Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

Early in the morning on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Xu Jun could not contain his excitement. After finding out the exact location of Yuan Ya's tube-shaped building in Zhongguantun, he rode his newly bought bicycle to inquire.

I kept asking and inquiring about the address of the tube-shaped building of the affiliated high school, and a five-story tube-shaped building stood in front of me.

"Excuse me, is this the tube building of National Tsing Hua University Affiliated High School?"

Xu Jun asked a woman in her forties in authentic Beijing accent.

"Yes, this is the only building in our affiliated high school. Who are you looking for?"

"Do you know which floor Ms. Yuan Ya lives on? She should have graduated the year before last and teaches mathematics."

"Oh, I know. Teacher Yuan lives on the top floor. I don't know which room she lives in. You can go to the fifth floor and ask. Yes, she was there today. I saw her this morning."

"Thank you."

The woman even paid special attention to Xu Jun, staring at him for a long time as if he were a giant panda.

Xu Jun walked up the dim corridor. There were piles of debris on both sides, and people making breakfast were everywhere in the corridors. Xu Jun couldn't understand why they were not afraid of being fumigate.

There is a corridor with rooms facing the doors on both sides, and the whole building is in the shape of the Arabic number 7.

I finally got to the fifth floor, but there weren't that many people making breakfast there. I finally found someone who emptied the spittoon.

"Excuse me, Yuan Ya, which room does Teacher Yuan live in?"

"Ah? Yuan Ya, let me think, well, if you go this way, it's probably the third from the last, on the left. If I'm not mistaken, take a look at the house number, 521. Knock on the door and ask. There are only singles on the fifth floor anyway. You're a little early. He should be here."

With his heart pounding, Xu Jun walked over slowly, looked at the house number carefully, and knocked on the door gently after confirming it was 521: knock, knock!

The door opened and the girl, who looked sleepy, said, "Who is it? I just went to bed."

"Yaya." Xu Jun couldn't help but call out as he looked at the long-haired girl, who was about 170cm tall, with big eyes and a round face. Although she was mature, she still had the look of a kindergartener.

"Ah? Who are you looking for? You're not from our school?"

The door was immediately closed, leaving only a crack to facilitate conversation.

"Yaya, I'm Huohuo, do you remember? Red Star Kindergarten, Huohuo."

After a long time, the door opened, "Are you Huo Huo? Didn't you escape? Impossible, how is it possible!"

Yuan Ya looked at Xu Jun, still a little stunned, and really didn't recognize him. Xu Jun was only 183cm tall, and he didn't look like the kid in kindergarten.

"Yaya, I'm back. I came back before the New Year. I went to your house to ask and heard that you had moved a long time ago. I got your address from Cao Jiaying, your classmate. I'm Huohuo, the Huohuo who said he wanted to marry you. Xu Jun is my real name."

……

The room is about twelve square meters, actually it is really twelve square meters.

There was a bunk bed, a writing desk by the window, a dressing table, and an old two-door cabinet diagonally opposite the bed, probably for clothes. There was a heating stove next to the door, a kettle on the stove, and a ventilation pipe along the wall leading to the corridor outside.

Damn! No wonder the hallway smells so pungent.

The room is simply and neatly decorated, and quite warm.

"Would you like some water? I have some tea here. I'll make you a cup? Jasmine or black tea?"

"Black tea, Yaya, you still like tea."

"Alone, drink some tea to warm yourself up."

Yuan Ya was a little nervous, but there was boiling water in the teapot and steam was coming out.

Only then did Xu Jun notice that there was a crack in the south window for ventilation.

The enamel cup of hot black tea was ready. Xu Jun sat on the wooden chair next to the desk, and Yuan Ya sat on the edge of the wooden bunk bed. A towel blanket was spread on the edge of the bed, and the quilt was lifted up. It was obvious that Yuan Ya was really sleeping before.

"Yaya, am I being a little presumptuous? Sister Cao said you're not married yet, so I came here. I, I'm not married either."

"Ah? Oh, it's okay. I didn't expect it to be you. I'm a little surprised. Have you been okay these years? How did you come to Kyoto? Are you really back? Or are you leaving again?"

A series of incoherent questions.

"I will be going to Tsinghua University to enroll in my doctorate program in a few days. I may stay in Kyoto for a long time, but I don't have a household registration, so I may, perhaps, leave. But my dad is here, and this is my home. Do you understand what I mean?"

……

After half an hour of straightforward conversation, Yuan Ya finally understood how hungry Xu Jun was. They began to get to know each other and talked about fragments of memories from kindergarten.

I can't remember it. Yuan Ya just couldn't find a suitable marriage partner. She always thought about Xu Jun, which delayed her until now. The children of teachers of the same age as her in the attached middle school can all help with soy sauce, but she is still single and has a tense relationship with her family. Who can have a 25-year-old old girl?

"Yaya, what are your plans next? If you want to study abroad, I can help you. At worst, I can help you go to my alma mater, Pennsylvania in Philadelphia."

"No, I don't have such plans. Brother Huo Huo, are you still going out?"

"Yes, I don't have a Kyoto residence permit, so my visa will expire soon. My current visa is only valid for two years. I'll have to re-apply when I come back, but that's not the point. The point is that I want to marry you. I've had this wish since I was a kid. Are you having any difficulties?"

Xu Jun still said his purpose. Although he didn't really know Yuan Ya, he still believed in his own judgment: Yuan Ya hadn't changed much. It was possible that she would have a dream and one day the prince charming would come to marry her on a white horse. She had finally waited for it.

"Brother Huo Huo, we haven't seen each other for so many years, do you still remember me?"

"Remember, otherwise why would I come back? I came back to find you. I came to Kyoto a few years ago as part of an exchange program with students from the United States. I was in such a rush and had no free time, so I didn't find you. This time I finally found you, and I hope you can consider it."

……

In the end, Xu Jun went out with Yuan Ya, who had a ponytail, a woolen hat, a fashionable new down jacket, and a scarf.

Riding a bike with the fully armed Yuan Ya, they arrived at the vast world. The two of them relaxed and did not feel tired even after riding dozens of miles to Tiananmen Square. There were delicious food everywhere in Kyoto during the Spring Festival. They ate while walking, watching and listening. After a whole day, the two of them seemed to be very familiar with each other.

Xu Jun found a restaurant near Zhongguantun, treated Yuan Ya to dinner, and then sent her back to the dormitory. "Yaya, it's too late, I won't go up. I still have to ride more than ten kilometers to get home. My dad and his family live in Dongsishitiao, which is 30 miles away. I'll come back tomorrow."

"Brother Huo, the weather is cold, don't ride your bike tomorrow. I'll come find you. Just wait for me at Xizhimen subway station. It's nine in the morning, so it's very convenient for me to take the subway. It's fast and convenient from Jingda Station to Xizhimen."

"That's fine. I'll wait for you at Xizhimen subway station at nine o'clock tomorrow."

"Ah."