Siheyuan: Sizhu starts blindly and takes a new path

Chapter 251 Xu Damao in Yi County

In the summer of 1967, the adobe walls of the Yi County Machinery Bureau were covered with newly painted big-character posters. Xu Damao, wearing a brand new blue cloth uniform with a shiny Mao badge on his chest, gave a report under the scorching sun with spit flying all over his body. The workers below the stage were drowsy, but they had to force themselves to applaud - who didn't know that this Deputy Section Chief Xu was now a big hit with Director Zhang?

"Comrades! We must dig deep holes and store up food!" Xu Damao's hoarse voice spread throughout the factory through the loudspeaker, startling the sparrows on the locust tree. He deliberately imitated Li Huaide and put his right hand in his pocket - there was the "Special Material Receipt" specially approved by Director Zhang.

After the meeting, Xu Damao walked quickly towards the office. On the way, people kept nodding and bowing: "Hello, Section Chief Xu!" "Thank you for your hard work, Team Leader Xu!" He nodded modestly, but he was very happy in his heart. Who would have thought that the Machinery Bureau in this poor mountain valley was actually in charge of the allocation of military supplies for the Third Front construction?

"Xiao Xu," Director Zhang got out of the jeep with a beer belly, "Director Wang from the regional revolutionary committee is coming tonight. You said before that you were in charge of the canteen at the steel mill?"

Xu Damao bent his waist to 34 degrees and said, "Don't worry, Director! I'll go and prepare it right away!" He turned around and trotted to the logistics department, secretly happy in his heart - the Moutai that was "adjusted" from the warehouse last month was finally put to use.

In the evening in the small canteen of the guesthouse, Xu Damao personally served a dish of turtle stewed with pheasant: "Director Wang, this pheasant stewed with turtle, the chicken and turtle are newly caught today, they are not usually used, please try it." He smiled flatteringly and poured wine.

"Comrade Xiao Xu is very capable!" Director Wang chewed the turtle skirt, his face greasy, "I heard that you used to work with Li Huaide in a steel mill in Beijing?"

Xu Damao's eyelids twitched, and then he sighed: "Alas, I did work under Director Li for a period of time, otherwise I wouldn't have come to Yi County."

Director Wang narrowed his eyes, picked up another piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth, chewing and asking: "Oh? What do you mean?"

Xu Damao looked around and said in a low voice: "Director Wang, Li Huaide...tsk tsk..." He deliberately stopped talking and picked up the wine glass to take a sip.

"What?" Director Wang was really interested and leaned forward. "Is there something going on here?"

"Hey!" Xu Damao slapped his thigh, "You don't know what he did in the steel mill..." He leaned close to Director Wang's ear, "From what I know, he had affairs with several female workers, one of whom was Liu Lan from the cafeteria, and another was a widow named Qin Huairu..."

Director Wang's eyes lit up and he put down his chopsticks: "Is there such a thing?"

"Of course!" Xu Damao saw that Director Wang was interested, and immediately added fuel to the fire, "Qin Huairu is pretty. Even though she has three children, her peach blossom eyes and big headlights are what make men want her. She originally worked in the workshop, but Li Huaide transferred her to the warehouse. Think about it, the warehouse is a quiet place with high wages. There are only people there when loading and unloading goods, right?"

Director Wang smiled knowingly, "These are just your imaginations, right? There is no real evidence, so don't talk nonsense in the future."

After listening to Director Wang's words, Xu Damao didn't dare to confess because it was their first meeting. What he said before could be regarded as casual talk after dinner, but if he handed over the actual evidence, he would either become Director Wang's right-hand man, or scare Director Wang away. It was more likely that Director Wang was from Li Huaide's faction, and then he would be killed without a burial place.

Xu Damao rolled his eyes and immediately put on a wry smile: "Director Wang is teaching me that I'm a quick-witted person who likes to gossip about things that don't make any sense." He raised his glass and toasted, "Don't take it seriously, just listen to it for fun."

Director Wang took a sip of wine with a half-smile on his face, but his eyes were fixed on Xu Damao: "Xiao Xu, the most important thing when working here is to keep your mouth shut. There are some things that you have to pretend you don't know even if you know them."

Xu Damao broke out in a cold sweat and nodded quickly: "Yes, yes, Director Wang is right. I'm new here and I still have a lot to learn from you."

As he was talking, the waiter brought a plate of braised carp. Director Wang picked up a piece of fish belly meat and suddenly changed the subject: "But then again, you have worked in a steel mill, so you should be familiar with Director Li's work style, right?"

