The train driver in the courtyard

"Did you record all the scenes just now?"

“I recorded it.”

"What's the name of this old switchman, and where did he come from?"

"His name was Chen Kui. Before liberation, his wife and children were killed by the Japanese invaders, so he joined the army out of anger.

Later he went to the northern battlefield. After leaving the battlefield, the organization originally planned to arrange for him to engage in logistics work in the section, enjoying the treatment of a level 13 clerk and a monthly salary of 53 yuan.

He volunteered to be a switchman and guard this deserted station."

"That's about it. If we wait any longer, we'll probably just end up with a dead body."

In the grove a few hundred meters away from the tomb, it looks very calm on the surface, but it is extremely lively inside.

Seven or eight people were guarding in the woods, with a camera mounted high up.

Li Aiguo carefully put the camera into the box while chatting with Lao Mao.

This thing was borrowed from the TV station. If it was bumped or scratched, Li Aiguo believed that the female reporter would definitely fight with him.

Captain Zhang also followed and looked at the grave. He suggested in a low voice: "How about we wait a little longer?"

The old cat knew what he was thinking, and said with a fierce face: "In the face of the overall situation, all personal grudges must be put aside.

This Kawamura Mannan is still very useful, so don't ruin the patriotic plan."

"Yes! I understand!"

Captain Zhang also understands these principles, but he just can't accept them emotionally.

He saluted, took a few people with him and followed Li Aiguo to prepare for action.

Li Aiguo looked at the team members who were loading their guns and ordered, "Take down the bullets. Don't shoot later. Follow my orders and don't run so fast!"

Captain Zhang originally felt sorry for the old switchman, as he had to give up such a good opportunity.

Hearing this, he immediately understood Li Aiguo's intention. He nodded quickly and reminded the team members: "Everyone, be smart!"

At this time, the heat was rising around the tomb.

Kawamura Mitsuo stared at the half-man-deep earth pit, his nose filled with the fishy smell of wet soil mixed with rotten grass, as if he could already smell the stench that would emanate from himself after he became a corpse.

My scalp suddenly felt numb.

Even though the midday sun was scorching, Kawamura Mitsuo still felt a chill on the back of his neck, and his spine felt as cold as if an ice cube was inserted into it.

"Comrade! I am really from the Harbin Railway Technical Institute! We are one of us!" Kawamura Mannan's tongue was tied. Dark wet marks appeared on the crotch of his work pants, adding a fishy smell to the air.

The old switchman leaned on his hoe and lit his pipe, sparks flickering in the copper pipe: "Railways across the country are working on protecting the tracks and growing crops. How could the technical experts in Harbin not know this?"

Only then did Kawamura Mitsuo realize his negligence and secretly cursed the old switchman for appearing honest but actually being too cunning.

"I am a nerd. I only know how to deal with technology and don't know about the outside world. I am really a local."

"You were like this back then, shameless and a habitual liar. I didn't expect that after all these years, you are still like this."

The old switchman looked behind Kawamura Mitsuo.

His expression changed slightly, and he suddenly picked up the hoe and ran towards Kawamura Manao.

The sound of the wind caused by the hoe frightened Kawamura Mannan so much that he was scared to death.

The old switchman looked hunchbacked, but he ran like a leopard descending the mountain and was in front of us in the blink of an eye.

He instinctively raised his arm to block it, only to hear a crisp "crack" and his right wrist bone broke into a weird angle like a dead branch.

The hoe's force was still there, and the iron blade hit his lower abdomen hard, causing him to see stars in pain and spit out a mouthful of acid.

This is not finished.

The moment the hoe flew out, the old switchman rushed over and kicked him hard in the waist with the sole of his boot covered with mud.

Kawamura Mannan fell to the edge of the pit like a broken sack, and heard the old man's angry curses, with blood foaming with every kick:

"brute!"

"What a bastard!"

"This kick is for my wife!"

"This kick is for my five-year-old son!"

"This kick is for the hundreds of people in our village!"

"This kick."

Li Aiguo has witnessed the great power that a person can unleash when he is angry.

The old switchman had no weapons at this time. He only relied on his hands and feet, and beat Kawamura Mitsuo to death in just a few blows.

The bridge of Kawamura Mitsuo's nose was shattered into pieces, his eyeballs were bulging as if they were about to fall out, and his legs were twisted like pretzels from being stomped on, but he still made hoarse begging sounds from his throat.

Even though Li Aiguo already knew what happened that year, he still underestimated the hatred in the old switchman's heart.

