All the heavens begin with the love in the courtyard.

Although Xu Damao, that cunning old man, mostly uses underhanded tricks, he stays up late every night, doing his best to make his image deeply etched in someone's mind.

Despite having cursed all the women in Director Li's family in his heart, he still had to fawn over them during the day. Just from this, one can see some of the good qualities in Xu Damao.

Fortunately, during this time, he had a silly girl who steadfastly stayed by his side.

While he was reading documents, the silly girl would stay up late; while he was writing manuscripts, she would prepare ink for him. She also took care of his laundry and cooking, making Xu Damao realize that this rural girl was actually quite nice.

However, Xu Damao's narrow mind was clearly unable to accept that He Yuzhu had married his ex-wife. He was troubled by this when someone offered him a solution.

That night, while writing a manuscript for Director Li, Xu Damao was busy until late at night. He couldn't hold on any longer and fell asleep on the table, sobbing.

At this moment, Qin Jingru, who had already been resting, quietly got up and tiptoed to Xu Damao's side. She looked at Xu Damao's face with a complicated expression, her face slightly flustered and her hands trembling. This was the first time she had done something like this, and she really had no experience.

Qin Jingru took out a piece of paper from her pocket, gently opened it, and saw that there was only one short sentence on it: Lou Xiao'e's housekeeper lives at No. 48 Xihutong Street.

Qin Jingru didn't understand the meaning of this short sentence, but she did know Lou Xiao'e, after all, she was Xu Damao's ex-wife. Although she didn't understand, she felt a vague unease when she thought about how the paper was given to her by her cousin Qin Huairu, who specifically told her to put it there secretly in the middle of the night.

In Qin Jingru's memory, her cousin Qin Huairu was a perfect woman, a role model for all the women in the family. She was filial to her mother-in-law, a good mother, and earned a city dweller's salary. The whole family envied and praised her.

However, during this period, from Qin Huairu's advice to fake a pregnancy, to successfully getting Xu Damao to marry her, and finally to having her leave a note, Qin Jingru felt that Qin Huairu was no longer the kind woman she remembered.

However, she had to do this for her because Qin Huairu was the only person she could rely on now. She was afraid every day that Xu Damao would find out that she was faking her pregnancy. Only when she saw her cousin's calm face did she feel a little at ease!

Chapter 39: Keep dreaming!

The next day, Xu Damao groggily got up, stretched, looked at his watch, and realized it was still early, so he breathed a sigh of relief and began to tidy up the manuscripts on the table.

"what"

Xu Damao picked up a piece of paper that was placed on the surface, saw a line of words on it, paused for a second, and then sat up straight with a start.

He read the words on the paper again, word by word. After a long while, he slowly raised his head, a sinister look on his lips, and muttered to himself.

"Silly Zhu, what belongs to me, Xu Damao, I will not leave to you, even if I crush you! Dream on if you want to marry Lou Xiao'e!"

He Yuzhu was unaware of this incident. In this era, he had always been cautious and had not offended anyone, because he truly could not afford to offend anyone.

He quite liked his identity, so he didn't want to wake up so soon.

Although his relationship with Lou Xiao'e was neither particularly deep nor passionate.

This relationship was more like Lou Xiao'e repaying a debt of gratitude, but He Yuzhu still chose to accept it because he never thought about becoming a great person in this era, nor did he think about living a spectacular life. He only asked for a woman who could listen to him when he was lonely and give him a hug when he was tired!

With her wedding date approaching, Lou Xiao'e went home to visit her parents. Lou Xiao'e already knew that she might be separated from her parents after the wedding. Although He Yuzhu said that the separation would not be too long, she was still somewhat hesitant and had been restless these past few days.

Her unease was not without reason. The moment Xu Damao received the note, he reported the news to Director Li, who was overjoyed upon hearing it.

A cunning rabbit has three burrows. The Lou family, being such a large capitalist family, must have other assets. Obviously, this distant relative who has served as the steward of the Lou family for generations is highly suspicious.

That night, it rained heavily, with thunder and lightning. Xu Damao led his men in a secret raid on Steward Huang's house and made a great haul. Unfortunately, they only found valuables and did not find out that the valuables belonged to the Lou family.

Looking at the dark sky, Xu Damao's sinister expression appeared and disappeared intermittently.

That night was particularly long. The Lou family was no ordinary family, having become a renowned capitalist in those days. Lou Dongcheng received the news half an hour after the incident involving Butler Huang's family.

At two in the morning, he stood by the window in his pajamas, looking at the dark sky. His gray hair made him look even more lonely. He sighed deeply and slowly said to his wife, who was hurriedly packing her luggage.

"Don't bother tidying up these odds and ends. Wake Xiao'e up, I need to talk to her about something!"

