Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

It's another Sunday off.

Xu Damao took a day off yesterday and took a day off today. He got up very early. He got up at five and started running to Yandaixie Street. In addition to checking if there were any thieves, the main purpose was to practice boxing and martial arts here.

Zhang Taihe and Xu Damao said that practicing boxing means practicing in the hottest days of summer and the coldest days of winter, and never putting down the boxing.

Xu Damao certainly knew this. He not only practiced it when he went to the countryside, but also practiced standing still when he was showing movies.

I practiced until seven o'clock, then locked the gate and started returning to Yard 95.

"Da Mao, were you the one who opened the gate this morning? That's too early. If you open the gate so early, it will be easy for thieves to get in."

Yesterday, only they knew what happened in the Third Uncle's house. Although Yan Fugui felt a lot of pressure, since he had it, he would definitely choose to stay, no matter how difficult it was. He started to calculate again. In fact, it was not the first time he knew that Xu Damao got up at five o'clock to exercise. He brought it up today because he wanted to try to get some benefits from Xu Damao. Now Xu Damao has become a formal employee in the factory. This is completely different from the previous twenty or so yuan a month, and Lou Xiaoe's life experience has also been dug out by the No. 95 courtyard.

Good fellow, the daughter of capitalist Lou Bancheng. Isn't this Xu Damao getting a great bargain?

"Uncle, it's summer now, it's five o'clock, and it's already daybreak. And today is Sunday. What thief would be so blind as to wait until everyone is at home to steal things? Isn't that right?"

After hearing this, Yan Fugui had no suitable words to refute and was stunned holding the dustpan containing the soil.

"Hey, Uncle, you look so happy today. What's the matter? Is it because you are going on a blind date today or Auntie is pregnant? It's a happy event, Uncle. You must prepare a feast to celebrate. Uncle, you must invite me, Xu Damao, to the feast. I will pay for the meal."

Xu Damao originally wanted to tease this stingy uncle, hoping that he would stop calculating against him in the future. Unexpectedly, he hit the mark.

Yan Fugui was confused, and his expression changed several times, "Xu Damao, stop talking nonsense, Jie Cheng hasn't found a partner yet."

"Ah..., that's good news for Third Aunt. Okay, Third Uncle, you are really a master. Please teach me some of your experience. You see, I have been married to my wife for a year, and I also want to have a son."

"Xu Damao, I don't want to bother with you. Go home quickly. It's getting late."

Xu Damao didn't care whether this was true or not. As long as he didn't offend Yan Fugui, the sinister villain, and didn't plot against him, it would be fine.

"Uncle, I'll bring some local specialties to Auntie to celebrate. Then I'll go back to the backyard."

"Xu Damao, keep your word and don't forget the specialties from the countryside."

Xu Damao listened to what Yan Fugui said behind him and walked to the central courtyard.

"Hey, Yuanchao, you're just growing up and school hasn't started yet, why do you get up so early?" Xu Damao couldn't help asking when he saw the child of Li Dongsheng's family, who lived next door to an old man, looking a little helpless in the yard.

Li Dongsheng's family is now one of the poorer families in the compound. Li Dongsheng joined the army the year Kyoto was liberated, and should be considered to have been reorganized into the People's Liberation Army. Now he has an old mother who is over 60 years old at home. His wife, Ms. Lin, works in the street office. She was a temporary worker arranged by the street office after Li Dongsheng went to fight on the peninsula in 51. Of course, she has been converted to a regular employee now. Li Yuanchao was born in 50, and his father was not around, so Ms. Lin decided to give him the name Yuanchao. After Li Dongsheng left the compound in , he sent an allowance home for the first two years, but now there is no news of him, and no one can find him. It's a bit like he is missing, and his body is nowhere to be found. Ms. Lin used to work in the street office, and asked someone to inquire about her husband's old army unit, but the answers she got were all unclear and unknown.

Life is not easy now. There is no man in the family, and four people have to be supported by Lin's salary alone.

"Uncle Damao, my mother suddenly felt unwell this morning, so my sister took her to the health center. My grandmother and I were the only ones at home, and I didn't know what to do, so I just stood here waiting for my mother and sister."

"What's wrong with your mother?"

Li Yuanchao shook his head. How could a six-year-old child know so much? He was already obedient enough.

"Yuan Chao, go back to the room first and keep an eye on your grandma. Has your grandma made breakfast?"

Li Yuanchao still shook his head.

Oh, by the way, his grandmother's eyesight is not very good and she can't see. Xu Damao remembered.

"Yuan Chao, be good and go back to look after your grandma. Uncle Damao will bring you breakfast later, okay?"

Li Yuanchao nodded and then ran into his house.

When Xu Damao got home, he didn't even have time to take a shower before thinking about making breakfast. He had planned to have chicken soup and noodles this morning. Just now, Li Yuanchao was busy, so he planned to make some porridge, boil a few eggs, and steam some steamed bread to send to the Li family.

Xu Damao actually roughly guessed where Li Dongsheng was going, after all, he had the knowledge of a history major. It seemed that during this period, some troops withdrew from the peninsula and went directly to the northwest to do a great cause, without telling their parents or their children, and without being able to communicate.

Isn't this almost right? Xu Damao has great respect for the backbone of the country, and Xu Damao was also deeply influenced by it.

If I don’t help anyone else in the courtyard, I will definitely help the Li family.

Lou Xiao'e was actually practicing standing meditation in the courtyard. Xu Damao cooked porridge and steamed steamed bread without disturbing Lou Xiao'e who was in the right state.

More than half an hour later, Xu Damao packed four eggs, eight steamed buns, and a pot of hawthorn porridge and went to Li's house in the middle courtyard.

"Yuan Chao, hey, Grandma Li, you're up. I'm Xu Damao from the backyard. I brought you some breakfast. Sister Lin should be fine. You and Yuan Chao can have breakfast first."

"It's from a wealthy family. Thank you for your help."

"It's not a problem, Aunt Li. Neighbors should help each other. Yuan Chao, where's your pot? I'll take the porridge over there."

He then placed the basket of eggs and steamed bread on the table. Li Yuanchao went to the kitchen and brought back a basin.

Xu Damao poured the porridge into the basin and said, "Yuan Chao, your grandma's eyesight is not good. You should help her eat breakfast first and wait for your mother to come back. If you have anything, call me in the backyard. Do you hear me?"

"Thank you, Uncle Damao. I'll be at home looking after grandma."

"Well, good kids, let's eat. One egg per person. I'm leaving first."

He touched Li Yuanchao's head, walked out of the house and returned to the backyard.

"Da Mao, who are you delivering breakfast to?"

Lou Xiao'e had finished practicing standing meditation and was washing up and preparing to have breakfast.

"This morning, I ran into the Li family kid from the middle courtyard. He said his mother seemed to be sick and went to the hospital early in the morning. There was only one child and one blind old woman at home. I just wanted to help."

"Da Mao, I heard that the eldest brother of the Li family is missing. Now people in the hospital say that the eldest brother of the Li family might be a spy, so his whereabouts are unknown. Why are you so enthusiastic?"

"Xiao'e, don't talk nonsense. Li Dongsheng went to the Peninsula in 50. We can't contact him now because of some special reasons. He has nothing to do with spies. If he was really a spy, his sister Lin would still be working in the street office. Don't believe these rumors in the future. I firmly believe that Li Dongsheng is carrying out a special mission for the country, and his family is a glorious family. If there is a need in the future, you have to help him. Let's eat. After dinner, I have to take a shower. I was sweating all over after training today."