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

"I'm pretty good!"

He said something unwillingly.

Jia Dongxu's "I'm doing great" did not serve any purpose of clarification; instead, it was like pouring water into boiling oil.

The courtyard fell silent for a second. Then, several middle-aged women exchanged glances, burst out laughing, and quickly covered their mouths with their hands, but their trembling shoulders betrayed their true thoughts.

"Yes, yes, we believe everything they say about Dongxuhang!"

"Exactly, newlyweds are hot-tempered, we understand!"

These words sound comforting, but paired with that strange look and forced smile, they are more hurtful than direct mockery.

Jia Dongxu's face turned a deep purplish-red, he was so angry that he was trembling all over, and his fists were clenched so tightly they cracked.

"Enough!" Yi Zhonghai's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. He strode over to Jia Dongxu, grabbed his arm, and hissed, "Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough? Come back with me!"

After speaking, he glanced around, his gaze lingering on Cheng Shuhai's face for a second, the resentment in his eyes almost tangible.

It's all because of Cheng Shuhai!

Deep in Yi Zhonghai's heart, the thorn that had been hidden for many years seemed to be pierced hard by these rumors.

His infertility was his biggest worry, which is why he was so sensitive to the word "infertility".

Now this label has been pinned on his most valued disciple, it's practically like being scolded right in the nose!

He forcibly suppressed his anger, grabbed Jia Dongxu, and headed towards the Intermediate People's Court, saying as they walked, "Stop going crazy here! Quickly take your wife and go to the Military Control Commission to see how they're going to deal with your mother! That's the important thing!"

After being reminded by his master, Jia Dongxu finally regained a sliver of his rationality.

Then he turned and rushed into the house, taking Qin Huairu with him, and hurriedly ran out of the courtyard.

Cheng Shuhai ignored the venomous gaze as if he had only been stared at by a fly.

He smiled and helped his sister finish washing up, then went back inside and made two fragrant egg pancakes.

"Brother, why is Brother Jia so angry?"

Cheng Ling'er asked curiously as she ate her egg pancake.

"Because he did something wrong but refused to admit it." Cheng Shuhai rubbed his sister's head. "Ling'er, remember, we should be reasonable, but when we encounter unreasonable bad people, our fists should be harder than theirs."

"Um!"

Cheng Ling'er nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

After breakfast, the brother and sister went to the small restaurant at the entrance of the alley.

Business was slow in the morning. After settling his younger sister in the shop to write, Cheng Shuhai picked up a vegetable basket, said goodbye to his sister, and headed straight for the market.

"Perfect, let's add some living things to the space."

He quickly bought four hens and a spirited rooster at the market, and also picked out four female ducks and a male duck.

Afterwards, he went to the seed shop and bought some seeds of ginger, garlic, and chili peppers.

Finding a secluded corner, Cheng Shuhai made a thought, and the contents of the vegetable basket vanished instantly.

In his perception, the chickens and ducks in the blessed land were curiously pacing around their new home, while the seeds, through the great power of the space itself, had been sown in the fertile black soil, and tender green shoots had even sprouted.

"Perfect."

Cheng Shuhai smiled with satisfaction, then turned and returned to the small restaurant.

Around noon, the restaurant's curtain was lifted, and two people walked in.

The leader was a boy of about seventeen or eighteen, tall with thick eyebrows and big eyes, but he looked unusually haggard, with a suppressed anger in his eyes. Behind him was a little girl of about eight or nine, with two small braids, her eyes red and swollen from crying, like a frightened little rabbit, tightly clutching the boy's clothes.

Cheng Shuhai's gaze sharpened.

Silly column? What rain?

Judging from his travel-worn and sorrowful appearance, he had probably just returned from Baoding and confirmed the fact that He Daqing had run away with the widow.

"Brother, two guests." Cheng Ling'er ran over with her short legs, tilting her little face up to ask, "Brother and sister, what would you like to eat?"

Sha Zhu glanced at the menu on the wall, the prices making him frown. He rummaged in his pocket for a while before finally pulling out a few crumpled bills, and said in a hoarse voice, "Come on... give me a bowl of the cheapest plain noodles, and a mixed vegetable steamed bun, that'll do."

"OK."

Cheng Ling'er obediently responded and ran back to the kitchen to tell Cheng Shuhai.

Cheng Shuhai didn't say anything, but his hands moved quickly.

Soon, a steaming bowl of plain noodles and two hearty cornbreads were served.

"Rainwater, eat it quickly, it will make you feel better."

Neither the brother nor sister said a word; they buried their heads and wolfed down their food.

The way he looked didn't seem like he was eating; it was more like he was venting something.

After finishing his meal, Sha Zhu put down the money, exactly the amount for the plain noodles and steamed buns.

Cheng Shuhai simply nodded.

As the brother and sister's desolate figures disappeared into the alley, Cheng Shuhai's eyes flickered slightly.

He Daqing has run away, and Sha Zhu and He Yushui's lives are likely to be difficult. Another pair of pitiful people have joined the courtyard.

However, this has nothing to do with him.

What he needs to do now is to run his small restaurant well, take good care of his sister, and live comfortably in these turbulent times.

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

As evening fell, the afterglow of the setting sun gilded the courtyard house with a golden edge.

After tidying up the restaurant, Cheng Shuhai took his younger sister's hand and leisurely returned to the courtyard.

Business was good today, especially after noon. Many people heard about the Jia family's jokes and came here specifically to eat and ask about the gossip, which made him a small fortune.

As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, a sharp and sarcastic voice rang out.

"Hey, isn't this Sha Zhu? Back from Baoding? Did you find your father who ran off with the widow?"

Xu Damao and a few other teenagers, including Liu Guangtian, were wandering aimlessly in the yard when they saw Shazhu coming out of the house. They immediately started mocking him with sarcastic remarks. He had heard the rumor during the day that Jia Dongxu was "impotent," and he was in a great mood, now completely carried away with his pride.

Sha Zhu was already filled with grief and indignation because of the changes in his family and the day's running around. When he heard Xu Damao's heart-wrenching words, his face changed instantly.

He Yushui, who was standing behind him, was already heartbroken. After Xu Damao said that, she could no longer hold back and burst into tears, which fell like beads from a broken string.

"Xu Damao! You fucking want to die!"

The younger sister's cries were like a lit fuse, instantly igniting the powder keg that had been building up in Sha Zhu's heart.

His eyes were bloodshot, and with a roar, he charged at Xu Damao like an enraged bull!