Siheyuan (courtyard house): My name is Shazhu!

"You don't smoke, so why do you always carry cigarettes with you? Smoke with me today." Thirteen or fourteen-year-old Xu Damao had already learned to smoke.

"I basically don't smoke, but I might have one occasionally. Today I'm having one with you. It's a new cigarette, how does it taste?" He Yuzhu smokes, but not usually.

"The cigarettes are pretty good. They were released earlier this year, and they're not cheap. I've smoked them a few times; my dad brought them back for me."

My dad told me that the steel mill has been saying that no one has seen Jia Dongxu's stuff. Is that true? That's why I came to ask you.

There's also Tan Guilan. My parents used to talk about her at home. Judging from her appearance and physique, she seemed like a woman who would bear many children.

"Having not had children for almost twenty years, is it her responsibility or Yi Zhonghai's problem? It might have been Tan Guilan's fault before, but now it seems she's being made a scapegoat for Yi Zhonghai."

What Xu Damao said is indeed a problem. In the old society, when choosing a wife, appearance and figure were very important, because a good figure was related to whether a woman was fertile.

Facial features are not just about appearance, but also about personality. The saying "the face reflects the heart" is not without basis. Just look at the appearance of "Second Aunt" in TV dramas.

A sharp tongue and a sarcastic manner are immediately apparent. Why did people in ancient times aspire to be officials? They couldn't be too unattractive either, and there's some truth to that.

In her previous life, He Yuzhu watched "The Courtyard of Birds" in fast-forward and wondered why the "old lady" couldn't get pregnant. Because of Yi Zhonghai, it was very likely that she was deceived for her entire life.

Tan Guilan has abundant resources!

He Yuzhu, now a master of traditional Chinese medicine, is one of the best doctors in the world, regardless of whether it's traditional Chinese or Western medicine, yet he still couldn't see that Tan Guilan couldn't get pregnant.

Some illnesses can be diagnosed without taking a pulse; observation is also a method in traditional Chinese medicine.

"It's not visible, so it must be small and not attracting attention. As for the matter between Yi Zhonghai and Tan Guilan, it seems there's something wrong with it."

"My dad said something similar before, that Tan Guilan has no shortage of resources," He Yuzhu said, half-jokingly.

I thought of exposing Yi Zhonghai's fraud, but unfortunately the hospital's medical technology was poor. In the 1950s, it was still impossible to accurately determine whether the infertility was caused by the woman or the man.

Only experienced doctors can make the judgment, and the accuracy rate is not 100%.

"Zhu Zi, let's tell Tan Guilan to go to the hospital for a checkup. If... if she's fine, hehe, do you think she'll cause a huge scene with Yi Zhonghai?"

Looking at Xu Damao's cheeky little face, I know this kid is naughty enough since he was little. I like him!

"It's worth a try. What method do you plan to use to arouse Tan Guilan's suspicion and make her go to the hospital for a checkup?" He Yuzhu asked.

"I haven't figured it out yet, but I'll find a way."

"Are you dissatisfied with Yi Zhonghai? Dealing with him like this is different from what I did. I was bullied by Yi Zhonghai, so I retaliated against him," He Yuzhu asked.

"Of course there was a conflict. It was between my father and him. My father got a job as a projectionist at the steel mill, and this heartless landlord said that my father got the job because of his connections with Lou Bancheng and that he had no ability himself."

I've brought it up several times, but my dad hasn't found a way to deal with him and can only keep putting up with it. You've never worked in a factory; the factory workers are incredibly skilled these days.

"That's right, we should deal with Yi Zhonghai. Whether he got into the steel mill through connections or not is none of his business. He didn't take any money from his family. Talking too much will only be detrimental to Uncle Xu."

"It only calmed down after he got into trouble. I'll make sure he keeps getting into trouble and his reputation is ruined." Xu Damao is also a ruthless guy, good at underhanded tactics, which he and his father are skilled at.

Xu Fugui's bad reputation in the TV series may be related to Yi Zhonghai.

"I support you. If you need anything, just tell me and I'll help you." He Yuzhu also wanted to lend a hand.

