The Fitter Master in the Courtyard: Surrounded by Dead Men

"Okay, sure."

Yang Ping then came to her senses and secretly regretted her loss of composure.

He pushed the cart into the yard, bolted the door, and followed her into the house.

His gaze swept around the room.

The furnishings were quite elegant, but it lacked the warm, inviting lighting of later generations; otherwise, the atmosphere would have been even more cozy.

He suddenly remembered something and blurted out:

"Hasn't the auntie returned yet?"

"Yes, didn't I tell you this morning that she wouldn't be back until after seven o'clock?"

"You have such a bad memory."

Lou Xiao'e blinked, her tone carrying a hint of playful doubt.

"Finally!"

Yang Ping felt a surge of warmth in her heart, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up in a smile.

The courtyard was quiet at this moment, with only him and Lou Xiao'e remaining.

"What are you waiting for?"

Lou Xiao'e looked up, somewhat puzzled.

"N-nothing."

Yang Ping quickly shook his head and straightened his clothes.

"The waist of this cheongsam needs to be reduced a little more, about half a centimeter."

"Could you go and tell Sister Xue Ru for me? She'll understand."

As Lou Xiao'e spoke, she walked into the house. Soon after, she came out in a different set of everyday clothes, carrying two silk cheongsams in her hands.

Yang Ping glanced at the clothes, and his previous interest waned somewhat.

He knew in his heart that now was not the time.

If I act rashly and get taken to the Women's Federation, that would be quite embarrassing.

He took the cheongsam and then turned to go to Chen Xueru's shop.

Xue Ru Silk Shop is not far away; you can get there by walking through two alleys.

"Hey, what brings you here today?"

Chen Xueru was arranging the materials on the counter when she looked up and saw Yang Ping, and greeted him with a smile.

"Xiao'e's cheongsam needs to be altered at the waist, by taking it in by half a centimeter."

Yang Ping handed over the clothes.

"Okay, got it."

Chen Xueru took it and quickly checked the seams. "Sit here for a while, I'll take it to the tailor to alter it, it'll be done soon."

Yang Ping didn't stand on ceremony and sat down on a wooden chair by the side of the shop.

There was a plate of osmanthus cake on the table, and he picked up a piece and ate it slowly.

Not long after, Chen Xueru returned first.

Seeing that he was eating something, I turned around and got the tea set.

"My little man, let me make you a pot of tea to cleanse your palate."

"That would be great."

Yang Ping smiled and agreed.

Chen Xueru calling him a "little man"

He didn't care—he was only in his early twenties, not very old, so this nickname was quite fitting.

Chen Xueru approached with a teapot, pushed a cup of hot tea in front of Yang Ping, and then sat down in the chair opposite him.

"Young man, Xiao'e is a rare find; you must make the most of her."

She smiled, pursing her lips.

Yang Ping picked up her teacup, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Sister Xue Ru, in my opinion, you are quite good too."

He knew exactly what kind of temperament a woman like Chen Xueru was—he could talk to her without any restraint, saying whatever he wanted without worrying that she would spread the word.

She never interferes in other people's relationships; on the contrary, she often helps to smooth things over.

"Oh, so you've even got your eye on my older sister?"

Chen Xueru's eyes flickered slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across them, before she smiled again.

"Exactly."

Yang Ping took a sip of tea, and responded calmly.

"You've got some nerve, aren't you afraid I'll swallow you whole?"

Chen Xueru took it as a joke and didn't take it seriously.

"I'm afraid you won't swallow it."

Yang Ping replied with a smile.

Chen Xueru chuckled and didn't continue the conversation.

"Sister Xue Ru, are you married now? Do you have children?"

Yang Ping took the opportunity to ask.

He had been wanting to know more about Chen Xueru's recent situation, but he had never found a suitable opportunity. Now, however, was a good time.

"She's not married yet."

"Kids...who knows how many there are?"

Chen Xueru raised an eyebrow and replied, half-jokingly, "What, you've actually taken a liking to me?"

