Chapter 672: Intercepting Qin Jingru

Xu Damao had just finished moving, humming a tune that was off-key, and swayed straight toward Qin Huairu's house.

"Dong, dong, dong—"

He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Qin Huairu pulled the door open a crack, and upon seeing that it was Xu Damao standing outside, her expression sank instantly, and she prepared to close the door without a word.

Xu Damao was quick-witted and fast-handed; he swiftly jammed a foot into the door gap and said with a cheeky grin, "Sister Qin, why are you so unwelcoming to me? Our two families are about to become relatives!"

Qin Huairu glared at him fiercely: "A toad lusting after swan meat! My cousin is only twenty years old; why on earth would she marry you?"

Xu Damao chuckled, looking smug: "Sister Qin, you don't know, but Jingru and I have already agreed; we're going to get our marriage certificate in a few days!"

Qin Huairu spat immediately: "Stop daydreaming! With me around, you two won't make it happen!"

Upon hearing this, the smile on Xu Damao's face froze instantly, and he grew anxious at once: "Qin Huairu, if you dare to ruin this, I won't be finished with you!"

Qin Huairu was not afraid in the slightest; instead, she sneered: "Xu Damao, what do you think you are? You're nothing but a toilet cleaner; how dare you threaten someone like me who works for the labor union?"

Xu Damao was choked into silence, spat fiercely, turned around, and left, cursing all the way.

Seven days later, it was time for the Wang Zhifu family to hold their wedding.

The Wang family had really spent a fortune this time, planning to set up a banquet to treat everyone in the courtyard, and they had even specifically invited the chefs from He Ji Restaurant to take charge of the cooking.

Once the news spread, the entire Ninety-five Courtyard immediately became lively.

Before this, Xu Damao had already been jumping around the courtyard for several days.

He pestered Qin Huairu every day, wanting her to help him contact Qin Jingru, but Qin Huairu couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind at all.

At first, she barely managed to respond with a few words, but later on, she simply wouldn't say a single word to him.

Xu Damao was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth in the courtyard.

Hearing that the Wang family was holding a wedding, he felt even more restless and went around asking everyone which family the bride was from.

But the Wang family members were tight-lipped; no matter who he asked, they refused to reveal even half a word.

Early on the morning of the banquet, the Ninety-five Courtyard completely exploded with activity.

The Wang family borrowed He Yuzhu's East Cross Courtyard to hold the wedding, and He Yuzhu specifically had people set up a pavilion, hang red silk, and paste up "double happiness" characters, making the whole place look festive at a glance.

There were exactly fifteen tables set up in the courtyard, with bowls and chopsticks arranged neatly. The chefs from He Ji Restaurant were busy working away in front of the temporarily erected stoves, and the aroma of the food filled the entire courtyard.

The main people managing the wedding were Qin Huairu and Zhao Yingzi, who were busy greeting guests and keeping accounts, so busy they barely had a moment to stand still.

Bang Geng was responsible for leading guests to their seats, and he was equally busy and happy.

"Pi-li-pa-la—"

As soon as the firecrackers sounded, everyone in the courtyard gathered around.

The bride entered the door.

Xu Damao squeezed to the very front of the crowd, stretching his neck to peer inside.

The moment the bride showed her face, his eyes widened instantly, and his whole body stiffened—

It was actually Qin Jingru!

"Qin Jingru!"

Xu Damao exploded on the spot, shouting at the top of his lungs: "You promised to marry me! What on earth is going on?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a hand reached out from behind him and clamped down on the back of his neck.

Xu Damao only felt a "buzz" in his head, his vision went black, his legs turned to jelly, and he collapsed in a daze.

He Yuzhu carried him with one hand, as easily as if he were carrying a sack, and hauled him straight back to his own room.

When Xu Damao slowly came to, the moment he opened his eyes, he saw He Yuzhu sitting in front of the bed, looking at him with a smile.

Xu Damao scrambled up, his eyes red: "He Yuzhu, what did you bring me here for?"

He Yuzhu spoke unhurriedly: "Xu Damao, what you did wasn't right. The Wang family is holding a wedding; is it appropriate for you to run over and cause a scene?"

Xu Damao's eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth: "Qin Jingru clearly said she was going to marry me; why should she marry that poor kid Wang Shucheng?"

