Courtyard House: I, the eldest son of the Jia family, have returned from the battlefield.

Madam Jia nodded: "What you said makes sense."

Then I'll talk to Huairu about it later.

If she agrees, I'll go talk to Yi Zhonghai in a couple of days.

At this point, she suddenly paused, her eyes turning cold, as if she had remembered something extremely unpleasant.

She looked up at her son, her voice tinged with coldness:

"Dongming, Mom made Bang Geng acknowledge this marriage, obviously because she wanted Yi Zhonghai's wealth."

But more importantly... it's to get justice for your brother.

She spoke the last few words softly and slowly, yet they were like shards of ice, each word nailing into the silent air.

When Jia Zhangshi's words reached his ears, Jia Dongming's heart skipped a beat.

His mother seemed muddle-headed on the surface, but she was surprisingly shrewd, even daring to set her sights on someone like Yi Zhonghai.

He feigned ignorance, tilting his head as he asked, "Mom, I don't understand your roundabout way of speaking."

Little did she know that the son in front of her had long since changed his soul and was fully aware of all the old grievances and future entanglements in the courtyard.

Upon hearing his question, Jia Zhangshi lowered her voice, which sounded as if it had crawled out from a crack in the ground: "Dongming, don't be fooled by Yi Zhonghai's kind face."

This person is heartless and can't stand seeing others do well.

He had Dongxu kowtow and become his disciple in the hopes that the master would take care of him, but who would have thought... he never intended to teach Dongxu any real skills to make a living.

He kept all the key skills of fitter work to himself, afraid that Dongxu would learn them and become too independent, and that our family would no longer be under his control.

Nine years... Dongxu followed him for a full nine years, and in the end he was still just a low-level fitter.

All the gossipy people in the yard say your brother is stupid and can't learn.

But I know my son, Dongxu. He's not stupid; he's willing to work hard.

It was Yi Zhonghai who forbade others to teach him, thus ruining his life! Dong Xu's life... though it's said to be a work injury, the root cause lies with Yi Zhonghai!

As Jia Dongming listened, he saw two dark flames burning in her eyes, and her wrinkled face was slightly distorted with resentment.

Of course he understands.

After a moment of silence, he spoke with a solemn expression: "Mom, the work injury thing is just a pretext for Dongxu's case."

Yi Zhonghai didn't teach him any real skills, that's one thing, but what's even more fatal... Dong Xu took the blame for him, getting killed by enemy agents lurking in the shadows.

"What?!"

Jia Zhangshi shuddered, her thin, bony hand gripping Jia Dongming's arm tightly, her nails digging almost into his flesh. "Enemy spy? Dongming, you can't say things like that! Are you serious?"

"really."

Jia Dongming nodded firmly, "I've caught that bastard who did it."

I cleaned him up myself, wedging bamboo skewers into his fingernails one by one, and he howled inhumanly.

"If it weren't for this layer of skin holding me back, I could crush his bones inch by inch."

Upon learning that her son had died so unjustly, Madam Jia's lips trembled: "Why...why? Our Dongxu was such an honest and simple man, how did he get involved with those heartless bastards?"

"Mom, they're not here for Dongxu."

Jia Dongming held her trembling shoulders and said in a low voice, "Their target is Yi Zhonghai. They tampered with his machine tool."

Unfortunately, Dongxu was kind-hearted that day and went to help his master check the equipment, which led to... him suffering an undeserved misfortune.

It turns out that it wasn't that the skills weren't passed on, but rather that the teacher was taking the blame for the student.

Jia Zhangshi stared blankly, her expression shifting several times—first pain, then emptiness, finally settling into a bottomless pool of darkness. "So… if Dongxu hadn't run into him, it would have been Yi Zhonghai who died?"

She murmured, her tone gradually hardening with a coldness, "That's fine too."

He owes my son a life, so I won't hold back when I plot against him in the future.

Late at night.

Jia Dongming urged Bang Geng to finish his homework, then quickly washed himself and lay down on the hard bed.

In my drowsy state, I heard a very soft knock on the door, like a night bird pecking at the windowpane.

He suddenly snapped awake, opened his eyes in the darkness, and whispered, "Who's there?"

"Brother Dongming, it's me."

A faint, trembling sound came from outside the door, tinged with a hint of panic.

