Siheyuan: I will never tolerate gambling and drugs!

The courtyard house on Sunday

The dawn had not yet completely pierced the morning darkness. The air carried a crisp chill unique to the early morning.

The sound of Meng Qingshan pushing his bicycle chain and Nan Yi's footsteps following behind broke the silence of the courtyard. The two pushed their bikes into the front yard and immediately spotted the burly figure by the sink. Sha Zhu was holding a whetstone, rhythmically sharpening a kitchen knife, the blade gleaming coldly in the dim light. Seeing the two arrive, he grinned, revealing his white teeth.

"Zhu Zi, you're here early." Meng Qingshan parked his car and walked over.

"I'm best friends with Brother Xu, how could his happy occasion not be announced soon?" Sha Zhu lightly flicked the sharpened knife between his fingers, producing a crisp buzzing sound. Actually, if Xiao Yushui hadn't known that her brother was also in charge of cooking today and hadn't gone to wake him up at two or three in the morning, it would be a miracle if he was even up now.

After a brief greeting, the three of them got to work without further ado, working in perfect unison. The metal frame was set up with a click, and a huge cooking pot was placed securely on top. Several long tables borrowed from the factory canteen were moved out, their legs scraping against the ground with a harsh, jarring sound that shattered the morning's tranquility.

The front yard was instantly transformed into a makeshift open-air kitchen.

Xu Lin woke up earlier than any of them today. After all, having lived two lives, this was his first time getting married and holding a wedding. Last time at the Qin family, things were delayed due to an accident, and he didn't want to make a mistake again today. So, when the horizon was still just the beginning of dawn, he was already dressed.

He wasn't wearing the brand-new Zhongshan suit he was preparing to wear to welcome guests; he was just wearing an ordinary old jacket. Together with Tan Liya and Qin Huairu, who had also gotten up early, they were moving the ingredients from the house to the center of the yard. Their movements were light, yet very efficient.

Tan Liya was dressed simply, her hair neatly tied back, her eyes revealing a gentle, unadorned beauty, without a trace of resentment or unhappiness. She was in charge of checking the dried goods and vegetables.

Qin Huairu wore the bright red long dress she had prepared for the wedding, with an apron over it. Perhaps it was because of the joyous occasion, but her cheeks had a healthy blush, and her eyes shone with undisguised happiness and a touch of brides' shyness.

A whole rack of pork, marbled with fat and lean, carried the fresh aroma unique to butcher shops. Cleaned chickens and ducks, plump and healthy, were neatly arranged in large basins. In the water tank, several large fish were still swishing their tails, splashing tiny droplets of water. Lush green cabbages, crisp radishes, and cucumbers with their blossoms and thorns still attached were piled up like a small mountain.

Looking at all these things, which almost filled the small courtyard, Xu Lin felt an unprecedented sense of peace.

"Squeak—"

The courtyard gate was pushed open from the outside.

A series of light, hurried footsteps approached, signaling the arrival of the people from Qin Family Village. Leading the group was Qin Huairu's father, Qin Dashan. Behind him followed Qin Huairu's mother, Zhang Shufen; her cousin, Qin Laosan; her son, Qin Tieniu, and his wife; and Qin Jingru, with her two small braids and a curious expression. Adding to this were two or three young men of similar age to Qin Tieniu, making a group of over a dozen people, which made the courtyard both lively and somewhat crowded.

They wore clean but worn-out clothes and mud-caked cloth shoes, and each of them carried a cautious and reserved air about entering an unfamiliar environment. This was something Xu Lin had discussed with his parents beforehand. He was all alone in Beijing, and the Qin family's arrival was both to help him and to give him, their new son-in-law, a boost in status.

Xu Lin immediately stopped what he was doing and went to meet him. He took out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and handed it to Qin Dashan with both hands.

"Dad, you're here so early."

Qin Dashan's dark face was deeply lined with wrinkles. He hurriedly wiped his hands on his trousers before carefully taking the cigarette. The cigarette paper was white and emitted a rich tobacco aroma that he rarely smelled.

He chuckled sheepishly, unsure what to say, and scratched his head, saying, "It's only right, it's only right. It's Huai Ru's good fortune to marry you. I ruined your wedding in Qin Family Village last time, so I had to come early today."

