Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

It was December in Kyoto, the northwest wind was howling, and it started snowing heavily on the 12th.

For the whole night, the entire Kyoto was shrouded in white.

(Note: I don’t know the exact weather. I just made it up to create the atmosphere of the resumption of the college entrance examination. If there is any discrepancy, please ignore it and don’t take it seriously. In fact, perhaps only those who experienced the college entrance examination in person back then will have a deep memory. But this generation is now old.)

On Saturday, Xu Damao took a day off to send Chen Zhiyu, Li Weihong, and Zhang Zhiqiang to the examination room to take the college entrance examination. He also asked them to compare their watches with his.

"Don't worry. You three already have a good foundation. You have half a year longer to review than others. As long as you stay focused, I believe you will succeed. Come on."

The college entrance examination lasted for three days before it ended.

Xu Damao later found out that hundreds of people from the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill also took the entrance exam. It was just that because there were relatives of his at home taking the college entrance exam and Gu Meifang was about to give birth, Xu Damao didn't pay much attention to it.

On the 12th, Zhang Tengyun prepared a banquet at home to entertain everyone. It was also prepared for his son and daughter-in-law to wish them good results after the exam.

"Da Mao, I asked the kids, and they seem to have done well in the exam. This time, it's really fortunate that you were well-informed and reviewed half a year in advance. If there really is a college student in the family, you will be the one who deserves the most credit. Come, let's have a good drink today so that the kids can get good grades."

"Brother, look at what you said. We are all family. What is there to be thankful for? As long as they do well in the exam and change their fate, we, as elders, should be happy. Drinking is a must. Come on, let's drink."

There is always good news.

The Red Star Factory's tough task has finally come to an end. On the 18th, it was announced that the task was % completed, two weeks ahead of schedule. The factory also evaluated a number of advanced workers and nominated three winners of the May st Labor Medal, and the factory union reported to the Municipal Federation of Trade Unions.

In order to reward the early completion of this tough task, the factory held a dinner in each canteen. Each employee received a dinner ticket and had a dinner in the canteen at the end of the month.

On the morning of the day after the Winter Solstice, Gu Meifang gave birth to a daughter, Xu Zhiyue, in the hospital. The baby weighed 15 pounds and was healthy. Xu Damao looked at his wrinkled daughter who was carried out by the nurse and smiled, "My little girl, you finally come out to meet your dad. It's not easy." Xu Damao is truly a father who loves his daughter.

Because Gu Meifang had given birth, Xu Damao also gave Li Weihong a dinner ticket for the steel mill at the end of the month, so that the couple could attend the dinner together, while he would stay at home to take care of Gu Meifang and the children.

"Dad, you are right, it is indeed a younger sister." The Handan sisters are now sure that what their biological father told them some time ago was a younger sister, and he was right.

"Dad, how did you know?"

"As for me, I have learned a little bit of Chinese medicine, and I have gained some clairvoyance through practice. Do you believe me, dear? It's a pity that you two sisters don't have the physique of sister Shuying, and you haven't practiced well. Otherwise, you two would have some abilities in the future."

"real or fake?"

"It's true. Do you remember the days when we went back to the countryside during the summer vacation? Dad took you to climb the Great Wall. Sister Shuying could kill a wild boar by herself. So, in the future, when your godmother asks you to learn the natural martial arts well, you should also study hard. As the saying goes, a boxing hand never leaves a song, and a song never leaves a mouth. You have to work hard to practice anything to achieve success. Look at your sister and sister-in-law. They are in their twenties and almost thirty, and have two children. If they don't study hard and take the entrance examination, they will become college students in a few days. So, you should also work hard to make everyone in our family a college student."

Xu Zhiquan and Xu Zhiyu really listened to it. Of course, the brothers Xu Zhilu and Xu Zhidi were still young after all, and their attention was not at all on Xu Damao's preaching. They were just surrounding their mother and playing with Xu Zhiyue.

On the weekend, Fang Xiaoru brought Fang Shuying to Dongsi to visit Gu Meifang.

"Yeah, everyone is at home. It's just right, let's have dinner together today. Xu Damao, you cook for us today. I'm here, so you went shopping. I want to eat mutton and braised pork elbow. I bought an old hen outside to make soup for Sister Meifang. Let's kill it and stew it today."

"Okay, lady hero, as you command. I'll go buy some groceries now and make sure I cook a good meal for you."

Xu Damao rode his bike to the vegetable market to buy vegetables. At home, Xu Zhiquan pulled Fang Shuying aside and asked:

"Shuying, last time you and dad were at the Great Wall, did you really kill a wild boar by yourself?" Dad also said that he could see through things, is that true?"

"Sister, maybe. I haven't practiced to that level yet, but it's true that I can sense all the subtle details within 20 meters around me. Maybe I can see through things in the future. Because mom said that the Qi Refining Technique we practiced is not martial arts, but Taoism, which is very magical. Maybe it requires a special physique, and I may just be suitable for practicing. But sister, don't be discouraged. My mother has now practiced the internal strength of the Natural Gate and has reached the level of flying flowers and picking leaves. It's also very powerful. It's easy to deal with a wild boar. If there is a chance in the future, let's go back to the countryside and go hunting together, okay?"

"Okay, okay! That's settled then. By the way, Shuying, what have you been busy with recently? I don't see you coming over for dinner."

Fang Shuying hesitated a little, "Yesterday my mother took me to see another brother, who is also taking the college entrance examination this year, to ask how he did. Then I had to go back to my grandpa's house to accompany them. So I came less often. But it doesn't matter, winter vacation is coming soon, and we can go to Shichahai to skate together again. Okay?"

"Okay, I must go."

The house is very lively. Now the five sisters and brothers are together, talking and laughing, having a great time.

Xu Damao was cooking in the kitchen while using his spiritual sense to listen to the conversation between Gu Meifang and Fang Xiaoru.

As they chatted, Fang Xiaoru brought up He Lihua. "Sister, Xu Damao, that bastard, has a biological son in Shandong. Didn't you hear what he said? He Lihua wrote me back and said that she really didn't want you to divorce and get married with him. She was pregnant, and there happened to be a passionate man willing to take over, so she went to Laiwu, Shandong to support the construction there. Now He Lihua also has three children. The eldest son is Xu Damao's biological son. You can see that this guy is really popular with women. Not only is he affectionate everywhere, but we are also willing to give birth to his children. How can we reason with him?"

"Sister Xiaoru, the head of the family has treated you well over the years. What complaints do you have now? Look, you asked him to cook and he went. Look at the men around us, how many are willing to go into the kitchen to cook for an old woman. I am even more worried. Without the head of the family, I would not know whether I would be alive or not. Now you see our family, all moved from the countryside to the city, and Xiaoyu might even be able to get into college. I am very satisfied with my current life, and now I have Tiaotiao, my life is complete."