Siheyuan: Xu Damao's New Life

Xu Damao had nothing to do in the morning, so he took the third inspection team to stroll around the factory. At noon, he went directly to the canteen where Nan Yi was to have lunch.

When it was Xu Damao's turn to get food, it was Liu Lan's window. She knew that Nan Yi was the one Xu Damao had brought, and the two of them obviously had a close relationship, so she gave Xu Damao a lot more food.

Xu Damao asked the people from the third inspection team to sit at two tables together, and took out two cans of beef sauce from his cloth bag and placed them on the table. "Everyone, try it. I specially got the beef sauce."

Seeing that everyone was a little embarrassed, Fan Sizhe directly picked up a piece of food with chopsticks and put it into his mouth, "It smells so good. If you don't want to eat it, I won't be polite." Now the others couldn't stand it anymore, and they started to eat with chopsticks, expressing their gratitude to Xu Damao for his generosity.

"Boss, Zhao Tangbin from Group 2 was recently promoted to team leader. He is very jumpy now. He frequently comes to our group's territory for inspections and often intercedes for others. He wants to interfere in our group's affairs." Fan Sizhe said in a low voice.

"Oh, find a way to investigate him and see if we can catch him committing corruption or accepting bribes. Otherwise, let's not do it. If we do, we have to do it thoroughly and kick him back to the workshop."

After lunch, Xu Damao went back to his office to rest. As soon as he got to work in the afternoon, a broadcast sounded from the loudspeaker, "Here is an important notice. All factory cadres are requested to come to the conference room for a meeting in fifteen minutes. No one is allowed to be absent without reason."

The radio broadcast the report three times in a row. Xu Damao frowned as he listened to the broadcast. Normally, the broadcast scripts were broadcast directly, but important scripts needed to be reviewed by the section chief or himself. Could it be that something big had happened and the factory office had directly issued the script? What was it?

With a lot of doubts in his mind, Xu Damao took a cup of water and went to find Section Chief Cui Yong. The two of them walked into the conference room together.

"Lao Cui, did you review the manuscript? Do you know what happened?"

"I thought you were the one reviewing the manuscript! There is really no news this time. Maybe there was some important order from above."

As they were talking, the two of them came to the conference room. As time was tight, there were already quite a few people in the conference room. They greeted people they knew from time to time, and finally found two seats at the back and sat down.

Not long after, a group of factory leaders came together, but the person sitting in the main seat was an unfamiliar person. Even Secretary Wu, who had been recuperating at home for a long time due to illness, and Deputy Director Guo, who was about to retire after the new year, came. It seemed that something big was really happening today.

The meeting was chaired by Secretary Wu. "Comrades, I have called you all here today because I have something important to announce. Now, please allow Vice Minister Wang of the Ministry of Metallurgy to speak."

Xu Damao thought to himself that this should be the big leader in the plot, they look about 70% similar.

"Ahem, comrades, I'm here today to announce two things. First, the application for the expansion of our steel mill has been approved, and the work of enclosing land will begin soon. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held after the new year. The expanded steel mill will be upgraded to a department-level unit. This expansion is expected to introduce three complete production lines and a number of processing equipment, expand five workshops, and recruit about 3,500 people. It is also planned to transfer some key personnel from various branches. It has been decided to set up an expansion leadership group, with Yang Wenjing as the leader and Li Huaide as the deputy leader..."

There were gasps from the audience. How could they appoint Director Yang as the team leader when the secretary was still here? Was there a personnel change as well?

"The second thing is personnel adjustments. Comrade Wu Hongwei, the secretary of the steel mill, will be dismissed and the organization will appoint someone else. Comrade Yang Wenjing will be appointed as the acting secretary and director of the steel mill. Comrade Li Huaide will be appointed..."

Another series of personnel appointments shocked everyone. Then, Director Yang of Dongfeng Factory, who was in charge of the expansion, was promoted, but Li Huaide was also promoted to deputy secretary and deputy director, which was considered to be the deputy bureau level. In addition, Deputy Director Guo retired early, and a new deputy director who was in charge of factory construction and technology was appointed, but the person did not come, and he should have been transferred from another place.

The meeting lasted for more than an hour before it ended. All the cadres, big and small, were smiling. As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats. They also took advantage of the expansion and upgrading of the steel mill to get promoted and have their salaries increased.

Xu Damao looked at them and shook his head, thinking about the background of his father-in-law and daughter-in-law. Although they have not been targeted yet, he doesn't know where he will go. He doesn't know whether he will be promoted, transferred, or stay where he is.

Xu Damao returned to the office and made himself a pot of tea. He then bought a stick of incense to calm his mind and lit it. He smoked silently and thought about the problem until the announcement of the end of get off work was made.

Xu Damao packed up and left the office. Since he couldn't think of anything, he gave up thinking about it. With his own ability, he could make it anywhere. He decided to go home and have some snacks and drinks, and then go to Wangfu in Xicheng District to look for some treasures in the evening to comfort his wounded heart.

Xu Damao pushed the cart into the courtyard, with a lot of things hanging on the handlebars, but Yan Bugui was no longer guarding the door. He shouted towards Yan Bugui's house, "Second Uncle, come to my place for a drink later?"

"Hey, Damao, okay, I'll be there in a minute."

Xu Damao shook his head. This habit of taking advantage of others was deeply ingrained in his bones. However, he didn't take the initiative to take advantage of others now. Xu Damao couldn't ask for too much. As long as he made progress, he could take it slow.

Xu Damao came to the backyard and notified Liu Haizhong to come over for a drink, then returned home. A plate of fried peanuts, a plate of shallot and tofu, a plate of pork head, and a plate of pig offal platter were prepared and placed on the table. Xu Damao also started to stir-fry two hot dishes.

As soon as the dishes came out of the pot, two uncles came with their food. Liu Haizhong was still carrying a plate of scrambled eggs and a bottle of Lianhua Bai, while Yan Bugui surprisingly brought a bottle of Niu Er and a plate of shredded potatoes.

"Hey, Damao, the food here is great, perfect for drinking with wine. Let's not go home until we are drunk." The second uncle Yan Bugui said, wiping his eyes.

"Don't worry, you two brothers, drink as much as you want. If you get drunk, I promise to send you back safely," said Xu Damao.

The three of them didn't follow so many rules, they just opened the wine, got ready and started drinking.

"Da Mao, is there anything big happening in today's meeting?" The official fan Liu Haizhong spoke first. He has always been paying attention to the leadership's dynamics and major events in the factory.

"That's really what you said, but if you want me to say it, you have to have a drink first. This matter is related to being an official."

"Hey, you little bastard, you're still keeping your uncle in suspense. Okay, I'll drink this wine." When Liu Haizhong heard that it was related to becoming an official, he didn't hesitate at all, and drank a glass of wine in one gulp, "Now you can tell me!"

"There were two main things discussed at the meeting today. One was personnel changes. Secretary Wu left, Deputy Director Guo retired, Director Yang and some leaders were promoted, and a new deputy director in charge of technology and construction will be appointed."

Liu Haizhong pricked up his ears and listened attentively, while Yan Bugui ate the pork head with some indifference. He was an elementary school teacher and had no interest in the personnel changes in the steel mill.

"The second thing is an absolutely major event. Our steel mill will be upgraded and expanded after the new year. We will build five new workshops and recruit a large number of workers."

Liu Haizhong's eyes widened and Yan Bugui stopped eating meat. It was obvious that they all realized what this meant.