Xu Damao paused with his chopsticks, and his heart was alarmed. This old fox was testing him! He smiled casually and said, "Director Li is very capable and manages the steel mill in an orderly manner. I am just a small propaganda officer and I don't have much contact with him."

Director Wang said "Oh" meaningfully, and suddenly lowered his voice: "Then do you know Qin Huairu?"

Xu Damao's heart skipped a beat, and he almost got a fish bone stuck in his throat. He wiped his mouth with an effort to stay calm: "I know her, but I'm not very familiar with her. She's just an ordinary female worker, and it's not easy for her to raise three children."

"Really?" Director Wang narrowed his eyes, "But she doesn't sound ordinary from what you just said."

Xu Damao felt a chill on the back of his neck. This meal was like dancing on the edge of a knife. He laughed dryly and said, "I don't know about that. Director Wang, I'd like to offer you a toast and welcome you to our Machinery Bureau for inspection!"

While drinking, Xu Damao secretly observed Director Wang's expression. Which side did this old guy stand on? Was he an accomplice of Li Huaide, or did he have other intentions?

Director Zhang of the Machinery Bureau saw Xu Damao's worry. He and Director Wang were old superiors and subordinates. He knew that although the people behind Director Wang and the people behind Li Huaide cooperated, there was still competition. After all, there was only so much power. The more you have, the less you have. He had asked Xu Damao about Li Huaide before, and Xu Damao would complain, but he rarely said anything substantial. This time Director Wang's visit was an opportunity.

Director Zhang came over with a glass of wine in his hand and patted Xu Damao on the shoulder casually: "Damo, don't just drink. Director Wang loves to hear about the actual situation at the grassroots level."

Xu Damao understood and quickly filled Director Wang's glass with wine: "Director Wang, look at our Machinery Bureau's recent quarter..."

"Hey~" Director Zhang suddenly interrupted, "Let's talk about work tomorrow. Director Wang rarely comes here, let's talk about something relaxing." He looked at Xu Damao meaningfully, "I just heard you talk about the steel mill, it was quite interesting."

Director Wang put down his wine glass and said with a half-smile: "Mr. Zhang, your subordinates are very tight-lipped. I can't get any information out of them after asking them for a long time."

Director Zhang laughed loudly and whispered something in Director Wang's ear. Director Wang's eyes lit up, and when he looked at Xu Damao again, his eyes were more meaningful.

Xu Damao's palms were sweating, he knew that it was Director Zhang who was passing on a message to him. Since the leader had hinted at it, he would be ungrateful if he didn't express his opinion.

"Director Wang," Xu Damao suddenly lowered his voice, "Actually, when I was at the steel mill, I did know some things..." He looked around and took out a crumpled envelope from his inner pocket, "This is some... information I kept at the time."

Director Wang took the envelope, glanced at it quickly in the light, and a hint of surprise flashed across his face: "Are these all true?"

"It's absolutely true!" Xu Damao patted his chest, "Li Huaide and Qin Huairu were in the warehouse... I saw it with my own eyes, but..." He deliberately hesitated to speak.

Director Zhang interrupted at the right time: "Da Mao, if you have any concerns, please speak up. Director Wang cares for his subordinates the most."

Xu Damao pretended to be in a difficult situation: "The main thing is... once these things are handed over, my old colleagues at the steel mill..."

Director Wang suddenly laughed and patted Xu Damao on the shoulder: "Xiao Xu, don't worry! As long as the materials are true, I guarantee that you can gain a firm foothold in Yi County! No matter how long Li Huaide's arms are, they can't reach us!"

After three rounds of drinking, Xu Damao, under the influence of alcohol, exaggerated the story of Li Huaide's looting from the Lou family. Director Wang's eyes lit up when he heard it, and he exchanged glances with Director Zhang from time to time.

Before leaving, Director Wang said meaningfully: "Xiao Xu, come to my office tomorrow with your 'work report'."

As Director Wang's car drove away, the smile on Director Zhang's face gradually disappeared: "Da Mao, you made the right bet this time. But..." He stared into Xu Damao's eyes, "If there is any falsehood in these materials..."

Xu Damao quickly assured: "Don't worry, Director Zhang, it's absolutely true! I, Xu Damao, may not be good at other things, but I am an expert at collecting evidence!"

Back in the dormitory, Xu Damao took out the tin box hidden under the bed and looked at the notebook inside. He smiled sinisterly and said to himself: "Li Huaide, Li Huaide, you didn't expect it, did you? You made it difficult for me to survive in the steel mill, now it's your turn..."