Siheyuan's Journey Through the Ages

Chapter 11: Poor Damao

Zhang Changde's face suddenly turned red. Ma Qing continued, "But there is a bad side to this. If people in need take me as an example and run to the leader's house to ask for help when they are out of money, and if I don't give them, they will say that the leader's ideological awareness is not as good as an orphan like me, then this will cause trouble for the leader and take advantage of me. Let's think about it again. We can't let others take advantage of us."

Zhang Changde's face turned pale again. Ma Qing continued, "Why don't we go find Chairman Li of the labor union, Uncle Li, and ask him to give us some advice and see if this can be done."

A lot of sweat beads suddenly appeared on Zhang Changde's forehead, which was very funny with its oily sheen. Zhang Changde stood up and pointed at Ma Qing, who was speechless for a while. Ma Qing approached him and said softly: "Secretary Zhang, although I am young, I know a truth: the first bird to stick its head out will be shot. If no one does something, it is not because no one has thought of it, but because it cannot be done. The best way is to think less about others and improve yourself more. I will not see you off, the door is over there."

Ma Qing didn't really care how Zhang Changde left. He was actually thinking about the housing problem Zhang Changde mentioned. Housing in Beijing is indeed tight now. He is a child living in three rooms, which does pose some risks. After all, this house is a public housing, not the private property of his Ma family. He has to pay more than 1 yuan in rent every month. Ma Qing was just thinking about it when Xu Damao came in. As soon as he came in, he sat down like a familiar person, poured himself a glass of water, and said:

"That Zhang Duande is gone. What is he doing here for? This guy has no good intentions."

"Zhang Duande, Brother Damao, you are this." Ma Qing gave Xu Damao a thumbs up.

"That's right, who is your brother Damao? You can tell his background very well." Ma Qing told Xu Damao the purpose of Zhang Changde's visit and his own response, which made Xu Damao laugh.

"If I had known earlier, I would have come in with you. You are also a smart guy. You were not intimidated by him. What do you think is in this kid's head? How can he do such a thing? But in recent years, the factory has expanded several times, and all kinds of birds have come in." After Xu Damao mentioned this, Ma Qing knew this history.

After listening to Xu Damao's words, Ma Qing just smiled and said nothing.

Xu Damao said: "This grandson was brought to you by your brother. I was wrong. Come on, I will take you to a restaurant as an apology."

Speaking of Xu Damao, he is certainly not a good person in the original drama, but from Ma Qing's modern perspective, Xu Damao is just a normal person. Except for the fact that he hanged his slut shoes on Bang Geng'er, which is not something an adult would do, Xu Damao is very normal in other plots. He is a person you can get along with. Xu Damao's house is in the west wing of the backyard. In the courtyard, except for the other two neighbors in the back wing, his house is the closest to the Ma family. Ma Qing thinks Xu Damao is a very interesting person, and is willing to get close to this kind-hearted person. Don't get me wrong, Ma Qing has no intention of making trouble.

Ma Qing and Xu Damao left the compound and found a small restaurant near the alley. They ordered two meat dishes, two cold dishes and a bottle of wine and started drinking. Fortunately, there were not so many rules in this era, and no one cared whether a 15-year-old child could drink. Anyway, Xu Damao poured Ma Qing a bottle.

The two of them started chatting while drinking and eating. "Eat more, while there is still a big pot of rice. Eating in this restaurant is not like before when you need tickets. You can eat by paying more money. Next month, you will need food and meat tickets. Then your brother Damao won't be able to treat you." "But brother Damao, you don't need tickets or money to eat in the cafeteria now."

"Hey, kid, do you think I'm treating you to a meal in vain? The food in the cafeteria can't compare to this. The big pot meal made by Sha Zhu is just so-so, far inferior," Xu Damao continued to slander his lifelong enemy as usual.

"Brother Damao, you and He Yuzhu grew up in the same courtyard, how come your relationship is like this?"

"What? This guy is so mean. A few years ago in the winter, we went to Shichahai with him. I said that the lake was not frozen through yet and we couldn't go out to play. As a result, this guy pushed me out and I fell into the icy water. I almost froze to death. At that time, I wanted him to jump into the icy water to make amends, but this guy refused to do it."

"Brother Damao, you were in the ice water for a long time, not even ten minutes."

"That's about right. I almost froze to death. Why are you asking this?"

"Nothing, nothing, just asking casually." The case was solved, Ma Qingxin said.

Xu Damao may have drunk too much, and began to complain, "Ma Qing, what do you think of your brother Damao's condition?"

"Then your conditions must be good. You are a formal worker in our steel rolling mill and a film projectionist. You are tall and pretty. Uncle Xu also shows movies in the Cultural Palace, so we have two formal workers in the family. Uncle Xu has a house in the Cultural Palace, and you live in the old house alone. The housing conditions are good, you have a house and an income. What's the matter, Brother Damao, you want a wife?" Ma Qing thought to himself, this old man Xu is also a cunning guy. After Xu Damao became an adult, he gave his work station to his son, and took advantage of the background of large-scale recruitment to find a job in the newly opened cinema in the Cultural Palace. One work station became two, and one house became two houses. It is really that choice is more important than hard work. If you hit the right wind, even pigs can fly.

"You are a good talker, but I am 22 years old. Why is it so difficult for me to find a beautiful wife? If Jia Dongxu can find one, how can I, Xu Damao, be any worse?"

(End of this chapter)