The door of the courtyard house has been welded dead

The May sun was like a red-hot iron, hitting the cracked earth of the desert labor farm.

The sandstorm took away the chill of winter, but it brought with it hot sand, like countless tiny steel needles, mercilessly piercing everyone's exposed skin.

In the distance, the sparse camel thorns drooped in the heat wave, and a few red willows that had just sprouted were shaking their weak branches in the strong wind, as if they were silently fighting against fate.

At five o'clock in the morning, a shrill whistle broke the silence.

In the summer, in the desert Gobi, the temperature is not suitable for working after the sun rises, so people usually start working early or after sunset.

The prisoners dragged their heavy steps out of the dugout. Their patched clothes were already soaked with sweat and became stiff in the cold night air.

The supervisors and overseers blew on the spoons in their mouths, urging everyone to gather. The harsh sounds and scoldings intertwined and echoed in the empty desert.

The scene of work slowly unfolds under the rising sun.

The prisoners held rusty hoes and dug hard into the hardened soil.

Sweat kept sliding down his forehead, dripping onto the dry soil, and evaporating without a trace in an instant.

Occasionally a gust of wind would blow by, blowing up yellow sand all over the sky, blurring everyone's vision, and filling their mouths and noses with the smell of sand.

Those who were exhausted stumbled and fell, but were helped up by their companions and continued to work hard.

The farm fence glowed white under the scorching sun, and the barbed wire was twisted and deformed, as if it had lost its original toughness in this harsh environment.

On the distant watchtower, armed guards stood high above, watching everyone's every move.

When the sun sets and the afterglow dyes the desert dark red, the prisoners drag their exhausted bodies and take heavy steps back to their simple cells.

What awaited them was inedible steamed corn bread and the same hard work the next day.

Xu Damao didn't know whether it was three or four years since he came here. He couldn't remember clearly. Ever since Qin Huairu sent him the divorce letter, he no longer had much hope of going out and returning home.

At least, with his skills in projecting movies, reading newspapers to the prisoners and writing letters home, he has become the propaganda committee member of the farm.

According to the words in the capital, he has become a veteran here. From the guards to the cell bosses, they will give him some face. He doesn't have to work as hard as others. When he can't work anymore, he can just sit down and rest. The guards won't say anything to him.

This is the power of knowledge. Without him as the projectionist, the entire farm would have no movies to watch. Relying on mentoring and helping others, and with his two apprentices, he is one of the few people who does not have to suffer too much in this place of hardship.

"Master Xu, are we going to show a movie tonight?"

Xu Damao, who had just finished work, looked at the man who came up to him, took the cigarette he handed over, threw it into his hat, licked his peeling lips, squinted his eyes, and smiled cunningly.

"Wu Lao Er, sure, whatever movie you want to watch, I'll pick it out for you later. But I can't decide when it's shown, it depends on the Political Department~!"

The job was done, but not completely. It was just a cigarette, that's all. Back then, when he was in the factory, he collected chickens, ducks, fish, and a few dollars. It depended on his mood before he would decide whether to add a game or not.

"Ashima, it must be Ashima, hehe~!"

"You kid, day by day~!"

Looking at the perverted smile on the man's face, Xu Damao couldn't help but laugh and shook his head.

Yes, looking around, the farm is full of men, not to mention women. The camels that occasionally pass by the farm are all male camels in estrus, foaming at the mouth.

You can also watch some pretty girls through movies and satisfy your inner fantasies.

When he thought of the girl, Xu Damao couldn't help but think of Qin Huairu again. He sniffed his dry nose and couldn't laugh anymore. That slutty woman, who knows which man she was taken advantage of.

Was it his old enemy, Sha Zhu, who took over, or some mistress outside? Anyway, it has nothing to do with me now. It's a pity that he was taken away on the wedding day. Otherwise, at least I could still... "Xu Damao, Xu Damao~!"

"Here, here it is, Niu Guanjiao~!"

Before Xu Damao could recall the details of the widow, he heard someone calling his name. He was startled and quickly waved his arms and trotted over.

"Come on, follow me to the field office. Some comrades from other units are coming from the city to find out some information from you. You must not hide anything. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Supervisor Niu, I will definitely obey the organization's arrangements and will not hide anything. I will tell you everything I know and complete the transformation as soon as possible~!"

Xu Damao stood at attention with his thin body straight. Although he didn't know which unit he was from, he could still use the standardized terminology easily, and it sounded better than singing.

"Come with me~!"

"Master Niu, may I ask what unit you are from? I have confessed my crimes and I have definitely not hidden anything from the organization~!"

Xu Damao, who had been standing straight just now, now lowered his head and looked submissive. He stood half a body away from the supervisor and asked with a flattering look on his face.

"It seems like it's related to your lover. No, to be more precise, it should be your ex-wife. I remember that since you came here, you seem to have only received one letter. Is it the divorce letter sent by your ex-wife?"

The supervisor took a deep look at Xu Damao, who was bowing his head, and waved his hand to signal him not to act like that, and then asked about his situation.

Hearing the instructor's question, Xu Damao had a bitter look on his face, and his mouth felt like he had eaten bitter melon. That's right, he had been counting on Qin Huairu to send him something, but now, everything is gone and they're divorced, so what is there to send him?

Thinking about that time, when he married the widow, gave her a betrothal gift, and bought so many things, Xu Damao could only secretly complain in his heart.

"You really deserve to die, Qin Huairu, you've been blinded~!"

"Hey, Supervisor Niu, you see, I haven't even served half of my sentence yet, and I don't count on her anymore. I'm going to divorce her, and I won't think of her anymore, so as not to drag her down~!"

Xu Damao waved his hand nonchalantly, acting very free and easy. If the kite couldn't be pulled, it would be better to cut the string and give it freedom.

Seeing that Xu Damao seemed to have let it go a long time ago, the instructor nodded and then asked casually.

"I heard that you two have several children?"

"The three children have nothing to do with me. They are all my ex-husband's. I can't have any children. My ex-husband died. Since I lived in the same courtyard with her, she came to me. I had just gotten the marriage certificate when she was arrested~!"

He rubbed his nose awkwardly. Actually, something had happened between the two of them, but at that time, it was considered a private affair. Now that it was over, Xu Damao didn't want to involve her anymore.

"She was the one who initiated the divorce?"

"Yes, it's just that letter. I made a mistake, and I admit it. I can't let others get hurt~!"

"It's better to get divorced. Otherwise, it won't be you who implicates her, but she might implicate you~!"

The supervisor patted Xu Damao's shoulder vigorously, and there was a hint of relief in his scrutinizing eyes. He was relieved that the two did not have a child, and also relieved that they divorced early, otherwise, Xu Damao would probably be in trouble this time.

"What are you saying, Supervisor Niu? My ex, Qin Huairu, has she also broken the law?"

Xu Damao was a little slow to react for a moment, with a circle of question marks in his head. What did it mean to get a divorce? What did it mean that it would implicate him?

"Go in, and you'll know~!"

The supervisor sent Xu Damao to a separate meeting room in the factory. After opening the door, two staff members who had been waiting inside happened to meet Xu Damao's eyes. (End of this chapter)