Siheyuan: Buyers get rich from hunting

The night was like a thick, black curtain, enveloping the world ever deeper as time slipped by. The once bustling chirping of insects outside the window gradually faded under the influence of the deep night. The recurring chirping of insects now seemed to be gently suppressed by an invisible hand, becoming faint and sparse. It was as if even these tiny creatures were infected by the tense atmosphere that permeated the air, afraid to raise their voices, fearing to disrupt the night's silence and cause unnecessary trouble.

In the slightly dim room, Uncle Sanye and He Yuzhu still sat steadily under the dim light. The light flickered, stretching their figures out long and casting shadows on the wall, making them look somewhat mysterious and solemn. They stared intently at the paper spread out in front of them, which was densely covered with words. That was their carefully planned plan. Every word and every sentence was poured into their hard work and wisdom. They did not miss any details, repeatedly considering and pondering, as if they were carving an invaluable work of art. They went all out to fill every possible loophole in the plan, not letting go of any hidden dangers, striving to make this plan perfect and successfully achieve their goals.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Xu Damao had quietly arrived near the man's residence. Like a cunning fox, he relied on his familiarity with his surroundings and keen perception to cleverly hide in a dark corner. His body pressed tightly against the wall, trying not to make any noise, but his eyes, like two glittering gems, stared intently at the closed door, never daring to relax for a moment. His ears were perked up, like sensitive radar, trying to pick up any slight sound from within the house. Even a gentle cough or the sound of footsteps could be a crucial clue for him to determine what was happening inside.

Xu Damao would cautiously poke his head out from time to time, quickly scanning his surroundings as he observed the situation. He was extremely cautious, every move carefully considered, fearing that he would be caught by a neighbor who suddenly appeared. He knew that if someone discovered him sneaking around, it would definitely ruin his plans, and all his efforts would be wasted, so he had to be extremely careful.

A moment later, as if by fate, the tightly closed door suddenly creaked, a sharp sound that was particularly jarring in the still night. Xu Damao's heart tightened, his chest racing. He quickly shrank back into the darkness, practically blending in. His eyes were fixed on the figure emerging from the room, not daring to blink, afraid to miss a single detail.

In the moonlight that was as weak as the light of a firefly, Xu Damao tried hard to identify the figure. Gradually, he saw clearly that it was the man who came out. The man's brows were tightly locked together, like two insurmountable hills, and his eyes revealed a trace of anxiety and uneasiness that was difficult to conceal. His footsteps were a little heavy, and every step seemed to be stepping on Xu Damao's heart. He was mumbling something in his mouth, the voice was too soft, and Xu Damao could not hear clearly, but from his expression and movements, he could judge that he seemed to be worried about something, and this matter made him very distressed, so that he could not sleep peacefully in the middle of the night, and had to go out for a walk or to deal with related matters.

Xu Damao's hidden lips curled up slightly, a small flame of excitement ignited in his heart, and he secretly rejoiced. He felt that this was a perfect opportunity sent by heaven, like a bright light suddenly lit in the darkness, guiding him to unveil the mysterious man and explore his hidden true nature. Once this idea emerged in his mind, it grew like a weed, making him eager to put it into action.

So, like a well-trained cheetah, Xu Damao silently followed the man. His steps were light, each one carefully placed on the ground, trying to avoid making any noise. He always maintained a certain distance from the man, a delicate balance, not close enough to alert the man to his presence, yet still allowing him to clearly hear the man's rhythmic footsteps and the occasional low voice, like a mysterious melody, drawing him forward.

The man seemed to be harboring something, walking at a brisk pace, his steps quick and powerful, as if something were chasing him. He leaned slightly forward, his arms swinging rhythmically, each stride long and wide. And every now and then, he would suddenly stop, his body frozen in place like a frightened rabbit. His head darted from side to side, his eyes darting around like searchlights, their gaze revealing a wariness and unease, as if searching for something important in the darkness, or perhaps avoiding some potential danger.

Xu Damao followed behind, with doubts in his heart surging like a tide. His brows were tightly furrowed together, forming the Chinese character "川", and his eyes were full of confusion and curiosity. He racked his brains to think, but he still couldn't figure out where the man was going, nor did he know what medicine he was selling in the gourd, or what secret he was planning. But deep in his heart, there was a firm voice telling him that he could not give up this hard-won opportunity easily. This was like a fierce hunt, the man was the cunning prey, and he, Xu Damao, was the persistent hunter. No matter how difficult the process was, he would follow the man closely to see what he was going to do and uncover the truth hidden in the darkness.

The man hurried along, eventually arriving at a small alley outside the courtyard. The alley was narrow and deep, its walls towering and eerie, casting eerie shadows in the moonlight. He paused before the door of a shabby-looking house, his body trembling slightly, as if hesitant. He glanced around once more, his eyes scanning every corner like radar. Once he was sure no one was around, he breathed a sigh of relief, quickly quickened his pace, and slammed the door shut.

Seeing this, Xu Damao was terrified. He sprinted to the door like a gust of wind and quickly pressed his ear against the tightly closed door. His ears were slightly red from the strain, and his eyes were tightly closed, listening intently for the voices coming from the other side. However, due to the distance and the obstruction of the door, he could only vaguely hear a few muffled words, as if through a thick layer of frosted glass, making it impossible to make out the specifics. Those vague voices echoed in his ears, but he could not grasp the key information, which made him even more anxious, and he wanted to rush into the house and find out what was going on.

