Chapter 233: He Yuzhu is Provoked

Looking at the unreasonable mother and son before him, He Yuzhu felt they were both pathetic and hateful. They seemed to always pick faults in others while never reflecting on what they had done wrong themselves.

"Jia Dongxu, I originally held you in higher regard, thinking you were different from your mother. You actually eavesdropped on others, and now you're using what you overheard to argue with me—where do you get the nerve?"

A fierce glint surged in Jia Dongxu's eyes as he stiffened his neck and said, "My mother has already gone to the Qin family to propose marriage; Qin Huairu is my bride-to-be. She was in a room with you, so I was worried—why couldn't I listen to what you were saying? You said my family's luck is bad; that's sowing discord, that's having malicious intent! That's harboring ulterior motives!"

He Yuzhu was left between laughter and tears, but some things couldn't be said too bluntly; he couldn't exactly say he didn't like Qin Huairu at all, and that he preferred someone like Liu Rusi!

He shook his head and said, "Jia Dongxu, you're overthinking it. I haven't reached your level yet, where I'm so desperate to take a wife that I can't sleep!"

The people in the courtyard burst into a roar of laughter upon hearing this. Jia Dongxu's face turned beet red.

Jia Zhangshi immediately shrieked at the top of her lungs, "You little beast! At such a young age, you're already causing trouble behind people's backs and ruining others' marriages—may you die a horrible death!"

He Yuzhu sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm: "I think the one ruining people's marriages is you, the mother. You've cursed your way through every street and alley; who in the whole hutong doesn't know you, Jia Zhangshi, are a shrew? Just looking at the fact that Jia Dongxu has a mother like you, I don't think he'll ever be able to get a wife!"

"You little beast, you're cursing my Dongxu—I'll fight you to the death!" As Jia Zhangshi said this, she lunged toward He Yuzhu, but was held back tightly by Jia Dongxu.

Jia Zhangshi still wouldn't let up, cursing, "You little beast, you're just a fugitive; the authorities should have caught you. You must have escaped and snuck back this time—I'm going to report you to the authorities in a moment."

"Go ahead, but don't forget how your leg got broken?" He Yuzhu sneered; it seemed the Jia family didn't learn from their beatings. He said loudly, "Think about the late Xu Fugui, Li Laoer, Dajinya, Mazilian, Bureau Chief Lou... their graves are overgrown with grass now, so why don't you have a better memory? Do you really think our He Family is easy to bully?"

Once these words were out, the courtyard fell deathly silent. Everyone looked at each other, saying nothing.

Only Jia Zhangshi refused to yield, still shouting, "You little beast, others might fear you, but I don't! Don't try to scare me with those dead people! We are definitely marrying Qin Huairu; her parents have already agreed—who do you think you are..."

"Jia Zhangshi, don't come here and stir up trouble with me. Why don't you ask Qin Huairu herself if she's willing to marry your son?"

Qin Huairu, being quite clever, immediately spoke up: "I already told my mother, even if I die, I will never enter the door of your Jia family! I'm afraid of being tormented to death by you!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the courtyard became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"By the order of parents and the word of matchmakers! You will agree whether you want to or not," Jia Zhangshi continued to argue unreasonably.

Seeing her so arrogant, He Yuzhu said, "Do you think you're a brothel madam, able to force sales? I'll lay it out right here: I'm going to find my Siqiang right now and go to Qin Family Village to talk about what kind of people your Jia family are. I want to see if my Siqiang can manage the affairs of the Qin family!"

"You heaven-slaying little beast! You heartless thing!" Jia Zhangshi sat down on the ground with a thud. "Lao Jia! Come up here and take him away! This little beast is bullying people with his influence..."

Yi Zhonghai hurried out to smooth things over: "Dongxu, hurry and pull your mother back... the girl doesn't agree; a forced melon isn't sweet. Zhuzi, you just got back, don't be so hot-headed. Listen to me, as neighbors, you should be kind to one another!"

"Being kind is fine, but it depends on who you're dealing with. With unreasonable people, there's no need! If you want to follow in the footsteps of Xu Fugui and Li Laoer, I'll grant your wish!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi immediately fell silent. Jia Dongxu also shrank his neck and dragged his mother toward their home, though Jia Zhangshi was still cursing under her breath.

He Yuzhu returned to his room, his lingering anger not yet dissipated.

Qin Huairu whispered, trying to persuade him: "Zhuzi, today's matter is all my fault; I didn't explain things clearly to my family..."

He Yuzhu thought for a moment, sighed, and said, "Actually, I was wrong to tell you the Jia family is bad. After all, the old saying goes: it is better to tear down ten temples than to break one marriage."

