Xu Damao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xu Damao
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Lin Zhen's subordinate and antique procurer; formerly associated with the Steel Rolling Mill Propaganda Section 123 150 469
Occupation/Role	Film projectionist; later antique seeker and intermediary for Lin Zhen 51 155 464
Status	Living

Background / History

Xu Damao lived in the Siheyuan courtyard and worked as a projectionist, regularly traveling to rural brigades to screen films. His work gave him access to village leaders, hospitality, local specialties, and antiques; he initially exploited this position by soliciting gifts from villagers. 51 84

He was married to Qin Jingru during his early appearances. Their relationship was shaped by his obsession with having children: he pressured her to become pregnant, sought Lin Zhen's advice, and later pursued medical treatment for sexual dysfunction and infertility. 41 46 77

Despite presenting himself as polite and agreeable, Xu repeatedly acted against Lin Zhen and Lou Xiao'e behind the scenes. After Liu Liping rejected his advances, he anonymously reported Lou Xiao'e to the district, hoping to exploit her family background and damage Lin Zhen. 51 53

Lin Zhen exposed Xu through pulse-reading, then forced a confession and physically punished him. Xu subsequently became terrified of Lin Zhen and shifted from covert hostility to overt obedience, regularly bringing him gifts and antiques. 53 57 91 123

Personality

Xu Damao is socially adept, image-conscious, and highly opportunistic. He can quickly adjust his manner to suit the person he wants something from: he used money and material comforts to appeal to Qin Jingru, while presenting himself as a thoughtful, progressive gentleman to Liu Liping. 51

He is also deceitful and vindictive. When rejected or humiliated, he tends to retaliate indirectly through anonymous reports, instigation, accusations, or calculated manipulation rather than open confrontation. His schemes frequently backfire, especially when Lin Zhen or the courtyard residents uncover his involvement. 51 66 82

Under direct pressure, Xu is cowardly and self-preserving. Lin Zhen's punishments and intimidation turned this trait into extreme deference: Xu became willing to obey Lin Zhen's orders without question and described himself as Lin's right-hand man. 57 123 150 211

Later, he displays genuine resourcefulness and a stronger sense of practical responsibility. He helps Bang Geng obtain theater work, performs errands for Lin Zhen, and develops initiative in antique collecting, though his loyalty remains tied to fear, ambition, and the desire to prove his usefulness. 398 457 464

Abilities & Skills

Film Projection and Rural Networking

Xu is an experienced projectionist who travels between villages to screen films.

• Uses his position to gain favorable treatment from rural cadres and villagers. 51 84
• Can arrange screenings and maintain rapport with audiences and local officials. 155
• Previously abused this influence by accepting or soliciting gifts from villagers, leading to Ma Hua's real-name report against him. 84
• Later claims to accept rural gifts only after providing screenings, rather than forcing villagers to give them. 91 155

Social Manipulation

Xu is skilled at tailoring his words and public persona to the listener.

• Successfully gained Liu Liping's initial trust by inventing an unhappy-marriage story and presenting himself as a victim. 51
• Uses polished, politically appropriate language to attach himself to Ran Qiuye's tuition-collection rounds as a “volunteer.” 200
• Can build rapport with strangers within a few sentences, a talent he uses extensively during rural projection assignments. 155
• His charm fails when targets learn his history or when his lies are independently verified. 51 201

Scheming and Instigation

Xu prefers indirect tactics when pursuing revenge or advantage.

• Wrote an anonymous complaint targeting Lou Xiao'e after blaming her for ruining his pursuit of Liu Liping. 51
• Instigated Liu Haizhong to create trouble for Lin Zhen, alienating Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui when the scheme was exposed. 66
• Provoked a fight involving courtyard children, then attempted to evade responsibility after injuries resulted. 82 84
• Attempted to investigate Lou Xiao'e's family connections abroad for leverage against Lin Zhen. 76
• His plans are consistently undermined by his fearfulness, poor judgment, or the intervention of others. 57 82 142

Antique Identification and Procurement

After becoming Lin Zhen's subordinate, Xu develops into a capable finder of antiques.

• Studies antique reference materials supplied by Lin Zhen and combines them with experience learned from him. 464
• Collected five major pieces for Lin Zhen: a Ru ware brush washer, Ge ware wine pot, Yongle blue-and-white plate, a genuine Wang Yangming work, and a genuine Emperor Huizong of Song work. 149
• Acquired an imperial gilded bronze incense burner from the Daye period, along with two hens, during a rural screening trip. 155
• Located and purchased a jade pendant marked with “Yin Yuan” and a Big Dipper motif in Liulichang. 464 465
• Uses bluffing, including implying that he is a plainclothes officer, to pressure sellers into lowering prices. 464

Medical Condition

Condition / Development	Chapter	Notes
Sexual dysfunction and physical exhaustion	46	Lin Zhen attributes his symptoms to overexertion and fright, prescribing dietary treatment.
Acquired depletion and congenital kidney-qi deficiency	74	Ye Qi identifies both acquired depletion and a congenital deficiency after examining Xu's pulse.
Infertility test results	77	Hospital testing shows low sperm count, poor motility, and a high deformity rate; Xu initially considers abandoning treatment before seeking Ye Qi's second opinion.
Acupuncture treatment and collapse	123	Under Lin Zhen's guidance, Ye Qi treats Xu; Xu faints and appears nearly dead before being revived. Ye Qi states that three months of replenishment should restore him.

