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

The position of "Grandpa" wasn't actually what Yi Zhonghai valued most. He simply wanted to use this status to emphasize respect for the elderly and care for the young in the courtyard, and to establish the "rules of the courtyard." Therefore, he had to become the "Grandpa," a moral exemplar, so that the younger generation would listen to him.

All he had to do was arrange a marriage.

This deal is worth doing!

Before he could even speak, Sha Zhu next to him stood up with a "plop".

His face flushed red, and facing Yi Zhonghai, he picked up a cup of tea and downed it in one gulp, using the tea instead of alcohol.

"Uncle, let's settle our differences about the past. Let's not bring those things up again."

"But if you can let me marry Sister Qin, I, Sha Zhu, will treat you like my own father! I'll take care of you in your old age and see you off in your final days, without missing a single penny!"

"Just tell me if it's okay or not!"

Zhang Dabiao was dumbfounded. "I haven't even mentioned this yet. If I had waited until I brought it up, I could have gotten some benefits. Why is your stupid Zhu so impatient?"

Yi Zhonghai's hand, holding the teacup, trembled slightly.

The tea spilled out and scalded the back of his hand.

He was completely unaware.

He put down his teacup, looked at Sha Zhu for a long time, and didn't say a word.

But inside, he was in turmoil.

He quickly calculated the score in his shrewd mind.

Qin Huairu is the wife of her godson's apprentice, and also her current apprentice. It is only natural and reasonable for Yi Zhonghai, in his multiple roles as her master, her husband's godfather, and her master, to arrange her remarriage.

Most importantly, it complies with policy! It has strong support from above! The neighborhood committee and the Women's Federation both support it; this is the right thing to do!

Moreover, these days, once you've recognized someone as your godfather and held a banquet for them, you're considered a legitimate relative! It wouldn't be an exaggeration for Qin Huairu to call him godfather and Bang Geng to call him godfather; Yi Zhonghai really has a say in that!

Looking back at Sha Zhu's side, with three main rooms, a job as an eighth-grade cook at the steel mill, a salary of twenty-seven or twenty-five, plus Qin Huairu's salary, and his occasional help, the Jia family could live a very comfortable life.

If they are well-fed, they won't be constantly draining my resources, which will greatly reduce my stress.

Although Sha Zhu is a muddle-headed guy, he always keeps his word.

Most importantly, when Yi Zhonghai gets old and can no longer move, even if the Jia family doesn't care about him, Sha Zhu will definitely take care of him.

It wasn't the kind of relationship that required him to use morality to blackmail or to maintain through calculation; rather, it was something that Sha-zhu proposed on his own initiative.

No matter how you calculate it, Yi Zhonghai is not at a disadvantage.

Blood earned!

After a long while, Yi Zhonghai slowly nodded.

"I can handle this."

His voice was somewhat hoarse.

"But words are no proof. You silly Zhu, you have to give me a written agreement."

Sha Zhu didn't even blink before responding immediately.

"Fine! Let's put it in writing! I'll even add my fingerprint!"

Zhang Dabiao, watching from the side, almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.

These two men, one shrewd and calculating his whole life, the other honest and straightforward, surprisingly hit it off at this crucial juncture because of their own selfish motives.

They're a perfect match.

Of course, this written agreement could never be finalized. If something like this is written down, it's no longer a matter of courtesy, but a business transaction, and that wouldn't sound good if word got out.

However, with Zhang Dabiao as a witness, and given Sha Zhu's personality, he wouldn't deny it.

The three of them went their separate ways.

Zhang Dabiao watched Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu leave one after the other, one with steady steps and the other with barely suppressed joy.

……

Zhang Dabiao shook his head, unsure how to best describe them.

But surely they wouldn't be in such a hurry?

Shouldn't we wait until Qin Huairu gives birth before discussing this?

Just as Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai returned to their rooms and the courtyard returned to silence, the curtains in the east wing room, where Yu Shui was, were gently lifted a crack.

