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

Xu Damao in the backyard was even more restless, sometimes going over to his colleagues' table at the factory to say a few witty remarks, and sometimes running over to his neighbors' table to inquire about gossip, as if he wanted to stir up trouble.

The entire courtyard was bustling with noise and excitement.

Just then, Cheng Ling'er's clear laughter came from outside the courtyard gate.

"Brother, we sold so much spicy chicken today! I want candied hawthorn berries tomorrow!"

"Okay, I'll buy you the biggest one tomorrow!"

Cheng Shuhai's voice was full of doting affection.

As soon as the brother and sister entered the courtyard, the previously noisy scene fell silent for a moment.

All eyes turned to them.

Cheng Shuhai, holding his younger sister's hand, ignored the stares around them and walked straight towards their home.

Yi Zhonghai's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal, though a barely perceptible shadow of gloom flashed deep in his eyes.

Cheng Shuhai returned home, closed the door, and shut out the noise from outside.

"Ling'er, are you hungry? Brother will make you something delicious."

He took out fresh pork belly and good quality eggs from his spatial storage, preparing to make his sister a fragrant minced pork and egg custard, and also stir-fry a side dish.

As he scooped up the ladle, an enticing aroma quickly wafted from the pot. It was an extremely potent yet complex fragrance.

First comes the caramelized aroma of lard, followed by the pungent fragrance of scallions, ginger, and garlic, and finally the savory aroma of eggs and minced meat. These flavors blend perfectly together, creating an irresistible temptation.

The aroma wafted through the crack in the door and into the noisy courtyard.

In the courtyard, the chef hired by Yi Zhonghai was sweating profusely as he served dish after dish to the table.

The dishes he made looked passable, but the taste was just average, like typical large-pot stew.

Just as the guests were about to pick up their chopsticks, their noses twitched in unison.

"Hey? What's that smell? It smells so good!"

A worker at a steel rolling mill put down his chopsticks and craned his neck to sniff around.

"Yes, this tastes amazing! It's much better than all the dishes on the table!"

Another worker chimed in.

In an instant, everyone's attention shifted from the dishes on the table to the overwhelming aroma in the air.

"This smell... seems to be coming from that restaurant."

Someone pointed in the direction of Cheng Shuhai's house.

Yi Zhonghai's face darkened instantly. He muttered, "Cheng Shuhai definitely did this on purpose!"

He spent a fortune hiring a chef and throwing a banquet, just wanting to show off.

As it turned out, before we even got to eat the food, Cheng Shuhai from next door stole all the limelight!

This was practically a slap in the face for him in front of all the guests!

Seeing this, Xu Damao's eyes lit up. He immediately sidled up to a familiar factory leader and embellished the story, saying, "Boss, did you smell that? That aroma comes from the owner of Cheng's Restaurant, the hottest place in Nanluoguxiang right now. He lives in this courtyard; he's Master Yi's neighbor, and also his mortal enemy!"

"Oh? Is that so?" The leader became interested.

"That's right!" Xu Damao lowered his voice and recounted the grievances between Cheng Shuhai and Yi Zhonghai, embellishing the story and including nicknames like "ruined manhood" and "eunuch Yi."

The guests at the surrounding tables were also listening intently, their faces showing expressions of sudden realization mixed with schadenfreude.

Hearing the whispers and the subtle mocking glances around him, Yi Zhonghai was so angry he felt like his lungs were about to explode.

He felt like a clown, having meticulously built a stage only to become a backdrop for someone else's performance.

The cane in his hand creaked as he gripped it.

"Let the feast begin! Let the feast begin!"

Yi Zhonghai practically shouted it out, trying to drown out the embarrassing comments with his voice.

Upon receiving the order, the cook quickly called for the dishes to be served.

But the guests' minds were no longer on the banquet.

They ate the food on the table absentmindedly, while constantly glancing towards Cheng Shuhai's doorway, their noses inhaling the enticing aroma.

Compared to the other two, the banquet on the table suddenly seemed utterly tasteless.

Just as Yi Zhonghai was forcing a smile and preparing to raise his glass to announce the official start of the banquet, a shrill scream suddenly came from the direction of the backyard.

"Yi Zhonghai! You damned, childless bastard! Get out here right now!"

Jia Zhangshi finally managed to fight her way out!

She burst out with her hair disheveled, looking like a madwoman.

"Stop her! Stop her now!" Yi Zhonghai's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly gave a signal to the women in the courtyard who had taken his money.

Sun Dali and the others were already on high alert, and as soon as they saw Jia Zhangshi rush out, they swarmed her.

"Oh dear, Sister-in-law Jia, what are you doing?"

"Go back and lie down. Your body can't take this kind of strain!"

The women spoke words of concern, but their actions were anything but hesitant.

They grabbed Jia Zhangshi's waist and pulled her arms, managing to stop her.

"Get out! All of you get out of here!" Jia Zhangshi struggled frantically, scratching and clawing. "You heartless bastards! Get out of here!"

The scene immediately descended into chaos.

The guests were dumbfounded, craning their necks to watch the spectacle.

Qin Huairu, who was originally hiding inside the house, peeked out out of the house out of concern when she heard the commotion outside.

In the midst of the chaos, someone pushed him from behind, and he stumbled and was pushed out of the crowd. He lost his balance and fell right at the door of Cheng Shuhai's house.

With a "bang," her head hit the door, and she felt a little dizzy.

As it happened, Cheng Shuhai's door was ajar, and when she bumped into it, the door creaked open a crack.

Qin Huairu raised her head in a daze and subconsciously looked through the crack in the door.

She was stunned after just one glance.

Inside the door was a warm and bright room. Under a bright electric light, Cheng Shuhai was sitting at a clean square table, feeding his younger sister Cheng Ling'er spoonful by spoonful.

On the table sits a bowl of golden-yellow steamed egg custard, sprinkled with bright green scallions and fragrant minced meat. Next to it is a plate of vibrant green stir-fried vegetables.

Cheng Ling'er's little mouth was bulging with food, and her face was filled with a happy smile.

"Brother, this is so delicious, even better than meat!"

"Eat more if you like it. After you finish eating, your brother will tell you a story." Cheng Shuhai's voice was so gentle it could melt your heart.