It's Lou Xiao'e.

Jia Dongming rolled out of bed, walked barefoot to the door, and unlatched it.

A slender figure flashed in immediately, bringing with it the coolness of the night breeze.

Moonlight streamed through the window paper, gently illuminating her face and revealing a pair of unusually bright eyes.

"Xu Damao went to the commune to show a movie."

Her breathing was a little unsteady, and she was very close. "I only dared to come over after I saw that all the lights in the courtyard were off."

Jia Dongming didn't reply. Instead, he pushed the door shut tightly, then stretched out his arm and scooped the person up.

Lou Xiao'e let out a soft cry as he pulled her into his arms.

He chuckled softly, his warm breath brushing against her ear: "Didn't you get enough last night? Looks like you need a good beating."

After the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped, Lou Xiao'e lay softly on his sweaty chest, her fingertips unconsciously tracing her name ring.

After a long silence, she finally spoke softly, her voice like it had been soaked with water: "Brother Dongming, I overheard Auntie Er let slip...Is Aunt Zhang arranging a marriage for you?"

Her unusual enthusiasm last night has finally been answered.

Jia Dongming suddenly realized that this was the reason.

Thinking of Mingri's early morning meeting, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally hummed in agreement.

She let out a sound. "I'm already twenty-eight, Mom's worried, you...you know that."

With the blind date confirmed, Lou Xiao'e's faint hope vanished like a candle flame.

But she didn't make a fuss or cry; she just lay there quietly.

This outcome was not entirely unexpected for her.

In her father Lou Zhenhua's household, her mother was just one of his concubines. She had seen this principle since she was a child: a man always needs to have new concubines by his side.

But that sour feeling still crept up, stuck in my chest, impossible to swallow or spit out.

Lou Xiao'e gazed at the apologetic look in Jia Dongming's eyes when he talked about marriage, and said in a soft voice, as gentle as a feather: "Brother Dongming, Aunt Zhang is right. You are already twenty-eight. It's time for you to settle down and start a family."

But... I have a wish: after you marry, don't forget me.

Could you spare a few nights each month to spend with me?

Jia Dongming had anticipated that she would be angry and was preparing comforting words in his mind, but he was slightly taken aback when she uttered such words.

In this situation, it's not unusual for a man to have an extra mistress.

He did not refuse, a gentle smile spreading across his lips, and replied, "E'zi, don't worry."

After a few days, I will find a quiet little courtyard outside, and if we wish to meet again, we will go there.

Lou Xiao'e's eyes lit up suddenly, and she hurriedly said, "Why do you need to look for a courtyard? There are several empty courtyards near my house."

I'll go home in a couple of days and ask my mother for a place. With a little tidying up, it will be our meeting place from now on.

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming recalled her nickname, "Lou Bancheng".

Considering her father's reputation in Beijing and the potential troubles the Lou family might face in the future, she secretly thought that when the time was right, she should have Xiao'e remind her father to leave this troublesome place as soon as possible and cross the border to Hong Kong for safety.

With that thought in mind, he couldn't help but ask, "E'zi, if you ask your parents for the property back and they ask why, how will you respond?"

Lou Xiao'e, however, seemed completely unconcerned, a slight smile playing on her lips: "If Mother asks, I will tell her everything about us, in detail."

"bite--"

At 7:00 AM on Sunday morning, Jia Dongming was still teetering on the edge of sleep when a clear electronic notification suddenly rang in the depths of his mind: "Daily check-in system activated. Would you like to check in immediately?"

Perhaps because the blind date was on his mind, Lou Xiao'e was unusually persistent last night. Her passionate attitude seemed to be that she wouldn't stop until she had squeezed out every last bit of his energy. She didn't leave until the clock struck two in the morning, satisfied.

Deep in sleep, Jia Dongming sensed the system's call but didn't even open his eyes, silently repeating in his mind, "Sign in."

"bite--"

"Check-in successful."

Congratulations, host, you have received: 1 Golden Kidney, 10 pairs of chicks, 10 pairs of ducklings, 10 pairs of goslings, and 10 yuan in cash.

Would the host like to immediately load the 'Golden Kidney'?

Jia Dongming, who was closing his eyes to complete the check-in, suddenly opened his eyes upon hearing this, a look of surprise spreading across his face, and blurted out, "Loading!"

