Siheyuan: Buyers get rich from hunting

Chapter 793 Young People's Ambition 18

The third uncle sat on his old but still clean rattan chair, leisurely fanning himself with a long-used palm-leaf fan. The fan was already a bit worn, and the edges showed signs of wear, but the third uncle was still reluctant to replace it. At this moment, when he heard someone next to him mention a certain topic, the rhythm of his fan paused slightly, and the once regular "whoosh" sound suddenly stopped, seeming particularly abrupt in the silent air.

The dim yellow lightbulb inside the room emitted a faint glow, like a tiny star struggling to shine in the pitch-black night. The dim light flickered, casting mottled shadows on Third Uncle's face, which was covered with traces of time. These shadows shifted in shape as the light swung, like a group of playful elves playing on his face, adding a touch of depth and mystery, making it difficult to grasp his inner thoughts.

After a long moment, the third uncle slowly lowered his palm-leaf fan, his movements unhurried, as if time itself had become unhurried for him. He folded his hands on his knees. His hands, roughened by years of labor, their joints slightly swollen, seemed remarkably steady and powerful. His eyes sharpened, like two razor-sharp daggers, gleaming coldly in the darkness, as if they could pierce the thick darkness and discern all that might happen in the future.

"Yuzhu is right," the Third Uncle began slowly, his voice deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority. "We can't let our guard down. Think about it, the man had just arrived in our area and was hoping to establish his authority and gain everyone's respect. But we cleverly countered his carefully planned move and thwarted it, causing him to lose face in front of everyone. He must be holding back."

The third uncle paused, then continued, "Although he's still in a state of confusion right now and hasn't realized how we dealt with him, nor has he figured out what to do next. But once he comes to his senses, it's hard to say. You never know when he'll come up with some crooked idea to trip us up, and then we'll be in a passive position."

Xu Damao, who had been standing nearby listening to Third Uncle's words, had a faint smile on his face, but now it had vanished without a trace. His brow was furrowed, and deep wrinkles of anxiety appeared on his forehead. His eyes revealed a hint of panic and uneasiness. He rubbed the corners of his clothes unconsciously with his hands, appearing a little uneasy.

"Then what should we do?" Xu Damao finally couldn't help but ask, with a hint of anxiety and helplessness in his voice, "We can't just sit and wait to die, can we? If he really comes up with some bad ideas to deal with us, it will be too late for us to deal with it. Otherwise, we should strike first and give him a warning, so that he knows that we are not easy to mess with, and he won't dare to do anything to us easily in the future." Xu Damao became more and more excited as he spoke, and waved his hands, as if this could increase the persuasiveness of his words.

He Yuzhu, upon hearing Xu Damao's hasty and somewhat impetuous suggestion, slowly shook his head. The movement was subtle, yet it carried an undeniable resolve. His thick brows furrowed slightly, and a flicker of disdain flashed across his deep eyes, like a meteor streaking across the night sky, fleeting yet distinct. This glint of disdain expressed both contempt for Xu Damao's ill-considered decision and a conviction that his own subsequent opinion was correct.

"Xu Damao, your idea is a bad one," He Yuzhu said, his voice steady and powerful, as if carrying an innate majesty. "If we start a fight first, won't we be in the wrong? Think about it, everyone in this courtyard has lived in the neighborhood for many years. We see each other every day and usually value harmony. If we provoke trouble first and take the initiative to intimidate the man, won't we be seen as unreasonable and bullying in everyone's eyes? How will the people in the courtyard view us then? They will definitely think we are narrow-minded and unreasonable. How can we hold our heads high in this courtyard in the future? We have to outsmart them, not force them. Force is like a reckless bull, which will only charge forward and end up hurting itself. Outsmarting is like a skilled chess player, who carefully considers every move and achieves his goal without losing a single soldier."

The third uncle sat aside, listening quietly to He Yuzhu's words, and a look of approval gradually appeared on his face. He nodded slightly, and his wrinkled face seemed to bloom with a flower of wisdom. He glanced at He Yuzhu approvingly, his eyes full of recognition and appreciation, as if saying: "This kid has brains and insight."

