Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

This morning, in order to teach my daughter about emotions, I replayed "The Years of Gay Love". I especially cried when I saw the 15th episode where Shi Guangrong retired without eating or drinking, and his daughter Shi Jing wanted to open fire on her father's position. Really, although I have never been in the army, I can really feel the true feelings of the older generation. This may be something that people born in the s cannot understand.

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"The boss is back. Oh, Xiaoru is here too. You must be exhausted from running that factory during this period of time, right?"

"Sister Fang, it's OK. It's mainly because my brother-in-law and his wife are doing it. They are now building a factory and it's still early. Let Damao buy two roast ducks. Sister Fang, I will go cook with you. The children will be home from school soon."

"No, it's not that troublesome. I've prepared the dinner, and there's even roast duck, which makes it even easier. You can sit with the boss and chat for a while. I'll call you when dinner is ready."

"Then I'll just be lazy."

Fang Xiaoru accompanied Xu Damao to the study in the main house.

"Xiao Ru, does your father, my nameless father-in-law, still have any influence in Beijing University?"

"Yes, the head of the history department said he wanted to hire my dad back to give lectures. He didn't go because we objected. He's in his seventies or eighties, how could he have the energy to give lectures? Fortunately, he's a martial artist, so he's energetic and has nowhere to put his strength. He definitely can't go back to school to teach. Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

"Some time ago, I went to Hong Kong to trick my eldest daughter. I wanted her to come to Kyoto to study and, by the way, reform the bad thoughts hidden deep in her heart. By the way, let her learn about the antique business."

"Da Mao, what's wrong with your daughter's thoughts?"

"It's not that something is wrong. It's just that she was born in 66 and fled abroad not long after. At that time, the Lou family was not stable in Hong Kong, so my capitalist father-in-law used Xiao'e as a bargaining chip and made her a mistress. Moreover, her eldest concubine was quite contemptuous of my mother-in-law's family. So these things put together made the little girl's worldview a little paranoid. But fortunately, I found out early, so I wanted her to come back so that I could correct her. And this time I found that there are many interesting things scattered in Hong Kong. Let her learn from them. Maybe it can not only cultivate her sentiments, but also make a lot of money from them in the future. After all, the prosperous times have arrived, and the spring of the antique business has also arrived. There are many rich people in Hong Kong, and the antique market is more active than in the mainland."

"How old is she now?"

"She will graduate from HKU next June. She studied two majors, Chinese and business. So it is very suitable for her to enter the cultural circle."

"That's definitely no problem. Now all the universities are recruiting international students with very favorable conditions. As long as she applies herself, she will generally be approved. I'll talk to my old man about this and ask him to say hello. It shouldn't be a big problem."

"That's good. I'll call Panpan in a while and ask her to send the application over. When she comes here, you can take care of her more. Whether it's martial arts training or antiques, if she comes, I'll let Teacher Pu teach her step by step. I believe she can get the hang of it quickly. By the way, when do you want to cash in on those collections in your home?"

"I'm not going to cash it out, so I'll just keep it for now. I'm not short of money. By the way, I've got a house I'd like to buy. It's owned by an old scholar who knows my dad. It looks like his family is planning to emigrate, so they want to sell it. Do you want to buy it?"

"Which house?"

"Here on Guozijian Street, there used to be a proper three-courtyard house, but now the back house has been demolished due to road widening, so only two courtyards are left. But it has just been renovated, and the house is very good, but the asking price is a bit high."

"How many?"

"It now covers an area of ​​about 18 square meters, with 58 rooms of various sizes. The asking price is yuan, but I really like it. Especially the screen wall of their house is completely preserved. It has a lot of content. Cranes and deer in spring, plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, fortune, wealth, longevity and happiness. It is beautiful, and you can tell at a glance that it is the work of a famous craftsman from Shanxi. I think the screen wall is worth hundreds of thousands of yuan. So I think I can accept the price."

