Siheyuan: The Final Winner

Chapter 35 Xu Damao’s envy and admiration

 The definition of scarce food ingredients often changes according to current circumstances.

For example, in the past, when life was not too difficult, the supply of various materials was not too tight, and meat was available.

Jiang Ping'an and the others will be responsible for getting some difficult things like bear paws and forest frogs.

 It has been different in the past year or two. It would be good if we could get some unplanned bacon, ham and hens.

Jiang Ping'an's purchasing team has a small dedicated office, right next to Director Chen's office.

 Director Chen is also the direct superior of their group.

The office is empty.

Needless to say, the other two must have gone outside to show off their talents.

Each buyer has his or her own way of getting unplanned items.

 There is a tacit understanding between leaders and colleagues not to ask questions. This is a very taboo thing.

Jiang Pingan entered the office, turned around and came out again, then walked to the next door and opened the door directly.

“Director, it’s too cold in our office. We need a stove, otherwise the life will be too difficult!”

Director Chen, who was sitting behind his desk, raised his head and laughed angrily.

 He smiled and said: "Do you want me to get you another wife? She will be responsible for serving tea and water?"

“This is the best, the director understands me.” Jiang Pingan laughed and walked to sit across from the desk.

Jiang Ping'an picked up the Hua Zi on the table, took one and handed it over, and he also took one and lit it.

　　The remaining cigarettes and matches were put in his pockets.

Director Chen was about to scold him a few words, but when he saw that the cigarette and matches were gone again, he gasped in distress.

"You kid, hurry up and go to the countryside. If you come back, I will be harmed by you!"

Jiang Ping'an laughed.

 After blowing out the smoke, he discussed: "Director, what I just said is true."

“The office is really too cold, give us a stove!”

Director Chen took a puff of cigarette, thought about it, and said:

“If you can get two more hares next time, I will match them for you!”

Jiang Ping'an nodded and replied: "Then it's a deal!"

Director Chen said: "It's a deal! By the way, Lao Jiang will celebrate his father's birthday at noon tomorrow. Do you want to go?"

Jiang Ping'an is a heavy drinker. Director Chen likes to take him with him every time he goes out to drink.

Without even thinking about it, Jiang Ping'an replied: "Go, why don't you go? I just have something to do with him!"

 “What’s going on?” Director Chen asked curiously.

Jiang Ping'an said: "A sister from the same village where I live, a man died not long ago."

“Now she takes a man’s job as a welder. The work is dirty and tiring, and she has to learn slowly.”

 “She is a woman with four children, and her life is difficult.”

“So I beg you to come to me and change your job to a lighter job so that you can have enough energy to take care of your children.”

Director Chen asked in confusion: "How to find Lao Jiang?"

“Which unit does your sister from the same village work for? Wouldn’t it be better to transfer her to our factory?”

Jiang Ping'an smiled and said: "He is from the machine repair factory, a subsidiary of our factory."

“My sister has been studying tailoring for many years, so it would be better for her to be transferred to Lao Jiang’s garment factory!”

“You can adapt quickly as soon as you get to work, and you don’t have to learn from scratch.”

Director Chen nodded and said, "That's true. If you have tailoring skills, it would be more suitable to go to a garment factory."

"Really? I originally planned to find Lao Jiang privately." Jiang Ping'an said.

"Since he is going to treat you tomorrow, I will tell him about it by the way."

 This matter must be done well in advance, and the mobilization work cannot be completed in a short time.

If there is no chance for Lao Jiang, Jiang Ping'an can still find other units, so that he can be in an orderly manner.

“Okay, I’ll help you out when the time comes. This will be easy to handle.” Director Chen nodded and smiled.

 After a pause, he added: "You are only responsible for drinking him under the table."

Jiang Pingan smoked another cigarette and handed it over, smiling:

“Then I’ll thank the director first. After everything is done, I’ll send an old hen to my sister-in-law to replenish her health!”

“Get out of here, I’ll make up for it if you want, your sister-in-law doesn’t need it!” Director Chen took the cigarette and cursed with a smile.

 …

 Come out of Director Chen’s office.

Jiang Pingan saw Xu Damao coming out of a room at the end of the corridor at a glance.

“Xu Damao, bring us two cups of hot water!” Jiang Ping’an shouted.

Xu Damao glared at him and was about to refuse when he saw Jiang Ping'an took out Huazi and waved it.

Xu Damao immediately turned from anger to joy and replied loudly: "Wait a minute, come right away!"

Jiang Ping'an laughed and returned to the office.

 Find a piece of cloth and wiped the dust on his desk and chair.

Soon, Xu Damao opened the door and came in.

“You guys can do it, now you’re going to be beaten!” Xu Damao said with a smile while holding two cups of hot tea.

Jiang Pingan threw the cloth aside, sat down, took out a cigarette, threw one to Xu Damao, and said with a smile:

“I just got it from our director and it’s not even warm yet!”

Xu Damao took the cigarette, took out a match and lit it for Jiang Ping'an first, and then lit it himself.

After taking a deep breath and exhaling the smoke, Xu Damao gave a thumbs up, full of envy, and praised:

“Brother, if I don’t admire you, I admire you for having a good relationship with the leaders and being able to play together!”

 Speaking of which, he often fawns over his leaders and often drinks with them.

　　But no matter how much he flatters him, even if he drinks until he vomits blood in his stomach, the leader will not think of him if he does anything good.

This made Xu Damao puzzled and very frustrated at the same time.

Jiang Ping'an waved his hand and said modestly: "Da Mao, you are speaking harshly. I am at a different level from you."

“You usually eat and drink with the factory director and deputy director, so you are much better than me!”

“On weekdays, I mostly work with leaders at the level of section chiefs and directors, but I’m really not as good as you.”

Xu Damao was proud for a few seconds, and then he said doubtfully:

“Then why do you always get any good things in the factory, but I don’t?”

“It’s like the radio ticket you just got. I asked Deputy Director Li for it before, but he just wouldn’t give it to me.”

Jiang Ping'an blew out the smoke and waved his hands: "I don't understand this. The leader naturally has his own considerations."

 “What a shame!” Xu Damao complained.

 “I think they are short-sighted and they always fail to see my good side.”

Jiang Pingan smiled, did not answer, took the teacup, blew on it, and took a sip.

"Spit! What kind of crappy tea are you making? Why is it all broken?" Jiang Pingan vomited several times and cursed.

Xu Damao said angrily: "You kid, don't be ungrateful. This is outrageous.

 “I wouldn’t be willing to give it to ordinary people to drink!”

Jiang Pingan threw the cup on the table, frowned and said:

"I don't care. Make me a new cup of tea. I want good tea leaves, not the bad ones!"

"You are really difficult to take care of. Where can I find good tea for you?" Xu Damao said with black lines on his head.

Jiang Ping'an glared at him, stood up and said, "Wait a minute, I'll go find him right now!"

With that said, he walked out.

 A few minutes later, Jiang Pingan came in with a box of tea and asked Xu Damao:

 “Authentic Xinyang Maojian, is it so hard to find?”

Xu Damao was stunned and asked in surprise: "Where did you get it?"

 (End of this chapter)