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

Chapter 99 The defense is broken

"What did you notice when that lotus leaf duck was wrapped in lotus leaves and steamed?"

"Wrap the cooked duck strips in chopped lotus leaves, making sure the wrappings are tightly packed together without leaving any gaps."

"why?"

"If you arrange the ingredients carefully beforehand, the dish will look better when you unmold it after steaming."

“Not entirely.”

"To prevent it from falling apart during steaming?"

"Yes!"

"..."

The kitchen of Fengzeyuan Restaurant.

When he wasn't so busy, Guo Youzhong took the time to "investigate" Li Hongbing.

This isn't the first time this has happened.

The other chefs in the kitchen were already used to it.

It appears to be a test, but it's actually an opportunity to offer guidance.

Upon hearing Li Hongbing's answer, the master chefs around him couldn't help but reveal a knowing smile.

Children can be taught!

Everyone is a little envious of the apprentice Guo Youzhong has taken on.

Comprehension and talent are one aspect, but more importantly, a person is intelligent and knows how to respect their teachers.

He often grasps things very quickly, and some things he can learn on his own without being taught.

Such apprentices are worry-free and effortless, far better than those who are clueless and always make you want to kick them.

Guo Youzhong's expression towards his apprentice Li Hongbing didn't change much, but a hint of satisfaction and appreciation involuntarily appeared in his eyes. He offered some advice: "Actually, cooking isn't that mysterious. Many so-called tricks and secret recipes are just small details. Sometimes, neglecting a seemingly insignificant step can lead to a flaw in a dish, making it imperfect..."

Li Hongbing listened quietly and attentively from the side.

In fact, what Guo Youzhong just said applies not only to cooking, but also to life.

After the kitchen finished serving the last dish of lunch, Li Hongbing, having finished his meal, also felt relieved.

At this time.

Guo Youzhong walked over and asked Li Hongbing, "Hongbing, how are your preparations for your sister's wedding going?"

When Li Hongmei got married, her younger brother Li Hongbing, as her only family member, had to prepare and arrange many things, such as the dowry.

Guo Youzhong knew that his apprentice was clever and more mature and steady than others his age.

However, he is only sixteen years old this year, and he has no elders in his family. In addition, he took three days off and just returned today, so Guo Youzhong asked this question.

"The arrangements are almost complete. I just prepared my sister's dowry yesterday."

Feeling Guo Youzhong's concern, Li Hongbing replied with a smile.

Guo Youzhong nodded and casually asked, "Is the dowry large? Do you need me to find someone to help you that day?"

"No need for trouble, I'll just hire a few tricycles later."

Li Hongbing felt there was no need to trouble his master, Guo Youzhong, with something that could be solved by spending some money.

How many?

Catching the information in Li Hongbing's words, Guo Youzhong paused for a moment and couldn't help but ask, "How much dowry have you prepared?"

What kind of dowry is needed, and how many tricycles are required to transport it?
It's no wonder Guo Youzhong reacted this way.

Li Hongbing didn't mean to show off, but humbly said, "It's alright. After all, I only have one sister, and she has taken care of me since I was a child. She's been incredibly good to me, so I can't be stingy. I just prepared a little more."

Upon hearing Li Hongbing's words, Guo Youzhong immediately stated, "Alright, leave this to me. I'll find you a few people, so you won't waste your money."

"Alright! Then I'll trouble you, Master."

Since Guo Youzhong took the initiative to speak, Li Hongbing naturally couldn't refuse, especially since it was something that would benefit him.

Although Li Hongbing didn't care about the money spent on hiring people, saving money wasn't a bad thing.

Since the master is offering help, Li Hongbing, as the apprentice, should accept it without being overly polite or calculating.

……

Qinjia Village.

On the day Li Hongbing returned to work in the kitchen of Fengzeyuan Restaurant, Sun, the matchmaker entrusted by the Jia family, once again came to the restaurant by car.

"Qin Laosan, your city matchmaker is here again. Why aren't you home yet?"

When Matchmaker Sun arrived, Qin Huairu's family had all gone to the fields to work, but immediately a neighbor ran to the fields to help her call for help.

Matchmaker Sun really enjoyed this feeling.

Because she was a matchmaker and also a city dweller, she was popular almost everywhere she went, especially in the countryside.

Soon.

Qin's father and Qin Huairu returned from the fields first.

“Matchmaker Sun, what kind of man are you going to introduce to our Huairu this time? If it’s the same cripple and old bachelor as before, I think we should just forget about it.”

After inviting the matchmaker, Sun, into the house, Qin's father got straight to the point and expressed his dissatisfaction.

After Jia Dongxu, Matchmaker Sun introduced Qin Huairu to two more potential partners from the city, but one was a cripple and the other was an old bachelor almost as old as her father. It's no wonder Qin's father was not satisfied.

Although they wanted to marry their daughter off to someone in the city, they weren't so indiscriminate as to be picky about everything.

The key issue is that neither of those two families were well-off. If Qin Huairu married into those families, it would be clear that she would suffer there.

Rather than that, it would be better to find someone with a solid financial background in the countryside.

Given Qin Huairu's circumstances, it wouldn't be difficult for her.

"Brother Qin, what are you saying? These days, how many city men marry girls from the countryside? I have no choice but to accept it."

The matchmaker, Sun, could understand why Qin's father looked down on the two families she had introduced to Qin Huairu. However, as she said, under normal circumstances, even if the conditions were poor, few people would be willing to look for a wife in the countryside.

Knowing this, Qin's father felt somewhat helpless. They were country folk, and that's where they suffered the most.

"Brother Qin, I guarantee you, the one I'm introducing to Huairu this time is way better than the previous two."

Matchmaker Sun patted her chest and guaranteed.

