Chapter 658 Xu Damao wants to go on a blind date again 1
On that seemingly ordinary but destined to be extraordinary day, the afterglow of the setting sun gradually disappeared into the sky, and the night sky slowly descended like a huge piece of black silk, shrouding the entire steel mill in silence. At this time, the factory made an unprecedented decision. The staff set up a large projection screen in the wide yard of the steel mill in an orderly manner. The white screen was particularly eye-catching in the night, as if it was a magical canvas carrying infinite joy and expectations, because tonight, the factory was going to show a movie that was rarely seen on weekdays.
The news spread quickly throughout the factory area, and the quiet factory area suddenly became lively. Workers gathered in the workshop, the canteen, or the dormitory corridor, discussing enthusiastically. The eyes that usually focus on machines and production are now shining with excitement and anticipation. Everyone is looking forward to the arrival of this rare entertainment night with joy, as if the movie that is about to be played can sweep away the fatigue of work and bring a different color to their lives.
Among the many people who were full of expectations, the two brothers Liu Guangqi and Liu Guangfu were particularly excited. They worked hard in the factory on weekdays, and although their lives were fulfilling, they didn't have much time to watch movies. At this moment, the two were filled with joy, and their faces were filled with irrepressible smiles. Liu Guangqi carefully tidied his clothes, and then took the blind date he had just met, carefully caring for her, as if she was the most precious baby in the world. The two walked towards the screening venue with full expectations. Liu Guangqi's object was born gentle and lovely, with a white face that was softly glowing in the night, and a pair of bright big eyes that always flashed with curiosity about the unknown world. That curious look was like an innocent child who couldn't wait to explore the wonderful world in the movie.
Looking at Liu Guangfu again, his steps were brisk and somewhat anxious, and he was also carrying his new partner. His partner was a lively and cheerful girl, laughing all the way. Her laughter was like jumping notes, playing a cheerful movement in this quiet night, adding some vitality to the originally slightly quiet atmosphere. She would sometimes pull Liu Guangfu to talk about interesting things in the factory, and sometimes she would curiously look around. She was like a little sun emitting light, and people could feel her full enthusiasm wherever she went.
At the same time, the cousins Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang were not willing to lag behind. They were active members of the factory on weekdays, so they were naturally indispensable in such a lively occasion. Both of them dressed up carefully, and also led their sweethearts, and joined the crowd heading to the screening venue with brisk steps. Yan Jiecheng's girlfriend was a quiet and dignified girl at first glance. She had a graceful figure and walked slowly. Every movement was so elegant and decent. Her gestures showed the demeanor of a lady from a noble family. It seemed that she had a temperament that people dared not easily blaspheme. In her silence, she exuded a different kind of charm, which made people want to take a few more glances.
Yan Jiefang's partner is a passionate girl, her long black hair sways gently with her steps, like a fairy dancing in the night. Her laughter is as clear and pleasant as a silver bell, which stands out in the crowd. Wherever her laughter goes, it instantly attracts the attention of people around her. Everyone will look at her unconsciously, but she doesn't care at all, still smiling generously, and chatting happily with Yan Jiefang beside her. Her energetic appearance seems to ignite the air around her.
These four pairs of young men and women, under the bright moonlight, are like a beautiful painting. The moonlight shines on them, covering them with a layer of silver gauze, making them look particularly well-matched, and everyone's face is filled with happiness and expectation. They shuttled among the crowd, attracting envious eyes wherever they went, and naturally became a beautiful landscape of the steel rolling mill tonight, as if they were the protagonists of this night, walking towards the joyful screening venue with everyone's expectations, to start a wonderful movie-watching time.
However, in this joyful and harmonious atmosphere, there was a person standing not far away, who was deeply hurt. This person was Xu Damao. Xu Damao usually had a very high opinion of himself. In his mind, he was one of the best in the factory in terms of both appearance and ability. He always felt that he should be the center of attention, and always wanted to be the center of attention in every occasion in the factory, so that everyone would look at him with admiration and envy.
But in an occasion like tonight, when he saw Liu Guangqi, Liu Guangfu, Yan Jiecheng, and Yan Jiefang, who appeared in pairs in front of everyone, each of them had a happy smile on their face, full of sweetness and satisfaction, as if they were in the most beautiful scene in the world. Seeing them like this, Xu Damao felt like he had overturned a bottle of five flavors, and he felt very uncomfortable. He couldn't help but secretly breed an indescribable fire of jealousy, which burned fiercely in his heart, burning him in panic.
"Hmph, what's the big deal, isn't it just finding a partner!" Xu Damao muttered to himself. Although there was a hint of disdain in his words, he was actually forcing himself to find some psychological comfort. He forced a sneer on his face, and the smile seemed particularly stiff, as if it was stuck on. It was obvious that he was trying to cover up the loss and unwillingness in his heart. He was really unwilling to be ignored by everyone and become the most inconspicuous person in this happy party. After all, he was always used to standing in the center of the stage and enjoying the focus of everyone's attention.
So, he began to shuttle back and forth in the crowd, his steps seemed a little anxious and flustered, his eyes kept looking around, trying to find even a tiny opportunity to make himself the focus of everyone's attention again. He would get close to this small group and say a few words to attract others' attention, but everyone's attention was attracted by the movie that was about to start or their companions, and few people cared about what he said; sometimes he deliberately made some exaggerated movements, such as greeting loudly or deliberately showing off his new clothes, but these movements were just his tricks in the eyes of others, and no one paid much attention to them.
