The fact that Xu Damao became a cadre was like a pebble thrown into a calm pond, creating ripples and providing everyone in the compound with something to talk about for a while.
But even big ripples eventually calm down, and with Xu Damao's deliberate low profile, this matter is considered to be in the past, or rather, everyone has accepted it and no longer discusses it.
As winter arrived and the Spring Festival came, a series of major events brought the courtyard back to its previous balance. In 1958, he came again, and no one could stop his steps, even though it meant that a difficult year was about to begin.
"Da Mao, your film stocks have a movie going to be released this year."
In Gao Jin's office, Gao Jin spoke to Xu Damao.
"What's wrong? There are quite a few new movies being released, how come I didn't know?" Xu Damao was quite curious.
After the heavy snow last year, the film screening business was basically suspended. The recruited staff became Gao Jin's mobile personnel, and were sent to wherever there was a shortage of people.
Even other departments frequently came to request assistance, which made Gao Jin extremely happy. It felt good to have a strong and well-equipped force, and it felt great to have others come to him for help.
"This year, Beijing merged with several surrounding counties, and the higher authorities also gave us a task, requiring us to expand the coverage of previous film screenings."
You know what, we were really forward-thinking last year; we bought a lot of projection equipment early on. At the meeting earlier, the heads of the publicity departments from the other factories were incredibly envious of us. Now they can't even buy it themselves, and some are even thinking of borrowing it from us.”
Gao Jin answered.
This year, Beijing incorporated several counties from neighboring provinces into its jurisdiction for development. These newly acquired counties lagged significantly behind Beijing in development, so to appease the public, Beijing launched a plan to assist their development. This plan encompasses various aspects, including industry and agriculture.
For Xu Damao and his team, the biggest impact right now is having to show movies in more distant places. According to the plan, the steel rolling mill is responsible for Tongzhou, which is relatively close to them.
Some people in the propaganda department, who already had complaints about the film projection team running around the office all the time, were now feeling a bit smug. Since it was someone else going there anyway, the farther they went, the better.
The people in the courtyard knew that the steel mill was going to Tongzhou to show movies, so the rumor spread that Xu Damao was going to Tongzhou to support the construction and would work there and never come back.
Sha Zhu, Jia Dongxu, and the others were itching to set off firecrackers in celebration. Although Xu Damao had kept a low profile during this time, and everyone seemed to be getting along peacefully, jealousy had already taken root deep in their hearts. They were happy whenever anything was detrimental to Xu Damao.
"Da Mao, I heard you're going to Tongzhou to help with the construction and you're not coming back?" Xu Da Mao was stopped by Yan Fugui as soon as he entered the door.
"No, Uncle, how did this news get spread like this? Our steel rolling mill is going to Tongzhou to show a movie, but it's just like our usual trip to the countryside. We'll be back in a few days. Besides, I'm a section chief now, so I don't need to go to the countryside myself."
Xu Damao explained. He really hadn't expected that any news would be distorted like this once it reached the courtyard house. He couldn't just not explain; if the rumors got back to his parents, he'd have to explain again.
"That's good, that's good. I'm telling you, Xu Damao, you're a cadre, no one else would let you go. But Damao, your third uncle has to criticize you. Sometimes you still have to go to the countryside. Even though you're a cadre, you can't be detached from the masses for too long."
Yan Fugui was relieved to hear that Xu Damao wasn't going to work in Tongzhou. It wasn't that he genuinely cared about Xu Damao, but rather that his son, Yan Jiecheng, often needed Xu Damao's help with various matters.
"Yes, yes, Uncle San is right. I try my best to go to the countryside whenever possible, but of course there's nothing I can do if I really can't go. Please understand, Uncle San."
Xu Damao knew what the old man meant. He hadn't been showing movies in the countryside much lately, so he brought back fewer local specialties. The old man was both afraid that he would go to work there and wanted him to bring back local products. He wanted both, which made Yan Fugui play the game smoothly.
"Xu Damao, I heard you've been exiled to Tongzhou. Don't worry, I'll definitely come visit you there when I have time. We're brothers, after all, I won't forget you."
By the way, don't worry about your parents. I'll take care of them if anything happens. Just go with peace of mind.
Sha Zhu stood on his doorstep as usual, waiting for Xu Damao to come over.
“Yes, Da Mao, we’re all from the same compound. Your parents are our parents too. Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of you,” Jia Dongxu, who was watching the commotion, said enthusiastically.
Outsiders who are unaware of the situation would surely envy the atmosphere of mutual help and support within the compound if they witnessed this scene.
"Thank you, Dongxu. Here's a promise: after you leave, we'll take care of your family. I'll take care of your wife, and your mother, Jia Zhangshi, and Banggeng will be left to Shazhu." Xu Damao was truly speechless at this group of people; they were acting like children.
"Why should I take care of Aunt Jia? I want to take care of Sister Huai Ru. Just give me the help you." As soon as Sha Zhu heard that his goddess was going to be taken care of by someone else, he immediately objected.
"Silly Zhu, are you looking for death? Don't you remember the beating we gave you last time?" Jia Dongxu snapped. He was still here, and these people were already eyeing his wife; he was so angry he almost lost it.
"No, Dongxu, I was just saying. This is just a form of mutual help." At this moment, Shazhu had the heart of Cao Cao.
Seeing the two start arguing, Xu Damao slipped away first. Sure enough, he went to the backyard and explained things to Liu Haizhong.
"Xu Damao, do you want to go to Tongzhou?" The next day, as soon as Xu Damao entered the steel rolling mill's office building, he was stopped by a staff member from the personnel department and asked.
"The rumors about the courtyard houses have spread all the way here. Don't believe their nonsense. Our group is just going to Tongzhou to show movies; we're not stationed there permanently."
Xu Damao needed to re-evaluate the people in the courtyard; their communication skills were comparable to those of the steel mill's propaganda department.
"What rumors about courtyard houses? You don't know, do you? To help Tongzhou develop, a steel plant there has been transferred to our factory's management and is planned to be named the First Branch of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. Before, there was just a large workshop there, lacking workers, technology, management, everything."
We're now preparing to transfer some people from our factory to provide support. The first phase will involve nearly 1,000 people, and more will be sent later. Of course, to encourage everyone, I heard there will be rewards for those who go, but the specific methods haven't been discussed in a meeting yet.
These staff members deal with the leaders every day, and all documents go through them first, so they have access to firsthand information.
Xu Damao was shocked by the news. He never expected that the group of jinxes in the courtyard house would actually have a lucky break. Fortunately, according to this person, registration is currently mainly voluntary.
Xu Damao has no desire to go there right now. It takes three hours to cycle from Tongzhou to here. He and Wang Minzhi are inseparable these days, and he doesn't want to be wasting his time alone there. Besides, he currently holds no official position; if he went, he would only be an ordinary cadre.
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