Yang Ping was somewhat surprised.

According to his memory of that story, Chen Xueru should have had a second husband by now, but she says she is not yet married.

Could it be that the world has already shifted because of my arrival?

However, Chen Xueru may not have been telling the truth.

When you're with a woman like this, you can speak your mind freely, even if it's just nonsense; but she's also good at mixing truth with falsehood. Some things you should just listen to and let go of. If you take them too seriously, you'll only be at a disadvantage.

Seeing that Yang Ping remained silent, Chen Xueru added softly.

"Want to be one of my people? It's not that simple."

Just as Yang Ping was about to ask what was going on, the shop's curtain was lifted.

A middle-aged woman walked in carrying two neatly folded cheongsams, and said with a smile:

"Xueru, the waistline has been adjusted as you suggested."

"Thank you for your help. I'll settle the payment later."

Chen Xueru took the clothes, her fingertips carefully tracing the seams to check for any errors, before turning to hand them to Yang Ping.

"Here, take this to your partner."

"Okay, I'm off."

Yang Ping took the package, said nothing more, and went straight out of the store.

Chen Xueru leaned against the counter, watching the receding figure, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Not very old, but wild-minded... wanting to have it both ways."

When they returned to Lou Xiao'e's residence, the food that Yao Fengze had sent was already on the table.

After finishing his meal quietly, Yang Ping chatted with Lou Xiao'e for a while, listened to the melody playing on the record player for a bit, and then got up to say goodbye.

The only pity is that we didn't get to see her wearing a cheongsam this time.

But he knew in his heart that there would always be other opportunities in the future.

As the sun began to set, Yang Ping had already returned to the front of the courtyard house.

As soon as I stepped into the front yard, I bumped into Yan Fugui standing in the corner with his hands in his pockets, approaching me in a low voice.

"You haven't seen it, Xu Damao's new wife is really something—now Xu Damao is completely under her thumb, and he does all the laundry and cooking."

Yang Ping couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at the old man's thoroughly engrossed expression.

"It's good that things are like this. Xu Damao should settle down from now on and stop causing trouble outside."

"you do not say!"

Yan Fugui nodded repeatedly, "He's settled down, the courtyard is quiet now, and our reputation here can finally be preserved."

It was clear from their words that Xu Damao's past affairs had long been an unspoken secret within the compound.

Yan Fugui's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had been enlightened by something, and he lowered his voice to ask:

"Yang Ping, do you think... Xu Damao's wife, could it be that something happened that forced him to marry her in such a hurry?"

Yang Ping was slightly startled, but on the surface she pretended to be surprised as she looked at the other person.

This lean old man was quite clever to be able to guess Xu Damao's background so accurately.

"It can't be that bad,"

He replied vaguely, "Didn't Xu Fugui and his wife go back to the wife's parents' home those few days? Maybe they were there arranging marriages for their son."

He deliberately spoke ambiguously, feigning complete ignorance.

"wrong,"

Yan Fugui shook his head repeatedly, his thoughts becoming clearer and clearer. "Xu Damao went to the countryside to show movies during that time, but he was nowhere to be seen on the days when he should have been home."

Immediately afterward, Xu Fugui and his wife hurriedly left, saying they were going to the wife's parents' home—this was clearly a hastily made excuse; something must have happened at home.

"It's probably not what you think."

Yang Ping still shook her head in denial.

This story didn't come from him; it was all Yan Fugui's own invention.

If Xu Damao were to investigate later, he wouldn't be held responsible.

"That's absolutely right, no doubt about it!"

Yan Fugui seemed to have discovered some incredible secret. He turned and walked into the house, eager to share it with his wife. "Honey, I've heard something interesting..."

Yang Ping watched his hurried departure and couldn't help but chuckle.

Yan Fugui not only loves to gossip himself, but he also drags his whole family into it.

But on second thought, it's quite common: life is mundane these days, with little excitement to be had. Chatting with neighbors about everyday matters and gossip is a pleasant way to pass the time.

