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

He Yuzhu said, "I'm not feeling sorry for the two brothers. I just feel sorry for them. Luckily they live in the backyard. If they lived in the middle yard, I would definitely get Liu Haizhong out of our yard. I don't want my children to be affected by him in the future."

He Daqing chuckled and teased, "You're still a kid, aren't you? And you're already thinking about your wife?!"

He Yushui took a bite of her food and said, "Brother, a couple of days ago, Dad and I went to the factory and ran into Sister Xiao'e. She said she'd like to invite us to her house next Sunday."

He Yuzhu asked, "You agreed?!"

"Yeah!" He Yushui responded, then asked, "Are you busy next Sunday?!"

"Nothing's wrong. Since you agreed, let's go next Sunday." He Yuzhu then picked up a steamed bun from the winnowing basket. He Daqing asked, "Yushui, are you talking about that Sister Xiao'e?!"

He Yushui looked at He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu explained, "Boss Lou's daughter."

He Daqing then realized what was happening and said, "I've met Boss Lou's daughter. That girl is well-behaved."

He Yushui asked curiously, "Dad, have you seen Boss Lou's other children?!"

"I've met him!" He Daqing replied, unconsciously sizing up He Yuzhu, feeling that his son was quite fond of Boss Lou's daughter. After hesitating for a moment, He Daqing reminded him, "Yuzhu, your father is just a cook. Besides being a good cook, I don't have any other skills to offer. When you find a wife in the future, just find someone of equal social standing. Don't put pressure on yourself."

He Yuzhu was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Dad, I'm only eighteen years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning). I'm not old enough to get married yet! We'll talk about marriage when I'm old enough. Besides, who knows what the future holds?!"

He Yushui chimed in, "Dad, I think Sister Xiao'e would be a good sister-in-law." Then she asked, "Dad, how many children does Boss Lou have?!"

He Daqing said, "Boss Lou has four wives. His first wife has two sons. His second wife has one son, and his third wife has a son and a daughter. His fourth wife is the mother of Xiao'e, whom you mentioned. Besides Xiao'e, she also has two older brothers. Before the Japanese invaded, something happened to the Lou family, and Boss Lou sent his first and second wives abroad. Before liberation, Boss Lou's third wife didn't want to stay in the country with him, so she caused a scene. That third wife was no pushover either. She used her connections to force Boss Lou to send her and her two children abroad. But speaking of which, Boss Lou is quite the romantic. His current wife, his fourth wife, was taken a liking to by Boss Lou when she was very young, during a meal at the Tan family's house. Rumor has it that Boss Lou originally planned to wait until his fourth wife came of age. Later, due to pressure from his mother, Boss Lou married his first wife."

"Good heavens?! The Lou family is really complicated?!" He Yuzhu muttered, then asked, "Dad, how do you know so much about this?!"

"How I know is none of your business. Just treat it as a story! Don't take it too seriously." With that, He Daqing picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and said, "Zhu Zi, the verdicts for Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old woman were handed down a long time ago. Why haven't I heard when the executions will be held?!"

He Yuzhu said, "Dad, this matter is officially closed, but it's not completely over yet. There are too many people and things involved. We're just ordinary people; this has nothing to do with us."

"I was just asking casually!" He Daqing replied, then picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and put it in He Yushui's bowl, saying, "Daughter, eat more!"

"Mmm!" He Yushui nodded and quickly put the food into her mouth. He Yuzhu looked at He Yushui's adorable expression and a faint smile appeared on his face.

After dinner, He Yuzhu washed the dishes and sat down opposite He Daqing. He Daqing looked at He Yuzhu curiously and asked, "Yuzhu, what's up?"

He Yuzhu asked with a smile, "Dad, how did you know something was wrong?!"

He Daqing said, "You're my son. You always wear your temper on your sleeve. How could I not know you need me?! So, what is it?!"

He Yuzhu said, "Dad, Qingming Festival is coming soon. I plan to build a cenotaph for my uncle next to my mother's grave. You know a lot of people. Do you know any skilled stonemasons? I'd like to pay them to carve a tombstone for me."

"You're very thoughtful, lad! I'll take care of this! Later, write down your uncle's name and everything. Give it to me tomorrow morning. I'll find someone to carve the tombstone." After saying this, He Daqing picked up his teacup, took a sip of his food, and said, "Jasmine is still the best to my taste."

He Yuzhu stood up with a smile and said, "Dad, take your time drinking. I'll be going now."

Back in his room, He Yuzhu quickly washed up, lay down on the bed, and entered his spatial dimension with his divine sense. He began to organize the things inside.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, He Yuzhu ate breakfast, handed the slip of paper with Zhang Dabiao's birth date and time written on it to He Daqing, and then went to work. When he arrived at the Military Control Commission, He Yuzhu was about to go out to buy groceries when Wang Xia called him back. He Yuzhu walked up to Wang Xia and asked, "Aunt Wang, what's wrong?!"

Wang Xia said, "Zhu Zi, I went to check on your greenhouse after get off work yesterday, and the vegetables there are growing quite well. I told your uncle about it when I got back. He said he's bringing people from the Agricultural College over this afternoon. Don't leave too early this afternoon!"

He Yuzhu said, "Aunt Wang, it's just growing some vegetables to supplement our income, is it really necessary to go to such lengths?!"

Wang Xia looked at He Yuzhu with a disappointed expression and said, "You're good at everything, except for your lack of ambition!"

He Yuzhu hurriedly chimed in, "Aunt Wang, you're absolutely right! I think things are fine as they are. Someone like me, trying to climb higher?! They say the higher you climb, the colder it gets. I don't want to fall to my death or freeze to death. Thank you for your help with this. You can just help with the reception. My dad's going on a blind date tomorrow, how can I, as his son, not prepare?! Aunt Wang, I can't talk to you anymore. If I don't leave now, I won't be able to buy any good vegetables." With that, He Yuzhu disappeared from Wang Xia's sight in a flash.

A little after 2 p.m., two jeeps appeared in front of the Military Control Commission in Nanluoguxiang. Wang Xia's husband, Hu Ruomu, got out of the vehicles with his entourage. Wu Jiangyong and Wang Xia, hearing the commotion, came out of their office. Wu Jiangyong asked with a smile, "Old Hu, what brings you here today?!"

Hu Ruomu said, "Old Wu, who told you to have such a rare treasure here?!" Then she looked at Wang Xia and said, "Old Wang, take us to see it!"

"Okay!" Wang Xia readily agreed and led everyone into the military control committee.