Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

The factory workshops were working in full swing. By the end of October, the workshops had completed 65% of the two-month task, and the efficiency had increased significantly.

Xu Damao always keeps his word. At the request of Chairman Guan Tao and with limited funds, Xu Damao took a few secretaries and divided into two groups with Guan Tao. They delivered chrysanthemum tea, red bean porridge and other food to the workshop every afternoon to express their condolences to the workers who worked overtime.

"Vice Chairman Xu, are you here to bring warmth to our second workshop today? Thank you very much." The director of the second workshop, Tiao Dayou, was very happy. Although he did not have to do any actual work, he always inspected safety and supervised production in the workshop during working hours.

It would definitely be a pleasure to have someone come to bring you warmth.

"Director Tian, ​​I am also a worker. Although I cannot work on the machine tools like you, I can still do the work within my ability. Fortunately, our union chairman, Guan, went to beg for some funds, otherwise we can only make some cold food and let the workers take turns to rest. Today we have red bean porridge. Director Tian, ​​take the lunch box first and have a spoonful. I put more sugar today, and it is sweet. I want to give you some sugar and increase your energy."

Tian Dayou was not polite. He went to the workshop office to get a lunch box and scooped up a spoonful of red bean porridge. "How about, Vice Chairman Xu, come to my office and sit for a while. I'll share the porridge and let them both eat."

Xu Damao followed Tian Dayou's advice and went to the office built with I-beams in the corner of the workshop.

"Xiao Xu, I heard that the main factory wants to transfer you, why don't you go? You know that after this mission is completed, you may not have a good result."

"Director Tian, ​​what do you mean?"

Tian Dayou finished the semi-liquid red bean porridge in the lunch box, put it aside, gave Xu Damao a cigarette, and lit it himself. "You set a precedent for our steel plant and boldly proposed this reward and punishment system. Although it was for the purpose of completing the task for the factory, you and I have stirred up a hornet's nest. Don't you know anything about it?"

"Director Tian, ​​I know. Director Yang is an old revolutionary with old-fashioned ideas, rigid in his work, and very principled. If he thinks that he can't tolerate my suggestions, how can he lead the Red Star Factory to prosperity? Sooner or later, the Red Star Factory will be annexed by someone else, and the end will be the same! Whatever it is, I've said it and mentioned it. Now everyone in the factory knows about it, and it can't be taken back. Let's take it one step at a time. I haven't made any principled mistakes, so you won't stop me from going to work, right?"

"That's not the case, but it's definitely not easy."

"Don't worry, I can handle it. I'm in the trade union now. Can there be a worse department than the trade union? No, I'm a deputy director. They won't ask me to work in the workshop, right?"

"Hahaha, it's okay if you think that way. But I definitely can't do that. When this mission is over, it will probably be time for me to step down as the workshop director. So maybe next year you and I won't be in the same unit anymore."

"Why, Director Tian is going to be transferred from the Red Star Factory?"

"Xiao Xu, you and I have been colleagues for many years. I can still remember when you first joined the factory as a projectionist. You were slick and frivolous at that time. Haha, you have changed so much now that I, Tian Dayou, really look at you with new eyes. Time really flies. I have been working in this factory since before liberation. At that time, it was your former father-in-law's factory. It has been 30 years in a flash. Alas, are you old? Your father-in-law is still a good capitalist. He really didn't treat us hard-working workers badly. Good people don't get good rewards." Tian Dayou sighed.

"Director Tian, ​​no matter what, I'm here to thank you for speaking up for my former father-in-law. But that's all I have to say. Now is not the time to redress his wrongs. History will have its own say on what is right and wrong. Do you really want to be transferred from the Red Star Factory?"

"Well, probably. Deep down, I don't want to leave, but I don't want to be laughed at. I'm about to retire, and I'm upset to be removed from my position as director. It just so happens that there's a deputy director position at the suburban machine tool factory, and they've asked me many times. I just agreed this time and will go there in January. The transfer order will probably come in early December, and I'll go to work in Shunyi County after completing the formalities at the end of the year. Well, it's not bad to be able to raise my rank while I'm retired. How about it, why don't you congratulate me?"

"Director Tian, ​​you really are a bit of an old naughty boy. Well, here, Xu Damao wishes you a happy life and a bright future. Would you like to treat you to some stewed wine if there is a chance?"

"Hahaha, that's possible. Find some time. Find some time. We must have a drink. You serve the food and I serve the wine. How do you think about that?"

"Okay, then it's settled. Director Tian, ​​please call me when you're free. I'm not busy."

Another day of condolences came to an end, and Xu Damao was still quite emotional. Just because a rational suggestion did not suit the leader's appetite, an old cadre who had worked in the factory for 30 years decided to transfer.

Xu Damao deeply felt that Tian Dayou was reluctant to leave the Red Star Factory. He himself also had this feeling. If one day he had to leave a factory that had supported him and his family for thirty years, he would definitely feel hesitant and reluctant.

But this time Tian Dayou decided to leave without any reluctance, and Xu Damao still understood something about what was going on.

Looking at the long, crooked cigarette ash, Xu Damao didn't flick it into the ashtray. He watched silently as the ash fell on the desk. Xu Damao was a little confused and wondered whether he should use his connections to get transferred.

But when the music of the day off work started playing on the loudspeaker, Xu Damao still had no idea. Forget it, let's just take it one step at a time. Let's wait and see, there are places to go, and at worst, it's not impossible to ask Fan Changlong to go to the Commerce Bureau.

However, Xu Damao still felt a little sad in his heart. He was not sad about his current situation, but sad that reality was so helpless and cruel.

It is more economical to pack your backpack, ride your bike, and go home to take care of your wife and children.

When she got home, Gu Meifang, who was pregnant, had already prepared everything, even the wine was heated.

"Boss, why are you so late today? Is there something going on at work?"

"It's okay, I tidied up my desk after get off work. There were a lot of cars on the road today, so I didn't ride too fast. Come on, kids, wash your hands and have dinner." He sat down directly, poured himself a glass of wine, and drank it in one gulp. The temperature was just right, and it went down his throat with a burning sensation. The depression that he had been feeling for half a day suddenly dissipated into the air.

Looking at the two pairs of golden boys and jade girls, and the gentle and virtuous beautiful lady around me, what could be depressing?

Everything is just a passing cloud, so take it easy. Take it easy. When you wake up, tomorrow’s sun will still be warm.

Xu Damao slept in the same bed with Gu Meifang that night, with his chest pressed against his back and his arms around his wife's big belly, feeling comfortable and peaceful...