Chapter 42 Xu Damao Curries Favor with Wang Lin

The next morning, all the men in Courtyard 95 asked for leave and took their sons to the hospital for check-ups, with only one exception: Xu Damao.

Early in the morning, Xu Damao headed straight to the Xueru Silk Shop at Zhengyangmen. When it came to knowing the beauties of the Four Nine City inside and out, none other than Xu Damao could claim to be the expert.

He had pursued Chen Xueru in the past, but she had shown zero interest in him, leaving the pursuit to fizzle out into nothing.

"Beauty Xueru, keeping busy?"

Seeing that the visitor was Xu Damao, Chen Xueru immediately wore an expression of impatience.

"What are you here for?"

Xu Damao was not angered by her impatience; instead, he smiled and spoke.

"I'm here today to introduce a match to you. This person is extraordinary—only twenty years old, yet he's the deputy director of the rolling mill. What do you think?"

Xu Damao cast a glance at the teacup, his intent self-evident.

Hearing Xu Damao's words, Chen Xueru's interest was piqued.

"Xiaoming, pour Mr. Xu a cup of tea."

"Right away, boss."

After the waitress Xiaoming served the tea to Xu Damao, Chen Xueru smiled and said,

"You can spit it out now, right?"

A smug look crossed Xu Damao's face as he began to elaborate on the extraordinary status of Wang Lin.

Hearing this, Chen Xueru's eyes flickered.

"Are you certain that this Wang Lin has two wives, and neither the police nor the neighborhood committee bother to arrest him?"

Xu Damao was bursting with smugness.

"Absolutely! Why, I even reported him for illicit relations between men and women once. Because of that incident, I actually spent some time down at the police station myself!"

Though Chen Xueru maintained a smile on her face, her contempt for Xu Damao deepened inwardly.

However, she genuinely wanted to meet this Wang Lin now, so she made sure not to fall out with Xu Damao, keeping her true feelings hidden.

"Then can you take me to meet him?"

Seeing that Chen Xueru had taken the bait, Xu Damao smiled even more triumphantly, rubbing his thumb and index finger together.

Noticing that Xu Damao was actually asking her for money, Chen Xueru fell silent in thought for a moment before deciding to take a gamble.

Her family background was somewhat problematic, and the political winds suddenly blowing across the country could very well sweep her away next. Her parents had panicked and fled to Hong Kong because of these very winds, leaving her, a young maiden, behind to fend for herself and sink or swim.

She was utterly exhausted by this life of constant fear and trembling.

Little did she know that Wang Lin was fully aware of everything Xu Damao was attempting to orchestrate. Right at the moment Chen Xueru decided to pay up, Wang Lin walked into the Xueru Silk Shop accompanied by Lou Xiaoe and Qin Huairu.

"Wives, buy two sets of cheongsam each today. Wear them for your husband to admire when we get back home."

Qin Huairu and Lou Xiaoe both blushed fiercely, burying their faces in their abundant chests.

"Mm."

Their responses were barely audible whispers, but Wang Lin caught every single word clearly.

Then, feigning surprise as if he had just noticed Xu Damao, Wang Lin said,

"Xu Damao, what are you up to here? Came running over to go on a blind date with this great beauty? Don't go ruining a nice young lady now—forget not, you're a eunuch these days."

Qin Huairu and Lou Xiaoe covered their mouths and snickered. There was no helping it; Xu Damao's expression right then was simply too hilarious.

Indeed, Xu Damao's complexion shifted from black to purple, and then from purple to pale white.

Chen Xueru looked at Xu Damao in shock and asked,

"You became a eunuch?"

Xu Damao felt as though he had lost every shred of his dignity today, and his hatred for Wang Lin reached an absolute peak. However, because he currently needed a favor from Wang Lin, he dared not vent his rage aloud.

Ignoring Chen Xueru's question, Xu Damao put on an awkward smile and addressed Wang Lin,

"Director Wang, what brings you to the silk shop as well?"

Noticing how skillfully Xu Damao could swallow his pride and endure, Wang Lin held a sliver more respect for him than before.

