Chapter 48: Ten Yuan

"You stinking girl, what are you doing? You haven't even married into the family yet and you're already making eyes at an outsider; what kind of behavior is that!" Jia Zhangshi grabbed Qin Huairu, her voice as sharp as a chainsaw.

He Yuzhu was startled by this sudden reprimand, but seeing Qin Huairu being scolded, he felt a bit indignant:

"Auntie Jia, I was just chatting with Miss Qin, please don't..."

"Chatting? What kind of chatting?" Jia Zhangshi's eyes widened, "A mere yellow-haired boy, what is there to chat about! Qin Huairu, have you forgotten that you've already received your marriage certificate with our Dongxu? This is a disgrace to our Jia Family!"

Qin Huairu lowered her head, a look of grievance on her face, but a flash of disdain crossed her eyes.

She had already seen the temperament of this mother-in-law; the days ahead would likely not be easy.

Jia Dongxu stood to the side, at a loss, not daring to make a sound, and Qin Huairu's heart grew even colder.

Just as the atmosphere was tense and ready to snap, Yi Zhonghai walked over at some point, smiling and trying to smooth things over:

"Oh, sister-in-law, don't be angry, what's wrong with young people chatting? Besides, Zhuzi has famous Cooking skills; since your Dongxu is getting married, isn't it perfect to ask him to help prepare the wedding banquet!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi's tone softened slightly: "This... this is actually an idea."

Reminded by Yi Zhonghai's words, He Yuzhu's eyes lit up; being able to cook for Qin Huairu's wedding banquet, wasn't this just being in the best position to get what one wants?

Although he was cooking for her wedding to someone else, at least he could let her taste his craft.

"I... I..." He Yuzhu stammered, wanting to agree, but his gaze involuntarily searched for Li Mingyuan, as he was currently listening to Uncle Li.

"Yuzhu," Yi Zhonghai coaxed him,

"Look, we are all neighbors in the same Siheyuan, we should help each other out. Dongxu's wedding is a joyous occasion, with your excellent skills, how can you not show them off?"

Jia Zhangshi also added fuel to the fire from the side: "That's right, Shazhu, you've learned so many good skills from Chief Engineer Li, you should let everyone have a taste. Qin Huairu is from the countryside and hasn't eaten anything good yet; if you don't help, what a pity!"

Qin Huairu raised her eyes, and in the ripple of her gaze, she cast a look at He Yuzhu that seemed both grateful and expectant.

This look made He Yuzhu's heart melt, and he almost agreed on the spot.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the sound of a bicycle bell came from the gate of the Siheyuan; Li Mingyuan had ridden back.

"Uncle Li!" He Yushui ran up from afar, shouting excitedly.

He Yuzhu's words were immediately stuck in his throat, his gaze involuntarily following Li Mingyuan's figure.

Li Mingyuan scanned the situation in the courtyard and immediately sensed something was wrong.

He Yuzhu's infatuated look, Qin Huairu's affectionate gaze, and the calculating expressions on Yi Zhonghai and Jia Zhangshi...

He sighed inwardly; as expected, he couldn't escape the trajectory of the original plot.

After parking the bike, Li Mingyuan walked to He Yuzhu's side unhurriedly: "What's wrong? What are you all discussing?"

Yi Zhonghai hurried forward, his face full of smiles:

"Chief Engineer Li is back! Just in time, we were discussing Dongxu's wedding. We wanted to ask Yuzhu to help with the cooking; I wonder if you could make it convenient?"

Li Mingyuan smiled slightly: "Oh? A wedding banquet? That's a good thing."

He looked at He Yuzhu and asked meaningfully, "Do you want to go help?"

He Yuzhu's eyes flickered, and he stammered: "I... I want to go help... if you allow it, Uncle Li..."

"Helping is fine," Li Mingyuan's tone shifted, "but there must be payment."

"Pay... payment?" Yi Zhonghai was stunned, the smile on his face faltering,

"Chief Engineer Li, that's being a bit distant. We are all neighbors, isn't helping each other what we should do?"

Li Mingyuan said unhurriedly: "Master Yi, you are wrong there. Neighbors are neighbors, but help is help, and the due payment must still be paid."

"He Yuzhu doesn't have money to burn; he and Yushui still have to go to school, and tuition and living expenses are all costs. His skills were also learned, and they shouldn't be given away for free."

Jia Zhangshi grew anxious on the side: "Chief Engineer Li, aren't you making things difficult for people? How much is our Dongxu's salary? How could we afford any payment?"

Li Mingyuan looked at Jia Zhangshi, his gaze instantly turning sharp:

"Auntie Jia, marriage is a joyous occasion, so naturally it costs money. If you can't afford a big banquet, keep it simple; if you can't afford a banquet, don't hire a chef. If you want to ask someone to help, you must pay."

The courtyard went quiet, and everyone was stunned by Li Mingyuan's firm attitude.

He Yuzhu's eyes drifted, not daring to look at Qin Huairu's disappointed expression, but he also didn't dare to defy Li Mingyuan's wishes.

Yi Zhonghai took a deep breath, maintaining a facade of amiability:

"Chief Engineer Li, how about this: Yuzhu comes to help, we provide the food, and we give him a little extra as a token of appreciation..."

"Ten yuan." Li Mingyuan interrupted directly, "For He Yuzhu to cook the wedding banquet for the Jia Family, the payment is ten yuan, no bargaining. If you think it's expensive, you can hire someone else."

"Ten yuan!" Jia Zhangshi exclaimed, "This... this... isn't this extortion!"

The neighbors in the Siheyuan couldn't help but start whispering.

"Ten yuan? That's almost half a month's salary for an ordinary worker!"

"Li Mingyuan is too ruthless, taking advantage of the situation to blackmail!"

"Who would dare ask He Yuzhu to cook now, at this price..."

Li Mingyuan turned a deaf ear to these gossips and just looked calmly at Yi Zhonghai: "Master Yi, what do you think?"

Yi Zhonghai's expression was uncertain; he hadn't expected Li Mingyuan to be so firm.

Ten yuan wasn't a problem for him, but this was equivalent to being publicly humiliated by Li Mingyuan.

But if he didn't agree, it would be a blow to his long-planned scheme of taking on an apprentice...

After pondering for a moment, Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth, took a small cloth bag from his pocket, counted out ten yuan, and handed it to Li Mingyuan:

"Since Chief Engineer Li has spoken, I will give you this face. Ten yuan, it's not much."

Li Mingyuan didn't take the money, but signaled for He Yuzhu to take it: "This is your payment, keep it safe."

He Yuzhu hesitated for a moment, but eventually took the money, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He stole a glance at Qin Huairu and found her face full of surprise; clearly, she hadn't expected things to develop this way.

Jia Zhangshi's eyes widened, unable to believe that Yi Zhonghai had actually paid; she was speechless for a moment, standing there at a loss.

Li Mingyuan patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder: "Let's go, let's go home and eat. You can discuss the wedding banquet yourselves; I believe you will do a good job."

After saying this, he led the He siblings toward the West Courtyard.

Along the way, He Yuzhu kept his head down, kicking pebbles, feeling unhappy.