Zhao Donglai felt a bit nervous seeing Zhong Dafa standing at his doorstep.
After all, this was the man who managed over six hundred employees at his factory, and normally, he wouldn't even have a chance to speak to Zhong Dafa.
"Old Zhao, my brat was being foolish. I'll deal with him when we get back. Don't mind him."
Zhong Dafa glanced at Zhao Donglai. There weren't that many people in the factory, and he recognized most of them. There were few Level 4 workers, and he basically knew all their names.
"Director Zhong, what are you saying? Children speak without thinking. Please don't lay a hand on him. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Names are just for people to call, aren't they?"
Zhao Donglai quickly interjected. He wouldn't dare let the factory director beat his son. If word got out, people would think his son had joined the food factory and didn't even respect the director.
"I don't care, I want the pheasant feather shuttlecock!"
Just then, Zhong Xiaoming, who was being held, heard Zhao Donglai speak up for him and got even more worked up.
"You little rascal, I think you're asking for a beating. I'll whip you to death."
Zhong Dafa said this as he started to unbuckle his belt, clearly angered.
"Director Zhong, please calm down."
"Student Zhong, I didn't lie to you. I'm here to visit relatives today and didn't bring any pheasant feather shuttlecocks. How about this? Later, my elder uncle-in-law can come back with me to get one."
"I'll give you two. Consider it my apology."
Chen Yang acted swiftly. Zhong Dafa seemed to have a fiery temper, and he was about to hit the child. After all, this incident was caused by Zhong Xiaoming. He couldn't let Zhao Donglai suffer because of it.
It was perfectly acceptable for a father to discipline his son, but for an outsider to cause the father to hit his son, that was a different matter.
Crucially, Zhong Dafa was the director of the fertilizer factory, Zhao Donglai's boss. Chen Yang didn't dare to be negligent.
"You said it. You can't go back on your word. Later, I'll come to Zhao Dong..."
Before Zhong Xiaoming could finish the words "Zhao Donglai," he felt a killing intent emanating from his father who was holding him. He quickly changed his words.
"I'll come to Uncle Zhao's house to get it!"
Seeing Zhong Dafa's reaction, Chen Yang silently praised him. Although his son was a brat, the father was at least reasonable.
Regardless of whether he was doing it for show or not, at least outwardly, even as the director, he gave Zhao Donglai, an ordinary worker, some face.
"How much is that pheasant feather shuttlecock? I'll pay."
Zhong Dafa didn't know why his brat was so insistent on a shuttlecock, but since someone offered to send it over specially, he felt it would be wrong to take it for free.
"Director Zhong, you jest. The shuttlecock is just made with a few pheasant feathers I plucked. How can I accept money from you?"
"Don't hold onto the child anymore. Later, when my elder uncle-in-law brings it back, he can send it to you. It's a small matter."
Chen Yang waved his hand. He wasn't lacking a few dimes and cents now, so there was no need to ask a factory director for such a small amount of money. It was better to do Zhao Donglai a favor.
"Alright. I'll go back and deal with this little rascal. He keeps showing off in the courtyard using my name. If I don't discipline him now, he'll become completely lawless."
"Old Zhao, I'll trouble you to make a trip later."
Zhong Dafa didn't dwell on it. It was just two shuttlecocks, not a big deal.
However, judging by his demeanor, Zhong Xiaoming was in for a good beating.
"Uncle Zhao, remember to send it to me! I need it tomorrow to slap Jia Pangzi in the face. Two shuttlecocks, and I'll throw them in his face."
Zhong Xiaoming, still being held by Zhong Dafa, wasn't afraid of the beating that was coming. Even as he was being carried away, he loudly reminded Zhao Donglai not to forget to send him the shuttlecocks.
"You little brat, who are you going to slap?"
"Who is your father?"
"I'll beat you to death, you little rascal!"
Before they had gone far, Chen Yang and the others could hear the sound of a belt whipping buttocks and Zhong Xiaoming's heart-wrenching cries.
It was truly heartbreaking to hear.
Chen Yang's mouth twitched. This brat deserved the beating. He knew his father was angry, yet he kept provoking him.
If he didn't get beaten, it would be against natural justice.
"Elder Uncle-in-law, when we get back, I'll pick out a few of the best shuttlecocks to give you. Later, you can bring two bottles of wine. I think Director Zhong's anger might not have subsided yet. You can have a drink with him."
Chen Yang turned and said to Zhao Donglai, who was still in a daze. Hearing his words, Zhao Donglai's eyebrows twitched.
He wasn't stupid. He knew Chen Yang was giving him an opportunity to get closer to his leader.
Chen Yang's earlier words weren't just casual talk. Zhong Xiaoming wanted to come and get the shuttlecocks, but Chen Yang asked Zhao Donglai to send them. When Director Zhong wanted to pay, Chen Yang refused.
It was all planned step by step, which led to Director Zhong agreeing to have Zhao Donglai send them over.
If it weren't for Chen Yang's young face, Zhao Donglai would have thought he was looking at an old hand who had worked in offices for decades.
Even he, standing from Chen Yang's perspective, might not have been able to handle it as well.
"If I hadn't met you during the wedding and known you were my niece's husband, I would have thought you were a successor groomed by some leader. You speak so well."
"Yang, thank you for this, nephew-in-law."
Xie Donglai was over forty years old and had been a worker in the workshop. He was now a Level 4 worker. According to his years of service and seniority, the next step for him could have been to become a workshop director.
However, he didn't have any backing in the factory, so he remained an ordinary employee. There were quite a few older employees in the fertilizer factory in similar situations.
After all, the fertilizer factory had over six hundred people, with only eight workshops in total. There were many people who wanted to become workshop directors, but only a few positions were available.
Although it was just sending two shuttlecocks to the leader's house, Zhao Donglai at least had an opportunity to interact with Director Zhong Dafa.
"Nephew-in-law, we're family, no need for formalities. Besides, it's just two shuttlecocks, what is there to thank me for?"
"Over the years, you and my aunt have helped me a lot. If you thank me for this small matter, how should I thank you?"
Chen Yang smiled faintly. Hearing his words, Xie Donglai looked upon Chen Yang even more favorably.
His nephew-in-law was truly good at handling things. The words he spoke were comforting to hear, something ordinary people wouldn't even think of.
"You old fool, you're letting my brother and nephew-in-law stand outside in the cold, and you're not inviting them in quickly? You're so thoughtless."
Just then, Shen Xue's aunt, Shen Xiaoxia, also came out. They say nieces resemble their aunts, and it was true that Shen Xiaoxia and Shen Xue had a slight resemblance.
Chen Yang could see that this elder aunt was a beautiful young woman in her youth, otherwise, she wouldn't have married an urban man with a rural household registration.
"Little sister, we were the ones who were delayed. Donglai already invited us in. Don't blame him."
Shen Futang and Shen Guangfu quickly spoke up. Their brother-in-law was a good man, they couldn't let him be wronged.
"Brother, don't talk about him. Hurry inside. Wukang, come quickly and greet your uncle. Both your elder and second uncle are here to congratulate you!"
Although Shen Xiaoxia bore a slight resemblance to Shen Xue in appearance, their personalities were completely different. She was clearly a straightforward and warm-hearted person.