Siheyuan: I live next door to Xu Damao, my last name is Cao

Xu Damao looked around at everyone, his eyes lingering on each person's face for a moment. It seemed as if he was examining them, or recalling every detail of the past.

Then, he slowly said, "Silly Zhu, I've actually been looking for an opportunity to tell you that our grievances over the years have been like the tangled vines in the yard, causing unrest in the entire yard. I've always felt bad about it, and this guilt is like a big rock weighing on my heart. I wanted to eat this meal happily today and bury all the unhappiness in the wine. But I feel that I can't escape, and I still have to make things clear."

Sha Zhu frowned slightly, feeling a little uneasy, just like a breeze blowing across the calm lake, causing ripples.

But he still said, "Da Mao, didn't we agree that the past is like drifting smoke, it's over, why bring it up? We finally get to sit down and have a meal together, so let's not bring up the past."

Xu Damao smiled bitterly, and that smile was full of bitterness.

He said, "Shazhu, you are a real person, reliable and dependable. But I can't just let this go. I have done many things to let you down in the past, especially that time... You were so happy to go on a blind date, and it was something you had been looking forward to for a long time. But I deliberately messed up your blind date. I said bad things about you in front of the girl, which made the scene a mess. You lost face and lost a good girl. Now that I think about it, I was like a bastard who was blinded by greed and did something that hurt others and myself."

When everyone heard this, they were stunned. For a moment, the room was so quiet that only the sound of everyone's breathing could be heard.

No one expected Xu Damao to suddenly bring up this matter.

Yi Zhonghai frowned and put down his chopsticks. The sound of the chopsticks hitting the table was particularly loud in the silence.

He said seriously: "Da Mao, since you have said so much today, you must really repent. As human beings, we must live up to our conscience and not just talk about it."

Xu Damao nodded quickly, as eager as a chick pecking at rice: "Uncle Yi, I am sincere. The regret in my heart is like a flood that has burst its dam, and I can't stop it. And, Shazhu, you had a great chance when the factory was evaluating advanced workers. Your work performance is obvious to all, and it is a real achievement. But I... I did bad things for you behind your back. I secretly reported you to the leader and said some fabricated things just to pull you down and give myself a chance. I... I am such a mean person. I can't believe I could do such a thing at that time."

Sha Zhu's originally calm eyes suddenly flashed, and a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes for an instant, but disappeared in the blink of an eye, as if they had never appeared. His eyes quickly returned to their usual calmness.

At this moment, he stared quietly at Xu Damao in front of him, with an indescribable complex emotion in his eyes.

After a moment's silence, he slowly spoke, "Da Mao, in fact, I have known all these things clearly in my heart! Besides, I am not the kind of person who is inflexible and stubborn. If you think about it carefully, I do have a lot of problems myself. For example, my bad temper is as violent as a firecracker, and it will explode with a little spark. Many times, it is because I couldn't stand your provocation, my brain got hot, and my hands moved uncontrollably, and I accidentally hurt you. Now thinking back, I really regret and blame myself for this matter."

Hearing what Sha Zhu said, Xu Damao's eyes couldn't help but turn slightly red, and crystal tears gradually emerged in the corners of his eyes.

Under the dim light, the tears flashed a faint and soft light, like a mirror, clearly reflecting the surging emotions deep in his heart.

Xu Damao responded with a choked voice: "Silly Zhu, I didn't expect you to say such a thing. It makes me feel even more ashamed and embarrassed! The reason why I came to you in front of everyone today is that I want to express my sincere apology to you. I hope you can be magnanimous and forgive the mistakes I made in the past. I sincerely hope that the two of us can completely put aside all the grievances in the past, cut off all ties from now on, and start all over again."

After saying that, he bent down deeply and bowed respectfully at a 90-degree angle to Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu quickly stood up and supported Xu Damao, his movements a little anxious: "Da Mao, what are you doing? Let's not talk about it, it's all in the past, we will be fine in the future. We live in the same yard, we will see each other every day, we can't let those trivial things keep bothering us."

When everyone saw this, they felt relieved.

Everyone sat down again and continued to eat. For a while, the room was filled with laughter and joy. The laughter was like the spring sunshine, warm and bright, dispelling the previous haze.

Everyone was immersed in this rare harmonious atmosphere, as if they had forgotten all the unpleasantness.

