Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

"Oh, Damao, it's so early."

Xu Damao saw the third uncle Yan Fugui picking up a few bricks and flower pots on his own one-third-acre land in the gatehouse of the compound. Although the potted plants were gone, they were still valuable to the shrewd third uncle. The third uncle had to be shrewd in his life. The eldest son Yan Jiecheng was 16 years old. He had not found a job since graduating from junior high school and had been staying at home. The second son Yan Jiefang and the third son Yan Jiekuang were still in school. The family of five could only barely make ends meet by relying on the salary of the third uncle.

Xu Damao also greeted casually.

"Morning, Uncle! Have you eaten?"

"Your third aunt is cooking corn grits porridge. Damao, why didn't I see you come back to the yard yesterday? You'd better not make any mistakes." The third uncle 'kindly' advised Xu Damao.

"How can I do that? Oh, by the way, Uncle San, can you ask Aunt San to help me wash a military coat and a pair of cotton pants today? I fell in the snow the other day, and I have nothing to change if I don't wash them."

"No problem, but Damao, you know it's cold, and we need hot water and soap to wash. How about five thousand for labor?"

"Uncle, five thousand is too much. Three thousand at most. If it's okay, it's okay. If not, I'll go back to my mom and let her wash it."

"Okay, then three thousand. I'll ask your third aunt to go get it later."

"Okay, I'm on sick leave today, so I'll be at home."

The courtyard started to get busy in the morning.

By the pond in the middle courtyard, the graceful daughter-in-law of the Jia family was seen rubbing her work clothes early in the morning.

Xu Damao looked at her breasts shaking rhythmically as she brushed the clothes, and he swallowed unconsciously. His lower body actually reacted. Deep down in his heart, he made a judgment on himself: Damn, she is really a natural beauty. I, Xu Damao, don't know if I can pass this level of temptation of a young woman. He quickly passed through the middle yard and went to the backyard.

"Da Mao, you're in such a hurry? Why aren't you ready to go to work? You're going to be late if you don't leave now."

The second uncle was still holding half a steamed bun in his hand. When he saw Xu Damao enter the backyard, he immediately reminded him.

"Uncle, please go to work. I have asked for leave." Xu Damao pointed to the bandage on his head.

Liu Haizhong then saw the white gauze wrapped around his head.

"Oh, then you take good care of it."

Xu Damao returned to his home, tidied the bedding on the bed, put his dirty cotton trousers and military coat at the door, and went to the back patio to start the coal stove, preparing to boil some hot water.

I boiled some water, put some jasmine tea in an enamel cup, and brewed it. Then I lit a cigarette and smoked it while slowly organizing my thoughts:

Take some time to go to Tong Ren Tang for a physical check-up, especially...

I went to Lou's house before the Spring Festival for a blind date, hoping to bring Lou Xiao'e home as my wife.

After the Gregorian New Year, the unit wanted to show some appreciation to Section Chief Li.

I'll go to Dongcheng some other day to visit my parents and sister.

Well, you can’t tease me anymore, the farther away you stay, the better.

Qin Huairu, this woman who hasn't become a vampire yet, it's better to stay away from her. Oh...it smells really good!

The first uncle, the second uncle, the third uncle, they haven't started jumping yet, it doesn't matter how to deal with them, they can't be offended directly. We can divide and disintegrate them later. As for the deaf old lady who is the neighbor in the backyard, when Lou Xiao'e comes in, I must pay close attention to this old lady's provocations. I can't let this old lady ruin my big plan, I must not wear a hat.

As for the rest of Passerby A, Passerby B, C, and D, they are all fence-sitters. They just need to be careful about their words and actions.

The most annoying person in the Central Courtyard is Jia Zhang. Just looking at her makes me feel sick. I’d better try to avoid her in the future, otherwise it will affect my appetite.

As for that short-lived Jia Dongxu, forget it. He still has more than a thousand days left to live. Let's just get along with him. Reminder? That's impossible. I, Xu Damao, don't have the ability to change my fate.

Alas, I don’t know whether Yu Li will still marry that little bastard Yan Jiecheng in this life. It’s such a waste of a cabbage.

Will Liu Guangqi, the guy in the backyard, flee the courtyard and go to the third-line construction in a few years? This guy is actually more selfish than me, Xu Damao.

Damn, I am a prophet now. I should just live a good life.

Well, you still have to be low-key and not be too ostentatious.

Oh, by the way, it seems that the ticket system will be implemented next year, so hurry up and stock up on some goods, especially grain and oil.

There was a knock at the door, "Da Mao, my third aunt is here to pick up the laundry."

"Oh, here we come."

Xu Damao opened the door, handed the coat and cotton trousers he had prepared to Yang Ruihua, and took out a two-thousand-dollar bill and a one-thousand-dollar bill from his briefcase and handed them to Yang Ruihua.

"Third Auntie, please try to wash the blood stains off this coat as lightly as possible. I am relying on this coat to go to the countryside. It was our department that took care of me and applied for it from the Security Department. Take this money. It's three thousand yuan as agreed."

"Da Mao, don't worry. Your parents are not around now. If you need help in the future, just let me know." Yang Ruihua looked at the three thousand bills and his eyebrows curled up: these three thousand dollars were easy to earn.

Washing clothes is indeed not Xu Damao's or Xu Damao's strong point. There is no way they can just give it to their mother to wash.

I closed the door and started to organize my thoughts again.

After drinking the fragrant jasmine tea, the pain in my head has gotten much better. In fact, apart from the skin breakout on the left side of my forehead, there are no major problems elsewhere.

Xu Damao also thought of a question: should he apply to his work unit for a gun when he goes to the countryside? In fact, it is highly likely that it will not be approved. He plans to buy a long knife or a short sword for self-defense.

Yes, I will go buy it later, and I can also go visit and see if there is anyone willing to teach him some Kung Fu. He remembered that his father seemed to have such a friend, who came to Kyoto from Cangzhou and seemed to be a martial artist.

Let's go, I'll do it when I think of it. I've got lunch for today.

The boiling water on the stove was poured into the only thermos, and the stove door was sealed.

He changed his clothes, put on a scarf, and found a hat to cover the gauze on his head.

He dug out his savings from the box under the bed, and found that there was more than one million yuan. He took all of it and stuffed it into his trouser pockets, locked the door, and went out.

As expected, rich people have a strong backbone because they have money.

Compared with Xu Damao yesterday, his steps today are much faster.

The weather is nice today. The light snow that fell the day before has disappeared. Several middle-aged women are sitting together in the corridor sheltered from the wind in the central courtyard. Some are sewing shoe soles, some are choosing sweaters, and some are hanging quilts and clothes.

After crossing the courtyard, Xu Damao saw his army green coat and cotton trousers being hung out to dry in the sun by the three aunts.

I walked out of the courtyard, passed the alley, came to Gulou Street, and took the bus to Dongcheng where my parents were assigned to live near Hepingli.

Xu Damao doesn't come here very often. It seems that since he separated from his family, Xu Damao has only come here twice.

Fortunately, I didn't make a mistake in the place, as it was relatively easy to recognize. Because in front of the house Xu Fugui was assigned was a small state-owned restaurant and guesthouse, which was an industry of the street office.

The door was open. Xu Damao lifted the thick door curtain and knocked on the half-closed door. "Mom, are you home?"

Xu's mother was cleaning the house when she heard her son calling her. She left the bedroom and went to the living room.

"Da Mao, why aren't you at work? Ah, Damao, what's wrong with your head? Did you fight with that bastard Sha Zhu again? Mom, take a look, is your injury serious? Have you seen a doctor? Is everything alright? Damao, why are you so worrying?"