Courtyard House: Drunk and barging into the Xu family's house, I woke up numb.

"He won't die. He can drink some chicken soup to replenish his strength and continue the Xu family line."

Xu Damao knew that Lou Xiao'e had seen through him, and he said with an embarrassed look.

“E’er, you know my mom is just like that, she doesn’t understand anything, you don’t need to pay attention to her.”

"Um, you go and rest for a while, I'll take care of the washing."

Lou Xiao'e was even more furious when she saw that Xu Damao not only failed to recognize his mistake but also shifted the blame to his mother.

"Yes, your mother doesn't understand, but don't you understand either?"

Xu Damao naturally sensed the sarcasm in Lou Xiao'e's tone. He knew he was in the wrong and there was no need to engage in a pointless argument.

He withdrew his outstretched hand, ready to help, and changed the subject, inhaling the aroma in the room.

"Hey, Ezi, why are you lighting sandalwood incense?"

Lou Xiao'e couldn't possibly say it was to cover up certain smells, she said in a flat tone.

"To calm the mind."

Xu Damao took off his coat and tossed it aside, nodding as he spoke.

"I'm relieved. I didn't sleep well at all last night, so I'll catch up on some sleep."

Lou Xiao'e saw Xu Damao taking off his clothes and getting ready to go to bed, so she stopped him.

"This quilt was just taken apart and hasn't been changed yet. You've been running around outside all day without showering or washing your feet before lying on it."

"What, you think I'm too idle and want to give me some extra work, right?"

Projectionists sometimes return the next morning after showing movies in the countryside. In such cases, they generally don't need to go to work at the factory that morning and only need to work the afternoon shift.

Xu Damao used to come home and take a nap before returning to the factory after lunch.

But he understood the situation now. Lou Xiao'e was still angry, and he was afraid he wouldn't get anything good if he stayed any longer.

Xu Damao felt that he should go out and avoid the situation for a while, and then coax Lou Xiao'e when he got back from get off work in the evening when she was calmer.

"It seems I can't get involved in anything, so I'll head back to the factory now."

Xu Damao is a man of action; once he says he'll do something, he does it. He changed his clothes and was about to leave when he turned back at the door and asked.

Do you have any cold medicine at home?

"If that's not enough, I'll go to the factory clinic and ask Dr. Wang for another prescription."

Lou Xiao'e thought for a moment and replied.

"There aren't many left, so let's open a few more."

Xu Damao responded and walked out of the house. After he came out, he breathed a long sigh of relief. He was not surprised at all that Lou Xiao'e was angry.

I got angry with him at the dinner table yesterday, then I had a fever and stayed up all night. This morning he tricked me again. No wonder I'm angry.

Xu Damao had just taken a step when he saw He Yuzhu rushing towards the backyard in a hurry.

"Hey, Sha Zhu, are you in such a hurry to get married this early in the morning?"

He Yuzhu glared at Xu Damao and shouted.

"none of your business!"

After saying that, He Yuzhu ignored Xu Damao and continued walking into the courtyard.

Xu Damao watched He Yuzhu walk towards Cao Xu's house and smiled with his eyes sparkling.

"E'er, stop washing, there's a good show coming!"

Chapter 4: Sha Zhu Breaks Off the Engagement, and the Righteous Xu Damao

Cao Xu's family lived in the backyard, which had two rooms, next to the room of the deaf old lady.

Back in his room, Cao Xu suddenly shivered; he knew the stove in the room had gone out.

He didn't sleep at home last night. He didn't add coal to the stove or cover the stove opening when he left. No wonder the stove went out.

Although Cao Xu had been somewhat dazed these past few days, he had adapted to some aspects of this era, one of which was lighting the stove.

"Cough cough cough..."

A few minutes later, the fire in the stove reignited, and Cao Xu put the kettle full of water back on the stove to suppress the overflowing coal smoke.

By the time Cao Xu changed his clothes and finished washing up, the temperature in the room had gradually risen, unlike when it was icy cold when he first entered.

After tidying up, Cao Xu poured a cup of hot water and placed it on the table. He sat in a chair, holding the enamel mug with both hands, feeling the warmth from his hands, and his heart slowly calmed down.

