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

After He Yushui pulled Lou Xiao'e away, He Daqing asked, "Zhuzi, what's going on here?!"

He Yuzhu pouted and said in a low voice with a helpless expression, "Your daughter wants Lou Bancheng's daughter to be your wife."

"What?!" Now it was He Daqing's turn to be dumbfounded. Who was Lou Bancheng?! Others might not know much about him. Even if they did, they wouldn't know much. But He Daqing knew him inside and out. Could someone who had experienced the Japanese invaders and the British colonialists, and still managed to build such a large fortune, be an ordinary person?! He Daqing muttered to himself, "Yushui! My good daughter. How could you do this to your father and brother?!"

About twenty minutes later, the dishes began to be served one after another. The guests also took their seats. He Yuzhu sat at a table with He Yushui and Lou Xiao'e. He Yuzhu asked, "I didn't see you two earlier, where did you go?!"

He Yushui replied, "Brother, I took Sister Xiao'e to the greenhouse. Brother, all the strawberries you planted are ripe, are they ready to eat?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "They're ready to eat. You can pick them yourselves later!"

"Hey!" He Yushui responded, picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of fish, and said, "Sister Xiao'e, don't just look! You should eat too!"

"I'll eat!" Lou Xiao'e replied somewhat awkwardly. He Yuzhu said, "Lou Xiao'e, I won't call you Miss Lou anymore. I'll take advantage of the rain and call you Sister Xiao'e! Make yourself at home here. Don't be shy."

He Yushui said, "Brother, when you take Sister Xiao'e back later, pick some vegetables from the greenhouse and bring them over. Let Uncle Lou and the others have a taste."

"Got it!" He Yuzhu replied, scooping a spoonful of Kung Pao Chicken into Lou Xiao'e's bowl.

Lou Xiao'e smiled at He Yuzhu and picked up her chopsticks to eat. In the cheerful atmosphere, Lou Xiao'e gradually relaxed. While eating, she even chatted with He Yuzhu about which dishes were the best. Seeing this, He Yuzhu realized that Lou Xiao'e was a true foodie.

A little after six o'clock in the afternoon, the banquet ended. While He Daqing and his wife were seeing the guests off, He Yuzhu took Lou Xiao'e and He Yushui to the greenhouse in the back. It is said that women have two stomachs, and this is absolutely true. He Yushui and Lou Xiao'e, who had just been complaining that they were full, went into the greenhouse and each ate more than a dozen strawberries.

After picking the vegetables, He Yuzhu was about to take Lou Xiao'e home when the Lou family's driver arrived. He Yuzhu helped Lou Xiao'e into the car, placing a basket full of cucumbers, persimmons, eggplants, and strawberries beside her. After saying goodbye to Lou Xiao'e, He Yuzhu watched the car slowly drive out of the alley.

After the car drove away, He Yuzhu was about to go home when he turned around and saw Yan Bugui standing behind him. He Yuzhu said, "Teacher Yan, are you a human or a ghost?! How come you walk without making a sound?!"

"Hey?! He Yuzhu! How dare you talk to me like that?!" Yan Bugui retorted to He Yuzhu, then asked, "Who were those people in that car just now?!"

"Who cares who it is?! You're just being nosy! Instead of wasting your time meddling, you should be managing your own household properly!" With that, He Yuzhu ignored Yan Bugui and went straight into the courtyard house.

"Brother! Sister Xiao'e has left?!" He Yuzhu had just returned home when He Yushui's voice rang out.

"Let's go!" He Yuzhu replied, then asked, "You ate quite a lot today. Can your stomach handle it?!"

He Yushui smiled and picked up the cup in her hand, saying, "Aunt Liang made me some hawthorn water."

"Alright! Looks like my worries were unnecessary!" He Yuzhu replied, then sat down next to He Yushui and asked, "Aren't you and Xu Xiaoling on good terms?! Why didn't you invite her today?!"

He Yushui replied, "I already called her. Today, her father took the whole family back to their hometown."

He Yuzhu asked curiously, "Do they still have people in their hometown?!"

Just then, He Daqing walked in with Liang Wanping, and overheard He Yuzhu's words. He Daqing said, "I know about this. Xu Wude has an uncle back in his hometown. Everyone else is gone. He was able to become Lou Bancheng's driver because of this uncle's help." Then, changing the subject, he asked, "Da Mao, many people have asked you about that greenhouse today. Can vegetables be grown in it during winter?!"

He Yuzhu said, "Dad, I built this greenhouse so that I could have some fresh leafy greens to eat in the winter. In winter, it's always radishes or cabbage, and I'm getting tired of eating them."

He Daqing sighed and said, "Zhuzi, if there's any left over for winter, let's share some with them!"

"Yes!" He Yuzhu responded, saying, "Dad, it's getting late, Yushui and I will go back to our room first."

"Go on!" He Daqing watched He Yuzhu and his sister leave the living room, and couldn't help but sigh. Liang Wanping comforted him, "The children are grown up now, so don't worry about them anymore."

He Daqing said, "I'm not worried about Zhuzi. I'm worried about the rain. That girl is spoiled by her brother."

Meanwhile, in the front yard, at the Yan family's residence.

Yan Bugui unpacked the cigarette butts he had collected over the past few days, took out the remaining tobacco, placed it on a piece of paper, and rolled it up while looking at his wife's increasingly protruding belly. He wondered where he could get something to nourish her. Yang Ruihua, who was sitting nearby mending clothes, spoke up: "Old Yan, what do you think He Daqing is trying to do?! Such a big event as a wedding banquet, and he didn't even invite anyone from the neighborhood."

Yan Bugui said, "I overheard a bit about it today. He wasn't hosting a banquet, but rather a gathering of friends to exchange cooking skills."

Yang Ruihua continued, "I've figured it out. Ever since He Daqing came back from Baocheng, he hasn't been welcoming to anyone in our compound. I'll find a chance to have a good talk with Aunt Pang and Old Liu's family later."

Yan Bugui rolled his eyes at his wife and said, "What are you talking about?! Talking about He Daqing not inviting anyone in the courtyard to dinner?! Didn't you see that girl He Yushui took a lot of folded vegetables and gave them to those two poor families in the courtyard?!"

Yang Ruihua said, "Old Yan, our family hasn't had meat in a long time. How about I go and buy two ounces of meat tomorrow?"

Yan Bugui said, "Don't cut the meat yet. I'll leave work early tomorrow and go to Houhai or Shichahai to see if I can catch some fish." Then Yan Bugui lit his homemade cigarette and started smoking.

Yang Ruihua cautioned, "Old Yan, try to smoke less of this cigarette."

"Hmm!" Yan Bugui responded, about to speak. Yan Jiecheng walked in from outside and asked, "Dad, where are the cigarette butts I picked up outside the movie theater?!" Before he could finish speaking, Yan Jiecheng saw the opened cigarette butts on the table and said, "Dad! You didn't take them, did you?!"