"Yuzhu is right. We need to use our brains." The Third Uncle cleared his throat and spoke slowly. His voice was deep and magnetic, as if it carried the brilliance of time and wisdom. "The man is new here and unfamiliar with our yard. He's like a lost person groping in the dark. We can take advantage of this and make him run into obstacles everywhere in the yard, slowly wearing down his spirit. For example, if he wants help from someone, whether it's to borrow a tool or inquire about something, we should contact that person in advance and explain the stakes to them, so they won't easily agree to the man's request. This will make the man feel that he can't find anyone in this yard who can help him, and he will definitely feel lost and helpless."

The third uncle paused, picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip of tea, moistened his throat, and then continued, "If he wants to organize some activities in the yard, such as organizing a party or a small competition, we can find some reasonable reasons to interfere with him. For example, we can tell him that the yard has been uneasy lately, and organizing activities will easily cause trouble, which would be bad if it affects everyone's life; or that the space in the yard is limited, and organizing activities will take up everyone's space, causing dissatisfaction among other neighbors. In short, we should make him feel that he is isolated and restricted in this yard, and no matter what he does, it will be difficult. Over time, his enthusiasm will naturally be worn down."

Xu Damao had been frowning and looking distressed, but after hearing what Third Uncle said, his eyes suddenly lit up, as if a bright star had suddenly appeared in the night sky, illuminating his previously confused thoughts. His face revealed an expression of excitement, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"Uncle Third, your idea is great!" Xu Damao said excitedly, his voice trembling with excitement. "In this way, the male owner will definitely feel suffocated, like a bird in a cage, with a lot of skills but nowhere to display them. Maybe before long, he will take the initiative to come to us and ask for peace. At that time, we will take the opportunity to put forward some conditions and make him obedient. In the future, he will have to act according to our mood in the yard. This is simply a good idea that kills two birds with one stone!" Xu Damao became more and more excited as he spoke, and his hands kept gesturing, as if he had already seen the scene of the male owner obediently surrendering to him.

The Third Master smiled faintly, a smile like a ray of warm sunlight filtering through the clouds on a winter day. It seemed gentle, yet it held a subtle, elusive meaning. A glint of cunning flashed in his eyes, like a wily fox, secretly watching its prey, its mind already fully mapped out.

"Ask for peace? That's not necessary," the third uncle spoke slowly, his voice low and steady, each word as if carefully considered. "Our goal isn't simply to get him to ask for peace. Think about it, even if he does, it might just be a temporary expedient, and who knows what else he might be up to. What we really want him to understand is that in this courtyard, he has to abide by the rules and respect us, the long-standing residents. We've lived here for so many years, and we have deep feelings for every tree and blade of grass, every person and every thing here. We've also long since established a set of tacitly accepted rules for getting along. He's a newcomer, and he wants to disrupt that balance. That won't work."

The third uncle paused, picked up the enamel pot beside him, took a sip of tea, moistened his throat, and then continued, "If he can truly understand this truth, and consider the feelings of us old residents before doing anything in the future, and abide by the rules of the courtyard, then we can live in peace with him and live in harmony. After all, distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors, and more friends are always better than more enemies. But if he doesn't understand, and still insists on doing whatever he wants, then we will continue to teach him a lesson. We have plenty of ways to let him know that this courtyard is not a place where he can run wild. We can unite with other neighbors to put some small obstacles in his way and make him run into obstacles everywhere; we can also gently remind him in public that his behavior is inappropriate and embarrass him. Until he understands his situation and obediently abides by the rules."

After listening to what Third Uncle said, He Yuzhu secretly admired his wisdom. He lowered his head slightly and fell into deep thought, thinking over every detail of what Third Uncle said. After a while, he raised his head, thought for a while, and added: "Third Uncle, I think we still have to be careful not to go too far. Although we want him to understand the rules and respect us, after all, we are neighbors and see each other every day. We have to go in and out of the yard every day. If the relationship becomes too strained, it will be awkward to meet in the future."

