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

Qin Huairu opened her eyes, looked at Aunt Pang, and said in a trembling voice, "Aunt Pang, I think I'm going into labor! Help, help me and the baby."

"Fine! Just bear with it!" Aunt Pang replied, then turned to Jia Zhangshi and shouted, "What are you still standing there for?! Hurry up and get your wife onto the kang (heated brick bed)!"

Jia Zhangshi snapped out of her daze and said, "My leg is injured! I can't lift her!" With that, she selfishly walked out. Seeing this, Aunt Pang was dumbfounded. Helpless, Aunt Pang could only grit her teeth and help Qin Huairu up. After getting Qin Huairu onto the kang (heated brick bed), Aunt Pang left the room, sending someone to the steel mill to inform Jia Dongxu to return, while also searching for a midwife.

Just before the midwife arrived, Jia Dongxu rushed back. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Jia Zhangshi and asked, "Mom, how is Huairu?!"

Madam Jia stammered, unsure how to answer. The plump aunt standing nearby said, "Dongxu, the midwife just arrived; your wife will be fine."

Jia Dongxu asked, looking puzzled, "Wasn't Huai Ru's due date still over a month away?! How come she gave birth early?!"

The plump auntie said, "You'll have to ask your mother about this!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongxu abruptly turned to Jia Zhangshi and asked, "Mom, what did you do to Huairu?!"

Madam Jia stammered, "I just accidentally pushed her."

"What?!" Jia Dongxu's face changed drastically. He said, "Mom, why did you push Huairu for no reason?!"

Like a raging beast, Madam Jia glared at Jia Dongxu and roared, "Who told her to be so useless?! Cooking so slowly?! Does she want me to starve to death?!"

Jia Dongxu was about to say something to Jia Zhangshi, but when he met her fierce gaze, he gave in. Jia Zhangshi sighed heavily and intended to go inside. However, Aunt Pang stopped her: "Dongxu, you can't go in now."

Jia Dongxu was stunned for a moment, then squatted down with his back against the wall, silently praying for the safety of Qin Huairu and her child.

Time passed slowly. A little after three o'clock in the afternoon, the cry of a baby came from inside the house. Jia Dongxu immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

A while later, the midwife came out of the house. Jia Dongxu immediately went up to her and asked, "How is my wife?!"

The midwife replied, "Mother and child are both safe. However, the baby is premature and will require careful care."

"Yes!" Jia Dongxu responded, just about to go inside. Aunt Pang reminded him, "Dongxu, give the midwife the money!"

"Oh!" Jia Dongxu snapped out of his daze, took out five yuan from his pocket, and handed it over.

The midwife took the money, picked up her things, and left. Jia Dongxu rushed into the house, glanced at Qin Huairu lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), then looked at the baby in the swaddling clothes, a bright smile spreading across his face. At the same time, Qin Huairu's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.

At this time, the midwives were all experienced. They could tell at a glance whether the baby was premature. Qin Huairu was afraid of being exposed, so when the midwife was delivering the baby, she took out ten yuan from her hidden stash of money and gave it to the midwife as hush money, asking the midwife to help cover for her.

For the sake of money, the midwife agreed to Qin Huairu's request. It was just a matter of a word; she got ten yuan for free, no need to thank her at all.

Just as Jia Dongxu was showing concern for Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi walked in from outside. Seeing the baby on the bed, a bright smile immediately appeared on her face. She quickly walked to the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), picked up the child, and said while coaxing him, "My chubby grandson! You're the darling of the Jia family!" Then Jia Zhangshi asked, "Dongxu, what name do you plan to give my grandson?!"

Jia Dongxu said, "After you told me that day, I thought about it for a long time. I plan to give my son a single character as his name, Jia Geng, and his nickname is Bang Geng."

"Jia Geng?! Bang Geng?! What a wonderful name!" Jia Zhangshi muttered to herself, "Bang Geng, Grandma's precious darling! You must grow up quickly!"

A little after four o'clock in the afternoon, He Yuzhu returned with He Yushui. As soon as they entered the courtyard, He Yuzhu learned from the neighbors that Qin Huairu had given birth. However, after learning the details of Qin Huairu's childbirth, a look of doubt appeared on He Yuzhu's face. But since this matter had nothing to do with him, He Yuzhu didn't take it to heart.

Back home, He Yuzhu told He Yushui to do her homework first, while he busied himself preparing dinner.

It was just past 5:30 PM when He Daqing and his wife returned home. Jia Zhangshi, carrying the large, family-heirloom bowl, arrived at He Yuzhu's kitchen door. Just as Jia Zhangshi was about to push the door open, He Daqing's voice rang out behind her: "What do you think you're doing?!"

Upon hearing He Daqing's voice, Jia Zhangshi involuntarily trembled. However, she quickly composed herself and retorted, yelling at He Daqing, "Why are you being so fierce?! My wife just gave birth and is weak; she needs some nourishment. I smelled meat stewing in your house. I came to get some. We're neighbors; I only came because I respect you. If I didn't, would I just stay here?!"

He Daqing was amused by Jia Zhangshi's self-righteous attitude. His face immediately turned cold, and he roared, "Get out!"

Madam Jia was terrified by He Daqing's gaze. The first time she had seen that look in He Daqing's eyes was shortly after his wife's death. Old Jia had tried to provoke He Daqing and had been beaten up. He Daqing had looked at her with the same expression then.

Fearing that He Daqing would suddenly attack her, Jia Zhangshi decisively grabbed the large bowl and ran home.

He Daqing watched Jia Zhangshi's retreating figure, snorted softly, and turned to walk towards the kitchen.

When Jia Zhangshi returned home, she slammed the large bowl she was holding onto the table and immediately began to curse. She used every nasty insult imaginable! In short, she hurled insults at every member of the He family, regardless of gender.

At the same time, He Yuzhu saw He Daqing walk in from outside. He Yuzhu smiled and asked, "Father, was Jia Zhangshi here just now?!"

"Hmm!" He Daqing responded, saying, "They've come to beg for food!"

He Yuzhu said, "I've noticed that Jia Zhangshi is quite lively these past few days. I guess her leg injury is mostly healed. I was originally planning to keep her until after the New Year before sending her back. But it seems I can't keep her until then. I'll find someone to talk to and get Jia Zhangshi back to serve her sentence as soon as possible."

Upon hearing He Yuzhu's words, He Daqing laughed and asked, "Aren't you afraid that Jia Dongxu will find out and cause you trouble?!"

He Yuzhu laughed and said, "Jia Dongxu wants to cause me trouble?! Is he dreaming?!" Then, He Yuzhu suddenly asked, "Dad, do you think the child Jia Dongxu's wife gave birth to is Jia Dongxu's?!"