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

As they were talking, the topic suddenly shifted and came back to Old Jia's family.

An older woman sighed, "Still no news from Qin Huairu?"

"How many days has it been?"

"Five whole days!" Liu Haizhong pulled out a Daqianmen cigarette, lit it with a snap, and sneered through the smoke, "I think it's highly unlikely—either he was coaxed away, or he slipped away on his own."

"It's better that they've slipped away!" Xu Fugui slapped his thigh. "That Jia family's mess is a real headache, a constant stale atmosphere. Living with them will make you sick sooner or later!"

"Serves you right!"

There was no way around it—Xu Fugui and the Jia family had a grudge against each other. In the past, Jia Zhangshi would often block his doorway and start cursing, so much so that he didn't dare to open the gate and would shrink back into the house at the sound of footsteps.

"Dongxu's life is really tough..." An old woman shook her head. "He hasn't been able to eat or drink these past few days, and he's become so thin that he looks like a ghost. I heard he lies there with his eyes open all night long."

Xu Fugui curled his lip: "What's so bitter about it? You don't know, do you? Jia Zhangshi asked Matchmaker Wang to arrange a blind date yesterday! She'll bring a girl to visit on the fourth day of the new year, to 'choose a wife' for Jia Dongxu!"

"What?!"

Everyone was stunned, their mouths agape as if they could fit a cooked dumpling inside.

The Jia family...aren't they too heartless?

Qin Huairu has only been missing for five days, and she's already in such a hurry to find another one for her son?

Liu Dong, however, was too lazy to listen to the idle chatter of this group. He leisurely walked out of the courtyard gate, turned around and disappeared in a flash—swoosh, he flew straight to Hong Kong.

"Huai Ru, I'm so sorry... I can't be with you for New Year's Eve dinner, so I can only have it now!" He sat in the bright living room, with a few side dishes and a pot of warm yellow wine on the table.

Qin Huairu sat next to him, clutching the hem of her clothes in her hand.

"It's okay!" she said softly. "I know... You have to stay with Sister Xue Ru tonight."

"I'd be happy enough if you could spare an hour to see me!"

"Brother Liu Dong... I miss you..."

"Uh..." Liu Dong stiffened and subconsciously moved to the side. "Huai Ru, now is really not the right time... You're only four months pregnant..."

"Don't worry." She smiled, her eyes sparkling. "I know what I'm doing."

— By the time he secretly returned to Beijing from Hong Kong, it was already dark.

Chen Xueru was standing at the door, tiptoeing and peeking in. As soon as he appeared, her face fell: "The food's almost on the table, where have you been running off to?"

Liu Dong patted his pocket and pulled out two strings of red paper firecrackers: "Here, these are for tomorrow, the first day of the Lunar New Year! I rushed to the supply and marketing cooperative early this morning to grab them; these are the only two strings left!"

"Hmm..." She nodded. "Let's eat then."

"Hold on!"

He turned and ducked into the house. When he came out again, he had a dozen or so coal briquettes tucked under his arm.

"Brother Liu Dong, what are you doing?" Chen Xueru asked, completely bewildered. "Moving coal briquettes?"

He chuckled, "It's so cold outside! I'm taking some coal to an old man to light his stove and warm himself up—warming your heart is more effective than a stove!"

"Pfft—" Chen Xueru couldn't help but burst out laughing, "Your mouth is absolutely amazing!"

He had just stepped out of the courtyard with the coal briquettes in his arms when it was not yet completely dark.

Many families had their courtyard gates half-open, with tables piled high with plates and bowls, steaming hot, waiting for dinner to begin.

Suddenly, they saw Liu Dong carrying a pile of black coal briquettes as he walked by, and everyone poked their heads out.

"Liu Dong! Instead of eating, you're doing chores now?" Xu Fugui looked bewildered.

Liu Haizhong chimed in, "Yeah, need a hand?"

Neighbors always exchange polite words.

