Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

After this debt collection incident, Jia Dongxu was like stinking dog shit, and he was quite famous in the No. 95 courtyard: a bad name.

Now, the Jia family was really plundered and only had the dozen yuan in the small package left. Fortunately, the unit on the 26th collected the salary, and Jia Dongxu had an extra twenty-two and a half yuan, so he had no problem celebrating the New Year.

Jia Dongxu wanted to go to the uncle's house across the street to apologize, but he couldn't move away. He just didn't have the courage.

Yi Zhonghai also deliberately avoided Jia Dongxu. There was no New Year's Eve this year, only the 29th.

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the Red Star Factory officially closed for the New Year.

He Yuzhu and Yu Li bought a lot of New Year's goods, and in the afternoon they sent some sausages, pork, carp and a chicken to Yu Li's parents' home.

When they got home, Yu Li had already prepared dinner. She and Yu Shui were waiting for He Yuzhu to come back from his mother's house to eat.

He Yuzhu wiped his face and just sat down to drink a few sips when someone knocked on the door.

Yu Li got up, opened the door, lifted the thick curtain, and saw Yi Zhonghai standing at the door.

"Uncle, it's time for dinner. Have you eaten yet?"

"Zhu Zi's wife, my husband and I had breakfast today. You guys are eating. I have something to talk to Zhu Zi about." He went straight into the main house in the central courtyard without getting permission.

"Zhu Zi, I'm eating."

"Hey, uncle. What's up? Have you eaten?"

"Eat yours, you eat yours. I have something to discuss with you." Yi Zhonghai found a seat and sat down.

He Yuzhu gave Yi Zhonghai a cigarette and continued drinking from his own wine cup.

"Zhu Zi, tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I think our families are not that large, and I thought it would be more lively if we celebrate the New Year together."

"Uncle, which ones are you talking about?"

"Look, there are two of us in my family, the old lady in the backyard, three of you in the middle yard, and three adults and one child in Dongxu's family. Isn't that exactly ten people, a round table, a reunion for the New Year, how wonderful."

"Uncle, I think you three families can celebrate together. This year I am spending my first New Year's Eve with my new wife, so I won't join in the fun."

"Zhu Zi, the reason why the uncle asked you to celebrate the New Year together is because you have married a new wife. You should pay more attention to your words and deeds and improve your moral character. Celebrating the New Year together will be beneficial to your reputation in the compound."

"Uncle, I have always worked diligently and lived an honest life. I never gossip about others behind their backs. I don't have bad habits such as gambling and smoking opium, and I haven't been disrespectful outside, so my reputation shouldn't be too bad. Besides, spending the New Year with your families can improve my reputation. To be honest, I'm afraid that I will be involved in Jia Dongxu's affairs and learn bad things. Uncle, I'm married now, and I'm considered a family. I just want to live my life peacefully. So we'll spend the New Year by ourselves. I'd like to congratulate you families in advance and wish you a happy New Year. It's getting late, uncle, since you've already had dinner, I won't keep you here. My wife and Yu Shui have to eat dinner while it's hot."

Yi Zhonghai still didn't give up, "Zhu Zi, it's a good idea to spend the New Year together, you should think about it again."

"Uncle, I've said everything I need to say. Don't worry about the New Year anymore."

Yi Zhonghai looked at the determined He Yuzhu, stood up, lifted the door curtain and went out.

Only then did Yu Li and Yu Shui sit down to eat.

"Wife, the New Year is coming soon, you should drink some white wine to warm yourself up."

Yu Li could drink quite a lot to begin with, and He Yuzhu didn't have many patriarchal grudges against her, so she drank whenever she wanted.

Yu Li poured herself some wine and filled He Yuzhu's glass again, "Yushui, you're almost a year older, would you like to have a drink too?"

"Sister-in-law, I won't drink it. It tastes like it's burning my throat. I won't drink it. Orange juice is better. It's sour and sweet."

"Boss, why did an old man invite you to celebrate the New Year with him? What do you think?"

