Siheyuan: The romantic and suave Xu Damao

"Teacher Yan, please don't be angry. But think about it carefully. The reason why our country decided to simplify these characters must have been carefully considered, right?"

Xu Damao asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"I heard that the leaders at the top thought that there were too few people in our country who could read, and that one out of ten people could not read. So they promoted simplified characters to make it easier for everyone to recognize and write characters."

Yan Bugui replied with a sigh.

"Alas, I and several teachers in our school who are good at calligraphy are very dissatisfied with this. After all, those simplified characters are really ugly!"

Yan Bugui was still indignant.

"Oh, Teacher Yan, we can't do anything about it. Since the higher-ups have decided to use simplified characters, let's just accept the reality. This may be better for most people who don't know Chinese characters. Moreover, with fewer strokes, it will be easier for students to write! Let's just let it go."

Xu Damao persuaded.

He counselled Yan Bugui and patted him on the shoulder.

There is another thing. I heard from a friend who works in a newspaper that starting next year, our newspaper will change from vertical to horizontal format, and students' textbooks will also be changed to horizontal format in the future. When I heard this news, I was stunned! "

Yan Bugui couldn't help but sighed: "Alas, everything our ancestors left behind has been abandoned."

"What's going on? Teacher Yan, are you talking about the People's Daily?"

Xu Damao asked with pretended curiosity.

"Yes, let me tell you, Damao, the words on the newspapers we usually read are not read from top to bottom, and then from right to left row by row." Yan Bugui frowned, as if he had encountered some huge problem.

"Yes!" Xu Damao nodded after hearing this, expressing his full agreement.

"But, when the version is revised next year, it will have to be read horizontally, and from left to right. This change is so big that I'm worried that I won't be able to adapt to it."

"Especially when teaching students to read and recognize characters in class, if they still read vertically in the old way, wouldn't it be a mess..."

Yan Bugui continued with a worried look on his face.

"Hahaha, it's okay, you'll get used to it slowly..."

Seeing this, Xu Damao quickly spoke to comfort Yan Bugui, wanting him to relax. But he also knew it in his heart.

For someone of Yan Bugui's age, who has always been accustomed to the traditional way of reading, it would probably take some effort for him to accept this change all at once.

"Okay, Damao, I'll leave the things here with you. I'll go back now."

As Yan Bugui stood up, he muttered, "Nowadays, the leaders above are always doing all kinds of fancy things. They simplify the characters and mess up the layout. It's getting harder and harder to understand!"

Xu Damao watched Yan Bugui complaining non-stop, secretly laughing in his heart, but he still smiled and said, "Teacher Yan, calm down. Times are advancing, and we have to keep up with the trend, right? By the way, take this bag of melon seeds back to Auntie Thirteen and let them have a taste."

As he spoke, Xu Damao picked up the paper bag of melon seeds on the table and handed it to Yan Bugui. Seeing this, Yan Bugui did not refuse, smiled and said "thank you", then took the half bag of melon seeds and turned to leave.

After Yan Bugui left, Xu Damao quickly put all the bronze plates, ear cups and small bowls on the table into his personal space. He glanced at the watch on his wrist and it was already past eight o'clock in the evening.

"It's getting late."

Xu Damao muttered to himself, then fell on the bed and fell asleep soon after.

At 2:15 in the morning of the next day, the night was deep and everything was quiet. However, Xu Damao woke up on time as if he had set an alarm clock. He quickly put on his clothes, pushed his bicycle quietly out of the courtyard gate, and rode towards Lou Xiaoe's residence.

Along the way, except for the occasional barking of dogs, there was silence all around, with only the sound of rolling wheels echoing in the empty streets.

When he arrived near Lou Xiao'e's residence, Xu Damao stopped his bicycle and, with the advantage of his night vision, quickly locked onto his target - Lou Xiao'e was curled up in a dark corner.

It was late at night and everything was quiet and silent, but the crisp sound of the bicycle chain turning was unusually clear and loud.

After hearing the noise, Lou Xiao'e carefully stuck her head out to look, and slowly walked towards Xu Damao.

"Hurry up and get in the car! How long have you been outside? Are you feeling cold?"

Xu Damao asked with concern.

"It's OK. I'm wearing thick clothes, so I don't feel too cold."

As Lou Xiao'e answered, she jumped lightly onto the back seat of the bicycle.

"This time we have to take a route with more people. It would be better if we could go with those who just came out of the ghost market. This way it will be relatively safer."

Lou Xiao'e was still worried and did not forget to give Xu Damao some careful instructions.

"Got it. Don't worry! If I run into those robbers again, I will never let them off easily! I will definitely teach them a lesson!"

Xu Damao gritted his teeth and said, his face full of anger. After all, the last robbery cost him more than a thousand yuan, which is not a small amount! In that era, this amount of money was a huge sum!

Anyone who encountered this kind of thing would probably be furious and resentful.

"You can earn money again if you lose it, but if something happens to you, you'll have nothing left! Safety first, Damao, don't be angry. I brought some money with me this time, take it, and buy anything you like."

Lou Xiao'e comforted Xu Damao in a soft voice, and at the same time reached into her pocket, took out a wad of crumpled change, and stuffed it into Xu Damao's pocket without saying a word.

"No, I still have some money on me, enough to spend."

Although Xu Damao said so, he still couldn't persuade Lou Xiao'e and could only let her put the money into his pocket. Looking at Lou Xiao'e's concerned eyes, Xu Damao couldn't help but feel warm in his heart.

It was obvious at first glance that the money was the pocket money that Lou Xiao'e had saved up on a daily basis, and she just gave it all to herself. Although the amount was not large, it truly represented Lou Xiao'e's thoughtfulness.

"Oh, just keep it. It would be embarrassing if you come across something you really want to buy but don't have enough money!"

As Lou Xiao'e spoke, she gently patted Xu Damao's chest, as if trying to reassure him.