Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

There was one benefit to the dinner on the 28th of the lunar year, which was that Xu Damao didn't have to go to each family to pay New Year's greetings. He didn't have to go to Zhang Taihe's, Pu Yulin's, or the Fang family's. The filial piety that should be shown was beyond the imagination of the families.

In Beiqijia, the old couple Xu Fugui had already moved in according to Xu Damao's arrangement. The place was really big.

On New Year's Eve, the three courtyards built by Beiqijia were bustling with people. Lou Xiao'e, her three pairs of children, and her mother Tan Yali were all there. Gu Meifang, Chen Zhiyong and his family were also there. Xu Zhiquan and the other five siblings were busy in the kitchen with Fang Shuying making their favorite pastries. In the kitchen, Xu's mother, Gu Meifang, and Tan Yali were busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner.

Only Qi Huan and Lou Xiaohui, Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e, and Fang Xiaoru were talking about their own things in different rooms.

"Lady Xia, has the TV set from Xishiku Street been delivered to Meihua?"

"Since you, Leader Xu, have spoken, how can I not follow your orders? However, I still told Lihua that you asked me to give it to you. You know, Lihua is not stupid. She always guesses correctly. Anyway, she accepted it. I have completed my mission."

"That's fine. Just be well from now on." Xu Damao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As he thought. For He Lihua, there is indeed love in her heart, but times have changed. When they were in Beidaihe and Saishang Saihanba, He Lihua firmly expressed her attitude, and Xu Damao recognized it. He is not so overbearing that as long as they have an intimate relationship, they will dominate her for life. This time, the TV and refrigerator were given to her purely because they were prepared enough, and He Lihua and Xu Damao still have a son. Although they cannot or do not recognize each other, facts are facts after all.

While Xu Damao was chatting with the two sisters Lou Xiao'e and Fang Xiaoru, he ran outside the yard and lit a cigar and started smoking.

There was a light snow falling outside the house, very sparsely, and tiny snowflakes were dancing in the air, quite romantic.

Suddenly, he thought of Qin Huairu. He hadn't heard from her for a long time, and he didn't take her to heart. Although Qin Huairu was his first woman, she was also the one he cut off the most. Xu Damao smoked a cigar, blew smoke rings, and watched the snowflakes flying all over the sky.

"Uncle Mao."

"Xiaoyong. How's the video room? Is it okay?"

"Hey, it's pretty good. Every show is packed, and even the sunflower seeds and snacks can make a lot of money."

"Well, that's good. But Xiaoyong, your video room should be protected from fire and electricity. Safety is the most important thing. You need to have an extra safety door and prepare more fire extinguishers to prevent accidents."

"Don't worry. The cultural center inspected the venue before the opening. The preparations are very complete and the leaders are very satisfied. After all, I rented the unused space in the cultural center and paid a lot of rent and management fees to the company every month."

"Well, even though you've paid the rent, you still have to pay attention to the daily etiquette of the world. The better the business, the more you have to pay attention. After all, now they say that some people should get rich first, and those who haven't gotten rich will get jealous and make trouble for you. Do you understand what I mean? You're also a father, so don't let your mother worry about you. To be honest, your mother has made arrangements for both you and Zhiyu. In fact, we have money. The houses distributed by the demolition of Baishui Village alone will be a great fortune in the future. After a while, your mother and I will discuss and divide the houses that should be given to your brothers and sisters into your own hands, so that you can also be confident."

"Uncle Mao, no need. Wei Hong and I have a good income now. Let's talk about it later."

"Xiaoyong, what belongs to you is yours. I, Uncle Mao, will not participate in your mother's distribution of property. Although you are not my biological son, I have treated you and Zhiyu as my own over the years. You, Zhiyu and my five sisters in the Xu family. However, what should be divided must be divided. Only when brothers settle accounts clearly can there be less entanglement and the family relationship will be closer."

"Okay, then I'll follow your and my mom's arrangements. I have no objection. By the way, Uncle Mao, I have something to tell you during the Chinese New Year. I don't know if I should tell you."

"Just tell me if you have something to say. It's already on the tip of my tongue, just keeping me in suspense."

"It has nothing to do with us, but it's a bit unlucky. Last night, Master Yi from the middle yard of No. 95 Courtyard passed away. There was almost no one to take care of his affairs. Today, it was Uncle Zhuzi who ran to the street office to find someone and got the passbook from Aunt Jia and withdrew yuan. Uncle Zhuzi is helping to take care of it."

"What's going on? Isn't the old man in good health?"

"Hey, you and Aunt Lou went abroad during that time. Didn't Liu Guangtian from the backyard get a batch of old clothes? They were confiscated by the customs, and all three companies were fined 5,000. Yi Zhonghai had a stroke and is now in bed. Aunt Jia didn't take care of him much, and he didn't even make it to New Year's Eve. Oh, sometimes when I think about it, it's true that fate is beyond our control."

Xu Damao didn't say anything after listening to it. He took another puff of his cigarette and said slowly, "Didn't you say when he would be buried?"

"I came out today and asked Uncle Zhuzi. They told the funeral home to take the body away and send it over there. It won't be buried until after the third day of the Chinese New Year. They can't get anyone to help today."

"Okay, when you go back to the courtyard tomorrow, help me tell Uncle Zhuzi to buy him a wreath. I won't be able to leave. Xiaoyong, you are right. The old man in the courtyard schemed and schemed all his life, wanting to be taken care of by others in his old age, but in the end he didn't have a good ending. In the end, it was Uncle Zhuzi who took care of his funeral. Fate is beyond our control. So, Xiaoyong, you should think things through and pay more attention to Weihong. You can never make enough money, and Weihong will be the one to accompany you until the end of your life. Do you understand what I mean? Our family is not short of money. Don't put all your energy into making money and ignore family affection."

"Well, I see."

"Go ahead and help Wei Hong and the others prepare the New Year's Eve dinner. Let's have a few drinks tonight."

The news of Yi Zhonghai's death did not affect the joyful atmosphere of Xu Damao's family celebrating the New Year. Three tables of people ate New Year's Eve dinner while watching TV. The atmosphere was very happy.

There is snow falling outside, and inside the house it feels like spring breeze and the fragrance is overwhelming.

It is truly a sign of a good harvest.

Snowflakes flutter as we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year with joy.

Early on the first day of the new year, Xu Damao drove Qi Huan and Lou Xiaohui to Miyun Gubeikou to visit the graves of Lou's father and Qi Delong.

Fortunately, the snow was not heavy and the preparations were sufficient. Moreover, Xu Damao had already made arrangements in Gubeikou. If he did not go, there would still be someone to take care of the cemetery. Xu Damao would never save money on things that could be done with money.

Burning paper, burning incense, kneeling, setting off firecrackers, it was already evening when we returned to Beiqijia. It was nearly 300 kilometers round trip, and the road was difficult to walk on due to the snow, but we still successfully fulfilled our first wish of the New Year.

Whether they are dead or alive, there is hope. Although the snow is getting heavier and heavier, and it is already a heavy snow at night, the courtyard of Beiqi's family is full of warmth and love...

A new year has begun again.