But no matter how hard he tried, the loneliness that welled up from the bottom of his heart was like an invisible, extremely tough net that tightly surrounded him and made him unable to break free. The loneliness was like a cold night, eroding his heart bit by bit, making him feel more and more out of place in this joyful occasion, as if he was a person forgotten by the world.
Soon, the movie started, and the light and shadows projected by the projector intertwined on the white screen. As the pictures kept changing, the whole scene was immersed in the wonderful atmosphere created by the movie. Liu Guangqi, Liu Guangfu, Yan Jiecheng, Yan Jiefang and their partners all watched the movie attentively, sometimes laughing out loud at the funny plots in the movie, and the laughter echoed in the night sky, which seemed particularly cheerful; sometimes their eyes were reddened by the touching plots, and they would also intimately hand each other a handkerchief, or gently hold each other's hands to comfort each other. They were immersed in the plot of the movie and enjoyed their sweet time, as if at this moment, the whole world was only them and the movie in front of them.
As for Xu Damao, although he was also sitting in the crowd and his body seemed to be there, his mind had long been wandering off to somewhere else. The sweet looks of the couples he saw tonight kept popping up in his mind, and the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. Then he began to think about how to appear in a more dazzling way at the next party, to make himself the most eye-catching person in the room, so that others would look at him with envy and respect, so as to regain all the face he lost tonight. He frowned and pondered for a while, and then squinted his eyes slightly, as if he had already imagined the scene of himself stealing the show in his mind.
That night, under the sky of the steel mill, the moonlight still quietly sprinkled on the earth, as if it was a silent spectator, witnessing the joys and sorrows of this world. Some people laughed in this beautiful night, and the laughter was like a pleasant note, playing a happy movement; while some people could only stay in the corner lonely, tasting the sour taste alone. And Xu Damao's jealousy was like a seed that was quietly buried. On this night, in the secret soil in his heart, it began to ferment without anyone knowing. As for what kind of fruit will be produced in the future, perhaps only he and this long time will know.
The more Xu Damao thought about it, the more he felt bad. Suddenly, his mind flashed back to the blind date he had with Lou Xiao'e. Lou Xiao'e was generous and decent, and had a good family background. At the time, he thought she was a suitable candidate. It was a pity that it didn't work out in the end. Thinking about it now, he really regretted it.
Thinking of this, Xu Damao could no longer sit still. He stood up from his seat, not caring about the surprised looks from others, and hurried out of the steel mill. After leaving the factory, the night outside became even darker, with only a few street lamps emitting dim light, illuminating the road under his feet. Xu Damao's steps were big and fast, bringing up a small breeze, blowing the leaves on the roadside rustling, as if they were sighing for his anxious and somewhat embarrassed appearance.
Along the way, Xu Damao's mind was full of how to get in touch with Lou Xiao'e. He thought that as long as he could get along with Lou Xiao'e again, with his own abilities, he might be able to accomplish this matter. Then, when he appeared in front of everyone in the factory with Lou Xiao'e, everyone would be impressed. He would definitely be able to make up for the face he lost tonight and show off a lot.
Not long after, Xu Damao arrived at the entrance of the alley where his parents lived. The alley was quiet, with only the occasional barking of dogs breaking the silence. Xu Damao walked to the door in two steps, raised his hand and began to knock hard on the door. The "dong dong dong" knocks seemed particularly loud in the quiet night.
Soon his father's voice came from inside the room, "Who is it? It's so late, why are you knocking on the door!" As the voice fell, the door creaked open. Xu Damao's father was wearing a coat and looked at Xu Damao standing at the door with a puzzled look on his face, "Damo, you came back so late, what happened?"
Xu Damao didn't bother to say hello and walked straight into the house. He sat down on a chair and said with a heavy breath, "Dad, I was really stimulated at the factory today. Seeing those colleagues in pairs, I felt so bad. I was thinking, can I try again for the blind date with Lou Xiaoe? I think she is really suitable for me."
Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's father frowned and paced back and forth in the room, saying as he walked: "Da Mao, Lou Xiao'e's family conditions are not ordinary. She didn't like me before. How can I ask her now? Besides, I don't know if she has a partner now."
Xu Damao became even more anxious when he heard this, and hurriedly said, "Dad, how can we know if we don't try? I just can't let this matter go. You and mom have a wide network of contacts, so please help me find out what's going on with Lou Xiao'e. If she's still single, then we can talk about this again. I don't believe that I, Xu Damao, can't handle it."
Xu Damao's mother also came out from the inner room at this time, rubbed her eyes and said, "Da Mao, you are such a stubborn child. But Lou Xiao'e is indeed a good girl. If it really works out, it will be a good thing. Okay, I will go out and ask the old sisters tomorrow to see if there is any news."
When Xu Damao heard his mother's words, a smile appeared on his face, and he quickly said, "Oh, mom is still good to me. You have to pay more attention to me. My happiness in the second half of my life depends on this."
That night, Xu Damao lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. In his mind, one moment he saw Lou Xiao'e's appearance, and the next he imagined the scenes of them going out together after being together. In his heart, he was filled with both longing for a bright future and anxiety about the unknown outcome. In this way, with complicated thoughts, he woke up in a daze until dawn.