Courtyard House: New Life, New Silly Zhu

Chapter 99

July 25th, Wednesday, the weather was nice, just like He Yuzhu's mood.

Early in the morning, when it was just getting light, He Yuzhu followed the matchmaker onto the bus bound for Shuangyang Village.

Today's situation is special, so He Yuzhu did not go to Shuangyang Village with his sister and Yang Lifang. Firstly, it's Wednesday, and Yang Lifang couldn't easily ask for leave. Secondly, He Yushui suffered too much from motion sickness on the bus last time, and since they had to go this morning and return in the evening, the time was too tight.

So today, He Yushui went to work with Yang Lifang, while He Yuzhu took leave to go to Shuangyang Village to propose marriage.

Just like last time, when the bus arrived in the town, He Yuzhu and the matchmaker saw their second uncle as soon as they got off.

"Hello, Second Uncle, thank you for troubling me again this time." He Yuzhu greeted him with a smile.

Uncle Er, puffing on his pipe, watched He Yuzhu arrive with his things with a smile: "Zhuzi, what's the trouble? We're all family."

After greeting him, the second uncle looked at the matchmaker.

"Hello, you must be tired from your journey," Uncle said.

The matchmaker smiled and waved her hand, saying, "It's no trouble at all. I'm overjoyed to be able to bring a couple together today, how could it be tiring?"

Who doesn't like to hear nice words, especially from a matchmaker? Uncle Er laughed so hard his wrinkles deepened.

After exchanging a few polite words, the second uncle had the two of them get into the oxcart and then drove it towards Shuangyang Village.

When He Yuzhu arrived at Shuangyang Village, the villagers had already gone to work in the fields. There were only a few people on the road, but He Yuzhu didn't recognize them. He felt that the people looked familiar, but he just couldn't remember how to address them. He could only nod as a greeting.

They soon arrived at the courtyard. He Yuzhu carried the things inside. The engagement had already been agreed upon, so the marriage contract was quickly finalized, which included He Yuzhu and Yang Lifang's birth dates and times, as well as other details.

The only thing He Yuzhu needs to clarify is that he has set the wedding date for the third day of the eighth lunar month.

"The letter of introduction from the factory expires on August 3rd, so I had to bring it forward." He Yuzhu said apologetically, and also somewhat embarrassed, since it was his fault.

"The third day of the eighth lunar month is an auspicious date, but isn't Zhuzi being a bit too hasty?" The aunt looked at He Yuzhu and frowned as she said, "I wonder if Lifang's new wedding dress will be ready in time."

"Auntie, I didn't consider the time issue. So when I get back, I plan to go with Xiaofang to get our marriage certificate in advance, and then we'll get married right away. That way, we'll have enough time," He Yuzhu repeated, afraid that his aunt would be unhappy.

Uncle Er smoked his pipe and smacked his lips. Looking at He Yuzhu's appearance, he frowned and said, "Alright, since time is so tight, then the third day of the lunar new year it is. But Zhuzi, the new wedding dress your aunt sewed for Lifang might not be ready so soon."

He Yuzhu had already discussed this matter with Lifang, so he said to his second uncle, "Second Uncle, I have already arranged for the cloth coupons with the workers in the factory and bought the cloth. Lifang will sew clothes at home after get off work these few days. My sister Yushui is also at home and can help. We will go back to the countryside on the afternoon of the second day of the Lunar New Year and I will pick Lifang up then."

Seeing that He Yuzhu had made all the arrangements, the second uncle was relieved and said, "That's good."

After discussing it with his second uncle and the matchmaker, He Yuzhu and the matchmaker took a bus back to Beijing that afternoon.

Upon arriving at the station, He Yuzhu immediately hailed a rickshaw for the matchmaker, while he walked home.

It was already evening when He Yuzhu got home. He didn't eat dinner and immediately pushed his bicycle towards Yang Lifang's dormitory.

"Knock knock knock"

The door wasn't closed, but He Yuzhu still knocked on it, after all, he still wanted to be mindful of the impact.

Upon seeing He Yuzhu, Yang Lifang got up and went out. He Yushui was overjoyed to see her brother and quickly ran over.

He Yushui spoke first, before Yang Lifang: "Brother, you're back. Is the engagement settled?"

After He Yushui finished her rambling, Yang Lifang finally asked, "Brother Zhu, did everything go smoothly?"

"Everything went smoothly, it's all settled, don't worry," He Yuzhu said with a smile, and even took out the engagement document to show them.

Yang Lifang took the engagement document and looked at it. He Yushui also came over to look at it together: "Brother, now your sister-in-law can't run away, right?"

Hearing He Yushui's words, Yang Lifang found it amusing. She patted He Yushui's head and said with a smile, "Silly girl, why would you run away? Where can you find such a good man as your brother, right?"

He Yushui realized she had misspoke, stuck out her tongue, and said, "Hehe, I know. Sister-in-law is the best."

"The engagement letter is written, but we haven't gotten the marriage certificate yet. We'll get it tomorrow," He Yuzhu said.

Yang Lifang hesitated. She said, "Brother Zhu, let's wait a little longer. We'll get it on the second day of the Lunar New Year. We'll have three days of wedding leave then. It won't count as taking leave, so we won't lose any pay."

"Okay, then I'll listen to you. You've thought things through very well." He Yuzhu nodded in agreement with Yang Lifang's suggestion.

The next day, He Yuzhu began preparing the ingredients to buy for the wedding banquet.

"Zhu Zi, even though your wedding is only going to have two tables, it can't be too shabby, right?"

As soon as He Yuzhu stepped out of the courtyard, he was stopped by the Third Uncle.

He Yuzhu laughed and said, "Third Uncle, you're really free now that you don't have to teach. You came out so early in the morning."

"Hey, what's with all the leisure? I'm old and can't sleep, so I'm just out for a stroll," the old man laughed.

Then Yan Bugui asked, "Zhuzi, I'll be frank, do you want to prepare two fish for your wedding banquet?" After saying that, the Third Uncle looked at He Yuzhu with an expectant expression.

"Fish, yes, of course I want it, but Uncle, can you catch this fish?" He Yuzhu asked with a smile.

Yan Bugui chuckled: "Zhu Zi, just you wait and see, I'll take care of it."

That being said, He Yuzhu still wanted to give a heads-up, just in case Yan Bugui either failed to catch anything or caught one, which would be awkward.

"Uncle, these fish are not easy to catch. You'd better be prepared. Don't blame me if you can't catch them," He Yuzhu warned.

"Don't worry," Yan Bugui said confidently, "If we don't catch it, it's on me."

"That's fine. If you only catch one fish, I won't take it. Uncle, you shouldn't buy fish from the seafood market either." He Yuzhu was referring to the fish at the seafood market, which were all transported from other places and were not cheap.

Yan Bugui laughed when he heard this: "Zhuzi, even if I can't catch any fish, I won't buy them from the seafood market. They're too expensive, I can't bear to buy them."

That's right. With Uncle San's stingy nature, how could he possibly bear to buy fish?