Chapter 57: Yi Zhonghai's Miscalculation

A Bicycle is definitely faster than a tricycle, and with He Daqing moving at full speed, they finally arrived at the Military Control Commission before twelve o'clock.

Looking at the big certificate (marriage certificate) in his hand, He Daqing revealed a foolish, infatuated smile once again.

"Brother Daqing..."

"Oh, oh, oh, right, let's head back first."

The two returned to the Siheyuan in high spirits; since it was right at mealtime, everyone was at home eating, and there was basically no one in the courtyard, so their arrival didn't cause much of a stir.

"Pandi, this is my house. Once spring comes, I'll renovate it. You just sit wherever for now, I'm going to go make something to eat."

Qin Pandi looked at the large house and felt satisfied, though the main room seemed a bit cluttered; a simple partition wall would allow several more people to live there.

"Brother Daqing, let me help you."

"No need, you just sit; I'll be done very soon."

Qin Pandi didn't insist and instead tidied up the things in the room. This room had been cleaned in a rush by He Daqing and Zhang Ping'an yesterday; how careful could two grown men be?

Once Qin Pandi got her hands on it, things were different; with simple changes, the room was filled with warmth. They say it really is better to have a woman in the house.

He Daqing soon came out of the kitchen carrying a few dishes. He froze for a moment upon seeing the changes in the main room, and the smile on his lips grew even wider.

"Pandi, stop tidying up, come over and eat something to tide yourself over first."

"Mm, okay. Where is Yushui?" asked Qin Pandi after washing her hands.

"Your niece is being taken care of; she won't go hungry. Let's eat first," He Daqing was even more satisfied.

"Okay."

After the two finished eating, they didn't go out but stayed home to organize things. Qin Pandi was the main force, and He Daqing played the assistant; the whole afternoon passed quietly like this.

He Daqing didn't feel tired at all, whereas yesterday, cleaning with Zhang Ping'an had been quite exhausting. Could this be the "men and women working together, not feeling the fatigue"?

In the afternoon, a group of women saw the Bicycle parked by He Daqing's house and knew He Daqing had returned, but since he didn't come out of the room, everyone felt too embarrassed to go over and disturb him.

Plus, with Zhang Ping'an and Jia Dongxu also not back, the topic of conversation all afternoon was guessing who He Daqing's wife was.

By evening, the courtyard became lively, and every household was filled with the scent of cooking smoke. He Daqing and his wife finally walked out of the room.

"Yushui, come home to eat."

"Coming, coming!"

Hearing her father call her, Yushui hurriedly ran out of the Jia Family, and quite a few people also came out at the sound to secretly observe.

"Dad, Mom." Yushui held one hand of each; it really did have the feel of a family of three.

He Daqing also noticed everyone's movements and said in a clear voice,

"Neighbors, this is my wife, Qin Pandi. After we finish eating, I will bring her around to visit everyone and hand out wedding candies."

After saying this, He Daqing took Yushui's hand and returned to his own room. The onlookers were all looking at He Daqing with envy and jealousy; they had all just seen the charming young woman beside He Daqing.

"This He Daqing really has good luck."

"Isn't that the truth?" Everyone's tone was sour.

Yushui walked into the main room and immediately noticed the difference; the originally chaotic and disorganized main room had now become clean and tidy.

"Wow, how did the room become so... big?"

The main room had been chaotic, but once Qin Pandi tidied things up, it naturally looked spacious.

"Hahaha, Yushui, this is all thanks to your mother's hard work all afternoon."

"Mom, you are amazing!"

Yushui looked at Qin Pandi with a face full of admiration. Since she was born, the house had never been this clean and tidy. Qin Pandi had only been here for half a day, and the sloppy home had undergone a huge transformation; how could she not admire her?

"Alright Yushui, let's eat first."

Qin Pandi was also a bit embarrassed by the praise. In her view, this was just the most ordinary housework, and Yushui's reaction didn't seem like exaggeration, which showed what kind of life she had been living these past few years. Qin Pandi felt even more pity for Yushui in her heart.

"Mm, okay."

The family of three finished their dinner in this warm atmosphere, and the people from the Rolling Mill began to return one after another.

