Courtyard House: Become Stronger Through Blind Dates

Jia Zhangshi's face turned red and white as He Yuzhu retorted. She was about to throw a tantrum, but when she looked up, she met He Yuzhu's eyes, which seemed to be smiling but not smiling.

Jia Zhangshi swallowed back the string of profanities that were about to come out of her mouth.

She stiffened her neck and shouted, her voice sharp but her tone weak, "It's none of your business what happens in our family! Is it any of your business if I'm disciplining my daughter-in-law?"

He Yuzhu spread his hands, grinned, and said, "What business is it of yours? Get the hell out of my way, mind your own business!"

"Ha ha ha ha--"

Several middle-aged women around immediately burst into laughter.

Aunt Wang from the front yard laughed so hard she almost fell over, and said to Jia Zhangshi, "Oh dear, Jia family sister-in-law, you've finally met your nemesis!"

Aunt Qian chuckled, "If you ask me, Zhu Zi is right! Zhu Zi is the head chef of the Oriental Hotel now, and he's even been in the newspapers. Who are you to criticize him?"

Another aunt, Aunt Li, chimed in, "That's right, Sister-in-law Jia, this is a new society now. The old ways of mothers-in-law tormenting their daughters-in-law are no longer practiced!"

Madam Jia was so angry that she was trembling all over, but she didn't dare to confront He Yuzhu head-on.

She's only forty-three this year, not old enough to rely on her age. Her necromancy is useless against a ruthless person like He Yuzhu.

She glared fiercely at the onlookers who were watching the spectacle, then shot He Yuzhu a sharp look before yelling at Qin Huairu behind her, "What are you still standing there for? Waiting for someone to treat you to dinner? You clueless piece of trash, go home!"

After saying that, she walked towards her home in the Intermediate People's Court.

Qin Huairu lowered her head and quickly followed with small steps.

"Zhu Zi, you're really something!" Aunt Qian chimed in, giving him a thumbs up. "This Jia Zhangshi, besides Yi Zhonghai and his gang, who dares to mess with her in our courtyard? Only you can handle her!"

He Yuzhu waved his hand and said, "Aunt Qian, her family used to be an orphan and a widow. Everyone values ​​their reputation, so we're not going to hold it against her!"

These words made the older women laugh again: "Zhu Zi really sees things clearly."

"By the way, Zhuzi," Aunt Wang asked with concern, "you just said you got into trouble during the competition? Is it serious?"

He Yuzhu said casually, "It's nothing. There was just a judge who was trying to pave the way for his grandson by taking advantage of his age. I couldn't stand it, so I taught him a lesson. In the end, the organizing committee disqualified me from the competition."

He spoke casually, but the several middle-aged women listened in stunned silence.

"Zhu Zi, you're too reckless, aren't you?" Aunt Li exclaimed.

Aunt Qian, however, didn't care and said, "So what if they disqualify us? We don't care! With Zhu Zi's skills, we'll definitely make a living."

"That's right, Zhuzi, don't take it to heart!" Aunt Wang comforted him.

He Yuzhu felt a warmth in his heart. No matter how gossipy or scheming these aunties usually were, at least what they said at this moment made him feel comfortable.

He smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, I'm really fine."

"Alright, I'm going back to cook now. I have to go to work this afternoon!"

After saying goodbye to the older women, He Yuzhu carried the meat and vegetables he had just bought and went home.

As soon as he entered the house, he started working.

I'm in a good mood today, so I have to cook myself something special.

About forty minutes later, He Yuzhu lifted the lid of the pot, and a rich aroma wafted out.

The braised pork in the pot has an enticing jujube-red color, is glossy with oil, and has a thick broth.

He picked up a spoon, scooped up a little soup, and tasted it. It was salty and savory with a hint of sweetness, and had a rich soy sauce flavor.

"Perfect!"

He Yuzhu nodded in satisfaction and ladled the braised pork into a large bowl.

After thinking for a moment, he deliberately walked to the window and opened it.

In an instant, the aroma of meat wafted towards the central courtyard.

It was lunchtime, and everyone in the courtyard was cooking.

