Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

Work started on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. On the fifth day, Xu Damao went to the home of Li, the head of the Propaganda Department. He brought two bottles of Fenjiu, a bottle of Peony and others. The wine and cigarettes were given by his father-in-law Lou Zhenhua, who also asked Xu Damao to go to the head of the department.

In fact, Xu Damao had originally planned to visit his immediate superior. On the fourth day of the New Year, he accompanied Lou Xiaoe to the Lou family again. His father-in-law specifically gave advice to this son-in-law who now looked good. Of course, Xu Damao followed his advice.

"Chief, I should have come earlier, but I was afraid you wouldn't be at home, so I delayed coming until today to wish you a happy new year. Don't blame me for being late."

"Xiao Xu, you're too polite. It's good that you're here. It's no wonder you're here sooner or later. I had to visit relatives a few days ago. I'm free today."

After a few pleasantries, he left. He was not here to eat, but to give gifts. The gifts were really big: two bottles of wine, a pack of cigarettes, a piece of bacon, and a box of Daoxiangcun snacks. The value was more than ten yuan, and the money and the tickets were equivalent to half a month's salary for Xu Damao.

Of course, Section Chief Li was happy. He also had the idea and determination to promote Xu Damao. Which leader would not like such a sensible subordinate?

Xu Damao certainly understood the principle of giving gifts generously. If the gift was not of the right kind, it would be better not to give it at all. So it was more appropriate to give Chief Li a gift for the first time so that he could directly let the leader know his intentions.

On the way back to the compound, I made a detour to Bianyifang to buy a roast duck.

"Yu Shui, why didn't you go out to set off firecrackers? Your brother and sister-in-law are not at home?" Xu Damao entered the middle courtyard and saw He Yu Shui playing hopscotch (a game) in the yard.

"Brother Damao, my brother and sister-in-law are cooking in the house."

"Yu Shui, I didn't see you a few days ago. This is a red envelope given to you by Brother Damao. Please keep it. I hope you will do better in your studies." Xu Damao took out a dollar from his pocket and handed it to He Yu Shui.

Then he saw Li Yuanchao standing at the door of the west wing.

Xu Damao waved his hand and called Li Yuanchao to his side.

"Yuanchao, Happy New Year. You're going to start school soon, so Uncle Xu will give you a red envelope. Take it." Xu Damao took out another dollar and handed it to Li Yuanchao.

"Uncle Xu, Happy Chinese New Year. Thank you, Uncle Xu."

"Yuan Chao, have you received any letters from your father during this period?"

Li Yuanchao lowered his head and did not answer.

"Yuan Chao, look up. Uncle Xu will tell you that your father must have more important things to do right now, so he didn't write home. You have to believe your father. This is who your father is." Xu Damao gave a thumbs up.

Li Yuanchao's eyes suddenly brightened, "Really? Uncle Xu."

"Really? Your dad is a soldier and has strict disciplines in the army, so there are no letters. But the lack of letters doesn't mean your dad doesn't miss you. He must be missing you very much in some place that Uncle Xu doesn't know about. It's just that he can't tell you."

"Yes, Uncle Xu, I believe it. My father is a member of the People's Liberation Army. I am a descendant of a soldier."

"Yes, aid Korea. Come on. Don't bring shame to your father. Study hard, improve your skills, and join the People's Liberation Army in the future. Go ahead."

Xu Damao felt very relieved when he saw Li Yuanchao returning happily.

Just as Xu Damao was about to go back to the backyard to park the car, a woman rushed out from the Li family. She was Li Dongsheng's wife.

"Brother Damao, wait a minute."

Lin was holding the red envelope money that Xu Damao gave to Li Yuanchao.

"Brother Damao, I was sick and in the hospital last year, and you helped me take care of the old and the young. I haven't had time to repay you for your kindness. I don't feel comfortable with you giving Yuan Chao such a big red envelope. Please take it back. Children should not be spoiled too much."

Xu Damao pushed Lin's hand back and said, "Sister-in-law, I often received help from Brother Dongsheng when I was a child. It's normal for neighbors to help each other. This dollar is for Yuan Chao. He will start school soon. Buy him some stationery. Sister-in-law, please don't refuse. I'm asking for good luck."

Lin had no choice but to withdraw his hand and accept it.

