Siheyuan: Xu Damao's New Life

Sha Zhu searched the ruins for a long time and only found a silver bracelet, but it was deformed by the fire. Sha Zhu looked around with a guilty conscience and put the things in his pocket and went home. He finally got something today, and it was worth his hard work. But he had to go to work tomorrow. He was not relaxed in the foundry now, so he couldn't look for it anymore. He should come back tomorrow night.

When Liu Haizhong saw Shazhu was gone, he called up the aunt and her two sons and briefly explained what happened. Then the whole family quietly went out and began to search the ruins. After all, there is strength in numbers. They actually found another silver bracelet, some broken jade jewelry, and two silver rings. However, they made a lot of noise while searching, so the family was afraid of alarming others, so they quickly slipped back home.

A few days later, it was Friday. Xu Damao did some morning exercises and went to work refreshed. He also told Lou Xiaoe that he was going to the southern suburbs today and might come back late at night. Today he planned to go to the machine repair factory in the southern suburbs to solve the problem that Li Huaide asked him to find a chef. However, he still had to go to the factory first and tell his boss that he was on a business trip before going there. It would be too unfair to count himself as absent from work when he was doing public work!

After arriving at the factory, Xu Damao greeted Chief Yang of the Propaganda Department, and then went to Li Huaide. Li Huaide immediately called Liu Feng, the director of the machine repair branch, to explain the situation, so Xu Damao set off under the pretext of going to the branch to guide the propaganda work.

Along the way, Xu Damao did not forget to scan and collect some ownerless items. Although the harvest was not much, it was better than nothing. He also planned to go to the West City when he had time. There used to be various princes' palaces or the residences of dignitaries, and there was also the treasure of Prince Gong's Mansion that Xu Damao had been thinking about.

It was a little after ten in the morning when Xu Damao arrived at the machine repair branch and was warmly received by Director Liu. Liu Feng was only a section-level official because the number of people in the machine repair branch was small and his position was not very important, while Xu Damao was a deputy section-level official who came from the main factory to guide the work, so Liu Feng also treated Xu Damao very politely.

Director Liu, along with the deputy director in charge of publicity and Xu Damao, first introduced the factory's publicity work, then went to the publicity department for an on-site inspection, and finally held a meeting to promote business to each other. The outcome was a happy one for everyone.

Then it was noon, and several leaders of the machine repair factory invited Xu Damao to have lunch in the cafeteria. Xu Damao took this opportunity to bring up the topic of Nan Yi.

"Director Liu, I heard that our branch has a good chef named Nan Yi. Did he cook today's meal?" Xu Damao asked.

"Nan Yi, his cooking skills are pretty good. His ancestors were imperial chefs. Not only does he have the ancestral skills, he also learned from a famous chef. However, this dish today was not made by him." Liu Feng said as he raised his glass to toast Xu Damao.

"Oh, since his cooking skills are so good, why not let him cook?" Xu Damao raised his glass and drank it all.

"Hey, this Nan Yi is also stubborn. Before, someone reported him for having a problem with his background. In order to shut the reporter up, they had to punish him by making him sweep the streets." said a deputy factory director nearby.

"Oh, then can I meet him after dinner? To be honest, I came here with another task assigned by Deputy Director Li, which is to find a chef for our factory's canteen. I came here because I heard that there is such a person with good cooking skills." Xu Damao took out a cigarette and passed it around, then lit it and took a puff happily.

Everyone puffed out smoke, and soon a puff of light blue smoke floated in the private room. Liu Feng said, "We don't dare to use this Nan Yi now. His skills are useless as a street sweeper here. Since Deputy Director Li wants him, we will not stop him."

"Okay, then I would like to thank Brother Liu. If you have any problems in the future, just come to me. I will never refuse if I can do it. Even if it is difficult, there is still..." Xu Damao stretched out a finger and pointed upwards.

Everyone laughed, and the deputy factory director said, "Then I will call Nan Yi over this afternoon, and you can talk to him. As long as he agrees, we will definitely release him. But this Nan Yi is pursuing Doctor Ding, the factory flower of our machine repair factory, and I don't know if he will be willing to go to the main factory."

"Oh, it looks like Nan Yi hasn't succeeded yet. I'll go talk to him alone after dinner. Maybe I'll have to trouble you brothers to let one more person go at that time! If you're short of people, you can recruit them by yourselves or write a report to transfer people from the main factory. I'd like to apologize here and drink three cups as a punishment." After Xu Damao finished speaking, he drank three cups in a row, showing great generosity, and there was a burst of applause from the surroundings.

The meal lasted until 2pm. Liu Feng specially arranged for a cafeteria staff to take Xu Damao to find Nan Yi.

Soon, the person leading the way pointed to a tall and thin figure sweeping the floor not far away and said, "Leader, the one sweeping the floor is Master Nan. You can just go over there. I have to go back first. I still have work to do in the cafeteria."

Xu Damao thanked him before letting him leave. He walked to Nan Yi and said, "Comrade Nan Yi, I am Xu Damao, the deputy director of the Propaganda Department from the main factory. Shall we find a place to talk?" But he started to sing in his heart, "It's him, it's him, it's him, the childhood shadow of An Jiahe!"

Nan Yi saw that this person wanted to see him for something. Since he had already announced his name and background, he couldn't lose face. Besides, this machine repair shop was his home ground. He could easily attract many workers with just a call. So Nan Yi nodded and followed Xu Damao to a sheltered place in the corner.

Xu Damao took out two cigarettes and handed one to Nan Yi, then lit one with the Zippo he had borrowed. It was no wonder that the lighter he had borrowed from Xu Weiguo became more and more convenient to use, and even the cigarettes he lit were particularly fragrant.

"Master Nan, I heard that you are a good cook? Why are you sweeping the streets here?"

Nan Yi also took a deep breath of smoke and then blew out a smoke ring, "I also learned cooking from my grandfather since I was a child, and later I became a disciple of a famous teacher, and finally I learned all these cooking skills. But the hero has no place to use his talents, and was harmed by the villain."

"Are you interested in working in the steel mill? Or going back to your old job?"

"Oh?" Nan Yi became interested.

"To be honest, I was commissioned by our Deputy Factory Director Li to find a chef who can prepare banquets for the factory cafeteria. I've heard of your reputation before, so I came to find you under the pretext of a business trip. If you go over, you can try the dishes first. I believe that with your cooking skills, this will definitely not be a problem. Then you can be a regular employee directly. Moreover, with Deputy Factory Director Li's protection, no one will make a fuss about your background."

Xu Damao caught the fleeting light in Nan Yi's eyes. It was obvious that Nan Yi was moved, but was held back by something and was unwilling to leave. It must be Ding Qiunan.

"I thank Deputy Director Li for his interest in me and for your recommendation, brother, but I can't go." Nan Yi said a little disappointed. He had been pursuing Ding Qiunan for a long time but to no avail.

"Can I ask what the reason is? Men only have a few worries, and your career has been solved. Is it because of family or love? If you tell me, maybe I can help you solve it!" Xu Damao persuaded Nan Yi patiently.