Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

"My three brothers, I have been grateful for your care over the past year and I have made a little money. This is just a small gift and some wine. Let's have fun together."

Before the meal started, Xu Damao gave each of the three people a watch.

There is no such thing as making a small amount of money. In fact, they really made a lot of money. Xu Damao alone made more than 18 yuan. The other three together also made more than yuan. At that time, Xu Damao's salary as an th-level cadre was only more than yuan a year. He earned more than ten years' salary in one year. It was definitely a lot of money.

Giving each person a watch worth a hundred bucks is a small gesture, but the thought is there.

Among these four people, Fan Changlong is the oldest, has the highest rank, and has the most prestige. He is basically the leader.

"Old Wang, Old Sun, look, our Xiao Xu is fair and just, right? You should admire my vision. Without saying anything else, let's drink together, four brothers."

Another big meal. Not far from Xishiku Street.

Xu Damao staggered over to He Lihua.

Fortunately, He Lihua was at home, and fortunately, it was cold outside and there were not many people around. Otherwise, Xu Damao's banging on the door would have really attracted a crowd of onlookers.

"Xu, why are you fooling around outside again so late?"

"I was so drunk that I didn't know the way home. That's why I came to you."

He Lihua was deeply impressed by men's love of wine. Her father, brothers, and her childhood sweetheart were all wine lovers. In fact, she also loved wine, but she just couldn't drink too much.

Xu Damao was not drunk, but pretended to be drunk. The New Year was coming soon. The briefcase also contained a gift for He Lihua: a round jade pendant from the box that was originally taken away from the west wing of this courtyard.

"Lihua, I actually have nothing to do here. It's just that the New Year is coming soon and I will be quite busy. I am inviting people to dinner at Shaguoju today. It's close to you, so I'll give you a small New Year gift. Otherwise, I might not have time to meet you in a few days."

Xu Damao took out the green jade pendant box with a red rope from his briefcase and handed it to He Lihua.

"What?" He Lihua opened the box and saw that it was a round jade pendant, carved with a rabbit pattern in the middle.

"Xu, how do you know I'm a rabbit? I don't remember telling you that I'm a rabbit."

"That's right. It's not hard to know. It's in the personnel file of the main factory. Your birthday is April 39, . That means you are a rabbit. I happen to have this pendant. It's meant for you, a rabbit."

It's always a good feeling to be remembered by others.

He Lihua happily accepted it and asked Xu Damao to help her carry it.

Xu Damao drank a cup of hot tea, smoked two cigarettes, and left. He came here purely to give gifts, nothing else. There are two daughters and a wife waiting at home. He can't just spend the night outside. This is also a new rule Xu Damao set for himself.

Xu Damao returned to his residence on Yandaixie Street in less than half an hour. He was drunk and, under Gu Meifang's care, he soon started to interpret dreams in his dream.

On the other hand, He Lihua was once again touched by Xu Damao, and fell asleep very late. The jade pendant given by Xu Damao reminded her that she was already in her early thirties and it was time for her to have a warm family. But she didn't know where to start. She looked down on ordinary people, and her family looked down on her even more. Even the families that could match her looked down on her. After all, her affair with Yan Yikuan was public within a small circle, and everyone knew about it.

She was caught in an overwhelming ideological struggle.

Xu Damao didn't think too much about it. In the next few days, he went to all the people he should visit and all the places he should entertain and give gifts before the New Year.

The New Year time belongs to his daughter and to himself.

In the first month of the year, Xu Damao stayed at home, coaxing his daughters and making millet porridge soup for them. In the early days, Gu Meifang's milk was enough for the two daughters, but now it can't satisfy their growing appetites. Fortunately, they can now be fed with complementary food.

Not many people came to visit during the Spring Festival. Apart from Guo Jiawei, Zhang Zhigang and his wife came with their son who was a few months old, and Xu Xiaoling and her husband came with Xu Damao's niece, no one else came.

Xu Damao had just taken out the scrolls of calligraphy and paintings from the basement, spread them out in the side room, and cleaned them one by one with a soft-bristle brush to let the calligraphy and paintings breathe, then put them back into place according to categories.

Gu Meifang really didn't know that there was a basement in this house on Yandaixie Street.

"Boss, is this from Xiao'e's family?"

"Well, not all of them. Some of them I bought myself. Don't think these things are worthless now. With them, we will have a good life in the future. The reason why I want to move is because our family property is here. You just need to know this place."

Gu Meifang, under the guidance of Xu Damao, visited the entire basement. Looking at the packed basement, Gu Meifang felt a little dazzled.

Xu Damao did not hide anything and introduced everything to Gu Meifang, including gold bars, pearls, jade, antiques, calligraphy and paintings.

It took five days to get everything in order and then close the basement.

On the sixth day of the New Year, Fang Xiaoru came to Yandaixie Street to pay New Year's greetings, carrying milk powder, malted milk, old wine and cigarettes.

"Girl, have you been to the village? Why did you carry so many things here?" Gu Meifang received Fang Xiaoru more warmly than Xu Damao.

Xu Damao was a little caught off guard. Are these two really that close now?

"What are you looking at? Why don't you pour me a cup of tea? Sister Meifang and I will take a look at the baby first."

Fang Xiaoru scolded Xu Damao like he was his grandson, and didn't hesitate to scold Gu Meifang at all. "Sister Meifang, I'm telling you, you have to use thunder and lightning to deal with this bastard in the future. He deserves to be punished. If he doesn't listen, don't let him get on the bed in the future."

"Sister, you can, but I dare not."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Hey, Miss Fang, are you here to destroy family harmony or create conflicts during the Spring Festival? Are there any people like you?" Xu Damao handed a cup of hot tea to Fang Xiaoru, "Be quiet, okay, don't always act like a chivalrous man, a woman should be gentler. Go away, stay away from my Hanhan and Dandan, so that I won't be influenced by you."

"Xu Damao, the more you say that, the more I will accept Handan as my apprentice and teach them the natural martial arts. What can you do to me? Sister Meifang, I have decided on these two apprentices first."

Gu Meifang smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I'll accept you as my disciple. I'll just call you godmother."

"Is this okay? Fine, goddaughter. That's even better."

Fang Xiaoru is also shameless now. Anyway, Gu Meifang also knows about her relationship with Xu Damao.

Xu Damao cooked lunch that day. He heated up the meat and vegetables, stewed an old hen, fried some Chinese cabbage, stewed potatoes with meat bones, and fried some peanuts.

"Let's have dinner, let's have dinner."

Xu Damao, Gu Meifang, and Fang Xiaoru had a reunion dinner together. This was really the first time.

"Thank you two beauties for looking up to me, Xu Damao. With the wine Xiaoru brought today, I wish you two sisters to live happily every day and stay young and beautiful forever. Also...be nice to me."