Xu Damao seemed like a different person. He was smiling and enthusiastically moving between the tables with a wine jug in his hand.

He walked up to Sha Zhu, his eyes full of sincerity: "Sha Zhu, we two brothers must drink more today. I have been unfair to you in the past. I toast you with this glass of wine as an apology."

After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, his movements quick and decisive.

After drinking it, he turned the cup upside down to signal Sha Zhu, and a few drops of remaining wine slid down the wall of the cup.

Seeing how generous he was, Sha Zhu did not hesitate. He picked up the wine glass, tilted his neck back, drank the wine, and then showed the bottom of the glass.

Xu Damao came to Yi Zhonghai again and said respectfully: "Uncle Yi, you have always been the backbone of the courtyard and the support of our courtyard. You have been worried about us young people over the years. Whether it is the conflicts between us or the difficulties in life, you have tried your best to help solve them. You are also here for this matter today, and I am very happy. This glass of wine is for you, thank you for your care all the time. Without you, our courtyard would not be so stable."

Yi Zhonghai smiled and nodded, his eyes full of satisfaction. He clinked glasses with Xu Damao, then took a sip of the wine. The wine flowed down his throat, bringing a hint of warmth.

Xu Damao then said to Yan Bugui: "Uncle Yan, you are highly respected, like an ancient book full of wisdom. We young people have to learn from you. I have admired you since I was a child. I admire your knowledge and your way of dealing with people. Let's drink this wine today."

Yan Bugui was so pleased with what he said that the wrinkles on his face smoothed out like a blooming chrysanthemum.

He picked up the wine glass and started drinking with Xu Damao, saying as he drank: "Damo, you are such a sweet kid."

He also did not forget to bring his father Xu Fugui with him, walked up to him, and said in a drunken state: "Dad, I'm happy today, and you have to be happy too. We haven't had such a good drink together in a long time. Let's drink together today."

Xu Fugui looked at his son with love in his eyes. He clinked glasses with his son with satisfaction, then drank and said, "Da Mao, seeing you like this makes Dad happy."

However, Xu Damao had his own plots and schemes in his mind. His mind was like a poisonous snake in the dark, hiding in the shadows and ready to strike at any time.

He seemed to be drinking heartily, but in fact he was secretly pouring the wine on the ground.

Whenever he held up the wine glass and turned his back to everyone, he would quickly pour the wine under the table. His movements were skillful and concealed.

The wine seeped silently into the ground without attracting anyone's attention.

Sometimes, when no one was paying attention, he would hold the wine in his mouth, pretend to wipe his mouth, secretly spit it on his hands, and then wipe it on his clothes, leaving a faint mark on the clothes.

Occasionally he would actually drink some, after all he had to pretend to be drunk, so his face was already red and his neck was thick, and his whole body exuded a strong smell of alcohol, which was like a layer of fog, enveloping him, making people feel that he had drunk quite a bit and was already immersed in the alcohol.

Sha Zhu was a little drunk at this time. He held Xu Damao's hand and said, "Da Mao, I am very happy with this meal today. It feels like returning to my childhood without all those messy things. Let's be good in the future and stop causing unpleasantness. We should support each other like brothers."

Xu Damao's eyes flickered, but the strange look was covered by the alcohol. He then smiled and nodded: "That's right, Shazhu, we will be good brothers from now on. Let's live a prosperous life in the yard together."

Liu Haizhong's face was red from drinking too. He slammed the table and said loudly, "Remember this day. Our courtyard must always be harmonious. We can't quarrel over trivial matters anymore. We all need to cherish this harmony."

Everyone responded and raised their glasses to celebrate. The sound of the glasses clinking together was like a cheerful symphony.

In this lively atmosphere, Xu Damao continued with his plan. Occasionally, a barely perceptible viciousness flashed in his eyes, but everyone was so drunk and happy that they did not notice his abnormality and were all immersed in this seemingly wonderful party.

As they drank more wine, their laughter became louder and louder, and the laughter echoed in the house, as if it was going to break through the roof and fly into the sky.

But no one knew that this seemingly wonderful gathering would soon be shrouded in a shadow by Xu Damao's conspiracy. That shadow was like a dark cloud in the night, slowly approaching them.

..................

..................