Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

Yi Zhonghai casually greeted her, "Sister Wang, which family in our courtyard are you going to be matchmaking for today?"

A slight alarm bell rang in Wang's heart, but she remained outwardly calm, laughing it off and saying, "Oh, I just happened to be passing by."

She already knew about what had been happening in the courtyard recently.

If this were told to Yi Zhonghai, he might secretly sabotage it.

"You two are busy, I have some things to do at home, I'll be going now!" Wang the matchmaker said, nodding to the two of them, and left without looking back.

Watching Wang's departing figure, Liu, the matchmaker, breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "Master Yi... Sister Wang, she... she wouldn't be here to introduce a potential partner to Jia Dongxu, would she?"

Yi Zhonghai shook his head, entered the courtyard, and saw Qian's wife at the door.

He then asked, "Mrs. Qian, I see Matchmaker Wang is here. Is she here to introduce a potential partner to your son, Da Niu?"

Qian Daniu's mother shook her head and said, "They're going to Zhu Zi's house. I guess they're introducing Zhu Zi to someone."

Yi Zhonghai was shocked. He Yuzhu was going on a blind date? This wouldn't do!

Although he is now placing more hope on Jia Dongxu, He Yuzhu cannot completely give up on him.

Thinking of this, Yi Zhonghai pulled Liu, the matchmaker, aside and whispered, "Sister Liu, could I trouble you with something?"

"Master Yi, please speak," Liu the matchmaker replied hastily.

"Could you help me find out which family's daughter Wang, the matchmaker, introduced to Zhu Zi, is from? When and where will they meet?"

After Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, he took out 10,000 yuan from his pocket and handed it to Liu the matchmaker: "Take this as a small token of my appreciation."

When Liu the matchmaker saw the banknote, her eyes lit up instantly.

"Oh, Master Yi... Master Yi, you're too kind!"

As Liu the matchmaker spoke, her hands swiftly snatched the money and stuffed it into her bosom, patting her chest and assuring her, "You...you don't need to worry, I'm an expert at...gathering information! Tomorrow, just...just tomorrow, I'll definitely find out everything for you!"

Yi Zhonghai nodded in satisfaction and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Sister Liu."

"No...no trouble at all, it's my duty, it's my duty!" Matchmaker Liu smiled so broadly that her eyes disappeared.

The two chatted and laughed as they returned to the Yi family residence in the central courtyard.

"Old Yi, you're finally back! How are things? What about the Qin family...?" Yi Zhonghai's wife asked with concern.

"Let's go inside and talk," Yi Zhonghai waved his hand, gesturing for Matchmaker Liu to come in as well.

The three entered the house, and Yi Zhonghai sat down in a chair before slowly saying, "The Qin family has reached an agreement; Miss Huai Ru has agreed to the marriage."

Upon hearing this, his wife's face lit up with joy: "Really? That's wonderful! Dongxu can finally settle down."

The matchmaker, Liu, chimed in, "The Qin family is very... very satisfied with Master Yi. They say... that Master Yi is sincere."

Yi Zhonghai nodded and continued, "However, there are some things we need to clarify with Dongxu and his mother."

His wife quickly replied, "Of course, we'll go over and talk to him when Dongxu gets off work."

The three discussed for a while longer, and seeing that it was getting late, it was time for Jia Dongxu to get off work.

Yi Zhonghai then said to Liu, the matchmaker, "Sister Liu, please sit here for a while. We'll go over together when Dongxu returns."

"Okay... sure," Liu the matchmaker replied with a smile.

"By the way, Lao Yi, Zhu Zi beat up Yan Bugui this afternoon!" Yi Zhonghai's wife whispered.

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai frowned and asked, "You beat up Yan Bugui? Why?"

"I heard that Yan Bugui stopped him from asking for something, so he slapped him..." Yi Zhonghai's wife was at the deaf old woman's house in the backyard at the time, and she heard it from someone when she came back.

Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat. This silly Zhu was indeed young. Wasn't this just handing him an ally?

He was just thinking about how to recruit people into his camp, and this opportunity just came knocking on his door!

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

Around 5 p.m., the faint sounds of workers leaving the steel rolling mill could be heard.

Not long after, Jia Dongxu returned to the compound.

Yi Zhonghai stood up and said to Liu the matchmaker, "Let's go, let's go over there."

Inside the Jia family's house, Jia Dongxu had just put down his lunchbox.

"Dongxu, how are you today? Are you tired?" Jia Zhangshi asked as she quickly took the lunchbox, opened it, and looked at the food inside.

Jia Dongxu shook his head: "It's alright, but there's a lot of work."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Madam Jia frowned and muttered, "Who is it?"

She went to open the door and was taken aback when she saw Mr. and Mrs. Yi Zhonghai and Matchmaker Liu. She quickly put on a smile and said, "Oh, Dongxu's master, what brings you here? Please come in, please come in!"

Yi Zhonghai nodded and led his wife and matchmaker Liu into the house.

When Jia Dongxu saw his master arrive, he quickly stood up and said, "Master, what brings you here? Please have a seat."

Yi Zhonghai sat down on the stool, looked at the Jia family mother and son, and got straight to the point: "Dongxu, Jia family sister-in-law, I went to Qin Family Village today."

Upon hearing the words "Qin Family Village," Jia Dongxu's eyes lit up, and he asked urgently, "Master, you went to Qin Family Village? Did you see Huai Ru?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded: "Yes, we met her. We met not only Huai Ru, but also her parents."

Jia Dongxu asked anxiously, "Then... what did they say?"

Jia Zhangshi also stared nervously at Yi Zhonghai, as Jia Dongxu had been frequently mentioning Qin Huairu these past two days.

Yi Zhonghai slowly said, "I've already reached an agreement with the Qin family. Huai Ru has agreed to the marriage, and her parents have also given their consent."

"Really?!" Jia Dongxu exclaimed excitedly. "Master, is it true? Huai Ru really agreed?"

Yi Zhonghai was secretly pleased with himself, but his face remained calm as he said, "Of course it's true. Would I lie to you?"

Madam Jia Zhang also became happy, slapping her thigh and saying, "Oh my, I knew it! With my Dongxu having such good qualities, how could Qin Huairu not be interested?"

Yi Zhonghai glanced at her and continued, "However, the Qin family has two conditions."

Jia Dongxu quickly replied, "Master, whatever your conditions, I'll agree to!"

Yi Zhonghai held up two fingers and said, "First, the sewing machine is indispensable. Dongxu personally promised Huairu that day, and this must be fulfilled."

Upon hearing the mention of a sewing machine, Jia Zhangshi's expression immediately changed: "A sewing machine? Where would we get the money to buy a sewing machine?"

Yi Zhonghai waved his hand and said, "Sister-in-law Jia, don't worry, I'll pay for it."

Both Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu were stunned, staring at Yi Zhonghai in disbelief.

"Master...Master, what did you say?" Jia Dongxu stammered. "You...you're paying for the sewing machine?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded: "Yes, I'll pay for it. You can tell everyone that your mother bought this sewing machine with her savings. That way, Huai Ru will be proud to marry into the family, and your mother will also feel better."

Upon hearing that she didn't have to pay, Jia Zhangshi's dissatisfaction vanished instantly.

"Oh my, Dongxu's master, you're really...you're too kind!" Madam Jia beamed, "How could I possibly let you spend so much?"

Yi Zhonghai waved his hand and said, "Dongxu is my apprentice. I treat him like my own son. This little bit of money is nothing."

Jia Dongxu's eyes welled up with tears, and his voice choked with emotion as he said, "Master...you've been so good to me, I...I really don't know how to thank you..."