Chapter 97: Zhuang Yan

"Hearing you say that, I'm actually afraid Zhou Rong will give birth to a daughter for me; I'm afraid that when she grows up and gets married, I'll also feel sad." Li Qiang said, picking up the conversation from the side.

"Who's been shouting every day that they want a daughter, saying a daughter is parents' little padded jacket?" Zhou Rong glared at Li Qiang and said.

"I definitely want a daughter, but hearing big brother say that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable inside." Li Qiang said embarrassedly.

"Alright, even if we have a daughter, she'll need another twenty years or so before she grows up and gets married; what are you worrying about now?" Elder sister-in-law Yang Fen said.

"That's true, let's not talk about that anymore; let's eat first." Li Qiang replied with a smile.

"By the way, Zhuzi, what does Yushui's significant other do for work?" Li Bin asked.

"Ask Yu Li; she knows more than I do. Ever since Yushui started school, she's told her everything." He Yuzhu said, twisting his neck.

"Yu Li, tell us, so we have a rough idea in our hearts." Li Bin didn't mind He Yuzhu's attitude; he could understand He Yuzhu's current mood.

"According to Yushui, they were classmates in vocational high school; the boy's name is Zhuang Yan, he works at the Bureau of Commerce, his father is also a soldier, his mother is a doctor, and they have an older brother who's already married." People in that era had many soldiers, and they held special feelings for the military.

"Alright, our family is good; almost everyone is connected to the military or the hospital." Li Qiang said with a smile.

"That's right, Zhou Rong also works at the hospital." Yang Fen said with a smile.

"Hey, I'm saying, our sister is about to be snatched away; why are you all still so happy?" He Yuzhu said languidly while holding his wine cup.

"Don't talk nonsense, what do you mean by 'snatched away'?" Yu Li said, giving He Yuzhu a tap on the arm.

"Dad, whoever tries to snatch away Aunt, I'll beat him up with Xiao Tao; if we two can't beat him, we'll let Lele come back and shoot him dead with a gun." He Xiao said fiercely.

"Fine, having you say that is enough; it shows your aunt hasn't pampered you for nothing." He Yuzhu said relievedly.

"Nonsense, you don't even see who's in Yushui's maternal family; we brothers three don't say it, but later there are also the younger brothers three; rest assured, even if Yushui gets married, she won't tolerate being wronged; if anyone dares to give her a sour look, we'll beat them to death." Li Qiang also said fiercely. Having many brothers on the wife's side is indeed an advantage; the natal family really doesn't dare to give the husband's family a sour look.

"Although Lele is about the same age as Yushui, their seniority differs, but the two kids have been close like real siblings since childhood; if Yushui really has trouble, we don't need to lift a finger—Lele would be the first to refuse to help." Li Bin said with a smile.

"Hearing you say that makes me feel much better inside." He Yuzhu said.

"Alright, stop thinking so much; this Sunday the young man will come over, you can't give him a sour look. Tonight go back and think about what dishes to prepare to entertain him; don't let him say we lack etiquette—tell me what ingredients you need, and I'll get them ready." Li Qiang said.

"Right, what your second brother said is correct; if you give someone a sour look, aren't you putting Yushui in a difficult spot? Since ancient times, it's been said that a son-in-law is a honored guest at the gate—why? So that he'll treat our sister better in the future." Li Bin, being several years older, sees many things more clearly than Li Qiang and He Yuzhu.

"Don't worry, big brother; I'm not stupid, but I just can't swallow this anger—silently taking away my sister." He Yuzhu said somewhat resentfully.

"Then what else do you want? Wait for him to come and give him a beating?" Yu Li gave He Yuzhu a sideways glance and said.

"Beating him isn't necessary, but I could drink him under the table. Second brother, when he comes, let the two of us keep him company with some drinks." To say He Yuzhu really is a bit listlessly wicked.

"You two shouldn't go too far; if you really get him drunk on his first visit, wouldn't that embarrass him?" Li Bin said worriedly.

"Big brother, this matter isn't convenient for you to handle. Since you're the oldest in our family, you're suited to play the role of the old father. If we get him drunk, it proves our family is hospitable and values him, so we'll treat him well; otherwise, he wouldn't even get a sip of water, let alone your second brother asking me to bring out our family's secret skills." He Yuzhu said glumly.

"Alright, you're just full of twisted logic." Yu Li also laughed, exasperated by He Yuzhu's childishness.

"Let's hold it at my place this Sunday; I have more space, and we can seat more people." Li Qiang said.

"Fine, closing the gate of your little courtyard makes it pretty peaceful." He Yuzhu nodded and said.

Early Sunday morning, He Yuzhu came to Li Qiang's little courtyard, not only sweeping it spotless but also tidying up the kitchen spotless.

Li Qiang, to ensure the ingredients' freshness, didn't take them out the day before; instead, he told them the ingredients had already been arranged, and he would go get them in the morning, sure to arrive promptly.

Actually, He Yuzhu was just talking; for Yushui's partner, he still attaches importance—you can see from the menu he listed: Dongpo braised pork knuckle, cumin lamb, red-braised beef, red-braised pork, spicy stir-fried chicken, Kung Pao chicken, red-braised fish, sweet and sour spare ribs, fried peanuts, green pepper scrambled eggs—ten dishes, all hearty fare. Moreover, He Yuzhu told Li Qiang that when Yushui gets married, he'll set up several tables in the siheyuan, serving dishes according to today's standard.

At ten o'clock in the morning, He Yushui led a handsome young man in a navy-blue Zhongshan suit, standing 1.75 meters tall, to the siheyuan.

"Yushui, who is this?" Yan Butgui saw He Yushui leading a young man inside and hurried forward to ask.

"Teacher Yan, this is my partner Zhuang Yan; Zhuang Yan, this is our courtyard's Teacher Yan—I attended elementary school at the school where he taught." He Yushui introduced them.

"Hello, Teacher Yan." Zhuang Yan greeted Teacher Yan while handing him a cigarette.

"Hello, hello." Yan Butgui took Zhuang Yan's cigarette, glanced at it, and instead of smoking it, tucked it behind his ear. He already wore glasses with arms; trying to clip the cigarette there several times without success looked downright hilarious.

"Teacher Yan, go ahead and get busy; we'll head inside first." After greeting him, He Yushui walked into the courtyard.

"Sure, if you need drinking companions at noon, just come over and say the word." Yan Butgui never forgets to eat; he doesn't even think that Li Qiang and his brothers are present. There's no need for you to keep him company with drinks.

"I appreciate the kindness, Teacher Yan; having the big brother and second brother accompany us is enough, and they're not outsiders." He Yushui said politely.

"Yushui, this is your partner, right?" As soon as He Yushui and the two arrived at the central courtyard, Jia Zhangshi spotted them.

"Aunt Jia, this is my partner," He Yushui openly admitted.

"Auntie, you don't smoke; have a candy." Zhuang Yan also knew how to handle the situation, directly handing over a big handful of sweets to Jia Zhangshi.

"This is wedding candy; then I won't stand on ceremony." Jia Zhangshi said with a smile.

"Aunt Jia, we're heading to the rear courtyard now," He Yushui said with a smile.

"Hurry up; I saw your older brother busy in the rear courtyard early this morning." Jia Zhangshi said with a smile. To be frank, Jia Zhangshi isn't as hateful as many novels depict; anyone who's seen the original drama knows that although she's a bit unreasonable, she still has a moral bottom line. Recall the plot where Qin Huiru said Zhuzi wanted Jia Zhangshi and Bangeng to move into Yushui's house; Jia Zhangshi refused without hesitation, feeling that living under someone else's roof is unpleasant.