But Qin's father didn't get very excited when he heard this.

He had long ago learned the lesson that matchmakers' words are deceitful.

This statement applies even if Matchmaker Sun is from the city.

Seeing Qin's father's expression, Matchmaker Sun stopped beating around the bush and immediately revealed her true intentions: "Brother Qin, you should believe me. The family I'm going to introduce to your family this time, as you know, is the Jia family that went on a blind date with Xiao Qin last time."

"really?"

Qin's father was taken aback for a moment, but then hesitated and looked at Matchmaker Sun, asking, "Matchmaker Sun, didn't you say last time that the Jia family would only marry women from the city? Why have you changed your mind?"

Qin's father was actually quite satisfied with the Jia family's conditions, but Qin Huairu had been instigated by others and ruined things herself, so the matter was left unresolved.

Now, Matchmaker Sun has brought it up again.

Qin's father was initially quite happy, but when he thought about the two blind dates arranged by Matchmaker Sun, he hesitated and couldn't help but ask tentatively, "Matchmaker Sun, is there something going on with the Jia family that's why they've come to find our Huairu?"

"What's the matter!"

Seeing Qin's father's suspicion, Matchmaker Sun wasn't angry. Instead, she smiled and said, "There are some things you don't know. Didn't I tell you last time? Originally, Xiao Jia was interested in Xiao Qin, but..."

Originally, the Jia family had given up on Xiao Qin, but Xiao Jia was determined to marry Huai Ru, and the Jia family had no choice but to compromise.

And so, they came to me again, asking me to play matchmaker once more.

After all this time, it's you two families again. Isn't this a preordained fate?

"This young Jia, Jia Dong..."

"Jia Dongxu!"

"Yes, is Jia Dongxu really that concerned about our Huai Ru?"

"It's the real deal. If you don't believe me, you can go to the city and ask around. This young Jia almost tried to kill himself because of your Huairu, and he worried his mother and his master to death. Otherwise, do you think he would have been willing to come back to your family?"

"I must say, your Huairu is quite remarkable. She made Xiao Jia fall in love with her after just one meeting..."

"..."

This time, Matchmaker Sun wasn't worried about anyone causing trouble, nor was she afraid that the Qin family would go to the courtyard to inquire, since everything she said was true, without a trace of falsehood.

Hearing these words from Matchmaker Sun, Qin Huairu was secretly delighted and proud of being praised, while her father was somewhat skeptical.

Not long after.

Qin's mother and Qin Huairu's two younger brothers returned from the fields.

The matchmaker, surnamed Sun, stayed home for dinner, and the family quietly went inside to discuss their plans.

Qin's parents wanted Qin Huairu to try again, since such an opportunity was not easy to come by.

Qin Huairu hesitated, mainly because of Jia Zhangshi, feeling that she would be bullied if she married into the family.

"Silly girl, there are always conflicts between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. Besides, you've done a lot of work at home. Do you plan to be a pampered housewife after you get married? You don't have to work in the fields in the city. It's much easier than in the countryside. If you're more diligent, his mother won't be able to find fault with you."

Having both been through hardship as wives and been accustomed to rural life, Qin's mother deeply understood and, based on her own experience, persuaded Qin Huairu.

Seeing this, Qin's father nodded and said, "The fact that Matchmaker Sun came to us this time shows that Xiao Jia is decisive. Men are the ones who make the decisions. As long as you take good care of your man in the future, what is there to worry about?"

Hearing Qin Huairu's parents' persuasion, Qin Huairu's heart softened considerably.

Qin Huairu originally had very high standards, but after the previous two blind dates, she became a little insecure.

Now it seems that with the Jia family's conditions, it would indeed be difficult for them to find someone like them in the city.

soon.

The three of them then came out of the house.

"How did the discussions go?"

Seeing them come out, knowing they had received a result, the matchmaker, Sun, who was waiting outside for news, couldn't help but smile and took the initiative to ask.

"What I mean is, could I meet with Xiao Jia one more time?"

Qin's father was not against the marriage, but to be on the safe side, he thought it would be better to let Qin Huairu get to know the other party better, and he could take this opportunity to go to the city to check on the Jia family's situation and see if it was really as the matchmaker Sun had said.

"That's great! Marriage is a big deal, it won't hurt to meet more people."

"Matchmaker Sun, there's something I'd like to ask you."

"what?"

"I heard that when the girls in Xiao Jia's courtyard got married, the dowry was a bicycle?"

"Oh, you don't want a bicycle as a betrothal gift either, do you?"

"..."

They were having a good chat, but as soon as she heard what Qin's father said, the matchmaker's expression immediately changed.

That's really daring!

"No, no, I'm just asking around. After all, the city and the countryside are different, and we want to learn more about the situation."

Having learned about this from Qin Huairu, Qin's parents couldn't possibly have no thoughts, but they dared not admit it or make exorbitant demands.

“The city and the countryside are different, but it’s not as outrageous as you think. Using a bicycle as a betrothal gift is rare, even in the city.”

After saying this, Matchmaker Sun looked at Qin's father, mother, and Qin Huairu, a hint of mockery appearing in her eyes. She asked, "You only see the betrothal gift of a bicycle, but do you know what kind of dowry others are giving back?"

I'll scare you to death if I tell you!
A bicycle, a sewing machine, and eight summer and winter quilts..."

What the matchmaker said left Qin's parents and Qin Huairu speechless and somewhat frightened.

Upon hearing what the matchmaker, Sun, said next, neither Qin's parents nor Qin Huairu herself could speak in embarrassment.

"If you can also prepare this kind of dowry, I'll have the Jia family prepare two bicycles as betrothal gifts for you..."

(End of this chapter)