Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

"Huohuo, did you succeed in your talk with Professor Chu?"

"Maybe. Professor Chu said he would apply for me as an international student when the school starts. Tsinghua University has been researching carbon fiber for several years, but the progress is relatively slow. In fact, Dad, it doesn't matter who I learn from. The information I have access to is more advanced than that in China. What do you think I have? I am willing to come to Kyoto to study for a doctorate this time because of Yuan Ya. Another reason is that my mentor in the United States is also from Kyoto. Two years ago, my mentor said that his grandfather appeared in his dream and said that the domestic situation is good now, so don't forget your roots when you go out, and remember that you are still a descendant of Yan and Huang. Look, he himself doesn't dare to return to China, so he asked me to bring some of his research results back to share, which is a disguised way of supporting the country."

"Oh, there is such a thing? This fake foreign devil is quite patriotic. His style is quite high."

"Oh, by the way, Dad, it seems that my mentor used to live near Wudaoying. You can ask around. There used to be a Manchu family named Qi. They should be the old people who survived. I wonder if they still have any descendants.

"I do know a descendant of the Eight Banners family named Qi, but it's been 20 years. He's a lonely old man, and your father took care of him until his death. The courtyard where your grandfather lived belongs to the Qi family. By the way, what's your mentor's name?"

"Jason, whose Chinese name is Qi Huan, went to the United States before the liberation of Kyoto in 48, and later stayed in Philadelphia. He is now a senior professor of materials engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. I went to college there, and he recruited me to study for a master's degree just because I am Chinese."

"Qi Huan? What a coincidence? Could he really be Mr. Qi's son? The address doesn't match, maybe Mr. Qi used to have a courtyard in Wudaoying, and the time he went out and the name match. It can't be such a coincidence? I'm taking care of him in China, and his son is taking care of my son abroad? Hey, it's really a cycle of cause and effect."

"Huohuo, if your mentor's grandfather is called Qi Delong, then that must be him. Go back to the United States one day and ask him, Qi Delong, a member of the Bordered White Banner. If that's the case, tell him that his grandfather has left him a house with a courtyard in Kyoto, and he can move in when he comes back."

"Ah? So you really know him? Isn't that a coincidence?"

"It's hard for me to say now. There are so many people with the same name. The address doesn't match now. Your grandfather lives in Caoyuan Hutong now, and he said his home is in Wudaoying. There is a slight difference."

"Oh, I'll remember that. I still have to go back during the summer vacation. I can't stay in Kyoto forever."

"Son, you and Yuan Ya have not seen each other for more than 20 years, and they were friends in kindergarten. Do you think she still remembers you or is really waiting for you? Feelings actually have a shelf life, which is very realistic. In addition, China is relatively traditional, which is different from Hong Kong or the United States. Marriage between two people is not a matter between two people, but a relationship between families. Your father and I don't have the concept of family background. Originally, our Xu family was not a wealthy family, but now your mother's family is really a wealthy family. I know that Yuan Ya was born in a working-class family. What if their whole family lies on you and sucks your blood in the future? Are you willing or not? Accept it or not? You have to think it over carefully. Marrying a virtuous wife brings prosperity to three generations, and a harmonious family brings prosperity, and talents are born from generation to generation. So if you really want to find Yuan Ya, make up your mind after learning more, okay?"

"Okay, Dad, I'm not a three-year-old kid. I know. When my mom married Mr. Bai in Hong Kong, I knew that sometimes there is no choice. I will pay attention. Dad, who are you and Aunt Fang?"

"Aunt Fang is a woman that Aunt Gu and I met together. When Aunt Gu and I got married, she didn't marry me because of family reasons. Later, she had your sister Shuying, and she found a way to give birth to her own child. I can't just ignore it, and I also like and love her. Yes, your father is a bit philanthropic, but I am very responsible. Otherwise, Grandpa Fang would not recognize me, and we would not be able to go to the Fang family to pay New Year's greetings today. Oh, by the way, you just said that the materials you are researching are very cutting-edge. Aunt Fang is one of us. Didn't she say before the New Year that they are chemical engineers? The college has set up a polymer research lab. You should work with her more often in the future. I, your father, fully support you in contributing to the country, but you still have to have some selfishness. The domestic system is sometimes not something you can understand. Whether you are capable, knowledgeable, or have made contributions, you must follow the system. If you can't understand it, and you are wholeheartedly like a fool, it may have a negative impact on your values ​​and worldview in the future. If you cooperate with Aunt Fang, the meat will also be melted in your own soup pot. I don't know if you can understand what I mean?"

"What's so hard to understand about this? It's just that one's own knowledge should have intellectual property rights, such as albums, and so on, and one should have the final say. I understand. I'm already 26 years old this year, and I'm considered a well-informed person. What else do I not understand? Grandpa made such a great contribution in the past, and donated most of the family property, but in the end he still ran away with my mother and my three siblings. I can still remember the scene of hiding in the engine room of the large cargo ship to avoid inspection. Grandpa inhaled harmful gases there, and he got sick when he arrived in Hong Kong. It cost a lot of money to see a doctor."

Xu Damao imagined the scene of avoiding the customs inspection that Xu Jun said. He said nothing. After several minutes of silence, he patted Xu Jun on the shoulder and said, "Huohuo, Dad can imagine the difficulties. I was a little better than you in Kyoto, but I still had to endure a long period of investigation. Alas, although so many years have passed, when I think about it, it's still fresh in my mind. By the way, Dun Dun from Wanyuan, do you still remember it?"

"How could I forget the boy from Uncle Zhuzi's family, who is one year younger than me and has a sister named Meimei."

"Huohuo, you have a good memory. Indeed, his family now has three children, and a younger sister named Jianyu. At that time, you were already in Hong Kong. If you have a chance, go and see them together. You haven't met them, right? Dundun is now learning cooking from Uncle Zhuzi, and he runs a restaurant with our family. Jianmei seems to have been admitted to university and is still studying, and the youngest is also in middle school. It's really a blink of an eye, and you are all going to get married and have children. Time flies."

"Dad, stop sighing. I don't think you've aged at all. You don't look much older than me."

"Oh, by the way, speaking of this, Huo Huo, in the future, you can either learn Bagua from Dad, or learn the Natural Gate Inner Kung Fu from Aunt Fang. Learning one more skill can help you protect yourself. You are often away from home, so you still need to have this ability."

"Of course, in the United States, Bruce Lee is very famous. Although he is no longer with us, Jeet Kune Do is still famous and there are many martial arts schools. Besides, there is also Jet Li's Shaolin Temple, which is very popular in Hong Kong. Can I be that good?"

"As long as you are willing to work hard, you may be even better than them."

"Dad, what's your current level?"

"Me? I can't be compared with them. Except for Bruce Lee who has real kung fu, the others are just fancy moves and routines in my eyes. What they do is called martial arts, and what I learn is Taoism and immortal arts. Otherwise, do you think Aunt Fang, Aunt Gu and I can be so young? It's a pity that you didn't have the luck to master the Taoism arts last time. Let me tell you, your sister Shuying has mastered it. When she is a little older, she can kill a hungry wild boar weighing more than 100 pounds by herself. Now she is catching up with your father in terms of level. It's incredible."

"Is it true? I haven't heard her mention it."

"My realm has been raised, and my state of mind has also improved. How can I show my Taoist skills to others so easily? This is not a joke. If your father really fights hard, he will definitely treat his life as worthless."