area51novel Chapter 290: Coercion and bribery of Qin Huairu!
Chapter 290: Coercion and bribery of Qin Huairu!
"Director Xu, everyone in our yard is out of water. Can you think of a solution?" Uncle Li walked over and asked with a try-it attitude.
"You should go to the neighborhood committee for this matter. I'm very busy now and don't have time to deal with these trivial matters." Xu Damao replied without even raising his head.
Uncle Li sighed helplessly and turned to leave. Looking at his departing figure, Xu Damao felt no emotion in his heart.
A few days later, an accident occurred in the steel mill, and a worker was accidentally injured while operating a machine. Xu Damao did not rush to the scene to deal with it immediately, but went to attend an unimportant meeting first. When he rushed to the hospital, the workers were already full of complaints against him.
"Director Xu, you usually ask us to do this and that, but when something really happens you're nowhere to be seen." A worker couldn't help but question.
Xu Damao's face darkened: "I am doing this for the long-term interests of the factory, what do you know!"
But the workers were not convinced and complained. Xu Damao then realized that his prestige had been seriously damaged without him noticing.
In the courtyard, Xu Damao's wife also felt the neighbors' indifference to their family. The usual daily interactions have become much less frequent. She sometimes advises Xu Damao to be more restrained, but Xu Damao always disagrees: "They are just ordinary people who can't stand others doing well and are jealous."
However, Xu Damao did not realize that this attitude would only make him more isolated among the masses. People gradually stopped asking him for help, and even pretended not to see him when he needed help.
One night, Xu Damao suddenly felt unwell, shivering all over, and seemed to be having a high fever. His wife was so anxious that she wanted to ask the neighbors to help take him to the hospital. However, when she opened the door, she found that the courtyard was pitch black, and no house had a light on. The usually bustling neighborhood seemed particularly deserted at this moment.
She walked to Uncle Zhang's door and knocked a few times, but no one answered. She knocked on Aunt Li's door again, but the result was the same. She had to go back home and give Xu Damao some simple treatment herself, but his condition still did not improve.
"You always say they are common people, but this time, you can't even find a common person." She couldn't help but complain.
Xu Damao lay weakly on the bed, with a look of regret on his face: "Maybe I went too far."
The next morning, Xu Damao's wife finally met Uncle Wang who was taking out the garbage in the yard. She hurried forward to ask for help. Uncle Wang saw this and although he was dissatisfied with Xu Damao, he decided to lend a hand. He called a few young people and took Xu Damao to the hospital together.
After the doctor's diagnosis, he said that Xu Damao was overtired and caught a cold, and needed to rest. After returning home, Xu Damao lay in bed for several days. Gradually, he began to reflect on his actions.
Although the neighbors in the courtyard were dissatisfied with him, some were willing to lend a hand when he was sick, which made him feel a little warm and made him realize the friendship between neighbors again.
After recovering from his illness, Xu Damao began to consciously change his attitude. He put aside his superior attitude in the factory, began to care about the actual needs of the workers, and became more approachable at work. In the courtyard, he also took the initiative to greet the neighbors and restored some of the friendships of the past.
Although his change was not immediately accepted by everyone, over time, everyone gradually realized that he was indeed trying to make up for his past mistakes. In the courtyard, the original kindness and warmth seemed to be slowly returning. Although people were still a little wary of Xu Damao, at least they were willing to give him a chance.
Xu Damao knew that it would take more time and effort to win everyone's trust again. He decided to prove himself with practical actions and restore the long-lost harmony and warmth in the courtyard.
Lu Ning walked into the courtyard and fixed his eyes on Qin Huairu who was busy in the courtyard. Qin Huairu felt his gaze and her heart tightened. She looked up at him with a hint of panic and uneasiness in her eyes. She knew that Lu Ning was not someone who could be easily provoked, and she felt something was wrong.
"Qin Huairu, come here for a moment. I have something to tell you." Lu Ning's voice was low and majestic, and he could not be refused.
Qin Huairu reluctantly put down the work in her hands, walked slowly to Lu Ning, and asked in a low voice: "Brother Lu, what's the matter?"
Lu Ning sneered, with a sinister light flashing in his eyes: "Qin Huairu, you know, I came to you today not just to chat casually."
Qin Huairu was shocked. She knew that Lu Ning had something else in mind, and she became even more panicked. She pretended to be calm and said, "Brother Lu, just tell me what's going on."
Lu Ning took a step closer, almost sticking to Qin Huairu, and whispered: "Qin Huairu, have you forgotten that we haven't settled our previous accounts yet?"
Qin Huairu's body froze. She knew what Lu Ning was referring to. She owed Lu Ning a sum of money, and she had already spent it. She whispered, "Brother Lu, I know I owe you money, but I really can't pay it back now."
Lu Ning sneered: "No way to pay it back? Then don't blame me for being rude."
He reached out and grabbed Qin Huairu's wrist, and the force was so strong that Qin Huairu screamed in pain. She tried desperately to break free, but Lu Ning was too strong and she was powerless to resist.
"Brother Lu, please let me go. I really don't have the money to pay you back." Qin Huairu pleaded with tears in her eyes.
Lu Ning did not let go of her because of her pleading. Instead, he grabbed her wrist even harder: "Qin Huairu, do you really think I'm so easy to deal with? If you don't agree to my conditions today, I will make you pay for it."
Qin Huairu was forced into a corner, and she knew she couldn't resist Lu Ning's threats at all. She whispered, "Brother Lu, what do you want me to do?"
Lu Ning smiled grimly and whispered, "Qin Huairu, as long as you listen to me and stay with me for one night, I will write off this debt."
Qin Huairu felt a chill in her heart when she heard this. She didn't expect Lu Ning to make such a condition. She knew she had no choice but to whisper helplessly: "Brother Lu, I...I promise you."
Lu Ning nodded with satisfaction and let go of Qin Huairu's wrist: "That's right, Qin Huairu, remember, your choice today is right."
Qin Huairu lowered her head, not daring to look into Lu Ning's eyes. She knew that she was doomed to be unable to escape tonight. She followed Lu Ning into the room silently, her heart full of humiliation and helplessness.