Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

On the other side, in compound number 95.

"Sister-in-law Jia, is Sister-in-law Jia home?"

Madam Jia was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed). Upon hearing the sound, she quickly slipped on her shoes, got off the kang, and opened the door.

As soon as the door opened, Wang the matchmaker was standing at the door.

"Oh my, Aunt Wang, what brings you here at this hour? Come in, come in!" Jia Zhangshi greeted with a smile and stepped aside.

Matchmaker Wang didn't move, waving her hand and saying, "No, no, Sister-in-law Jia, I'm just here to deliver a message. I have to hurry to the next house after I finish!"

She said directly, "The matter between your Dongxu and that girl from Qinjiacun... it's off. The Qin family sent someone to say that the girl is still young and they want to stay for a couple more years, so this marriage... should be called off!"

"What?!" Jia Zhangshi's smile froze instantly. "It's off? How did it fall through? Weren't we having a good discussion yesterday? Is the bride price not enough? We can still discuss it!"

Wang the matchmaker sneered inwardly. "You were so stingy yesterday, and you caused such a scene before. It's a wonder the girl didn't turn on you on the spot; she's already showing good manners."

She didn't show it on her face, but sighed and said, "Sister-in-law Jia, that's not how it works. It's only natural that parents love their daughter and want her to stay for a couple more years."

"Forced relationships don't work out. I think Dongxu's conditions aren't bad either. I'll help him look for someone even better later."

"I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now!"

After saying that, she didn't wait for Madam Jia to continue her entreaties, and turned to leave.

"Hey, Aunt Wang, Aunt Wang, wait a minute..." Jia Zhangshi chased after her for two steps, but Wang the matchmaker had already left quickly.

Jia Zhangshi stood frozen in place, her face turning red and white in turns. In her heart, she cursed the ignorant Qin Huairu and the Qin family a thousand times over, and finally attributed all her resentment to He Yuzhu.

"It's all that damned idiot Zhu's fault! If he hadn't talked nonsense yesterday, this might have actually happened!"

Everything that had just happened at the Jia family's house was witnessed by Yi Zhonghai, who came out of the house.

He took the day off to recuperate at home, but when he heard the news that the matchmaking attempt with the Jia family had fallen through, a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes.

Jia Dongxu is at his lowest point and needs support the most right now, so now is the time for him to step in!

He returned to his house and waved to his wife, who was mending clothes.

"What's wrong, Lao Yi? Is it hurting again?" His wife quickly put down her needlework and asked with concern.

Yi Zhonghai shook his head and said, "The matchmaker from the Jia family just came to report that the marriage with the Qin family has fallen through."

"Huh? It fell through?" His wife exclaimed in surprise. "Didn't Dongxu seem quite interested in him yesterday? This…"

"It's no use talking about this now," Yi Zhonghai interrupted her, and ordered, "Go and invite that matchmaker Liu from the back alley right now, the one who stutters a bit."

His wife was a little puzzled: "Why did we invite her? Her reputation isn't as good as Wang the Matchmaker's."

"Just go when I tell you to!" Yi Zhonghai's tone was impatient. "Those with good reputations are trying to avoid suspicion right now, so we have to find people who are willing to do anything for money."

His wife didn't dare ask any more questions, quickly tidied herself up, and went out.

About half an hour later, his wife led in a short woman wearing a dark blue cotton-padded jacket.

"Master Yi... Master Yi, you... you wanted to see me?" Matchmaker Liu stammered a little, but her eyes darted around, constantly taking in the furnishings of the Yi family home.

Yi Zhonghai asked his wife to pour him a glass of water and got straight to the point: "Sister Liu, I've called you here because I have a business deal for you."

He pointed in the direction of the Jia family next door: "My apprentice, Jia Dongxu, went on a blind date yesterday with a girl named Qin Huairu from Qin Family Village. He really liked her, but today the matchmaker Wang sent word that the Qin family has politely declined."

Upon hearing this, Matchmaker Liu looked troubled. "Oh...oh dear, Master Yi, they've already refused. If I go again, it's not proper. And what about Sister Wang...?"

Before she could finish speaking, Yi Zhonghai pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket, counted out 10,000 yuan, and pushed it in front of Liu the matchmaker.

"This ten thousand is a reward for your hard work. Whether it works out or not, it's yours."

Matchmaker Liu's eyes lit up instantly. She grabbed the money and stuffed it into her pocket. The embarrassment on her face vanished, and she patted her chest, saying, "Master Yi... Master Yi, you... don't worry, rules... rules are rigid, but people... people are flexible. I'll take care of this!"

Yi Zhonghai nodded in satisfaction, then offered an even bigger lure: "If you can successfully arrange this marriage, I'll give you an additional 30,000 yuan as a thank-you gift!"

"Thirty...thirty thousand!" Matchmaker Liu was so excited she almost bit her tongue. "No...no problem, you...you tell me the details, I...I'll go to Qin Family Village first thing tomorrow morning!"

Yi Zhonghai then briefly recounted Jia Dongxu's situation and the details of yesterday's blind date.

He emphasized that Jia Dongxu was his apprentice and that he treated him like his own son, adding that he would help Jia Dongxu after he got married.

The matchmaker nodded repeatedly, already planning how to persuade the Qin family.

After seeing off Liu, the matchmaker who promised to get things done, Yi Zhonghai leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh of relief.

If I can arrange Jia Dongxu's marriage and make him grateful to me, plus the fact that I am his mentor, I might have an extra layer of security in my old age.

He subconsciously touched the area that was still throbbing, his eyes filled with malice.

He Yuzhu... just wait, once I have Dongxu firmly in my grasp, I'll deal with you slowly!

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As evening fell, He Yuzhu carried two newly acquired quilts and meat and vegetables he had bought at the market back to No. 95 Nanluoguxiang.

As soon as he stepped into the front yard, Yan Bugui immediately crawled out of the house, his eyes scanning the area before finally focusing on the piece of pork belly.

"Hey, Zhuzi, you bought so many nice things again!" Yan Bugui's face was plastered with his usual smile, and he unconsciously moved closer to He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu was in a good mood and didn't bother arguing with him anymore. He simply pulled a large white radish from his shopping basket and shoved it into Yan Bugui's hand. (Just setting the stage, please don't criticize!)

"Teacher Yan, here you go, see you later!" After saying that, he walked straight towards the Intermediate People's Court.

Yan Bugui was stunned for a moment. Watching He Yuzhu's figure disappear quickly, he was not angry at all. Instead, he turned around triumphantly and waved the radish in his hand at the neighbor in the front yard.

"See, see, I told you Zhu Zi is a good kid at heart, wasn't he? He's polite and knows how to respect his elders! You all, don't be prejudiced against people anymore. As the old saying goes, 'A scholar should be looked at with new eyes after three days' absence!'"

Several neighbors looked at the radish in his hand, curled their lip, and went back into their houses.

Back in his small house, He Yuzhu threw the new bedding onto the kang (a heated brick bed) and put away the vegetables he had bought.

He took out the red envelope given to him by Butler Zhou, opened it, and found it contained a full million.

In addition, the money he got from He Daqing was enough for him to live comfortably for quite some time, as long as he didn't spend it recklessly.