Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

No one will show up at a wedding unless you invite them; at a funeral, people will come even if they don’t invite them.

At the end of the month, Xu Damao still went to No. 95 Courtyard. He arrived very early, burned three incense sticks, and offered ten yuan as a gift. After saying his final goodbyes to the body of the old lady, Xu Damao did not participate in the funeral and the send-off of the coffin.

He returned to the backyard, cleaned the room, and quietly took out the calligraphy and paintings from the basement to air them out. After checking that they were all ready, he tidied the room again, locked the door, said something to He Yuzhu who was preparing a funeral banquet in the middle courtyard, and greeted the third uncle Yan Fugui who was fiddling with an abacus and keeping accounts nearby, then went back on his own without joining the banquet that Yan was about to prepare.

Xu Damao had a bad relationship with his uncle, so he came here today just to say goodbye to his aunt. The dead are the greatest, and Xu Damao's aunt occasionally took care of him when he was a child.

Recently, copying and studying Buddhist scriptures has unconsciously improved Xu Damao's spiritual realm, and he now has new insights into many things that he used to worry about.

Maybe it's because I really have wisdom. Once I realized it, my nature changed.

I stopped by Courtyard 88 to visit Mrs. Zhang and her husband.

"Master's wife, my master is not at home?"

"Da Mao, ever since someone gave him a pair of thrush birds during the Spring Festival, the old man has fallen in love with bird-walking. He goes out to walk the birds every day and doesn't come back until noon."

"Master's wife, that's fine. It's good for the old to have fun. Just let him go. You take care of yourself, get up early with my master, go for a walk, and practice boxing. It's good. If you want to eat out instead of cooking, it's not like before. There are plenty of supplies and no shortage of food. My brothers Tengyun and Lingyun have money. If you don't have enough, go ask them for it." Xu Damao was joking with the master's wife quietly.

"Da Mao, we have enough money. Although your master and I are both retired now, we still have pensions. The total amount is more than 90, which is not enough for us to spend. But if we don't go home, it's really hard to find a good time to go out for dinner. Forget it. We can't afford the delicious food. Your master is picky and may not eat ordinary food. It's okay. We have been through so many ups and downs for so many years. Now the times are clear and there are not so many bad things. It's good to be alive. What brought you here today?"

"An old lady from Yard 95 passed away, so I came here today to see her off. I left without waiting for the banquet, so I stopped by to visit."

"Oh, it's Master Yi's wife. Damao, you may not know that Master Yi is a bastard. He used to have some grudges against your master. He is a jerk. You don't know, right? I heard that he got together with that widow in your courtyard again, which pissed off his wife. Oh... He is a person, nothing to say."

"Is that true? The one next door to her, Jia Zhang, the short, fat old hag as a ball?"

"Why, didn't the people in your hospital tell you the truth? That's right, the people in your No. 95 hospital like to keep things secret, for fear that the scandal will get out and it will be bad. Everyone has a mouth, and they can cover it up. Otherwise, how could our hospital know about it, and even know the details?"

Xu Damao's brain was really shocked at this time. It turned out that this was the case. Then should they let their white-eyed wolf Bang Geng return to the city, and then recognize him as their grandson and start a plan for his retirement? Is Yi Zhonghai going to give up his job to Bang Geng? This seems unlikely, after all, the salary of an eighth-level worker is over 100 yuan.

It was already noon when Xu Damao arrived at Dongsi. Gu Meifang and her two sons had already eaten, and her two daughters went to Pu's house to learn musical instruments.

"Meifang, what's there to eat?"

"Ah, aren't you having a feast today? Why, you didn't eat?"

"Well, I went to visit my master and came back late. What's there to eat?"

"Yes, there's also some porridge and steamed buns. I'll make you some eggs and stir-fry some shredded potatoes. It'll be quick."

"Okay, I'm a little bit upset. I got up early today and ate a bun and a bowl of soybean milk. I didn't bring any food coupons with me."

