Siheyuan: Xu Damao's New Life

December 25, 1960, Sunday, the eighth day of the eleventh lunar month, is a good day for marriage.

In the early morning, before the winter sun rose, Xu Damao could not wait to get out of bed. He quickly went to the bathroom and began to wash up. Then, he returned to the bedroom, opened the closet, and took out the Zhongshan suit that he and Lou Xiao'e had bought together.

He had never worn this dress before, but today he finally had the chance to wear it. He quickly put it on, and it fit him perfectly, highlighting his tall and well-proportioned figure. Then, he carefully adjusted the collar and cuffs in front of the mirror to make sure the dress was straight.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Xu Damao couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. He felt that he was full of energy and vitality. As the saying goes, "People feel refreshed when they are happy", and today was the most happy day in his life - his wedding day!

He took a deep breath, his heart full of anticipation and joy. Everything was ready, just waiting for that special moment. Xu Damao believed that this beautiful day would become one of the most unforgettable memories in his life.

Xu Damao opened the door and walked out. Some people in the yard were already up and moving around. They greeted him when they saw him coming out. This group of people were not usually so enthusiastic. Today, they were so attentive because they could take advantage of him.

At this time, the second uncle Liu Haizhong also came out of the house, holding a washbasin and toiletries in his hands.

"Good morning, Second Uncle. I will have to trouble you and Third Uncle to take care of various things later." Xu Damao said.

"Da Mao, just rest assured and leave the matter to me. Your uncle will never let you down." Liu Haizhong, a power-loving man, loves to put on airs and give orders. He will not miss this rare opportunity.

At this moment, there was a burst of voices in the front yard. Xu Damao thought it might be his parents and sister coming, so he walked to the middle yard to greet them.

"Old Xu, it's been a long time since we last met. Congratulations! Your son Damao has finally got married!" Grandpa Zhang in the front yard said loudly. Grandpa Zhang's ears were not very good, so he spoke very loudly, fearing that others could not hear him.

"Haha, yes, Brother Zhang, it's been a while since we last met. Several years have passed since I moved out of this yard! Today is Damao's wedding, so we have to have a few drinks!" Father Xu responded to Uncle Zhang's congratulations enthusiastically with a smile on his face, his words revealing joy and emotion.

In recent times, Xu Fugui has clearly felt the significant changes in his son - he has become more mature and stable. Seeing that this once naughty little guy is about to enter the marriage palace, form his own small family and take on the responsibility of setting up a household, from now on leaving the warm embrace and protection of his parents and starting a new life journey, Xu Fugui has a full sense of accomplishment.

Recalling every detail of his son's growth, Xu Fugui couldn't help but feel a lot of emotions: from his cute staggering appearance when he first learned to walk, to his excitement and curiosity when he first stepped into the school; from his crying expression when he was beaten for being naughty, to his uneasiness when he needed his parents' help to clean up the mess after getting into trouble; to his proud face when he received his first salary... Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, that innocent child has quietly grown up. When thinking of this, Xu Fugui felt both gratified and proud of his son's growth and success, and at the same time, a hint of sadness could not help but arise.

At this moment, Xu's mother was standing aside, chatting warmly with the aunts and grandmas she knew well. Back then, when their family still lived in the courtyard, Xu's father and mother had quarreled with the neighbors in the courtyard and even fought with them. Especially Xu's mother, her fighting ability was off the charts. Even a strong character like Jia Zhangshi could not get any benefit from her. As for Xu's father, he was also a rather sinister person. Many people in the courtyard had suffered at his hands.

Now I have moved out for a few years, and when I come back I am chatting animatedly with my neighbors. It really proves the saying that things smell good when they are far away, but stink when they are close.

Xu Damao didn't stop and walked over directly, "Mom and Dad, you came so early? Have you had breakfast? And where is Yingzi?"

Xu's mother laughed and scolded, "I can't sleep because I'm worried about you, the bastard. Your dad woke me up early in the morning and I didn't even have time to eat breakfast. Yingzi was still sleeping when we got here. She has to get up and dress up, so she probably won't be here early."

"Then let's go home first. I'll make some breakfast for you. We still have a long time to work. How can we not eat?" After saying this, Xu Damao took his parents back home.

When the three of them returned home, Xu Damao started to make a fire and cook. He planned to make a pot of shredded pork noodles, which could warm the body in the cold winter. Xu's mother helped to knead the dough.

Father Xu was carefully looking at the decoration and furniture in the house, and was particularly interested in the bathroom.

"Mother, I think this indoor bathroom is very good. It is very convenient and you don't have to go out to the toilet or take a shower in such cold weather. You don't have to go to the bathhouse. How about we get one too?" Father Xu said while looking at the bathroom.

"Okay, you have the final say in our family. If you say so, we'll make one too. But some of the things inside have to be asked to your son. He has the connections." said Xu's mother.

"Dad, if you want to do it, just renovate it completely. It would look out of place if there is only one bathroom. I'll pay for the renovation. I made a fortune recently." Xu Damao responded while cooking.

"It's okay to renovate it, but where will your mother, your sister and I live? It's not convenient to live here with you, and there's no room here." Father Xu touched his chin and said with some embarrassment.

After thinking for a moment, Xu Damao said, "How about this, Dad? My father-in-law gave me a two-entry courtyard house as a dowry. It's not far from both houses, but it's a little shabby because no one has lived in it for a long time. How about we simply clean up the main house and you can live there first during the renovation, and then move back when it's done."

Father Xu nodded, "Okay, then we'll go back to that courtyard and clean up and live there first. By the way, Damao, you just said you made a fortune, how much is it?"

Xu Damao chuckled, "It's enough for you to spend your whole life anyway."

Xu's father and mother looked at each other, and there was a hint of surprise in their eyes. They didn't expect their son to actually become rich.

"Da Mao, please don't do anything illegal." Xu's mother said worriedly.

Xu Damao waved his hand quickly, "Mom, don't worry. A few days ago, I went to the countryside to show a movie and went hunting in the mountains with the militia. I found a tree hole that hid a treasure. Later, I sneaked in and found a small box buried inside. There were 20 small yellow croakers and some silver dollars. I guess it might have been buried secretly by a nearby landlord. Maybe someone had an accident later and the things have been buried there. I will secretly send you half of it later, but you have to hide it well. You all know the situation of my father-in-law's family, and I will not lack money to spend in the future."

Xu Fugui nodded without saying anything. With the financial resources of the Lou family, his son would never lack money in his life, so he didn't hesitate.

As they were talking, the noodles were cooked. The family of three sat around the table, eating the hot noodles in a warm and harmonious atmosphere.