Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

Xu Damao missed his daughter Xu Nian a little, so he took Lou Xiao'e and Lou Boxu to Dongzhimen on Sunday when there was no school.

It just so happened that Hu Yuanxi and his wife were there too.

"Brother Yuanxi, mother-in-law, you are all here. Suian, I am back from my business trip."

Before his parents could speak, Hu Suian quickly stepped forward and took the things from Xu Damao's hands, "Dad, Mom, you are here too. It's just right. I will cook a meal for my parents today."

Hu Yuanxi and Xu Damao are relatively familiar with each other, but are relatively unfamiliar with Lou Xiaoe.

"Da Mao, sister-in-law, please come inside and sit down. It's windy outside and you're holding the child. Don't catch a cold."

Hu Yuanxi's wife Du Mei also enthusiastically helped Lou Xiao'e into Zhongyuan's house.

"Dad, Mom, why are you here?" Xu Nian came out from the inner room while chewing an apple.

"Stinky girl, can't your dad and I come to see you?"

"Haha, you're welcome anytime. Bring me some fruit when you come. I've been craving for fruit lately. I like sweet and sour fruits. Unfortunately, there are no grapes. Dad, please buy me some pineapples when you have time. They're delicious."

Xu Damao looked at his daughter's bulging belly and found that it was a boy. He felt relieved all of a sudden. Although he was a daughter slave, Xu Damao still had the tradition of having a son to support the family. Besides, the old man of the Hu family was over 80 years old and wanted a grandson so badly. If the first child was a son, Xu Nian would be the first contributor to the Hu family, and life would be better.

"Pan Pan, I'll buy it for you later. Let your father have some hot tea in his room before you go. Go, make some tea for me and your father-in-law."

Xu Nian was still very obedient. He directly served jasmine tea to Xu Damao and Hu Yuanxi, and also made chrysanthemum tea for his mother and mother-in-law Du Mei.

"Four parents, take your time chatting while Suian and I cook. Dad, don't forget to buy me a pineapple."

Xu Damao was a little embarrassed. Xu Nian had some free words, which suited his temperament, but the rules of the Hu family were still quite strict.

"Brother Yuanxi, my dear mother-in-law, Xu Nian was not with me when she was little, so I dote on her. She is not as respectful as her elder sister in front of me. Please don't mind."

"Father-in-law, Yuanxi and I both like Xu Nian's cheerful personality. He is straightforward and saves us a lot of trouble."

"Brother Yuanxi, congratulations to Mr. Gu. Xu Nian is pregnant with a son this time. You can go back and report to Mr. Gu. The last time Xu Nian came home, I felt her pulse and I was sure."

Xu Damao still told Hu Yuanxi about Xu Nianhuai's son and asked him to tell Hu Tianhua as soon as possible. Although the old man's health was good and Xu Damao had taken care of him, he was injured in the exercise and could not recover, so Xu Damao could not judge whether Hu Tianhua could survive this winter. If the old injury recurred, it might be over. The saying that the elderly cannot survive the winter solstice means that the elderly may not be able to withstand the test of the severe winter.

"Da Mao, is this true?"

"If you're worried, go to the hospital for an ultrasound. Many hospitals can do it now. The big hospitals like Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Beijing University now have color ultrasound. I think you, Brother Yuanxi, will definitely find a way to get the doctor to tell you the gender of your baby. After the ultrasound, print out the pictures and show them to the old man. He will feel better, won't he?"

"Yes, yes, Damao, you are right. The old man really cares about this matter."

"Xiao'e, please stay with your in-laws for a while. I'm going to the orchard and will be back soon."

Hu Yuanxi quickly grabbed Xu Damao and said, "Damo, please sit down. I will go buy pineapples this afternoon."

"Brother, you don't know, that's my daughter acting like a spoiled child with me. I have to buy this pineapple, otherwise she will punish me. I'll be back soon by car, and we'll have a drink together at noon."