"Hello, it's me..." The man lowered his voice very low, as if afraid that the weak voice would penetrate the silent night and be heard by others. His brows were tightly furrowed together, forming a deep "川" character, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, flickering faintly in the dim moonlight. At this moment, his tone was full of anxiety and helplessness, like a beast trapped in a trap, helpless and desperate. "Things are a bit troublesome... Really, much more difficult than I thought..." His voice trembled slightly, with a trace of panic that was difficult to conceal, "They seem to have noticed something... Yes, those old residents... I don't know where they got the news from, but they all became alert, like a group of hounds that smelled danger, staring at me closely."

As the man spoke, he paced rapidly, his steps hurried and chaotic, as if that could ease his inner anxiety. "You have to help me think of a solution... I'm like an ant on the hot pot, running around in circles. If they get this out, it'll be the end of us. All our previous efforts will be wasted, and we might even get into trouble." His voice gradually faded, almost to a mumble, but every word was filled with worry and fear.

Xu Damao hid in the dark, his ears perked up, his eyes closely watching the man's every move, not missing any subtle expression or movement. When he heard the man's words, his heart suddenly shook, as if a flash of lightning had flashed across the dark night sky, instantly illuminating the vague guesses in his mind. He didn't expect that the man was indeed secretly planning something unspeakable, and seemed to have noticed the vigilance of these old residents. This discovery made his heart beat faster involuntarily, and he was both excited and nervous. He was excited because he finally grasped some key information that might reveal the man's secret; he was nervous because he didn't know what would happen next and whether he could handle it safely.

He quickly concentrated, memorizing every word he heard, like a diligent student memorizing an important text. He knew that this information was crucial to him, and he would report it to the Third Uncle and He Yuzhu as soon as he got back, so that they could also understand the male host's dynamics and discuss countermeasures together.

At that moment, the man suddenly hung up the phone, his movements quick and decisive. He quickly put the phone in his pocket and turned to walk back. Xu Damao was startled, and like a frightened rabbit, his body trembled uncontrollably. He quickly retreated into the darkness again, pressing his body tightly against the wall, trying to blend his silhouette into the darkness. He didn't dare to breathe, fearing that his breathing would attract the man's attention.

As the man walked, he would look back from time to time, his eyes revealing a hint of vigilance and suspicion. His eyes were like two sharp daggers, scanning every corner in the darkness, as if searching for an enemy hiding in the shadows. His footsteps were light, but full of power, and he took each step carefully, afraid to make any sound. Xu Damao stared closely at the man's back, his heart beating violently in his chest, as if it was about to burst through his chest. He prayed silently in his heart, hoping that the man would not discover him and that he would be able to complete this tracking mission smoothly.

Xu Damao didn't dare to breathe, staring at the man's back until he disappeared at the gate of the courtyard. After the man walked away, Xu Damao breathed a sigh of relief and walked out of the darkness. He patted his chest, secretly glad that he hadn't been discovered. Then, he quickened his pace and walked towards the house where the third uncle and He Yuzhu were.

When Xu Damao returned to the house breathlessly, Third Uncle and He Yuzhu immediately surrounded him, their eyes filled with anticipation and anxiety. "How is it going? What news did you find?" Third Uncle asked first, his voice filled with a hint of urgency.

Xu Damao quickly told the Third Uncle and He Yuzhu everything he had just heard. The Third Uncle frowned, a hint of worry in his eyes. "It seems that the man is really not an easy person to deal with. He is already secretly plotting against us. We must speed up our actions and not let him get ahead of us."

He Yuzhu nodded, his eyes revealing a hint of determination and decisiveness. "Third Uncle, you're right. We can't just sit there and wait for death. We have to take the initiative and strike him a blow. Let him know that we are not to be trifled with. If he wants to stir up trouble in our yard, it won't be that easy."

The third uncle pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke, "Yuzhu, you have a point. But we can't just act blindly; we need a concrete plan. Let's start with his daily life, making everything in this yard uncomfortable for him. For example, we can team up with other neighbors and create minor problems for him with water and electricity usage, so he knows he has to abide by our rules in this yard."

He Yuzhu listened and nodded in agreement. "Third Uncle, that's a good idea. We can organize some activities in the courtyard and deliberately not invite him to participate, so that he feels isolated. This way, the psychological pressure on him will continue to increase, and maybe soon he will come to us to make peace."

Xu Damao's blood boiled as he listened, and he couldn't help but interrupt, "Uncle San, Yuzhu, this is a brilliant idea! I'll contact the other neighbors right away and tell them about our plan. I'll ask them to cooperate with us."

The third uncle nodded and warned, "Xu Damao, be careful not to let the male owner know. Our plan must be carried out in secret, and we must not alert the enemy."

Xu Damao responded, then scurried out of the house like a nimble monkey. Uncle Sanye and He Yuzhu sat on chairs, watching Xu Damao's retreating figure, their hearts filled with anticipation. They knew a war without gunpowder was about to begin in the yard, and they were fully prepared to meet this challenge.