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

Yi Zhonghai had a splitting headache; Sha Zhu's sycophantic nature was completely beyond saving.

He'd only been holding his tongue for a few days when Qin Huairu gave birth, and his soul was already captivated again. If he continued like this, the two of them would be inseparable once more.

No way! If Jia Zhangshi weren't an obstacle, Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu could be together, both accepting Yi Zhonghai's favor and obeying his orders. That would be perfect for everyone.

But with Jia Zhangshi there, this matter cannot be accomplished!

Moreover, Liu Cheng, an eighth-grade worker from the factory, is bringing his daughter Liu Yuhua over for a blind date today, which he had already told Sha Zhu.

You're serving up the dishes you'd set up for a blind date to a widow who's just had a baby...

What the hell is this? If this gets seen, we're doomed!

Yi Zhonghai quickly put on his coat, pushed open the door, and walked briskly to the Jia family's door, where he yanked it open.

Inside, Sha Zhu was holding a bowl of chicken soup, smiling broadly as he offered it to Qin Huairu. Qin Huairu, tears welling in her eyes, was about to accept it, deeply moved. Jia Zhangshi, standing nearby, was practically drooling, her eyes gleaming with envy.

"Zhu Zi! Come out here!" Yi Zhonghai shouted, his face stern.

Sha Zhu's hand trembled, and he almost spilled the chicken soup. He turned around and saw Yi Zhonghai, somewhat embarrassed: "Uncle, what's wrong? I just felt sorry for Sister Qin and brought her a bowl of soup..."

"Stop talking nonsense! Get out here right now!" Yi Zhonghai stepped forward, grabbed Sha Zhu's arm, and dragged him out of the Jia family's house, not even caring about the chicken soup.

Can the chicken soup delivered to the Jia family be taken back?

impossible.

Once in the courtyard, Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice, his tone urgent: "Zhuzi! Have you forgotten what day it is today? Your blind date is almost here! And you're still here bringing her soup? Do you want her to come in and see you serving a widow?!"

Sha Zhu suddenly realized what was happening and slapped his forehead: "Oh my! Grandpa, I remember this, we've already made preparations at home."

"But Sister Qin here... I..."

He was actually quite looking forward to the blind date. After all, he wasn't getting any younger, and he dreamed of marrying a young, unmarried woman and settling down with a wife and kids. But seeing Qin Huairu's pitiful state, he just couldn't resist.

Yi Zhonghai didn't have time to lecture him anymore. Didn't you think that Jia Zhangshi was still inside? If you sent her over and Qin Huairu could add some hot water to make a flavorful soup, that would be considered a sudden change of heart for Jia Zhangshi.

But now is not the time to talk about that.

"Hurry back inside and get ready! They're coming soon." Yi Zhonghai shoved Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu quickly ran back into the house, took off his apron, and wiped his face with a towel. Just then, heavy footsteps came from the courtyard gate.

Just right!

Yi Zhonghai greeted him with a broad smile: "Old Liu! You're here!"

Sha Zhu stood at his doorstep full of anticipation, straightened his collar, and craned his neck to look outside.

Behind Yi Zhonghai, a towering figure stood. Eighth-grade worker Liu Cheng walked ahead, his hands behind his back, followed by a young woman.

Once the girl stepped out of the shadows, Sha Zhu could see her clearly by the light of the courtyard lamp.

Sha Zhu's smile froze instantly. Then, his features contorted, and his face turned ashen, as if he had swallowed a dead fly.

That girl, Liu Yuhua, was practically a giant gas cylinder! She was burly, with shoulders wider than Sha Zhu's, and a waist as thick as a water bucket. Her face was full of fat, and the ground trembled when she walked.

Is this the young virgin that the old man introduced me to?!

Is this what the old man meant by "dignified"?

Calm and composed?

Zhou Zheng?

A virtuous wife and loving mother?

Is it guaranteed that I'll have a big, healthy son?

Sha Zhu's face turned green! He felt a churning in his stomach and almost vomited up his food from the day.

[A big... Yi Zhonghai, that bastard, he lied to me?!]

----------

Meanwhile, inside the Jia family house, Jia Zhangshi was frantically eating chicken and drinking chicken soup, while Banggeng jumped up and down anxiously beside her: "Grandma, leave some for me!"

