Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

It's spring again. Although the flowers on the streets of Kyoto have bloomed, there are still not as many big-character posters as there are on the walls. They are everywhere, layer upon layer.

Xu Damao wanted to take his two daughters out for a walk, and after much deliberation he decided to choose the Summer Palace.

I haven't seen Pu Ju for a long time, and I don't know what's going on. He learned from Yan Zhen that Hu Wanxi is now staying at home to take care of the children. Because of Hu Tianhua, the school didn't let her go to class, and the main teaching class was history.

Hanhan, Dandan, was born in September last year and has never been out to see the colorful world. Xu Damao still wants to take his daughter out to play and have a look.

He was not afraid of the chaos outside, and arranged a group trip. Zhang Zhigang's family of three, Chen Zhiyong and his wife, and his own family of four, borrowed a camera from Xiaodong, bought film, and prepared to take some family photos.

After going to the Summer Palace and asking around, I found out that Pu Ju was not in the palace during that period, but was temporarily transferred to the Temple of Heaven.

If you're not here, then don't be here. Just play by yourself.

No one else was good at taking photos, so Xu Damao temporarily acted as the cameraman.

"Come, smile, look here, and say "cheese". Click, one picture after another.

"Uncle Xu, you can take pictures." Zhang Zhigang was very excited. Today, each of the three of them took individual photos, and they also took several family photos. His son Zhang Mingliang just grew two teeth, and his grinning mouth was quite interesting.

"Zhigang, uncle is from the Propaganda Department, how can you do propaganda if you don't know how to use a camera? Haven't you seen the factory blackboards often have photos of advanced individuals and advanced groups? Those are all taken by our Propaganda Department. By the way, have you ever been on a blackboard? Let me tell you, your dad has been on the blackboard and factory newspapers, so learn from him, kid."

"Uncle, how can I compare with my dad? He is now a level 6 fitter and has several apprentices. I am only a level 1 fitter. Besides, the level exam has been cancelled. I don't know when I can get a promotion. Oh... my salary can't go up either. My current salary is not even as high as Zhiyu's."

"Be content, kid. It's good to have a job now. Look at how many people are hanging out on the streets now, and how many young people have gone to the countryside to other places, Heilongjiang, northern Shaanxi, and the farthest ones have gone to Qinghai and Xinjiang. If you were asked to go, would you be able to handle it?"

Zhang Zhigang stuck out his tongue.

The last few negatives were taken of the two sisters Handan.

Sometimes Xu Damao would wonder if he was really causing trouble.

For the last photo, I originally wanted to ask passers-by to help take a family photo of everyone at Kunming Lake. Unexpectedly, just when I had made the arrangements and was about to take the photo, three Red Guards came over.

"Hey, hey, hey, whose camera is this? Who told you to take pictures at will?" The person who helped take the pictures was so scared that he quickly returned the camera to Xu Damao and ran away.

"Is this camera yours?" A Red Guard snatched the camera from Xu Damao and took a closer look. "Oh, it's a Japanese camera. I think your camera is of unknown origin. Come with us and explain your problem."

Xu Damao knew that this camera was indeed a Japanese Yashica camera, and it was a high-end dual-lens camera. As for the origin of the camera, he really didn't know.

Xu Damao was afraid that this bastard might damage the camera, so he took out the lens cap from his pocket and said, "Comrade Red Soldier, give me the camera first and I'll put the lens cap on it."

The Red Guard was still so obedient and handed the camera to Xu Damao. Xu Damao slowly put on the lens cap and handed the camera to Chen Zhiyong who was walking over.

"Xiaoyong, take the camera first and protect your mother and sister."

Chen Zhiyong took the camera and stepped back. Xu Damao suddenly kicked one away, stepped forward and shoulder-butted another, then lunged and grabbed the last Red Guard, twisted his right arm, and made him lie prone.

"Hey little thief, where did you come from? How dare you steal your grandfather Xu's camera. Are you tired of living?"

