Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

The two remained silent all the way to the gate of the Fan family's house.

"Bang bang bang, honey, open the door, I'm home!"

Hearing her father's shout, Fan Bingbing quickly went outside.

The door was pulled open, and Fan Bingbing glanced at her father before her gaze immediately fixed on Li Jiuzhou.

His eyes held a hint of urgency, and were also slightly misty.

Seeing that expression, oh my, it broke Li Jiuzhou's heart. He didn't know why, but he really wanted her to have him!

But the reality didn't allow it; her father was watching from the sidelines.

Seeing the two staring at each other without moving, how could Fan's father not know what was going on?

He sighed helplessly, realizing that he probably couldn't keep his daughter.

"Cough cough cough..." Mr. Fan coughed deliberately, startling the two who were still exchanging glances.

Fan Bingbing blushed, lowered her head, and clutched the hem of her clothes without saying a word.

"Let's go inside, it's windy outside," Li Jiuzhou said gently.

"Hmm~"

After entering the house, Fan's mother gave Li Jiuzhou a long rant.

It's just that he's a stubborn person; if you want to come, come; our family won't stop you.

But it depends on the conditions; it's too much trouble to do it in heavy snow.

Despite her words, Fan's mother still went to pour ginger soup for Li Jiuzhou to ward off the cold, as she had prepared it in advance.

Fan Bingbing kept her head down and didn't speak, but occasionally she would steal a glance at Li Jiuzhou.

"Brother Jiuzhou, what did you bring today?" the two boys asked after the atmosphere had eased up a bit.

Li Jiuzhou slapped his thigh:

"It's been snowing lately, so I brought some mutton with me. We'll slaughter a lamb for lunch."

"Don't bring anything next time," Fan's mother said, rolling her eyes at Li Jiuzhou.

"Okay, okay, I won't bring it next time..."

"You child, you always promise so readily, but when have you ever actually listened to me?"

"Next time, definitely next time..."

Li Jiuzhou replied casually, jokingly saying that he really didn't need these things, and that he could eat the food he brought.

Do you think he just came here once and left?

He won't take anything away without having eaten lunch first...

Li Jiuzhou didn't treat himself as an outsider and carried the mutton to the kitchen.

Seeing this, Fan Bingbing immediately followed, and fearing her parents would misunderstand, she quickly explained:

"I'll lend a hand..."

He left immediately after saying that.

Seeing this, the two boys said, "Let's go too!"

But she was met with a stern look from her mother.

"Go do your homework..."

The two boys went into the study inside the room with their heads hanging low.

Mr. Fan and his wife exchanged a glance and let out a long sigh:

"It seems we can't keep our daughter here."

Upon hearing this, Mother Fan smiled and said:

"Isn't it a bit too late for you to say this now?"

"The first time I met Jiuzhou, I knew we couldn't keep our daughter."

"I think it's great..."

Mr. Fan did not answer, but instead looked toward the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Li Jiuzhou looked tenderly at Fan Bingbing:

"You missed me, didn't you?"

"Nonsense, I don't miss you at all," Fan Bingbing said, blushing as she defended herself.

"Oh, I was just being presumptuous," Li Jiuzhou said, feigning disappointment.

This gesture made Fan Bingbing's heart tighten. Her red lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to tell him that she missed him, but her father's teachings over the years made it impossible for her to say such words.

"Sigh, my neighbor in the courtyard said she wants to introduce me to someone," Li Jiuzhou said casually.

Upon hearing this, Fan Bingbing's eyebrows furrowed, and she blurted out:

"No!"

"Hehe, why not?" Li Jiuzhou asked her with a mischievous grin.

Fan Bingbing's face flushed red upon hearing this question.

There was shyness in it, and there was also exasperation.

Seeing Li Jiuzhou's mischievous smile, she immediately understood that he was deliberately teasing her.

With hands on her hips, she met Li Jiuzhou's gaze without fear.

"I said no, and that means no!"

Li Jiuzhou shrugged:

"You have to give me a reason. You're not my boyfriend, so why should I go on blind dates?"

Fan Bingbing remained silent upon hearing this, staring at him with wide eyes in that position. Slowly, her eyes began to redden, and tears welled up.

