Courtyard Houses: Starting with the principle of hard work paying off

Chapter 82 Immortal guides the way
noon.

During meals, two new topics emerged at the dinner table.

One was that Zhao Weiguo visited the Li family to propose marriage, bringing a bicycle as a betrothal gift.

And another.

It was Jia Dongxu's blind date with Qin Huairu, a country girl. Before Jia Zhangshi had even eaten, she started cursing the cook.

Although Sha Zhu did not publicize the matter after leaving the Jia family, the people in the central courtyard had already heard clearly the noise Jia Zhangshi had made while cursing.

The news spread to the front and back yards in no time.

In this matter, hardly anyone sided with Jia Zhangshi.

Although Sha Zhu took the food without consulting the Jia family beforehand, which gave people something to talk about.

But even though Sha Zhu helped cook for the Jia family, which was considered helping out, the Jia family still had to provide him with a meal since they didn't receive a single penny of wages from him.

This was something Jia Zhangshi did wrong.

However, anyone who knows Jia Zhangshi's character and personality would not be surprised at all that she would do such a thing.

Li Hongbing, who was having dinner with Zhao Weiguo and his son, was speechless when he heard people talking about this in the courtyard outside.

Although this matter had nothing to do with the Li family, having a neighbor like Jia Zhangshi in the courtyard was somewhat beneath them.

Shame on you!
Not long after finishing their meal, Zhao Weiguo and his father said goodbye and left. Li Hongbing got up and saw them outside.

Today, the Zhao family has completed the betrothal ceremony. Next, they will wait for the wedding date to arrive, when Zhao Weiguo will come to the Zhao family to marry Li Hongmei.

Since the May Fourth Movement, various rituals have been preserved or abolished in different ways, and have gradually become simpler.

Wedding ceremonies have also been greatly simplified. If the previous process of three letters and six betrothal rites were followed, the wedding would probably not be held until next month.

For families like Zhao Weiguo and Li Hongmei, this already shows that both sides attach great importance to it.

After watching Zhao Weiguo and his father leave, Li Hongbing was about to go back when he turned around and found that there was suddenly someone behind him.

"Qin Huairu?"

When Li Hongbing recognized who was standing behind him, he was stunned for a moment.

Upon hearing Li Hongbing call her name, Qin Huairu's expression faltered slightly. Her gaze fell on Li Hongbing, and she asked with some surprise, "You know me?"

"Oh, I heard it from the people in the courtyard."

Realizing he had almost been exposed, Li Hongbing made up an excuse.

Qin Huairu, who was eighteen or nineteen years old, was young and beautiful, and could indeed be considered a beauty, but Li Hongbing did not have much interest in her.

Qin Huairu is currently at the courtyard house as Jia Dongxu's blind date. If Li Hongbing intercepts her and "steals" her away, it will greatly affect his reputation.

Even though he had a history of conflict with the Jia family, his actions were still criticized.

There are other women in the world besides Qin Huairu.

In an era where reputation is valued more than life, Li Hongbing had absolutely no need to ruin his reputation.

Moreover, there is a three-year age difference between the two.

The age difference isn't that big, but if he wants to get a marriage certificate with Qin Huairu, he'll have to wait at least another three years.

Even if he's fine, can Qin Huairu wait?
As for those who, like some others, get married and live together before registering their marriage, that's completely unfeasible.

Although the Marriage Law has only been in effect for two years, there are still many people who do not comply with the legal age for marriage, especially in rural areas.

Normally, if the people don't report it, the officials won't investigate.

Even if those above find out, as long as it's not brought to light, they'll mostly turn a blind eye and won't deliberately make things difficult for people.

After all, popularizing the law always requires a transition period and process; it cannot be accomplished overnight.

But if it's taken too seriously, it becomes blatantly illegal.

Given the Jia family's style and his current relationship with Yi Zhonghai, they definitely won't just stand by and do nothing.

Li Hongbing shouldn't take such a big risk for Qin Huairu, whom he's only met once.

"I heard you work at Fengzeyuan?" Qin Huairu asked, just as Li Hongbing was about to leave.

