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

"Haven't we been laughed at enough over the years?!" With that, Yang Ruihua carried Yan Jiekuang back into the inner room.

Yan Bugui watched his wife's retreating figure, a hesitant expression on his face. He muttered to himself, "What kind of mess is this?!"

Around 10 a.m., He Daqing's brothers arrived one after another with their wives and children. He Daqing, who had been waiting at the entrance of the courtyard house, led them to the neighboring courtyard house number 97. Once everyone had arrived, He Daqing led them to the table. Liang Qingyue and several of her brothers' wives helped bring the dishes that He Yuzhu had prepared to the table.

Looking at the abundant dishes, Fei Jun couldn't help but say, "Third Brother, you've really gone to great lengths for me today!"

He Daqing said solemnly, "Eighth Brother, you're leaving soon. It won't be easy for us brothers to get together again!"

Fei Jun said, "Third Brother, everyone knows my situation. I didn't want to leave either, but I had no choice. My husband has already sent three letters. My mother and father have been separated for many years. She misses her husband too. I had no choice but to agree."

Na Jiu asked, "Eighth Brother, what's your wife's family situation like?!"

Fei Jun said, "What else could it be?! My father-in-law and mother-in-law are sexist. They don't treat my wife well, and they even want her to use our things to compensate their son?! No way!"

Fei Jun's wife, Liu Huilin, said, "Brother, I'm not afraid of airing our dirty laundry in public. My parents instilled in us sisters from a young age that we should help our younger brother. We all know what kind of person my brother is. They say Liu Shan is useless, but he's even worse. Anyway, once a daughter is married, she's gone. I'm not going to take care of them anymore."

Zhang Xun said, "Eighth Brother, your father-in-law and mother-in-law are not to be trifled with. Have you thought about how to deal with them?! Don't let them sell you out later."

Fei Jun smiled and said, "Second Brother, don't worry! My wife and I know what we're doing. I plan to sell the whole house. Then I'll get a letter of introduction from the Military Control Commission to go back to our hometown. Things will be much easier once we're there. If they want to look for us, let them look in my hometown!"

He Daqing pondered for a few seconds and said, "Eighth Brother, since you've made up your mind, we won't say anything more! Once you get there and things are settled, don't forget to send us brothers a letter. It will put our minds at ease."

"Hey!" Fei Jun responded, picked up his glass, and drank the wine in one gulp.

Inside courtyard number 97, a lively scene of clinking glasses and cheerful conversation filled the air. Meanwhile, those in neighboring courtyard number 95 were suffering terribly from the enticing aroma. Liu Haizhong, smelling the meat, suddenly found the scrambled eggs on the table tasteless. He took a sip of his drink and muttered under his breath, "What does He Daqing mean by this?! He didn't even call me?!"

Ma Cuilan said, "Honey, ever since He Daqing came back, he hasn't respected anyone in the courtyard. If everyone else in the courtyard were like him, our courtyard would be in complete chaos."

Liu Haizhong snorted and said, "Isn't it all that brat He Yuzhu's fault?! If I had been elected as a liaison officer back then, things would be completely different now. Ultimately, it all comes down to being an official!" With that, Liu Haizhong swiftly grabbed his chopsticks and slapped them at Liu Guangtian's hand, yelling, "You think you can eat this scrambled egg?!"

Liu Guangtian shivered involuntarily and said, "Dad, I'll just have a taste!"

"Taste it?!" Liu Haizhong sneered, saying, "If you were even half as good at studying as your brother, I'd be perfectly content. You're bad at studying?! And you want to eat scrambled eggs?! Why don't you just fry yourself up and eat yourself?!" With that, Liu Haizhong instinctively reached for his waist. Ma Cuilan quickly stopped him, saying, "Honey, it's the New Year, don't get angry. If you want to fight, wait until after the New Year."

"Hmph!" Liu Haizhong glared fiercely at Liu Guangtian, then picked up a piece of scrambled egg with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. Seeing this, Liu Guangqi, driven by a strong survival instinct, grabbed a wine bottle and poured wine into Liu Haizhong's glass.

Seeing his eldest son's obedient appearance, Liu Haizhong smiled with satisfaction. He then placed a piece of scrambled egg into Liu Guangqi's bowl and said, "Guangqi, studying is hard work. Eat some eggs to nourish yourself."

"Hey!" Liu Guangqi responded, picked up a scrambled egg and put it in his mouth.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, by 1 p.m., He Daqing and his sworn brothers were mostly drunk. The women, seeing their men in their intoxicated state, all laughed in unison. Liang Qingyue went to the kitchen and made a pot of hangover soup for the men, then sat down with her sisters-in-law to watch the children play and chat. A little after 3 p.m., He Daqing and the others gradually sobered up. After seeing everyone off, He Daqing returned to courtyard number 95. Just as he entered the central courtyard, he saw Liu Haizhong and Jia Dongxu walking towards him.

Seeing the unfriendly look in Liu Haizhong's eyes, He Daqing took the initiative to greet him: "Old Liu, it's been a while since we last met!"

Liu Haizhong said, "I'm not like you, a busy person who leaves early and returns late every day."

He Daqing sighed and said, "I didn't want to either! But what can I do? I'm the chef! Seeing the leaders and workers satisfied with the food makes me happy too." Then, he changed the subject and asked, "Old Liu, I heard you've taken on quite a few apprentices?!"

"Yes!" Liu Haizhong echoed, saying, "An apprentice is like half a son. When there's trouble, the apprentice will do the work. It'll be an extra helper. Besides, a person can't be without ambition. If I take on ten apprentices, maybe I can become a team leader. If half the people in the workshop are my apprentices, I can become a section chief. If more than two-thirds of the people in the workshop are my apprentices, even if I'm not made workshop director, the workshop director won't have any real power in the workshop!"

"Hey?! Zhu Zi said Fatty Liu's official ambitions are worse than his opium addiction. I didn't believe it before. Now I'm completely convinced." He Daqing's gaze towards Liu Haizhong changed at this moment, and he asked, "Old Liu, where are you headed?!"

Liu Haizhong replied, "I had nothing to do, so I went out for a walk."

"Take your time browsing, I'm heading back now." With that, He Daqing walked past Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong stared at He Daqing's back for a while, then snorted and walked out of the courtyard.

About ten minutes later, Liu Haizhong returned from the public restroom. As soon as he entered the gate of No. 95 compound, Yan Bugui stopped him and asked, "Old Liu, your factory is expanding, are there any rules about hiring?"

Liu Haizhong asked, "Old Yan, why did you suddenly ask that?!"

Yan Bugui said, "I'm asking on behalf of a colleague."

Liu Haizhong said, "I'm not too sure about that yet. How about I ask you when we get to work?"