I painted an aircraft carrier on the courtyard house for Dongda University.

Seeing the atmosphere become somewhat awkward, Wu Yousheng quickly tried to smooth things over: "Well then, Brother Yu, let's get down to business with the two kids, shall we?"

Seeing this, Zhou Weiguo breathed a sigh of relief. The awkwardness from before had finally passed. He moved aside and didn't say anything more.

Mr. Yu then came to his senses and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, Master Wu, let's continue."

"Brother Yu, let me tell you about Zhu Zi's situation."

Wu Yousheng cleared his throat. "Zhu Zi is an honest kid, with no tricks up his sleeve. He's currently the deputy director of the canteen at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. His family has a long tradition of cooking, and with the help of my training over the years, his skills are now quite proficient. At home, besides his uncle Zhou and his sister Yu Shui, there's only his father He Daqing, who lives far away in Baoding. The house is private property, a three-room main house, Yu Shui also has a side room, and Zhou has a courtyard next door. His salary plus subsidies is about eighty yuan a month, which is considered decent in Beijing."

As soon as Wu Yousheng finished speaking, the wrinkles on Yu's parents' faces smoothed out, and they couldn't hide the smiles in their eyes. Although they had heard Yu Haitang mention it a few times before, they didn't expect He Yuzhu to have such solid conditions: he was a cadre, could cook, owned his own house, and had a relative like Zhou Weiguo supporting him.

"Good, good, very good! Very good!" Mr. Yu nodded hurriedly, unable to help but laugh out loud, when his arm was suddenly pinched hard by Mrs. Yu.

He then realized his blunder and rubbed his hands apologetically, saying, "Please forgive my rudeness. To be honest, my family's circumstances can't compare to Zhu Zi's. I only earn a meager wage blowing light bulbs at a light bulb factory, and we barely make ends meet. Yu Li is really marrying up to Zhu Zi. We probably won't be able to help much when the two children get married, but if they have children, I'll definitely have Li Li's mother come over to take care of them."

No sooner had he said that than his mother pinched his waist again.

Zhou Weiguo quickly interrupted, "Brother Yu, you're being too polite! The two children are in love, that's more important than anything else. Money and gifts are secondary. Besides, you've already asked your wife to go over and help take care of them."

Mr. Yu glared at Mrs. Yu and said with a wry smile, "I understand what Brother Zhou means, but other families have decent dowries when their daughters get married. I can only sew two new quilts for the child at most. But don't worry, no matter how difficult things are for her family, I will never let Yu Li cause trouble for her husband's family."

Hearing this, Zhou Weiguo smiled and shook his head, then took out the military scrip for "three turns and one sound" (referring to a type of gift) from his pocket and placed it on the table, saying, "Brother Yu, don't worry, I've arranged everything for the children's wedding. You don't need to worry about the dowry at all. This is the military scrip for 'three turns and one sound' that I prepared for Zhuzi. It was given to me by a friend, so it won't cost much. The two kids can just pick it up at the department store. By the way, Zhuzi has a bicycle now. This bicycle scrip is for Yu Li to pick out a women's one, which will be more convenient for everyday riding."

Mr. Yu stared at the tickets on the table, his mouth agape for a long time.

I was worried that my daughter would be mistreated after marrying into the family, but I never expected that she would fall into a golden nest. The treatment is even more dignified than when the factory director of the light bulb factory got married.

Thinking of this, Yu's father quickly said, "How can that be? A woman doesn't do anything at home, why buy a bicycle? Isn't that a waste of money?"

Seeing that Mr. Yu had such a strong reaction, Zhou Weiguo quickly added, "Brother Yu, you don't know this, but Brother Wu and I both work at the steel rolling mill. I was thinking that after Zhuzi and Yuli get married, I'll arrange a logistics job for Yuli at the steel rolling mill as well. Then the two kids can each have a bicycle and take care of each other when they go to and from get off work. Their lives will definitely be good."

"What?" Mr. Yu stood up abruptly, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a screeching sound. Mrs. Yu was also shocked, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Brother Zhou, you must be joking!"

Mr. Yu's voice trembled, "Workstations at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill are incredibly valuable! Old Zhang from the front yard bought his son a foundry worker's position for five hundred yuan and was happy for half a month!"

"Uncle, my uncle doesn't need to pay for a workstation!"

He Yuzhu suddenly jumped out, looking smug, "My master and about ten fellow apprentices—that is, my uncle—all got jobs as cooks at the steel rolling mill with just one word!"

Mr. Yu's eyes widened like saucers as he murmured, "This... how could they possibly get so many temporary worker positions?"

"What temporary workers?!" He Yuzhu hurriedly defended himself, "They're all permanent staff! My mentor is still the head of the cafeteria team, and the entire staff in Cafeteria No. 2 is my mentor... Oh dear!"

Zhou Weiguo frowned, raised his leg and kicked He Yuzhu in the calf. This kid really says whatever he shouldn't say.

"Brother Yu, don't listen to his nonsense." Zhou Weiguo smiled and smoothed things over. "I do have some connections in the factory. Getting Yu Li in shouldn't be a problem. It won't cost any money or effort."

Father Yu shook his head: "That won't do! If Yu Li goes to work, who will take care of Zhu Zi and you elders? Yu Shui is still young and needs someone to look after her too. You married a wife, not a queen. How can a wife not be at home taking care of the elderly and children?"

Looking at the couple's matter-of-fact manner, Zhou Weiguo wondered to himself, "In the original drama, Yu Li didn't spend all her time at home. Could it be that she was really distracted by Yan Lao's scheming ways and lost all interest in her?"

"Brother Yu, that's not right of you. The instructor said that women hold up half the sky, and besides, the two children are still young. They don't have any children yet, so letting them work will help them save more money for the future. Don't worry, their jobs have already been arranged."

Zhou Weiguo took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it over, saying, "I promise I won't interfere with her taking care of her family."

Mr. Yu hesitated before taking the envelope, slowly pulling out the paper inside. The letter of introduction for the "Logistics Recorder" bore the glaringly bright red seal of the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill. His hands trembled: "This...this is really for Lili?"

"It can't be wrong."

Zhou Weiguo nodded, "The logistics work is easy, there's no need for shift work, so I can earn money at work and still take care of things at home. After the two kids have babies, his mentor and I can help them out."

Upon hearing about giving birth, He Yuzhu suddenly blushed, rubbing her stomach with both hands and burying her head almost to her chest.

Seeing his coy attitude, Zhou Weiguo was furious and kicked him in the butt again.

Yu Li, who was initially shy with her head down, couldn't help but burst out laughing when she saw He Yuzhu being beaten. When she met her father's stern gaze, she quickly covered her mouth and lowered her head again.

After staring at He Yuzhu for a long time, Yu's father suddenly waved to Yu Li.

Yu Li looked puzzled, but unconsciously took a step forward.

Lili's father gazed tenderly at his daughter and asked softly, "Lili, let me ask you something: are you willing to marry this young man, Zhuzi?"