"I'm accompanying my wives to buy a few sets of cheongsam. You couldn't possibly be here trying to ruin some nice young lady's life, could you?"

Xu Damao hurriedly fawned and laughed along.

"No, no, not at all! I just thought that Manager Chen Xueru here is as lovely as a flower and makes a peerless match for you, which is why I came over today to act as a matchmaker."

"Oh?"

Wang Lin swept a scrutinizing gaze over Xu Damao. Of course he knew that what Xu Damao said was true.

One had to hand it to him: in order to restore his precious manhood, Xu Damao was truly willing to risk everything. Otherwise, even for a great beauty like Chen Xueru, Xu Damao would never have introduced her to someone else, no matter how much he stood to gain.

Still, Wang Lin teased Xu Damao,

"Damao, surely you aren't unaware that I already have wives?"

At this moment, Chen Xueru was appraising Wang Lin with a critical eye, trying to figure out what made him so special.

Although Wang Lin was not strikingly handsome, his features grew more attractive the longer one looked at them, possessing an enduring appeal that naturally drew affection. The more she looked, the more Chen Xueru found herself wanting to become Wang Lin's woman.

Even though the era championed monogamy, capable men outside invariably kept a mistress or two.

As for having multiple partners outside, she actually found someone like Wang Lin all the more appealing for it.

Xu Damao awkwardly replied,

"Director Wang, look at what you're saying. Just tell me—do you want Manager Xueru here or not?"

Hearing Xu Damao's words, Chen Xueru cast an expectant gaze toward Wang Lin.

Wang Lin smiled faintly at Chen Xueru and said,

"As long as Xueru is willing, I naturally have no objections."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xueru's cheeks flushed red, her little heart pounding wildly against her ribs. She buried her head in her two snowy mounds once more before murmuring in a soft, delicate voice,

"I—I—I am willing."

Receiving Chen Xueru's affirmative reply, the smile on Wang Lin's face grew even brighter.

"Good. Then settle matters with the shop staff, and the two of us will go get our marriage certificate today."

"Ah? To—today?"

Both Xu Damao and Chen Xueru were utterly stunned. Neither of them had expected that Wang Lin would want to register their marriage on the very same day; it all felt entirely too rushed.

As for Xu Damao, his admiration for Wang Lin reached new heights.

Whenever he pursued a partner, he had to spend money on gifts, treat them to meals, and repeat the process multiple times before he could even hope to get them into bed.

Look at Wang Lin by comparison: straightforward and direct, heading straight for marriage registration right out of the gate.

Not only that, but the beauty actually agreed on the spot, making Xu Damao feel like he had learned a valuable lesson—though little did he know he was merely paying tuition for a failure.

"Alright, let's go right now."

Chen Xueru was not someone who dawdled. Since she had already decided on Wang Lin, what was the point of dragging her feet?

"Go ahead and pull two sets of cheongsam for each of your two sisters here; let me inspect them tonight, hehe."

Wang Lin chuckled mischievously.

Chen Xueru readily agreed.

Following her husband wherever he went, she had already accepted Wang Lin as her man, meaning everything she owned belonged to him as well.

Before long, Wang Lin emerged from the civil affairs bureau accompanied by Qin Huairu, Lou Xiaoe, and Chen Xueru.

Chen Xueru was still in a daze, unable to wrap her head around the fact that Wang Lin's polygamy was actually an assignment given to him by the higher authorities.

Her curiosity about Wang Lin deepened even further.

"What on earth is my husband's background? The authorities actually ordered him to marry more wives and have more children?"

Curious as she was, Chen Xueru was a sensible woman and chose not to press the issue with questions, trusting that if Wang Lin wanted her to know, he would tell her in due time.

Xu Damao, meanwhile, was utterly depressed. He had originally planned to squeeze some benefits out of Chen Xueru, never imagining that Wang Lin would tag along.

Furthermore, he was even more bewildered by Wang Lin's background. Chen Xueru was already Wang Lin's third wife, yet the civil affairs bureau had genuinely issued a marriage certificate for them without a hitch, a fact that baffled him no matter how hard he tried to reason it out.