Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

As I lifted the curtain of the bathhouse, an even greater wave of heat rushed in.

There were seven or eight people soaking in the large pool, and a few more in the smaller pool.

He Yuzhu tested the water temperature and found a relatively quiet corner to sit in.

He let out a comfortable sigh the moment the hot water washed over his body.

"Ah... this is life..."

He closed his eyes, letting the hot water envelop his entire body and relax his muscles.

My mind involuntarily started replaying what happened last night...

I never imagined that my first time after transmigrating would be with Qin Huairu...

This was definitely a good deal. Qin Huairu's looks and figure would make her a goddess even in later generations.

It's a pity she married that mama's boy, Jia Dongxu…

Just as I was lost in thought, I heard the sound of water nearby.

He Yuzhu opened his eyes and saw that Grandpa Liu had also sat down.

"Zhu Zi, I need to talk to you about something," Grandpa Liu said in a low voice. "My grandson is getting married next month, and I'd like to invite you to cook at the banquet. What do you think…"

He Yuzhu groaned inwardly, "Why is it this again?"

"Uncle Liu, I'm so sorry, I really can't take on outside jobs right now," He Yuzhu said sincerely. "The restaurant has rules, and if I get caught, I'll lose my job."

"It's done secretly, who would know?" Old Liu said, still unwilling to give up.

"No, no, really not." He Yuzhu shook his head repeatedly. "How about this, when there's a chance in the future, I'll cook a couple of dishes for you to try in private. I really can't accept any banquet invitations."

Seeing his resolute attitude, Old Liu had no choice but to give up: "Alright, but remember, you owe me a meal!"

"Definitely, definitely," He Yuzhu quickly agreed.

After soaking for about twenty minutes, He Yuzhu felt that most of his fatigue had been relieved.

He stood up, walked to the shower area, and felt the hot water wash over him, making the scratches on his chest ache slightly.

He Yuzhu looked down and saw that the red marks had faded a lot, but they were still visible.

"Tsk...that was pretty heavy-handed..." he muttered to himself.

After taking a shower, He Yuzhu returned to the changing room, dried himself off, and started getting dressed.

Just as I put on my underwear, an old man next to me suddenly asked, "Young man, I heard you work at the Oriental Hotel?"

"Mm." He Yuzhu nodded.

"I have an old comrade who works at the Commerce Bureau," the old man said. "He said the Oriental Hotel recently got a young chef with exceptional skills. His 'chilled fish fillets' are so good that even the leaders praised them. He's not talking about you, is he?"

He Yuzhu was taken aback, then mumbled, "Maybe... I guess so!"

"It really is you!" The old man's eyes lit up. "Then I'll have to make a reservation with you. My daughter is coming back for Chinese New Year and wants to host a dinner party at home. Could you...?"

"Sir, it's really not possible," He Yuzhu quickly interrupted. "I really can't take on side jobs right now."

He realized that he wouldn't be able to enjoy a peaceful bath today.

He quickly dressed and left the bathhouse as if he were fleeing a disaster.

Stepping outside, a gust of cold wind made him shiver, but it also cleared his head considerably.

Tonight, it's all because of that report.

"People are afraid of becoming famous, just like pigs are afraid of getting fat..." He Yuzhu sighed.

But then I thought about it again, and being famous has its advantages.

At least his path as a chef will be much easier from now on.

When He Yuzhu returned to courtyard number 95, it was almost nine o'clock.

The front yard was quiet, with only the dim light shining from Yan Bugui's window.

He Yuzhu tiptoed through the front yard and returned to his own home.

Back inside, he lit a kerosene lamp and realized how hungry he was.

"Let's steam some buns made from two kinds of dough, and stir-fry a couple of dishes," He Yuzhu muttered to himself as he went to the kitchen and started a fire.

Before long, the steamed buns were ready, and the stir-fried vegetables were also ready.

He Yuzhu carried a plate of steamed buns and two plates of vegetables back to the main room and placed them on the octagonal table.

He picked up a piece of stir-fried shredded potatoes with cured pork and put it in his mouth. The savory cured pork paired with the crisp shredded potatoes, followed by a bite of the soft, two-grain steamed bun...

"Mmm...so comfortable!" He Yuzhu sighed contentedly, as if all the fatigue of the day had vanished with this meal.

The best thing about eating alone is that you don't have to worry about table manners. He wolfed down his food, devouring five large steamed buns and two dishes in a flash.

After eating and drinking his fill, He Yuzhu leaned back in his chair, rubbed his stomach, and let out a comfortable burp.

After cleaning up the dishes and washing up briefly with hot water, he blew out the oil lamp, climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and prepared to go to sleep.

As soon as He Yuzhu touched the pillow, sleepiness washed over him like a tidal wave.

Just as his consciousness was about to drift off to sleep—

"Knock knock knock".

A very faint knock came from outside the house.

He Yuzhu turned over in a daze, thinking he had misheard.

"Knock knock knock".

The knocking sounded again, slightly clearer than before.

He Yuzhu suddenly opened his eyes, and his sleepiness instantly vanished.

Who would knock on the door at this hour?

He held his breath and listened carefully.

"Knock knock knock".

The third knock came, this time softer.

He Yuzhu's heart stirred, and an idea flashed through his mind.

He quietly got up, put on the cotton-padded coat draped over the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), put on his shoes, and walked to the door of the main room.

"Who?" he asked in a low voice.

Silence reigned outside the door...

He Yuzhu waited a few seconds, about to ask again, when he suddenly heard a voice from outside the door: "Open the door..."

It really is Qin Huairu!

He Yuzhu's heart suddenly raced. He gently pulled the latch and opened the door a crack.

Under the moonlight, Qin Huairu, wearing a worn-out cotton-padded jacket and with her hair somewhat disheveled, nervously looked around.

"Come in quickly!" He Yuzhu stepped aside.

Qin Huairu hesitated for a moment, then quickly slipped into the house.

He Yuzhu quickly closed the door before turning to look at her.

"Are you crazy?" He Yuzhu lowered his voice, his tone filled with disbelief. "Aren't you afraid the Jia family will find out?"

Qin Huairu bit her lip, her voice trembling, and said, "Dongxu drank some more last night and is sleeping like a log... My mother-in-law is also sleeping soundly..."

As she spoke, she looked up at He Yuzhu, her beautiful eyes filled with helplessness.

Looking at her like this, He Yuzhu's heart began to stir again.

Qin Huairu seemed to notice the change in his gaze, and quickly took a half step back, explaining, "Don't misunderstand! I... I drank too much last night and went into the wrong room, that's why..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, her head drooped lower and lower, and her ears turned bright red.

She was a young woman who had just married into the family, and it was really embarrassing for her to say such things.

Seeing her embarrassed and frightened appearance, He Yuzhu's lustful anger subsided considerably.

He remembered how exhausted he was last night, and how Qin Huairu was still walking unsteadily tonight. If it happened again...

"Don't worry, I won't say anything about this," He Yuzhu said seriously. "But if you still want to..."

"In no mood!"

Qin Huairu immediately interrupted him, then realized she was speaking too loudly and quickly lowered her voice, saying, "I...I just came to explain things to you. Last night was an accident, and from now on..."

She paused, as if making a great decision, and said, "From now on, let's pretend this never happened. We'll still be neighbors, and neither of us will mention it, okay?"