Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

Xu Damao felt that the chance encounter with Li Huaide was also a kind of cause and effect. Since he had agreed, he had to go and visit him. It wouldn't cost much, at most he could just bring two packs of good cigarettes, two bottles of good wine, and some fruit.

Xu Damao was not vague either. A few days later, he went to Xidan Damucang Hutong to visit Li Huaide.

It was really hard to find. Fortunately, Li Huaide explained it in detail. The three-entry courtyard facing north and south was built in front of the main house, and the east and west wing rooms were separated by walls, and a separate door was opened next to the east side room.

The yard was a little messy, with a lot of stuff piled up, but there was a rack near the partition wall near the west wing, with purple wisteria flowers blooming lushly, which was quite interesting.

Around ten o'clock in the morning, Li Huaide was sitting alone under the eaves of the main house, smoking and drinking.

"Director Li, you are so elegant. This courtyard is really quite artistic."

"Da Mao, you really came to see me. I thought you were just being polite."

"How could that be possible? Director Li is my benefactor. Without your promotion at the Red Star Factory, I would not be able to enjoy the comfort I have now. We meet again after more than ten years, and I came to see you. You were in a high position before, and I was afraid of gossip. Now you have been retired for many years, and I am also idle at home, so no one will say anything. We are both old, so it is a pleasure to reminisce about the past together."

Xu Damao brought cigarettes, alcohol, and fruits into the house. Li Huaide also stood up and took out tea from the drawer of the front hall. "Damo, my hands are shaking. The thermos and teacup are right next to you. Make yourself some tea and we can have a good chat together."

After all the work, Xu Damao also moved a chair and sat under the eaves, drinking tea and chatting.

After an in-depth chat, I learned about Li Huaide's current real situation. His wife is actually separated from him and lives in his son's apartment. Li Huaide lives here alone. Only on weekends, his children may come to buy him some daily necessities. Fortunately, Li Huaide's retirement salary is relatively high. The retirement salary of a department-level cadre is really not low. Moreover, he later used his position to do some side business, and his life is very enjoyable.

Two major hobbies: I am old and I am no longer able to enjoy beautiful women. The only thing that has not changed is eating. I am only in my early 70s and I have lost all my savings. Fortunately, my pension is flowing in steadily, so I am not left with an empty pocket.

"Da Mao, you are old now. You have been living a life of eating and waiting for death. You have lived your whole life, eaten and played, and that is enough. Now that you are old, all parts of your body are broken. Now you have high blood pressure and your hands are shaking. Sigh, each day is getting worse than the last."

"Director Li, you look in good spirits. High blood pressure and hand tremors are all normal." Xu Damao activated his spiritual sense and checked Li Huaide's body. Indeed, the old man was in good health.

"Hey, that's it. You see, now the seven of us are old, my wife despises me, my children despise me too, and I'm the only one left in this yard, with no one to warm my bed in winter. I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, Damao, but my wife steals my pension from time to time. A man without money in his pocket has no courage."

I, Xu Damao, understood what Li Huaide meant. He really played the role of a man who is young until his death brilliantly and vividly.

"Director Li, is that so? Although I haven't seen you for more than ten years, I heard that you became very rich. How come you don't have any valuables saved now? That's impossible."

"Haha, Damao, I also heard that you went to the countryside to show movies and flirted with people everywhere. Don't you know that this costs money, sometimes a lot of money. People are more generous now, unlike before, when they can be satisfied with just a few melons and dates. You also know that these are my two hobbies, eating good food and having good fun. This doesn't cost money, otherwise, I would have hundreds of thousands of dollars in my hand, and my children would have thrown themselves into my small yard, and I would not be left alone here. Right?"

Xu Damao's mind moved. While drinking tea, sharing cigarettes, and lighting cigarettes, he scanned the items in the house with his spiritual sense. He unexpectedly found a box under the bed in the bedroom. The box was full of items, including gold, jade, and two scrolls. He thought that Li Huaide must have some valuables in his hands after so many years of success. So,

"Director Li, the money nowadays is not as good as it was a few years ago, but the material resources are abundant and the living standard is definitely better than before. Look at the past, who wanted antiques and jade? They were not as good as a few pounds of flour. Now that the prosperous times are coming, the prices are gradually rising. I think you must have some inventory over the years. Why not take advantage of the current good market and exchange it for money. With your connections, it's easy to get this little money."

"Oh? Damao, do you have this channel now?"

"I was free, so I often went to Gulou and Panjiayuan, and I gained a lot from them. I learned a little bit, and I just entertained myself."

Li Huaide was smoking a cigarette, and suddenly he became very interested. He paused for a while, stood up, and went into the house...

Xu Damao followed Li Huaide's movements with his spiritual consciousness and saw him take out an item from the box under the bed. It was a typical women's accessory inlaid with gold and jade.

Li Huaide held a pair of exquisite gold hairpins inlaid with precious jade and covered with lotus flowers in his hand. "Da Mao, this is an old thing, right? Take a look. How much is it worth?"

Xu Damao took the golden hairpin and took a closer look. He found that the top was inlaid with persimmon-red agate beads and underneath was an upside-down lotus carved from Hetian white jade. The pure gold hairpin was about 16 centimeters long in total and weighed an estimated grams each.

"Director Li, this is a great item. It is definitely a Ming Dynasty item, an ornament used by the real rich and powerful ladies. This pair of gold hairpins is worth about 10,000 yuan based on the price of gold. In addition, this is an old item, with the craftsmanship of gold inlaid with jade, and it is a pair. It is no problem to double the price. Why, Director Li, do you want to make a move?"

"If the price is right, I'll sell it. You know, without money, life is hard. Stuff is useless if left alone. Rather than leaving it to a few unfilial children, it's better to live a carefree life. After all, I won't live for many more years."

"I do have a connection. I'm a university professor with overseas connections. I have a good eye for antiques and I have the financial resources to run an antique shop. If Director Li is really interested, I might as well make a connection for you. Don't worry, I won't take advantage of you. I know both sides, and you know I'm good at both."

"Hahaha, Damao, you're still the same. So it seems that that girl is a beauty?"

"Not bad, right? Although she's not young, she's quite pretty."

"That's fine. Ask her to come over to look at the goods when it's convenient for you. I still have quite a lot. If the price is right, we can buy them all together."

This trip was really worth it. Luckily, sometimes, at that moment, you seize the opportunity.

A few days later, Xu Damao took Fang Xiaoru to Damucang Hutong in a luxury car and bought a complete set of Ming Dynasty gold-inlaid jade headwear for 21 yuan, % higher than the limited market price: one center-shaped headpiece, one center-shaped headpiece, one crown, one top hairpin, a pair of sideburns, one flower ornament, one hairpin, a pair of hairpins, and a pair of double-pearl jade earrings with gold wire. There was also a painting of a lady by Tang Bohu and an oil painting of a palace concubine by Lang Shining.