"Yes."

Li Hongbing nodded.

Li Hongbing wasn't too surprised that Qin Huairu knew about this, and guessed that it might have been the matchmaker, Sun, who told her.

Can I ask you about something?

After asking this question, without waiting for Li Hongbing's answer, Qin Huairu directly inquired, "What's your relationship with the Jia family in the Intermediate People's Court? That Jia Dongxu..."

As Qin Huairu asked these questions, Li Hongbing couldn't help but glance at her a few more times, finding it quite natural.

When it comes to blind dates, matchmakers usually embellish the other person's situation. Some of what they say may not be false, but some of it can easily mislead people.

Marriage is a major life event, so it's always good to take the opportunity to find out more about the other person.

Qin Huairu spent a long time in the countryside and had little understanding and experience of the city, but that doesn't mean she knew nothing.

Although Qin Huairu is not the same widow Qin in the drama, in Li Hongbing's eyes, she is not some innocent and pure flower.

At least she's not naive and innocent.

It's often said that cities are full of schemes and rural people are simple and honest, but in reality, this doesn't distinguish between cities and rural areas; there are good people and bad people everywhere.

The backstabbing and infighting in rural areas may not be any less than in cities.

Some people believe that Qin Huairu's "darkening" and becoming so unlikeable in the drama was due to the influence of the Jia family and the pressures of life.

But in Li Hongbing's view...

A person's fundamental character is determined by their upbringing, education, and experiences over a long period of time.

Even if Jia Zhangshi were utterly despicable, she would never instigate or even force her daughter-in-law to sell her body and let other men take advantage of her for a few steamed buns.

Even if it doesn't go all the way to the final step.

In an era when reputation was of utmost importance, this was not only a great disgrace but also a disgrace to the Jia family.

Jia Zhangshi is often shameless, but in some aspects, she is extremely concerned about her reputation.

In the drama, Qin Huairu often plays the victim and cries about how hard her family works. However, even with three children and an elderly person, her family still does not meet the criteria for applying for poverty alleviation. Moreover, with Sha Zhu, a self-destructive swindler, the Jia family eats and dresses better than any other family in the courtyard.

As for the others, there are many more.

This is also the main reason why Li Hongbing dislikes this character.

Many things have not yet happened.

Li Hongbing wouldn't impose all these views on Qin Huairu now, but it did diminish his feelings for Qin Huairu.

“From what you’ve heard and seen since entering this courtyard, as well as what happened at the Jia family at noon, I think you’ve already formed your own judgment about Jia Dongxu and the Jia family.”

Looking at Qin Huairu, who seemed a little nervous, Li Hongbing deliberately pointed this out before continuing, "You asked me earlier about my relationship with the Jia family, and my answer was that it was very bad."

You've come to the wrong person to ask me about Jia Dongxu from the Jia family. You'd be better off asking anyone in the courtyard than me..."

Li Hongbing wasn't just saying this to appease the public; he was telling the absolute truth.

Although he didn't intend to have any romantic feelings for Qin Huairu, since she had come to him, Li Hongbing didn't want to see her fall into the Jia family's trap, and he didn't want the Jia family and Jia Dongxu to benefit from it.

As long as Qin Huairu doesn't enter the Jia family, there will likely be far fewer chaotic incidents in this courtyard.

However, in doing anything, you need to pay attention to strategy and methods.

Now everyone in the courtyard knows about the feud between Li Hongbing and the Jia family, so regardless of whether his evaluation of the Jia family and Jia Dongxu is true or not, anything that comes out of his mouth will be questioned for its objectivity and ulterior motives.

Therefore, any "bad things" he says about the Jia family and Jia Dongxu now will only backfire and have the opposite effect.

But if you say nice things, you'll be putting Qin Huairu in a difficult position and will be suspected of having ulterior motives.

Just then, Li Hongbing saw Xu Damao returning from the restroom. He smiled slightly, pointed in the direction Xu Damao was, and then coaxed Qin Huairu:

"His name is Xu Damao. He's the son of an old man in our compound. If you have any questions, you can ask him."

(End of this chapter)