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

Meanwhile, Qin Huairu returned home. After putting down the freshly washed dishes, she went to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and said, "Dongxu, while I was washing the dishes, I overheard Xu Damao's father talking to He Daqing about your factory expanding. Is that true?!"

Jia Dongxu replied lazily, "It's being said everywhere, it's true." Then he asked, "What happened?!"

Qin Huairu said, "Do you think I'll be able to catch up with your factory's recruitment drive after I finish my postpartum confinement?!"

Jia Dongxu said, "You can just stay home and take care of the kids. Why would you need to look for a job?!"

Qin Huairu said, "Dongxu, I'm going out to find a job, isn't it all for our family?! You work yourself to the bone every month and only earn 25 yuan. Right now, each person's living expenses are 5 yuan a month. Even if the two of us are frugal, it's still 7 or 8 yuan. We can save about 10 yuan a month now. But you also said that in two or three years, when Mom gets out of there, we probably won't have much money left. If I have a job, the family will have an extra source of income. Even if Mom gets out then, we'll be more financially comfortable."

Jia Dongxu thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay! I'll keep an eye on things for you." He then asked, "What about the child when you go to work?!"

Qin Huairu said, "Isn't Aunt Yan from the front yard pregnant?! My baby and hers will be born around the same time. We can contribute some money to have her help take care of our child."

After thinking about it, Jia Dongxu felt that Qin Huairu's words made some sense, so he nodded in agreement.

A little after eight o'clock in the evening, Xu Wude, having eaten and drunk his fill, left the He family home and went back to his own house in the backyard. He Yuzhu and his sister also went back to their respective rooms. Only He Daqing and Liang Wanping remained in the kitchen.

While washing the dishes, Liang Wanping said, "Brother Daqing, our factory must be short of cooks now that it's expanding, right?!"

"Yes!" He Daqing replied, then added, "I heard the factory is going to add two more canteens this time."

Liang Wanping continued, "Brother Daqing, I may not understand other grand principles, but I do know the saying 'a hero needs three helpers.' You can ask your close fellow apprentices or friends if anyone there is willing to work in the factory canteen."

He Daqing immediately understood Liang Wanping's meaning and said with a smile, "Okay! I'll ask them later. It's a pity! Zhu Zi still doesn't want to be a chef. If he were willing, I could save a lot of trouble."

Liang Wanping advised, "If Zhuzi doesn't want to be a chef, don't make things difficult for him!"

He Daqing sighed, lit a cigarette, and smoked silently. After Liang Wanping finished washing the dishes, He Daqing and Liang Wanping walked out of the kitchen together.

Time flew by, and the first day of school arrived quickly. Knowing she had school today, He Yushui got up early. After breakfast, she changed into the new clothes Liang Wanping had made for her, carried the schoolbag He Yuzhu had bought for her, and left the house surrounded by her family.

Seeing He Yushui's happy expression, Yang Ruihua said, "Your whole family is really here today! Where are you going?!"

He Yushui said, "Aunt Yang, I'm going to start studying from today."

Liang Wanping chimed in, "It's the first day of school for our child, and we're all worried! Let's go check on him."

Yang Ruihua pressed her advantage, saying, "My husband, Lao Yan, is a teacher at Hongxing Elementary School. He'll definitely help take care of Yushui there."

"Aunt Yang, it's not that I'm being mean! It's because your husband, Lao Yan, is a teacher at Hongxing Elementary School that we're even more worried." With that, He Yuzhu lifted his bicycle over the threshold and mounted it. After He Yushui got on, He Yuzhu rode off towards Hongxing Elementary School. He Daqing, with Liang Wanping on the back, followed closely behind.

Watching He Daqing's family leave, Yang Ruihua was about to curse when Xu Wude came out with his son and daughter. Yang Ruihua swallowed the words she was about to say. Seeing Yang Ruihua's frustrated expression, Xu Damao couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Aunt Yang, you're carrying the Yan family's moneybag now. You must take care of yourself! Don't get too angry and you'll miscarry the placenta." Then, worried that Yang Ruihua would take her anger out on him, Xu Damao shouted to Xu Wude, "Dad, you take my sister to school! I can go by myself. Don't worry about me!" Before he finished speaking, Xu Damao dashed off.

Xu Wude pretended to be nonchalant and said to Xu Xiaoling, "Xiaoling, you can't follow your brother's example. You must study hard at school!"

Xu Xiaoling said, "Dad, don't worry! I will study hard and get into a vocational school to make you proud!"

"My daughter is the best!" With that, Xu Wude led Xu Xiaoling out of the courtyard gate. Not long after, Zheng Xiaoying also ran out and sat on the back of Xu Wude's bicycle.

A little over ten minutes later, He Daqing's family arrived at the entrance of Hongxing Primary School. After watching He Yushui enter the school, He Daqing took Liang Wanping to the steel rolling mill. He Yuzhu, on the other hand, rode his bicycle to the Military Control Commission.

"Uncle Han, why are there so many cars parked at the gate today?!" He Yuzhu had just arrived at the entrance of the Military Control Commission when he saw several jeeps parked outside. He Yuzhu couldn't help but run over to Uncle Han, who was guarding the gate, and ask.

Grandpa Han said, "National Day is almost here. The higher-ups are coming down to inspect. They probably won't leave until after lunch." Then he looked at He Yuzhu and urged, "What are you still standing at the door for?! Hurry up and go inside to get your things and go buy groceries!"

"Oh!" He Yuzhu responded, pushing his bicycle through the gate of the Military Control Commission. A dozen minutes later, He Yuzhu came out of the Military Control Commission with a basket in one hand and a cloth bag in the other. He greeted Grandpa Han and ran towards the market.

As He Yuzhu approached the market entrance, his divine sense inadvertently swept over a man. This middle-aged man immediately caught He Yuzhu's attention: "Jiro Edogawa, an undercover agent for the Secret Service (Japanese Bamboo Agency), codename Black Crow."

"Damn! A double agent?! This is a big fish!" Thinking this, He Yuzhu was about to follow when he saw Wu Jiajie and Yu Feilong, dressed in plainclothes, walking towards him. He Yuzhu immediately had an idea. He Yuzhu quickly took two steps, crossed the river, and before Wu Jiajie and Yu Feilong could react, he pulled them aside. He Yuzhu said, "Brother Wu, what are you two doing here?!"

Wu Jiajie said, "We're both off today, so we're planning to buy some groceries and go to Instructor Ye's house for a meal."

He Yuzhu glanced at Jiang Chuan, then winked at Wu Jiajie and Yu Feilong. Wu Jiajie and Yu Feilong exchanged a puzzled look, and Wu Jiajie asked, "Yuzhu, are your eyes alright?!"