***

Yang Ping slowly strolled back to the backyard.

Looking up, he saw Xu Damao bending over to hang clothes, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

This man used to be someone who never lifted a finger, but now he has to do everything himself and carefully serve his fiery-tempered wife.

Women like Lou Xiao'e and Gao Yue are more pleasing to the eye; they are gentle and considerate.

Gao Yue is especially diligent and sensible, always taking the initiative to help with tidying up and taking care of things. She is a virtuous and considerate person. As for Lou Xiao'e, she still retains some of the ways of a big shot and has not yet fully adapted to the life of an ordinary family. But that's okay. As we get to know each other better, she will eventually learn how to be considerate of others.

As he was thinking this, his gaze inadvertently swept across the half-open window of the Liu family's house in the middle courtyard, and he vaguely heard low voices of discussion coming from inside, as if they were plotting something.

Xu Damao ignored Yang Ping, picked up the wooden basin, and turned to walk into the house.

"Da Mao, who is that? Mom never mentioned anyone like that in our compound before."

Ma Xiaoling lifted the curtain from the inner room and immediately spotted Yang Ping pushing a brand-new bicycle—he looked energetic, and the bicycle was gleaming. She couldn't help but ask him a question.

Xu Damao didn't want to respond, but under his wife's gaze, he didn't dare to argue.

"Yang Ping lives in the backyard. He's a level six fitter and earns sixty-two yuan and fifty cents a month."

He muttered a few words in silence, which served as his explanation.

"Wow, no wonder, it's a brand new car!"

Ma Xiaoling's eyes lit up as she listened.

She watched Yang Ping's retreating figure, her gaze lingering on him for a moment.

"The factory also appointed him as a team leader, overseeing more than a dozen level 5 or 6 workers."

As Xu Damao spoke, a sour feeling welled up inside him.

It's not that he's not envious, but he doesn't have the ability himself, so no matter how envious he is, he can only watch helplessly.

"If I had known... if I hadn't married you back then, I might have ended up with Yang Ping."

Ma Xiaoling sighed softly, her words filled with regret.

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's face immediately darkened.

Could this woman be up to something?

His anger flared, and he warned in a low voice, "Ma Xiaoling, if you dare to cause trouble outside, don't blame me for turning against you!"

He could tolerate other things, but this matter concerned a man's reputation, and he would never back down an inch.

"What's wrong, Xu Damao? Haven't disciplined you in a few days, are you itching for a beating again?"

Ma Xiaoling raised an eyebrow, showing no sign of weakness.

If he wanted to confront her head-on, she would be even tougher than him.

"No, no... I wouldn't dare!"

Seeing that she was about to make a move, Xu Damao immediately shrank back, waving his hands and retreating—his earlier bravado vanished in the blink of an eye.

Yang Ping, who was walking away, did not see this scene.

Yang Ping pushed the cart into the house and was about to fetch water to wash up when a hoarse shout from Liu Haizhong suddenly came from outside.

"Yang Ping!"

He paused, glancing up at the clock on the wall—it was almost eight o'clock.

The old man showing up at this time of year can't be anything good.

As soon as the door opened, Liu Haizhong and his three sons blocked the entrance, forming a dark mass that looked like they were there to ransack the house.

"What's up?"

Yang Ping leaned against the doorframe, neither making way nor calling out "Second Uncle."

.

Liu Haizhong's face darkened, his cheeks taut, but he still managed to squeeze into the room and plop down in the main seat of the octagonal table in the main room.

The three sons followed and crowded in, each taking up a corner, completely surrounding the table, making it seem as if the house belonged to the Liu family.

Yang Ping scoffed lightly, crossed his arms, and leaned against the door, watching them perform.

"My eldest son is getting married, and we don't have enough room."

Liu Haizhong pulled a crumpled ten-yuan note from his pocket and slapped it on the table. "You give up the main room and move to the side room tomorrow."