The woman nodded and then walked out the door, but the worry on her face was hard to hide.

Lou Xiao'e was unaware that tonight would be a pivotal night for her family's fate; she was still filled with joy for her upcoming wedding.

"Dad, is there something you wanted to see me about?"

"Xiao'e, go back to the compound first thing tomorrow morning. Live a good life with Zhuzi from now on. Your mother and I have already decided that we will leave tomorrow night!"

Lou Xiao'e was stunned when she heard the news, even though she had known for a long time that this news would come sooner or later.

But she didn't expect it to happen so suddenly. Her wedding with He Yuzhu was in two days. Why was it so sudden? Couldn't they even wait a day?

"Dad, is it...is it really that urgent?"

Lou Dongcheng sighed.

"I won't be attending your and Zhu's wedding. I originally wanted to attend the wedding before leaving, but now I think that your mother and I staying out of the way is the best protection we can give you!"

Lou Xiao'e looked at her gray-haired father, her eyes gradually welling up with tears. She suddenly stood up and knelt down in front of her father with a thud.

"Dad, I'm sorry I can't be there to take care of you both!"

Lou Dongcheng's body trembled slightly as he forced back his tears and helped his daughter up. Looking at his daughter, Lou Dongcheng recalled that night and his conversation with that young man.

"Pillar, are you really not coming with us?"

"Uncle Lou, I don't want to leave this place, and I have no reason to leave. If I just leave, many people will be disappointed. Uncle Lou, believe me, you're just going out to lay low for a while. You'll be back sooner or later!"

As the memories faded, Lou Dongcheng looked at his daughter and silently wished her happiness.

Lou's mother and elder brother watched all this silently from the doorway, momentarily overwhelmed by the sorrow of parting.

The next morning, Lou Xiao'e returned to the compound and told He Yuzhu about it before he went to work.

Upon hearing the news, He Yuzhu quickly comforted Lou Xiao'e, saying that although he knew that Lou's father's early departure was not necessarily a bad thing.

In the original novel, the Lou family eventually managed to leave, but this is not the original novel, but the real world.

Logically, since Lou's father left two months earlier than in the original story, he should have been safer. However, He Yuzhu always felt uneasy and worried about the fate of the Lou family.

Although he possessed the soul of his predecessor, he was not a god. He could only rely on the knowledge he had to help the Lou family leave earlier than in the original story, but there were still too many uncertainties.

Lou Dongcheng is right. Their decision not to attend the wedding is already the best protection they can give the couple. He Yuzhu can only silently wish the Lou family all the best!

Unfortunately, He Yuzhu underestimated Xu Damao's cunning and did not expect that there was an even more despicable mastermind behind it all. The situation quickly spiraled out of control.

He Yuzhu planned to take a few days off after finishing work today, and go back to work after successfully completing his wedding. He wanted to spend these few days with Lou Xiao'e. He was still hesitating about whether to see Lou's father and the others off, but after thinking about it, he decided that the fewer people who knew about this, the better!

No sooner had He Yuzhu left than Qin Huairu opened the door. She glanced into He Yuzhu's room and saw that the door was half-closed. She knew that Lou Xiao'e must have returned.

Lou Xiao'e's sudden return early in the morning clearly indicates that something happened at home. With something like that happening at home, let's see if you're still in the mood for marriage!

Qin Huairu smiled faintly and went inside. What's hers is hers, and no one can take it away from her!

Xu Damao didn't get home until late last night. He slept until the sun was high in the sky before groggily getting up. He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.

Suddenly remembering what he had gained the night before, he quickly got out of bed and looked into the room. He saw that Qin Jingru had already gone out to buy groceries. He quickly pulled out a box from under the bed, opened it, and found that it contained a small box of small yellow croakers neatly arranged.

Xu Damao carefully picked up a piece with satisfaction, a contented smile on his face. Suddenly, he heard a noise at the door, so he quickly closed the box and pushed it under the bed.

Qin Jingru opened the door carrying groceries and saw that Xu Damao had already gotten up and was putting on his shoes. Remembering her cousin's instructions to her that morning, Qin Jingru pretended to be calm and casually said...

"Da Mao, I just saw Lou Xiao'e at the market. She bought several chickens and ducks. Everyone else is having a banquet, why aren't we?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's previous joy vanished instantly. He glanced at Qin Jingru with an uncertain expression, and then asked.

"Lou Xiao'e is back?"

Qin Jingru pretended not to know anything and nodded.

"Yes! I saw her putting up the double happiness character first thing this morning!"

Upon hearing the word "double happiness," Xu Damao was instantly ignited with a nameless anger. He stood up abruptly and said as he walked outside.

"Silly Zhu wants to get married? Keep dreaming!"

