Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

The Jia family was in chaos, and Jia Zhang started cursing in the central courtyard early in the morning.

"All you do is eat and eat all day long. Don't you know that there is a rationing system now? I don't know what the Jia family did in their previous life to marry a jinx like you and even wash Dongxu's clothes."

Qin Huairu was speechless, and could only carry the wooden basin to the pool in the middle courtyard to wash clothes, and could only swallow her tears. She had no job, no money, her mother-in-law was unreasonable, and her husband was a mama's boy who listened to his mother. To put it nicely, it was filial piety, but in fact it was irresponsible.

Since Jia Dongxu took over his father Jia Fugui's job, he was accepted as an apprentice by Yi Zhonghai. However, whether it was because of his poor understanding, sneaky behavior, or Yi Zhonghai's teaching of apprentices, or the guidance of his master who was hungry, Jia Dongxu has been a first-class worker for three years, with a job salary and processing age subsidy of only 31 yuan. The grain quota is relatively high, only 35 kilograms a month. For a family of four, eating one person's quota is not enough. You need to find a way to do the rest.

When your family is poor, everything is a sorrow; even sitting idle makes you sad.

There is also a woman named Jia Zhang, who curses every day and doesn't use the pension from old Jia. In her early forties, she is already clamoring for her son Jia Dongxu to support her in her old age. She also deducts two yuan from her salary every month as a pension for her.

Haha, he is already thinking about retirement at the age of forty. Only the Jia family will spoil him.

Although it is difficult to find a job nowadays, the street office often provides temporary jobs such as pasting matchboxes and washing wine bottles for street staff to take up. If you are diligent, you can earn five or six yuan a month, which is enough to make a living.

Xu Damao didn't care about these trivial matters. When he reported it to the finance department to exchange for old currency, it was only 23,000 yuan, equivalent to two and a half yuan today. He was definitely known in the factory as a man who spent all his money every month.

In fact, people in Courtyard No. 95 don’t know that Xu Damao’s salary after becoming a regular employee is not low. He is level 25, which is equivalent to the salary of a technical secondary school graduate, 35 yuan. In addition to the subsidies for going to the countryside, his monthly income can exceed 5 yuan after all.

Haha, Xu Damao learned from his uncle Yan Fugui, who was very low-key. Although he only earned more than 40 yuan, he stood in the yard and said that his salary was only 28.5 yuan, so as to prevent people from taking advantage of him.

Yes, this method also applies to Xu Damao now.

It's not good to eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks secretly. Yi Zhonghai will hold a donation meeting in Siheyuan soon. Xu Damao said he would not get involved.

During the busy farming season in the countryside, there is no movie screening. It is only in the summer when the farming season is slow that the movie screenings become more busy.

Xu Damao exercises every day, standing still, practicing Tai Chi, taking a bath in the factory bathhouse, and then reading books in his own reference room to cultivate his sentiments and read the anthology with red cover. This thing should be prepared in the mind in advance, so that it can be used in the near future.

After work, I meet Lou Xiao'e once a week, go to the park, and watch a movie at the Dongcheng District Cinema Daddy. You can watch movies for free at any time, cross your legs and watch while cracking melon seeds. It's comfortable.

Look, it’s spring, the weather is peaceful and the sky is blue.

On the Sunday of the end of May, Xu Damao and Lou Xiaoe went to Beihai Park for a date.

"Xiao'e, how about I take you into the garden without paying the ticket?"

"Da Mao, this is not good. If we get caught, it will be embarrassing."

"No, I know there's a gap in the northeast corner of the park. It's very remote and no one will check it. If it weren't for saving a few cents, it would be more challenging to sneak into the park."

Holding Lou Xiao'e's delicate, plump and blessed hand, he headed towards the northeast corner.

As expected, after parting the bushes, a hole appeared in front of Lou Xiaoe, which was wide enough for a person to enter and exit with his head lowered.

"Da Mao, how do you know this place? Tell me the truth, which girl have you taken to this place?"

"Xiao'e, who do you think I am? This gap was indeed dug by my high school classmates. I only came here a few times in high school, mainly in winter. It turns out that you like ice skating, and you don't have any money in your pocket, so, ah, there is this gap. Come on, save two cents, let's buy popsicles, and go boating in the North Sea today. I'll sing a new song for you later, how about it?"

"Okay, okay, Xu Damao, I didn't expect you could sing."

"Xiao'e, let's get along slowly and experience each other slowly. I know a lot more. My strengths are real, but you just lack the eyes to discover them. Today, you have seen one of my strengths with your keen eyes."

After buying popsicles and paying a two-yuan deposit to rent a rowing boat, Xu Damao slowly rowed to the center of the water. While Xu Damao was telling Lou Xiaoe about the architecture and history of Beihai Park, he was rowing the boat, which stunned Lou Xiaoe.

The island is Qionghua Island, the water is Xihuatan, the mountain is Wansui Mountain, the palace is Guanghan Palace, and the bridge is the Nine-Arch Golden Turtle Jade Di Bridge.

"Xiao'e, look at the white pagoda. It was actually built on the ruins of Guanghan Palace by Emperor Fulin of the Qing Dynasty at the request of Tibetan Lama Naomukhan. The "White Pagoda Temple" was built in front of the pagoda. Because a Lama pagoda was built on the island, the name of the mountain was changed to "White Pagoda Mountain". During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the area was expanded again, with the exquisiteness of Jiangnan gardens, pavilions and towers, so it became a garden within a garden. The white pagoda in particular has become a landmark building of Beihai Park. A composer just wrote a song. I don't know if you have heard it. I just learned it, and it just echoes what we are doing now. Do you want to listen to it?"

"What song?"

"It's called: Let's Row the Boat. It's the theme song of a children's movie. I'll sing it to you."

"Let's row our oars, push the waves aside, the beautiful white tower is reflected on the sea, surrounded by green trees and red walls. The boat floats gently in the water, and a cool breeze blows towards us..."

Lou Xiao'e clapped her hands with excitement, "Da Mao, is the White Pagoda in this song the White Pagoda in Beihai Park?"

"Yes, otherwise, there aren't many white towers in Kyoto that can be reflected in the water. This song sings about the flowers of the motherland, the children of the motherland, the future of the motherland, and the hope of the motherland."

After Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e had a love dinner outside, they were sent back to Lou's house. Before leaving, Lou Xiao'e kissed Xu Damao on the cheek and said, "Damo, how about we get married?"

Xu Damao didn't expect that the gentle and somewhat shy Lou Xiao'e would actually take the initiative to propose marriage.

"Xiao'e, if you are willing, I will ask my parents to come and propose marriage."

"Okay, I'll wait for you." He quickly ran into the gate of Lou's house.

This spring, we have had a great harvest.

Xu Damao rode his bicycle happily back to the courtyard. When he got home, he went back to the house next door, Wu Laoer, to exchange a piece of coal, set up the stove, boiled water, made tea, smoked a cigarette happily, and imagined his future with Lou Xiaoe. It was dark, and someone knocked on the door.

Xu Damao replied, "The door is open. Who is it? Come in."

The door opened and then closed again. Xu Damao had no idea who was coming. This was totally unexpected for him.