However, even when the old switchman was most angry, he retained the last bit of rationality and did not go for the vital parts. Although Kawamura Mitsuo suffered a lot of torture, his life was not in any danger.

"Uncle Chen, that's enough." Li Aiguo shouted, pointing his finger at Chen Kui: "Stop him!"

Captain Zhang had been hanging around for five minutes. After receiving the order, he knew it was time to get down to business, so he rushed over with a few team members.

In fact, they don't need to do anything.
At this time, the old switchman finally went crazy and hit Kawamura Mitsuo's face with his knee. After throwing Kawamura Mitsuo into the grave, he raised his hands high.

"Boss, I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself and took action. Everyone has their own actions. Please arrest me."

The old switchman looked as calm as a child.

The old switchman cooperated so well that Captain Zhang and his colleagues didn't know what to do for a moment.

"Catch someone? Who wants to arrest someone?" Li Aiguo walked over with his hands behind his back, and raised his chin towards the grave: "What's wrong with this person?"

At this time, Kawamura Mannan, who was lying in the grave, was overjoyed when he saw Li Aiguo coming. He was no longer servile as before. He pointed at the old switchman and said, "Li Aiguo! Hurry up and arrest this lunatic! He actually attacked the comrades of the delegation."

Li Aiguo crossed his arms over his chest, not moving at all.

Kawamura Mannan was so angry that he was furious and roared in his throat: "Do you want me to spread the news that you deliberately beat up the representative? Then you will become the laughing stock of the big family."

Before he finished speaking, he heard Li Aiguo say calmly: "What representative? Old Chen, this guy seems to be a thief."

The old switchman was also aware of the special identities of people like Kawamura Mitsuo, and felt that he was doomed this time. He was stunned for a moment when he heard this, before he reacted.

"Ah? A thief. Yes, yes, he is a thief."

The old switchman pointed at Kawamura Mitsuo and said, "He sneaked in to steal our railway dispatching information."

"A thief." Li Aiguo rubbed his hands and jumped into the grave. "It's useless to beat him to death for stealing on the railway."

"No, I'm a representative, Li Aiguo. We met a while ago. You..."

"Snapped!"

Before Kawamura Mitsuo could finish his words, he saw the sole of a work shoe getting closer and closer.

Finally, the sound of shoe soles filled his entire field of vision, and then there was a violent collision, and everything went black in front of his eyes, and he lost consciousness.

Kawamura Mitsuo was like a stunned fish, twitching twice and then becoming motionless.

"Take him away. Just say you were trying to steal something and were caught by the switchman."

Li Aiguo put on gloves, bent down and touched Kawamura Man's body, took out the small bottle and put it into the file bag.

Two team members jumped into the grave, and one of them grabbed one of Kawamura Mitsuo's feet and dragged him away like a dead dog.

Seeing Kawamura Mano being stuffed into the jeep, the old switchman said gratefully: "Big Li, thank you so much for this time."

"Thank me for what?"

Lao Bandao said, "When you led your men to charge over just now, you deliberately slowed down your speed to give me a chance to take revenge."

Li Aiguo interrupted him: "I don't understand what you are saying, I only saw a thief."

The old switchman was stunned for a moment, then he understood what Li Aiguo meant, and quickly nodded and said, "Yes, yes, yes, I found the thief, and then I couldn't help but beat him up, and finally you came and took the thief away, that's it."

After saying that, he looked at the jeep that was ready to go: "I also know that you will definitely be useful to this man, but when I think about letting him leave here alive, I feel depressed."

The old switchman's eyes suddenly turned red and he covered his face with his rough hands.

The tears that had dried up for decades began to flow again at this moment.

Li Aiguo climbed out of the grave and patted the old switchman on the shoulder: "Don't worry, you will have a chance to take revenge, don't rush it."

"Li Da Che, I can control my emotions."

The old switchman thought Li Aiguo was just trying to comfort him, and never imagined that more than a decade later...
It was almost noon.

Li Aiguo originally planned to return to Qianmen Locomotive Depot, but the old switchman insisted on treating Li Aiguo and others to lunch.

When the sun was at its hottest, the old switchman pulled out a few bundles of wheat ears from the ridges of the field and made a bonfire beside the railway tracks.

These ears of wheat are half-dried and unripe, but after being roasted, they are sweet and delicious.

But this thing is only good as a snack, it definitely won’t fill you up.

The old switchman went to the vegetable garden to pick some eggplants and other fruits, sprinkled salt on them, and grilled them on the fire.

Soon the air was filled with the fresh aroma of vegetables.

This can be considered vegetable barbecue in this era.

