Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

"Uncle Lou...isn't this inappropriate?"

"Shouldn't we ask Sister Xiao'e? These days, free love is encouraged..."

Lou Xiao'e also got angry, pouting as she said, "I'll listen to my dad!"

She knew she had no say in her own marriage because she was the daughter of a capitalist.

Besides, no matter what her parents say, they won't harm her.

In reality, Lou Xiao'e didn't care whether she married Xu Damao, Sha Zhu, or Zhang Dabiao.

In contrast, she didn't even look at Sha Zhu, Zhang Dabiao infuriated her, and although Xu Damao was a bit extravagant, her previous generation had seen this kind of thing many times. Her father had three wives, so it was nothing unusual.

She was angry, but she also accepted it, since she and Xu Damao didn't know each other before.

She wasn't stupid; she could tell what the three girls in Zhang Dabiao's courtyard meant, so she thought it was normal.

Therefore, in comparison, the glib-tongued Xu Damao scored the highest, at least in his words and actions, he was flattering Lou Xiao'e.

Lou Bancheng was equally straightforward, saying directly, "Da Biao, on the first day of the Lunar New Year in early February, you said Xu Damao would marry our Xiao'e, and that Xiao'e would later divorce Xu Damao and have a son with Shazhu."

"Well, at the time, none of my family had that plan. It was just that Xiao'e's mother mentioned it to Chen's mother."

"Considering that Xu Damao is an 'unregistered' family, our family naturally stopped the matter and did not pursue your responsibility."

"Now, because of you, Lou Xiao'e is coming to your compound every few days. She's even gotten to know Xu Damao and Shazhu, and she's even starting some kind of food processing business in the neighborhood..."

"Now that things have come full circle, Xu Damao and Shazhu have come to propose marriage again, and you say that the two of them are suitable."

Upon hearing this, even Sha Zhu's eyes widened—[Zhang Dabiao said I'm suitable too?]

What does this mean?

Was everything he said true? Would Lou Xiao'e really give me a son?

Even the deaf old lady was surprised that Zhang Dabiao was speaking up for Sha Zhu.

Xu Damao became anxious—[Da Biao, how could you speak up for Sha Zhu?]

Lou Bancheng continued talking to himself, "You're the one who says it won't work, and you're the one who says it will work. Anyway, if you don't come up with an idea, you're not leaving this room today!"

As soon as Lou Bancheng finished speaking, the butler Qu San locked the door and stood quietly at the entrance, his meaning self-evident.

Zhang Dabiao...

Holy crap, did I really get myself into this mess?

Although Zhang Dabiao claimed to be on Xu Damao's side, he couldn't be too blunt about it when it came to this kind of matter.

Because if you side with one, you'll completely offend the other, which involves issues like getting married and having children.

Once you offend someone, it becomes a deep-seated grudge.

Although Sha Zhu wasn't a good person, Lou Bancheng completely offended him with just one sentence...

There's no need for that.

What the hell does it mean that I'm being used as a tool?

After some deliberation, Zhang Dabiao presented a solution to the group.

"I'll just ask Xu Damao and Shazhu one question. After they answer, Uncle Lou and Sister Xiao'e, you can decide for yourselves."

Xu Damao and Shazhu both perked up.

Xu Damao: "Da Biao, ask whatever you want. No matter what you ask today, even if Uncle Lou and Xiao'e don't accept my answer, I'll accept it and I won't blame you."

Sha Zhu: "Da Biao, go ahead and ask. We're all big men in Beijing. I, Sha Zhu, am upright and honest, unlike some people who can't say anything."

Even at this moment, he didn't forget to belittle Xu Damao, which made Xu Damao so angry that he gritted his teeth, but he only made a grimacing expression and didn't argue.

However, the Lou family saw all of this.

Zhang Dabiao paused for a moment: "I'm talking about hypothetical scenarios, hypothetical scenarios—"

"Let's say Lou Xiao'e married you, Xu Damao, or she married Sha Zhu."

"A year or two later, in our courtyard, Jia Dongxu suddenly—"

"It's so crunchy!"

Zhang Dabiao's description startled everyone, especially the deaf old woman—[Why is Zhang Dabiao bringing this up again after more than half a year? Does he really know or calculate that Jia Dongxu will die?]

"Leaving the Jia family with only orphans and widows behind, and then Qin Huairu tearfully begs you, Xu Damao, or Shazhu to borrow grain and money..."

"What will you two do?"

"Let me remind you, this is assuming you're already married!"

As soon as Zhang Dabiao finished speaking, the entire banquet fell silent.

Before Xu Damao could even finish thinking for a second, he waved his hand dismissively and refused, saying, "No, absolutely not!"

Sha Zhu immediately flew into a rage: "Xu Damao, do you have any compassion at all? Do you have any sense of public morality?!"

Even Lou Bancheng, Tan Yali, and Lou Xiao'e frowned.

Isn't Xu Damao a bit too cold-blooded?

At this point, Chen Ma tried to pull Xu Damao's arm, but Xu Damao, whether from drinking too much or something else, wouldn't listen to his mother.

Zhang Dabiao stopped Chen Ma, saying, "Chen Ma, let Da Mao finish what he has to say."

Xu Damao even took a sip of wine to bolster his courage before slowly explaining, "I know that if I say this, everyone will say I'm cold-blooded and selfish. That old deaf man even said I'm a born bad seed."

The old deaf man's face darkened—[I haven't said anything recently! I just kept it to myself; I've always been very low-key!]

"Even if Uncle Lou and Aunt Tan don't think well of me, I still have to make this clear, because it concerns Xiao'e's marriage. I, Xu Damao, don't care about my reputation or face at all."

"If the situation described by Da Biao happens, I admit, the Jia family is pitiful."

"But these days, who isn't struggling to make ends meet? We're relatively better off in Beijing, but everyone knows what's happening outside. The edema... the hunger... how many lives have been lost?"

"I pity their family? Do you think I can afford to pity them?"

"I'll prioritize spending the money I earn on my own family. But if my good buddies, Da Biao, Guang Qi, or even Yan Jiecheng's family were in trouble and needed help, I wouldn't hesitate to help without hesitation."

"But I already have a bad relationship with the Jia family. If I were to go out of my way to help them, wouldn't that be despicable?"

"If you're asking for some cornmeal, that's fine, but borrowing rice, meat, or money? Absolutely not! Don't even think about it!"

"The key issue is that the Jia family is not only a bottomless pit, but they also never repay their loans. If you borrow too little, you get scolded, and on top of that, they want to eat white flour and meat, and they want to eat well! Why should they?"

"Not only will I not lend it, but even if you really marry me, Xiao'e, you still can't lend it!"

Lou Xiao'e was immediately displeased: "Why should I?! What right do you have to tell me whether I help others or not?"

Sha Zhu was also furious: "You, Xu Damao, are heartless! You just watched them die! Their son is still growing, and Xiao Dang is only a little over a year old. What's wrong with wanting to eat something good?"

Xu Damao waved his hand: "I can't explain it to you two, Xiao'e, Comrade Lou Xiao'e."

"To be honest, I, Xu Damao, am not a good person, but I have to be responsible for my future partner. That's just my temperament and my attitude."

If you think I'm selfish, I have nothing to say. It would be better if we could get together, but it doesn't matter if we can't.

"But I have to tell you my true attitude. Who am I, Xu Damao, lying to—"

"I can't lie to you either."