Liu Dong smiled and waved his hand, "No need, no need! An old man's family suffered a disaster, and it's almost Chinese New Year. I was worried he'd get cold at night, so I brought him some coal to help him out!"

"puff……"

Xu Fugui and Liu Haizhong were speechless on the spot, their faces turning as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Liu Dong, Liu Dong—you're here to cause trouble on purpose, aren't you?!

If you give one, should we give one too? Giving one feels like a waste; not giving one seems stingy...

The two of them twitched at the corners of their mouths, their cheeks taut.

This was exactly the effect Liu Dong wanted. "Uncle Yi... Aunt Yi..."

Liu Dong grinned and gently placed a stack of blackened coal briquettes on the steps of the courtyard gate: "Hey, wishing you two a happy new year, good health, and a stable life—stand tall and move forward!"

"Here's some kindling for you, to warm your house and your heart!"

The deaf old woman, leaning on her well-worn cane, shakily emerged from the house, looked up, and smiled, her wrinkles full of kindness: "Liu Dong, what a good boy! I always said he was kind and honest; in this courtyard, he's the only one who knows how to distinguish right from wrong and remembers people!"

Hearing the commotion, the neighbors peeked out one after another, some nodding, some praising, and repeatedly saying, "Liu Dong is so sensible."

Aunt Yi and Uncle Yi stood inside the door, their faces so dark they looked like ink could be squeezed out of them.

Aunt Yi was acting particularly strangely—her hands were shaking, her legs were weak, and her eyes were staring blankly at the pile of coal briquettes, as if she had seen a ghost.

What do you mean?

Do we need this?

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, you're busy delivering coal briquettes?

Is it for good luck, or to avoid "coal (mold)"?

Even worse was yet to come—

Wasn't the big fire at Lao Yi's house started by a coal stove?

Half of the roof collapsed from the fire!

Now you've chosen this crucial moment to come and offer New Year's greetings with a lump of coal?

Aunt Yi's heart trembled, her legs felt weak, but she still had to force a smile, her lips pale as blood: "Th...thank you, Liu Dong, thank you for thinking of me!"

"Aunt Yi, why are you being so formal with me?" Liu Dong patted his chest. "If you need more, just call me! My house has piles of coal like small mountains, plenty to go!"

Yi Zhonghai's temples throbbed, and his fists clenched so tightly in his sleeves that they cracked.

Who doesn't have a few pieces of coal?

Are you offering me charcoal?

You're trying to shove charcoal ash into my heart!

"Okay, okay... thanks a lot!" He forced a smile and waved his hand. "Go back now, don't miss your family reunion dinner!"

"Hey—" Liu Dong had just turned around and taken three steps down the stairs when he turned back again, adding with a smile:

"By the way, Aunt Yi... please be very careful when you light the stove at night!"

"Pfft—cough cough cough!!!"

Yi Zhonghai immediately spat out water, choked so badly he bent over, his face turned a deep purplish-red, and his shoulders trembled from coughing.

"Come on! Let's go back inside and eat!" Aunt Yi was so angry that her teeth were chattering. She grabbed the old man's arm and dragged him inside.

Liu Dong chuckled and turned to leave, the door clicking shut behind him.

"My goodness, you're so mean!" Chen Xueru couldn't hold back her laughter, covering her mouth with a handkerchief. "I was wondering about that just now—but when I saw Yi Zhonghai's face, I almost laughed myself to death!"

Liu Dong shrugged: "Who told him to publicly insult me ​​last time?"

As Chen's mother picked up dumplings, she smiled and said, "With a son-in-law like you, we feel so secure! No one else can take advantage of us."

"Let's eat!" Liu Dong stared at the table full of dishes, his mouth practically watering.

A large bowl of dumplings, the aroma of pork, the freshness of chives and eggs;

A glossy, crispy roast duck, its skin so crispy it crumbles;

A braised fish, plump and tender;

A plate of red-fleshed watermelon, juicy and refreshing;

There was also a jar of homemade rice wine, the seal of which had just been broken, and its aroma was irresistible.