Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

"Da Mao, why did you suddenly open an antique shop for me? I was wondering why you lent me your ID card that day, and it turned out that you were going to register a shop. By the way, don't spread this matter. I am a lecturer at the school and I am currently evaluating the rank of associate professor. Don't let this matter affect my professional title evaluation at the end of the year."

Xu Damao and Fang Xiaoru stayed in Fang Xiaoru's house that night. After a rest, they chatted leisurely.

"Hey, lady, you're going to be an associate professor. That's incredible. I have to think carefully about how to reward you if you pass the evaluation."

"My request is not high. Please take me to travel to the south. I want to go to Suzhou and Hangzhou to see how beautiful it is, with heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below."

"Well, you have to go in spring. April is the best time."

"Why? Can't we go during the Spring Festival?"

"It's not suitable for northerners to go to the Jiangnan area during the Spring Festival. The weather there is very cold in early spring. It's damp and cold. People from Kyoto can't stand the climate there. There is an ancient poem that goes: Fireworks in March go to Yangzhou. So April is the best season. I agree to this."

"Oh, I didn't realize that although you are a bit of a scumbag, your level is still quite high." Fang Xiaoru twisted Xu Damao's bare waist.

"Comrade Associate Professor, you can't murder your own husband." Xu Damao knew that Fang Xiaoru was joking with him.

"You haven't told me why you opened an antique shop."

"It's been a long time since I said that. Do you remember that guy? I forgot his name. He was Lihua's ex-boyfriend, a kid from a big courtyard?"

"Are you talking about Yan Yikuan?"

"It's him. Do you remember when you talked to him about accepting his things and he spared you a pair of Yongzheng-style silver plates?"

"How could I not remember? You even told me that this pair of discs were very valuable and asked me to keep them well."

"At that time, I wanted to buy you a shop to open a store, but the times did not allow it, so there was nothing I could do. You have talent in this area, and you also have the resources and connections in this area, so there is no doubt that you will open an antique shop in the future. So now that there is a policy to open a shop, I have to give you a shop, and it also fulfills one of my dreams. The most important thing is that my master's body has been taken care of by me in the past few years, and there is still some energy left to use. It can be regarded as both filial piety and exploitation of him. I told my master that the key is to collect, we are not short of money. It is not a prosperous era yet. In another ten or eight years, the value of antiques will definitely go up. Opening a shop now to collect goods is like picking up money. We are sitting back and enjoying wealth and glory. If we don’t do it, we are stupid, right?"

"Are you really that sure?"

"That's right. Don't you see who I am? Not only antiques are going up in value, but real estate is also going to increase in value. If you have a lot of savings, just buy a suitable property. Buy as much as you can. Don't worry."

"Tsk, it's as if you bought it."

"Yes, I have bought them. I have bought yards in several places, even though they are in the countryside. They are cheap and big enough. I also bought a foundation in Beiqijia and built a three-story yard. I'll take you to see it if I have the chance. It will probably be finished soon."

"Good fellow, you really bought the land?"

"Don't doubt me. I'm your man, there's nothing I can hide from you."

"Yes, the incident with your Hong Kong wife is evidence of your crime."

"Xiao Ru, I think I told you about this as soon as we got together. I didn't know where she was at the time, but I remember telling you clearly that she would most likely come back to find me, and I would not abandon her. She and I have three children. Not to mention children, we now have granddaughters. She is in Los Angeles, and should return to Kyoto to celebrate the New Year this year. You can come with us then. There is something we really need to consider. Let's sit down and discuss it together."

"What's the matter? Still discussing it."

"Xiao Ru, sometimes why do parents work so hard? It's all for their children. Next year, Hanhan, Dandan, and Shuying will graduate from high school. Ask them whether they want to study abroad or take the college entrance examination. Make preparations for both situations. There are several options for going abroad, such as the United States, Britain, and Hong Kong. Xiao'e came to Kyoto in early August, and I talked to her about this. She said it was not difficult. Now their brothers are in the United States, Britain, and their sister is in Hong Kong. They have a prerequisite advantage. After all, the education and technology levels abroad are far higher than those in China, so it won't hurt to go out and see the world."

"What you said is true. My dad told Shuying to consider studying abroad. It seems that his classmates in the United States and Germany have contacted him now."

"That's even better. Let the children decide for themselves. As for safety, the three girls are all skilled in martial arts, so generally there won't be any major problems."

"Well, I'll forgive you for being so romantic. Hey, I'm almost fifty, what else can't I figure out? Really."

"Lady, you are not old. You look 35 at most. This may affect your promotion to associate professor. You look too young."

"Ah, what a bad mouth. I've already been appointed as an associate professor. Who else has more experience than me? I've been teaching at the School of Chemical Engineering since its establishment in 59. I returned to work at the school during the Great Movement in 72. Who dares to steal my position as an associate professor? There are indeed few professor positions, otherwise I would have to be evaluated for a full professorship. Really. Then it's a deal. After the spring, in April, take me to Jiangnan for a trip. It's a place that even Emperor Qianlong missed. It must be fun."

"You university teachers will definitely have opportunities for academic exchanges, so don't give us too many opportunities in the future."

"That's different. That's work. I want my lover and I to travel together. That's life."

Xu Damao understood that the chivalrous woman Fang Xiaoru still had the feelings of a young girl, and her romanticism had not diminished at all. That's good. Getting older doesn't mean your heart is old. If your heart is younger, you will be more motivated.

A few days later, on the weekend, Xu Damao also told this story at his home in Dongsi, and he did so in front of his two daughters who were in their second year of high school.

"Hanhan, Dandan, your brother has connections in the United States. You will graduate from high school next year. Do you have any specific plans and ideas about your future? Tell us boldly. Your parents will definitely support you."

"What do you mean? Dad, what else can we do? Just go to college. It's easy for Dandan and I to go to college. I've thought about it. I'll keep it simple and apply to the Fashion Institute. I'll be a designer in the future and it'll be closer to home. Dandan and I have talked about it. She likes literature and will work hard to get into the Chinese Department of Peking University. Dandan, right?"

"Well, Dad, my goal is to go to Kyoto University."

"My daughter, maybe you don't understand what Dad means. You have good grades and it's good to be admitted to a university. Dad means that you have other options, such as studying abroad, you can go to the United States, Hong Kong, and Britain. There are your brothers and sisters there, and you have connections, so it can be achieved. So today Dad will tell you about it. You don't have to worry about the cost, and you don't have to worry about your parents and home. You are grown up, and it is very necessary and beneficial to go out and see this big world. As for what you choose in the future, I support it. There is still a long time, you should think about it carefully. It is estimated that your brothers and sisters will return to Kyoto for the New Year. Then we can discuss your future, okay?"

"If you really want to go abroad, why not France? France is the fashion capital of women's clothing."

To learn fashion, there is Parsons in the United States and Saint Martin in Britain, which is no worse than ESMOD in France. The most important thing in learning is the person. You need to concentrate and study hard to achieve results. The master can lead you to the door, but you still have to rely on yourself to practice. Do you understand?