Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

No wonder Xu Damao doesn’t want to come back. This mother is really nagging.

After Xu Damao explained it clearly, Xu's mother started to speak again.

"Da Mao, you will be nineteen soon. Mom has told the former madam of the Lou family that her only daughter is now of marriageable age. She will be eighteen after the New Year, one year younger than you. You should hurry up and come with me to visit the Lou family before the New Year. If it works out, you will have saved twenty years of hard work. Although the Lou family has donated their property now, you should know that even the skinniest camel is bigger than a horse. Others may not know this, but mom knows it very well. In addition, Mr. Lou is still a director of the steel mill after all. If the factory gives you some support, you can be promoted, and then your good days will come."

"Mom, don't say some things carelessly. Those who know you are the nanny of the Lou family, and those who don't know you think you are the running dog of the Lou family. Also, don't call them master or mistress in the future. It's taboo in the current situation. And that little girl of the Lou family, you haven't even met her, but you are imagining it. People think that my Xu family is plotting against them. You should know that Lou Bancheng is a very capable person. How can our little tricks escape his eyes? They are just not of good class background now, so they want Aunt Tan's daughter to marry a family with good class background to gain some balance for themselves, but only to protect themselves. I know what's going on. I'll visit before the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival this year. It's still early anyway. I'll only be 19 next year. Isn't it too early to get married?"

"Da Mao, it's getting late. If possible, we can get married next year. The Lou family is also very anxious."

"Okay, okay, I get it. Mom, is my dad at work?"

"Well, your dad is doing equipment maintenance at work in the morning, and comes back at noon. He'll go to show a movie in the evening, so he's having a very comfortable time at work. What's going on? Do you have something to talk to your dad about?"

"Well, my dad will be back at noon, so I'll wait for him at home."

Although Xu's mother had a thin face, droopy eyebrows, and sunken cheeks, and her appearance did not look good, she was very good to her children.

"Da Mao, you should rest at home for a while. Mom will go to the market to buy some meat and give you a snack at noon. This child is so careless that he can get a concussion by falling off his bike. Your father has been working in the countryside for so many years and he has never fallen once."

Xu's mother took the cloth bag, took out some money from the piggy bank, and went out.

Xu Damao found some tea leaves at home, made some tea, and was happy and carefree. His head hurt from hearing Xu's mother's chattering just now. Now he finally had some peace and quiet.

Sure enough, Mr. Xu arrived home before eleven o'clock.

"Da Mao, how come you have time to come back today?"

"Dad, I fell on the way back to the city a few days ago, so Section Chief Li gave me seven days off. So I took some time to come see you and ask you something." Xu Damao handed a cigarette to his father and took a teacup to make a cup of Gaosui for Xu Fugui.

"Da Mao, the roads in the countryside are difficult to travel on, and the roads are not safe. Try not to go back to the city at night in the future. You can make this clear to the Propaganda Department. We need to do our work well, and we also need to ensure our own safety."

"Dad, I seem to remember you said that you had a friend or colleague who was a martial artist from Cangzhou. So, for safety reasons, I was thinking if I could learn a few moves from him to protect myself."

"Oh, you mean Zhang Taihe from the steel mill. He is indeed a martial artist, but that is his family martial arts, he may not be able to teach it."

"Whether you have it or not, let's pay a visit. As long as you are sincere, I think it won't be a disgrace to you to learn a few fancy moves."

"Okay, the day after tomorrow, take a rest. Let's go to his house and ask. In fact, you can go by yourself. His house is not far from your compound. You are No. 95 and they seem to live in No. 88. You can go by yourself. But you'd better not let Liu Haizhong from your compound know about this. Zhang Taihe and Liu Haizhong are in the same workshop. Few people in the factory know that Zhang Taihe is a martial artist. This matter must be kept secret."

"Oh, oh. Then I'll go visit him quietly. By the way, Dad, our Section Chief Li said that I'll be promoted to a regular employee at the end of the month, and I'll be able to get a regular employee's salary in January next year. What do you think I should give him to thank him?"

"Son, is the news reliable? Then we must go. So, come home in a few days and I will prepare a pack of Mudan cigarettes, two bottles of Fenjiu, and buy some cakes for you. Well, it's best not to take them to the factory or home. You can just wait for him somewhere outside the factory. Forget it, you should just take the money and buy it yourself."

At this time, Xu's mother came back carrying some vegetables.

"Old man, it's so early today. I'll cook quickly and you two can have a drink at noon."

This lunch was very enjoyable. Xu Damao not only listened to Xu Fugui's description of the gossips about the families in the Red Star No. 95 courtyard and the personality characteristics of each person again, but also lit a cigarette for his father and gave him a thumbs up.

"Dad, you are old and wise. You see things clearly. After your analysis, I feel more confident in No. 95 Courtyard. I know every household clearly now. I think I will have a good life in the courtyard in the future."

"Da Mao, your mother is right. You should pay more attention to the girl from the Lou family. Lou Zhenhua still has some say in the factory. Who knows, he might be able to help you move from a worker to a cadre. Work hard on your career, my silly son. If you can bring such a good daughter-in-law home sooner, your mother and I can have a grandson sooner."

Under the brainwashing of his parents, Xu Damao took the 50 yuan in cash given by his father and returned to the No. 95 courtyard.

In the evening, Xu Damao quietly made a bowl of egg noodles and fried a plate of peanuts in his room. He drank two taels of white wine happily and listened to the voice of Liu Haizhong scolding the two teenagers Liu Guangfu and Liu Guangtian across the street as a side dish.

The next day, Xu Damao got up early and started exercising.

Xu Damao was an athlete and a member of the martial arts club during his college years. Although he didn't know much else, he managed to learn the 85-style Yang style Tai Chi, which is not simple or easy.

I went to the nearby Jingshan Park for a run, did some leg stretching, jogging, and push-ups to warm up. Then I found a place to practice Yang style Tai Chi three times. I hadn't practiced it for a long time, so it felt a little rusty.

Exercise is necessary. Only when you have a healthy body can you live a better life. At the very least, if you encounter robbers or gang fights, you should be able to escape if you can't beat them.

Yes, whether or not I can learn martial arts from Zhang Taihe, I have to train every day, at least I can't let that bastard Sha Zhu kick me in the future. I must have enough martial arts to fight against that idiot Sha Zhu. I can't control him being used by Yi Zhonghai, I have to show some tricks myself, I can't let Sha Zhu fool me.

Hehe, I can't ruin my bright future with an egg in this life. Shazhu is just an idiot? Bastard.

In the afternoon, I bought cigarettes, Fenjiu liquor, and cakes from the supply and marketing cooperative, and called Chief Li of the Propaganda Department, waiting for him at Gulou Street.

Section Chief Li was overjoyed when he saw the gift from Xu Damao. It was a scarce material worth 150,000 yuan. Just kidding, it was a big deal. He thought in his heart: Xu Damao is a good young man, worth training.