"Da Mao, just now you told Yuan Chao that his father might be on a mission. Do you have a way to get accurate information?"

"Sister-in-law, Brother Dongsheng was a soldier who participated in the Korean War and was a hero. It is the greatest news for you that he has not returned. If Brother Dongsheng died, the government and the neighborhood would definitely come to the house to express condolences and provide compensation. Although Brother Dongsheng has not returned yet, he must have a special mission. I have no channels to inquire about the news, and I advise you not to inquire about the news. You can see that Brother Dongsheng's mission does not allow communication, which shows that the confidentiality is very high. But sister-in-law, don't worry. Just think that no news is returned, which is the best news, proving that Brother Dongsheng is fine. Do you understand what I mean?"

Lin's eyes were blurred with tears. "Brother Damao, I understand. Thank you." Lin suddenly bowed to Xu Damao.

"Hey, hey, sister-in-law, please don't. If you need help in the future, just ask. Brother Dongsheng is the most admirable and respectable person in our No. 95 Courtyard, no doubt about it. I am proud to have a neighbor like Brother Dongsheng. Really!"

Xu Damao was being sentimental, but he really thought so.

After Lin returned to the house, Xu Damao pushed the cart back to the backyard.

"Xiao'e, why don't I go see what delicious food Shazhu has made? Why don't we go and get some food today?"

"Okay, take the roast duck with you, and two bottles of wine, and some apples from my mom. This won't count as a free meal, it can just be considered a New Year's greeting."

"Okay, then I'll go over and find out. If Shazhu doesn't have any solid food, I won't agree. Haha."

"Brother Zhuzi, we have guests coming to pay New Year's greetings. Can you provide dinner?"

Xu Damao entered the main room in the middle courtyard carrying two bottles of wine, a bag of six apples, and a roast duck.

He Yuzhu and Yu Li were working together in the kitchen cooking.

"Who is it? Hey, Damao, what kind of guest are you? If you want to eat for free, just say so directly. Why are you beating around the bush and trying to be so frivolous?"

"Anyone who comes to your door is a guest. I'm here with gifts to pay a visit to the future Kyoto chef. Do you want to accept this guest?"

"Take it. There's wine and roast duck. I'd be stupid not to take it. You have to take it."

"Okay, then I'll let my moth come over for dinner."

The lunch time on the fifth day of the Chinese New Year in the Central Court formed a sharp contrast.

Li Dongsheng's family was also very happy today in the West Wing. Xu Damao's words in the morning made Lin suddenly realize: Yes, my husband is a soldier, it is normal to have secrets that cannot be told. No news means Dongsheng has not had an accident, and he is alive and well and contributing to the new society. Hope is there, dreams are there. Li Yuanchao also received a red envelope. How can he not be happy?

The main wife, He Yuzhu's family, was even more jubilant. Not only was there a set of roast duck brought by Xu Damao, but there were also vegetables fried by He Yuzhu, a bacon and tofu pot, and fried peanuts to go with the wine. The five of them were very close and affectionate, talking and laughing all the time.

In contrast, no one in the Jia family cooked. Haha, it's so funny. No one cooked during the Spring Festival.

Uncle Yi Zhonghai and his wife were originally frugal. Now the deaf old lady wanted to eat good food, so Aunt Yi deliberately cooked something worse, and she could eat it or not. Yi Zhonghai also wanted to squeeze out the old lady's private savings, so he acquiesced to his wife's poor cooking to see how long the old lady in the backyard could last.

Hey, if Xu Damao, who has the memory of the 21st century, knew that he lived like this, he would definitely say: What's the point of living like this? You can't entertain yourself, you can't enjoy yourself. We are all poor people, how can we become rich by calculating so much?

It is true that the poor plan and the rich make concessions. The more you plan, the more nothing you will get in the end. Why not just enjoy the present moment and be free and easy?

Of course Xu Damao also just found out that Qin Huairu, the daughter-in-law of the Jia family, went back to her parents' home in the countryside alone on the third day of the Chinese New Year.

I only sighed at the dinner table: The greatest happiness for a woman is to marry the right person, Yu Li, don’t you think so?

Lou Xiao'e and Yu Li also felt the same way and felt more sympathy and pity for Qin Huairu's experience next door.