Siheyuan: Xu Damao's New Life

After dinner, Xu Damao went to the study with his father-in-law and chatted for a long time. Lou Zhenhua told Xu Damao what he had talked about with his old friends today. Xu Damao said that he could help exchange US dollars and British pounds, as long as it was valuable.

Lou Zhenhua said: "Even though I only have some shares and dividends left, our family still has a lot of assets. But there is no rush. Please help me exchange them before I leave."

"Okay, maybe I will have to go to Hong Kong at that time, but the situation has been relatively stable in the past two years, so I can go whenever I want. I also know some people who may be able to help." Xu Damao said.

"Alas, if it weren't for the last resort, who would be willing to leave their hometown? I was born here, grew up here, and it's hard to leave my hometown." Lou Zhenhua sighed.

The father-in-law and son-in-law chatted for a while before going back to their respective rooms. Lou Xiao'e was still young, so Xu Damao didn't dare to make trouble and had to force himself to sleep.

The next morning, after breakfast, Xu Damao suggested taking Lou Xiaoe back home to celebrate the New Year. Lou Zhenhua nodded and said, "It's time to go back. You are married girls now, and you have to celebrate the New Year at home."

"Dad, are you tired of me and want to drive me away?" Lou Xiao'e said coquettishly.

"No, I'm not. Don't talk nonsense." Lou Zhenhua denied it three times in a row. "If you feel bored, you can come back after the New Year and stay as long as you want."

"Dad, let me use the car. I'll go buy New Year's goods with Ge Zi later."

"Okay, I'll ask driver Xiao Zhao to take you there. He will be at your disposal today."

"Dad, Mom, we'll leave first." Lou Xiao'e said.

"Go, go, it's not like we won't see each other again." Tan Yali said with a smile.

Xu Damao also waved goodbye, helped Ezi into the car, and asked the driver to take Lou Xiaoe to Wangfujing Department Store first, while he rode a bicycle there, as it would be very inconvenient to not have a bicycle during the New Year.

Xu Damao chased after the car at all costs, but he didn't even see the back of the car. When he arrived at the department store, Lou Xiao'e had already bought a lot of things, and the driver Xiao Zhao had become a bag carrier.

"Brother Zhao, please take the things to the car first and come back later. I'll accompany Ge Zi for a walk first." Xu Damao said. This little Zhao's name is Zhao Changfeng. According to the old saying, he is the son of the Lou family. Both his father and son have worked for the Lou family. It's just that he took over his father's job after the old man got older. Now Xiao Zhao is both a driver and a bodyguard. He is three years older than Xu Damao, so Xu Damao is not arrogant.

"Okay, son-in-law. I'll be back as soon as I deliver the things." Zhao Changfeng said.

Xu Damao took Lou Xiao'e's hand and said, "Come on, Ge Zi. I'll take you to buy something good!"

"What is it? It's so mysterious." Lou Xiao'e asked.

"Hehe, you'll know when we get there." Xu Damao pulled Lou Xiao'e directly to the home appliance area on the second floor.

"Da Mao, do you want to buy a radio? It's good to buy one. I can listen to the radio to kill time when you are not at home." Lou Xiao'e said happily. Since she became pregnant, Xu Damao did not let her continue to write books, saying that it was too stressful. She was also pregnant for the first time and was afraid of accidents, so she decisively followed Xu Damao's advice. Therefore, Lou Xiao'e was indeed a little bored during this period, but fortunately her mother was with her.

"If you want to buy a radio, let's buy one. I have tickets here too," said Xu Damao.

"Huh? Aren't you buying a radio? Then what do you want to buy?" Lou Xiao'e asked puzzledly.

"It's a TV. Look, what is this?" Xu Damao took out a TV ticket from the space and handed it to Lou Xiao'e. It was one of the rewards given to him by Deputy Director Sun of the Art Troupe.

"Oh, TV tickets! Where did you get them?" Lou Xiao'e asked in confusion. The Lou family had a TV, and Lou Xiao'e was no stranger to TV.

"The military songs I wrote before were favored by the army. This is my reward." Xu Damao said with some pride.

"Da Mao, you are really capable. Let's go buy it quickly. It's just right for us to watch it at home during the New Year."

The two came to the counter selling televisions and said, "Comrade, we want to buy a TV."

The salesperson looked up at them and asked, "Do you have tickets?" His attitude was not warm but not bad either. The salesperson was not stupid. Those who could afford a TV set these days were not ordinary people, so he would not offend them if he could.

Lou Xiao'e handed over the TV ticket and the salesperson picked it up and examined it carefully.

"This is a Panda brand 14-inch black-and-white TV ticket, and it is specially provided to the military. The ticket has been paid for. Just follow me to get the TV." The salesperson took a look at the two of them. These two young men were no ordinary people.

Soon the salesperson led the two to the warehouse at the back of the first floor, pointed at a large cardboard box and said, "This is the TV. Do you want us to deliver it?"

"No need, I'll just move it to the door." Xu Damao squatted down and picked up the box. "Okay, Ezi, let's go back."

"Well, let's go back quickly." Lou Xiao'e was very happy to see that she had bought a new TV, and she couldn't wait to go home.

Xu Damao came to the door and put the box into the car. "Ezi, you go back first. I still need to buy some things and will be back soon."

"Okay, Damao, ride slowly. There are many people on the street, so please be careful." Lou Xiao'e reminded.

Xu Damao rode his bike to the courtyard where his wife came as a dowry, opened the door, left a note inviting Nan Yi and his wife to come over for a drink in the evening, and then went back. When he was almost at the courtyard, he found an empty alley, took out a lot of food from the space, and pushed the cart back to the courtyard.

As soon as Xu Damao entered the yard, he found that it was very quiet today. It was the end of the year and the winter vacation had started. Not to mention other children, it was the time when they should be having fun in the yard.

Confused, Xu Damao pushed the cart back to the backyard. Wow, wow! I saw a dark mass of people outside his house. I'm afraid that everyone in the yard is at his doorstep.

"Everyone, please make way and let me in first." Xu Damao shouted after parking the car, and reached out to pull Li Quezi who was behind him.

Li Quezi was standing on tiptoe and stretching his neck to look inside, when he suddenly felt someone tugging at him, and he immediately got angry. "Who is the blind person tugging at me? Oh, it's brother Damao. Come over quickly, everyone make way! Damao is back."

"Da Mao, did your family buy a new TV?"

“How much did it cost?”

"I've never watched TV in my life!"

"Da Mao, hurry up and fix the TV so that everyone can see it!"

"Mom, is this the TV with the villain in it that the teacher mentioned?"

The shouting finally parted the crowd, and Xu Damao returned home with his things. "Everyone, stop arguing, my wife is still pregnant!"

Xu Damao put his things down as soon as he entered the house. Lou Xiao'e was chatting with Yu Shui in the inner room, while the driver Zhao Changfeng was standing in the living room, watching the people outside the house vigilantly, mainly to block the door and prevent anyone from bumping into the lady.

"Thank you, Brother Zhao, but you need to do me a favor later. Let's fix the antenna of this TV together. Don't go back after you're done. Let's have a simple lunch here at noon."