"You're a toilet cleaner, and you have the nerve to look down on a demobilized soldier?" He Yuzhu's tone was flat. "Wang Shucheng is about to go work at the Street Office, under Wang Xia. What right do you have to look down on people?"

Xu Damao said anxiously: "But... but I had an agreement with Qin Jingru; I was going to buy her a job!"

He Yuzhu sneered: "You don't need to trouble yourself with Qin Jingru's affairs; the Wang family has already arranged a job for her."

"Impossible!" Xu Damao widened his eyes. "Where would the Wang family get that much money?"

He Yuzhu counted it out clearly on his fingers for him: "Wang Zhifu has been working with Chen Qingshan, Sister Wang helps out over there too, Wang Shucheng is about to start at the Street Office, and Qin Jingru can go work at the factory after she marries in. Their lives will only get better; stop daydreaming."

Xu Damao was shaking with rage: "I even bought her a new set of clothes, damn it!"

He Yuzhu pulled an envelope from his pocket and threw it on the bed: "Qin Jingru said that outfit cost thirty-seven yuan. Here is forty yuan; the Lao Wang family is paying you back for her."

Xu Damao opened the envelope and counted: four brand-new ten-yuan bills.

He bit his lip, his face flushed red, and he roared hysterically: "Damn it... I've been played! I was actually played by someone!"

He Yuzhu asked with a smile: "Aren't you curious why Qin Jingru isn't marrying you?"

"Why?"

He Yuzhu spoke slowly: "Do you remember a few days ago, an old farmer came to the courtyard looking for someone? You kept calling him an 'old geezer,' complaining that he was dirty and being impatient. That was Qin Jingru's own father; he saw through your character, and there's no way he would let his daughter marry you."

Xu Damao slammed his fist hard against the bed frame: "Damn it! Is that my fault?"

He panted for a long time, then suddenly looked up and glared at He Yuzhu: "Did you have a hand in this?!"

He Yuzhu looked innocent: "What does that have to do with me? It's clearly just that you didn't pass the father-in-law's test."

Xu Damao was so angry his face turned livid; he couldn't say a word for a long time, collapsing on the bed and panting heavily.

Near noon, the Wang family sent someone over to invite people to take their seats for the meal.

He Yuzhu turned to look at Xu Damao, smiling but not smiling: "Well? Do you plan on giving a gift today?"

Xu Damao glared: "I'm not giving a damn thing!"

He Yuzhu reminded him unhurriedly: "Xu Damao, you don't have to give a gift, but don't cause trouble. Qin Jingru is a relative of my Siqiang; if you cause trouble, you're not giving me face. If you don't give me face, I won't leave you any face either."

Xu Damao gritted his teeth in hatred, gnashing them: "He Yuzhu, I know you had a hand in this! You just wait, sooner or later, your day of misfortune will come!"

He Yuzhu grinned, not the least bit annoyed: "I'll wait for that day. It's just that by then, whether you're still here or not is hard to say."

Xu Damao was so angry he didn't want to say another word, turning his head and walking straight out.

Just then, Bang Geng ran in from outside, saw his appearance, and playfully leaned in: "Uncle Damao, the feast is about to start, you're not even going to eat such a good banquet?"

Xu Damao snapped angrily: "Get lost, get lost! Get the hell out of here!"

Bang Geng wasn't afraid at all; watching his furious retreating back, he leaned over to He Yuzhu's side and asked with a grin: "Siqiang, what kind of sickness is he having?"

He Yuzhu said nonchalantly: "His wife was taken by someone else, he's unhappy."

Bang Geng was amused upon hearing this: "I heard he divorced just to marry Qin Jingru, and now that Qin Jingru has married someone else, didn't he divorce for nothing? Hmph!"

He Yuzhu reached out and rubbed his head: "The things I asked you to do, have they all been settled?"

Bang Geng nodded quickly: "I found a few scrap collectors to go to those families to collect items, and the prices given were very high, enough for a month of their living expenses. From time to time, I also use grain to trade with them."

He Yuzhu looked at him seriously: "Remember, you brat must absolutely not be greedy for this money, do you hear me?"

Bang Geng's face turned red with anxiety: "Siqiang, you give me pocket money every month, if I were to be greedy for this, I wouldn't be human!"

He Yuzhu stared at him and gave one more instruction: "Make it clear to your little friends too, not a single cent of the money given to others can be skimmed, otherwise I will spot-check them one by one!"

Bang Geng nodded vigorously.