The Courtyard House: The story begins with He Yuzhu beating up the White Widow.

The next day, a little after six in the morning, the courtyard house came alive again. People were either busy washing up or queuing for the public toilet outside. He Yuzhu finished washing up and returned home. Just as he started kneading the dough, He Yushui sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes and asking, "Brother, what time is it?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "It's still early! You can sleep a little longer. I'll wake you up when breakfast is ready."

"I'm not sleeping anymore! I've had enough sleep!" With that, He Yushui picked up her clothes and started dressing. He Yuzhu, worried that He Yushui would get cold, immediately put down what he was holding, ran to the bedside, and helped her get dressed. Just then, Ma Cuilan's voice rang out from the courtyard: "Dongxu, you're all dressed up so early in the morning. Where are you going?!"

Jia Dongxu replied, "I met someone yesterday. Today I went to their house with the matchmaker to discuss the marriage."

Ma Cuilan then asked, "Dongxu, where is your boyfriend from?!"

Jia Dongxu replied, "From Qinjiacun Village, Changping! Aunt Ma, I can't chat with you anymore. I'm in a hurry. I'm leaving now!" With that, Jia Dongxu rushed out of the central courtyard.

After Jia Dongxu left, Ma Cuilan said, "Jia Zhangshi always says her family is a wealthy and powerful one. Jia Dongxu married a country bumpkin; when she comes back, won't she cause a huge scene?!"

Yang Ruihua, who was fetching water by the pool, chimed in, "The Jia family's reputation has been ruined by Jia Zhangshi. It's already a miracle that Jia Dongxu could find a wife at all. Is she really going to be picky?! Besides, you know the current policies. Jia Zhangshi's household registration isn't here. Even if she's released, she'll have to go back to her original place of residence."

"That's true!" Ma Cuilan agreed, saying, "This Jia Dongxu is really unlucky. He has a fussy mother and a troublesome mentor. If it weren't for our Lao Liu, who looked after him at the factory because we're neighbors, Jia Dongxu might not even have a job now."

A neighbor nearby asked, "Old Liu's family. Didn't the factory give Jia Dongxu a different mentor?!"

Ma Cuilan said, "Even if the factory wanted to replace him, no one would want to take him on. It's because Yi Zhonghai always thought he was so skilled, looking down on everyone and making enemies. Now everyone's laughing at him. Who's going to take on the mess he left behind?!"

Seeing He Yushui come out of the house with toiletries, Yang Ruihua smiled and asked, "Yushui, why didn't you go out with your brother today?!"

He Yushui replied, "My brother's company is on holiday starting today."

Yang Ruihua then asked, "Yushui, it's Chinese New Year, and there are only two people in your family. What are your brother's plans for the holiday?!"

He Yushui tilted her head and looked Yang Ruihua up and down, saying, "Just live the same way you did before."

A neighbor nearby chuckled and chimed in, "Old Yan's family, you're not thinking of inviting those siblings to your house for the New Year, are you?!"

Yang Ruihua said, "The two siblings are always lonely, but we have a lot of family members, so it's always lively when they come to our house for the New Year."

Ma Cuilan chuckled and teased, "Old Yan's family, you wouldn't be plotting to steal He Yuzhu's New Year's goods, would you?!"

Yang Ruihua said in a serious tone, "What do you mean by scheming?! It's normal for both families to bring some food to share during the New Year celebrations!"

He Yuzhu came out of the house and said, "Aunt Yang, it's better to spend the New Year at home. It's not really celebrating the New Year when you go to someone else's house. That's called being a guest in someone else's house. Although my father is gone, I have a job now, so I'm considered a pillar of the family. Whether we have food or not, we still celebrate the New Year at home. If we have money, my sister and I can have a better time. If we don't have money, we can still celebrate the New Year with wild vegetables and cold water. When we come to your house, let alone eat well, we're lucky if we can even smell the food."

"Hey?! He Yuzhu, what kind of talk is this?! You really dislike my family that much?!" After saying that, Yang Ruihua adopted a posture that said, "If you don't explain yourself clearly today, I'll never let you off the hook," and glared fiercely at He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu said, "Aunt Yang, I remember your family motto very clearly! 'You won't go poor from eating or dressing, but you will go poor from not calculating.' Your family's status as small business owners speaks for itself. I don't believe your family has no savings. 'You won't go poor from eating or dressing.' I haven't seen your family wearing silks and satins or eating delicacies. Your family divides cornbread by the person and counts pickled vegetables by the piece. Is this how you live a good life?! You're just making trouble for yourself. Besides, you're asking for trouble from not calculating. I haven't seen your family calculating..." Who are you scheming against? You've all used your scheming to scheme against your own children. I'm not saying this to be mean, but while you're having fun scheming now, have you ever thought about the day you grow old?! When you're old and bedridden, how will your children treat you?! Those who are kind and righteous will abandon you there to fend for yourself. And if they're scheming like you, how much money you have might not even be enough for them to scheme against. If I were you, I would treat my children well before making a grave mistake.”

After hearing He Yuzhu's words, the neighbors unconsciously began to whisper among themselves. Their gazes towards Yang Ruihua changed. Yang Ruihua, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, stopped fetching water and simply left with the bucket.

Ma Cuilan said, "Zhu Zi, I really didn't realize you could be so quick-witted!"

He Yuzhu said, "Aunt Ma, it's not that I'm sharp-tongued. It's just that what I said is true. I heard that Yan Bugui keeps a book of accounts for each of his children. He's counting on his children to pay off debts and get rich!"

At the same time, Yan Jiecheng, who was brushing his teeth and washing his face at the Intermediate People's Court with his toiletries, heard He Yuzhu's words, which seemed to open a door to a new world for him.

After washing up, He Yushui followed He Yuzhu home. He Yuzhu brought the cooked porridge to the table and took out a few freshly steamed buns from the steamer, placing them on the table as well. He Yuzhu ladled out the porridge and placed it in front of He Yushui, saying, "Yushui, after you finish eating, let's go out to buy groceries. We'll also buy some incense and candles. Tomorrow morning, after breakfast, we'll go to visit Mom's grave. When Qingming Festival comes, we'll build a cenotaph for Uncle next to Mom's grave. It will be a way for him to return to his roots."

He Yushui asked cautiously, "Brother, when are we going to the temple fair?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "After we visit the graves tomorrow, we'll go to my master's house first, and then my uncle will go to the temple fair."

"Hey!" He Yushui readily agreed, urging, "Brother, hurry up and eat! Let's leave early after we finish eating."

A little after seven in the morning, He Yuzhu, carrying a basket, left with He Yushui. The siblings had just reached the front yard when Yan Bugui blocked their path and demanded, "He Yuzhu, my wife kindly invited you to our house for the New Year. You refused, fine. But why are you making sarcastic remarks about us?!"