Li Jiuzhou immediately realized he'd messed things up and angered the girl, so he quickly tried to comfort her:

"I was just kidding! Why would I go on blind dates? I'm just waiting for you to grow up so I can marry you!"

"Let's get married in a couple of years when we're old enough. I said it, and nobody can stop me!"

Fan Bingbing was both embarrassed and ashamed upon hearing this, and burst out laughing.

This person in front of her is too wicked; she can't handle him...

She had never met anyone like Li Jiuzhou before, someone so shameless.

She also had young men pursuing her while she worked in a textile factory.

The guys pursuing her were even more shy than she was, unlike Li Jiuzhou, who was incredibly thick-skinned.

Since we met, she has come to see me on her days off no matter if it's windy, rainy, or thundering.

An unstoppable enthusiasm, eyes brimming with undisguised care for her.

She already had feelings for him, but now that time has passed, how will she cope, and what will she use to cope?

She's been worried ever since the heavy rain started yesterday, and she's still worried now.

She understood, she understood her deepest thoughts.

Then he said something that even he found unbelievable:

"My dad hasn't agreed yet..."

"Huh... what did you say? Say it again." Li Jiuzhou stared straight at her.

Looking at Li Jiuzhou's expectant eyes, Fan Bingbing whispered:

"I told him my dad hasn't agreed to our relationship yet."

When Li Jiuzhou heard her say those words again, he felt a surge of energy.

"Bingbing, regardless of whether your aunt and uncle agree or not, just tell me if you want to be with me?"

"Hmm!"

Fan Bingbing nodded without hesitation, looking at Li Jiuzhou with eyes as gentle as water.

Time seemed to stand still; the two gazed at each other for a long time before smiling, their smiles radiant...

Next, the men and women worked together. Li Jiuzhou simmered lamb bones to make soup and sprinkled it with his unique recipe.

Then slice the mutton thinly and prepare the sauce.

The two chatted and laughed in the kitchen, undisturbed.

Around noon, everyone gathered around the stove to cook mutton.

The two boys wolfed down their food; there was no way around it, it was just too delicious.

Fan's father opened a bottle of wine, which was tiger bone wine that Li Jiuzhou had given him.

"Uncle, I salute you."

"Um..."

After the two drank about half a jin of liquor, Li Jiuzhou sat up straight, took a deep breath, glanced at the Fan family, and slowly said:

"Uncle, Aunt, I have something to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Fan Huisheng put down his chopsticks, straightened his clothes, and narrowed his eyes slightly.

Seeing this, the others also stopped eating and all looked at Li Jiuzhou.

Fan Bingbing's heart was pounding, and her breathing was rapid.

Mother Fan glanced at her daughter first, then at Li Jiuzhou, a smile playing on her lips:

"Go ahead and tell me..."

"Uncle, Aunt, I'm here to formally inform you both that Bingbing and I are starting to date today!"

"We are in a free-love relationship and we like each other. We hope you two can support us..."

After Li Jiuzhou finished speaking, he looked at the two elders.

Fan Bingbing was no longer nervous and looked at her parents with hope in her eyes.

To everyone's surprise, Fan's mother burst into laughter:

"Hahaha, what's with those expressions on your faces? Weren't you already dating?!"

"Everyone in the neighborhood knows you, Jiuzhou. You're always spotted by the neighbors whenever you come here."

"Everyone says he's our son-in-law, and your uncle and I can't refute it even if we wanted to..."

"Every time they come over on their days off, they bring bags and bags of things, saying that our Bingbing has found a great boyfriend!"

"Oh, haha... haha..." Li Jiuzhou could only laugh along when he heard this.

He hadn't expected this situation.

"Hehe, I told Jinghuan a long time ago that Brother Jiuzhou will be our brother-in-law sooner or later..."

"Brother-in-law, I really like you..."

The two boys chatted back and forth, making Fan Bingbing blush.

At this moment, Fan's father said:

"Since you two are in love, we, as your parents, won't stop you."

"But you have to be careful to do it in moderation."

The last sentence was addressed to Li Jiuzhou.

"Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of Bingbing," Li Jiuzhou solemnly promised.