Li Aiguo enjoyed the meal.

Mitsuo Kawamura was lying in the back seat of a jeep and woke up when he smelled the smell.

"Hungry, I'm a little hungry"

"Hey, the thief is awake."

"boom!"

Kawamura Mitsuo's eyes went dark and he fainted again.

*****
Head of the delegation, Hanlick, was in a bad mood.

Kawamura Mitsuo of the Konishi Railway has been missing for a whole day and there is still no news.

Although Captain Hanlick dislikes Kawamura Mitsuo, he is a member of the tour group after all, and he cannot be allowed to get into trouble.

"Professor, please tell me honestly, where did Kawamura Mitsuo go?"

Captain Hanlick stared at Yukawa Hideki with wide eyes.

Yukawa Hideki sat on the sofa, a little nervous, and said after hesitating for a moment: "Kawamura Mitsuo went to the switch station for an on-site investigation."

Upon hearing the news, Captain Hanlik looked incredulous.

"What?! He actually went to the switch station? Considering what you did a few years ago, it was already a bargain for you that he didn't tear you apart with his hands. How dare he..."

"I tried to persuade him several times, but he didn't listen."

Hideki Yukawa also looked helpless.

Relying on his father-in-law's appreciation, Kawamura Mitsuo acted tyrannically in the Railway Technical Institute and did not take his leader seriously at all.

At this time, there was a knock on the door.

Captain Hanlik stood up and opened the door. Standing outside was Team Leader Wang.

"I just received a notice from local comrades that they caught a thief at the switch station. The thief claimed to be from the Japanese Railways and his name was Kawamura Mitsuo."

Upon hearing this, Captain Hanlik was stunned at first, then he understood something and looked at Yukawa Hideki with a look of ridicule.

Yukawa Hideki also realized that it must be Kawamura Mitsuo who was trying to steal the information and was discovered.

Yukawa Hideki first bowed deeply to Team Leader Wang, then said, "I'm sorry to have caused you trouble."

"This is also our job. Kawamura Mitsuo is in the hospital right now."

"What? He's injured."

Hideki Yukawa thought carefully and realized that if he was treated as a thief, he would definitely be beaten, so he had no choice but to accept this fact.

"I am very sorry. I apologize to you for Kawamura Mitsuo's behavior."

Representatives from Hungarian Railways, Sandeko Railways, Czech Railways, John Bull Railways and French Railways heard that Kawamura Mitsuo was injured and all came over to join in the fun.

When these people arrived at the hospital, they were all a little confused when they saw the guy wrapped like a mummy lying on the bed. "Is this Kawamura?"

"Why were you beaten like this?"

Yukawa Hideki strode to the bedside and asked in a low voice: "Kawamura, how are you?"

Mitsuo Kawamura was awake at this time, and he almost cried when he saw Hideki Yukawa.

"Professor, I was beaten by these people. They are all barbarians. Protest. You should immediately let the delegation protest against their ugly behavior in our name."

Yukawa Hideki raised his head and looked at Captain Hanlick: "Captain, even if Kawamura stole something, he shouldn't be beaten like this."

Captain Hanlik cursed in his heart that he had never seen such a shameless person.

It’s just that Kawamura Mitsuo looks so miserable now.

"Comrade Patriot, what's going on?"

Li Aiguo took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth: "Kawamura Mannan was caught by the old man who stole the underpants of the switchman at the switch station. As you know, our supplies are very scarce, and the underpants are extremely valuable, so the old man took action."

"Slander, you are slandering me! How could I possibly steal someone's underwear?" When Kawamura Mitsuo heard this, he was so exhausted that he almost fainted.

"You are worse than beasts, what can you do?" Li Aiguo asked coldly, "If you are not going to steal pants, why are you in such a remote switch station?"

This reminded Kawamura.

Regardless of his injuries, he pointed at Li Aiguo and said loudly: "Captain Hanlick, I found evidence of fraud by Dongda Railway in the switch station. I wanted to come back and report to the railway representatives immediately, but I didn't expect that the switchman found it."

As he spoke, Kawamura thought of the torture he had suffered and sobbed softly: "That switchman was not a human being. He wanted to bury me alive!"

What does it mean to tell lies with open eyes?

What does it mean to confuse right and wrong?

That's it.

The delegation immediately split into two factions.

Those who had good relations with the Hungarian, Czech, John Bull and Eastern University railways thought that Kawamura Mitsuo was lying to cover up his ugly crime of stealing pants.

Lao Maotie and a few of his younger brothers disagreed.

