Chapter 673: Unease in the Back Courtyard

The wedding banquet began; He Yuzhu, He Daqing, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, Chen Qingshan, Wang Shucheng's father Wang Zhifu, and Qin Jianghe all sat at the main table.

Qin Jianghe was the first to stand up and raise his glass: "Today, I represent my whole family in thanking little He. Without you, my daughter would have jumped into a pit of fire. I am very satisfied that she can marry into the Wang family this time and find such a good young man as Shucheng..."

He Yuzhu hurriedly lifted his cup: "Uncle Qin, please don't say that. The man is unmarried and the woman is unmarried; I just acted as a matchmaker."

Wang Zhifu, who was not good with words, also raised his glass and smiled at He Yuzhu: "I'll also toast you. We owe your family too much; to say more would be hypocritical. All my words are in this wine."

"Uncle Wang's eloquence has improved!" He Yuzhu laughed.

Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses and spoke up: "That kid Xu Damao is truly dishonorable. When he got into trouble back then, his wife went to see him every few days. In the end, as soon as his wife lost the child, he cast her aside and ignored her. This person is truly dishonorable."

He Daqing sighed and added: "The older that kid gets, the more he looks like his father."

Liu Haizhong had been holding a grudge against He Yuzhu in his heart; usually a man who loved to talk and laugh, he now just kept his head down and drank, not saying a word.

Yi Zhonghai tried to smooth things over: "The young men in our courtyard over twenty-five are basically all married; only the girls like Yushui are left without a match."

"Daqing, I know a teacher; how about I introduce one to your Yushui?" Yan Bugui said.

"Forget it! You aren't even teaching anymore and are sweeping the streets; you want my Yushui to find a street sweeper too?" He Daqing retorted directly.

Yan Bugui wasn't annoyed and smiled: "Daqing, sweeping the streets is only temporary. Throughout the dynasties, those who are teachers can never go without food."

He Yuzhu nodded: "Third Master is right; this situation won't last too long."

Immediately after, the bride and groom came over to toast. Wang Shucheng walked shyly to the table and lifted a cup: "Thank you all for coming to my wedding; I'll finish mine first as a sign of respect." Qin Jingru also lifted her cup and drank.

In truth, Qin Jingru felt no regret at all in her heart for not choosing Xu Damao.

After her father returned home, he told her everything about Xu Damao going to the station twice, and even Qin Jingru was shocked after hearing it.

She pondered it carefully; other than having money, Xu Damao really had no redeeming qualities, and he wasn't good-looking either.

Looking at Wang Shucheng again, he was a demobilized soldier, and after they met, he was very attentive to her, which made her feel especially secure.

Her father also told her that the He Family could help resolve work issues, and with the added guarantee of Chen Qingshan, Qin Jingru had long since forgotten Xu Damao to the ends of the earth. As for those clothes from before, it would be a waste not to take them.

The wedding banquet remained rowdy until two in the afternoon before breaking up.

He Yuzhu returned to the East Cross Courtyard with a bit of drunkenness. Just as he entered the door, he saw He Yushui, Xiaomi, Dahua, and Xiaoqi walking in with long faces.

He Yuzhu was stunned: "What's wrong with you young ladies? You didn't come back to eat at the banquet today, and your expressions are so ugly?"

Xiaoqi spoke first: "Brother Zhuzi, our unit is going to arrange for us to go to Henan to participate in labor study. I heard the conditions there are quite bitter."

He Yuzhu frowned: "How long will you be gone?"

He Yushui said in a low voice: "They didn't say a specific date. I heard people say it might be for a while."

He Yuzhu sighed, his tone revealing helplessness: "This is an arrangement from above, and your brother can't control it either. Don't worry, I'll prepare some money and Grain Coupons for you."

He Yushui nodded and added: "Our leader said that once we get there, money won't be of any use."

He Yuzhu smiled: "Money might not work, but having no money is even worse. I'll get you some extra Grain Coupons; once you're there, you should still be able to come out and eat something good every week."

At Quanjude in Qianmen, Xu Damao was eating roast duck with his senior fellow apprentice Cui Dazhi.

Cui Dazhi picked up some food and advised: "Damao, it's not that I want to lecture you, but what you did this time was truly hasty. Xie Xiaolan just lost her child, and you're already wanting to marry a new wife. I think your reputation is completely ruined."

Xu Damao was unwilling to accept it: "I always feel like there's something going on; it must be that grandson He Yuzhu playing tricks behind the scenes!"

Cui Dazhi put down his chopsticks: "Junior brother, you know how to handle things well when dealing with outsiders, yet in your own courtyard, you keep going against He Yuzhu. Knowing full well his momentum is strong, you still insist on competing with him; isn't that just asking for trouble? Besides, what can you do to him now?"

Xu Damao sighed, his face full of gloom: "I actually have one last move: go find Zhou Hao. He doesn't get along with He Yuzhu. If I offer a pledge of allegiance, maybe he can help me."

Cui Dazhi advised: "It's best not to get involved in their affairs; you might be the one who suffers in the end."

"I can't swallow this anger; I must take revenge sooner or later!" Xu Damao's eyes held a fierce glint.

In the East Cross Courtyard, Chen Xueru lay on He Yuzhu's lap: "Zhuzi, I can't stay like this anymore. If I stay any longer, I'll be completely ruined."

He Yuzhu said: "In a few days, you go to the Qianmen side. The act here is just about finished; even Yan Bugui believes it, so no one else should be suspicious."

Chen Xueru gritted her teeth: "When I wasn't sick, a bunch of people surrounded me. Now that I'm 'recuperating,' even the people I promoted at my factory don't come to see me!"

He Yuzhu laughed, put on a stern face, and said: "The world is bustling for profit; the world is jostling for gain. If you can't even see through this, you aren't a good merchant yet."

Chen Xueru gave him a hard kiss: "You making me fake illness this time really let me see many people clearly. When I go back one day, I will definitely reorganize things properly."

He Yuzhu asked with a smile: "How is the successor you chose?"

"Xiaomei is good; she is very sensible." Chen Xueru paused, "Zhuzi, I think you need to guard against Xu Damao. No matter what, he didn't end up with Qin Jingru, and you played a big part in that. I suspect he won't let it go."

He Yuzhu said: "What else can he do to me?"

Chen Xueru reminded him: "Have you forgotten who your biggest opponent is? A person like Xu Damao will suck up to anyone for a benefit; maybe he really will go find Zhou Hao. You must wipe clean any flaws you have right now."

He Yuzhu said: "I've thought of that. If Zhou Hao plays by the rules with me, I'll play by the rules with him; if he doesn't play by the rules, then I have no need to play by the rules with him."

Chen Xueru was still worried: "It's best not to reach that point."

He Yuzhu nodded.

At this moment, his little darling He Jia pushed the door open and came in, crying like a little flower cat.

He Yuzhu picked her up and asked: "Weren't you eating with Great-Grandma Deaf? Why are you crying?"

He Jia sobbed and said: "Jia Zhangshi said my mother is in poor health and won't live long. She also said Dad is going to find me a stepmother, and the stepmother will bully children. Dad, are you really going to find me a stepmother?"

He Yuzhu sighed, picked her up, and said: "Let's go, Xueru, I'm taking you both back to Qianmen. This courtyard is truly impossible to stay in."