The aroma of He Yuzhu's braised pork was so overpowering that it instantly overwhelmed all other flavors.

"Wow, who's cooking meat? It smells so good!" A man who had just returned home from the front yard asked, sniffing the air.

"Who else could it be? Zhu Zi, of course!" Aunt Qian laughed at her doorstep. "Judging by the smell, it must be braised pork!"

"Wow, this smell...it's amazing! Just the aroma makes me want to eat!"

The Intermediate People's Court, the Jia family.

With a stern face, Jia Zhangshi was directing Qin Huairu to prepare hot cornbread and leftover pickled vegetable dumplings from the morning.

Just then, the aroma of braised pork wafted in through the cracks in the door and window.

Jia Zhangshi's nose twitched a few times, and she began to drool uncontrollably.

This smells amazing!

Jia Zhangshi suddenly turned her head and stared intently in the direction of He Yuzhu's house, her eyes filled with longing and jealousy.

Why does that little bastard get to eat so well all by himself?

The more I think about it, the angrier I get; the angrier I get, the craving I become.

Jia Zhangshi's eyes darted around, and she had an idea.

She turned to Qin Huairu, who was packing cornbread, and ordered, "Qin Huairu, go to Shazhu's house and ask him for some braised pork!"

Qin Huairu's hand trembled, and she almost dropped the plate containing the steamed buns.

She wants her to go to He Yuzhu's house to ask for meat? She's too busy avoiding He Yuzhu right now!

Although the two agreed to pretend that night never happened, every time she saw He Yuzhu, she felt her face burning and her heart pounding with anxiety.

Moreover, knowing He Yuzhu as she does, it would be strange if she went to ask for meat and was kicked out!

Qin Huairu quickly shook her head and said, "Mom, this...this isn't good, is it? Dongxu told me this morning to have less contact with He Yuzhu! He'll be angry if he finds out I asked for things on my own initiative."

"Dongxu is angry?" Madam Jia's voice suddenly rose. "Is his anger more important, or is it more important that your mother-in-law can't eat meat? Huh?!"

She got more and more agitated as she spoke, slamming her hand on the table and berating, "Tell me about you, married into our Jia family, what can you do besides eat? You dawdle when asked to do chores, and you make excuses when asked to ask for some meat!"

"Our Jia family must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to marry such a useless country bumpkin like you!"

"What use are you to me if you can't even get a bite of meat back? Huh? All you do is eat and drink the Jia family's food!"

A barrage of foul language was hurled at Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu lowered her head, bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes, but stubbornly refused to fall.

She also firmly refused to ask for meat, because once that door was opened, Jia Zhangshi would become even more demanding and would make her ask He Yuzhu for everything.

She didn't want to have any further involvement with He Yuzhu, and she didn't want to become a tool for Jia Zhangshi to take advantage of her.

Despite Jia Zhangshi's insults, Qin Huairu kept her head down and remained silent, quietly serving the cornbread and pickled vegetables to the table.

Then, ignoring Jia Zhangshi, she picked up a cornbread and began to nibble on it, as if the vicious curses had nothing to do with her.

After scolding for a long time, seeing that Qin Huairu was like a block of wood and had no reaction, Jia Zhangshi became so angry that her chest ached.

Looking at the dry cornbread and dark pickled vegetables on the table, and smelling the tempting aroma of meat in the air, she felt a lump in her throat.

"Eat, eat, all you do is eat! I'll make you choke to death!" Madam Jia angrily got up and lay down on her bed.

A wave of indescribable sorrow welled up in Qin Huairu's heart. She quickly wiped her eyes and continued to eat her lunch in silence.

Next door, He Yuzhu was enjoying a bowl of braised pork on the table.

"Ah—that feels so good!" He Yuzhu exclaimed contentedly after finishing his meal.

He had sharp ears and could hear the argument going on at the Jia family's place very clearly.

The more fiercely Jia Zhangshi cursed, the wider the smile on his lips became.

"You think you can send a scheming, innocent girl to fleece me? No way! I'll nail the windows shut too!"

After finishing his meal, He Yuzhu quickly cleared away the dishes, locked the door, whistled, and leisurely went to work at the Oriental Hotel.