Courtyard House: He Yuzhu started in 1948

He Yuzhu didn't know about Mei He's background until Tian Zao told him when he gave her the ten dollars last time.

It wasn't to reopen old wounds for Meihe, but rather that Tianzao wanted to help Meihe redeem Chunxi from the Eight Great Hutongs.

When they were sold, it cost twenty silver dollars. Now, to redeem them, it will cost at least two hundred dollars.

He Yuzhu knew about this matter but had never told anyone. However, since Yi Zhonghai wanted to adopt a child today, he had to tell Yi Zhonghai the actual situation so that Yi Zhonghai wouldn't be prejudiced against Meihe after adopting the child and learning about this matter.

As expected, Yi Zhonghai's expression changed upon hearing this.

He believed what He Yuzhu said, and he also believed that Sister Chunxi of the Coal Core Group had no choice but to enter the Eight Great Hutongs, but after all, she had lived in the Eight Great Hutongs.

There are no secrets that stay hidden forever. If outsiders found out that Yi Zhonghai had an older sister who had lived in the Eight Great Hutongs, he would be ridiculed.

Seeing Yi Zhonghai's changed expression, He Yuzhu sneered, "Uncle, are you still thinking about adopting Mei He?"

"I……"

Yi Zhonghai couldn't say it.

He Yuzhu spread his hands: "Look, your thoughts aren't pure either, are they? Wanting both face and substance, there's no such thing as a free lunch!"

Yi Zhonghai looked even more embarrassed.

He Daqing glared fiercely at He Yuzhu from the side: "What nonsense are you spouting? You're an idiot, you don't know anything!"

He Yuzhu pursed his lips and said nothing more. He Daqing then said to Yi Zhonghai, "Zhonghai, adopting two would be too much of a burden. Let's just adopt one. Let's adopt Jiaozi."

Yi Zhonghai wanted to agree, but after being ridiculed by He Yuzhu, he felt embarrassed.

He Yuzhu didn't care about anything else; there were some things he had to say.

The situation is now out in the open; it's up to Yi Zhonghai to decide what to do.

Yi Zhonghai left, and He Daqing angrily kicked He Yuzhu: "You little brat, Zhonghai came in all high and mighty, but left like he'd lost his soul. You didn't leave him any face at all!"

He Yuzhu argued vehemently, "He wants both face and substance; we can't expect him to have it all, can we?"

He Daqing was also helpless. He Yuzhu was just a stubborn mule. Once he made up his mind, no one could change it.

The next morning, He Yuzhu and He Daqing went to the school to deliver grain.

Instead of vegetables and pork, they delivered two hundred bags of mixed grain noodles. Zhang Tianyong had already prepared a basement at school, and he was incredibly grateful to see the two hundred bags of noodles.

"This? How much does this cost...?"

Zhang Tianyong was somewhat at a loss, and looked at He Daqing with guilt, saying, "Master He, we...we can't come up with that much money all at once."

"fine!"

He Daqing appeared very generous and said to Zhang Tianyong, "Director Zhang, leave the flour here for now. As for the money... you can settle the bill for the number of bags of flour you use each week. We'll talk about it when we run out."

Zhang Tianyong: ...

We're not using it, we're storing it.

With He Daqing's thoughtful help, Zhang Tianyong was even more at a loss, repeatedly promising to settle the debt as soon as possible.

If you haggle a bit and inflate the bill, you should be able to pay the full amount, right?

The exchange rate between silver dollars and legal tender on the black market has now reached 1:400,000. A bag of flour would cost more than 8 million legal tender, which would also require 25 silver dollars.

Two hundred bags of flour, each weighing forty jin (approximately 20 kg), should last until the wheat is ripe, at which point we can replace them with new flour.

Zhang Tianyong wrote a note, and He Daqing put it away and left happily.

I made a net profit of four hundred yuan.

Making money from meat and similar products is only a small amount.

