Chapter 38: Housewarming

"Deputy Director He, why don't you look at my face while you sing?" This was already the third time Wang Danyang had asked He Yuzhu why he always looked elsewhere while singing *The Battle of Wits*.

He Yuzhu rubbed his head frantically, his eyes drifting unconsciously to another spot as he said, "My eyes aren't good; I can't look at bright light."

"Pfft." Wang Danyang gave a charming laugh and rolled her eyes at him.

"Didn't expect you to be quite humorous."

"Ahem, continue, let's continue rehearsing, don't make Factory Director Yang lose face." While saying this, He Yuzhu secretly cursed Factory Director Yang in his heart; who could handle a face like this!

Finally, evening arrived. He Yuzhu declined Factory Director Yang's suggestion to have dinner with everyone that night. The head chef had run off, but Ma Hua was still there; having received quite a bit of genuine instruction, the food Ma Hua made was actually quite decent and won unanimous praise.

As soon as he left the factory, He Yuzhu headed straight for the vegetable market, bought a pile of vegetables, and additionally bought a symbolic amount of meat to put in his net bag before heading back.

It wasn't that he was stingy; he still had plenty of meat in his space. Besides, he had seen through this bunch of animals; no matter how good you were to them, it was useless.

So it didn't matter; he would just see how he felt when it came time to cook.

Walking along the way, just as he reached the entrance, he happened to run into Xiao Zhang, who had returned with Yushui.

"Brother, why didn't you call us for the housewarming tonight? Zhang, hurry and take it for Brother." Yushui greeted him affectionately, not forgetting to instruct her boyfriend, who was standing there foolishly and giggling.

"It's fine, no need to be polite, let's go inside and talk." He Yuzhu stepped back two paces, and after speaking, he led the two of them toward the back.

"Brother, we haven't seen each other for a few days and you've become distant." Yushui pouted, then led Zhang toward her room.

He Yuzhu let out a sigh of relief; it was a good thing he had asked Qin Huairu to help him tidy up Yushui's room, otherwise, Yushui would have gone crazy.

He hurried back to his own room and took out duck, fish, kidney flowers, and pork from his space, and began to prepare them.

As for the people in the courtyard, it didn't matter if they ate well or poorly, but since his sister was back, he definitely had to make more good food.

Growing up without a father or mother, it hadn't been easy.

Whenever he thought of the father of the original He Yuzhu, He Yuzhu would shake his head; it was truly hereditary.

One ran off with a widow, the other was dragged down by a widow for a lifetime; they really were father and son.

"Brother, I'll help you." After looking at the room, He Yushui walked in beautifully with her boyfriend. She had seen the cosmetics, Down Jacket, fountain pen, Violin, earrings, and a series of other things in the box that He Yuzhu had signed in from the system, so she was acting exceptionally attentive.

"You two go wash and pick the vegetables. Are you on break for the Little New Year?" After giving the order, He Yuzhu continued to busy himself with the fish in his hands; tonight it would be braised carp in bean paste!

"Yes, we're on break for the Little New Year. Brother, this time Xiao Zhang came over to ask about our marriage." He Yushui said casually.

Xiao Zhang, standing to the side, quietly pricked up his ears.

"If you've thought it through, then get married. What else is there to ask?" He Yuzhu slowly put down the fish-scaling knife in his hand, feeling a sense of loss in his heart.

Although he had transmigrated here, he had completely inherited the memories of He Yuzhu, so it was no problem to say he was He Yuzhu; the family affection in his blood could not be erased.

"Brother!" He Yushui stomped her foot, feeling dissatisfied.

"What's wrong? If you have something to say, just say it."

"The date, the dowry, the bride price, whether to notify him..." As He Yushui spoke, her voice grew lower.

"You two can decide the date. I don't want a single cent of bride price, and the dowry will be generous. As for him, you should notify him. The First Elder has his address; go write a letter and put some money in it, just in case he doesn't have the travel expenses to come." He Yuzhu lit a cigarette and continued to busy himself.

"Okay."

"Thank you, Brother." Xiao Zhang also said gratefully.

"Don't be in such a hurry to thank me. Let me tell you, even though I don't want your bride price, it doesn't mean she isn't important. I only have this one sister. Not wanting a bride price is because I hope you two will be well. You must promise to treat her well for a lifetime, otherwise, I'll beat you." He Yuzhu glanced at the chives that Xiao Zhang had picked into a mess and said through gritted teeth.

"Brother, what are you saying!"

"Hey, Yushui, don't talk. Brother, don't worry, I promise you, I will treat Yushui well for a lifetime. I swear, if I treat her even a little bit poorly, you can beat me to death!" Xiao Zhang wiped his hands, stood up quickly, and swore an oath.

"Alright, stop picking the vegetables, you've ruined them all. After you're married, be considerate of each other, don't fight. Your work is busy and dangerous, be careful yourself. When do you plan to hold the wedding?"

"Hey, I know, Brother. The preliminary plan is the sixth day of the first lunar month. It just so happens that the relatives are all on holiday and can come. Do you think that's okay, Brother?"