Now he understands clearly that he wasn't dreaming; he had truly entered the world of the courtyard house.

He didn't know how long he would stay in this world, but he knew he couldn't continue living like he had a few days ago.

He had to pull himself together. As the saying goes, "Since you're here, make the best of it." He had to make plans for his future in this world.

Moreover, he had already had a relationship with Lou Xiao'e, so he had to make some plans for her depending on the situation, at least to prevent Xu Damao from harming her again.

As for marrying her to He Yuzhu, that's even more impossible. Putting aside his possessiveness, his hatred for He Yuzhu alone would prevent this from happening.

You should know that his predecessor died at the hands of He Yuzhu.

If he hadn't come to this world by a twist of fate, Cao Xu in this world would probably have already spent seven days there.

For the past few days, he had been preoccupied with the issue of returning to his original world and hadn't paid any attention to He Yuzhu, the scapegoat.

Now that he has decided to stay here for the time being, he has no choice but to deal with He Yuzhu.

Just as Cao Xu made up his mind, the door was pushed open with a bang.

He Yuzhu stormed into the house and sat down imposingly in a chair.

"Cao Xu, where did you go yesterday?"

"I've looked for you two or three times, but there's no sign of you!"

Cao Xu snapped out of his daze and looked up at He Yuzhu, who was standing to the side looking rather arrogant.

"What's up?"

He Yuzhu reached for the water bottle next to him and poured himself a glass of water, not at all like a stranger.

"It's nothing serious, I just want to ask you to annul the engagement."

A cold glint flashed in Cao Xu's eyes as he looked at He Yuzhu, who spoke of the annulment of the engagement with such nonchalance.

"Break off the engagement? What engagement?"

He Yuzhu put down his water glass and chuckled.

"What other kind of relationship could it be? It's naturally your marriage to Yushui."

"Let me tell you, Rainwater already has a boyfriend."

"Your marriage is off. From now on, don't talk nonsense when you go out."

"If you dare to gossip and ruin their relationship, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Cao Xu knew that He Yushui was dating the local police officer Jiang Hai. After receiving the original owner's memories, he knew even more that the original owner did not have much romantic feeling for He Yushui.

After unexpectedly discovering that He Yushui was dating the local police officer Jiang Hai, the original owner of this body took the initiative to go to He Yuzhu to discuss it.

He planned to cancel his marriage with He Yushui in front of several old friends in the courtyard, and give He Yushui her freedom.

Unfortunately, Qin Huairu happened to be at He Yuzhu's house that day, and the two of them were caught in the act of making some inappropriate moves.

Before they could finish speaking, He Yuzhu, enraged, started to fight. In the ensuing scuffle, Cao Xu fell to the ground and hit his head on a stone that was used to block the door.

"What, He Yuzhu, are you planning to throw me again?"

Taking action? He Yuzhu really had no intention of doing so. In his mind, Cao Xu was a coward who was afraid of trouble, and it would be enough to just scare him a little.

If they were to fight, and he were to fall like that day, causing serious injury, we'd have to send money to the hospital again.

Why resort to violence when a mere scare could solve the problem? Wouldn't it be better for him to keep the money and buy meat for Bang Geng?

"With your physique, I could take on ten of you by myself. It would be beneath me to fight you."

"Cao Xu, my sister will be marrying Jiang Hai soon."

“I’ve watched you grow up, and I don’t want to damage the relationship between our two families.”

"This is a new society now, and the things set by the older generation are no longer valid."

“You and Yushui grew up together since you were little, so you also hope that she can have a good life.”

"Cough cough cough..."

He Yuzhu cleared his throat twice and pointed to the lingering smoke in the room.

"Look at yourself now, you can't even keep the stove burning properly, how can you give my sister happiness?"

He Yuzhu delivered two more subtle blows, and seeing that Cao Xu remained silent, he slammed his teacup on the table.

“Cao Xu, Jiang Hai is the neighborhood police officer in our area. He earns thirty-three yuan a month, and his parents also work in the neighborhood.”

"If you know what's good for you, then call off the engagement in front of everyone in the neighborhood. It'll be a win-win situation for you, me, and everyone else."