Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Jia Dongxu walked out of the alley with a sullen expression. He had originally planned to use the money to buy a roast duck to take home for his wife and mother to enjoy, but he had been extorted by that bastard Xu Damao.

That's outrageous!

Xu Damao left happily with the money he got from Jia Dongxu, a strange feeling stirring in his heart.

After listening to Jia Dongxu and the others' conversation, I was filled with longing for the Eight Great Hutongs.

Xu Damao had been there before, but only during the day. He had no chance to go out at night; his father would break his legs if he did.

Things are different now. He has money and wants to broaden his horizons.

In the Jia family compound, Jia Zhangshi instructed her daughter-in-law Tong Jie to look after the house, as she was going out to run some errands.

After leaving the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi wandered through the alleys, and by sheer bad luck, she was spotted by Xu Damao.

Arriving at a steamed bun stall, Jia Zhangshi bought a few meat buns and ate them as she walked.

Seeing this, Xu Damao also got hungry, bought a few, and then secretly followed suit.

Ten minutes later, Jia Zhangshi arrived at a shop with a sign that read, "Fortune telling, name selection, etc..."

Xu Damao got goosebumps when he saw it, thinking to himself, "This old witch really knows how to do magic."

No, he wanted to hear what Jia Zhangshi was really up to.

Madam Jia seemed quite familiar with the old man inside, and greeted him respectfully:

"Old sage, my daughter-in-law is about to give birth. Didn't you say last time it would be a boy? Please give her a name."

The old man made a very good show of asking about the location of the house and the names of the surrounding residents.

He uttered a profound and enigmatic statement:

"One, two, three, four, five; metal, wood, water, fire, earth!"

"Your family is associated with the element of wood, and you are surrounded by water. Water can nourish wood, so your grandson's name should include the element of wood."

Jia Zhangshi looked utterly bewildered: "Old sage, I don't understand!"

The old man sighed and rubbed his hands together, his meaning clear: pay up.

Without hesitation, Jia Zhangshi took out 20,000 yuan and handed it to him.

The old man was very satisfied, took the money, and continued:

"As long as your grandson lives in the central courtyard, the surrounding neighbors will take good care of him."

People like He Yuzhu, He Yushui, Yi Zhonghai, Zhang Wanhe, etc., all have water in their destiny.

Your grandson will never have to worry about food and clothing in the future!

Madam Jia was overjoyed upon hearing this:

"Then please, venerable sage, bestow a name upon my grandson!"

The old man rubbed his hands together again.

Jia Zhangshi took out another 30,000 yuan and presented it.

The old man pretended to do some calculations:

"Geng, your grandson's full name is Jia Geng, and his nickname is Bang Geng. Humble names are easier to raise."

"Go ahead, but don't come back unless it's absolutely necessary."

Madam Jia dared not delay and got up to walk back.

Xu Damao watched it all clearly from beginning to end, and a thought popped into his head: Is that all?

Does water nourish wood?

Then who will take care of me, Xu Damao?

He didn't really believe in these things, these ghosts and spirits; only Jia Zhangshi in the courtyard believed in them.

Three days later, at 2 a.m., there was a great commotion at the Jia family's house because Tong Jie was about to give birth.

No one in the courtyard could sleep well. After all, childbirth is a big deal, and they were afraid that something might happen to Tong Jie.

Jia Dongxu had already gone to pick up the midwife on his bicycle.

These days, how many women give birth in hospitals? They all bring a midwife to their homes to deliver the baby.

Tong Jie's screams could be heard throughout the courtyard. Bingbing was terrified in Li Jiuzhou's arms and clung to him tightly.

Li Jiuzhou comforted her, saying:

"Don't be afraid, honey. We'll go to the hospital when you give birth. Everything will be fine."

"Okay, I understand. Why don't you go and take a look? It would be good to help out, just in case something happens?" Bingbing was still kind-hearted, because she was also pregnant herself.

She can resonate with Tong Jie.

"Then I'll go take a look." Li Jiuzhou got dressed and went to the Central Court.

By this time, the courthouse was brightly lit, and Sha Zhu's wife, Qin Huairu, had gone to help.

Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai were smoking in the yard, both of them clearly looking flustered.

Li Jiuzhou also lit a cigarette and stepped forward to inquire about the situation:

"Zhu Zi, Uncle Yi, how's the situation?"

Yi Zhonghai replied:

"We don't know yet. Dongxu went to pick up the midwife. Let's check first. If it doesn't work, we'll send her to the hospital. The cart is ready too."

"Hmm..." Li Jiuzhou responded softly and didn't say anything more.

He came over simply to do what a neighbor should do.

If something unexpected happens, he can still lend a hand.

Soon more neighbors came over; with such a commotion, no one could sleep well, except for the children.

The men were smoking outside, while the women were helping to boil water and do other things; everyone was busy with their own tasks.

Soon Jia Dongxu returned with the midwife.

After the midwife went inside, Jia Dongxu sat down on the ground with a thud, his face deathly pale.

He was terrified by Tong Jie's heart-wrenching screams from inside the house.

None of the men present laughed at Jia Dongxu; some of them were even worse off than him when their wives were giving birth.

"Dongxu, drink some water and calm down. The neighbors are all here, don't be afraid!"

Yi Zhonghai's powerful voice rang in Jia Dongxu's ears.

After hearing his master's words, Jia Dongxu came to his senses, stood up, and bowed to the neighbors who had come to help.

"Thank you all, uncles and brothers. I'll definitely treat you to a good meal after my wife gives birth."

Jia Dongxu was speaking from the heart; at that moment, he was genuinely moved by his neighbors.

Even the way he looked at Xu Damao became much kinder, even though he couldn't be of much help, the man had still come.

He has no choice but to accept this favor!

These men really didn't know what to do, so Sha Zhu simply brought out a table to drink tea and chat.

This is also a way of supporting Tong Jie.

Seeing this, Li Jiuzhou couldn't help but sigh that the Jia family's luck was truly remarkable.

I wonder if the baby that is about to be born will be named Bang Geng?

Is it still the same old joke?

Li Jiuzhou was very curious and even wanted to witness it with his own eyes.

Time passed slowly, and Jia Dongxu became more and more anxious. Just then, the sound of a child crying came from inside the house.

Jia Zhangshi's joyful voice also rang out:

"It's born! It's born! It's a boy! The Jia family has an heir! Thank God!"

The men outside congratulated Jia Dongxu on becoming a father.

Xu Damao's eyes darted around, and he loudly asked into the delivery room:

"What's your child's name, Auntie? We'd like the neighbors to know."

Soon, Jia Zhangshi's very loud voice rang out:

My grandson's full name is Jia Geng, and his nickname is Bang Geng!

"Good, good name. A humble name is easier to raise," Yi Zhonghai praised with a smile.

"I'm a dad! I'm a dad! Hahahaha..." Jia Dongxu danced with joy!

The neighbors were also happy for the Jia family. The arrival of a new life in the courtyard, with both mother and child safe and sound, reminded many of what Jia Zhangshi had said:

"Our courtyard is a place blessed with good feng shui!"

Li Jiuzhou also had a smile on his lips at this moment, thinking to himself, "The legendary person who even the Four Swords of Zhuxian couldn't kill has arrived..."