Zhang Shufen quickly walked to her daughter's side, grabbed Qin Huairu's hand, and held it tightly. Her eyes instantly reddened.

"My dear daughter, today is your big day." Her voice trembled slightly. "After today, you'll be a member of the Xu family. In the city, you must listen to Xiao Xu and not be willful, understand?"

Qin Huairu wore a bright red long dress, the fabric shimmering softly in the morning light. Her hair was neatly styled in a bun, adorned with a matching red silk flower, making her appear radiant and beautiful. She lowered her eyes, her thick eyelashes trembling slightly.

"Mother, I know. I promise I will listen to Brother Xu."

Xu Lin had already changed into a brand-new dark blue Zhongshan suit. The suit was crisp and clean, the collar buttoned up meticulously, making him appear tall and handsome with clear, bright eyes. He walked over and stood next to Qin Huairu. The two of them, one dashing and the other beautiful, looked perfectly matched simply by standing together.

"Come on, everyone, don't stand there." Xu Lin's voice was gentle and steady, with a reassuring quality. "Sister Tan, Huai Ru, quickly bring out the sweet soup so everyone can have a drink and quench their thirst."

Tan Liya and Qin Huairu responded and immediately turned and went inside. Soon, the two came out carrying a large tray with more than a dozen white porcelain bowls neatly arranged on it. The bowls contained warm water, and the bottom of each bowl was covered with a thick layer of white sugar. In the sunlight, the sugar crystals glittered enticingly.

The Qin family members stared at the white substance at the bottom of the bowl, momentarily stunned. In those days, white sugar was as precious as medicine, only used sparingly on special occasions. Yet, this bowl contained a generous amount. Holding the bowl, they were somewhat at a loss, taking small sips to savor the pure sweetness melting on their tongues, but daring not to drink it down in large gulps.

Xu Lin noticed their awkwardness.

He smiled, then opened another pack of cigarettes and handed one to each of Qin Tieniu and the other young men.

"Don't be shy, everyone. Thank you for your hard work today."

Qin Tieniu took the cigarette, smelled it under his nose, then tucked it behind his ear, grinning. "Brother-in-law, you're being too polite." His voice was loud and clear, with the straightforwardness of a farmer. "We're all family, no need to talk about hardship."

That "brother-in-law" instantly lightened the atmosphere in the courtyard.

After drinking the sweet soup and eating some snacks, everyone felt warm and their initial awkwardness dissipated. Xu Lin glanced at the sky; the sun had already risen, and golden rays bathed the entire courtyard.

"Sister Tan, Huai Ru," he said to Tan Liya and Qin Huai Ru, who were serving sweet soup not far away, "Cook the noodles first, so everyone can have the energy to work."

Tan Liya nodded, turned and went into the kitchen, and Qin Huairu immediately followed her in.

The water in the pots was already boiling, bubbling and foaming. Tan Liya and Qin Huairu worked together to pour the wet noodles from two large basins into the two large pots in two batches. They were pure white noodles, without a trace of any other color. As the noodles hit the water, the steam in the pots rose even higher, and a rich aroma of wheat instantly filled the entire front yard.

Before long, two large pots of steaming noodles were ready. The snow-white noodles were served in large bowls, simply topped with a spoonful of soy sauce and a few drops of sesame oil. But it was precisely this simple method that best highlighted the purity of the white noodles.

When bowls of noodles were placed in front of the Qin family and Nan Yi Shazhu, everyone stopped what they were doing. They stared at the dazzling white noodles in the bowls, their breath catching in their throats for a moment.

Zhang Shufen held the bowl, her fingers trembling slightly. She stirred the noodles with her chopsticks, looked at them again and again, and then asked in an almost whispered voice, "This...this is all white flour?" Her voice was filled with disbelief.

Xu Lin's smile was gentle yet firm. "Yes, it's all wheat flour." He raised his chin, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears. "Eat as much as you want."

These four words were like a decree lifting a ban. The Qin family members no longer held back, each burying their heads and slurping their noodles with gusto. This was food they would never have dared to dream of on ordinary days. Such fine grains were only something they could grit their teeth and buy in small quantities on the most important days, during the New Year, or when someone in the family was seriously ill.

But now, they can eat as much as they want.