He Yuzhu gestured with his hands as he spoke, trying to express his thoughts more clearly. "If we push him too far, he'll be like a cornered beast, desperate to do something extreme, like deliberately causing trouble in the yard or engaging in a violent conflict with us. This will not only affect our own lives, but will also make the atmosphere in the entire yard tense. Therefore, when we take action, we must strike a balance. We must not let him feel that we are deliberately targeting him, but let him know that we are simply trying to maintain order and harmony in the yard."

After hearing what He Yuzhu said, the third uncle nodded with an expression of approval on his face, indicating his complete agreement. "Yuzhu is right. We have to strike a balance. It's like walking on a tightrope. Going too far to the left or too far to the right won't work. Only by walking steadily in the middle can we ensure safety. We have to let him know that we are not easy to mess with and that if he doesn't follow the rules, we have the ability to make him pay for it. But we can't push him too hard and make him feel that he has no way out. In short, we have to use both soft and hard tactics, so that he will be afraid of us and dare not easily break the rules, and dare not easily offend us and have to think about getting along well with us. In this way, we can establish our prestige in the yard, while also maintaining good relations between neighbors, so that everyone can live in a harmonious and stable environment."

After hearing the meticulous plan laid out by Third Uncle and He Yuzhu, Xu Damao instantly perked up, his eyes sparkling with excitement, like twinkling stars in the night sky. He unconsciously began rubbing his hands together, their hands turning slightly red from the effort. His movements were eager and impatient, as he muttered, "Alright, I'll take care of this!" His tone was filled with confidence and drive, as if victory was certain.

"Third Uncle, Yuzhu, just watch." Xu Damao patted his chest, which rose and fell slightly with his movements. He looked like a warrior about to go to the battlefield, full of lofty ambitions. "I'll go around the yard and find out more about the male owner. See what he has been busy with recently, whether he is busy cleaning the house, or trying to win people's hearts, or if he is planning something that is not good for us. Only if we know his situation clearly can we prescribe the right medicine and catch him off guard." As Xu Damao spoke, he had already started walking towards the door. His steps were light and eager, as if he didn't want to delay for a moment.

The third uncle sat on the chair, raised his head slightly, looked at Xu Damao's hurried appearance, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile. He slowly waved his hand, the movement was elegant and steady, like an experienced general commanding his soldiers. "Go, be careful, don't let him notice." The third uncle gently warned, his voice was not loud, but full of majesty and concern, "Although the male host is new here, he is not an easy person to deal with. He may have been on guard against us for a long time. If you are discovered by him, our plan will be ruined. If there is any situation, come back and report it in time, so that we can adjust the strategy according to the actual situation."

Xu Damao responded with a crisp, resonant voice, as if assuring Third Uncle that he would complete the mission. Then, as swift and light as a cat, he slipped out of the house. His body hunched slightly, his eyes warily observing his surroundings, afraid to make even the slightest noise that might draw attention. His cautious demeanor resembled that of a secret agent on a covert mission.

Inside, Third Uncle and He Yuzhu continued to sit in their chairs, their expressions serious and focused, as if they were contemplating something important. Third Uncle picked up the teacup beside him, gently sipped the tea, moistened his throat, and then slowly spoke, "Yuzhu, although we have a plan, we can't be careless. The male host is an outsider after all, and we don't know what he's thinking. We must be prepared for all kinds of responses."

He Yuzhu nodded, his eyes revealing a hint of determination and wisdom. "Third Uncle, you're right. We have to consider every detail carefully and not leave him any opportunities. I think we can place more spies in the courtyard to monitor the man's movements at all times. If he makes any unusual moves, we'll be immediately aware and able to respond accordingly."

Their voices, deep and powerful, echoed in the silent house, as if weaving an invisible web. This web, fine and resilient, tightly engulfed the man. Every strategy, every plan, was like the threads of this web, interwoven and supporting each other, making it even stronger. They believed that as long as they followed this plan, sooner or later the man would be under their control and obediently abide by the rules of the courtyard.