"Why worry about it? Just let me help and provide the ingredients to cook for them. What else? I don't bother to care about them. The old lady in the backyard only eats and does not work, and the Jia family next door only knows how to take advantage. One is the eldest master's supporter, and the other is the eldest master's apprentice, supporting the elderly. We are outsiders in the family. Why should I join in the fun? Behind closed doors, the three of us will cook six dishes and a soup tomorrow, and eat whatever we want. It's so nice. Why do we need to join in with them? Wife, don't you agree?"

"Yeah, I thought so too. I was just afraid that you couldn't save face and promised to spend the New Year with an old man."

"Hey, wife, people in the compound call me Shazhu, and they really think I'm stupid. The person who thinks I'm a fool is actually the real fool."

Yu Li smiled and raised her glass to drink with He Yuzhui, finishing the whole cup with a slurp. "Zhuzi, look at your character. There are not many men who can praise themselves as a flower." Yu Li laughed loudly, and the three members of the He family were having a sumptuous dinner on the eve of New Year's Eve.

Xu Damao's family in the backyard is not bad either. Lou Xiao'e is already pregnant, and she went to the hospital for a checkup a few days ago, and everything is normal.

They are having the last dinner of the Year of the Monkey in Compound No. 95. Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and the couple has decided to go to their parents’ house in Hepingli to celebrate the New Year’s Eve.

"Da Mao, you seem to be getting better at cooking now. The dish you made today was really good."

"Ezi, I really don't know how to cook. Now, for you and the baby in my belly, I have to learn how to cook. I don't have the cooking skills of Shazhu. I don't have the talent for cooking. But when I make a lot of money in the future, I will open a restaurant and hire senior chefs to be the head chef. In this way, whenever I want to eat good food, I can order food in my own restaurant and eat whatever I want. I don't have to pay the bill. After eating, I can just wipe my mouth and keep the bill. Don't you think that would be great? Right, Ezi."

Lou Xiao'e was in a good mood, listening to Xu Damao's imagination of the future, although it was unrealistic, it was quite exciting to listen to. She giggled and had a few drinks with Xu Damao, the atmosphere was warm and happy.

After Xu Damao had eaten and drunk his fill, he took the initiative to clear the dishes and brought Lou Xiao'e some hot water for her feet. Lou Xiao'e's feet were a little swollen because of her pregnancy, and the doctor had told her to soak in hot water more often so that her feet would not be so swollen.

After helping Lou Xiao'e to lie on the bunk bed, he took the heating stove out and replaced some coal briquettes. After burning for a while, he took it back to the bedroom and connected the flue tightly.

"Ezi, I'm going to the toilet and will be back soon."

What a coincidence, I ran into Qin Huairu in the alley at night just after she came back from the toilet.

"Sister Ru."

"Da Mao, where are you going in the dark?"

"I'm going to the toilet. It's very cold. Where else can I go? Sister Ru, are you going back to Qinjia Village for the Spring Festival?"

Qin Huairu didn't say anything for a long time before she said, "See. I can't go back just because I want to."

Xu Damao thought for a moment, dug into his pocket, took out a fifteen-yuan bill, and handed it to Qin Huairu.

"Huai Ru, this is all I have left in my pocket. I'll give it to you to support yourself. If you want to go back to your parents' home, you can go back by yourself. If you go back, please give my regards to your parents. Your parents are very good to me."

"Da Mao, I don't want it. Your wife is pregnant and it's not easy for her. Besides, I still have the ten dollars you gave me last time."

"Huai Ru, just take it if I give it to you. I have a salary of 40 yuan after all. But there is one thing, you must not use my money to fill the hole of the Jia family, and your son is also not allowed to do so. Your son was led astray by your mother-in-law, Sister Ru, if you want to correct him, you'd better do it soon, otherwise your son will be ruined."

"You know I have no say in the Jia family, what can I do? One life for one person, my own life is not good, I can't care so much. Now that my belly is so big, I hope the baby in my belly can be taken care of."

Qin Huairu still took the fifteen yuan given by Xu Damao and put it into her innermost pocket before she felt relieved.

"Da Mao, I'm going back now. You should hurry up too. It's too cold outside."

"Okay, slow down."

Xu Damao shook his head, cursed himself in his heart, quickly finished his toilet, and quickly returned to the house.

It's so cold.