Hu Yuanxi had no choice but to listen to what Xu Damao said. "Then go ahead. I won't be polite to you."

Xu Damao went out, and Du Mei played the leading role.

"My dear mother-in-law, during the three-year natural disaster, my family was in trouble because Damao sent us food. Later, during the movement, it was even worse. I didn't expect that the Wan family would become in-laws. It's like a dream. Thank you for raising such a good daughter to be my daughter-in-law."

"My dear relatives, I know about the three-year natural disaster. Damao also had a master who taught him martial arts. At that time, Damao often went to the countryside to show movies, and when he saw food, he would buy some. At that time, I never thought that we would become relatives. I was more familiar with sister Wanxi at that time. We went to Hong Kong the year after Xu Nian was born. So Xu Nian's thinking is indeed a bit westernized, my dear relatives, you guys should bear with him in the future. He is older and has more ideas now. As for me, you see, I am old and still have a kid to take care of, so I will leave Xu Nian in the hands of you two."

Du Mei knew Xu Damao, Lou Xiao'e, and Gu Meifang. In fact, she envied Lou Xiao'e for having a son at the age of nearly fifty. Having many sons would make a mother feel more confident.

The three of them chatted idly, and less than half an hour later Xu Damao came into the house with a bunch of fruit. A basket of Guoguang apples, a basket of frozen pears, a basket of oranges, and a basket of pineapples. He carried two in each hand.

"Hey, Baiguoyuan really has pineapples, and it saves me from going to Dongzhimen."

Xu Nian heard the noise and came over from the kitchen. When he saw that his father had bought so many things,

"Dad, you're spending money." He smiled and opened the orange basket, giving one orange to his mother and parents-in-law, "Dad, mom, and brother, eat oranges." He took away Lou Boxu who was sitting on Lou Xiaoe, and scared Lou Xiaoe to scream:

"Pan Pan, you are pregnant, can you please be gentler? Bo Xu is very heavy now, put him down quickly."

"Mom, at least my dad taught me how to do this, so this is nothing. Don't worry, I know the severity of this."

"Come on, brother, I'll take you to the kitchen to secretly eat some braised pork." She carried the child to the ear room on the east wing.

Xu Damao also hurriedly explained, "Mother-in-law, Xu Nian is fine. It's okay. Although he is not a martial arts master, he is very agile. I know a little about Chinese medicine. During this period of time, proper exercise is good for health."

Xu Damao was also afraid that the Hu family would pay too much attention to the pregnancy and restrict their daughter's freedom, which would be very bad. His daughter would be unhappy.

After all, he was a government official, so Hu Yuanxi immediately understood Xu Damao's unnecessary explanation.

"Don't worry, Damao. Xu Nian knows the importance of this. Otherwise, she would have to study two majors and work in two factories."

"Oh, by the way. Mother-in-law, did you work at the Civil Affairs Bureau before you retired?"

"Yes, I just retired last year. What, do you have something to do? No problem, even though I retired, my relationship with the Civil Affairs Bureau is still there. Besides, Yuan Xi hasn't retired yet, so you should give me some face."

"That's not it. I thought Xu Nian was producing instant noodles, so she made some money, so she should make some contribution to society. I'll talk to my daughter later and ask her to sponsor some instant noodles to the street office, the neighborhood committee, and the nursing home, welfare home, and military support office of your Civil Affairs Bureau."

Hu Yuanxi heard this and said, "Da Mao, is this appropriate? I know that Si Nian brand instant noodles are quite expensive, more than 30 yuan a box. If we send too little to so many units, it won't be enough, and if we send too much, it will cost a lot of money."

"It's okay, let Xu Nian buy it himself at the factory price. It would be best if you arrange for it to be delivered."

Hu Yuanxi knew what Xu Damao meant. This was definitely a way to earn political achievements for himself. Really, what if he could be promoted to a higher rank? This thought really crossed Hu Yuanxi's mind, although the hope was slim.