The man who had just snatched the camera wanted to punch Xu Damao, but Xu Damao pinched his wrist, turned him over, and pinned him to the ground.

"You coward! You dare to steal a public camera with a hoop on. Do you know how much this camera costs? You even know it's imported. You have some knowledge, but your dog eyes can only recognize foreign currency, not people. Do you believe me if I'm ruthless enough to beat the shit out of you and make you lick it back?"

This guy was really courageous. He shouted, "Hurry up, someone is beating up the Little Red Army soldiers."

At this time, some people gathered around and many people told them to stop.

Xu Damao picked the guy up and slapped him twice. "What? What are you shouting about? Bad element, where are you? Are you talking about me? I tell you, you slandered the people's defenders, state officials, and the working class in public today. You have committed a serious crime. Now you can start to beg for mercy. You don't know what's good for you."

At this time, the police from the Summer Palace Police Station came over and said, "Make way, make way, what's going on? What are you making such a fuss about?"

"Comrade, please let go and talk with us over there."

Xu Damao asked everyone to wait on the side while he went to a house not far away to deal with things. Twenty minutes later, Xu Damao came over in a swagger. Gu Meifang hurried over to ask, "Boss, are you okay? I was scared to death just now."

"Meifang, don't be afraid. Your father is a state official, a people's defender, and the big brother of the Red Star Factory workers. Just kidding. A few little brats want to show off their power just because they wear red armbands. I am teaching them a lesson. I hope they don't get lost too far on the wrong path. But it depends on their own choice. If someone wants to be a bad guy, we can't stop him. After all, we are not their parents. Let's calm down and ask someone to help take the last family photo. Today's trip is over."

Xu Damao found another photographer and took a family photo. On the way home, he stopped by a photo studio and asked them to pick up the film and develop the photos.

This is really a long time, a week is needed to get the photos. Xu Damao almost took them back and asked Xiaodong to develop them himself. But he thought, forget it, one week is enough.

The family had a reunion dinner at Yandaixie Street and dispersed at seven in the evening.

That night, while Xu Damao and Gu Meifang were coaxing their child to sleep, they asked Xu Damao,

"Fang Jia, is the standing posture you asked me to practice so powerful?"

"No, standing still is the basic skill. Only after you master the standing still can you learn the routines and practice the fixed-style eight palms. I practiced the standing still for half a year and could only last for half an hour. My master, Zhigang's grandfather, asked Uncle Zhigang to teach me the fixed-style eight palms in this courtyard. Only then did I start to officially enter the state of martial arts training. It has been more than ten years since then."

Gu Meifang looked at Xu Damao with admiration, "What's the situation with the People's Guard?"

"It's a long story. I don't know if you still remember that year when I was showing a movie in Nankouzi Village. I ran to your house in the middle of the night to look for you. On the way back the next day, I met two spies with guns who wanted to steal my bicycle. I knocked them to the ground. Your commune militia also commended me. I got a lot of benefits. I was given the title of People's Guardian. The Ministry, the General Factory, and the Red Star Factory gave me a lot of money and tickets. The bicycle ticket that Zhigang's father bought was a reward from the General Factory. Not long after that, I joined the organization and was promoted to deputy chief of the Propaganda Department. I became a cadre overnight from a worker."

This was the first time that Gu Meifang heard about this miraculous thing about Xu Damao. "His father, you were so amazing before. Do you think I was too picky and relied on you?"

Xu Damao hugged Gu Meifang and said, "Wife, sister, when I came to the countryside, I wanted to go to your house. Do you know why?"

"Why? I'm a widow."

"It's because the widow is so charming."

"Da Mao, is it still charming now?"

"I'm so fascinated. I'm getting a little excited now..."

Gu Meifang put down the child who had been coaxed, washed herself, and brought hot water to Xu Damao to scald his feet. "Master, you were too majestic during the day. I will serve you at night. I hope you will still be majestic."

"Of course. Come on, wife, get on the bed."