Even Sha Zhu, who was busy at the stove in the front yard, couldn't help but turn his head and sincerely admire Xu Lin's back as he smelled the pure wheat aroma in his bowl and watched everyone eating noodles with such satisfaction.

"Putting everything else aside, Xu Lin is truly straightforward and honest in his dealings with people!"

……

The front yard, Yan Bugui's house.

A small hole was poked in the window paper with a finger, and an eye was pressed tightly against the hole, greedily peeking at the scene in the courtyard.

The rich aroma of wheat, like insects with legs, desperately tried to crawl in through the cracks in the doors and windows, making Yan Bugui's internal organs itch.

He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down with a "gulp".

"Old Yan, what are you looking at like a thief?"

Yang Cuilan walked in carrying a chipped enamel basin, which was half-filled with cornmeal porridge so thin you could see your reflection in it.

"The Xu family is eating wheat noodles!"

Yan Bugui shrank back from the window, his voice tinged with a sour regret, "Pure white flour, not a single speck of color! Those relatives from the countryside, each with a huge bowl, slurped it down noisily!"

The thought of those snow-white, chewy noodles, followed by the mushy mess in his own bowl, made his heart ache as if pricked by needles. He then added, "If I had known, I wouldn't have stopped you from making peace. I could have let them go and help out; at least they could have gotten a bowl!"

"What's the point of saying this now?" Yang Cuilan slammed the basin down on the table, rolled her eyes at him, and said, "Who would want to invite you to their wedding with such a long face?"

Yan Bugui turned around, plopped down on a stool, his eyes darting around as he mentally calculated the meal. He had missed the white flour noodles in the morning, but that was just an appetizer; the main event was the wedding banquet at noon.

He lowered his voice and said mysteriously to Yang Cuilan, "I've calculated it; we can't refuse this gift today. But we have to do it at the right time!"

"How so?"

"Look," Yan Bugui held up one finger, "we'll only give a ten-cent gift. Ten cents may not sound like much, but it's the proper gift. And that ten cents can buy our family of five a proper wedding banquet!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he could already see a table full of chicken, duck, fish and meat.

"Braised pork, big plate chicken, steamed fish... everything's free! Our family of five can eat as much as we want, get our money's worth, and even make a profit! It's a steal!"

Thinking of this, his regret about not being able to eat white flour noodles instantly vanished.

What is that bowl of noodles compared to the big lunch?

……

Zhongyuan, Yi Zhonghai's house.

As soon as it was light, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong got up.

The two of them unanimously changed into their best dark-colored Zhongshan suits, buttoning them all the way up, slicking their hair back with hair oil, and polishing their shoes until they could see their reflections.

Yi Zhonghai paced back and forth in the room, the floorboards creaking under his feet, revealing his inner turmoil.

"Old Yi, how many leaders do you think will come today?"

Liu Haizhong rubbed his hands together, his face full of excitement, clearly craving power.

Yi Zhonghai stopped and smoothed his meticulously styled hair. He analyzed in a deep voice, "Xu Lin is now the deputy factory director, in charge of technological innovation and foreign affairs. Today is also his wedding day. The factory leaders and department leaders will definitely give him face. The level of those attending will be quite high."

A complex light flickered in his eyes. This was both Xu Lin's moment of glory and Yi Zhonghai's opportunity—a golden chance to rebuild his prestige within the institute and among the leadership.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Liu Haizhong nodded repeatedly, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

He cleared his throat, straightened his back abruptly, stretched out his hand, and gestured in the air, muttering to himself, "Hello, Director Yang, I'm Liu Haizhong, the old man in charge of this compound. I'm usually in charge of the ideological work in the compound..."

He even started practicing different handshake gestures and speaking angles in the room, sometimes bowing and scraping, and sometimes feeling that he should act neither humble nor arrogant.

Zhou Jinzhi and Gao Xiaohong, who were in the inner room, peeked at their husbands' dazed expressions and couldn't help but exchange a helpless look, rolling their eyes in unison.

Xu Lin is getting married, and you two are already rehearsing here...

However, out of consideration for the man's pride in public, the two tacitly agreed not to reveal the truth.

Time passed slowly, and the noise in the front yard grew louder and louder, becoming a cacophony of voices.

