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

Don't get me wrong, such a identity was a taboo for people in the 60s, but for Zhang Dabiao in later generations, what was it?

The wealthy in later generations indulged in even more extravagant lifestyles! The saying "laugh at poverty but not at wealth" is not just a saying.

Not to mention the entertainment industry, right?

I've also heard that the girls who accept foreign suitors must be proficient in all the arts, such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. They are all-round talents cultivated from childhood. They have knowledge, ability, good looks, good figures, and know how to serve others.

The women who were chosen were divided into three categories based on their qualifications. They received training in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, accounting, management, or housework skills, respectively, and underwent strict checks on their posture and demeanor during the transaction. Those who were not selected were mostly sent to the "Ji Yuan" (a type of brothel), and many of the "Ji Nu" (women of the Yangzhou Yang Gang) came from this group.

Not to mention that the Eight Great Hutongs were banned after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the professional women there had all undergone reformation. It's impossible that they would still openly cultivate foreign sycophants now; there must be a reason.

Moreover, the recipients of the foreign porridge must be orphans or children who have been bought and sold, who are already pitiful.

We should not discriminate against them, nor should we discriminate against the former professionals of the Eight Great Hutongs. Of course, the organizers and accomplices are another matter. Strictly speaking, most of them are proletarians without means of production, pitiful people. Moreover, they are now independent, free, and equal working citizens who have undergone reform through methods such as detention and education and resettlement employment.

Our country can even reform white dogs and prisoners of war through labor, so why can't we tolerate this group of people?

So Zhang Dabiao had no taboos; he was just curious and wanted to see for himself.

He's not Xu Damao.

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

Upon entering courtyard number 97, Zhang Dabiao discovered that it was converted from the courtyard garden of courtyard number 95, essentially dividing the entire courtyard of courtyard number 95 into three parts: front, middle, and back.

The area to the south was transformed into the No. 97 courtyard, with houses built haphazardly, corresponding to the front and outer courtyards of the No. 95 courtyard.

The middle section is the east wing that Zhang Dabiao had his eye on; it consists of a stable and wasteland, and is the same size as the central courtyard of No. 95.

The northern part seems to have been converted into street-facing shops, which corresponds to the backyard of No. 95 Courtyard.

Xu Xiaoling and He Yushui arrived at the door of a shack on the north side and knocked on the dilapidated door.

"Wanqing, are you home?"

"Who is it?" a clear voice rang out.

"I'm Xu Xiaoling from the next courtyard. I need to talk to you about something."

After a while, the door opened, and by the dim candlelight, Zhang Dabiao could see clearly that a girl who was about 170 cm tall, with braids and wearing a red dress, came out.

Is that the vibrant red in Beihai Park?!

I searched for her a thousand times in the crowd, and suddenly when I turned around, there she was, in the dim light.

Zhang Dabiao was stunned, because he couldn't believe it.

Moreover, this girl bears a striking resemblance to his own painting, or rather, his ex-girlfriend, about 5% similarity, especially their eyes…

Mu Wanqing?

Mu Wanqing!

A scene suddenly flashed through Zhang Dabiao's mind: the name on the tombstone when he accompanied his ex-girlfriend to the cemetery to sweep her grandmother's grave—

Mu Wanqing?!

In a moment of madness, Zhang Dabiao blurted out—

"grandmother?"

"..."

The girl slapped him across the face—smack—

Are you crazy?

Liu Guangqi and the others were all frightened. What was wrong with Da Biao?

When he invited a girl out to dinner, the first thing he said was "Grandma"?

Are you trying to express that this girl is kind?

Or is it because she's old?

Zhang Dabiao quickly explained, "No, I just think you look familiar, like my grandma. I didn't mean anything by it..."

Mu Wanqing stared at him with a puzzled look for a long time...

"Are you Zhang Dabiao, that idiot from courtyard number 95?"

"Ah, yes."

"You were adopted by Zhang the fortune teller, so where did you get a grandmother from?"

"..."

"My grandmother in my dream..."

"..."

Zhang Dabiao looked very serious. As long as I'm not embarrassed, it's others who will be embarrassed!

Xu Xiaoling quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Brother Da Biao's brain has only recently recovered, so it's normal for him to have occasional twitches, right?"