Qin Huairu hesitated and said, "Actually, Jia Dongxu has been pursuing me for half a year. I think Jia Dongxu is a decent person, it's just his mother... she really is a shrew... she used to look down on me completely, pointing at the mulberry tree to curse the locust tree every day... but two months ago, she suddenly changed... later I asked people in the courtyard, and it was because someone spread a rumor that your house was my dowry... just because of that, I wouldn't marry into their family."

"Actually, when I told you the Jia family's luck was bad, it wasn't without reason. I've loved listening to storytelling since I was a child and often hung around the Qianmen area. When I was very young, I met a fortune teller named Wang Banxian who taught me the art of physiognomy. In truth, based on facial features, you and Jia Dongxu were supposed to have a marriage lasting about 10 years, with three children... but his lifespan is short; he only has thirteen years left. Out of respect for my Siqiang, I didn't want you to jump into a fire pit, so I told you the truth. This has already broken a great taboo."

Qin Huairu felt a chill down her spine. She looked at He Yuzhu for a long time before saying, "But, but how could I possibly marry into his family?"

"If you hadn't moved into this courtyard by a twist of fate, how would you have known Jia Zhangshi was that kind of person? Perhaps someone would have proposed to you, and seeing they were city folk and the man looked decent, you might have agreed."

"Thank you, Zhuzi." Qin Huairu's body trembled slightly. "Then... can you tell my fortune again?"

"No," He Yuzhu waved his hand, "Heavenly secrets cannot be leaked again."

Yan Bugui whispered to his wife, Yang Ruihua: "Did you hear that? Zhuzi basically admitted it—Xu Fugui, Li Laoer, Dajinya, and even Mazilian and Bureau Chief Lou were all dealt with by the people behind them. What kind of background could this be?"

Yang Ruihua lowered her voice: "Judging by what he said, I'm afraid they had people behind them even when the little devils were here..."

"Could it be that He Daqing hasn't returned all these years because he went to join the army?" Yan Bugui mused.

"That's eight or nine out of ten," Yang Ruihua murmured.

Yi Zhonghai sipped his wine alone, feeling very uneasy. He recalled the murderous look in He Yuzhu's eyes earlier and thought of the ups and downs of the He Family over the years, finally realizing—He Yuzhu's confidence likely truly came from He Daqing.

When He Yuzhu got up to leave, he caught a glimpse of Jia Dongxu, eyes red, peering through the window with a look full of hatred.

The next day, He Yuzhu carried his meticulously drawn clothing designs to Chen Xueru's shop. Pushing the door open, he saw that Lou Xiaoe was also there.

The young girl saw him enter, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she quietly lowered her head—the little girl from the past had grown up a bit and now knew how to be shy.

"Little E, why are you shy when you see me!" He Yuzhu said with a smile.

Lou Xiaoe pouted and said, "I'm not! Brother Zhuzi, you haven't taken photos of me in a long time; you have to take photos of me today!"

"Alright, I'll take them!" He Yuzhu said.

Chen Xueru took the designs and examined them carefully, a light gradually appearing in her eyes as if she had found a treasure.

He Yuzhu explained, "The styles of these clothes are very simple, and the materials are common. For this tank top, you can sell it very cheaply, or even sell it at half price, and embroider your shop's brand name on the back of the clothes..."

Lou Xiaoe looked at the tank top and pouted, "This clothing looks too shabby when worn."

"This is very practical; it's better than going shirtless, right!" He Yuzhu said.

Just as the three were talking, a commotion suddenly came from outside the shop.

A group of people surrounded the entrance aggressively, shouting loudly: "Tell your Boss to come out!"

Chen Xueru frowned and said, "Zhuzi, my shop is in trouble. The younger brother of Xiao Erduo from Nancheng came to my shop to propose marriage, and I didn't agree; they're likely here to cause trouble... you should leave quickly!"

"If I leave, who will handle your business?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Xiaoe's Bodyguard is here!" Chen Xueru said.

"I don't think they dare to provoke Xiao Erduo's people!" He Yuzhu said.

He Yuzhu walked out of the shop with her and saw Xiao Erduo at a glance.

He Yuzhu walked up unhurriedly and stared at him: "Xiao Erduo, your guts are getting bigger and bigger? I sent you a message telling you not to have designs on Chenji Buzhuang; did a dog eat your memory?"

Xiao Erduo squinted his eyes, leaned in close to He Yuzhu to look him over for a long time, but didn't recognize who it was, and grinned with a sneer: "Who the hell are you? You dare to meddle in my business?"

He Yuzhu's expression remained unchanged, his tone calm yet filled with intimidation: "I am He Yuzhu. Still remember?"

Xiao Erduo's eyes flickered, then he pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile: "Long time no see, long time no see! It really has been a long time." He paused, his tone suddenly turning ruthless, carrying a hint of triumph: "I heard that the woman you relied on is no longer in favor; now, I really don't fear you anymore!"