Siheyuan: A master brewer starts with a jar of bone-strengthening wine!

Chen Xueru's limbs felt weak, and she could only barely stand up by leaning against the wall. After taking a shower, she quickly got dressed and ran away.

That's ruthless... This man is practically made of iron!

If we stay any longer, it's hard to say whether we'll be able to walk tomorrow.

Escape is the priority!

After she left, Liu Dong walked to the corner of the courtyard and looked at the dilapidated side room.

We need to start making changes.

Summer is fine, but what about winter?

You can't carry water home to shower every day, can you?

Even after marriage, the wife will need it too.

Besides, going to the toilet is also a problem—there's a lecherous man like Jia Dongxu in the yard, and he's extremely uneasy about his wife running around in the open to relieve herself.

Why not just convert the left side room into a bathroom?

It can be used for both defecating and urinating, as well as washing your face and body, killing two birds with one stone.

Construction is not difficult; all you need is a few workers and some bricks, tiles, and cement.

But the biggest problem is the lack of a water source – we have to get a water pipe from the Intermediate People's Court.

Besides the side rooms, the main house, kitchen, and connecting corridor all need to be renovated.

The furniture will also be replaced, either a complete set of brand new modern style, or a bunch of old huanghuali wood items, whatever makes it comfortable, who cares.

Late at night.

Liu Dong didn't go to the tavern for a drink; instead, he stayed home and opened the system.

On the screen, Jia Dongxu was still fast asleep, his face rosy and his breathing even, showing no signs of disaster whatsoever.

Something's not right.

Shouldn't I be in trouble?

Just as I was wondering, a system notification sounded:

"Ding-dong—Host, please note that the effects of the curse can take many forms. Some results may not have obvious external manifestations, but the target has already been substantially damaged."

"This curse is in effect: Target Jia Dongxu, permanently losing his fertility."

What?

Liu Dong grinned instantly: Jia Dongxu is finished? His lineage is wiped out?

awesome!

The Jia family line has ended! (Intermediate Court, Jia family residence)

The dishes were all laid out on the table, but Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu just sat there waiting, not touching their chopsticks at all.

Why? The old man hasn't come back yet.

After a while, Old Jia pushed open the door and came in, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Dinner's ready!" As soon as she saw them arrive, Madam Jia called to her son, "Dongxu, eat quickly! These eggs were specially boiled for you to help you recover!"

"Hmm..." Jia Dongxu responded, reaching for an egg and peeling it.

Old Jia plopped down, panting heavily: "I just took a walk outside, and I'm so angry my liver hurts! It's true what they say, good news doesn't spread, but bad news flies everywhere!"

Madam Jia was taken aback: "What's wrong? What happened?"

Old Jia gritted his teeth: "Now the whole alley is gossiping! They're saying Dongxu was a pervert! They say he tried to grab a girl's hand and got slapped unconscious!"

"Oh my goodness!" Upon hearing this, Madam Jia jumped to her feet. "Who spread this rumor? I'll go to their doorstep and curse them for three days and three nights!"

"Shouting won't do any good!" Old Jia glared at Jia Dongxu, his tone as heavy as a stone. "Look at the mess you've made! Look at what's going on outside! Your reputation is completely ruined, do you even realize that?"

Jia Dongxu kept his head down, focusing only on eating the egg in his hand, without saying a word.

Old Jia continued, "If Dongxu's matter drags on any longer, Qin Huairu's chances are completely over. We have to get it done now, the engagement immediately! We'll go to her house tomorrow to propose a date, and the wedding must be before the New Year! Otherwise, she won't be able to find a wife in the future!"

Such rumors were a matter of life and death back then.

Once you're labeled a "hooligan," your life is ruined.

"Then..." Madam Jia said anxiously, "What do we do now?"

Old Jia said decisively, "We need to act quickly! Dongxu, you go to the Qin family tomorrow to meet her parents and set a date. The sooner the better!"

