Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

It's been two months since we started delivering movies to the countryside.

On a Friday in August, Xu Damao came home from a trip to the countryside in western Beijing where he had been showing movies for five days in a row. He also bought an old hen and hung it on the handlebars of his bicycle. When he entered the yard, Yan Fugui greeted him.

"Da Mao, are you going to the countryside again? This old hen is really fat, it must be worth the money."

"Uncle, it's not bad. A chicken weighing more than four pounds only cost two yuan. It was mainly an old hen. I bought it to make chicken soup for my wife."

"Da Mao, Third Aunt's chicken soup is a specialty. How about letting her make it for you?"

"Uncle, I can just make soup. If you want to stir-fry the chicken, I don't have much skill. Making soup is not difficult. Aunt is a generation older than me, so I dare not trouble her. I'd better do it myself. Anyway, I have a day off tomorrow, so I have plenty of time. Next time, I'll buy a young chicken and ask Aunt to stir-fry it for me."

Pushed the cart into the backyard.

"Da Mao, you're back. Why did you stay so long this time? I was bored to death at home alone. Did you buy a chicken?"

"Well, I just happen to be quite tired recently. I have a day off tomorrow, so let's make some chicken soup to replenish our body."

Lou Xiao'e took the hen and the briefcase handed over by Xu Damao and went into the house. Xu Damao also locked the car and followed her into the house.

Lou Xiao'e put down her things and went to the patio again. She tied one of the hen's feet with a piece of cloth, let the chicken roam free, and tied one end of the chicken to the leg of a small square table in the patio.

Xu Damao drank the water and also came to the patio.

Now Lou Xiao'e has tidied up the patio into a place to cool off in the summer, with tables, chairs and benches placed there. It is very suitable for drinking tea, smoking and looking at the starry sky on summer nights.

Xu Damao sat in the recliner and lit a cigarette. Lou Xiaoe made a cup of tea for Xu Damao and stayed beside him.

"Moth, haven't you been back to your mother's house to see your mother these days?"

"I did. I went there on Wednesday and stayed one night. My husband asked me to go home and learn how to cook. So I'm at home trying to cook and I even went to the bookstore and bought a cookbook."

"Ezi, I'm sorry for putting you in such a difficult position. You are a rich lady, and you could have been served by others comfortably, but now you have to serve me. I can't bear it."

"Da Mao, I'm happy to do that. Besides, I have to eat when you're not at home. If I eat out all the time, I won't have that many food coupons. I still have to learn how to cook."

"As long as you don't get tired, go ahead and do what you like. It's true that eating out all the time isn't a good idea."

"Da Mao, how about making some porridge, steaming some steamed bread, frying some eggplant, and mixing some cucumbers when we play in the evening?"

"You decide. I'm fine with it. Let's stew the chicken tomorrow. We've been eating too light a diet lately. Let's have some good nourishment tomorrow. I'll go to the pharmacy and get some astragalus and stew some astragalus, mushroom and chicken soup later."

"Da Mao, there is news in the compound this week. Big news."

Lou Xiao'e lowered her voice and said.

"What? What happened again? Isn't it Jia Dongxu's family again?"

"No, it's He Yuzhu from the Middle Court."

"What news can a fool have?"

"Da Mao, it's true. You're right. It seems like the old man has really set his sights on He Yuzhu. It's a little like what you said."

"Moth, tell me what's going on."

"On Tuesday, He Yuzhu went to Uncle Yi's house at night. He originally wanted Aunt Yi to help him go to the house of the girl you mentioned last time to arrange a blind date. Aunt Yi was willing to do so, but the next morning, for some reason, she was not happy about it. I guess it was just as you said, Uncle Yi didn't allow Aunt Yi to find a wife for Sha Zhu. Do you think this is what he meant?"

"What happened next? Didn't Shazhu think of any other solution?"

"Yes, Sha Zhu later went to Dongcheng to find his master and asked his master's wife to mediate. It seems that the girl will come to see him on her day off. Damao, do you think Sha Zhu can succeed?"

