Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

Xu Damao gradually began to move some small old items from Yandaixie Street to the cellar he had dug in Yard No. 95.

He had secretly poured cement and lime into the cellar dug under his bedroom in No. 95 Courtyard. Now the cellar in the backyard of No. 95 Courtyard is not only large in volume, but also large enough for people to stand under it. It is two meters high. The excavated soil was not wasted. A frame-shaped flower bed was built along the wall at the patio to plant flowers and vegetables. He was going to start preparing for the cunning rabbit to have three burrows.

When everything was ready, every three days, I moved some small old items from Yandaixie Street to the backyard of No. 95, just like ants moving house. I also renovated my door, reinforced the door frame, installed a metal anti-theft door, and used a high-end anti-theft lock with three insurances. I also put some broken glass on the wall of the patio and fixed it with cement.

This completely prevents thieves like Bang Geng from entering the yard. The only way to get into the house is to break through the roof. The probability of this happening is extremely low.

The second uncle was very surprised when he saw Xu Damao suddenly come to the yard to modify the wall and door.

"Da Mao, are you planning this big project because you're afraid that a thief might break into your house? There's no need to worry. There are people in the yard 24 hours a day. Which thief would be so bold as to break into the yard and steal things?"

Xu Damao did not refute, and politely handed a cigarette to Liu Haizhong.

"Second uncle, you said we are not really afraid of thieves outside. I am often not at home, and it is not that there is anything valuable in this house. But a broken house is worth a fortune. The most important thing is that sometimes thieves break into the house and mess it up. It is not nice to ask for forgiveness because the child is still young! Don't you think so? So it is better to make up for the loss and avoid such incidents from happening to us."

"That's true. You said that the idiot in the middle courtyard is really a mess. Jia Zhang doesn't care at all. You said that the old woman is not very old, but she only knows how to eat and drink every day. People in the courtyard said that people dare not walk into her house because there is a strange smell that can be smelled from the door. How can a hungry child be healthy? There is only money in the past few years, enough for her and her children to squander. In a few years, the little furniture will be used up, and she will start to clamor for people in the main courtyard to take care of them. Who can take care of them? It's really a landmine buried in the main courtyard."

"Second uncle, you usually take care of my room. Now you should be in the workshop, okay? I've been quite busy lately. Xiao'e has given birth to a girl, and I have to take care of several children at my father-in-law's house. When I have time, I'll come back and ask Brother Zhuzi to make a table for us. We can have a drink together and have fun."

"You are busy. My uncle is here in the backyard, so no one can make any money."

In fact, Xu Damao not only wanted to keep his old things safe, but also had a deeper meaning, to prepare for Lou Xiaoe's escape in the future. Once the Lou family fled, the organization would definitely look for him first. He had to be fully prepared and explain the whole story clearly, so that he could make a clear demarcation at the critical moment. Otherwise, he would be criticized and he would be in trouble. So the mass base had to be laid in advance.

The divorce was certain. The courtyard on Yandaixie Street could not be exposed casually.

The yard on Dongsishi Street is now empty, and Mr. Qi's yard is occupied by his parents. This is all clear, a deal in black and white, and registered with the street office. At most, it can be rented to the street office for office use.

But Xu Damao still has a lot of antique furniture in Yandaixie Street, including a large table, Ming Dynasty armchairs, flower stands, a small table made of Hainan yellow, and even four or five boxes of scrolls and banners in the basement, as well as a large number of porcelain and bronze wares that he cannot move. He can only hide them in Yandaixie Street. This is Xu Damao's future. How can he not care about it?

The last box of porcelain was moved back to Yard 95 during work hours and hidden away. Xu Damao felt relieved.

I didn't know until I sorted it out. I was really surprised when I sorted it out. In the past few years, I have collected nearly a thousand things, big and small, good and bad. There are seven bird cages and other miscellaneous items, some with bird feeders, some broken, and one bird cage is made of ivory. I can't even remember who helped him bring it back.

Looking at the wealth in the basement, Xu Damao was still very proud.

As I went to No. 95 Courtyard more frequently, I naturally became familiar with the people in the compound.

"Hey, Uncle San, where did you catch this fish? I finally caught it today."

"Ah, little Yuanchao, you've finally grown up? What grade are you in? Ah? Fourth grade. So fast? Where's your sister?"

"Uncle Mao, my sister is working now. Aunt Wang, the director of the street office, introduced her to me."

I happened to see He Yuzhu returning to the compound with a box in his hands.

"Brother Zhuzi has brought a movie box to the house. Doesn't this thing look a bit weird? It doesn't look like an ordinary movie box!"

"Da Mao, you don't know what's going on, do you? This is called a phonograph, imported. It was given to me by a senior leader. Remember the senior leader? That year, we went to that yard with Director Yang. You played the movie, I cooked, and then we drove a big-butt jeep to take the leader home. He gave it to me. How is it? It's okay, isn't it?"

"Brother Zhuzi, now that you have found a powerful partner, you have to take good care of me from now on."

"Not really. I'm just a cook. I only cook for the big boss from time to time. They gave me this phonograph as a token of their gratitude. Damao, you're not going back to the compound now. It's not a good idea to always live at your mother-in-law's house."

"Brother Zhuzi, your family is big and prosperous, with three rooms in the middle courtyard. Now Yushui is going to work and will get married soon, so there is an extra room for us to live in. My Xiao'e just gave birth to a girl, three children, and you let me choose one and a half rooms, plus a patio. How can I live comfortably? Am I supposed to cover the patio with a roof and add another room? The street office won't allow it. Alas, I still don't have much money, otherwise I could exchange for a bigger one. I don't want to live in my mother-in-law's house either. It's not as free as living in No. 95 Courtyard. See, I often come back to tinker with the house in the backyard during this period. Sooner or later, I will come back to live here."

"By the way, last time Second Uncle said that you would treat us to a meal, when is it? Ask your Huo Huo to come back more often to see me, my Dun Dun must miss Huo Huo."

"That might be troublesome. My Huo Huo is in the second primary school, and I know your Dun Dun hasn't started school yet. Next year, they will be in the same school, and we will see each other every day."

"Da Mao, you look like you're leaving soon or something, how about we have a drink together tonight?"

"Brother Zhuzi, no, another day. I'll buy some food and ask you to prepare the feast. We can have a good gathering outside. Xiao'e hasn't finished her confinement yet, so I have to go back to accompany her."

The frequent appearance of No. 95 Courtyard was completely done, the wealth of several places had been properly arranged, and the children's patriotism had been cultivated. During this period of travel and explanation, Xu Damao fully demonstrated his master's degree in the history department of Beijing University, and made Lou Xiao'e and Huo Huo talk about everything. It's not about being completely right, but about getting to the point.

This was the first time that Lou Xiaoe fully understood the aspects of Xu Damao that he had not shown before. She had never thought that he had such potential.

In the twelfth lunar month, Xu Damao's song "Right Here Waiting for You" made Lou Xiao'e cry.

"Moth, if one day you and I have to be separated for a while, what will you do?"

"Silly boy, I won't leave you. Look, we have three children now. Where do you want me to go?"

So Xu Damao sang this English song to Lou Xiao'e in the bedroom, and then told Lou Xiao'e very seriously,

"No matter where you are, I'll always be waiting for you here on Yandaixie Street."