Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

Looking at the bright red braised pork in the pot, He Yuzhu couldn't resist picking up a piece with his chopsticks, blowing on it, and stuffing it into his mouth.

"Hmm... As expected of me, it tastes so good even when I just make it casually!" He chewed contentedly, but a strange feeling welled up in his heart.

Thinking back to my past life, even the dogs wouldn't eat the food I cooked. And look at myself now... This truly shows how unpredictable life is, like a large intestine wrapped around a small intestine!

He smacked his lips, threw down his chopsticks, and slammed the pot lid on.

Then he clapped his hands, walked out of the kitchen, and went straight to the front of the Jia family's house.

He didn't even bother to knock; he simply pushed the door open with a bang and poked half his body inside.

Inside the room, everyone was staring at each other awkwardly.

He Yuzhu's act of pushing open the door instantly attracted everyone's attention.

He grinned and called out, "Aunt Jia, the braised pork you asked me to make is ready! Since you're not eating it for lunch, I'll put it in the pot for you! I'm done with the work, so I'll head back now!"

After speaking, he quickly scanned the faces of everyone present—

Jia Zhangshi's face instantly turned from red to green, then from green to black, as if someone had grabbed her by the neck, her eyes wide open.

Jia Dongxu stared, his mouth agape, his face filled with astonishment and panic.

Matchmaker Wang's smile froze on her face.

Yi Zhonghai frowned deeply, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

Qin Huairu quickly looked up at him.

He Yuzhu was overjoyed and dared not stay any longer, for fear that he would burst out laughing on the spot.

He slammed the door shut and slipped away!

Almost the instant the door closed, Madam Jia Zhang said to herself, "Oh dear, what nonsense is this silly Zhu spouting? When did I say I wasn't going to eat?!"

She yelled at the still-dazed Jia Dongxu, "Dongxu, what are you standing there for! Go, go to the kitchen and bring the meat up!"

Jia Dongxu then realized what was happening, his face burning with embarrassment, wishing he could disappear into the ground.

He felt utterly humiliated by his mother today. He glared at her resentfully, then got up and went to the kitchen.

By this time, Wang the matchmaker had completely lost her appetite. She picked up a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, stood up, and said with a forced smile, "Sister-in-law Jia, I think... it's getting late, and we've eaten our fill. Shall we call it a day?"

Qin Huairu also silently put down her chopsticks and stood up without saying a word, but her posture clearly indicated that she did not want to stay any longer.

Just then, Jia Dongxu came in carrying braised pork. Seeing this, he panicked and, forgetting about the meat, put the bowl down on the table.

He stopped Wang the matchmaker and Qin Huairu, saying, "Aunt Wang, Comrade Huairu, please don't go! This...this meat was just served, have some more, sit a little longer..."

Matchmaker Wang interrupted him directly, saying, "Dongxu, I know you're an honest boy. But marriage is a big deal; it can't be decided over just one meal. The girl needs to go home and think it over carefully, and discuss it with her parents, right?"

Yi Zhonghai also stood up with a dark face. Today, Jia Zhangshi handled this matter in a way that was truly disgraceful!

It's one thing to take advantage of others in normal times, but at such a crucial moment as his son's blind date, he was still thinking about that little bit of meat. As a result, Sha Zhu exposed him in public, making everyone lose face.

And that idiot Zhu, he's absolutely lawless and doesn't understand any rules at all!

It seems he's been living too comfortably lately; we need to find a way to give him a nudge.

He noticed that He Yuzhu hadn't gone to work for the past two days, which aroused his suspicion, so he went to Emei Restaurant to inquire about it.

Only then did he learn that Emei Restaurant was about to close down, and He Yuzhu was now unemployed.

His original plan was to wait until He Yuzhu had squandered most of his money before stepping in as an elder to "help out" and gradually take control of the situation.

It seems the plan needs to be brought forward.

