Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

The next day was Sunday, and the courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang was much quieter than usual.

Public holidays are a rare time of rest for workers who have worked hard all week.

Apart from a few families who need to go to the early market or do odd jobs, most people are still snuggled up in their warm beds.

The Jia family of the Intermediate People's Court was an exception.

As dawn broke, Jia Zhangshi quietly got out of bed.

She quietly started a fire to boil water and then carefully cleaned the house inside and out.

Today, Jia Dongxu is going on a blind date, so he still needs to put on a good show.

The current Jia Zhangshi is not the lazy, good-for-nothing mother-in-law she later became. Old Jia passed away early, and she raised Jia Dongxu single-handedly, handling everything inside and outside the home with great skill.

"Dongxu, Dongxu, get up!" After finishing her chores, Madam Jia went to call her son. "You're going on a blind date today, don't stay in bed!"

Jia Dongxu grumbled in bed and reluctantly got up.

After washing up, he sat down on a small stool by the door like a young master, waiting for his mother to bring up breakfast.

"Mom, did you ask the girl you were set up with today carefully? Don't let her turn out to be unattractive again," Jia Dongxu asked while drinking cornmeal porridge.

Jia Zhangshi said confidently, "How could someone recommended by your Aunt Wang be bad? Hurry up and eat, so you'll be more alert when they arrive."

Jia Dongxu had no doubts and thought happily: if she was really as beautiful as his mother said a few days ago, then this marriage would be perfect.

Little did he know that his mother had already secretly arranged with the matchmaker to find only pretty girls from the countryside, excluding any from the city.

Meanwhile, in Qin Family Village outside Beijing.

An eighteen-year-old girl got up early and carefully combed her two long, shiny black braids in front of the bronze mirror in her home.

Her name is Qin Huairu, and she is a well-known beauty in Qin Family Village.

"Huai Ru, when you go to the city, talk to people properly. The matchmaker said that the Jia family is well-off. If it works out, the bride price will be this much!" Mother Qin said, holding up ten fingers.

Qin Huairu nodded, feeling both expectant and apprehensive.

She dreamed of marrying into the city because life in the countryside was too hard; they could only eat a few meals of fine grains throughout the year.

She changed into her best floral cotton-padded jacket, which, although old, was clean and made her figure look graceful.

After saying goodbye to her parents, she hurriedly went out and hitched a ride on an oxcart that was delivering vegetables to the city at the village entrance.

The oxcart moved slowly as Qin Huairu watched the city wall draw ever closer, silently praying: "I hope this time it will succeed."

Recently, many people have been coming to her house with gifts to propose marriage, but she has refused them all. Qin Huairu is determined to marry a city man in this lifetime.

……

Around 10 a.m., the courtyard at No. 95 gradually became lively.

After breakfast, many families gathered by the pool in the middle courtyard to wash up, do laundry, and chat.

Everyone's eyes turned to the Jia family without prior arrangement.

"Dongxu, you're all dressed up like a proper gentleman. What time is it? We still haven't seen you. Did they stand you up?" Liu Guangyuan from the front yard teased with a smile.

As soon as he said that, several young men nearby joined in the commotion.

"That's right, Dongxu, is it because the girl heard about your family situation that she's afraid to come?"

"I doubt it. It's already ten o'clock; if they were going to come, they should have arrived much earlier!"

Jia Dongxu was initially quite confident, but after everyone's comments, he started to lose face.

He turned to look at his mother, his eyes filled with questioning and anxiety.

Madam Jia's face darkened, and she put her hands on her hips, launching into a tirade: "Get out of here, you bunch of little brats! You can't say anything nice! We had an appointment at 10:30, and it's not time yet!"

"If you keep spouting nonsense and ruin my Dongxu's plans, I'll tear your mouths apart!"

The people in the courtyard were already used to Jia Zhangshi's shrewishness, so no one really took it to heart and continued to watch the commotion with laughter.

Just then, a slight commotion suddenly came from the front yard.

Immediately afterwards, Wang the matchmaker led a girl through the lotus gate and into the central courtyard.

Everyone's attention was instantly drawn to the girl behind Wang the matchmaker.

The girl was wearing a slightly worn floral cotton-padded jacket, a red scarf around her neck, and two long, glossy black braids hanging down in front of her chest.

She lowered her head slightly, seemingly a little shy, but when she raised her face, the entire courtyard fell silent for a moment.

She had willow-leaf eyebrows, large, watery eyes, a straight nose, and a small, tightly pursed cherry-like mouth. Her cheeks were flushed from walking and being shy.

What's most remarkable is her figure; even in cotton-padded clothes, her curves are undeniable, and she walks with a natural and captivating charm.

Qian Daniu, who was chopping wood in the front yard, saw the girl pass by. His axe stopped in mid-air, and he forgot to put it down. His gaze followed the girl into the middle yard.

Several teenagers stared in disbelief, their mouths practically watering.

Matchmaker Wang was very satisfied with everyone's reaction. She thought to herself smugly: With Huai Ru's looks and figure, if she weren't a rural resident, what kind of city official wouldn't she be able to find? What a pity, the Jia family's son got lucky.

She put on a smile, ignored the burning gazes, and walked straight toward the Jia family's house.

Just as Jia Zhangshi was getting into a tirade, she caught sight of Matchmaker Wang and the girl behind her, and her cursing stopped abruptly.

The harsh old face instantly blossomed into a smile, and he quickly went to greet him.

"Oh my, Aunt Wang, you've finally arrived!" She grabbed the matchmaker's hand, but her eyes kept glancing at Qin Huairu, and the more she looked, the more satisfied she became.

That look, that figure, is really something!

Matchmaker Wang smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "I'm so sorry, Sister-in-law Jia. I had some things to take care of at home this morning, which made me late. Miss Qin was waiting for me at my house very early. It was my fault for taking up so much time."

She casually took responsibility for being late, saving face for both sides.

Jia Dongxu was completely stunned, his eyes fixed on Qin Huairu, his heart pounding wildly.

The worries and anxieties from before vanished instantly, replaced by a single thought: it's her!

The other onlookers in the courtyard were also stunned by Qin Huairu's beauty and for a moment forgot to start their commotion.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out: "Aunt Jia, Brother Dongxu, the young lady is here! Quickly, please invite her inside! In this freezing weather, how can we leave her standing there to starve?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw He Yuzhu walking out of his house.

Upon seeing this, everyone involuntarily gasped.

Is this Sha Zhu?

He Yuzhu had shaved his scalp until it was shiny, and his short hair stood on end, exuding a fierce and unruly aura.

He strode over, exuding an aura that kept strangers at bay.