"That's fine. Where are you holding it?" He Yuzhu naturally had no objections.

"My father's idea is not to make a big show of it. Just at our house, plus the courtyard, twenty tables. It's wronging Yushui, Brother, please don't mind, it's mainly because..." He Yuzhu naturally understood Xiao Zhang's awkward appearance and nodded, interrupting him.

"I know, that's fine. When the time comes, I'll bring the people from our kitchen to cook for you."

"That would be great, thank you, Brother."

"You silly thing, what did I say? Our brother is the best and loves me the most. You were even afraid he would make things difficult for you, how about that?" Yushui raised her head proudly, looking at the two most important men in her life, feeling extremely happy in her heart.

"Oh, Yushui is back. Zhang is here too. Why didn't you call me over to help?" Qin Huairu walked in with a smile and began to pick and wash vegetables as if she were at home.

"Sister, we just arrived. Your skin has been getting better and better lately, so fair." Yushui put down the vegetables in her hand, took Qin Huairu's hand, and stared enviously at her fair face.

"Sigh, I don't know what's wrong. Lately, I've been more and more afraid of the sun. I don't dare to look at it, and I feel uncomfortable all over when I'm in the sun. I don't know what's wrong." Qin Huairu sighed and said in a low voice.

"Have you been to the Hospital?" Yushui asked worriedly.

"I went. The doctor said my white blood cell count is a bit high, maybe it's inflammation from internal heat, and prescribed some anti-inflammatory medicine."

He Yuzhu's mind wasn't on this, so he didn't pay much attention to Qin Huairu's words, but even if he had, what could he do?

This illness, there was no solution!

Soon, everyone finished work and returned home. The aunties from each household carried things into He Yuzhu's room and began to get busy.

Many hands make light work; soon, three tables of delicious home-cooked meals were set up in the courtyard.

"Today, Zhuzi is having a housewarming, congratulations to everyone! Wishing Zhuzi more and more prosperity." The First Elder sat beside the old lady, stood up with a smile, nodded to everyone, and raised his glass to toast He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu stood up quickly; it wasn't for anything else, just because the First Elder was an elder, he still had that much self-awareness.

Regardless, the First Elder was generally okay, not as rotten to the core as the Second Elder, Jia Geng, Jia Zhangshi, or Xu Damao.

"I should be the one to toast you, First Elder. Thank you, thank you everyone."

"Bottoms up!"

"The second cup, everyone should know by now, quite a few things have happened in the courtyard recently. Bang Geng was arrested, the Second Elder and Xu Damao both ended up in the Hospital. This Xu Damao... forget it, let's drink, bottoms up!" As the First Elder spoke, he thought of Xu Damao's miserable state, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, couldn't bear to continue, and downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.

"Bottoms up!"

After three rounds of drinks, the group gradually dispersed, leaving only the First Elder, the Third Elder, Yushui, Xiao Zhang, and Qin Huairu's family sitting there talking.

"I went back and thought about it, it's thanks to you catching Bang Geng, otherwise... Sister will finish this cup." Qin Huairu raised her glass and drank it all in one go.

"Sister, what exactly happened?" Yushui, who had been holding it in for the whole meal, finally asked, and Qin Huairu explained it to her in a low voice.

"Ah? He, he, he... that, that, that Xu Damao???" After a moment, Yushui covered her mouth in shock, stuttering and not knowing how to describe her astonishment.

"Alright, you all go into the room to chat, we're going to drink for a while." He Yuzhu picked up a peanut, tossed it into his mouth, and shooed Qin Huairu and the others off to Yushui's room.

"Zhuzi, thank you."

"Hey, why are you still being so polite?" He Yuzhu shook his head, speechless.

"It is right for First Elder to be grateful to you; a life-saving grace is never too much to repay." Third Elder chimed in with a smile.

"Fine, let's drink." He Yuzhu smiled nonchalantly and raised his wine glass.

"Brother, I'll go ask at the station tomorrow to see if the money you had stolen can be recovered. If it is, I'll bring it over to you." Xiao Zhang watched everyone put down their glasses and spoke up.

"Alright, go ahead and ask. No need to bring it back; give it to Yushui so she can buy some things and furnish the place. I can't help with anything else." He Yuzhu nodded.

"Ah? No need, Brother, we have money." Xiao Zhang was suddenly a bit anxious. He hadn't asked for a dowry or made any other demands, not wanting to make things difficult for himself, so if he let He Yuzhu spend money on their marriage, wouldn't that be a slap in his own face?

"Living life, living life, there are plenty of places to spend money. We're family, don't be strangers." He Yuzhu shook his head, cutting off the rest of what Xiao Zhang was going to say.

"Hey, First Elder, you have to admit, this Zhuzi is getting more and more of a leader's temperament, isn't he?" Third Elder's eyes narrowed slightly behind his glasses as he laughed.

After everyone dispersed, He Yuzhu, feeling the alcohol rising, didn't bother cleaning the table; he lit a cigarette, went back to his room on his own, and lay down on his bed.

Suddenly, Wang Danyang's face appeared in his mind...

"Wow~"