Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

"Brother, what level did you take the exam today? Why didn't I see the master come to take the exam?" Xu Damao took over the task from the Propaganda Department to report on the worker-level exams in the first half of this year. He personally brought Wu Lingjuan and photographer Lu Xiaofeng here to capture some shots of the on-site exam.

When he had nothing to do, he would go up to Zhang Tengyun and ask.

"Da Mao, what are you doing here at the Propaganda Department for this work-level exam?"

"This is not a factory assignment. We need to encourage people to take the worker-level exam and do some publicity. Senior, do you want me to ask our Xiao Lu to take a picture of you? It may be reported, but the prerequisite is that you must pass the worker-level exam."

"Is this true? I'm taking Level 5 this time. My dad passed Level 7 last year, but he said he couldn't pass Level 8 in the past few years, so he didn't sign up."

"I haven't seen Master since the New Year. Is he okay? Is there enough food at home?"

"It's OK. We frontline workers haven't had our allowances reduced, so we have enough to eat. But we don't eat any meat. We only eat cabbage and pickles every day. Luckily you gave us some shrimps, otherwise we wouldn't have any meat at all."

"Well, don't worry, Senior Brother. I'll get you some pig intestines when I have a chance, and you can braise them at home."

"That's great. Now that you say that, my mouth is watering. Hehe."

"Hey, Senior Brother, my little nephew is in the first grade this year!"

"It's the first day of the new year. It will soon be the second day of the new year."

"I found a young wife for Zhigang in the countryside. If you don't mind her being a country girl, I'll bring her to you if I have the chance. She's one year younger than Zhigang, and a very pretty child."

"Da Mao, my son is still so young, and you are thinking about finding him a wife? You don't think so."

"It's better to make the decision sooner, right? I'm counting on you to find a job for that girl."

Zhang Tengyun looked at Xu Damao with some suspicion.

"Da Mao, what's going on?"

"Brother, it's not what you think. That girl is really good. She's from the countryside of Haidian. You'll know when you meet her later. How can I harm my nephew? Right?"

"Hey, Senior Brother, your workshop is processing military products now, is the subsidy higher?"

"Well, I can't say that."

"I understand, I understand." Xu Damao understood what Zhang Tengyun meant.

The on-site examination for fitter grading is divided into blocks, one area for grades 1 to 3, one area for grades 4 to 5, and one area for grades 6 to 8. In fact, there are not many people taking the grades 6 to 8.

Jia Dongxu was aiming for Level 2. Unexpectedly, he managed to pass the theoretical test with difficulty, but the practical test went very smoothly. He took a very short time and had excellent accuracy, and successfully passed Level 2.

Xu Damao couldn't help feeling miserable when he saw Jia Dongxu who was getting a little too proud of himself. According to the progress, it seemed that something would happen next month. Anyway, Xu Damao couldn't remember the exact date, but he still remembered that it was before Labor Day.

Yi Zhonghai was also somewhat proud of this. He was originally a judge for the Level 4 to Level 5 exams, but he actually came over to watch Jia Dongxu take the exam.

Hehe, a fitter who has worked for about ten years, passed the second level, and his master is still an eighth-level worker, he actually feels very honored. Xu Damao really wants to knock open Yi Zhonghai's brain to see whether his head is filled with tap water or other paste or something like that.

Near noon, Zhang Tengyun, encouraged by Xu Damao's photos, used all his skills and performed beyond his level, passing the Level 5 exam. Lu Xiaofeng actually took several photos of Zhang Tengyun. This was an order from the deputy section chief, so he could use as many films as needed.

Good man, this work-level test took Xu Damao a whole day. On the second day of the test, Xu Damao refused to go to the site and asked Wu Lingjuan and Lu Xiaofeng to follow up. He didn't want to do this boring job.

He continued to live his life. The next morning, after the assignment was arranged, he went to the Palace Museum.

Coming here to see the real things, to see the master and senior sisters, and to communicate with Teacher Ruan is better than anything else.

Isn't this also considered asking for trouble?

"Xiao Xu, I didn't expect that Lao Pu would accept you as his disciple. Lao Pu, you know how smart he is. If I had known this, I would have accepted you. Xiao Xu, do you want to become my disciple?"

Xu Damao was a little confused. He really didn't know how to respond. Since he had already worshipped Pu Yulin as his master in the antique business, he would definitely not be someone else's apprentice. He could learn, but he would definitely not kowtow to recognize his master. Although Teacher Ruan was dealing with porcelain and Master Pu was dealing with miscellaneous items, he would not recognize two masters.

Xu Damao also abides by the rules. "Teacher Ruan, I have always respected you. I have learned a lot from you. I am still stupid and dare not be your student. Please give me some time to grow. When I feel qualified to be your disciple, I hope Teacher Ruan can still accept me as a student."

Xu Damao could only decline politely, but he didn't want to break up his relationship with Ruan Fangshui so he could only say this.

"Okay, then I'll wait for you to grow up. Don't keep me waiting too long. You can always ask me if you have any questions."

Ruan Fangshui knew what Xu Damao meant, but he did cherish his talent, and he also received many practical benefits from Xu Damao, which made it difficult for him to refuse. In this famine year, no one would refuse food sent to their home. It was not valuable, but really precious. Even if you had money, you might not be able to buy it.

If Xu Damao rashly agreed to accept his student, he would look down on Xu Damao. Rules still need to be followed. He just sighed.

Fortunately, Liu Suhua saw Xu Damao coming and deliberately came over to smooth things over for Xu Damao.

"Hello, Mr. Ruan. Junior Brother Xu, you are here too? Aren't you going to work?"

"Sister, I skipped work today. There's nothing important to do at the factory, so I came to see you."

Ruan Fangshui knew what Liu Suhua meant, so he greeted Xu Damao directly, "Xiao Xu, you can chat with Xiao Liu. I'm going to be busy. Come to my house when you're free."

"Okay, Mr. Ruan, I will definitely go when I am free. You can call me if you have anything."

Xu Damao followed Liu Suhua to the restoration team's office, and then he felt that his back was a little sweaty. He was so anxious just now.

"Junior Brother Xu, are you familiar with Teacher Ruan?"

"Well, in order to study in the museum, Teacher Ruan even issued me an entry pass, which has been of great help to me over the past few years. Now I have a lot of experience in dating porcelain."

"Are you here to see Master today?"

"Not really. I'm mainly here to be edified. But I do have something I want to ask Master. But Senior Sister, I can ask you the same thing."

"What's the matter?"

"Why hasn't Senior Brother Pu Ju gotten married yet? Do you know the reason?"

"How could I not know this? When Pu Ju was in college, he had a girlfriend. They had agreed to get married after graduation. Unexpectedly, right after graduation, his girlfriend suddenly found a powerful young man to marry. Now he has not yet gotten over the shadow of this relationship. Originally, his master took him to the museum to sort out cultural relics. He felt a little depressed in the past few years, so he took the initiative to transfer to the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace Cultural Relics Management Office was established and needed people, and there was a position, so he went there. His choice was right. He used to be an assistant researcher, which was better than staying in the museum, and there were no trivial matters like we do now. He is very free now, and the Summer Palace also allocated him a tube building, where he lives alone. Don't be too free."

"Sister, actually I know a college student who studies history at Beijing University. I think he is a good match for Pu Ju. So, this is not it, right..."

"Xiao Xu, I didn't realize you have the potential to be a matchmaker."