Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

Do what you have to do.

Xu Damao is still willing to do something he likes.

"Teacher Pu. Hello, Madam."

Xu Damao took his twin sons to Pu's house.

"Da Mao, what have you been busy with recently?"

"The factory has been quite busy recently, and my kids are in school, so I have to be a househusband. So I have fewer opportunities to visit you. Actually, I am just too lazy. I will reflect on this."

"Hahaha, you can't change your old habits. You're still naughty like that. How come you have time to think about an old man like me today?"

"Master, during this period, I worked as a receptionist in the factory, and I was living a life of debauchery from time to time, which was a bit off the mark. I only had some free time a few days ago, and I occasionally looked through the collections at home, and then I remembered that I could open a store and do business now. Master, there is something I want to discuss with you."

"Speak, you are not a stranger, why are you talking in a roundabout way? Straighten your tongue and speak fluently."

"Look, you've been retired for many years, and now Pu Ju and his children have grown up. Do you feel lonely? I feel lonely now. The children have grown up and gradually have their own thoughts and things. Moreover, children nowadays are much more independent than when I was a child. You don't walk your bird, but go to the park to watch the old men play chess. I was thinking if you have any intention of opening a shop and doing what you like!"

"Oh? Damao, what do you think?"

"Master, I want to open an antique shop with you, mainly to collect some good items. Of course, we can also trade what we have to make some money."

"Da Mao, although the conditions are getting better and better now, the antique market is full of mixed people, so it is not certain that you can make money."

"Making money is a small matter, Master. In fact, with the changes of the times, the antique industry will definitely rise. I mainly intend to have one of my children follow this path in the future, so while Master is still strong and healthy, I want to squeeze out some of Master's surplus value. Do you have any objection?"

"How can you scheme against your teacher like that? You're still trying to squeeze me. I think I'm getting old now, so I'm afraid I can't squeeze any more out of you."

"Master, listen to me, I know. You are afraid that I will suffer a loss, and the antique business may not be that easy to do. But I believe that as the times progress, people have more money in their pockets, and the time to pursue spiritual realms is getting closer. I had this plan before, so I have been learning skills from you. It doesn't cost much to open a shop now. The most important thing is that you have something to do every day. Find a fixed place for you and your brothers to drink tea and chat together, and do business happily every day. Don't you think it is a very happy thing? I have some good things on hand, right? You can appreciate them together."

"Tsk, what good things can you have in your hand? After all these years, I think your painting is good. By the way, is that painting still there?"

"Are you talking about the Shen Zhou landscape painting that we took to the exchange in the 1960s? It's there, how could it not be there? Master, I said I have two authentic Ru kiln pieces, do you believe me?"

"You're just bragging. There aren't many of them in the Palace Museum, and they were shipped to Taipei. And you said you have two. Are you kidding me?"

Xu Damao took out a box from his backpack and placed it on the table.

"Master, please look up."

Although Pu Yulin is engaged in miscellaneous items, he is also curious.

Carefully opening the box, he found a celadon-glazed three-legged brush washer inside. It was the one he had first exchanged with Master Qi Delong for Shen Zhou's landscape painting.

Pu Yulin played with it in his hand for a long time, "What a good thing, it's really a good thing. I think it's a good thing. Damao, where did you get it?"

"Master, that's a long time ago. This thing and that painting were exchanged for thirty catties of pork and a bag of flour. It's been at least thirty years. The original owner was a descendant of the Qijia clan of the Bordered White Banner. Later, it was the old man I supported who took care of them."

Pu Yulin couldn't let it go. "I'll keep this thing of Damao for a while. The shop you mentioned is not impossible. I'm just free right now. You can go and get it. The address should be near Qianmen Street. Also, do you have any interesting things at home that I can take a look at?"

"Master, that's what I mean. After we open a shop and buy a safe, I will let you touch the good stuff every day, which is equivalent to maintaining it. There are so many good things. The original owner of this brush washer also left me a seal made of Yitian Huangshi weighing more than 300 grams. The button is carved and looks lifelike."

"You bad boy, you are here to tempt me today, right? You are deliberately trying to keep me awake tonight, right?"

"How could that be possible, Master? I brought the seal with me too. I'll show it to you as well."

Xu Damao took out another small box from his backpack and placed it on the table.

Pu Yulin couldn't wait to open the box and took it in his hand. The four-centimeter-square golden Tianhuang stone seal with auspicious animal button that Mr. Qi gave him that year really dazzled Pu Yulin's eyes.

Pu Yulin has seen many seals in museums, but seals made of this material are rare.

He was really excited.

"Da Mao, you are really good at hiding things. This seal is definitely a national treasure."

"Master, you are well-informed. If you say they are national treasures, then they are national treasures. However, these are definitely not for sale. You know, I also like them. When I am in a bad mood, I take them out and look at them, and my mood will calm down."

"Okay, okay, okay. It's a good thing. Keep it for now. I need to take it out to show off and let those old guys see it."

Xu Damao ignited the heart of the nearly seventy-year-old man.

He left the stuff to the old man to show off while he went to look for a shop.

If you have the will and the money to find a shop, you can find one very quickly. In less than a week, Xu Damao spent less than 260 yuan to buy two shops side by side on Qianmenwai Street. The two floors have a usable area of ​​ square meters.

Renovation, registration.

Less than three months later, an antique shop called "Rumao Baozhai" opened for business. Fang Xiaoru was the owner.

"Master, you should know Ms. Fang, right? She is also a fan of old things."

Pu Yulin was surprised, but he was experienced and guessed the general idea immediately.

"Master, don't I owe her an antique shop? Xiaoru has known you for a long time, so I'm trying to trick you into becoming her shopkeeper."

"Teacher Pu, your name is well-known. I am currently teaching at the School of Chemical Engineering. Fang Shuying, who is studying sculpture with me, is my daughter."

Pu Yulin suddenly remembered that this person looked familiar. He looked right here.

On the opening day, six retired old friends from the museum came. They were Xu Damao’s senior sister Liu Suhua, senior brother Kong Zhengxi, as well as Pu Ju and his father-in-law Hu Tianhua. All the retired old men from Peking University came to the store to congratulate him.

Ha, actually I came to see the collections of Rumao Baozhai.