This kid has money and is unemployed. If he's not disciplined, he's going to turn the world upside down!

Without giving the Jia family mother and son a chance to stay, Wang the matchmaker pulled Qin Huairu away from the Jia family.

As soon as she stepped out of the Jia family's gate, Wang the matchmaker made up her mind that from now on, she would have to think twice before offering any more benefits to the Jia family as a matchmaker!

Qin Huairu also had indescribable feelings...

The Jia family's circumstances weren't as good as one might imagine, and the mother-in-law wasn't easy to talk to; she was also extremely stingy.

He Yuzhu, though he looks fierce and speaks sharply, has three rooms to himself and is also a cook; it's just a pity he's too young.

At this moment, the matchmaker said, "Huai Ru, this time I didn't find out clearly, look at this..."

"Aunt Wang, it's not your fault. I'll go back and discuss it with my parents first!"

……

Inside the Jia family house, the atmosphere turned icy as Wang the matchmaker and Qin Huairu left.

Jia Dongxu looked at the bowl of braised pork still steaming on the table and found it incredibly irritating.

He suddenly turned to Jia Zhangshi and roared, "Mother, look at the mess you've made! Was it really worth it for a piece of meat? Now look what's happened! Everyone's gone!"

Madam Jia was already furious, and her son's outburst only fueled her anger. She slammed her hand on the table and yelled, "Bullshit! Blame me? If that damned idiot Zhu hadn't come and spouted nonsense, would things have turned out like this?"

"That damned jinx! I think he's deliberately causing trouble. I... I'm going to find him right now!"

With that, Jia Zhangshi rolled up her sleeves and rushed out aggressively.

Jia Dongxu was furious and felt that everything was He Yuzhu's fault. He immediately followed his mother, and the two of them went straight to He Yuzhu's house.

Meanwhile, He Yuzhu had already returned home and bolted the door.

Lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), he recalled the astonishing expressions on the faces of the Jia family members just now, and finally couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Hahaha, that's great! That's fucking great! Serves you right for being so stingy, let's see how you go on blind dates now, hahahaha!"

He laughed so hard that tears almost came out, and it took him a while to slowly stop.

He stroked his chin, pondering, "Thinking about it this way, could I be considered to have indirectly done a good deed? If Qin Huairu's relationship with Jia Dongxu falls apart because of this meal, then it would be like I pulled her out of the Jia family's fire pit, wouldn't it?"

But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he dismissed it: "No, no, Qin Huairu lives such a comfortable life in the drama, having Sha Zhu and the entire compound running her around like crazy. It seems like... I'm the one who's the most miserable?"

Thinking of He Yuzhu's fate in the original story—being drained of his blood and frozen to death under the bridge—he suddenly felt that his prank just now was far too merciful!

"Damn it, I should have spat into that bowl of braised pork a couple of times. Anyway, apart from Matchmaker Wang, the rest of the people sitting in the room are all going to be no good in the future; they're all my enemies!"

Just as he was feeling remorseful, he suddenly remembered the health-enhancing pill that the system had rewarded him with, so he sat up and took it out.

A milky-white pill, the size of a longan and emitting a faint fragrance and a dim glow, appeared in his palm.

"It does look quite convincing..." He Yuzhu didn't hesitate and swallowed it down without hesitation.

The pill melted instantly in the mouth, turning into a warm current that quickly flowed into the limbs and bones, followed by excruciating pain.

"Holy crap... that's powerful?"

He Yuzhu only had time to cry out in alarm before everything went black, and he collapsed onto the kang (a heated brick bed) and fainted.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he was awakened by shouts and banging on the door from outside.

"You idiot Zhu, you son of a bitch, get out here right now!"

"You dare ruin my Dongxu's plans? I'll tear your mouth apart!"

"Open the door, you idiot Zhu! If you've got the guts, don't be a coward!"

Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu were banging on the door and shouting outside, while a number of onlookers stood around.