Siheyuan: Xu Damao's New Life

Xu Damao smiled and turned to leave the crowd. He still had to go to other places for assessment. Xu Damao went straight to the second workshop where the forging examination was held. He remembered that Liu Haizhong also signed up for the examination and boasted to him that he would definitely pass the seventh-level examination this time.

The assessment for the blacksmiths was quite lively, with men swinging sledgehammers to hit parts, making a series of clanging sounds.

Xu Damao glanced around and saw Liu Haizhong standing where he was waiting for the exam, so he walked towards him.

"Uncle, are you confident about this assessment?" Xu Damao asked with a smile.

"Chief Xu, I am very confident that I can pass the seventh level this time." Liu Haizhong deliberately puffed out his belly and came forward, patting his chest to express his attitude.

"Don't call me Chief Xu. Just call me Damao like you do in the compound."

"Chief Xu, that won't work. This is in the factory, and we have to address people by their titles in the factory." Liu Haizhong said seriously.

People around who knew him also came up to greet Xu Damao. If you greeted him, no one might remember you, but if you didn't greet him, they would definitely remember you. If you met a petty-minded leader, he would find ways to make things difficult for you.

Although Xu Damao has no control over them, he is the boss of the Propaganda Department after all, and a close supporter of the new factory director Li. It will be a good idea to have a good relationship with him.

"Chen Sanshui, Liu Haizhong, Chen Dashan...it's your turn to start the assessment."

"Chief Xu, I'm going to take the assessment first."

"Then I wish Team Leader Liu a smooth passage."

"The assessment begins!" Following the examiner's order, the group of ten people took action.

Liu Haizhong first looked at the drawing, then picked up a red-hot iron block with something like tongs and placed it on the iron felt. He swung a sledgehammer in his right hand and started smashing it, and from time to time he used tools to hold the iron block to reheat it.

Xu Damao took out the camera that he carried with him and took a few photos of the assessment site. These were all promotional materials.

Soon, more than half an hour passed, and Liu Haizhong stopped what he was doing and raised his hand to indicate that he had finished. The examiner took the finished workpiece and measured it, then announced that Liu Haizhong had passed the test and officially became a seventh-level blacksmith.

The people around him also gathered around Liu Haizhong to congratulate him, and some even asked him to treat them to a meal. Liu Haizhong also responded with a smile, saying that he would definitely treat everyone to a meal when he was free.

To be honest, Xu Damao didn't understand these technician's stuff, especially blacksmithing, which seemed a bit boring. Xu Damao simply took his camera and went elsewhere to look for materials.

The factory's loudspeakers sounded from time to time, announcing that someone in a certain workshop had passed the work grade examination, adding a hot atmosphere to the factory's work grade assessment.

Xu Damao just kept strolling around and slacking off until he got off work and then returned to the courtyard. But as soon as he entered the courtyard, he was stopped by his second uncle Yan Bugui, "Damo, my son Jie Cheng also passed the first-class worker exam, all thanks to your help. Tomorrow I'll ask your second aunt to buy this stuff, and come to my house for a drink tomorrow night!"

"Okay, I'll definitely be there tomorrow night. Uncle Er, did the street office say when the house issue will be processed?"

"Someone will come this Saturday to measure the area and handle the formalities for everyone on the spot, but someone will also need to stay at home."

"Okay, I get it. I'll take a day off then. What are you going to do with your house?"

Yan Bugui chuckled, "My family has also signed up, I plan to buy them all."

Xu Damao gave him a thumbs up. "You are really a man who keeps his wealth to himself. This family background is not something that ordinary people can have. By the way, let's also report Yu Shui's house to him. We can handle it together when the time comes to save trouble. I will pay for her first."

"Hey, I know you have a good relationship with Yushui, but I didn't expect you to take such good care of her. Okay, when I went there that day, the people from the subdistrict office said that we could handle it on the spot on Saturday, and we didn't have to report it in advance. Reporting it is just to give the subdistrict office a rough estimate so that they can arrange the personnel."

"Okay, then I'll go back first."

"Go and do your work first."

Xu Damao pushed the cart back to the backyard, washed up briefly and then sat down to rest for a while. Just as he was about to cook, he was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Brother Damao, I'm Guangfu, my father asked you to come to my house for a drink."

Xu Damao opened the door, touched Liu Guangfu's head, took out a few candies and handed them over, "Okay, Damao, I got it. Tell your dad that I'll be there in a minute."

Liu Guangfu peeled a candy and put it in his mouth, said thank you to Brother Damao and ran back home.

Xu Damao searched the house and finally found only two bottles of Wuliangye. It seemed that he should go to buy some goods. He couldn't just keep taking things out without buying anything at home. Thinking about it, he really hadn't gone to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy things for a long time. If he didn't go again, it would arouse suspicion. He didn't know if Xiao Cui, who often left cigarettes for him at the supply and marketing cooperative, was still there.

Putting his thoughts aside, Xu Damao went to Liu Haizhong's house carrying two bottles of wine and two braised pig ears.

"Da Mao is here, why are you still so reserved and carrying things?"

"Hey, Damao is here again with some good stuff."

Xu Damao was not surprised to see Yan Bugui was also present. As they were both in charge and in the same group, Liu Haizhong would be able to do the job.

"Hey, this is the last of our family's treasure. You see, this wine is not my favorite Xifeng. I have to go shopping tomorrow. I also have two pig ears that I just bought. I asked an old lady to cut them up for me to eat with wine."

Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui nodded. Knowing that Xu Damao liked to drink Xifeng, the Wuliangye he brought today seemed to mean that he really had no stock at home.

"My dear, cut off the pig ears that Damao brought."

Aunt Li Cuilian responded and walked out of the kitchen, holding the pig ears and going into the kitchen. Then the sound of cutting vegetables was heard in the kitchen.

"Da Mao, you hid it very well. You talked to me at the door for a long time, but I didn't smell anything at all."

"Hey, it's in the lunch box. There's a briefcase outside. It's strange that you can smell it."

"Da Mao is really capable. Even if you have money, it's hard to buy things now. I don't know when this difficult period will pass."

"Hey, I had some connections in the countryside when I was a projectionist. After I became a leader, I got to know more people and my connections became wider."

Soon, Li Cuilian brought up several dishes. Fortunately, it was May, so there were more vegetables. Of course, scrambled eggs were indispensable, and there was also a plate of fried peanuts and cold-mixed pig ears. Although this meal did not have big fish or meat, it was still considered a luxury.

Liu Haizhong raised his glass first, saying that it was to celebrate his passing of the seventh-level worker exam and he wanted to treat the two of them to a drink.

Xu Damao and Yan Bugui also gave him a few compliments out of respect, and Yan Bugui even said that they would go to his house to continue drinking that night.

The three of them drank and talked until about nine o'clock. During the meal, Xu Damao suggested that Liu Haizhong buy the house he was living in. Liu Haizhong nodded and agreed. It was more reassuring to have the house in his own hands.

After returning home, Xu Damao felt uncomfortable with the smell of alcohol, so he took a shower and lay down to sleep.