Courtyard House: Inheriting the Restaurant, the Jia Family Wants to Get It for Free

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Before many people in the courtyard had even gotten up, a clanging and tinkling sound came from the central courtyard.

Cheng Shuhai was fetching water in the yard to prepare breakfast for his younger sister when he looked up and saw Tan Zhaodi leading two burly men in big vests into the Jia family home.

"This is it. Thank you both for your hard work in moving all the furniture inside to the small house in our backyard."

Tan Zhaodi greeted them politely.

"Alright! Just you wait and see!"

The two bosses responded and began to work.

Beds, tables, cabinets, boxes... piece by piece of furniture were carried out of the house and piled up in the yard.

With red eyes, Qin Huairu silently packed up some small items.

With each item she packed, her heart felt like it was being pricked by a needle.

She thought she was marrying into a good family and would live a peaceful life from then on. Who would have thought that just three days after the wedding, she would end up with her family destroyed and living as a dependent.

The neighbors in the courtyard gradually got up, and seeing this scene, they all gathered around, pointing and whispering.

"Oh my, you really moved?"

"That's right, the Jia family is really finished this time, they even lost their house."

"Qin Huairu is really unlucky. She got into this mess right after getting married. If it were me, I would have run back to my parents' home long ago."

"Run away? Not so easy! These days, a married daughter is like water spilled from a cup; a divorced woman's reputation is ruined. How will she ever remarry?"

The whispers weren't loud, but every word felt like a knife cutting into Qin Huairu's ears.

Her face flushed red and then turned pale; she wished she could disappear into the ground.

She bit her lip, fighting back tears, and quickened her pace.

Just then, she looked up and saw Cheng Shuhai not far away.

He was dressed in clean clothes, tall and straight, looking at us calmly. There was no sympathy or mockery in his eyes, just a detached gaze, as if he were looking at something that had nothing to do with him.

Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat.

This is the man.

If only I had married him back then.

This thought, like a wildly growing weed, uncontrollably sprouted from the depths of her heart.

If she had married him, she would now be the mistress of a large, spacious, and bright house, instead of about to move into a dark and damp little hut.

If I had married him, he would have been so capable, able to run a restaurant and make money, he certainly wouldn't have been as useless as Jia Dongxu, and he certainly wouldn't have let me suffer such humiliation.

He is opinionated, capable, and decisive.

Look at what he's done these past few days. Every single thing he's done has him completely manipulating the Jia family and the eldest master.

Then look at her man, Jia Dongxu—a mama's boy, a coward, and brainless. He was sold out and still helped the seller count the money, ultimately getting himself imprisoned.

Comparing yourself to others is truly infuriating.

Qin Huairu felt increasingly uneasy as she thought about it, a strong sense of regret and resentment welling up inside her.

Her gaze towards Cheng Shuhai became complex, containing envy, admiration, and even a hint of longing that she herself was unaware of.

Cheng Shuhai naturally noticed Qin Huairu's gaze as well.

He knew exactly what this woman was thinking.

It's nothing more than regretting it.

But what does this have to do with him?

She chose this path herself, and now she has to bear the bitter consequences.

Cheng Shuhai withdrew his gaze, a satisfied expression on his face.

Watching the Jia family's belongings being moved away piece by piece, he felt incredibly relieved.

Once they've moved out, I can finally plan how to use these two rooms properly.

One room will be combined with the one I'm currently living in to create a large living room. The other room will be kept, properly decorated, and used as Ling'er's bedroom when she grows up.

Okay, let's do it this way!

Cheng Shuhai was in a great mood. After fetching the water, he hummed a little tune as he went back to his room.

"Brother, why is it so noisy outside?" Cheng Ling'er rubbed her eyes, having just woken up.

"It's nothing, the neighbors are just moving." Cheng Shuhai smiled and patted her head. "Get up, wash your face and brush your teeth, your brother will make you the best breakfast!"

He used the flour and eggs produced in the blessed space to make fragrant egg pancakes for his sister and also cooked hot millet porridge.

The brother and sister ate to their hearts' content.

By the time they finished breakfast, the move outside was almost complete.

The two rooms of the Jia family had been emptied, leaving only some useless garbage.

Yi Zhonghai stood in the courtyard, directing the old man to move the last piece of furniture away, a satisfied look on his face as he held great power.

Qin Huai followed behind, clutching a small package, looking utterly lost, like a puppet on a string.

As Yi Zhonghai passed by Cheng Shuhai's house, he stopped and glanced at Cheng Shuhai.

His eyes were complex, containing resentment, fear, but mostly a hidden smugness.

It's as if it's saying: You may have won the house, but I've won the people! See, won't the Jia family have to listen to me from now on?

Cheng Shuhai understood what he meant and found it amusing.

That old fox really thinks he's the ultimate winner.

He didn't say anything, but simply returned a faint smile.

We'll see.

When your good grand-disciple Jia Zhangshi returns, you'll have your day to cry.

Yi Zhonghai felt a chill run down his spine from that smile, sensing that the young man had ill intentions. He snorted coldly, stopped looking at him, put his hands behind his back, and followed the old man to the backyard.

The farce has finally come to a temporary end.

Cheng Shuhai locked the door, took his sister's hand, and walked towards his small restaurant.

A new day has begun.

Cheng Shuhai's small restaurant opened early in the morning.

He first mixed the meat filling and dough he had prepared the night before, and deftly started wrapping wontons. His younger sister, Ling'er, sat obediently on a small stool, holding a rag, and wiped the table in a very professional manner.

"Brother, I've wiped it clean!" Ling'er shouted, raising her little hand as if to take credit.

"Our Ling'er is so capable!" Cheng Shuhai praised with a smile, placing a bowl of freshly cooked, steaming wontons in front of her. "Here you go, my little hero, here's a bowl of wontons as a reward!"

The wontons are filled with pure meat, with thin wrappers and generous fillings. The broth is made by simmering pork bones, and it's sprinkled with chopped green onions and seaweed, giving it a wonderfully fragrant aroma.

Ling'er cheered, picked up her little spoon, and carefully blew on it, her little face turning rosy as she ate.

The brother and sister had just finished breakfast when the restaurant curtain was lifted and three people entered.

Cheng Shuhai looked up and laughed.

"Brother Zheng, Sister Bai Ling, Brother Hao, why are you here so early today?"

The three people who arrived were Zheng Chaoyang, Bai Ling, and Hao Pingchuan.

They had all changed into casual clothes and looked much more approachable than when they were in uniform yesterday.

"What? Not welcome?" Zheng Chaoyang joked with a smile. "We came here specifically to patronize your business."

"Absolutely not! Please, all of you, have a seat. Your presence is an honor; we should be more than happy to welcome you!"

Cheng Shuhai greeted them warmly and poured them hot tea.

"Little Ling'er, do you still remember me?" Bai Ling walked to Cheng Ling'er's side, her face showing a slightly awkward gentleness.

She didn't seem to know how to interact with children; her expression was a bit stiff, but the kindness in her eyes was genuine.