person is in the wrong.

As for mediation, it's not my place to do that, but I believe Da Mao and Sha Zhu are both people of their word, and I hope they can get along well in the future and create a harmonious and loving courtyard together.

Li Hongbing had no problem bearing witness to what happened today, but he had no intention of becoming a "nanny" for Sha Zhu and Xu Damao.

If Sha Zhu and Xu Damao fight again in the future, then it's none of his business.

Even when they do intervene, they only address the specific issue at hand.

But honestly, if Sha Zhu and Xu Damao can really put aside their differences and stop messing with each other after this apology drink, it wouldn't be a bad thing for the atmosphere and spirit of the entire courtyard.

Xu Fugui, who also understood what Li Hongbing was saying, gave a helpless bitter smile and assured him, "Hongbing, don't worry about that. I will keep a close eye on Da Mao and prevent him from causing trouble again."

In fact, Xu Fugui knew that his thoughts and requests were somewhat overstepping boundaries, so it was normal for Li Hongbing not to agree.

Honestly, if Xu Damao and Shazhu were to fight again, Xu Fugui would be content as long as Li Hongbing didn't side with Shazhu.

The main reason for this concern is that He Daqing's relationship and connections with Sha Zhu's master Dong Congyou and Li Hongbing are much closer than his own with Li Hongbing. After all, they are all in the same industry circle, and He Daqing and Dong Congyou have also met and had some acquaintance with Li Hongbing's master.

on the other hand.

Because Li Hongbing had done a favor for Sha Zhu and his sister, Sha Zhu treated him differently from the others in the courtyard, often trying to get close to him.

Even if it's Li Hongbing who has done a favor for Sha Zhu, rather than Sha Zhu doing a favor for Li Hongbing, it's still a way to deepen their connection.

In this respect, Xu Damao is clearly far behind.

(End of this chapter)