Xu Lin and Qin Huairu changed their clothes and stood side by side at the entrance of the courtyard. One was tall and straight, and the other was bright and beautiful, becoming the most beautiful sight in the entire courtyard. Qin Laosan set up a long table next to them, covered it with a red cloth, and spread a brand-new account book in front of him, responsible for collecting gift money and keeping accounts.

The first group to arrive were Xu Lin's classmates and fellow students, who were pushing brand-new bicycles, full of high spirits.

"Xu Lin, congratulations!"

Happy marriage, and may you have a baby soon!

Xu Lin and Qin Huairu returned the gift with beaming smiles, while Qin Laosan quickly wrote down each name and the amount of money given as a gift in the ledger.

Following Xu Lin's prior arrangement, Qin Tieniu loudly invited the guests to take their seats.

Immediately afterwards, Liu Lan, Ding Qiunan, and a group of young workers from the steel rolling mill also arrived together.

"Brother Xu, your wife looks so beautiful today!"

Ding Qiunan's eyes lit up when she saw Qin Huairu. She warmly took Qin Huairu's hand, her eyes filled with genuine envy.

Liu Lan stood to the side, her gaze complex as she looked at the radiant Qin Huairu and the handsome Xu Lin beside her. She knew her relationship with Xu Lin was illicit, and in this setting, she was merely an ordinary colleague. However, since it was their first formal meeting, even though they both knew the truth, she still nodded slightly to Qin Huairu and forced a smile.

Qin Huairu sensed that gaze, and she responded with a gentle and graceful smile, displaying both the demeanor of a hostess and a silent declaration.

Then, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she whispered to Ding Qiunan, "Qiunan, please don't make fun of me."

As soon as the words were spoken, the middle-level leaders from various departments of the steel rolling mill arrived. They were dressed in sharp uniforms or suits, carrying exquisitely packaged gifts, and wearing formulaic smiles, instantly putting the entire courtyard on a solemn note.

Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong, who had been observing from behind the door, immediately exchanged a glance upon seeing this scene, both seeing barely suppressed excitement and nervousness in each other's eyes.

The two walked out quickly, their faces full of fawning smiles.

As they approached the accounting table, Liu Haizhong lowered his voice and nudged Yi Zhonghai with his elbow.

"Old Yi, we agreed beforehand that I'd give you one cent..."

Yi Zhonghai glanced at the distinguished factory leaders out of the corner of his eye, then looked at the names he had already written down in the ledger, and gritted his teeth.

A dime?

In this situation, taking out even a penny wouldn't be giving a gift, it would be shameful! It would completely nail yourself to the pillar of insignificant disgrace! Even if you weren't working at the steel mill, he and Liu Haizhong would still have some shame.

"No way!" His voice wasn't loud, but it was firm. "Too many leaders came today; I can't offer a single penny! I'll give three dollars!"

Three yuan was almost two days' wages for him.

"Then...then I'll give you three!"

When Liu Haizhong heard the number, his heart skipped a beat, but seeing Yi Zhonghai already taking money out of his pocket, he could only grit his teeth, stomp his foot, and reluctantly follow.

The two men walked up to Qin Laosan, each took out three crumpled but still warm banknotes, and solemnly placed them on the table.

Yan Bugui, who was following behind them, was dumbfounded.

Where's the promised one cent? How did it suddenly become three dollars! Those two old guys are so untrustworthy!

The pain in his heart was excruciating, as if a piece of his flesh had been ripped out. He instinctively wanted to shrink back, but the crowd around him kept moving forward, and everyone's eyes seemed to be fixed on him.

He felt his face burning.

He gritted his teeth, fumbled in his pocket for a long time, and finally pulled out two yuan. His fingers were trembling slightly as he handed it to Qin Laosan.

Qin Laosan accepted the money with a broad smile and loudly greeted, "Gentlemen, please come in!"

Yan Bugui stepped into the courtyard and felt dizzy. He was so heartbroken that he almost fainted.

Finally, Li Huaide, Director Wang of the Subdistrict Office, Factory Director Yang Anguo, and Li Zongsi and Zhao Yanbin from Xiehe Hospital arrived.

The appearance of these important figures brought the atmosphere of the wedding banquet to its peak.

"Xu Lin, congratulations!" Yang Anguo patted Xu Lin's shoulder hard, his expression warm and friendly.

"Thank you, Director Yang," Xu Lin replied respectfully.

