Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

At the end of January, Fang Xiaoru was in confinement after giving birth. She and Zheng Yongjun finally went to the street office to go through the formalities, refused the cooling-off period, and went through the divorce procedures, which also contributed to the extremely low divorce rate. Their daughter Fang Shuying also got a household registration and settled in her own house.

There was still a week left until New Year's Eve, and Zheng Yongjun had finished all the things he had on hand for the year. He returned to Yutian with more than 2,000 yuan in cash.

This year, Xu Damao prepared enough supplies. Before the New Year, he carried a whole leg of lamb for Li Huaide, and went to Zhuanta Hutong to bring some meat, flour, eggs and other supplies to Hu Tianhua and his wife. Comrade Hu had a hard time, but fortunately he didn't get stubborn and was holding on.

Because Yan Zhen and her daughter were seconded to the steel mill, the Pu family had a smooth and peaceful life. Xu Damao had to send a New Year gift. Yan Zhen was embarrassed. This apprentice helped too much.

Xu Damao gave the most gifts to Zhang Taihe.

Not only did he return the secret book wrapped in rosewood to Zhang Taihe, informing him that he had already mastered the art, he also asked Zhang Taihe to pass on the secret book as if it were a treasure, and that whether he could practice it depended entirely on fate.

Mutton, pork, seafood, cigarettes, jars of wine, a whole cart was pulled over.

"Lihua, are you going back to your parents' house for New Year's Eve this year?"

"No, they think I'm embarrassing them, why should I go back?"

"Then celebrate with us. My parents and I, smiling like mother and daughter, should celebrate together. It will be more lively."

"Yeah, well, maybe we'll have to meet each other eventually. It's nothing more than having a meal together, I can handle that."

"Then let's decide. You don't need to bring anything. There is food and daily necessities over there. Just bring your food with you."

After the 28th day of the lunar year, it is New Year's Eve.

The day before New Year’s Eve is the Beginning of Spring.

Xu Damao told Xu's father and daughter about Fang Xiaoru's situation and was rewarded with three rolling pins by Xu's father.

Fortunately, he only gave his son three rolling pins. He loves his own son, and now he has another granddaughter. When Mr. Xu felt regretful, he asked, "Why is it another granddaughter? Can't we have a grandson?!"

In Yandaixie Street, four generations celebrate the New Year together, and the fourth generation is pregnant with Li Weihong.

He Lihua also stayed at Yandaixie Street to celebrate the New Year and settled down there. When Zheng Yongjun left before the New Year, he had already moved his personal belongings to the more than ten square meters dormitory of Lianyun Disposal. Xu Damao tried his best to persuade Zheng Yongjun to move to No. 95 compound, but Zheng Yongjun refused. His only request was to find a job for his son in the countryside in Kyoto. He also did not ask for the yuan that Fang Xiaoru had promised. He was very content. In less than a year, he came to Kyoto and not only earned several thousand yuan, but also got a formal job and his household registration was moved from the countryside to the capital. How could he take the yuan?

Before the New Year, Xu Damao not only arranged business with Zhang Lingyun, but also strengthened his Qi Refining Technique in the factory bathhouse. As he expected, it took seven times to completely expel the dirt in his body. Now when he practices Qi Refining Technique, he doesn't always worry about dirt contaminating his underwear.

During the Spring Festival, Xu Damao also began to devote himself to the final chapter of the Soul Refining Technique. He also wanted to know what unexpected surprises this Soul Refining Technique could bring him.

Sure enough, within two days of practicing, in the early morning of the third day of the Lunar New Year, he felt that his mental strength was extremely strong. He could actually sense someone passing by outside the house. His mind wanted to know who it was, but he could actually see it.

Could it be the release of spiritual consciousness?

Xu Damao tried it to feel what Fang Xiaoru was doing next door. He could really see that Fang Xiaoru was sleeping soundly with her daughter in her arms.