Qin Huairu was quite self-aware; she knew she couldn't win now, so she'd try to make some soup with the chicken bones later. She had long since given up on Jia Zhangshi.

Hearing the noise outside, she quickly and quietly moved to the foot of the window and peeked out through a crack.

When she saw Liu Yuhua's mountain of flesh, and then looked at Sha Zhu's expression as if his father had died, and saw Yi Zhonghai talking enthusiastically with Liu Cheng, she immediately understood—Yi Zhonghai was introducing Liu Cheng's daughter, Liu Yuhua, to Sha Zhu for a blind date!

However, seeing Sha Zhu's appearance, Qin Huairu's heart, which had been in her throat, was finally put back into her stomach.

A barely perceptible, cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. With looks like that? If Sha Zhu could even fancy her, pigs could fly.

With the crisis completely resolved, Qin Huairu turned around and lay back down on the bed, preparing to see how Sha Zhu would handle the situation later.

Inside Shazhu's house, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Four main dishes were laid out on the octagonal table: pork and cabbage stew with vermicelli, braised carp, a plate of scrambled eggs, chicken soup, and a dish of fried peanuts. In the 1960s, this was the highest standard of hospitality for a blind date. Sha Zhu's cooking skills were, of course, impeccable, with a perfect combination of color, aroma, and taste.

But now, Sha Zhu sat at the table with his arms crossed, not even holding chopsticks. His eyelids drooped, and his face was as long as Mount Changbai, looking as ugly as could be.

On the long bench opposite, Liu Yuhua was engrossed in her work. She held a large bowl in her hand, her chopsticks dancing like whirlwinds as she shoveled noodles into her mouth. She swallowed a piece of fatty and lean pork belly in one gulp, without even chewing. Her fleshy face glistened with oil from eating so quickly.

Liu Cheng, an eighth-grade worker, sat in the main seat, his face growing increasingly grim as he looked at Sha Zhu's lifeless state. Yi Zhonghai, standing beside him, was sweating profusely with anxiety, constantly giving Sha Zhu meaningful glances and kicking his shin under the table.

He accidentally kicked too hard, hitting Sha Zhu's shinbone, and Sha Zhu grimaced in pain.

"Zhu Zi! Master Liu is asking you a question. How much do you earn each month?" Yi Zhonghai forced a smile and tried to smooth things over.

Sha Zhu dodged to the side, glancing sideways at Liu Yuhua who was still gorging herself, a surge of anger rising to his head. He Yuzhu's culinary skills were top-notch in Beijing; every girl in the compound praised his generosity.

According to Da Biao, with his skills, his job, and his three main rooms—what girl couldn't he marry?

But why should Yi Zhonghai let him marry such a thing?

He's always been outspoken, and now that he's in a bad mood, he can't control his loose tongue at all.

"Salary? Twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents, enough to eat." (Actually, it was thirty-two yuan and fifty cents, but he was used to it because some was deducted and fined all the time.)

Sha Zhu gave a forced smile, leaned back in his chair, and spread his hands. "But, sir, Master Liu, let's be frank. I, He Yuzhu, do want to get married, but I don't own a pig farm."

The air in the room seemed to freeze instantly upon hearing this. Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat, and he knew something was wrong.

Liu Yuhua put down her chopsticks, raised her big face, and stared blankly at Sha Zhu.

Liu Cheng slammed his wine cup heavily on the table, his face ashen: "Shazhu, what do you mean by that?!"

Yi Zhonghai immediately stood up and said, "Being able to eat is a blessing, being able to eat is a blessing. Sha Zhu, people just think your cooking is too good, that's a good thing! Why don't you think before you speak, kid?"

"Apologize right now!"

Sha Zhu, having given up all pretense of recklessness, pointed at Liu Yuhua, his mouth dripping with venom: "What do you mean? What am I apologizing for? Look at yourself. Anyone who knows better would think your daughter's here for a blind date, but anyone who doesn't would think Pigsy's aunt has descended to earth!"

"With your daughter's physique and appetite, if we really got married, my meager salary wouldn't even be enough to fill her teeth. Besides, I'm afraid if I turned over in the middle of the night, she'd crush me to death on the bed!"

Upon hearing this, the room suddenly fell silent, and then Liu Cheng abruptly stood up—

"Silly Zhu!"