Li Zongsi looked at his most outstanding disciple, his eyes filled with satisfaction and expectation.

"Live life well."

"Don't worry, teacher."

Zhao Yanbin smiled and said to Qin Huairu, "Huairu is a good girl, you should cherish her."

"Definitely." Xu Lin gripped Qin Huairu's hand tightly.

Although Zhang Feng and Gao Liang couldn't be there in person, they sent generous congratulatory gifts through their secretary. Qin Laosan carefully placed the gifts aside.

Once all the guests had arrived, Xu Lin waved his hand and set up six tables.

Two tables were set up in their small courtyard. One table was specifically for the teachers and students of Peking Union Medical College, which was a matter of decorum in academic circles. The other table was for the leaders of the steel rolling mill, headed by Yang Anguo. Zhang Feng and Gao Liang, the two secretaries, left after delivering the congratulatory gifts; otherwise, Yang Anguo would not have dared to sit in the main seat.

Two tables were set up in the front yard. One table was for relatives from Qin Family Village. Qin Huairu specially arranged for Tan Liya and her two children to sit at the head of the table, telling everyone that Tan Liya was her benefactor and considered family, showing her the utmost respect. The other table was for her coworkers from the steel rolling mill, Ding Qiunan and Liu Lan, as well as some friends from HR and logistics.

The remaining two tables were arranged in the central courtyard, the same spot where the entire courtyard meeting had been held before, specifically reserved for the residents of the courtyard house. Xu Lin gathered this group of oddballs together, a cold smile playing on his lips. He wanted to see what kind of trouble this group of people could cause over some food.

As the wedding banquet began, Meng Qingshan, Sha Zhu, and Nan Yi went all out, serving up a continuous stream of impressive dishes.

The braised pork belly, glistening with oil and rich yet not greasy, the steamed fish, tender and succulent, and the whole stewed chicken, all exuding a fragrant aroma...

Every dish made the two tables of people at the Intermediate People's Court stare wide-eyed.

The guests were all smiles, clinking glasses and toasting each other. Xu Lin and Qin Huairu, holding wine glasses, went from table to table offering toasts.

"Huai Ru, this is my teacher, Dean Li Zongsi of Peking Union Medical College Hospital."

"Hello, Dean Li." Qin Huairu was poised and dignified.

"Alright, alright, you should live your lives well." Li Zongsi nodded in satisfaction.

"This is Minister Zhao Yanbin of the Ministry of Health, my senior fellow apprentice."

"Hello, Minister Zhao."

"Huai Ru is such a good girl," Zhao Yanbin praised.

After toasting everyone, Qin Huairu's performance won praise from all the distinguished guests, making Xu Lin proud.

Finally, it was the turn of the two tables at the Intermediate Court.

Xu Lin walked over with his wine glass, stood by the table, and surveyed the room from his elevated position. His gaze swept across the faces of Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, and the others without lingering. He symbolically raised his glass, his voice devoid of any emotion.

"Dear neighbors, thank you all for your hard work today. Please enjoy your meal and drinks." After saying this, he drank the wine in his glass, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then turned around, took Qin Huairu's hand, and walked towards the front yard. The whole process was clean and efficient.

Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai, who were preparing to give Xu Lin and Qin Huairu a hard time, instantly turned extremely ugly.

The fingers holding the wine glass in Liu Haizhong's hand were bluish-white from excessive force, and his knuckles were cracking.

He lowered his voice, but his breathing was as heavy as a broken bellows, as he complained indignantly to Yi Zhonghai beside him.

"Old Yi, look at this! Look at this Xu Lin... Does he even respect us anymore? He's completely disregarding us!"

Yi Zhonghai's face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water. He stared intently at Xu Lin's departing figure until the dark blue Zhongshan suit completely disappeared behind the moon gate, before letting out a cold snort from his nose.

"He's the deputy factory director now, rising through the ranks so quickly, he's become arrogant and doesn't care about us neighbors anymore." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling, poisonous edge.

Yan Bugui, who was sitting next to him, immediately leaned over and eagerly echoed him, his voice almost overflowing with sourness.

"Exactly, we're supposed to be the managers of this compound, and his attitude..."

Before Yan Bugui could finish speaking, a swift shadow flashed past him.

It's Jia Zhangshi!

