Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Sha Zhu got goosebumps after hearing Xu Damao's words, and laughed and cursed:

"Stop messing around, Da Mao. Even if you need to borrow money, just name a number, and Brother Zhu will lend it to you."

"Let's not talk about killing people. I've killed a lot of livestock since I became a cook, but I've never killed any people."

"Sigh..." Xu Damao sighed, then looked at Li Jiuzhou.

Li Jiuzhou quickly raised his glass in a gesture of respect:

"Da Mao, I respect you as a man. If we're brothers, let's not talk about those people. I'm a coward, so I'll drink this one down, you can drink as you please!"

Before Xu Damao could even speak, Li Jiuzhou cut him off, so he had no choice but to down the remaining half-glass of wine.

After putting down his wine glass, Xu Damao started complaining again.

"You two say this won't work, that won't work, so what am I supposed to do? Just watch Meizi marry the second son of the Wu family in two years?"

"Every time I think about this, my heart aches so much that I can hardly breathe."

At this moment, Li Jiuzhou began to have doubts. He didn't know whether what Xu Damao said was true or false.

What if he gets drunk and starts talking nonsense?

But this grown man crying with tears streaming down his face was both chilling and somewhat heart-wrenching.

So he gently tapped the table, and when both of them turned to look at him with hostile gazes, Li Jiuzhou spoke, his tone very serious:

"Da Mao, are you serious? You're not joking with us, or just talking nonsense because you're drunk?"

After hearing his senior brother's words, Sha Zhu sat up straight.

Xu Damao even raised his hand and swore an oath:

"Brothers, if I, Xu Damao, utter even half a lie today, may my Xu family line be wiped out, and may I be struck by lightning..."

Sha Zhu's expression changed drastically, and he quickly stepped forward to cover Xu Damao's mouth:

"Hey, hey, hey, it's too big, put your hands down, it's not that big, it's not that big."

Xu Damao had no choice but to give up, feeling a bit scared. The vow he had just made was indeed too big, too big for him to bear. Fortunately, Sha Zhu stopped him.

Li Jiuzhou chuckled, "What good are vows anyway?" and said helplessly.

"Alright, Da Mao, Zhu Zi and I believe you."

"But there was nothing we brothers could do. The eldest son of the Wu family often delivers seafood to Fengzeyuan; we've had a long-standing relationship."

"The Wu family knows many people; it will be too difficult for them to break off the engagement."

"Sigh..." Xu Damao sighed heavily again.

But Li Jiuzhou continued:

"There is a way, just like what Su Mei's father said, unless the second son of the Wu family dies."

"Otherwise, we'll have to get married when Wu's second son comes back."

"Can't we ask Second Uncle for help?" Xu Damao finally revealed his true purpose.

They wanted to ask Li Jiuzhou's second uncle, Li Huaide, to intervene and use his power to mediate or suppress the situation.

Li Jiuzhou was not surprised. Xu Damao was a smart man and would naturally think of Li Huaide.

Li Jiuzhou shook his head:

"Da Mao, the Wu family and the Su family are childhood sweethearts, and they've already drafted a marriage certificate. How can you expect my second uncle to intervene?"

"To put it bluntly, you're just someone trying to steal a bride. Is it reasonable for us to help you?"

"Asking my second uncle to do this for you is practically gambling with your future. Can you afford the consequences?"

After hearing this, Xu Damao realized that he had been having some wild ideas.

How could anyone use their future to help him? If it were Li Jiuzhou today, Xu Damao wouldn't even think Li Huaide would dare to make a move.

So the group drank for a while longer before parting ways.

In the Wu family study outside the city, Old Master Wu sat in a grand chair, leisurely playing with walnuts.

He had heard of the young man from the Su family; he'd heard that the guy was pursuing his future daughter-in-law with great fervor.

However, Mr. Wu didn't take it too seriously.

After all, if his father hadn't repeatedly warned him before his death that he absolutely mustn't break the engagement, he probably would have made his son divorce Su Mei long ago!

Hmph, what kind of family is this Su family? They don't even know their own status and position.

These farmers who toil in the soil dare to claim kinship with the Wu family; they are simply ignorant of their own limitations!

Sometimes, Old Master Wu would even have some extreme thoughts: why not just find someone to kill Su Mei and get rid of her, and end it all?

Then she would find a new marriage for her second son, preferably from one of the powerful and influential families in the city. Only such a marriage could truly be worthy of the prestigious Wu family's status!

Just then, a man dressed in a Zhongshan suit rushed in, looking flustered and terrified.

He didn't even bother to greet anyone; his first words upon entering were:

"Dad, something terrible has happened!"

This person was none other than the eldest son of the Wu family—the eldest son of the Wu family.

Hearing his son's panicked words, Mr. Wu did not show the slightest tension or panic.

On the contrary, he remained seated steadily in his chair, his expression calm and composed, as if everything was under his control.

Old Master Wu slowly raised his right hand, gently stroked his beard, and then said in a slightly reproachful tone:

"How have I always taught you? Have you completely forgotten everything?"

Before he finished speaking, Old Master Wu suddenly stretched out his right arm forward, clenched his fist, and raised one finger to the sky, looking quite imposing.

Then he continued:

Those who achieve great things throughout history do not show their joy or anger on their faces, and keep everything in their hearts without expressing their feelings.

"Even if Mount Tai collapses before him, he remains unmoved; even if a deer runs past on his left, he does not blink."

"Only by enduring what ordinary people cannot endure can one accomplish what ordinary people cannot accomplish."

"Did you understand, you unfilial son?"

The eldest son of the Wu family was very impatient. "Damn it, this is the only sentence you can say so fluently since we were little."

But the matter was too big, and he didn't want to talk to his father properly anymore.

"Dad, stop talking nonsense. You've only read a few books and you're already bragging. I used to never say anything like that to you."

"The situation is urgent. I need to tell you something. You'd better stand firm and don't fall down. Don't say your son is unfilial. If you fall, I won't help you up."

Hearing his son's words, Grandpa Wu not only didn't get angry, but laughed instead. He felt that nothing could affect his mindset.

Then, with a wave of his hand, he said, "Tell me!"

The eldest son of the Wu family rubbed his face and said:

"My second brother, Gala!"

"What?"

The old man's voice suddenly rose several decibels. He heard his most beloved youngest son choke, his heart aching so much he could hardly breathe. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed straight down...

Just as he had said, the eldest son of the Wu family remained remarkably calm, standing motionless as he watched the old man fall, muttering to himself:

"Isn't it said that one should remain calm even if Mount Tai collapses before them? This has only lasted for less than two seconds."

At the same time, he thought to himself, "If my second brother dies, it would be even better if my father dies too."

"I'll inherit the family fortune, hehehe..."

As he thought about it, Old Wu couldn't help but chuckle. Looking out at the pitch-black night, he sighed again:

"The sun is shining brightly tonight!"