It’s amazing. This technique is absolutely amazing.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Xu Damao, Gu Meifang and their family of four, accompanied by Chen Zhiyong and Li Weihong, went to Courtyard 88 to pay New Year's greetings to their in-laws, the Chen family. Xu Damao also paid New Year's greetings to He Yuzhu.

Yu Li was so surprised to see Gu Meifang and Xu Damao each holding a chubby and well-behaved girl who looked exactly the same as hers and coming home.

I had dinner at He Yuzhu's house.

The meal was nothing special, but it turned out to be a great event.

Xu Damao and He Yuzhu were drinking and bragging in the middle courtyard. Unexpectedly, Gu Meifang, who had finished eating earlier, rushed over from the Li family in the east wing. "Da Mao, brother Zhuzi, hurry up. Something big has happened. That Xiaoyong's father-in-law is back."

"What?" Xu Damao understood.

"Brother Zhuzi, go check, Brother Dongsheng is back."

Li Dongsheng was sent home by two soldiers, and then they left.

Xu Damao met Li Dongsheng when he was very young, which means it has been more than 20 years.

"Brother Dongsheng, do you still recognize me?"

Li Dongsheng looked at Xu Damao's young face and couldn't recognize him at first.

"I'm Xu Damao, the kid from the Xu family in the backyard. This is He Yuzhu, or Shazhu. His father gave him the nickname Shazhu. Do you know him?"

"I remember now, I remember now, I remember you two are about the same age, how come there is such a big age difference?!"

Xu Damao walked forward and hugged Li Dongsheng, only to then discover that Li Dongsheng had lost his right arm. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that his right leg seemed to be disabled as well, and was severely lame.

Xu Damao knew in his heart that he must have been allowed to go home because he couldn't work anymore.

At this moment, there is no need to say anything, no need to ask anything. They are a group of iron-like soldiers who silently dedicate themselves, like an eternal light, covered with scars, but can only hide their merits and fame.

He Yuzhu and Xu Damao took Li Dongsheng to the main room in the middle courtyard and continued to drink together. During this time, Chen specially cooked another dish and served three bowls of egg noodles.

The noodles that get off the bus mean welcome home, long-term peace, and a welcome.

Sure enough, out of curiosity, He Yuzhu asked where Li Dongsheng had been in recent years. He replied that after returning from the peninsula, he went directly to the southwest to build bridges and roads. He refused to answer any other questions. Discipline is discipline, and you can't say it even if you are beaten to death.

In the end, Xu Damao and Meifang took their children home, while Chen Zhiyong and his wife stayed in Yard 95 to accompany Li Dongsheng.

Xu Damao also handed the key to the backyard to Chen Zhiyong, and told him that the family had coal, firewood, and bedding ready, and they could move in but just need to lock the door afterwards.

This Spring Festival is really unexpected, very unexpected.

On the evening of the fourth day of the Chinese New Year, when Xu Damao was passing by He Lihua on Xishiku Street, he said, "Xu, how about you accompany me to the K Army compound tomorrow?"

"Why, is your family giving you trouble again? Did they introduce you to someone?"

"Well, my second brother and his wife came over yesterday. He just came back from a family visit, and I didn't go back on New Year's Eve, so he was a little annoyed. By the way, the regiment commander last time was my second brother's comrade-in-arms, and it seems that he is still single after a year. From what he said, it seems that he has a good impression of me."

"What do you think? The decision is yours. If you don't want to, I promise no one can force you."

"I feel like vomiting when I see that person. What else can I think? They want me to get married, so I have to get married. I don't want to go back, but I don't want my mother to be sad. I also don't want them to know about your existence too early, otherwise it will be disadvantageous to you if they investigate. You came here today, and I just want to ask you, do I want to go back?"

"If you want to go back to see your parents, then go. It's only a half-hour ride. Just live your life to your full potential and don't let others control you. No, it's okay for me to go with you."

"Xu, your words are enough. Now is not the right time. I will go back tomorrow. I will not change my mind. You are my life. No matter what, you are my man. I will not change."