Her triangular eyes were fixed on a plate of braised pork that had just been served. The pieces of meat trembled and glistened in the thick, dark sauce, exuding an irresistible aroma. Her chopsticks swooped down like a hungry hawk, aiming straight for the largest and fattest piece.

"Wow, this meat smells delicious!"

She mumbled incoherent praise, spittle almost splashing into the food. Almost at the same moment, Yan Bugui moved too!

With lightning speed, he extended his chopsticks with a "snap" and precisely grabbed the other end of the piece of meat that Jia Zhangshi had her eye on. The two pairs of chopsticks wrestled in the air, and the succulent braised pork was slightly deformed, with oil dripping from the tips of the chopsticks.

"Jia Zhangshi, you've taken enough, this piece is mine now," Yan Bugui said through gritted teeth, enunciating each word clearly.

"Why should I? I saw it first!"

Jia Zhangshi glared with her triangular eyes, her neck stiffening like a fighting rooster.

"My chopsticks arrived first!"

Yan Bugui refused to back down. He had given a gift of two yuan today, and he wouldn't be able to sleep at night if he didn't eat this meat to make up for his losses!

The two were locked in a stalemate, their chopsticks scraping together in mid-air. Yang Cuilan, watching anxiously, worried that all the good food would be snatched away, and quickly reached for a plate of scrambled eggs next to her.

"Snapped!"

Without turning her head, Jia Zhangshi slapped Yang Cuilan's hand hard across the back of her hand.

"What are you doing?"

Yang Cuilan felt a burning pain on the back of her hand, and was both shocked and angry.

"This dish is mine too!"

Madam Jia roared unreasonably, as if the whole table belonged to her.

Yang Cuilan's cheeks flushed red with anger, and her chest heaved violently, but looking at the untouched main dishes on the table, she forced herself to swallow her anger. The eldest and third sons of the Yan family were also seething with anger, and could only channel their grief and indignation into their appetite, eating voraciously.

But Yan Jiefang was young and impetuous.

He watched helplessly as his mother was bullied, and seeing Jia Zhangshi's greedy and domineering face, a surge of rage rose within him. He aimed at the leg of the stool Jia Zhangshi was sitting on, and in the chaos of everyone grabbing for food, he suddenly hooked his foot and kicked it hard!

"Ouch!"

Just as Jia Zhangshi was fully engrossed in her battle with Yan Bugui for the meat, she was suddenly thrown off balance and landed hard on her bottom.

She didn't even feel the pain; she just watched as, in the instant she fell to the ground, a plate of braised pork that had just been served was devoured in a flash by countless pairs of chopsticks around her, leaving not even a scrap of meat.

"Who kicked it? Who kicked it?"

Jia Zhangshi scrambled to her feet, her mouth still greasy, and pointed in the direction of the Yan family, cursing loudly.

"You bunch of despicable bastards, you childless scum! You're bullying a widow like me!" Yang Cuilan could no longer bear it.

"Mrs. Jia, you're too big for your britches to sit on, so don't spout nonsense!"

"I'm making baseless accusations? It was your family who did it!"

Jia Zhangshi rushed forward like a madwoman, grabbing Yang Cuilan's hair, which had just been permed a few days ago, and tearing at it violently. The two women instantly began to wrestle, their screams and curses echoing throughout the courtyard. Seeing their mother being taken advantage of, the three sons of the Yan family couldn't stand by and watch, immediately rushing to help. Each of them kicked Jia Zhangshi, sending her rolling around on the ground.

When Jia Dongxu saw his mother being surrounded and attacked by the Yan family, he panicked. He immediately put down his chopsticks, roared, and charged into the fray, engaging the three Yan boys in a fierce fight. Xu Damao, watching from the side, was secretly delighted and beaming with pride.

He hadn't forgotten how the Yan family had blocked his door and berated him before. So, holding his wine glass, he pretended to be trying to mediate the fight, slowly approached, and taking advantage of the chaos, delivered a black kick to Yan Jiecheng's lower back.

"Xu Damao, what are you doing?" Yan Jiecheng stumbled from the kick and roared back.

"So what if I hit you? With so many of you beating up the Jia family mother and son, can't I stand up for justice?" Xu Damao chuckled, not only refusing to stop but also throwing a punch that landed squarely on Yan Jiecheng's eye socket. Jia Dongxu was also pinning the second and third sons of the Yan family to the ground and beating them; after all, they were just kids, and they were far too inexperienced to challenge Jia Dongxu.

