Siheyuan: I live next door to Xu Damao, my last name is Cao

People in the courtyard were also talking about it. Everyone was talking at once, and their voices intertwined together like a noisy symphony.

"I hope these two guys have really reconciled and won't start fighting again in a few days. This yard can't stand them making trouble again."

An old lady said worriedly, shaking her head as she spoke, her face full of worry.

"Anyway, it's a good start that they said so. Let's just believe them this time. Maybe they really figured it out this time."

An old man took a puff of his cigarette and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke, which slowly dissipated in the air. There was a hint of expectation in his eyes.

Although everyone still had some doubts in their hearts, things had come to this point and they could only choose to believe it. They hoped that it would be true as they said, that Sha Zhu and Xu Damao could put aside their past grudges and allow the yard to return to its former tranquility.

After all, in this slum, everyone longs for harmony and peace and does not want to be troubled by endless quarrels, just like longing for an oasis in the desert.

After the general meeting, the courtyard was like an overturned spice box, with all kinds of smells intertwined. Some people walked slowly towards their houses with tired and satisfied faces.

Some, however, were unwilling to miss this rare opportunity and continued to chat in groups of three or five in the yard, with their topics running wild like wild horses.

Sometimes they are talking about family gossips, such as whose child is disobedient, jumping up and down like a naughty little monkey, giving the adults a headache.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are having a quarrel again. The atmosphere is as depressing as the one before a storm.

After a while, the conversation returned to what happened at the meeting just now. Everyone seemed to be a wise man after the event, discussing the reconciliation between Sha Zhu and Xu Damao. Some of them were skeptical, with scrutiny in their eyes.

There are also those who just want to join in the fun, with a smile on their faces that says they are watching the fun and not mind getting involved.

Sha Zhu and Xu Damao were not in a hurry to leave. As if they had a tacit understanding, they gathered in a corner of the yard and whispered to each other.

Sha Zhu scratched his head, his rough hands running through his hair, and grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth: "Da Mao, today's event is so big, we can't just let it go, we have to celebrate it properly."

Xu Damao's eyes turned and he nodded quickly: "Of course, we have to have a meal. It was my own fault before. I shouldn't have been doing bad things in secret and plotting against you. I was like a sinister villain, stabbing you in the back. To show my apology, I'll treat you today. Let's go to a restaurant and have a good meal. I have to make it up to you."

Sha Zhu waved his hands, a trace of guilt on his face, the expression was like a child who had done something wrong: "Da Mao, this is also my own fault. When I get angry, it's like a lit firecracker, I don't care. If I hadn't been so cruel before, you wouldn't have been forced to the point of extinction. I have always felt bad about it, and I have to apologize to you."

When Xu Damao heard Sha Zhu mention this matter again, his heart felt like it was on fire. He was so angry that his teeth were itching. The resentment in his heart was surging like a raging wave.

But he still pretended to be calm and forced a smile. That smile was like a mask stuck on his face, stiff and forced: "Hey, it's all in the past, let's not talk about it. We have to look forward, today is a new beginning."

The two discussed it for a while, and Sha Zhu thought for a while and said, "It's very expensive to go out to a restaurant, and you know my cooking skills are amazing. Why don't I go buy some good food this afternoon and cook you a delicious meal myself, as an apology to you. We can eat at home, it will be more comfortable."

Xu Damao rolled his eyes and thought this was a good idea. It could save money and show his generosity, so he said, "Okay, I'll get a few bottles of good wine and we'll have a good drink. The wine must be good to match this good day."

After the decision was made, Sha Zhu walked home in a hurry, his steps seemed to be on the beat of a drum, full of energy. Along the way, he was thinking about what dishes to cook, and he had to bring out all his specialties.

Dishes like braised pork, fried pork intestines, steamed fish flashed through his mind one by one.

He wanted to make sure Xu Damao was satisfied with the meal and make the reconciliation more sincere, so that all the previous unpleasantness could be eliminated with this meal.

Xu Damao stood there for a while, his mouth corners slightly raised, revealing an imperceptible sneer, that sneer was like the cold wind in winter, icy and piercing.