"What? Daqing is married?" Yi Zhonghai's pupils shook, and he blurted out.

He hadn't even found a suitable, decent woman for He Daqing yet, and it turned out the man was already married.

"Yeah, what's wrong, Lao Yi?"

"Nothing, nothing. I'm going to check on the Old Lady." Yi Zhonghai realized he had lost his composure and now had no appetite to eat.

Every household had a similar reaction to Yi Zhonghai; almost everyone was shocked, not expecting He Daqing to get married without a word.

"Old Lady, He Daqing is married."

"You arranged it? Zhonghai, you moved too fast."

"It wasn't me, Old Lady..." Yi Zhonghai explained the situation.

Deaf Old Lady frowned and said nothing. She always felt there was a hand that was always one step ahead of them, and this feeling made her very uncomfortable.

"How did He Daqing get married?"

"I'm not very clear either. Xiaocui just told me. Tonight, He Daqing is going to bring his wife around to introduce her."

"Fine, I know. You go back. When He Daqing comes over, I'll ask him."

"Okay."

That evening, He Daqing and his wife brought peanuts and candies to visit the residents of the courtyard.

"This is Lao Yan, the intellectual of our courtyard. And Yan family sister-in-law, the know-it-all of the courtyard. This is my wife, Qin Pandi."

"Nice to meet you."

"Lao He, congratulations."

"Hahaha."

"Lao Yi, sister-in-law, this is my wife, Qin Pandi."

Yi Zhonghai's eyes flashed slightly. Thinking of what his wife said about Zhang Ping'an and Jia Dongxu going with He Daqing to pick up the bride today, and seeing that she was surnamed Qin, it seemed this matter must be related to the Jia Family.

"Congratulations, He."

"Lao Liu..."

"Lao Xu..."

"Deaf Old Lady, this is my wife, Qin Pandi. I've left the wedding candies and peanuts here for you."

"Hello, Deaf Old Lady."

"Daqing."

"Yes, Deaf Old Lady, please speak."

"Your wife is quite good. You can come chat with this old woman when you have time. By the way, where is your wife from?"

"She's from Changping. I met her by chance while going to the countryside to cater a banquet. Deaf Old Lady, it's getting late, so I won't disturb your rest any further."

"Very well, you two go on back."

The reason He Daqing said this was to deal with Deaf Old Lady; he did not want everyone to know that Qin Pandi could not conceive.

This matter made no difference to him, but every time it was mentioned, it was a huge hurt to Qin Pandi, and He Daqing did not want Qin Pandi to be hurt.

Upon returning home, Qin Pandi finally let out a long sigh of relief.

"Brother Daqing, why did that old lady look at people like that? It made me feel uneasy inside."

"That's just how she is. If you're afraid, just go to the Back Courtyard less often from now on; she basically never leaves the Back Courtyard."

"Mm, okay."

The two coaxed Yushui to sleep, washed up, and began their intimate exchange; He Daqing had been holding back his fire for several years, so tonight was destined to be restless.

The soundproofing in the Siheyuan was not like modern renovations; it was terrible. Yi Zhonghai's home was the closest, making him a victim as well; the sound of wild cats kept Yi Zhonghai from sleeping well all night.

The next morning, Qin Pandi got up early to prepare breakfast. Compared to yesterday, she was exceptionally rosy-cheeked today.

"Yushui, get up and eat." Qin Pandi patted the sleepy-eyed Yushui, and He Daqing also washed up, feeling refreshed.

"Mom and Dad, I think I heard a cat meowing last night."

"..." Qin Pandi's expression turned unnatural, while He Daqing just chuckled.

After the family of three finished eating, Qin Pandi felt like taking Yushui to bathe before the New Year; yesterday she had seen that the little girl's underpants were full of white dead skin, clearly having not bathed for some time.

Actually, when winter began, Yushui had gone to the bathhouse with Qin Huairu, but children are naturally active, and it was winter; the child's clothes would get wet and dry, then wet again, and she relied on her own body heat to warm them at night, so it was no wonder there was so much grime after such repetition.

"Brother Daqing, I'll boil some water later to give Yushui a bath."

"It's too cold to wash at home; let's go to the bathhouse, she can get a proper wash there too."

"That works too."