Seeing that the Yan family was clearly at a disadvantage, and recalling how Xu Damao, Shazhu, and Xu Lin's gang had previously tried to extort money from him, Liu Haizhong's anger flared up instantly. He slammed his fist on the table and roared with official authority.

"Alright, alright, what's wrong with you? Stop fighting!" After saying that, he gave his three sons a look, signaling them to help the Yan family. Under Liu Haizhong's command, the three Liu sons roared and rushed forward.

The intermediate court was immediately thrown into chaos.

Tables and chairs were overturned, dishes were shattered all over the floor, and the roars of men, the screams of women, and the cries of children mingled together, creating an absurd and chaotic brawl.

Sha Zhu, who was busy at the stove in the back kitchen, turned around when he heard the noise. He pursed his lips, shook his head, and didn't even bother to give a comment, before turning back to continue tossing the food in the wok.

This farce eventually alarmed Director Wang of the neighborhood committee, who was entertaining guests in the front yard.

Hearing the loud commotion coming from the central courtyard, her face darkened, and she stormed over angrily.

"Stop it, all of you!"

Director Wang's powerful roar was like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing everyone's anger.

Everyone stopped.

Madam Jia, her hair disheveled, sat on the ground, wailing and pounding her thighs. Yang Cuilan's clothes were torn, and blood still clung to the corner of her mouth. Jia Dongxu and Xu Damao had bruises and swelling on their faces, and the young men from the Yan and Liu families were also injured, looking utterly disheveled.

"What kind of behavior is this!"

Director Wang pointed at the group of people, trembling with anger.

"Xu Lin is having a happy wedding, and you're fighting here? Have you no shame? Aren't you embarrassed?"

The three managers, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui, all lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound. Director Wang pointed at them and scolded them a few more times before turning away in exasperation.

……

The wedding banquet finally ended amidst the aftermath of the farce.

Xu Lin and Qin Huairu politely saw all the guests off one by one.

The Qin family was about to return to the village. Zhang Shufen held Qin Huairu's hand, her eyes reddening, and gave her a long, repeated instructions before finally leaving reluctantly, turning back every few steps, urged on by Qin Dashan.

As night fell completely, the courtyard, which had been bustling all day, finally quieted down.

Inside the new house, red candles burned brightly.

Qin Huairu sat on the edge of the bed, a pile of banknotes exuding the fragrance of ink and the warmth of human presence spread out in front of her.

She counted the bills one by one, her fingertips brushing against the new and old banknotes, her eyebrows curving and her lips unable to suppress a smile.

"Brother Xu, look, we received so much money in gifts today!"

Her voice was filled with undisguised joy and satisfaction.

Xu Lin leaned against the headboard, his hands behind his head, amused by her utterly greedy little face, and felt a wave of tenderness wash over him.

"Alright, stop counting. Just put it away yourself. It's not like it's going anywhere. It's all thanks to us. We'll have to pay it back later, won't we?"

Qin Huairu thought about it and realized that made sense. So she carefully put the money into a locked wooden box and then turned around and went into the bedroom next door.

A moment later, a slight rustling sound of fabric was heard.

She changed out of her bright red wedding dress and into a high-slit cheongsam that Xu Lin had never seen before, just like yesterday. She walked out slowly, but today it was purple.

In the flickering candlelight, the purple silk shimmered with a subtle sheen, clinging tightly to her exquisite, curvaceous figure. The cheongsam's slit was extremely high, and as she moved, her long, slender, fair legs were glimpsed intermittently, sparking the imagination.

Xu Lin's breathing suddenly stopped, his Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably, and he almost vomited blood from his nose.

Xu Lin reached out and pulled the woman who had walked to the bedside into his arms. The faint fragrance emanating from her body lingered in his nostrils. After groping her for a while, he whispered in Qin Huairu's ear, biting her earlobe, "You've gotten quite the skills. Who taught you to go braless?"

Qin Huairu's body trembled slightly, her cheeks burned, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, with a captivating tremor.

"Sir, give the order..."

"hey-hey......"

The red candle's wax drips down, and it will burn until dawn.

The room was filled with the vibrant colors of spring, stretching to the horizon.