"I think that since Kawamura Mannan has already found out the problem, why don't we go to the local area to verify it and then everything will be clear, right?"

The two sides were arguing, and finally the head of the delegation, Hanlick, made the decision.

The idea was agreed by everyone.

Team leader Wang was a little worried, so he pulled Li Aiguo aside and asked in a low voice: "Kawamura must have done something."

"Don't worry, we have already made arrangements."

After hearing what Li Aiguo said, Team Leader Wang began to arrange the delegation's trip to the switch station.

There are so many people going there, and their identities are very special. If something goes wrong, it will be troublesome.

Security work must be strict.

Just as we settled down here, Li Aiguo appeared in front of the red brick office building of the steel rolling mill.

At this time, the machines in the steel rolling mill were roaring, and the air was filled with molten steel and hot smell.

Having not been here for a while, Li Aiguo was shocked to find that the interior of the steel mill was full of large slogans such as "Work hard" and "Set sail".

Loud slogans were heard from the workshop from time to time.

When Li Aiguo pushed open the wooden door of the deputy director's office on the second floor, Deputy Director Li was sitting in a chair and reading a newspaper leisurely.

"Nephew, I haven't seen you for a while. Come here, I got some West Lake Longjing tea."

Deputy Director Li stood up in shock, quickly asked Li Aiguo to sit on the sofa, picked up the thermos, poured tea and handed it to him.

Li Aiguo took it, took a sip and said, "Uncle Li, how are you doing recently?"

"What's good about that!" Deputy Director Li slammed the enamel pot on the table. "Director Yang is now carrying the banner of working hard and giving orders to the factory's production work. Yesterday, he insisted on increasing the speed of the rolling mill by 20%.

Our steel rolling mill only has so much equipment, it can only produce a few steamed buns, how could I not know?
Don’t you think this is nonsense? "

He suddenly stood up and closed the door tightly, lowering his voice, "Last time, three tons of steel plates were damaged, but he asked the statistics department to change it to 'normal loss'. Isn't this just wasting the factory's property!"

Li Aiguo had heard all this from Xu Damao, and said with a smile: "Uncle Li, as the old saying goes, if it rains, it will rain, and if it wants to marry, let him do it."

In the original novel, Li Aiguo had no good feelings towards Director Yang.

Some people say that this person is very upright and has positive values, but it’s ridiculous when you think about it.

It can be seen from the original book that Sha Zhu has cooked for Director Yang more than once or twice, and he has almost become Director Yang's full-time chef.

Although supplies are so scarce now, Director Yang often invites guests to dinner at his home. Where do all the meat, vegetables and fine wine come from?

Deputy Director Li narrowed his eyes and tapped his fingers on the table: "Kid, you always speak in a roundabout way."

He suddenly slapped his thigh, "I understand! Are you saying let him make trouble first?"

Li Aiguo was not willing to get involved in the affairs of the steel mill. He smiled and said nothing. After taking a sip of tea, he smiled and said, "I came here this time to ask you to do me a favor."

"What's the matter, nephew, just tell me."

"Lend me one."

****
Xu Damao has been having a very hard time recently.

Ever since Director Yang came back to power, the work of showing movies to the communes below has been interrupted.

Instead, he had to often go to Director Yang's house to help show private movies.

This was a good opportunity to curry favor with Director Yang.

But now Yi Zhonghai often muttered bad things about Xu Damao in front of Director Yang, and Xu Damao was just used as a tool.

If you go to the countryside to distribute movies, you can also get some mountain products, big red dates, etc., and chat with the country girls.

Now every time a movie is shown, I don’t even have water to drink. Life is really miserable.

"Xu Damao, your skills are getting worse and worse. My master said that if you continue like this, he will suggest that Director Yang replace you."

Jia Dongxu was originally planning to slack off, but when he saw Xu Damao squatting under the shade of a tree in front of the office building, he walked over excitedly.

"Get lost! You have no right to judge my projection skills!"

Xu Damao was immediately furious. As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves and said, "Do you want everyone in the factory to know about your streaking?"

"I meant well, you, you, why don't you understand?"

When Jia Dongxu saw Xu Damao was angry, he was frightened and turned around and ran away.

"Xu Damao, you can be arrogant for a while. When my master becomes the workshop leader, I will transfer you to our fitter workshop. Then we can have some fun."

Although Xu Damao inherited Xu Jixiang's job as a projectionist, he was essentially still doing his job as a worker and could be transferred back to the workshop at any time.

Now Xu Damao is a little scared.

