He Daqing, do you know how I've lived these past years?

"Zhonghai, we'll be next door to each other from now on. There's plenty of time; don't come back."

"That won't do. Didn't you see Jia Dongxu's eyes were glued to you? I'll give you some sleeping pills later and pour them into his drink tonight."

"China Overseas, you're really domineering."

"Hehe, I've thought it all out, but it'll be every three days. You wait for me in the cellar of the central courtyard. That belongs to the He family, but we're just two beggars now, so we don't need it."

"But I think Jia Zhangshi is like a shrew, and I'm scared,"

"With me here, she wouldn't dare do anything to you,"

"Hey Zhonghai, look how fast this little motor is shaking!"

"Don't speak, just feel with your heart."

……

"What's wrong with Huai Ru? Weren't we supposed to get married in the city tomorrow? Now we can't find her anywhere."

Qin's mother angrily shouted curses at the courtyard gate.

Huai Ru's older brother also hunched over, squatting to the side, head down, smoking.

"They're back, they're back!"

Huai Ru's sister-in-law ran back happily from outside, and everyone else rushed out of the house as well. They saw Qin Huai Ru walking back with a flushed face and a limp.

Suppressing her anger, Qin's mother quickly stepped forward to support Qin Huairu, saying:

"Don't go out this afternoon. Stay home and prepare. Your son-in-law is coming tomorrow, so don't cause any trouble."

Qin Huairu nodded, the image of Jia Zhangxu's handsome face flashing through her mind.

……

Congratulations!

"Welcome the bride!"

"Everyone come and look! The bride is sitting on the back of that bicycle!"

Before they even reached the alley entrance, people from the surrounding courtyards poured out, constantly uttering auspicious words.

A group of half-children ran ahead with their heads down.

"The bride is here!"

Jia Dongxu stomped on the pedals hard, while Qin Huairu wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his back, watching with a grin.

Yi Zhonghai, watching from behind, was also seething with rage, while Liu Haizhong was panting heavily. He looked just like Sha Wujing, with the back of his bicycle piled high with stuff.

Only Xu Wude, standing at the very back, noticed Qin Huairu's ever-changing expression.

Yesterday, Yi Zhonghai came to ask him to help pick up the bride today, and since it's from Qin Family Village, there's a high probability that the bride is Yi Zhonghai's beloved.

He really knows how to have fun.

He shook his head, carefully avoiding the children beside him, and followed closely behind Liu Haizhong.

Now that you've married into the family, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.

Those who don't get what they want are itching for it, just like Qin's mother; they're even worse than the widow from the next village.

Jia Zhangshi stood expressionless at the courtyard gate, distributing peanuts. Families with few members received one peanut, while those with more members received two.

Upon seeing the wedding procession of bicycles approaching, they shouted loudly:

"Silly Zhu, you can burn it now."

Yan Bugui, holding a calligraphy brush and red paper, sat at the door waiting.

Yesterday, Yi Zhonghai paid him two yuan to keep accounts. As the saying goes:

"In books, one finds beauty like jade; in books, one finds houses of gold."

"Brilliant! Brilliant!"

After everyone was admitted to the hospital, Madam Jia Zhang couldn't help but spit and curse as she looked at the gift money on the red paper:

"They're all just loafing around, not paying a single penny to sit at the table. Luckily, I don't have to pay for it myself."

Looking at the table full of vegetables, radishes, and steamed buns, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Jia Zhangshi, what have you done? The wedding day is all plain soup and water, no meat at all!"

Liu Haizhong slammed his fist on the table and shouted angrily.

The people around echoed this sentiment, saying that since they had already paid for it, they might as well eat at home.

Some people glared resentfully at Jia Zhangshi, having gone hungry all day yesterday in anticipation of this meal!

Madam Jia Zhang, while peeling peanuts, said:

"Don't talk nonsense. I did buy meat. If you don't believe me, ask Sha Zhu."

Seeing that some grown men had already started eating, He Yuzhu hurriedly called out:

"The third uncle has taken all the meat."

Yan Bugui, who was leisurely sipping his tea, also spat out the tea and roared:

"What? He Yuzhu, explain yourself clearly! What do you mean I took all the meat?"

He Yuzhu also replied:

"The meat on the cutting board."

Yan Bugui was stunned when he heard this, and hurriedly shouted:

"Lihua, bring out the minced meat I just brought home."

Then he addressed everyone:

"Listen everyone, I saw only a little bit of minced meat on the cutting board and thought it was left on the board after He Yuzhu chopped it. I'll give it back to you."

A moment later, Lihua came out with a fleshy ball about the size of a wine bottle neck and placed it on the main table.

Everyone immediately erupted in curses upon seeing this.

Seeing Qin Huairu's increasingly pale face, Yi Zhonghai hurriedly called out:

"Don't worry, everyone. The Jia family doesn't earn much from just one apprentice at Dongxu right now. As the master, I'll serve you a real treat."

He hurriedly pulled a small wad of banknotes from his pocket and handed it to He Yuzhu, telling him to buy more cooked food.

Only then did everyone reluctantly sit down.

Then, Hüwood came over carrying a bowl of loose white wine.

"Come on, Dongxu! I'd like to propose a toast to you and your wife. Wishing you a happy marriage and many children!"

Dongxu also hurriedly pulled Huairu up and raised his glass, saying:

"Uncle Xu, thank you."

The two of them also took a sip from Xu Wude's glass, and Xu Wude stepped forward and patted Dongxu on the shoulder, saying:

"Well done! You're the first couple in our compound to get married, haha!"

While chatting and laughing, he lowered his hand from her shoulder, and inadvertently brushed against Qin Huairu's right hand.

Qin Huairu also stared silently at the man in front of her, the man who used to frequently visit her mother's house.

After He Yuzhu bought the cooked vegetables, the Intermediate People's Court also became lively.

At the entrance of the He family's house, Liu Guangqi, Xu Damao, and He Yuzhu were all staring at Qin Huairu, while He Yushui, ignoring the scalding hot white radish, ate it heartily.

"That Jia Dongxu looks all respectable, and he's got a beautiful wife too."

"Yeah, I'm so lucky! I'll find a wife even prettier than her in the future."

"Look at her ass, tsk tsk."

"What do you think, Sha Zhu?"

"Silly Zhu?"

Not hearing a reply, Liu and Xu turned to look at He Yuzhu beside them, only to see his right hand outstretched forward, his head tilted to the side, drooling.

The two of them burst into laughter.

"Silly Zhu, why don't you take Jia Dongxu's place in the bridal chamber tonight?"

Xu Damao said in a sarcastic tone,

He Yuzhu also became angry upon hearing this, his pale face turning red instantly, and he clenched his fists as he said:

"Xu Damao, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll beat you up."

Xu Damao quickly pulled Liu Guangqi away and ran off.

"Hey Sha Zhu, wanna come eavesdrop tonight?"

He Yuzhu turned his head to look at Qin Huairu, who was laughing and joking in the distance, and muttered to himself:

"To go or not to go?"

"go"

"don't go"

……

Finally, night fell, and everyone carried their own tables and chairs back home, along with their own chopsticks and bowls.

Huai Ru nodded to Yi Zhonghai, who was gesturing to her, and helped Jia Dongxu walk home.

After hesitating for a moment, he took out a small paper packet and poured the powder inside into the water bottle.

At that moment, Jia Zhangshi rushed in, sweating profusely, and pulled out a white cloth, placing it on the bed.

Then, as if thirsty, he picked up the water bottle on the table and drank it down his throat.

"Hurry up, I'll go keep watch by the window outside."

……