Xu Damao's Thirty-Six Stratagems in Siheyuan

"Hey, Third Uncle, there are so many delicious foods. I'm sure you will come and have a prosperous New Year this year." As Xu Damao just brought his bicycle to the gate, he saw Third Uncle plucking the feathers of a chicken, Third Aunt butchering a fish, and Little Jie Di playing nearby.

"Da Mao is back? It's New Year's Eve now, are you going to settle him down today? Are you planning to spend the New Year with your parents?"

"Yes, that's why I'm happy to save myself the trouble. It's been a long time since I've seen a solution. What are those two busy with?"

"Today is my last day at work."

"Then the three uncles and aunts, you guys are busy, I'm going back now."

Xu Damao pushed the cart inside as he walked through the Moon Gate, greeting everyone he saw.

"Hey, Aunt Li, aiding Korea, what are you guys busy with?"

After Aunt Li had cataract surgery in the first half of the year, her vision gradually recovered.

"Who are you? Are you a kid from a wealthy family?"

"That's right, Aunt Li, can you see clearly now? Yes, I'm Xu Damao, the kid from the backyard who used to follow Brother Dongsheng." Li Yuanchao was very friendly when he saw Xu Damao, "Uncle Damao,"

"Yuan Chao, the New Year is tomorrow. Stay at home and spend time with your grandma. I'll buy you some candy for the Spring Festival. Your sister isn't home?"

"My sister went to the street office to deliver something for my mother and will be back soon."

"Okay, go get busy."

Xu Damao saw a woman coming out of the house and greeted her politely.

"Auntie, are you ready for the New Year? Uncle hasn't come back yet?"

"Da Mao, you're so good. You're off work in the middle of the day?"

"Auntie, what you said sounds like I left early. I'm out for training, not working in the office. It's normal for me to come back. Well, I didn't have to say hello to you."

I pushed the bicycle to the backyard.

The aunt looked at Xu Damao's back as he left. She seemed to feel that she had said something wrong, but also felt that she had said something right. She also worked in the steel mill, and her husband was still working, so why did Xu Damao seem to be free? She didn't care and continued to carry her firewood under the corridor.

Xu Damao pushed the door open and walked into the house. "Ezi, Huohuo, I'm back."

Lou Xiao'e was coaxing the child to sleep in the inner room. Lou Xiao'e had been feeling a little sleepy these days, and just after lunch, she wanted to lie down for a while, but she didn't expect Xu Damao to come back.

"Da Mao, so early today?"

"The training ended a while ago, and I went back to the Propaganda Department this morning to report my work, so I can say that I have a day off. Ezi, next month, my salary will be increased by one level, and my income will exceed 60, hehe! My level will also be increased by one level, to level 22. It seems that in the near future, it will not be a problem for me to become the deputy director of the Propaganda Department."

"Da Mao, don't brag about something that doesn't exist, or you'll make people jealous. Damao, I've been feeling sleepy lately, do you think I'm pregnant again?"

Xu Damao was stunned. "When did it happen? Why don't you go to the health center for a checkup? It's possible that pregnant women will feel sleepy. Why don't we go to the hospital for a checkup?"

"Forget it. New Year's Day is tomorrow. Let's just take care of ourselves during this period and talk about it after the New Year. I'm just guessing." Lou Xiao'e's face showed a happy look, as if she was really pregnant with a daughter and she was filled with the glory and happiness on her face.

"That's fine. You take a nap. I'll tidy up and go to my parents' house tomorrow to celebrate the New Year. I've already bought everything I need in advance. We can just go there empty-handed to eat tomorrow."

Lou Xiao'e just listened to the advice. Indeed, she was a little sleepy, so she continued to lie quietly beside her son, covered with the blanket, and dazed.

Xu Damao helped to close the door to the inner room, brewed some tea with the steaming kettle on the stove, and lit a cigarette.

I thought about what I had done in the past few days: I had sent gifts to my teacher Zhang Taihe; I had also returned the textbooks to Professor Hu Tianhua and exchanged them for professional books; I had also sent gifts to Ruan Fangshui and Yu Pulin, the teachers who cared the most about the Palace Museum. These two teachers were the closest to Xu Damao and the most helpful to him among all the teachers in the Palace Museum. If all the gifts were sent to the museum, Xu Damao really couldn't afford it.

The other day I went to Baishui Village in Wenquan Township and gave Gu Meifang's family some brown sugar, fruit candies, cakes, and twenty yuan for the New Year. This can be considered as fulfilling a wish of mine.

This morning, Section Chief Li came to wish us a happy new year in advance, saying that he would not visit us during the Spring Festival.

What else is important?

Yes, Qin Huairu. Should I give her ten yuan for the New Year, or just wait and see? !

Xu Damao was also very conflicted. Damn it, he couldn't let go of Qin Huairu's graceful figure. He always thought about her. Xu Damao was completely convinced of his disappointing lower body. He was a complete asshole.

It’s kind of funny to think that the person who called me a jerk was actually me.

I can't walk through a field of flowers without getting a single leaf on me yet. My heart is still soft, there's nothing I can do.

Yes, Wu Lingjuan, let's ask her after the New Year, maybe there will be a chance, help Qin Huairu get a job first. You have to do what you promised to others. If you can really find a job for her, it will be considered as doing justice to Qin Huairu. Well, it's decided.

As I was thinking, I felt a little sleepy, so I pushed the door into the inner room, gently lay down on the bed, casually pulled a quilt over myself, and fell asleep in a short while. Since the end of the training, I have been running around continuously and working hard. I am too tired.

The family was awakened only when Yu Li from the Intermediate Court came and knocked on the door.

It was already dark outside. Yu Li saw a bicycle parked at the backyard door, but there was no movement, so she called out. First, she wanted Lou Xiaoe to come home for dinner, but more importantly, she was at home and there was no sound, so she was afraid something might happen. If the stove was not ventilated properly, gas poisoning would happen, which would be no joke.

Xu Damao got up and opened the door. "Yu Li, is there any food? I'd like to eat for free."

"Yes, Brother Damao, Zhuzi asked me to invite you guys over for dinner. I know you won't be in the compound tomorrow, so I'll just celebrate the New Year with you guys today in advance."

"Then I really won't be polite. OK, I'll be there right away."

Carrying the prepared bacon, castrated chicken (which were taken from Gu Meifang's home in Baishui Village), two cans of canned pineapple in sugar water, two bottles of Fenjiu, and a pack of Xiangshan cigarettes, Lou Xiao'e prepared some snow cream for Yu Li, and asked Xu Damao to take out a pair of gold earrings for Yu Li from his jewelry box in advance.

During dinner, when Lou Xiao'e gave Yu Li a pair of gold earrings, Yu Li refused to accept them. They were too precious. After much persuasion, Lou Xiao'e finally said, "Yu Li, if you don't accept them, I won't dare to live with you in the future." Yu Li finally accepted them and was overjoyed.

He Yushui and He Jianxin each received a red envelope of five yuan, and Xiao Huohuo also received a large red envelope of ten yuan.

This early New Year's Eve dinner for He Yuzhu and Xu Damao was quite harmonious. He Yuzhu and Xu Damao drank until they were both drunk before leaving.

Yes, Lou Xiao'e has now learned the ways of the world and is generous. A pair of gold earrings, although only worth twenty yuan, are gold. Yu Li has never seen gold in her life.