"Having connections in high places makes you rich!"

He Daqing kissed the note, which made He Yuzhu next to him look disgusted.

How old are you when you've never seen money before?

After delivering the noodles, it was time to return the car. He Daqing bought the driver two packs of Hademen cigarettes as a token of his gratitude. Although Lou Bancheng paid for the gas and he paid for his own meals after driving for so many days, the driver didn't get any benefits and naturally felt resentful.

Now, with two Hademen gates, the problem is perfectly solved.

"That's a wrap, time to go home!"

He Daqing was preparing to enjoy a couple of drinks.

When I got home, I saw Yi Zhonghai with dark circles under his eyes promoting his idea in the yard. He was going to adopt Jiaozi as his son. It was obvious that he had talked to Tian Zao about it, and Tian Zao and Jiaozi both agreed.

Dumpling lost its parents and would have died long ago if it weren't for Tianzao's help, so as long as Tianzao agrees, Dumpling will be fine.

He Yuzhu looked at Yi Zhonghai, who was all smiles, and ignored him.

With the abacus beads practically falling on his face, there's no way He Yuzhu would even bother with him.

He truly deserves the title of the Moral Supreme; he never touches anything that would tarnish his reputation.

He Daqing congratulated Yi Zhonghai, who had adopted Jiaozi and was planning to set up a table in the yard, so he needed He Daqing's help. He Daqing happily agreed.

With a wave of his hand: I'll help you for free.

Prepare a delicious meal to celebrate.

With a ruddy complexion, Yi Zhonghai said to He Daqing, "How about I have Jiaozi recognize you as his godfather?"

"Me? No, no."

He Daqing was overwhelmed. "Taking care of Shazhu and Yushui is already a huge headache, I really can't handle another one."

"No, Dumpling agreed, so you have to agree whether you like it or not."

"Who forces someone to be their godfather?"

"Haha... It's okay, I've prepared your share!"

"That's not the case."

When Yi Zhonghai returned to the Intermediate People's Court after announcing the good news, he did not go into his own home, but instead went to find He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu ignored him, and Yi Zhonghai wasn't angry: "Zhuzi, regarding the adoption of the child, I do want both the substance and the face, but I will give you the substance and the face you deserve."

He Yuzhu didn't say anything.

That sounds nice, but you actually adopted the coal nucleus.

……

The next day, Yi Zhonghai held a grand banquet and, in front of the people in the compound, adopted Jiaozi as his son, naming him Yi Pengchao.

Watching Yi Zhonghai and Wang Xiulan happily accept dumplings and kowtow, calling out "Dad" and "Mom," He Yuzhu felt a pang of sadness.

Tian Zao noticed He Yuzhu's unhappiness and leaned over to ask why: "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"

"Um."

He Yuzhu thought for a moment and then told him about Meihe. After he finished speaking, He Yuzhu said, "I'm sorry, I didn't want to say it, but when Yi Zhonghai said he would adopt Meihe and Jiaozi, I felt that I couldn't hide Chunxi's situation from him. If I hadn't told him, Meihe would have parents by now, right?"

When Tian Zao heard this, she didn't take it seriously: "It's normal. People would think more if it were someone else. Besides, Mei He has always been thinking about his sister... Never mind, just tell Uncle Yi not to tell anyone."

He Yuzhu was somewhat surprised: "You're not angry?"

"What's there to be angry about?"

Tian Zao truly regarded He Yuzhu as a brother. "Alright, alright, don't look so sullen. It's a big happy occasion for Jiaozi, he still has to call you brother."

Hearing Tian Zao say this, He Yuzhu's expression softened a bit. He took out two silver dollars, wrapped them in red paper, and prepared to give them to Jiaozi as a wedding gift.

Just as everyone was having a good time in the courtyard, Lou Bancheng appeared at the gate of the courtyard in his Stypunk sedan. His appearance brought the atmosphere of the entire courtyard to a climax.