"It seems that I still need to find a backer, Deputy Director Li. Yes, I must hold on to Deputy Director Li's thigh tightly!"

Xu Damao felt a little regretful that Liu Lan did not cooperate.

At the beginning, he was willing to give up his prejudice and not pursue the past, hoping that Liu Lan could help him build a good relationship with Deputy Director Li.

But he was scolded by Liu Lan.

After Liu Lan helped him give birth to Xu Hua, Xu Damao dared not mention this matter again.

After that, Xu Damao also made efforts, but the results were not good.

"what can we do about it?"

At this time, a comrade in a gray Zhongshan suit ran over in a hurry.

"Xu Damao, why are you hiding here? Deputy Director Li is looking for you!"

Xu Damao recognized the person and hurriedly followed him, asking, "Secretary Zhang, what does Director Li want to see me for?"

"Your luck has come, boy."

When Xu Damao and others entered the office, they saw Li Aiguo chatting with Deputy Factory Director Li, and said in surprise: "Brother Aiguo, you are here too."

"Brother Damao." Li Aiguo stood up and greeted him. Without further explanation, he turned to look at Deputy Director Li.

Deputy Director Li secretly praised him.

This kid understands the rules and knows that he should be the one to initiate personnel changes at the steel mill.

He cleared his throat and said, "Comrade Xu Damao, I now give you a glorious task. Cooperate with Consultant Li to show a movie. Follow his instructions for the specific work and make sure to complete it!"

Hearing this, Xu Damao suddenly became excited and nodded heavily: "Director, please rest assured, I will definitely live up to your expectations!"

Xu Damao knew very well that with Li Aiguo's identity, he could easily find a projectionist. This time he must have come to the steel mill to help him.

In fact, Xu Damao didn’t guess it right.

There are many film projectionists in the capital, but few of them are unconventional.

In particular, there are very few people who can play homemade videotape films.

"Use a projector to play videotapes?" After hearing this, Xu Damao was also confused.

"Why, is it difficult?" Li Aiguo asked with a stern face.

Xu Damao shuddered. Li Aiguo was so scary when he got angry.

"If others can't do it, I can!" He patted his chest loudly, "It's a piece of cake, I guarantee it will be done!"

"Take your equipment and follow me now. When we get there, you must follow my instructions!" Li Aiguo added, "Remember, this mission is top secret. You must not tell anyone, including Liu Lan and Xu Hua."

Xu Damao was even more excited now. He clenched his fists, took a deep breath and said, "My patriotic brother, don't worry. I, Xu Damao, understand the seriousness of the matter."

Xu Damao had never been so excited.

In the past, he showed movies for young girls or to earn a salary, but this time it was different.

Xu Damao ran back to the Propaganda Department with great speed, picked up the projection equipment and ran outside.

"Xu Damao, it's working hours now, and you dare to show a private movie? Just wait, I will go tell my master now." Jia Dongxu had just received a set of work clothes from the logistics department when he ran into Xu Damao again.

"Get lost!" Xu Damao didn't want to bother with Jia Dongxu at all and quickly ran to the door of Deputy Director Li's office.

"set off!"

Li Aiguo put the projection equipment into the trunk of the jeep and drove fast.

By the time we arrived at the switch station, there were already many guards on duty on the roadside, and the surrounding militia had also been mobilized.

Looking at this scene, Xu Damao, who was originally a little excited, became a little scared again.

They are going to catch Dieter, the bullet shells are blind, if we are not careful...
Xu Damao's voice trembled: "Patriotic brother, I am just a movie projectionist, I don't know how to wield guns and sticks."

"Don't worry, you will only be responsible for playing the movie later, and you don't have to worry about anything else."

Li Aiguo stepped on the brakes and the jeep stopped in front of the switch station.

"Da Mao. It's going to get dark soon, go and set up the place."

Li Aiguo walked around the switch station and found an empty space.

Seeing that the atmosphere at the scene was relatively peaceful and that he could even see a few reporters from Renren TV setting up cameras, Xu Damao immediately perked up.

Even if I was shot by Dieter's bullet, as long as it made the news, it would be an honor!
Xu Damao perked up and, following Li Aiguo's instructions, did not hang up the screen immediately, but instead prepared things like movie tapes.

The work was difficult because some movie projector settings had to be changed.

After finishing everything, he was already exhausted and out of breath. He lit a cigarette, squatted aside, and watched the busy scene.

Xu Damao always felt that this place was like a big stage.

But who is the protagonist on the stage?

Xu Damao saw car lights cutting through the night sky in the distance and stood up immediately.

"coming!"

(End of this chapter)