He Yushui stood behind the window, watching the jubilant Sha Zhu, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

Judging from how happy Sha Zhu was, like a 200-pound idiot, Zhang Dabiao must have already reached an agreement with Yi Zhonghai.

He Yushui couldn't tell whether she was happy or worried.

She turned around and saw Qin Jingru sitting on the edge of the bed reading and reviewing; she had to go to school tomorrow.

He Yushui walked over, sat down next to her, hesitated for a long time, and then asked in a low voice.

"Jingru, you said... my brother and the others arranged it like this..."

"Does your sister...do she want to?"

Qin Jingru was stunned for a moment, opened her mouth, but couldn't answer a single word.

The two looked at each other, a vague sense of foreboding creeping into their hearts.

Yes, you've all discussed it carefully, but what if Qin Huairu herself isn't happy about it?

Have you considered this issue?

------------

Yi Zhonghai specially chose an "auspicious day".

On the weekend, everyone in the courtyard had just finished dinner and was washing dishes. Jia Zhangshi had just finished a bowl of cornmeal porridge and three cornbread buns, and was leaning against the door frame, picking her teeth with a small splinter she had found somewhere.

Yi Zhonghai carried a small bag of brown sugar wrapped in oil paper and walked into the Jia family's house at a leisurely pace.

"Aunt Zhang, have you eaten yet?"

Madam Jia glanced at him sideways and snorted through her nose as a greeting.

Yi Zhonghai didn't mind, and simply placed the brown sugar on the octagonal table and pulled up a stool to sit down.

"Aunt Zhang, I've come today to discuss something with you."

He paused for a moment, then got straight to the point: "It's about Huai Ru's lifelong happiness."

He thought it was a good thing, so he didn't think too much about it.

They all know each other well. Sha Zhu married Qin Huairu, and they live in the same courtyard. They can take care of each other like children. He will also continue to take care of the Jia family. The Jia family can be said to have gotten a free benefit. How could they possibly disagree?

So he just said it outright.

Jia Zhangshi abruptly stopped picking her teeth, and the small wooden splinter in her hand fell directly to the ground.

She froze at first, then her wrinkled face quickly turned a deep liver color, and finally she sprang up from the doorframe, grabbing the brown sugar on the table—

I wanted to throw it away, but then I felt it was a waste, so I slammed it back onto the table.

"What?!"

"A lifelong commitment?"

"You want Huai Ru to remarry?"

Her voice was so sharp it could pierce one's eardrums.

Yi Zhonghai was stunned. Why such a big reaction?

"Aunt Zhang, please let me finish..."

Madam Jia glared fiercely at Yi Zhonghai: "Whom do you plan to marry Huai Ru to?"

Yi Zhonghai panicked a little: "Sha Zhu, if you marry Sha Zhu, you'll be living in the same courtyard, and everyone can take care of each other. Besides, everyone knows each other well, and Sha Zhu is a pretty good person..."

But Jia Zhangshi screamed, "You want to marry my daughter-in-law to that idiot?! My son has only been buried for half a year, and you come to tell me this?! Yi Zhonghai, what kind of heartless monster are you?!"

Then, a torrent of foul language burst forth like a floodgate being opened.

Qin Huairu had just returned from the front yard with Xiaodang by the hand. She was tidying up the clothes that Banggeng had hung out to dry when she heard the commotion in the middle yard and came over. When she understood Yi Zhonghai's purpose, she froze, and her already pale face turned deathly white.

Remarry?

She had considered it, but Sha Zhu...

To be honest, she really looked down on Sha Zhu's reckless and arrogant attitude.

A 26-year-old looks at least 36, always greasy and smelling of scallion oil, with hair like a bird's nest, and shamelessly says he earns 27.5 yuan a month, and that he only has himself to feed...

That guy is an idiot.

Even if I remarry, I will never marry him!