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

This warm and peaceful scene stands in stark and jarring contrast to the chaotic and disgraceful spectacle outside.

Qin Huairu felt as if something had stabbed her heart.

She thought of herself.

I live in the small house that Yi Zhonghai owns.

Her husband is a brainless good-for-nothing who is currently undergoing reform through labor on a farm.

Her mother-in-law was a bedridden, malicious old woman who cursed incessantly all day long.

I eat leftovers and cornbread with pickled vegetables every day.

On what grounds?

Why is Cheng Shuhai able to live such a good life?

Why is it that his sister can be treated like a treasure by him, while he has to struggle in this quagmire?

A strong sense of regret and resentment instantly overwhelmed Qin Huairu.

If... if I had married Cheng Shuhai back then, would I be the one sitting under that warm light now, eating delicious food and being treated gently by him?

Once the thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed. Like a wildly growing vine, it instantly entwined her entire heart.

Qin Huairu was then considering whether she should talk to Cheng Shuhai...

"Hey! What are you looking at? Hurry up and go home!"

Just as Qin Huairu was lost in thought, a burly arm reached out—it was Sun Dali. She grabbed Qin Huairu and roughly pushed her toward the backyard.

"Don't stand there, you're in the way!"

Qin Huairu stumbled from the push, and when she came to her senses, her face burned. She glanced back at the closed door of Cheng Shuhai's house, then at her mother-in-law, who was being held down on the ground by several women and still throwing a tantrum. In the end, she could only lower her head and be humiliated as she was shoved back into the suffocating little room.

The farce outside gradually subsided.

Ultimately, Jia Zhangshi was no match for the many women who had accepted the money; they dragged and pulled her back into the house.

Although Yi Zhonghai was overshadowed by Cheng Shuhai's delicious food, he managed to suppress Jia Zhangshi and win back some ground in his heart.

He cleared his throat, picked up his glass again, forced a smile, and said loudly, "Please excuse the commotion, it's just a family matter. Come on, let's drink! Today, I'd like to formally introduce you all, this is my son, Yi Jiefang!"

Chapter 91 The full moon celebration ends, Liu Haizhong has a change of heart.

With the farce over, the banquet could finally proceed normally.

Holding his son Yi Jiefang, Yi Zhonghai, his face beaming, moved between tables offering toasts. The guests were very accommodating, raising their glasses and saying various auspicious words.

"Old Yi, this kid has a good face; he's sure to have a bright future!"

"Yes, look at that forehead, so full, it definitely indicates intelligence!"

"Liberation, Liberation, what a great name! It captures the spirit of the times!"

Hearing these compliments, Yi Zhonghai was overjoyed, feeling that all the frustrations he had ever experienced in his life were worthwhile at this moment.

Tan Zhaodi followed behind her husband, looking at their adorable son in his arms, and then at her husband's triumphant appearance, her eyes welled up with tears. She felt that her hard times were finally over.

Only the deaf old woman sitting in the corner slowly sipped her wine, quietly observing everything in the courtyard with her cloudy yet all-seeing eyes. She looked at the smugness on Yi Zhonghai's face, then glanced at the tightly closed door of the Jia family's house in the backyard, pursed her lips, and said nothing.

Everyone ate the meal with their own thoughts on the matter.

The dishes at the banquet were unremarkable, but the aroma of food wafting from Cheng Shuhai's house next door lingered in everyone's nostrils, like a silent mockery.

After a long and arduous journey, the banquet finally came to an end, and the guests took their leave.

The courtyard was a mess of cups and plates, but it soon returned to its usual tranquility.

But everyone knows that the water in the courtyard is getting muddier and muddier.

Two more days passed in the blink of an eye.

These past two days have felt like an eternity for Liu Haizhong.

Ever since he was punished to clean the toilets, he has tried every means to curry favor with the workshop director, but the director just won't budge.

Seeing Yi Zhonghai holding his son and throwing a lavish banquet in the courtyard, enjoying immense prestige, Liu Hai felt both jealous and anxious.

He heard that many leaders in the entire steel rolling mill have now fallen in love with the sweet potato fritters sold at Cheng Shuhai's small restaurant!

If I could get my hands on a jar and give it to the workshop director, wouldn't my transfer back to the workshop be a sure thing?

So Liu Haizhong carried the money and went to Cheng's restaurant every day.

But that wine was just too sought after. There were only three jars available each day, and he, a toilet cleaner, didn't have time to stand in that long queue.

By the time he got off work and rushed over, he couldn't even smell the wine jar anymore.

That day, Liu Haizhong returned home empty-handed once again, dejected.

As I passed the entrance to a dark alley, a small, thin figure suddenly darted out from the side.

"Brother, you look so worried, did you fail to buy the bar at Cheng's Restaurant?"

The man had a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, and his eyes darted around, giving him a clever look.

Liu Haizhong gave him a wary look: "Who are you?"

"Hey, who I am isn't important." The man chuckled, leaned closer, and lowered his voice. "The important thing is that I have connections to get my hands on the Cheng family's wine. It's just... the price will be considerably higher."

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong's eyes lit up.

"Really? You have connections?" He was somewhat skeptical.

"Of course it's fake!" The man patted his chest. "I have connections, I can scrape together a little bit every day. How about it, brother, want some? If not, I'll find someone else, there are plenty of people who want to buy."

Liu Haizhong was tempted. He was desperate and would try anything, no matter how small the chance.

"How much?" he asked.

"One million per jar, fixed price!"

The man held up one finger.

"What? One million? Why don't you just rob someone?!"

Liu Haizhong was startled. His monthly salary was only 500,000 yuan, and this jar of wine cost him two months' salary!

"Brother, you can't say that." The man curled his lip. "You know that the Cheng family's wine is priceless! I only approached you because you look kind. If you think it's too expensive, then forget it."

With that, the man turned to leave.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Liu Haizhong exclaimed anxiously and grabbed him.

He gritted his teeth, a fierce internal struggle raging within him.

One million is no small sum.

But when he thought about being able to get out of the toilet soon and return to the workshop to be his Master Liu, he felt that the money was well spent!

"Fine! One million it is!" Liu Haizhong stamped his foot, making up his mind. "But you have to let me inspect the goods first!"

"No problem!" the man readily agreed. "You wait here, I'll go get it for you right away!"

After saying that, the man disappeared into the darkness in a flash.

Liu Haizhong waited anxiously at the entrance of the alley, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and fear of being deceived.

About fifteen minutes later, the man came running back, panting, carrying a wine jar wrapped tightly in cloth.