Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e had dinner at Lou's house and returned to Yard 95 with a newly bought radio and some local specialties.

"Da Mao, congratulations on receiving such an honorable title. It's incredible. You have to treat us."

The third uncle Yan Fugui was really a gatekeeper. He stopped Xu Damao and his wife at the gatehouse.

"Uncle, I have to treat you to a meal, but I can't do it this month because I bought a radio for Ezi, and my pockets are empty. I'd like to give you some of the local specialties I brought from the countryside. Is that okay?" Xu Damao grabbed a handful of wild boar jerky and put it in Yan Fugui's hand.

"Da Mao, really good jerky."

"Uncle, there aren't many, so don't make it public. Otherwise, I won't be able to distribute them evenly, and someone will get jealous of you."

"I know, I know." Yan Fugui made a gesture to shut up, and then Xu Damao pushed the car into the compound, and soon arrived at the backyard, parked the car, unlocked the door, helped Lou Xiaoe into the house, and then untied the radio and carried it into the house.

The second aunt saw Xu Damao coming back in the kitchen, and hurried over to tell Liu Haizhong, "Old Liu, Xu Damao is back with his wife, do you want to go and call him?"

"Just got back? Then I'll go there myself later. You don't know that Xu Damao is a cadre now. How can I let the cadres come to me? I have to take the initiative to go to him."

"Okay, you can do it yourself. Lao Liu, do you think Xu Damao will help you?"

"How do I know? But Xu Damao is a mean guy, and no one can tell his pulse. But old lady, do you remember the last time Lao Yi attended the meeting? Xu Damao dared to confront Lao Yi, so it must not be a bad thing for me to be on good terms with him. With him opposing Lao Yi in the compound, maybe one day I can become an official in the factory, but I can also be promoted to a master in the compound. Don't you think so?"

"True, but now it seems that I am increasingly confused about who Xu Damao is. He used to have a quarrel with Sha Zhu, but now he and Sha Zhu are on good terms. It is said that Xu Damao introduced Sha Zhu's wife to him."

"Really? No way? Xu Damao, that little pervert, would introduce a woman like Yu Li to a fool like Sha Zhu as his wife? Who told you that?"

"I heard it from Yu Shui. Yu Shui let something slip once."

"Then we should get on better terms with Xu Damao. Maybe he can find a job for Guangtian or Guangfu next time. Don't underestimate Xu Damao because he is a smooth talker. The boss may just like him."

Liu Haizhong waited at home for a quarter of an hour before going across the street and knocking on Xu Damao's door with a cigarette.

"Da Mao, are you home? I'm the second uncle."

Xu Damao was fiddling with the radio in the living room. He opened the door when he heard the noise outside. "Hey, Uncle Er, you are a rare guest. Come in and sit down. It's a good opportunity to listen to the radio together. There is a crosstalk program."

When Liu Haizhong saw the brand new radio, he felt a little envious: This kid really knows how to live.

Lou Xiao'e also came out of the bedroom and greeted Liu Haizhong, "Hello, Uncle, please sit down. I'll go back to my room and lie down for a while. I'm a little tired."

"Xiao'e, you take a rest. I'm here just to congratulate Damao on becoming an official. I'll be leaving after sitting for a while."

"Second uncle, that is, the factory leader saw that I was more dedicated to my work in the countryside, so he promoted me as an exception. In fact, I don't have a position. I am still myself, Xu Damao who goes to the countryside to show movies."

Xu Damao closed the door to the inner room, handed Liu Haizhong a cigarette, and lit one for himself. "Second uncle, I didn't mean anything else. My wife is pregnant, and I was afraid that the smoke would suffocate her, so I closed the door."

"It's okay. Damao is still particular. After all, he is a high school student and knows a lot."

"Second uncle, do you have something to ask me? Just tell me if you have anything."

"Da Mao, Uncle Er has said it. Damao, you are now a cadre, and you have a say in the factory leaders. When will you help Uncle Er to speak well of him in front of the leaders, so that Uncle Er can also benefit from your fame and become a team leader?"

"Second uncle, you really think too highly of me. I am a film projectionist, and the most senior official I come into contact with is Section Chief Li of our department. He is in charge of publicity, and he is not on the same line as you. And, Second uncle, you don't know, Section Chief Li..."

Xu Damao deliberately lowered his voice and whispered into Liu Haizhong's ear, "It's almost impossible for you to ask Section Chief Li to say something good for you."

"Why? Damao, is there anything special about it?"

"Second uncle, the Propaganda Department is the territory of Deputy Director Li, and your workshop is the territory of Director Yang. If Section Chief Li reaches out to your workshop, it would be disrespectful to Director Yang. Do you think Section Chief Li would do that? Right. And second uncle, as far as I know, Director Yan of your workshop seems to be Director Yang's confidant. I suggest that you follow Director Yan's path more, which is the right way. The county magistrate is not as good as the current one. Besides, you are now a seventh-level forger, a senior technician, and Director Yan has to give you face. Several of your apprentices are intermediate technicians, and their strength is extraordinary. So I think, second uncle, if you follow Director Yan's path, you will soon be able to become a team leader. Do you think what I said makes sense?"

"Da Mao, after hearing what you said, it seems to be true. How to do it specifically, Damao, you are a cultured person, please give me some advice."

"Second Uncle, I really don't have any experience to share with you. I'm not very old and I really don't have any experience in this area. My promotion this time was purely accidental. Your factory broadcast also heard about it. I was on my way back from the countryside and accidentally helped the militia of Wenquan Commune in Haidian District catch a spy. That's how I got this opportunity. How do you think I got my cadre status?!"

"I see."

"But Second Uncle, I think it's important to show your determination to the workshop director. You should try this route and see what happens, right? If so, you will become a team leader and have more prestige than our First Uncle in the compound. By then, you might even become the boss. Then, Second Uncle, you have to take care of me."

"Da Mao, are you telling the truth?"

"Of course, it's more real than pearls. Second uncle, do you still remember the incident with Jia Dongxu before the Chinese New Year last year? On that day, the disciples of the first uncle sabotaged each other. In fact, the prestige of the first uncle was destroyed. You said that you couldn't even control your own disciples. Look at you, second uncle. In the first month of the year, several disciples came to pay you New Year's greetings. Did any disciples of the first uncle come to visit you? None. Comparing the two, the gap is huge."

Xu Damao picked up a tall hat and put it on the second uncle, which made Liu Haizhong smile. He smoked a cigarette and left happily. Xu Damao used the fan to fan the smoke in the house before going to the coal stove to boil water. He was playing with the radio just now and didn't have time to boil water. He was still heating the house.

Listen to opera, boil water, brush teeth, wash face, wash feet, and serve Lou Xiao'e again. The temperature in the room quickly rose and became warm.

Xiao Damao is also ready to go...

Xu Damao suddenly felt that his desire was so strong during this period.