There was a sinister flash in Xu Damao's eyes, which were like a poisonous snake in the dark. Then he walked towards his house to get the wine.

But the back figure looked a little strange under the sunlight, as if it was hiding countless secrets.

After a while, Xu Damao returned home. As soon as he entered the door, his father and mother immediately stared at him.

His father put down the pipe in his hand, which made a "pop" sound on the table, and asked with a frown: "Da Mao, what's going on with the whole hospital meeting today? Have you really reconciled with Sha Zhu?"

There was suspicion in Xu Fugui's eyes, as if he wanted to see through Xu Damao.

His mother also came over, her face full of confusion, and stared at Xu Damao with eyes full of worry and confusion, as if she was looking at an elusive mystery.

Xu Damao's heart skipped a beat, but he pretended to smile, a somewhat stiff smile: "Dad, Mom, it's nothing serious, don't worry about it. We just don't want to fight anymore, we're exhausted. Let's live a good life from now on."

His father frowned even more tightly, like two deep ravines. He stood up and walked to Xu Damao, his figure carrying a kind of majesty: "How can you not make us worry, kid? You and Sha Zhu have such a big grudge, and you suddenly said you would reconcile today. There must be something going on. Don't hide it from us. We are all experienced people, and your thoughts can't escape our eyes."

Xu Damao scratched his head impatiently, a trace of panic flashing in his eyes: "Oh, it's nothing, it's just that we don't want to fight anymore. After so many years of grudges, everyone is tired. Don't ask, I know what's going on."

As he spoke, he walked towards the house to get some wine. His steps were hurried, as if he was running away from something.

His father and mother looked at each other, and the confusion in their eyes deepened.

Xu Fugui muttered, "This kid must be hiding something from us. Normally he and Sha Zhu are incompatible, why did he suddenly change his ways today? There must be something fishy going on."

His mother also nodded, her face full of worry: "Yeah, I don't think this matter is that simple. Is Damao up to something again? He better not cause any more trouble. This yard is finally quiet."

Xu Damao was searching for wine in the house, thinking to himself, "I can't let my parents know my plan, or they'll nag me again. This time, I must let Sha Zhu know how powerful I am and let him have a taste of my methods."

He rummaged through the cabinet and took out a few bottles of good wine, held them carefully in his hands, and raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a sinister smile.

Xu Damao was ready to go out with the wine in his hand. He turned around and said to his parents, "Mom and Dad, don't bother cooking for a while. I've agreed with Sha Zhu that we'll have dinner at his house today. Dad, you can come along too, so we can have a good drink together. This is a rare opportunity, let's have a good time together."

When his father Xu Fugui heard this, his eyebrows raised, with a hint of suspicion in his eyes: "Really? What are you two acting out? I'm telling you, Damao, don't have those crooked thoughts. If you really want to reconcile, just do it nicely. Don't make trouble anymore. Our yard can't stand your making trouble. If you have any other thoughts, tell me and we'll find a solution together."

Xu Damao smiled apologetically, his face full of ingratiating smiles: "Dad, don't worry. I'm sincere, and I've even specially invited you to come with me. We really want to have a good chat and put the past behind us."

Xu Fugui snorted, "Humph, how could I not know what you are thinking? But since you said so, I will go and take a look. Don't make any trouble for me. If you dare to mess around, I will not let you off easily."

Xu Damao's mother pulled on Xu Fugui's clothes and said with a worried look on her face, "His father, why don't you not go? The two kids just reconciled, if they quarrel again because of something, it will be even more chaotic if you are there. Let's not get involved."

Xu Fugui patted his wife's hand, his eyes firm: "It's okay, I'll go and watch over it. Don't let them do anything else. Damao, remember this, don't make any more mistakes. This is your last chance. If you cause trouble again, I won't care about you."

Xu Damao took the wine, hurried out of the house, said a few words to his parents, and walked towards Sha Zhu's house, leaving his father and mother in the yard, looking at his back with worry on their faces.

Xu Fugui frowned, still muttering, "Don't let anything happen to this kid."

His mother kept sighing beside him, her eyes full of anxiety.

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