Relationships

• Lin Zhen — Former target of Xu's anonymous reporting and schemes; later the person Xu fears most and serves as a loyal subordinate, supplying him with antiques and carrying out errands. 51 57 123 155
• Qin Jingru — Wife, later estranged and divorced or separated at several points before reconnecting. Xu repeatedly mistreats, abandons, and attempts to win her back; she grows increasingly independent and confrontational toward him. 41 142 211 213 233
• Silly Zhu (He Yuzhu) — Long-standing rival. Their conflict includes property damage, fights, reports, public disputes, and mutual attempts to embarrass one another. 44 55 205 325
• Lou Xiao'e — Lin Zhen's wife and the target of Xu's anonymous complaint. Xu resents her for exposing his lies to Liu Liping and initially views her family background as a vulnerability to exploit. 51 53 76
• Liu Liping — Woman Xu attempted to court by falsely portraying himself as trapped in an unhappy marriage; she rejects him after learning the truth. 51
• Yu Haitang — Xu's later romantic interest. He dates her while also pursuing Ran Qiuye, then tries to regain Yu Haitang after learning of her pregnancy; their relationship collapses amid distrust and conflict. 201 211 213
• Ye Qi — Doctor who diagnoses and treats Xu's reproductive and physical condition under Lin Zhen's instruction. 74 77 123
• Ma Hua — Reported Xu's misuse of his projectionist position to Director Yang after investigating his conduct in the countryside. 84
• Shen Cuizhen — Rural woman who accused Xu of impregnating and abandoning her. Later investigation establishes that she and her mother fabricated the pregnancy in an attempt to force a marriage and enter the city. 233 235
• Liu Guangtian — Later works alongside Xu within Lin Zhen's circle. Xu envies Liu Guangtian's greater managerial responsibilities and seeks comparable opportunities. 457 464

Story Role / Major Arcs

Fertility Pressure and Marital Conflict

Xu pressures Qin Jingru over pregnancy while seeking advice and treatment for his own condition. Medical examination later reveals severe fertility problems, undermining the assumptions he used to blame Qin Jingru. 41 46 77

Qin Jingru becomes pregnant but miscarries after sleeping on an uneven bench, an outcome tied to Xu's petty behavior. She decides to divorce him, while Xu reacts with regret and tries unsuccessfully to placate her. 142

Anonymous Complaint Against Lou Xiao'e

After Lou Xiao'e indirectly exposes his lies to Liu Liping, Xu sends an anonymous complaint to the district accusing Lou Xiao'e because of her capitalist family background. 51

Lin Zhen reads Xu's guilty physical reactions through his pulse, sets a trap with pills, and eventually forces Xu to confess. Xu's limbs are dislocated as a warning, and he agrees to take responsibility for any future anonymous letters against Lou Xiao'e. 53 57

Subordination to Lin Zhen

Following further intimidation and a concussion, Xu abruptly begins sending Lin Zhen pork, fruit, eggs, rural specialties, and other gifts. Qin Jingru interprets the change as possession and hires Aunt Zhang for a soul-calling ritual, which ends with Xu demanding compensation after being frightened awake. 91 93 94

Lin Zhen later has Ye Qi treat Xu's body to make him more dependable. Xu becomes one of Lin's most useful subordinates, particularly for obtaining antiques from rural areas. 123 149 155

Romantic Schemes and Consequences

Xu competes with Silly Zhu for Ran Qiuye's attention while dating Yu Haitang, accompanying Ran under the pretext of volunteer education work. Qin Huairu's interference helps expose his disloyalty to Yu Haitang. 200 201

When told Yu Haitang is pregnant, Xu immediately abandons Qin Jingru in hopes of winning Yu Haitang back. His plans fail; Yu Haitang's family demands compensation, and Qin Jingru rejects his attempt at reconciliation. 211 213

Shen Cuizhen Incident

While screening films in the countryside, Xu verbally flirts with Shen Cuizhen and accepts her help finding an antique. Shen later appears at the Siheyuan claiming he impregnated her, leading to a violent confrontation between both families. 231 233

Subsequent investigation establishes that Xu never had a physical relationship with Shen. She and her mother used a false pregnancy claim because they believed marriage to Xu offered a route into city life. 235

Later Antique and Courtyard Activities

Xu continues serving Lin Zhen by hunting antiques, including a mysterious jade pendant in Liulichang. His attempt to prove himself alongside Liu Guangtian shows both his ambition and insecurity within Lin Zhen's circle. 464 465

After leaving the Steel Rolling Mill Propaganda Section, Xu adopts the appearance of a businessman and uses Lin Zhen's reputation to intimidate Lei Datou during a courtyard dispute. 469

Trivia

• Xu's greatest practical strength is his ability to make strangers feel comfortable quickly; even Silly Zhu later recognizes that Xu's habit of greeting everyone warmly is a real social skill. 155 540
• He is repeatedly described by others as a “villain,” but Lin Zhen concludes that Xu can produce valuable results when properly controlled and directed. 46 123
• Xu's antique collecting becomes valuable enough that Lin Zhen considers him difficult to replace, crediting him with finding more than ten minor antique targets. 205