"You are here to take my money."

"I'm planning to buy it for Shuying. The house I live in now can't possibly be used as my daughter's dowry in the future. I still have to live here, right? With my current physical condition and your careful care, I won't live more than a hundred years old. So, if there's a chance, I want to buy a house for my daughter. Just tell me if there's one."

"Yes, yes, you can ask them to lower the price and pay in US dollars, and see how much they are willing to pay. Shuying can pay this amount herself. There is no need for you, a mother, to pay for it. When you go to negotiate, just say that the maximum is US$150,000, and the payment will be made overseas in US dollars. This will also save them the trouble of carrying the money out."

"Really? It's only US dollars. I've been trying to lower the price again and again."

"Xiao Ru, you are a person of status after all. Besides, the seller must have a good relationship with your father. We are getting a bargain at $15. In business, it is best if both parties are satisfied. Don't lower the price."

"Okay, I'll call my dad now and ask him to talk to him."

"That's fine. Just tell Xu Jun to pay and ask him to provide an account in the United States. After the money arrives, we can handle the transfer procedures here."

Fang Xiaoru was so excited that she actually called Fang Yude immediately.

This reaction was so quick that Fang Xiaoru was a little bit unbelievable. While eating dinner, Fang Yude called back and said that he would not let Shuying suffer any loss and asked for 14 US dollars, which was about RMB.

"Look, Xiaoru, they are very generous. They have reduced the price by tens of thousands, right? Then let them open the account and notify Xu Jun tomorrow or the day after tomorrow to transfer the money. Huo Huo can only return to Los Angeles tomorrow, and this time he will fly to San Francisco."

What you think will come true. Shortly after dinner, the phone rang at home. It was the three sisters of Xu Zhiquan.

"Dad, Mom, we have already started school. The apartment that my eldest brother rented for us is very close to my eldest brother and his wife. Now we basically cook and eat at my eldest brother's house. You can rest assured."

Gu Meifang was so excited that she held the microphone tightly and said, "My daughter, please be safe and study hard..."

The mother is worried when her son travels thousands of miles.

The three Xu Chih-di brothers even grabbed the microphone and shouted "sister".

"Okay, son, international long-distance calls are very expensive. Dad has something to tell you." Xu Damao grabbed the microphone, "Hanhan, that big brother is on a flight at 1pm today, and he probably won't be back in Los Angeles until tomorrow night. I have something to tell you. In a few days, Dad will give you a bank account and ask you to transfer 145,000 US dollars to the other party. Your godmother bought a house for Shuying."

"Dad, it's me, Shuying. My mom is also with you, let her answer the phone."

Xu Damao passed the microphone to Fang Xiaoru and said, "My daughter is looking for you."

"Shuying, are you okay?" Fang Xiaoru picked up the phone and greeted her daughter.

"Mom, it's great, it's great. Why are you thinking of buying me a house? How much is it?"

"One hundred and fourteen thousand dollars. It's from an old friend your grandpa knew. His whole family might be moving to Canada, so they need to deal with the property here. Mom thinks that yard is pretty good. So she asked your dad for money today."

"Okay, I know about this. I have the money."

Xu Damao had excellent hearing and immediately grabbed the microphone.

"Shuying, did you go there again?"

"Yes, Dad, I go there. I go there once a month. But don't worry, I won't forget your parting instructions. I only scrape a little bit each time, just a few hundred thousand. Don't worry. We'll hang up if there's nothing else. Sister Hanhan and I have classes in the afternoon."

Xu Damao wanted to say more, but he heard a beep from the receiver and the call was hung up.

"What? Damao, what did Shuying say?"

"It's okay. Shuying said she would pay for the house herself. She has hundreds of thousands of US dollars in her hands now."

"Did this girl go to the casino to gamble again?"

"Yes, but I don't gamble, I win money. I scratch once a month, hundreds of thousands each time. That's hundreds of thousands, right?"