Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

In the evening, Yi Zhonghai was carried back to the courtyard house.

Yi Zhonghai lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) in the inner room, looking at his wife's busy figure in the outer room with a complicated expression.

Just then, Jia Dongxu's voice came from outside the door: "Master, are you asleep? I've come to see you."

Yi Zhonghai's wife opened the door, and Jia Dongxu walked in with half his face swollen.

"Master, how are you feeling? Are you feeling better?" Jia Dongxu leaned closer to the kang (heated brick bed) and asked with concern, "That bastard Sha Zhu was too ruthless. This absolutely cannot be left like this!"

Yi Zhonghai waved his hand, saying that the kid was too strong and that he and Jia Dongxu alone couldn't handle him at the moment.

He looked at Jia Dongxu, the apprentice to whom he had devoted a great deal of effort.

Previously, the other party was one of his alternative plans for retirement, a pawn used to check and balance He Yuzhu.

But now He Yuzhu's side has slipped out of his control, and Jia Dongxu has become almost his only option.

"I'm fine, I'll be alright after a while." Yi Zhonghai's voice was a little hoarse. "Dongxu, I'm sorry you had to go through all this today."

This word "wronged" instantly stirred up Jia Dongxu's pent-up complaints and resentment.

"Master, I...I'm so frustrated!" Jia Dongxu plopped down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), his face contorted with grief. "I really have fallen for that Miss Qin..."

"We were having a good chat, it's all my mother's fault, and that idiot Zhu! If it weren't for them, this might have actually happened! Now look what's happened, they've just left, and it looks like things aren't going well with Aunt Wang..."

Just then, Yi Zhonghai's wife brought in the medicine. Hearing this, she couldn't help but interject, "Dongxu, didn't your family already promise to buy her a sewing machine? With such a sincere offer, why won't the girl accept?"

At the mention of the sewing machine, Jia Dongxu's face turned even uglier, and he stammered, "Master's wife... that... that was something I said I wanted to buy, but my mother... my mother didn't agree..."

Yi Zhonghai's wife paused for a moment, then understood, shook her head, and said nothing more.

Yi Zhonghai saw all of this, and a slight thought stirred within him.

While Jia Zhangshi's stinginess is certainly hateful, isn't this also an opportunity?

An opportunity for Jia Dongxu to become more dependent on himself and distant from his mother?

"Dongxu," he said earnestly, "your mother did something wrong today. A blind date is a big deal, it concerns your lifelong happiness, and you should put on a good show."

"Betraying on those small meat dishes is a huge mistake. It hurts the girl's feelings and puts you in a difficult position. It's her fault."

These words struck a chord with Jia Dongxu. He nodded vigorously, his eyes reddening, "That's right, Master, that's all she cares about!"

"But..." Yi Zhonghai changed the subject, his tone becoming serious, "She is, after all, your mother. She raised you with great difficulty, and it wasn't easy for her."

"As the younger generation, you can understand this in your heart, but you cannot talk back to them to their face, much less hold a grudge."

"There are no parents who are always wrong. Even if she has a thousand faults, her starting point is mostly for your own good and for the good of this family, understand?"

This lecture left Jia Dongxu somewhat bewildered, but his habitual compliance led him to nod: "Master, I understand... I'm just feeling down."

"It's normal to feel uncomfortable."

Yi Zhonghai expressed his understanding, then steered the conversation back to what Jia Dongxu cared about most: "As for that girl today... I thought she was quite nice, with a decent appearance, and seemed like someone who could settle down. It's a pity we missed out..."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongxu's eyes immediately lit up. He looked at Yi Zhonghai expectantly and asked, "Master, do you have a solution?"

"Hmm." Yi Zhonghai pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "During our chat today, I roughly found out which village she's from."

"Tomorrow, I'll ask someone reliable to go to Qin Family Village again and have a proper talk with her parents..."

He paused, looking at Jia Dongxu: "If the other family does have concerns, we can appropriately increase the bride price within our means."

"Let's not talk about the sewing machine for now. We'll discuss it when things are looking up."

Jia Dongxu was overjoyed. It was wonderful that his master was willing to step in.

"Master, thank you so much! You're so kind to me!" Jia Dongxu was so moved he almost knelt down before Yi Zhonghai. "I'll do whatever you say!"

Seeing Jia Dongxu's grateful expression, Yi Zhonghai felt extremely satisfied.

Yes, that's it!

Only in this way will he wholeheartedly take care of himself in his old age!

"Alright, you're injured too, go back and rest early." Yi Zhonghai closed his eyes wearily, waved his hand, and said, "Remember your master's words: think things through, be filial to your mother, and as for the rest, your master is here."

"Oh, Master, don't worry, I will definitely listen to you!" Jia Dongxu assured him repeatedly and quietly left the Yi family.

The room fell silent again. Yi Zhonghai opened his eyes and looked out at the deep night, his expression complex and unreadable.

"Perhaps... that girl today was also a good choice..."

-------------------

The next day, just as dawn broke, He Yuzhu opened his eyes.

After exploring and adapting last night, he has a clearer understanding of his current physical condition.

The master-level Bajiquan tradition in my mind is profound and extensive, with power generation techniques, move variations, and combat experience all seeming innate.

Last night, he practiced a few moves in his room. The moves flowed smoothly and were quite powerful.

However, problems also came to light.

His body, especially the striking surfaces like his fists, elbows, and shinbones, had delicate skin and bones that lacked the density and toughness developed through countless hammer blows.

Simply put, it means that the "divine" skill has reached a certain level, but the "artifact" has not yet been completed.

He punched the wall with all his might, the move was powerful and accurate, but his fist would probably break immediately and his bones would not be able to withstand the high intensity of the blow.

"It seems that having inheritance and brute force alone is not enough. I need to work hard to toughen up my body and build up my muscles and bones," He Yuzhu muttered to himself.

The solution is simple: daily striking training, combined with medicinal baths, to gradually hone a physique that matches this martial art.

"Wooden dummy... I need to go out and find one today." He Yuzhu thought to himself as he got dressed and went out of the house.

He stood still in the open space in front of his house, took a deep breath, and assumed the starting stance of Bajiquan.

He first practiced a slow routine to loosen up his joints and gradually familiarize his body with the power generation techniques deeply ingrained in his mind.

After slowly finishing a round of punches, my body felt warm.

He then began to speed up, his punches gradually gaining momentum, and his movements were steady and powerful.

The movements of chopping, hanging, supporting, embracing, and entangling were slightly hesitant due to the body not yet being fully coordinated.

"Whoosh—ha!"

Occasionally, he would exhale, the sound not loud, but deep and powerful, carrying far in the quiet morning.