Mu Wanqing, however, was not buying it: "He used to have an intellectual disability, at most he would just smile foolishly at people, he's not a crazy lunatic who talks nonsense."

"Tell me, why do you call me grandma?!"

Zhang Dabiao was sweating with anxiety. Could he say that the name on the tombstone of his ex-girlfriend's grandmother in his future life was the same?

Can I say that you look a lot like my ex-girlfriend?

No way!

He had absolutely no idea how to explain it.

Liu Guangqi coughed, cleared his throat, and came to Zhang Dabiao's rescue, saying, "Well, my little brother here—"

"I drew a picture!"

"Um?"

"He drew a picture from his dream—"

"A loved one in my dream! A portrait of my grandmother!"

Immediately, Zhang Dabiao's eyes lit up, and he wished he could give Liu Guangqi a thumbs up!

How is that brain of yours designed?

"Dream lover" and "dream family" are just different tones, nothing wrong with that!

It's better than that idiot Yan Jiecheng calling "robbery" a "gun"!

"When we took a look, we realized he looked a bit like you, so we brought him here to confirm."

"Also, the young people in our compound are having a get-together. It's Da Biao's treat. He's here to invite you to the get-together because you reported it to the police last time."

Mu Wanqing frowned and thought for a long time. This reason... was very strange, but it was also somewhat reasonable.

"Zhang Ersha can draw?"

Everyone nodded in agreement: "Not only can he draw, but he's incredibly talented! Absolutely phenomenal!"

"Does the drawing really look like me?" Mu Wanqing became interested as well. Because Zhang Dabiao had an intellectual disability, Zhang Banxian didn't allow him to wander around. Mu Wanqing had only met him a few times and knew that such a person existed, but she had never heard that this idiot could draw.

"They don't look alike, but they capture the essence." Everyone continued to nod.

Mu Wanqing was still hesitating, whether to go or not.

It wasn't for the dinner party; she was simply interested in the painting.

Liu Guangqi was a "young cadre" in Courtyard No. 95. He had been a top student since childhood and his credibility was guaranteed, so Mu Wanqing believed him.

"Hey, how about I do you the honor of coming over for a meal? I haven't thanked you yet for calling the police to save me last time."

Zhang Dabiao was at a loss because Mu Wanqing gave him a very strange feeling—she looked exactly like the dream girl he had drawn, her name was the same as his ex-girlfriend's grandmother, she also looked about 5 points similar to his ex-girlfriend, and she was also that splash of bright red from Beihai Park...

They've all crashed into each other; it's no wonder people are interested.

Mu Wanqing was still hesitating. She had a feeling that this silly guy in front of her had some ill intentions, but then she heard a cough behind her.

"Wanqing, what's wrong? Who is it? Cough cough—"

Mu Wanqing glared at Zhang Dabiao and then went inside.

"Mom, it's Xu Xiaoling from the next courtyard, Yushui, Liu Guangqi, and Zhang Ershazi who invited me over for dinner."

"Huh? Why? Cough—"

"They said it was to thank me for helping Ershazi report to the police last time. The young people in their compound were having a dinner party, so they invited me to join in the fun."

"Oh, that's it? Okay, well—go ahead, it's good for young people to have some fun together."

"Remember to bring some cornmeal and food coupons, cough—we can't visit empty-handed."

"Okay, Mom, I'll head over now. You get some rest and drink plenty of hot water."

Zhang Dabiao and the others were still waiting at the door when Liu Guangqi nudged Zhang Dabiao's arm: "Dabiao, what happened to you just now? How could you call someone 'Grandma' like that? That's so rude."

Zhang Dabiao rolled his eyes: "I don't know either. I just blurted it out on a whim. It's normal for people to do unreasonable things sometimes."

"Putting that aside, how come this woman is like a firecracker, attacking without warning, and so defensive?" — Just like a boss, very fierce.

Liu Guangqi shrugged and said helplessly, "Given her family's situation, there are quite a few people eyeing her. If she doesn't take a tough stance, she won't survive."

Zhang Dabiao nodded—he felt the same way; his family was in the same boat.

A short while later, Mu Wanqing went out with the grain sack.

"Walk."

"Then, shall we walk?"