Soon, scrambled eggs and shredded potatoes were served, and fried peanuts were also served. Gu Meifang came over with a wine cup and a bottle of wine, "Have a few drinks first, and heat up the steamed buns and porridge. It will take a few minutes."

Xu Damao really wanted to drink a few cups. Today, he heard about Yi Zhonghai's affair with Jia Zhang in his later years. He analyzed himself all the way back. He thought that before he married Lou Xiao'e, he had an affair with Qin Huairu from the same courtyard. When he went to the countryside, he slept with Gu Meifang. After marriage, he also had an affair with the three parties. Later, he had an affair with Fang Xiaoru and He Lihua. He was also a big bastard. What qualifications did he have to laugh at Yi Zhonghai?

While the two children were out of the house and playing in the yard, Xu Damao couldn't help but ask Gu Meifang,

"Meifang, you said that I am living with you and Xiaoru at the same time. Are you unhappy about it?"

Gu Meifang didn't expect Xu Damao to ask this question suddenly. She seemed to have never thought about it before. "Boss, what's the matter? What happened?"

"No, I went to the funeral today and heard that Yi Zhonghai had an affair with Jia Zhang from the same courtyard. Maybe that's how the aunt died of depression. So I didn't think that I was in the same situation now."

"Head of the family, I never thought that you were wrong. Maybe I'm just selfish. Because of you, I can truly live up to the Chen family. Otherwise, where would the three of us be now? Now Xiaoyong and Xiaoyu have both moved to the city and have their own families. You are my, Gu Meifang's greatest benefactor and lover in my life. How could I have any complaints? The only thing I was worried about before was Hanhan. When Dandan grew up, she felt that Xiaoru and I were serving you together. There was nothing they couldn't understand. But this thing didn't happen. The two sisters might know the truth, but our family is living in harmony now, so I put my mind at ease. Didn't you hear that Handan now calls Xiaoru sister instead of godmother, but stepmother? They also know that Shuying is their biological sister. You said that they are so old now, how could they not know the relationship between you, me and Xiaoru. The most terrible thing hasn't happened yet. Do you think I have any complaints against you?"

Xu Damao drank a cup of wine, poured another one, and lit a cigarette. "Meifang, you don't know that Xiaoru's parents already know that Shuying is my child and mine. I'm really afraid of Fang's parents now. After all, I, Xu Damao, have done something that is against the will of the world. I have no morals, I'm not a good person, and I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve."

"I don't know about the others, but you, Xu Damao, are my man. Even if you have ten women, I will still follow you. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today. Whether it's finding a lover or getting divorced, I will still follow you as long as you don't abandon me."

"Meifang, I, Xu Damao, have never thought of abandoning my woman. I just asked what you think out of the blue. Sometimes there are too many things to do, and I am not thoughtful, or it is inevitable that I do things or say things that hurt you unintentionally. For example, this year I was transferred from the Propaganda Department to the Vice Chairman of the Labor Union. Although we are both cadres, I was banished to the cold palace. I don't care about this, but what if you care, and I didn't tell you in time, you might have opinions, and you might say that I deliberately concealed it, right? Communication is very important, whether it is between lovers, between fathers and sons, or between friends. Mutual trust is more important.

Fang, I say all this to reassure you. I'm fine. Let's communicate more. If you have any ideas, you can talk to me and Xiaoru at any time. Don't keep them in your heart. Also, don't always say that I'm your benefactor. Karma is a cycle. Maybe it's destined for us to love each other, otherwise how could we have four children from two pregnancies? This is a blessing. "Gu Meifang moved from the other side of the table to Xu Damao's side, "Boss, I will listen to you. We are destined. Now there is something I want to discuss with you."

Xu Damao changed his hand to hold the cigarette, and put his right hand around Gu Meifang who was approaching, "Baby, what's the matter? Tell me boldly. Even if the sky falls, you have your man to hold it up."

"Da Mao, I haven't had my period for two months."