"Zhu Zi, I didn't misjudge you. I'm going home now to figure something out. See you later."

At the end of May, Xu Damao decided to write a letter to Tan Guilan, stating that the inability to have children was not solely the woman's problem, but could be caused by either the man or the woman.

Yi Zhonghai is cunning and shrewd. You should go to the hospital for a checkup yourself instead of listening to the deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai.

Don't believe them. You're still young. If you knew the truth, go to the Women's Federation and divorce Yi Zhonghai on the grounds that he has deceived you for twenty years.

You'll get at least half the inheritance; remarry into a good family. It's your problem; accept your fate...

The content of Xu Damao's letter was objective; it did not incite the two to divorce, nor did it say that it was definitely Yi Zhonghai's responsibility.

Instead, the letter used hospital certificates as evidence, allowing Tan Guilan to decide how to proceed. The letter explicitly discussed the benefits of divorce, suggesting a deliberate attempt to entice her.

This couldn't have been written by Xu Damao; it must have been written by Xu Fugui. The whole family are cunning old foxes. If you trace it back to him, you can extricate yourself from the mess. The contents of the letter are perfectly plausible.

Xu Damao asked He Yuzhu to read the letter because Xu Fugui thought that Tan Guilan was not very literate, and it was possible to have He Yuzhu read it to her so that they could communicate.

When He Yuzhu heard Xu Damao's purpose, he did not refuse and would help Tan Guilan go to the hospital for a check-up.

Xu Damao decided to deliver the letter at noon tomorrow. Yi Zhonghai is at the factory and not at home.

He Yuzhu pretended not to know and went to get off work at the restaurant as usual.

Xu Damao acted quickly, and Xu Fugui's guess was also accurate. Sure enough, around 8 a.m. on the third day, Tan Guilan found He Yuzhu.

"Pillar, I need your help, is that alright?"

"Sure, I'll help if I can. What's up?" He Yuzhu didn't refuse.

"It's this letter. I don't know many characters, and I don't recognize most of them. I'd like you to read it to me." Tan Guilan took out a letter, which was written by Xu Damao.

"Are you sure you want me to read the letter to you?" He Yuzhu asked again.

"I know you have a problem with us. I can't persuade Lao Yi, and I can't help you. 'A woman follows her husband wherever he goes.' I don't have a salary; I live off Lao Yi."

"I can't help you, but I won't bully you siblings. I trust your character, Zhu Zi. You may be dissatisfied, but you won't lie to me," Tan Guilan said with a wry smile.

"I won't lie to you with the contents of a letter. There are also letter-writing stalls at the north end of the street. You can take the letter and ask them. I'll read it to you, and you'll listen carefully."

Damn, who wrote this letter? The content is a bit explosive. It's addressed to Comrade Tan Guilan: ..... He Yuzhu read the letter aloud.

"Zhu Zi, the letter...it says...it says..." Tan Guilan was flustered after hearing the contents of the letter.

A lifelong knot in her heart was shattered by a single letter, and she could hardly believe it.

"Don't get agitated. It's still too early to tell. Maybe it's your fault, or maybe it's Yi Zhonghai's fault. Going to several good hospitals for a checkup is the right thing to do."

Unless you don't care, give him the letter and live a good life from now on. I've heard that infertility is a problem for both men and women; some men are also infertile.

"The doctor's conclusion will be the final word. You are a woman who is good at bearing children, as my father has said before," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

"I just learned that both men and women can be infertile. I'm going to get checked out. Thank you, Zhu Zi." Tan Guilan took the letter and left in a hurry. She also felt helpless about that lecherous old man, He Daqing.

Before nine o'clock, Tan Guilan left the courtyard house as if nothing had happened.

This woman has a huge problem with not being able to have children. She went to the hospital for a checkup only ten minutes after leaving my place. I hope she's okay. It'll be more lively at Yi Zhonghai's house.

He Yuzhu stood at his window, watching Tan Guilan leave home.

After finishing her meal, He Yushui cleaned up the dishes and took her to work.