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

Cheng Shuhai turned around and took out a small wine cup from under the counter, pouring out the last bit of wine from the last jar.

"That's all that's left, please don't mind."

Cheng Shuhai handed the last of the drinks to the other person.

"No problem, no problem!"

Old Man He quickly took the wine cup.

He didn't drink it immediately, but first smelled it under his nose, closed his eyes, and showed an intoxicated expression on his face.

"It smells wonderful! This wine is mellow yet not overpowering, rich yet not muddy—truly a testament to excellent craftsmanship!"

He opened his eyes, exclaimed in admiration, and then brought the wine cup to his lips, taking a small sip.

The moment the liquor entered his mouth, Old Man He's expression froze.

His eyes widened, filled with shock and disbelief, as if he were drinking not wine, but nectar.

"This...this wine..."

He was so excited that his lips were trembling.

Seeing his appearance, Xu Huizhen was filled with curiosity.

She knew that Grandpa He loved wine and knew a lot about it, but this was the first time she had ever seen wine that could make him lose his composure like this.

Xu Huizhen leaned closer to smell it and found that the wine was indeed better than the ones she had drunk before.

This filled her eyes with surprise.

This little restaurant actually has such good wine hidden inside!

Old Man He ignored the others and closed his eyes, savoring the taste in his mouth.

After a long while, he finally let out a long breath and looked at Cheng Shuhai with burning eyes.

"Young man, did you brew this wine yourself?"

"It's a family recipe passed down through generations; I just figured it out by trial and error."

Cheng Shuhai said, half-jokingly.

"A family secret recipe?" Old Man He's eyes lit up even more. "Young man, my name is He Xingfa, and I own a small tavern. I'll get straight to the point: I want to buy your wine from you in large quantities and on a long-term basis to sell in my tavern. You name the price!"

He knew all too well the value of this wine.

With this wine, his little tavern will become the most popular tavern in the entire city of Beijing within three months!

Upon hearing this, Cheng Shuhai was already prepared.

"Uncle He, I'm so sorry."

"My wine uses a special recipe and rare ingredients, so the production is very limited. We only make three jars a day, and that's all we have."

"Selling to these neighbors isn't enough; there's really no extra to sell to you."

Cheng Shuhai shook his head and said:

joke?

He's not that stupid.

He understood the principle that possessing a treasure is a crime.

Before you have enough ability to protect yourself, keeping a low profile and making a fortune is the best strategy.

Especially now that the business has grown too big, there will be trouble in the future.

Hearing Cheng Shuhai's refusal, Old Man He's face was filled with disappointment, but he did not insist.

He could tell that the young man in front of him, though young, was steady and had his own ideas; he couldn't be persuaded with just a few words.

"What a pity, what a real pity."

Old Man He shook his head regretfully.

Xu Huizhen, who was standing to the side, did not say a word from beginning to end.

She simply looked at Cheng Shuhai quietly, her eyes filled with inquiry and a hint of admiration.

This young man, at such a young age, possesses such amazing skills. It is truly remarkable that he can maintain such clarity and composure in the face of enormous temptations.

"In that case, we won't bother you any longer."

Old Man He sighed, took out some money from his pocket, and went to pay for the drinks.

"Uncle He, you're too kind. It's just a small bite, consider it my treat." Cheng Shuhai waved his hand with a smile.

Seeing his resolute attitude, Old Man He stopped insisting.

He solemnly cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Cheng Shuhai: "Young brother, I'm grateful for your help today. If you ever need any assistance in the future, just come find me, He Xingfa, at the foot of the Qianmen Gate!"

After saying that, he turned and left with Xu Huizhen.

Watching their departing figures, Cheng Shuhai's lips curled into a slight smile.

This world is becoming more and more interesting.

.............

Just as Cheng Shuhai's restaurant business was booming and his network of connections was growing larger, a major event was secretly taking place in Yi Zhonghai's courtyard house.

Ever since the deaf old lady suggested adopting a child, Yi Zhonghai and Tan Zhaodi have been grasping at a straw.

The two discussed it all night, and the next day, Yi Zhonghai used the connections he had built up over the years to ask around for a boy to adopt.

To protect their family fortune, for their happiness in their later years, and to fight against the Jia family's vicious plan to "eat up the family's descendants," they must act quickly.

This matter was carried out in great secrecy; they dared not let anyone in the courtyard know, especially the Jia family.

Yi Zhonghai's health has not fully recovered, and he has difficulty moving around, so Tan Zhaodi is the one who mainly runs errands outside.

But finding a child you like is not that easy.

For several days in a row, Tan Zhaodi ran around tirelessly, meeting with seven or eight families willing to adopt their children, but none of them were suitable.

Either the child is too old to remember things, or the child is in poor health, or the other party is asking for too high a price.

As hope dwindled, Yi Zhonghai grew so anxious that blisters appeared on his lips.

Just when they were about to despair, a longtime friend of Yi Zhonghai brought them good news.

He said he had a distant relative in the countryside who had too many children and couldn't afford to raise them all. He was willing to give away a one-year-old boy, not for money, but just to take good care of the child.

Moreover, the other party said they would never bother the child again.

Yi Zhonghai and Tan Zhaodi were overjoyed when they heard the news.

The two immediately decided to go to the countryside to see their child the next day.

In order to avoid attracting attention, Yi Zhonghai made sure that Tan Zhaodi took him away early.

The next morning, before dawn, Yi Zhonghai, leaning on his cane and supported by Tan Zhaodi, quietly left the courtyard and boarded a long-distance bus to the countryside.

Although their actions were clandestine, they were still noticed by one person.

That was Qin Huairu.

Ever since Jia Zhangshi devised the plan to "eat the childless," Qin Huairu has been constantly pressured by her mother-in-law to visit Yi Zhonghai's home more often and to show more concern for Yi Zhonghai's health.

Although Qin Huairu was extremely unwilling, she had no choice but to submit to the circumstances.

That morning, she carried a bowl of freshly cooked breakfast, intending to "curry favor" with Yi Zhonghai, only to find the Yi family's door locked and no one home.

She asked the neighbors in the courtyard, and they all said they hadn't seen Yi Zhonghai and his wife.

Qin Huairu felt something was off.

Yi Zhonghai wasn't fully recovered yet, so how could Tan Zhaodi feel comfortable leaving him alone at home while she went out?

Even if the two of them go out together, where could they go so early in the morning?

The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong.

Back in the backyard cottage, she told Jia Zhangshi, who was paralyzed in bed, about her doubts.

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Jia Zhangshi's cloudy eyes.