Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Everyone was holding their drinks, their jaws practically dropping to the floor.

You've only had a few drinks, you idiot? You almost got into a fight with Sha Zhu but didn't get beaten up, and you're already acting like this?

Xu Damao's mother was dumbfounded. How could she talk to the eldest daughter of the Lou family like that? Did she even want her to work for the Lou family anymore?

"Da Mao, you've had too much to drink! Shut up!"

"Mom, I haven't had much to drink. It's only been a few glasses. Xiao'e, let me tell you, I, Xu Damao, can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk!"

"You wouldn't believe it, but today I, Xu Damao, slaughtered everyone in the courtyard! Even that idiot Zhu was no match for me!"

"Marry me and you'll enjoy..."

Zhang Dabiao reacted quickly, delivering a swift chop to Xu Damao, sending him sprawling to the ground...

Lou Xiao'e's face turned red. If Xu Damao didn't faint, who knew what other nonsense he would spout?

"Aunt Chen, I'm sorry," Zhang Dabiao said apologetically. In this emergency, he felt it was best to just knock Xu Damao out quickly.

Aunt Chen didn't get angry with him, but just complained, "Da Mao isn't usually like this. It's alright, it's alright, you guys should drink less. Look what you've done to Da Mao!"

"Da Biao, can you help look after Xiao'e? I'll drag Damao back first."

"Xiao'e, you start cooking and eat first. Aunt Chen will add two more dishes for you later."

"Xiaoling, lend a hand!"

Then, Aunt Chen and Xu Xiaoling quickly dragged Xu Damao back like a dead dog...

Zhang Dabiao and Liu Guangqi looked at the wine glasses in their hands. Each glass only contained two liang (2ml). Xu Damao hadn't drunk much either.

Is that all the alcohol he can drink?

And he can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk? And his child's surname is Lou?

Will Uncle Xu beat him to death? Will the couple team up for a double beating?

If the couple doesn't fight back, then they can wait for Boss Lou to find someone to beat them up.

Lou Xiao'e naturally sat down in Xu Damao's previous seat, glanced at the dishes on the table, and then looked at Zhang Dabiao, who was still in a daze.

"What's wrong? You're not welcoming me? Should I leave?"

"No way! You're absolutely welcome! Please have a seat."

"Miss, I'll wait in the car outside. Please call me if you need anything."

"Okay, Uncle Qu."

Then, Lou Xiao'e naturally stayed. Did Zhang Dabiao dare to refuse?

The group ate and chatted. Lou Xiao'e was curious about the neighborly relations in this courtyard house. The scene just now didn't scare her; on the contrary, she found it quite amusing.

Others still felt somewhat alienated from this kind of capitalist's daughter, especially Liu Guangqi, who was the son of a hardworking older brother with impeccable political background, a vocational school graduate, and a proper cadre. He had an innate aversion to capitalists, so he didn't talk much.

Zhang Dabiao, however, didn't care. What capitalist?

So what if they're capitalists? These days, even capitalists have to keep a low profile. Only fools like Moth can still ride around in their cars.

If you're not afraid, and Lou Bancheng isn't afraid, why should I be afraid?

She's just a little girl who's sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen years old.

I'll talk about whatever you want to talk about. I'm not bragging, I know a thing or two about everything under the sun!

But don't you have any idea what's going on?

What's there to talk about with us ordinary folks when you're a capitalist's daughter?

So we can only do the bare minimum.

Actually, Zhang Dabiao had also drunk a bit too much, but thankfully he didn't talk nonsense.

Xu Xiaoling brought two dishes over, and also served He Yushui a large bowl and a glass of milk separately. At this time, everyone was basically talking about the three old men, the Jia family, and Sha Zhu. It wouldn't be appropriate to call her over. Would she listen to us teasing your brother? If she came, it would only provoke Sha Zhu more.

After delivering the food, Xu Xiaoling ate some dishes and snacks with Lou Xiao'e and chatted with everyone.

The dinner party didn't end until after 8 o'clock, and when Lou Xiao'e left, she asked Zhang Dabiao, "Can I come and visit you guys?"

Sister, haven't you realized we're not on the same wavelength?

Lou Xiao'e also asked, "My dad invited you to his house for tea, why didn't you go?"

That's just polite talk, don't you understand? It's just polite talk!

Besides, if I said I'd go today, what would that make me?

Explaining things to the capitalist's daughter was exhausting, so Zhang Dabiao could only laugh it off; getting her away safely was the most important thing.

If she comes again, we'll see.

Finally, Zhang Dabiao asked everyone to divide the leftovers and help wash the dishes.

However, not much leftover food was actually kept.

Take Liu Guangtian for example. He ate four bowls of rice by himself, but only ate one serving of vegetables. He mostly mixed the rice with the vegetable soup.

The soup from the pre-made dish...

It's so salty!