In a short while, a warm current quietly surged from the depths of his body, slowly permeating the area where his kidneys were located.

The slight soreness in my lower back and back vanished in an instant, leaving only a feeling of relaxation and comfort.

If it weren't for the fact that it was already bright outside, Jia Dongming would have almost immediately called Lou Xiao'e over to give this "golden kidney" a proper test.

Just how wondrous it is.

After getting dressed, Jia Dongming pushed open the door and immediately saw Jia Zhangshi holding a broom, sweeping fallen leaves in the yard.

This scene truly surprised him, as if the sun were rising in the west.

He couldn't help but ask, "Mom, why are you up so early today?"

Hearing the sound, Madam Jia looked up and smiled, "Dongming, I saw the fallen leaves all over the yard and was thinking of helping you tidy them up."

Jia Dongming smiled and said, "I'll go to the market later and buy some vegetables."

"Mom, is there anything you'd like to eat?"

After a moment's thought, a hint of longing appeared in Jia Zhangshi's eyes: "The canned fruit you brought back last time tasted really good."

Go check with your comrade at the supply and marketing cooperative later and see if they still have any left to sell.

"Okay, I've got it."

Jia Dongming replied, "I'll have some breakfast first, then I'll go to the market."

"Huairu prepared breakfast early and it's keeping warm in the pot."

Madam Jia hurriedly said, "She didn't take her bicycle with her, so you can ride it there; it'll be convenient."

After having breakfast, Jia Dongming took his car keys and pushed his slightly worn bicycle out of the yard.

"Dongming, good morning! Where are you going so early in the morning pushing your bike?"

As soon as he stepped out of the hanging flower gate, an old woman who was washing clothes in the yard saw him and greeted him with a smile.

Jia Dongming nodded politely: "Good morning, Auntie."

Today, Matchmaker Wang is bringing people to our house to arrange a marriage proposal, so my mother asked me to go to the market to buy some vegetables.

Upon hearing this, an older woman laughed and said, "It's better to go early than late. Going now is just the right time to pick out some fresh and juicy ones."

Jia Dongming was only going through the motions, so he readily agreed, "You're right, then I'd better hurry up, we'll talk again later!"

With that, he pushed off with his foot, and the bicycle glided lightly out of the courtyard.

As Jia Dongming pushed his cart through the moon gate, he saw Yan Bugui tidying up his fishing gear under the eaves.

He stopped in his tracks, a smile spreading across his face. "Good morning, Third Uncle! Are you heading to Houhai?"

Yan Bugui looked up, arranging the fishing line in his hand: "Section Chief Jia! That's right, we're just killing time on our days off anyway, might as well try our luck by the water, maybe we can get an extra dish."

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something, and wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes as he smiled. "Hey, didn't I hear you were going to look at girls today? What brings you out here?"

"My mother told me to go to Chaoyang Market to pick up some vegetables; I had to go early."

Jia Dongming responded, already pushing the cart forward, "You're busy, I'll be going now."

After exiting the hanging flower gate, he boarded his carriage and headed towards winter.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, and the morning mist had not yet dissipated.

At the same moment, Qin Huairu stepped into the ward of the People's Hospital carrying an aluminum lunchbox.

When her mother saw her arrive, she quickly came to greet her: "You don't need to bring food today, your father can be discharged from the hospital."

Qin Huairu put down her lunchbox and turned to her father: "Did the doctor really say I can walk?"

The father leaned against the headboard, his complexion much better than a few days ago: "The wound has almost healed, I can just go home and rest, and come back when the stitches are removed."

"Then please don't rush to get out of bed when you get back."

Qin Huairu instructed, "We have to wait until the stitches are removed before we can talk about it."

The father nodded, but his expression gradually became uneasy.

He rubbed his fingers together and lowered his voice: "The money spent on this hospital stay... was all paid by your uncle."

Given the current situation at home, it seems we won't be able to pay back the money anytime soon.

"Don't worry about the money."

Qin Huairu immediately replied, "I'll pay back part of it once I get my salary."

The mother, listening nearby, frowned: "If your mother-in-law knew you were giving money to your family, she'd probably make a scene again."

In the past, Qin Huairu would have felt a pang of anxiety upon hearing these words.