Uncle Shazhu, a simple-minded man in a courtyard house, persuades people with reason.

The courtyard house, the Jia family...

Mrs. Jia hung her head, looking like a sickly chicken, completely lacking the vigor she had at the beginning of the year. The reason, of course, was Jia Dongxu's blind date…

Having received Yi Zhonghai's guarantee, Jia Zhangshi excitedly went to the matchmaker. At first, the matchmaker was quite happy, but after hearing the conditions, she shook her head.

Kind-hearted people would advise Jia Zhangshi to be more realistic. Those with fiery tempers would practically point their fingers at her and call her delusional.

They want someone from a wealthy family, beautiful, filial, and educated. Like a dung beetle wearing sunglasses… trying to look big! Utterly disgusting!

Jia Zhangshi's unruly nature might work in the courtyard house, but no one would tolerate her outside, especially not a matchmaker.

Nowadays, Jia Zhangshi's name is notorious in Beijing's matchmaking circles. Matchmakers have even declared that they'd rather eat dirt than earn a matchmaking gift from the Jia family.

Yi Zhonghai looked at the dejected Jia Zhangshi and helplessly spread his hands.

"You want a family with good financial standing, and the woman to be beautiful, obedient, and educated. Let's be honest behind closed doors, do you really think a family like that would even consider Dongxu?"

Yi Zhonghai sighed helplessly: "Sister-in-law, we'd better be more realistic!"

"I... what happened to my Dongxu? My Dongxu..." Under Yi Zhonghai's gaze, Jia Zhangshi slowly trailed off, unable to speak. She could only mutter softly, "I was just hoping to find him a good family so I could help Dongxu in the future! Who would have thought..."

"Heh..." A flash of disdain crossed Yi Zhonghai's eyes. Well, if things work out with Jia Zhangshi, he won't have a good chance to speak up.

"Sister-in-law, I've never heard of someone offending the matchmaker before the wedding. Since things have come to this... if all else fails, we can find someone from the nearby countryside!"

"From the countryside..." Jia Zhangshi cried out in a hoarse voice, "No... absolutely not... how could my son..."

Before Jia Zhangshi could even ask for it, Yi Zhonghai interrupted her coldly:

"What's wrong with the countryside? Aren't you from the countryside too! Now every household in the countryside has been allocated land, and their lives are no worse than those in the city!"

Besides, marrying a rural woman makes it easier for you to control her. What city person would be dutiful to a mother-in-law who does nothing?

"You..." Jia Zhangshi's expression changed, but she didn't dare to turn hostile. She was counting on Yi Zhonghai to cover the wedding expenses!

Thus... Jia Dongxu naturally met Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu was already beautiful, and recently she had been frequently seen with Yi Zhonghai. How could a beautiful and charming young woman like her be resisted by Jia Dongxu, a novice?

After the two parted ways, Jia Dongxu was eager to marry a beautiful woman.

However, Madam Jia noticed something amiss. Qin Huairu's brow was furrowed, and she exuded an unintentional allure—hardly the image of a virgin. She suspected Qin Huairu wasn't a good person…

She wanted to object, but she couldn't resist her son's joy. With Yi Zhonghai also subtly encouraging her, half advising and half threatening, Jia Zhangshi had no choice but to reluctantly accept the marriage.

From blind date to marriage, the whole process takes only a month – that's the norm these days. People like He Ping'an are just plain scoundrels…

Perhaps it was to vent her dissatisfaction, or perhaps she wanted to save face for the Jia family. This time, Madam Zhang of Jia went to great lengths, even scheduling the celebration for a busy Sunday. After all, there were always "easy targets"!

On Sunday, Bai Ling brought Xiao Yushui back to the courtyard house. After exchanging greetings, Xiao Yushui rushed into He Daqing's arms, while Bai Ling imitated He Ping'an's manner of wiping the portrait and lighting three sticks of incense.

During the conversation, the topic turned to today's wedding...

He Yuzhu jumped out eagerly, "I heard from Sha Mao... that is, Xu Damao, that Jia Zhangshi seems to look down on Qin Huairu and absolutely refuses to agree to their marriage!"

Bai Ling pointed to Jia Zhangshi, who was shouting outside the door, "This doesn't seem like opposition?"

He Yuzhu scratched his head and gave an awkward smile.

"I don't know the specifics either. I only know that Yi Zhonghai approached Jia Zhangshi, and I don't know what they talked about, but things have turned out like this!"

The wedding in 1951 still followed most of the old customs... except that the traditional bowing to heaven and earth was replaced with bowing to the elders' photos, and there was no singing of revolutionary songs as later on. After a lively celebration, the banquet began!

Due to her work, Bai Ling inadvertently discovered some clues...

It seems that Yi Zhonghai, the master, and Qin Huairu, the apprentice's wife, are getting too close. According to his wife, the two have crossed the line.

Moreover, Qin Huairu seemed to have gotten used to this distance, remaining calm and composed without the slightest discomfort. If it really came to this… Bai Ling suddenly felt a bit nauseous at the banquet.

Having agreed to pick her up the next day, Bai Ling hurriedly left the courtyard. Without Bai Ling, the policewoman, keeping things under control, the men in the courtyard, because of Qin Huairu, became even more unruly.

Perhaps it was during the midday wedding ceremony when Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu offered tea to their elders, that Yi Zhonghai, in his excitement, drank too much. Just as the banquet was about to end, he staggered to his feet and, slurring his words, suggested:

"You're all old neighbors in this courtyard, so I think we should do this... Anyway, leftovers won't keep well in the summer, so let's get together again tonight and eat all this food!"

"good……"

"Master Yi is so generous..."

That evening, as expected, Jia Dongxu drank too much. After the party, Yi Zhonghai, his mentor, and Qin Huairu helped Jia Dongxu into the Jia family home, one on each side.

The Jia family only had one room, so on Jia Dongxu's wedding night, Jia Zhangshi went to stay at another family's house.

With Jia Zhangshi absent and Jia Dongxu drunk and unconscious, Yi Zhonghai, somewhat tipsy, looked at Qin Huairu's flushed cheeks and, as if possessed, touched his apprentice's wife's body with unusually practiced ease.

Qin Huairu only made a token refusal twice before letting Yi Zhonghai do as he pleased.

On their wedding night... Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu, a master and a bride, were lewdly fooling around on their wedding bed in front of their groom, Jia Dongxu!

Fifteen minutes later, the rain stopped and the clouds dispersed. Feeling refreshed and covered in sweat, Yi Zhonghai hurriedly got up and dressed, reminding Qin Huairu as he did so.

"Huai Ru, you should hurry up and get dressed. Otherwise, Dong Xu might wake up and notice something's wrong!"

Qin Huairu's face was still flushed, and she rolled her big eyes, looking incredibly alluring. "Now you're thinking about your apprentice? Weren't you pretty enthusiastic when you were sleeping with your apprentice's wife earlier?"

Despite her words, Qin Huairu still followed Yi Zhonghai's instructions, dressing and grooming herself. She even thoughtfully opened the windows for ventilation. Her movements were remarkably practiced!

Yi Zhonghai caught a glimpse of his apprentice's wife's ample bosom out of the corner of his eye, and reluctantly looked away. "Sigh... if I weren't infertile, why would I have given you to such a useless man like Jia Dongxu! You've suffered so much..."