Siheyuan: The romantic and suave Xu Damao

"No way, I swear to God, I really have never experienced this! If I am lying, let God punish me..."

"Hush! I believe you! Don't make those poisonous oaths. This thing is still very effective. Don't say it casually."

Sister Li stretched out two fingers and covered Xu Damao's mouth.

"It's because I've been with a bunch of older brothers and sisters for a long time. Sometimes they don't even avoid me when they talk. I understand after listening to them more."

"Little brother, what is the city like?"

"Why? Sister Li, do you still want to follow me to live in the city?"

"I know I'm not up to the standard, so just come and spend more time with me in the future, okay little brother?"

"Hehe, I will definitely come here often. Sister Li is so beautiful, I can't bear to leave her."

"You're really good at talking. Do you want to leave later? I'll stew a chicken for you."

"No need, the village chief has some things to do. I'm going to the village chief's house."

"Well, the village chief's house is at the east end. It's easy to spot. The one with the door is the village chief's house."

"Okay, I'll be there right away."

As Xu Damao was speaking, his eyes were suddenly attracted by a wooden box on the table.

"What are you looking at? That's the dowry box that the girl brought with her when she got married. Let's go to the village chief's house."

"It seems that you really didn't lie to me. You were indeed a wealthy family before. Let the village chief wait a little longer."

Xu Damao picked up the wooden box and looked at it carefully in his hands, and couldn't help but make a "tsk tsk" sound.

The wooden box is square, about one foot long, seven inches wide and about six inches high. The lid is carved with exquisite auspicious dragons and phoenixes, and there are enchanting peony flowers next to it, which is extremely exquisite.

Based on Xu Damao's knowledge in his previous life, the carving alone would have cost several thousand yuan.

The base and square columns of the box are made of authentic Hainan Huanghuali wood, while the four panels and lid are made of golden nanmu.

"Did no one notice such a beautiful dowry box?"

"Yes, Mr. Zhang from the east of the village wanted to exchange it for two yuan and ten kilograms of wheat flour, but this is my dowry after all. Even though my family is in a difficult situation, I still can't bear to give it away."

"Brother, if you want it, I'll give it to you."

Sister Li said generously.

"No, no! Sister Li, I do want this thing, but a gentleman loves money and gets it in a proper way. This thing of yours is a treasure. I tell you, this thing is an old item from the mid-Qing Dynasty, and it is very valuable."

"It's just a wooden box. It's not as good as you say."

"Sister Li, you have to believe me. Don't look at my young age. I know a lot about these old things."

"I really like this. Let me buy it. And don't give away the things you brought back from your mother's house easily, or you will suffer a great loss."

As Xu Damao spoke, he took out a stack of ten-yuan bills from his pocket and handed it directly to Sister Li without counting.

"So many? Who do you think Sister Li is?"

Widow Li acted ashamed and annoyed, it was obvious that she had misunderstood.

"Hey, Sister Li, I'm just a young man who knows nothing. Here's the money to buy this box."

After Xu Damao finished speaking, he touched a sensitive part of Sister Li's body and then slapped his head.

"Oh, I forgot. I just told the village chief that I wanted to buy some chickens, ducks, geese and other things to take away. I can't give you all the money yet."

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Sister Li's face turned red, and she lowered her head to reveal her snow-white neck, obviously agreeing with what Xu Damao said.

"But don't worry, Sister Li. I will definitely bring you some good things next time I come."

Xu Damao felt very embarrassed. After all, it was no big deal to take back the money he had given away.

"You can take it all. I, your sister, have lived a good life."

Sister Li waved her hand, indicating that Xu Damao should take all the money, but Xu Damao held her hand and stuffed a stack of money into her palm.

"I'll give you fifty first, and I'll come over to make up for it later. I'll take the box and eat the fish in it. I'll bring some more next time."

Xu Damao carefully opened the lid of the dowry box, his eyes revealing anticipation and curiosity. Then, he gently turned the box over and carefully poured it onto the table.

As the box tilted, the scraps of cloth, buttons, needles and threads inside poured down like a waterfall and piled on the table. These seemingly insignificant items may carry Sister Li's memories and emotions.

Xu Damao held the wooden box in both hands, stared at it for a long time, then he slowly walked out with the wooden box.

Sister Li sat on the bed, staring at Xu Damao waiting for me. I don’t know what she thought of. Her face turned red, and she shyly lay back on the bed, covering her head with the quilt...

"Comrade projectionist, everything you want is here. It's just that those ducks are hard to catch. They run around everywhere. I only brought back four. Do you think they are enough? If not, I'll go catch more."

In the courtyard of the village chief's house, Xu Damao looked at the poultry in front of him whose legs had been tied up with straw ropes, and couldn't help but think of the courtyard full of poultry.

This proud goose is Yi Zhonghai, this one is Liu Haizhong, and the third uncle is the quacking duck.

This half-bald fat hen is Jia Zhangshi. I am sorry for insulting this hen. The other one who is more delicate is Qin Huairu, and this big rooster is the stupid guy He Yuzhu...

"Brother, what do you think of these chickens and ducks? Are you satisfied?"

The old village chief looked at Xu Damao who was grinning foolishly and was very confused, so he interrupted Xu Damao's reverie with a voice.

"Oh, not bad, not bad. How much? You're welcome. It's just the usual market price."

"You guys chat, I'll go back to the house first."

In order to avoid suspicion, the old village chief walked into the house after he finished speaking.

"Brother, name a price. As long as it's reasonable, I can accept it. If it's not possible, just follow the market price."

"Hey, just give some to these guys."

The middle-aged farmer said this with a simple smile, but facing the wealthy Xu Damao, there was something obviously unnatural on his face.

"That's fine. Look at this pair of big geese. Each one weighs about 1956 to pounds. Three yuan each. These chickens and ducks cost yuan. What do you think?" (In , roast geese sold on trains cost one yuan each. Of course, they were much smaller.)

"There are too many. We don't need that much."

"Brother, it's not easy for you either, just take it."

Xu Damao stuffed the money directly into the old farmer's hand and prepared to load the chickens, ducks and geese with their legs tied up onto the bicycle.

"I'm here to help."

The old farmer helped hang the chickens, ducks and geese on the bicycle.

In this era, you simply cannot imagine to what extent people can utilize bicycles. Xu Damao has seen bicycles in the city carrying five people including the rider, and that was without side baskets. If there were side baskets, it is estimated that the bicycle could carry six or seven adults and children.

Several chickens and ducks were all hung on the handlebars, and two big geese were hung on the edge of the basket at the back, which did not delay the installation of the projection equipment at all.

"Brother, please go back first. I want to talk to the village chief."

The old farmer laughed and left, while Xu Damao reached into the basket behind the bicycle and pretended to rummage around, then took out two large grass carps weighing more than three kilograms, and walked into the room holding the fish by their mouths.