Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

By the end of November, Xu Damao had completed his 11-movie mission this year. The weather was getting colder, and now it was time to relax and slack off in the factory.

That's great, Xu Damao smiled happily. Finally, I can relax for a while.

Section Chief Li assigned Xu Damao a job, an easy job.

"Xiao Xu, this year's mission has been completed. I have seen it with my own eyes and I have kept it in my heart. Look, I have a good job for you. Do you want it?"

"Section Chief, you give me your orders. I have already said that I will follow you from now on. Your orders are the highest orders in my eyes."

"Xiao Xu, you can't say this nonsense outside."

"It's a slip of the tongue, it's a slip of the tongue, I will follow your orders. There is nothing wrong with what I said."

The reason why Li Huaimin was optimistic about Xu Damao was not only because Xu Damao was capable, the film was well-produced, and his writing was also good. Li Huaimin knew the details of Wu Lingjuan's article this time.

So because of this article, the steel mill has this opportunity before the end of the year.

What Li Huaimin saw in Xu Damao was that he had good sense and took the initiative to approach him, so how could he not respect him?

"Well, the District Cultural Bureau will hold a propaganda training class in December. Our factory has two places. I will send you and Wu Lingjuan to participate in this training. It will last for two months. After the training, you will be awarded a certificate. Moreover, your level can be upgraded to a higher level, and your salary can be increased by a higher level. I think you will not refuse such a good thing."

Xu Damao knew that Li Huaimin recognized him and put him in the group, otherwise he would never have gotten such a good thing.

"Chief, thank you, thank you." Xu Damao looked at him with a look that even Li Huaimin could understand, and said thank you twice.

The training class officially starts on December 12st, with roll call at 1:8.30 every day and ending at : in the afternoon. It lasts five and a half days a week, almost the same as students going to school.

Wow, I have an extra half day off every week. I also get a free lunch from Monday to Friday, of course the training fee is paid by the factory. A meal costs 60 cents, which is really not low. This is really a good job. I can save more than ten yuan on lunch in these two months and days.

Wu Lingjuan took the initiative to come over and sit with Xu Damao.

"Secretary Xu, we will be sharing the joys and sorrows for the next two months."

"Wu Lingjuan, you can just call me by my name. Xu Damao, Xiao Xu, or Lao Xu are all fine. If you call me Secretary-General, I will be proud, and it will not be conducive to my progress. I came from the masses, and I will have to return to the masses in the future. Right? Wu Lingjuan, do you think I have a high level of consciousness?"

"Xu Damao, can you please speak properly?"

"I am currently receiving tissue training, so I have to stand at a high point."

After attending classes with Wu Lingjuan every day for half a month, Xu Damao no longer thought Wu Lingjuan was so unpleasant. It seemed that Wu Lingjuan had a good temper and was quite righteous.

The free training gave Xu Damao more time to do his own things. He still went to the Palace Museum every Saturday afternoon to do voluntary labor, and listened to some professional words from the masters. This Palace Museum pass cannot be obtained in vain.

Classes end at 4:30 every day, giving him more time to go home and spend time with his wife and children.

Get up early to practice martial arts, study teaching materials at night, and spend your time wisely.

Two months passed quickly, and at the end of January, Xu Damao and Wu Lingjuan successfully graduated and obtained their certificates.

"Wu Lingjuan, we have been classmates for two months and colleagues in the factory's publicity department. Today is the day we both receive our certificates, I will treat you to a meal to celebrate."

"Xu Damao, what certificate should we get? Hehehe, a marriage certificate?"

"Whatever certificate you say, will you go?"

"Go, why not? I know you can make a lot of money by showing movies every year."

"Wu Lingjuan, who told you this? It's only 30 cents for a movie, and 50 cents for a day in the countryside. What else can you get? It's all hard-earned money, rain or shine. And there are many benefits. Only you know that you have blisters on your feet."

"Okay, I was wrong, but since you're inviting me to dinner today, I have to choose the place, okay?"

"Go ahead. Since I've invited you today, just go for it."

"Roast beef, I've been wanting to eat roast beef for a long time."

"Okay." Xu Damao felt in his pocket and took out the money. He counted it and found that he still had twenty dollars in change. It was definitely enough for the two of them to have a barbecue meal. They couldn't drink anyway.

Wow, this barbecue meal actually cost Xu Damao nine dollars and forty cents. It was painful, that's for sure. But it was still within the acceptable range.

"Wu Lingjuan, I have something I'd like to ask you about?"

"What did I say? If someone shows his kindness for no reason, he is either a traitor or a thief. I was wondering why you are so generous today."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm inviting you to dinner. We're graduating today, and Chinese New Year is coming soon. We worked together in the Propaganda Department. We didn't have much contact before, but now we're familiar with each other. Otherwise, I wouldn't ask for this. I know you have a lot of power, unlike me, who really has no means. But this matter is not urgent. If you have the chance, please help me, otherwise I'll have nowhere to get information."

"Tell me what's the matter. After all, I still owe you a favor last time."

"Well, there's a woman, about 25 or 26 years old, who wants to find a job. If she can't find a job, she can consider buying a workstation, but it's too expensive for her to afford. She has only primary school education, that's about it."

Wu Lingjuan stared at Xu Damao for a long time with a scrutinizing look, "Xu Damao, I thought you were a good person, but I didn't expect you to be so treacherous. I can't help you with this."

"What is this? What are you thinking? I have a beautiful wife at home and a son who is more than one and a half years old. How can I do this? This woman, her mother-in-law treats her badly, and her husband treats her badly too. She originally married into the city from the countryside, and now of course her household registration is in the city. She asked me about it, and I felt sympathetic. But I really have no way. So I wanted to ask you."

"Impossible. Which strange woman would tell you her private affairs?"

"She doesn't need to tell me about her affairs. I know everything. To tell you the truth, we are from the same compound. Her husband is also an employee of our factory. Our neighbors know more about her family affairs than she does. She probably found out something now and wants a divorce. She can't make ends meet anymore, so she wants to find a job to support herself."

"What's going on?"

"Her husband has been having an affair for a long time, but she didn't know it before. Maybe she knows it now. You say a man has someone else, and she doesn't manage the household, and she has no money in her pocket. What do you want her to do? Either she has to endure it, or she has to find a way out herself. Do you want her to commit suicide?"

"I see. But why did she ask you about it?"

"I'm always out and about, which gave her the illusion that I was able to help her. Also, my father-in-law is a director of the factory, so she felt that as long as I was willing to help her, I would definitely be able to help her."

"Oh, yes, yes, you are Director Lou's son-in-law. I forgot about this. Director Lou can indeed help with this matter."

"Wu Lingjuan, I asked my father-in-law to help a divorced neighbor find a job. Do you want me to get muddy? Besides, my father-in-law has no say now and does not participate in the management. Everyone in the factory knows it. I don't have the guts to ask him for help. Otherwise, my family will have conflicts because of this, which is not what I want. I would rather not help."

"Then why did you come to me to tell me this?"

"Well, after spending these two months together, I feel that you are not only compassionate, but also very righteous. The most important thing is that you are capable of finding out information. Of course, it's up to you whether to help or not. I have no opinion on that anyway. I didn't agree to help her either. After all, if I helped her, I might be suspected of tearing up someone's family. It's better to tear down ten temples than to ruin a marriage. So whether to help or not, just take it as something you have heard about it and don't spread it around."