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

"As for the so-called 'recommendation for admission,' that's utter nonsense! Please don't spread rumors, and trust the department's decision."

Old Zhou's words were both firm and reasonable, calming the students while also putting the ball back on track for tomorrow's game, and incidentally resolving the awkward situation for Teacher Chen and Mu Wanqing.

Gao Feng and the others were speechless.

Indeed, before the work was officially released, all of Gao Feng's accusations could only be considered "speculation".

"Alright, then we'll wait until tomorrow! We trust the department leaders will make a fair judgment!" Gao Feng said, then turned and left with his men.

The crowd dispersed, and the corridor returned to silence.

Zhu Hongqi nudged Zhao Weiguo, who had been silent all along, with his elbow: "Hey, this is getting interesting. What do you think? Why didn't you go up and shout a few lines earlier?"

Zhao Weiguo, with his hands in his pockets, watched Gao Feng's departing figure, shook his head, and pursed his lips, revealing a complex expression that was difficult for others to notice: "What are you shouting about? That song... Yuanchao and I overheard it outside Teacher Chen's office that day."

"How is it?"

"Gao Feng is probably going to run into a brick wall this time." Zhao Weiguo shook his head without saying anything more and turned to walk in another direction. Although he was also jealous of Zhang Dabiao and Mu Wanqing, he wasn't stupid enough to call a song that could warm people's hearts poisonous.

These senior "old pedants" have such rigid thinking.

Moreover, this matter is a bit troublesome. He started it, so what if Gao Feng loses? Will he cause trouble for him?

Zhao Weiguo wanted to slap himself. Why did he have to instigate this for no reason?

Is the pairing of Zhang Dabiao and Mu Wanqing something I can question?

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

Mu Wanqing slowly walked to the office door, looked at Teacher Chen who was drinking water to catch her breath, and Director Zhou who had a serious expression, and bowed deeply.

"Teacher, Director, I'm sorry to have troubled you."

Old Zhou waved his hand: "It's none of your business. Go back and prepare well, don't let it affect you. Tomorrow, respond to all the doubts with your singing. Remember, in our art academy, we ultimately stand on our work!"

"Yes!" Mu Wanqing nodded heavily, her eyes welling up with tears.

She knew that tomorrow's selection competition was more than just a competition; it was a war. She not only had to prove herself, but also had to win a fair and square victory for Teacher Chen, who trusted her, for the song "Towards the Distance," and for Zhang Dabiao.

The pressure came down like a mountain.

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

The north wind swirled through the courtyard, whipping up dry leaves and coal ash from the ground, making a whooshing sound. As dusk fell, smoke began to rise from the chimneys of every household, filling the air with a complex smell of cheap coal briquettes mixed with cooked food.

After Yi Zhonghai's "Winter Reserve Group" plan was declared bankrupt, he was depressed for two days. But he's like a roly-poly toy; as long as his grand goal of retirement remains, any setback can only make him lie down temporarily, and he can quickly find a new foothold and start swaying again.

This new fulcrum is Sha Zhu.

Convincing Sha Zhu to agree to "installment payments" was only the first step. The crucial second step was to get Qin Huairu to agree willingly. This couldn't be discussed indoors; Jia Zhangshi's ears were sharper than radar.

Yi Zhonghai seized the opportunity when Qin Huairu went to the cellar in the backyard to get cabbage and quietly followed her.

"Huai Ru".

Yi Zhonghai's voice suddenly rang out behind her, startling Qin Huairu. She turned around and saw Yi Zhonghai's face, which appeared deeply lined in the dim light, and felt a little flustered.

This is before we even went down into the cellar. If we actually went down into the cellar and heard the sound, it would scare people to death, you know?

"Sir, what brings you here?"

"If I don't come, your affair with Shazhu will just keep dragging on like this." Yi Zhonghai cut to the chase. He knew that to deal with Qin Huairu, he had to hit her sore spot directly. "I'm asking you, do you want to give Banggeng and the others a complete family? Do you want to be able to stand tall and not have to put up with Jia Zhangshi's attitude anymore?"

Qin Huairu's hand tightened, her nails digging into her palm. How could she not want to? She dreamed about it.

Seeing her relaxed expression, Yi Zhonghai knew he had a chance. He lowered his voice and leaned closer: "Huai Ru, you're a smart woman. You understand the situation better than anyone. Sha Zhu is genuinely good to you and the children; that's common knowledge throughout the entire hospital. Looking across the whole of Beijing, where else can you find such a simple, honest man who's willing to open his heart to you?"

"But...my mother-in-law..." Qin Huairu looked troubled, "She's asking for a dowry of five thousand yuan, and Sha Zhu..."

"Five thousand yuan?" Yi Zhonghai sneered. "That's wishful thinking on her part! Even if Sha Zhu sold everything he owned, he couldn't scrape together that amount. So, we need to find another way, a way that she can't argue with, and that will still give you a real benefit."

He recounted the "installment payment" plan he had discussed with Sha Zhu in detail.

"...Think about it, Sha Zhu's monthly salary, plus the money he earns from taking on extra jobs, adds up to at least forty or fifty yuan. Let's make a deal: each month, we'll set aside twenty or thirty yuan. You'll personally collect the salary portion from the factory's finance department. Consider it Sha Zhu fulfilling his duty as a son-in-law in advance, providing living expenses for the family, and also as a dowry paid in installments."

"He can keep some of the remaining money for his own spending, and you can save the rest for him. That way, the money will be in your hands, and you can decide how to use it. What can Jia Zhangshi say? Whether you use it to buy food for the children or to buy cloth for clothes, isn't it all up to you?"

Qin Huairu's eyes lit up instantly.

Let her collect her salary!

These six words, like a bolt of lightning, cleaved through all her confusion and distress.

After starting work at the factory, although she was the main breadwinner for her family, the family's finances remained firmly in Jia Zhangshi's hands. Every month, she had to hand over her entire salary, which Jia Zhangshi would then distribute little by little, like giving money to a beggar. Now, Yi Zhonghai had shown her a clear path, a path that would allow her to rightfully keep the money in her own hands!

As long as she controls the money, she controls the lifeline of this family!

As for whether Jia Zhangshi agrees or not...

But I can keep a portion for myself, plus the money Sha Zhu earns from his side jobs!

Sha Zhu's salary is twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents, everyone in the hospital knows that!

"Sha Zhu...can he agree?" Qin Huairu's heart was pounding, and her voice was trembling.

"He agreed a long time ago!" Yi Zhonghai said decisively. "That silly boy, his heart and soul are only for you and the child. As soon as I brought up this idea, he was so happy he was practically snotting up. He was just waiting for you to nod, and then it would be settled. From now on, he will be the rightful son-in-law of the Jia family, and you will be his sure-fire wife."

"Isn't this just like Zhang Dabiao and Mu Wanqing's engagement?"

"As time goes on, the child will grow closer to him. Once Jia Zhangshi stops making a fuss, you two can go and get a marriage certificate. Wouldn't that be a natural progression?"

Qin Huairu's eyes lit up!