Chapter 331: Xu Damao Goes to the Countryside to Show Films

The Jia family's child was surrounded by an invisible, isolating, oppressive atmosphere throughout the courtyard, like dark clouds hanging over the Siheyuan, but that did not stop some people from continuing their "colorful" extracurricular lives.

Xu Damao was one of them. Having lost face and been frustrated by the lost hen in the courtyard, he urgently needed a change of environment to make up for it, and going to the countryside to show films was undoubtedly his best "money‑making" opportunity.

The propaganda department of the factory assigned him to a relatively remote commune on the outskirts of Beijing to screen a revolutionary film. Upon receiving the task, Xu Damao's face, which had been gloomy for days because of the lost‑hen and isolation incident, finally showed a hint of sunshine.

He skillfully inspected the projection equipment, stuffing a few packs of "Economy" brand cigarettes and a small packet of fruit candies into his green messenger bag—hard currency he used to "build relationships."

Riding the factory‑issued, mottled lacquer bicycle and carrying the heavy projection gear, Xu Damao bounced his way out of the city. The farther he went into the countryside, the fresher the air, and his mood became increasingly lively.

Far from the troublesome people and affairs in the Siheyuan, he felt once again like the respected Xu Projectionist, wielding "cultural resources."

When he arrived at the commune, he was received by the deputy secretary and the clerk, whose attitudes were warm and respectful. In this era of severe cultural scarcity, a film screening was a momentous event, and bringing in a Steel Factory Projectionist was itself a matter of face.

Xu Damao enjoyed being surrounded, adopting a professional and restrained posture, directing the commune members to hang the screen and connect the power, occasionally spouting technical terms that left the simple members blinking in surprise.

The film shown was "Tunnel War," a familiar story, yet each screening sparked great enthusiasm. As night fell, the grain‑drying yard filled with a sea of dark‑clad members, and with the plot's progress, shouts of amazement and applause rose and fell.

Xu Damao stood behind the Projector, watching the light‑and‑shadow world he created and the boiling crowd, feeling an innate sense of control and superiority; the sullen aura he had endured in the Siheyuan seemed to dissipate considerably.

When the film ended, the crowd lingered before dispersing. The commune officials naturally treated Xu Damao to a late‑night snack, in a private room of the commune canteen.

A few farmhouse stir‑fries and a pot of sweet‑potato stew created a harmonious atmosphere. Amid the clinking of cups, Xu Damao's eyes began to dart restlessly toward the women refilling tea and water.

He quickly fixed his sights on a target—a young wife about twenty‑seven or twenty‑eight, with a regular appearance, wheat‑colored healthy skin, a plump figure, and especially a pair of eyes that were shy yet alluring when she looked at people.

According to the clerk's low‑voice introduction, she was the wife of the village carpenter Li, whose husband was crushed by a stone while repairing a reservoir two years ago and lay paralyzed on the kang; she now worked alone with a child in the commune canteen.

Xu Damao's heart instantly brightened. A rural widow without a husband's support yet possessing some beauty was exactly the kind of person he liked to "help."

Fueled by drink, he struck up conversation with the young wife, his words tinged with urban superiority and subtle teasing; he alternated between praising her cooking and "concerned" about her family's difficulties, and while speaking he "accidentally" knocked over her chopsticks. She bent to pick them up, her collar slightly open, and Xu Damao's eyes seemed glued to it.

After the meal, the officials arranged for Xu Damao to rest in the commune guesthouse. Late at night, he lay on the bed, listening to the insects chirping outside the window, feeling as if a cat were clawing inside his mind.

He tiptoed out of bed, took from his messenger bag a pre‑prepared small piece of durable cloth and a few premium fruit candies, and, familiar with the route, slipped toward the low side room behind the canteen…

What happened next is not for outsiders to know. In short, when Xu Damao left the small side room, his steps light and satisfied, the sky was already tinged with pale dawn. He had not only satisfied his physical needs but also completed a "goods exchange."

Early the next morning, Xu Damao prepared to return to the city. The commune officials naturally expressed another round of thanks and, following "custom," prepared some "local specialties" for him.

This time the haul was quite abundant: a small basket of top‑quality dried mushrooms, large and meaty, exuding the characteristic rich aroma of fungi; and two old hens, tightly bound and somewhat lacking in spirit!

Looking at these items, Xu Damao's heart blossomed with joy. The mushroom stew would be delicious, perfect for replenishing his depleted body; the two old hens would fill the gap in his own chicken coop—though not as prolific as the lost Lu Hua chicken, they were still live birds that could lay eggs if raised, and even if they didn't, slaughtering them for stew would be excellent!

He wore a restrained yet satisfied smile, but feigned refusal with his words: "This… how can I accept? It's against the rules; we can't take even a single thread from the masses…"

The deputy secretary, well‑versed in the routine, laughed and shoved the items onto his bicycle's rear rack: "Xu Projectionist, you're too polite! A bit of rustic goods, not worth much, take them home for the family to try! We'll still be counting on you to bring us good films in the future!"

"Sure, sure!" Xu Damao readily agreed, the understanding unspoken.

On the way back to the city, the bicycle's rear rack was heavy, yet Xu Damao's mood was so light it seemed ready to take flight. This trip to the countryside not only eased his mind and provided amusement, but also yielded tangible gains.

He could almost picture Wang Cuihua's delighted expression upon seeing the two chickens, and smell the rich aroma of mushroom stew and old hen back home.

Hmph, Sha Zhu, the scheming eyes in the courtyard—you plot and calculate my affairs, yet I'm out here still feasting! He thought triumphantly, his pedaling growing more forceful.

When he rode back to the Siheyuan, carrying the mushrooms and two clearly listless old hens, it indeed caused quite a stir.

A few women washing clothes in the Central Courtyard cast complex glances at the two chickens, whispering among themselves. In the Front Courtyard, Yan Bu Gui adjusted his glasses, his small eyes full of calculation and envy.

Wang Cuihua came out at the sound, saw the two chickens, first surprised, then recalled the one they had lost, her expression turning slightly subtle, but ultimately she gained a benefit and a long‑missed smile appeared on her face.

Xu Damao lifted his head, deliberately ringing the bicycle bell with a clanging "ding‑dang," as if announcing to the whole courtyard: "I, Xu Damao, have all the connections!"

In the Xi Kua Yuan, Li Ping'an returned from work and happened to see Xu Damao showing off. He merely gave a casual glance at the two limp chickens and the basket of mushrooms, his mind as clear as a mirror. He needed no guess to know where they came from. Yet he still gave no indication, turning and entering his own courtyard.

Xu Damao's "bountiful harvest" temporarily dispelled the misfortune from the lost‑hen incident and let him straighten his back a bit in the courtyard again.

But he did not know that this practice of extracting profit through tiny authority and shady means had already left a deep scar on him, and foreshadowed a greater downfall ahead. For now, he only wanted to savor the "loot" this countryside trip brought, and worry about the present for the time being.