He originally wanted to add some more dishes for everyone, but Liu Guangqi stopped him, saying that today's meal was already too extravagant.

Kung Pao Chicken, Braised Pork Belly, Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce, Eggplant with Minced Pork, Stir-fried Pork with Vegetables, Braised Lion's Head Meatballs, Grilled Sausage, Whole Roasted Chicken, Sichuan Pepper Grilled Fish, Spicy Cabbage, Spicy Peanuts, Duck Neck, a Big Bucket of Rice, and a Plate of Steamed Buns.

Grapes, pear syrup candy, hawthorn strips, milk tablets, raisins, grassland yogurt, milk, fruit juice, and a whole pack of cigarettes with filters inside.

The Xu family also brought two bottles of fine wine, a stir-fried pork with green peppers, a steamed cured fish, and some cornbread...

Even a grand banquet couldn't have been this good!

According to Zhang Dabiao, there were only 11 proper dishes; the others were just appetizers.

When hosting a dinner party, you have to order dishes based on the number of people plus one extra dish! And there has to be fish, meat, hot pot, and soup!

Not enough!

The crowd murmured amongst themselves, speechless...

Even landlords wouldn't eat like this, would they? Is what you're saying even human?

As he left, Liu Guangqi drunkenly patted Zhang Dabiao on the shoulder.

"Biaozi! You're so generous! You really gave me face today!"

"Brother, I won't eat your food for free! Tomorrow—"

"Brother's got you something cool!"

Zhang Dabiao was bewildered. "You, Liu Guangqi, can't even take care of yourself, and you're still going to get me all this stuff?"

What's this good stuff?

As long as you don't suddenly show me a huge treasure, it's fine.

When he got home, the Jia family was still shouting and cursing next door, trying to summon the spirits of their loved ones.

But Zhang Dabiao didn't care about any of that, and spat out a mouthful of phlegm—"What a bunch of trash!"

Then I opened the door, went home, closed the door, and bolted it shut—I went back to my room to sleep.

------------

The next morning, most people went out with dark circles under their eyes, having not slept well.

Are you able to sleep well?

There were three huge tables of food in the backyard last night!

There isn't a single vegetarian dish!

There are so many rare fruits and snacks! And milk!

With Jia Jiayi, Zhonghai, and Sha Zhu causing such a ruckus, how can anyone get a good night's sleep?

The deaf old lady didn't sleep well at all, because she ate right outside her door, and the taste... she still couldn't fall asleep at midnight.

The Jia family was beaten up. Jia Zhangshi and Yi Zhonghai both had big bumps on their heads and were angry all night. How could they sleep well?

Yan Laokou didn't get any advantage; he didn't get the slightest benefit from any of the three tables of food, even though Zhang Dabiao was his student.

Do you think he's angry or not?

Second Uncle was alright. After the three Liu brothers came home, he gave them a couple of light beatings. Having eaten and drunk his fill, he certainly had the energy to howl. But he couldn't beat them too much without a reason, so he only gave them a couple of light beatings before going to sleep. Yi Zhonghai got beaten, and Yan Laokou got yelled at, but Second Uncle... he wasn't scolded.

Moreover, Zhang Dabiao even treated his three sons to a meal to apologize, which saved him face and made him sleep well.

And Zhang Dabiao—

He was being held back by a resentful Xu Damao, who had several slap marks on his face, probably from his parents.

"Da Biao, tell me, did Xiao'e mention me when she left?"

"no."

"Does she have a problem with me?"

"You fucking said 'you're willing' the moment we met, and the child can even have the surname Lou? Holy crap, have you ever heard anyone say that on a first meeting? Do you think you'd have any objections?"

"It's only because Lou Xiao'e has a good temper, otherwise she would have directly accused you of indecent assault, believe it or not?" Zhang Dabiao didn't even want to mention this matter, it was truly embarrassing!

Fortunately, it was Xu Damao who embarrassed himself, not him.

"So I should thank you for knocking me out?"

"Absolutely!"

"Xiao'e, have you taken a liking to you? She's the one I've got my eye on, you can't take her from me!"

"Big brother! I'm 16 years old! I'm in the third grade of elementary school!"

"Even if Lou Xiao'e were willing, do you think Lou Bancheng would agree?"

"Would you marry your daughter to a 16-year-old idiot who's still in the third grade of elementary school?" Zhang Dabiao was going crazy. So, Xu Damao dragged me out of bed early this morning just for this?

You can't even think about it with your lower body... no, with your heels.

"..."

"That's true..."

"But if my sister is willing, marrying her to you is fine," Xu Damao suddenly raised an eyebrow and said to Zhang Dabiao in a cheeky tone. He wouldn't object to Zhang Dabiao becoming his brother-in-law.

"No, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm not considering it right now."

It's okay for sixteen or seventeen-year-olds to date, but is it acceptable for men to get married at 20 and women at 18?

Why get married so early?