Chapter 40: Blurred Words

Xu Damao pushed open the door and left. Qin Jingru's expression was complicated; she felt herself sinking deeper and deeper into trouble.

She did everything her cousin had asked her to do during this time, even though she didn't quite understand what she was doing.

However, she had a vague feeling that what she was doing was harming someone. But then she thought that if she didn't do it, her cousin wouldn't help her, and what would happen if Da Mao found out that she was faking her pregnancy?

The thought of Lou Xiao'e being kicked out of her home filled Qin Jingru with increasing panic and fear!

Lou Xiao'e was kicked out of her home, but at least He Yuzhu still wanted her. However, if she were kicked out, her reputation would be completely ruined. Should a divorced woman go back to the countryside to farm?

Qin Jingru became increasingly terrified as she thought about it. Sitting at the table, she clutched her chest, feeling a bit of difficulty breathing.

Xu Damao walked to the middle courtyard and saw that He Yuzhu's door was half open. He looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, went straight in.

At this time of day, apart from a few elderly people at home, most young people have gone to work.

As soon as I entered the room, I saw Lou Xiao'e tidying up the bed sheets. The newly laid bed sheets had a big red "囍" character on them, which I found irritating no matter how I looked at them!

Xu Damao entered the room and immediately closed the door. Lou Xiao'e, who was inside, turned around and looked around. When she saw that it was Xu Damao, she was shocked and immediately scolded him.

"Xu Damao, get out of here!"

Xu Damao snorted and took a few steps forward, getting closer to Lou Xiao'e.

Lou Xiao'e recalled the trauma of being slapped by him and quickly took a few steps back until she was backed against the cabinet before she stopped.

Xu Damao stopped in his tracks, his face ashen, and carefully examined Lou Xiao'e. When he saw that she was wearing the new clothes that Sha Zhu had bought for her, his anger flared up again. He pointed at Lou Xiao'e's nose, his face contorted with malice, and cursed through gritted teeth.

"I knew you were no good. You slut, you just got divorced and you're already seducing Sha Zhu. Lou Xiao'e, let me tell you, you want to live a quiet life with Sha Zhu? Keep dreaming! I want to see what happens. After I kill your parents, I'll slowly torture you. Then I'll find a way to kill Sha Zhu. With your family background, even if you die, you'll still be a capitalist's daughter. I'll always find a way to slowly destroy you!"

As Lou Xiao'e listened to Xu Damao's vicious threats, her anger gradually cooled, but a chill ran through her as she felt fear. She remembered what her father had told her last night: "Our departure is the greatest protection we can give you!"

At this moment, she suddenly thought of many things. If she really married Zhu Zi, with Xu Damao's current power, he would take revenge on Zhu Zi sooner or later. Yes, even if she married Zhu Zi, her identity would eventually become Xu Damao's excuse!

Seeing the fear on Lou Xiao'e's face, Xu Damao smiled sinisterly and continued smugly.

"Lou Xiao'e, you'll live in fear every day from now on. I'll slowly torture you two, you despicable couple!"

Still feeling unsatisfied, Xu Damao stepped forward and kicked Lou Xiao'e in the thigh, causing her to stumble.

Lou Xiao'e made no move to resist, letting Xu Damao kick her. Her face was full of panic and her eyes were empty. She looked at the man in front of her with both hatred and fear in her heart!

Xu Damao kicked it twice, then snorted contentedly and left without looking back.

Lou Xiao'e stood there, Xu Damao's footprints still on her legs, but she didn't react at all.

She stood for a long time before slowly straightening up, but the pain in her legs made her bend over again. She frowned but didn't look at the pain in her legs.

She limped as she continued to tidy the bedsheets, doing so carefully and meticulously. Her face was full of tenderness, and a smile appeared on her lips, but in the blink of an eye, as she smiled, tears streamed down her face.

Tears dripped onto the sheets, but she didn't wipe them away. She stood up, turned around, and continued to tidy up the things on the cabinet. She wiped all the furniture in the room again until the whole room looked brand new. Only then did she touch her hair, wipe the sweat from her forehead, and slowly sit down on the edge of the bed.

She opened the cabinet, took out a pen and a notebook, opened a blank page, and stared at the brand-new paper. The pen tip stopped at the beginning, but she couldn't write anything. Her eyes, which had already dried up from crying, became wet again, and tears dripped onto the paper, as if telling a story of silent pain.

"Zhu Zi, I've thought about it for a long time, and I've finally decided to leave with my parents."

As she wrote this, Lou Xiao'e's tears seemed to completely spiral out of control. Her pen moved much harder than usual, and tears spilled onto the notebook, soaking several words. Lou Xiao'e hurriedly tried to wipe them away, but the more she wiped, the more blurred they became, until she finally had to stop.