"Hey!" Jia Dongxu looked up suddenly, his heart filled with joy.

The next morning, there was a loud banging on Liu Dong's door.

As soon as the door opened, Jia Dongxu was standing there.

“Pah!”

Before he could speak, Liu Dong raised his hand and delivered a swift and decisive slap to the face.

"You..." Jia Dongxu's mouth was bleeding, and he was stunned. "Liu Dong, why did you hit me?"

Liu Dong scoffed: "I heard from my girlfriend that you touched her inappropriately yesterday?"

"No! I just wanted to shake hands..."

"Slap—!" Another slap landed. "She doesn't want to, and you still force yourself on her? Isn't that being a pervert?"

"I really didn't do anything wrong... Waaah..." Jia Dongxu covered his face, tears welling up in his eyes.

Liu Dong raised his hand to hit him again, but Jia Dongxu was so frightened that he turned around and ran away, faster than a rabbit.

Liu Dong clapped his hands, closed the door, and went inside, secretly pleased with himself.

Yesterday was not a good day to make a move, and today rumors are flying everywhere. I'll just beat you up a couple of times and nobody will be able to say anything bad about it, as long as no one gets killed.

Jia Dongxu returned to the Intermediate People's Court with his swollen face covered.

"You're back?" Jia Zhangshi asked expectantly. "Did you borrow the carriage?"

Originally, the reason he was sent to find Liu Dong was to borrow a bicycle to ride to the Qin family's house.

Not only does it cost no money, it also makes you look presentable and gives the impression that your home is doing well.

But before he could even speak, he was kicked out.

"I forgot to ask..." Jia Dongxu stammered, then quickly ran back to the backyard.

Unfortunately, it was too late—Liu Dong had already ridden his tricycle and disappeared through the courtyard in a flash.

……

Meanwhile, Liu Dong wasn't idle either.

Today is important: I'm taking Chen Xueru back to her parents' home to meet her future mother-in-law and formally acknowledge her as my mother-in-law.

Of course, you can't go empty-handed.

First, I went shopping: I caught two live chickens at the market, filled a basket with eggs and soybeans, took two pounds of brown sugar and a few packets of pastries, and finally went to Quanjude to pick up a roast duck.

After preparing everything and showing it to Chen Xueru, she smiled and said, "That's enough, that's enough. My mom is kind and gentle; she won't be picky."

She paused, then whispered a reminder: "But my brother and sister-in-law have bad tempers, so if they say something nasty later, don't take it to heart. I'll take care of it!"

"Hmm..." Liu Dong nodded.

He knew that good things often come with difficulties, and there was no such thing as a smooth-sailing marriage.

The Chen family's house wasn't far away; it was near the Qianmen Gate, only about 300 meters from her silk shop.

After turning a few corners and entering a small alley, you'll find a quiet old courtyard house.

The courtyard wasn't large, and the paint on the walls was peeling off, making it look rather old.

Passing the screen wall, you enter the main courtyard, with three rooms facing a central courtyard.

The old lady lived in the main room, his brother and sister-in-law lived in the east room, Chen Xueru lived in the west room, and the south side was a place where kitchen clutter was piled up.

A short woman, around fifty years old, with fair skin, slightly graying hair, and a fairly good spirit, walked out of the main room.

"Mom, this is Liu Dong," Chen Xueru quickly introduced.

Liu Dong quickly bowed and said, "Hello, Auntie, my name is Liu Dong. You can call me Xiao Liu or Liu Dong, it's up to you!"

"Oh my, oh my..." The mother-in-law looked at her son-in-law with a pleasing expression no matter how she looked at him.

Liu Dong has a dignified appearance and proper manners, making a perfect first impression.

Unfortunately, she had never drunk Liu Dong's wine, and he couldn't see the little heart or axe on her head that represented her emotions.

"Oh dear, child, you've come all this way, but you brought so much stuff! It's too much of a hassle!" the old lady said, gesturing for them to come in. "Please, come in and sit down!"