Siheyuan: The romantic and suave Xu Damao

When Xu Damao heard this, he thought to himself, "That's what Cuilan said, too." So he immediately sat up and started to put on his clothes.

"Well, come over. My sister and I can sleep alone."

Cuinong also said.

"You two really don't want me to accompany you?"

Xu Damao looked at Cuilan and Cuinong and asked.

"No need, the two of us can sleep just fine, one more person would make it feel crowded."

Cuilan smiled and said something insincerely.

"Okay, I'll go over then."

Xu Damao gently sat up from the bed, put on his clothes, then carefully opened the door and tiptoed out of the room.

He walked along the corridor quietly, trying not to make any noise so as not to wake up others. Finally, he came to the door of Zhao Fangfang's room, gently opened the door, and slipped in.

The next morning, before daybreak, Xu Damao got up early, put on his clothes, and prepared to take Cuilan to her workplace.

There were fewer people on the street than usual, and the atmosphere seemed a little deserted. Xu Damao and Cuilan strolled along the street together, enjoying the peace and tranquility.

They found a snack stand on the street and had a simple breakfast. Afterwards, Xu Damao sent Cuilan to her workplace and said goodbye to her. Then, Xu Damao hurried back home.

When Xu Damao returned home, he found Zhao Fangfang and Cuinong sitting at the dining table enjoying breakfast.

When the two saw Xu Damao coming back, they enthusiastically invited Xu Damao to have dinner with them, but Xu Damao smiled and shook his head, indicating that he had already eaten on the street.

"You guys eat, I'll go make some paste for the Spring Festival couplets."

After Xu Damao finished speaking, he stood up and walked into the kitchen, came to the stove, and prepared to light it.

Seeing that there was still some charcoal in the furnace, he simply picked up a few pieces of firewood and put it in, and a raging fire quickly burned.

Then he scooped two large scoops of water into the pot, and then luxuriously took out some flour from his personal space and poured it into the pot, stirring it constantly with a spoon.

In a short while, a pot of steaming, sticky paste is ready.

Xu Damao carefully put away some of the paste and put it into his personal space for later use, then put the remaining paste into an iron basin, took a small broom made of sorghum to sweep the chopping board, and then walked out of the kitchen with satisfaction.

At this time, Zhao Fangfang and Cuinong had just finished breakfast and were busy arranging the Spring Festival couplets and door gods sent by Xu Damao.

"Da Mao, are we going to put up the Spring Festival couplets now?" Zhao Fangfang looked up at Xu Damao and asked while arranging the couplets in her hands.

Cuinong on the side also stopped what she was doing and turned her gaze to Xu Damao, waiting for his answer.

"Well, let's put it up now. Putting up the Spring Festival couplets early will make us feel more at ease." Xu Damao responded with a smile. Hearing this, Zhao Fangfang and Cuinong both smiled happily.

As Xu Damao spoke, he took the paste and a small broom and walked to the gate. He tore off the Spring Festival couplets and door gods that were left on it last year and began to apply the paste.

"I'll be in charge of brushing, and you two will be in charge of posting, how about that?"

"Okay!"

Cuinong, holding the Spring Festival couplets and door gods, nodded in agreement.

After Xu Damao finished applying paste on the gate of the courtyard, he returned to the yard and began to apply paste on the doors of the left and right wing rooms and the main hall one by one, even the kitchen and the toilet.

Soon, after a while of busy work, they pasted Spring Festival couplets and door gods on the doors of every room outside, and Xu Damao started to set off firecrackers.

Xu Damao put his things away, washed his hands, said hello to Zhao Fangfang and Cuinong, pushed the cart out the door, and prepared to go to the courtyard where he lived to put up Spring Festival couplets.

When I returned to the courtyard where I lived, I saw He Yuzhu and He Yushui, carrying a chair and also posting Spring Festival couplets outside.

Why did they have to move the chair? Of course, it was because He Yuzhu was not very tall. He was estimated to be only about 168 cm tall...

"Shazhu, you are also putting up Spring Festival couplets, do you need help?"

"No need, Damao, are you coming back to put up the Spring Festival couplets too?"

"Well, hurry up and put it on because I have to go out. Some friends want to drink with me."

"Okay, then go and do your work."

"By the way, I'm going to set up a few tables in a couple of days. I'll be troubling you then, Shazhu."

"We are all from the same courtyard, it's no trouble at all!"

Xu Damao smiled and nodded, then went back to his residence and started to get busy.

He picked up the Spring Festival couplets, carefully marked the position, and then pasted them on carefully.

Every step is done with extreme caution, as if this is not just a piece of paper, but also a blessing and expectation for the New Year.

After pasting the Spring Festival couplets, Xu Damao looked around again to make sure nothing was missed before nodding with satisfaction.

"Okay, you're done!"

He clapped his hands and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

Then, Xu Damao packed up his things and prepared to go out.

"Silly Zhu, are you still busy? I'll be out first!"

Passing by He Yuzhu's house, Xu Damao saw He Yuzhu still busy. He greeted him, hummed a little tune, and left the courtyard in a happy mood.

Riding on his bicycle, Xu Damao flew like a nimble swallow straight to the courtyard he had bought.

"Oh! Having too many houses is troublesome. I have to run back and forth to post Spring Festival couplets..." Xu Damao muttered to himself as he walked briskly out of the courtyard. There was a hint of helplessness on his face, but his eyes revealed a sense of satisfaction. After all, owning multiple properties is also a symbol of wealth.

Arriving at the gate of the courtyard, Xu Damao gently pushed the door open, and then carefully pushed the car into the yard. Then, he took out the prepared paste and spring couplets from his personal space, and prepared to start the busy work of pasting spring couplets.

He carefully unfolded the Spring Festival couplets, dipped a brush in a proper amount of paste, and evenly applied it on the back of the couplets. Then, he carefully pasted the couplets on the door, making sure that every corner was flat and wrinkle-free. Throughout the process, he was focused and serious, as if he was completing an important task.

After pasting the Spring Festival couplets, Xu Damao did not stop to rest, but immediately rode his bicycle and headed straight to Lou Xiaoe's house. He was thinking whether he could help the Lou family paste the Spring Festival couplets to add a festive atmosphere.

When Xu Damao arrived at the door of Lou Xiao'e's house, he found that the Lou family was busy pasting Spring Festival couplets. He hurriedly parked his bicycle on the side of the road and quickly walked forward to offer to help.

"Da Mao, you are here. Hehe, you are so tall, so I don't have to stand on a bench to work." When Lou Xiao'e saw Xu Damao coming, a bright smile bloomed on her face and she said happily. Her beautiful big eyes curved into cute little crescents.

Xu Damao responded with a smile, and without saying anything, he began to quietly devote himself to the work of pasting Spring Festival couplets. He stood on a stool, held the couplets high, and pasted them on the door accurately. His movements were skillful and agile, showing his mastery of this traditional custom.