"How could I know? Logically speaking, Sha Zhu has good conditions. He is now an eighth-level cook with a good income. There won't be any conflicts between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law after he gets married. The girl can be the head of the family as soon as she gets married. A smart girl should agree. You know, a cook has advantages. A cook will never go hungry. I'm just afraid that someone in the compound will do something bad and prevent Sha Zhu from succeeding. Well, I have to get involved in this matter. I'll help him to the end."

"Da Mao, do you think that the uncle will really target He Yuzhu? Just for his own retirement?"

"Ezi, don't underestimate the issue of caring for the elderly. For many families, caring for the elderly is a big deal. As a woman, you may not have experienced it firsthand. A man is forty and has no descendants. In ancient times, when the class system was so strict and the hierarchy was clear, ordinary people were still allowed to take concubines and have children. Now it's a new society with monogamy. If the old man can't take concubines, he can only find someone to take care of the old man. Forget it, forget about the old man, let's cook first, and after we're full, I'll go to Shazhu's house and remind him."

Lou Xiao'e came to her senses, thinking about how her biological father had sent her aunt and stepmother to the United States and Hong Kong. Maybe. She also wanted to have her own child now. She had been married for almost a year, but why was her stomach not responding?

From this point of view, what Xu Damao said may be true. If you put yourself in their shoes, having offspring is indeed important.

At eight o'clock that evening, Xu Damao took advantage of the fact that there was no one in the Central Courtyard and went to Sha Zhu's house.

"Brother Zhu, where's Yu Shui? Did he go to do his homework?"

"Xu Damao, why did you come in without knocking?"

"I'm not a young wife, and I'm not a robber. I just didn't want others to see me coming in, so I didn't knock. He Yuzhu, I heard you're going on a blind date this week?"

"Yes, my master's wife has arranged it and will bring someone to the compound on Sunday."

"He Yuzhu, is this the girl I mentioned last time? Yu Li?"

"Yes, Yu Shui asked for help, and Yu Li is unmarried. Isn't that what you said? She's quite suitable for me, so why don't I take a look at her?"

"Silly Zhu is no longer stupid, that's good. Brother Zhu, since you listened to me once, listen to me again. You'd better ask your master's wife to help you find a blind date outside, or at your master's wife's house, and don't bring anyone back to our courtyard. You know, there are many bachelors in our courtyard, and you are not afraid of someone snatching you away."

"It's not that bad, is it possible?"

"Then why did I hear that the auntie originally promised to arrange something for you, but she turned you down after one night? You didn't think deeply about it. You see, I met Lou Xiao'e outside. Firstly, the girl can be relaxed outside and not be too restrained. Secondly, you really need to be careful that others don't snatch away your cooked duck."

He Yuzhu was a little confused, "But, Master's wife and I have agreed to come to our courtyard."

"Can't you make another trip to change it? This is something that will affect your whole life. Besides, you won't be happy to go to your master's house one more time. I really can't explain it to you clearly. Listen to me, make another trip tomorrow and change the blind date address. I, Xu Damao, sincerely hope that your blind date will be successful. When I'm not in the hospital in the future, your wife and I can take care of each other. This is all I have in mind, and I hope you can seize the opportunity. If your blind date is successful, I'll treat you to a drink."

"You said it, so I'll try my best." He Yuzhu smiled a little silly.

"Then I'll go back and wish you success."

Saying it three times is too much, just make it clear. Xu Damao couldn't just say that the old man had taken a fancy to him for retirement, he couldn't just say something without any evidence.

"Da Mao, did Sha Zhu hear it?"

"I don't know, I think so. It's enough that I reminded him. This is not something I can decide. Besides, Sha Zhu is not stupid. He will figure it out soon. You don't know that Sha Zhu has been in love since I married you and brought you back to the courtyard. He always wants to surpass me and find a girl better than you. He doesn't even take a piss to reflect on his own moral character, but he married a woman who is more beautiful and virtuous than my Ezi. It's good to have a girl with him."

"Da Mao, am I really that good? I can't even cook."

"That's right. My E-zi was not born to cook. So what if she can't cook? How can she compare to someone who is gracious, generous, beautiful, and well-educated? My E-zi is the best."

"Da Mao, please stop bragging. I feel like you are bragging about yourself."

"Haha, of course, I'm not bad either. Right?"