Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

The situation was pretty much as Xu Damao had expected. Before the twelfth lunar month, Li Huaide called Xu Damao and told him to come to his office for a chat.

"Xiao Xu, you have worked hard during this period. I know you have done a lot of practical work to bring movies to the countryside and promote the publicity of the times."

"Director, that's as it should be. I would like to congratulate you on your promotion to the director of the G Committee of the Steel Rolling Mill. I will also work hard under your leadership and strive to make due contributions to the new stage of the revolution."

"Oh, no problem, no problem. I know you've always worked hard. But now, some people in the factory and on the street have pointed out that the relationship between you and the big capitalist Lou Zhenhua is a bit complicated. Moreover, Lou Zhenhua's family, including your children, are missing. Do you have an explanation?"

"Director Li, I swear to God, I actually want to know where my three children are now. Director Li, you are well-connected, can you help me find out? I am still hiding it from my parents. I don't even dare to go home to see them, and I can't explain where I took their grandchildren."

"Well, the Lou family's affairs are also being investigated by the higher-ups, and I believe there will be a conclusion in the end. But your current position as head of the Propaganda Department may no longer be suitable, so I think you should step down from that position first. But don't worry, you are still a cadre, and that won't change. Damao, the new revolutionary situation doesn't allow me to mix in too many personal emotions, and I have to be fair."

"Director Li, I personally fully agree with your wise decision, and I also thank you for your concern. Of course, I still suggest that the post of head of the Propaganda Section be taken by the current deputy head, Wu Lingjuan. She is passionate about current propaganda work, has experience, and most importantly, has high revolutionary beliefs. This is my small suggestion. As for me, I will work hard to take root at the grassroots level, do a better job in basic work, and make due contributions to the revolutionary tasks under the new situation."

"Okay, okay, okay, Xiao Xu, although you are relieved of your duties now, don't worry, this is not a dismissal, it is only temporary. Once the Lou family matter is investigated thoroughly, the organization will give you a fair and just explanation. As for the follow-up work, I heard that you insist on sending movies to the countryside every week. This is very good. I hope you can continue to maintain this revolutionary enthusiasm for the time being. After all, you are also a member of the organization."

"Okay, Director Li, I will."

In fact, Xu Damao was eager to withdraw from the complicated position and do what he liked.

It is indeed as Xu Damao and Li Huaide reported, Xu Fugui and his wife really had no idea that the Lou family took away three descendants of the Xu family, which indirectly proves that Xu Damao was also unaware of it. However, doubts still remain.

Xu Damao returned to the Propaganda Department and directly handed over all the work to Wu Lingjuan.

"Wu Lingjuan, Director Li has informed me that I will now hand over all the work in the department to you. I will also vacate the office and give it to comrades in need. Projectionist Chen Zhiyong and I will continue to use the original data warehouse. Director Li also hopes that I will do a good job in the projection business. Don't worry, Comrade Chen and I will exceed the established projection tasks. Wu Lingjuan, please take good care of us, master and apprentice, in the future."

"Xu Damao, you bastard, you're just going to give up like this, what do you want me to do!"

"Sister Wu, just be at your own convenience. If you need me in the future, I'm still in the Propaganda Department. How can I not help you? If you have any questions, just tell me. I promise it will be the same as before."

"That's what you said. So you should stay in 207 and don't move. It will be easier for me to find you."

"Wu Lingjuan, this is against the rules. I'd better move to the data warehouse. It's only a short distance away. It will save you from being caught."

Xu Damao asked Chen Zhiyong to help move the few personal belongings in Room 207 back to the data warehouse.

"Zhiyong, from now on, we both have to be very modest in the workplace. Listen to your uncle. From now on, whether you are at work or outside, watch and listen more, and don't talk too much. Too much talk leads to mistakes. Do you understand?"

"Uncle Xu, I understand."

"One day you move out from my dad's place, and I'll arrange a new place for you to live." Xu Damao wanted to arrange for Chen Zhiyong to live in the house on Dongsishitiao, firstly to look after him, and secondly to prepare for Chen Zhiyong to start practicing martial arts. Xu Damao was still quite interested in moving Gu Meifang's family from Baishui Village to Beijing.

Regarding Chen Zhiyu's arrangement, he still had to go to Zhang Taihe's place.

Mrs. Zhang and her husband and their daughter Zhang still live in Courtyard 88, but it's just the couple who live there.

Since Guo Jiawei introduced a proper courtyard house to Zhang Taihe, after buying it, the brothers Zhang Tengyun and Zhang Lingyun moved in with their families, and their sister Zhang Yanyun also occupied a room in the new house. Zhang Taihe and his wife were left to live in Courtyard No. 88.

Xu Damao took a break one evening, carrying the pork head he had bought and a roast duck, and went to Courtyard 88.

"Master's wife, are you home? I'm here to have a free meal."

Guo Sulan was very happy to see Xu Damao carrying things when he came to visit her. "Damo, when you come to visit Master and his wife in the future, don't always bring things with you. It's too formal."

"Master's wife, this is convenient for the journey. Bring some cooked food and have a drink with Master in the evening. Yanyun hasn't come back to see you recently. Is she okay? I haven't seen her for a long time."

"Yanyun doesn't have time now. Our children are grown up and are debts. The girl has found a boyfriend now and doesn't want to live with us. She lives with her two brothers over there and doesn't even come back to see us. Girls are outgoing."

"Junior sister, have you found a good family? What do you do? The most important thing is to be a good person."

"She works in the same unit. Yanyun has been spoiled by us and her two brothers since she was a child. She really doesn't like ordinary people. She found someone on her own, saying that it was a free love relationship and they were looking for common language. She is a staff member of the Sports Bureau. She can be considered a cadre, I met her once."

"Hey, that's good, but Yanyun herself is not bad either. She can work at the District Sports Bureau and has found a partner who is a cadre. That's pretty good. Don't worry, Master's wife, Yanyun will not suffer any loss. With her martial arts skills, plus the protection of the eldest brother, the second brother and me, whoever dares to bully her, we three brothers can cut the opponent into eight pieces and feed them to the dogs. Master, haven't finished get off work yet?"

"It should be soon. He will retire soon and go home to live a peaceful life. Damao, look at how noisy the streets are now. The young people are shouting and yelling every day. I don't know what they want to do."

"Master's wife, let them make a fuss. Just don't mess with us. Please take care of the pork head and roast duck. I'll go outside and buy another bottle of wine."

"Da Mao, you don't have to buy anything. Just sit back and relax. We have wine at home."

During this dinner, Xu Damao agreed on two things: Xu Damao could now teach Chen Zhiyong Xingyi Bagua.

Also, I will bring Chen Zhiyu to the city someday to have a blind date with Mrs. Zhang and her eldest grandson, Zhang Zhigang. The sooner you see, the sooner you decide.