Courtyard House: My max-level medical skills specialize in treating beasts.

Turn the page, and you'll find yourself in another world.

Inside the mutton restaurant, He Yudong, He Yushui, and Nie Jun chatted and laughed until after 3 p.m.

He Yudong glanced at the time, remembering he hadn't asked for leave after returning from the infirmary, and suggested heading back: "It's getting late, I'll go back to the infirmary to check off my leave, and we can get together again when we have time. By the way, Nie Jun, where are you staying now?"

"I live in the No. 3 compound of the military district, not far from your compound. Bring Yushui over for a visit sometime." Nie Jun quickly paid the bill, and the three of them walked towards the courtyard.

On the way, Nie Jun pulled He Yudong behind him and asked in a low voice, "Yudong, we're brothers, right?"

Seeing He Yudong nod, he blushed slightly and asked, "I just want to ask you something, does Yushui have a boyfriend?"

"Damn it, you little brat, you're trying to hit on my sister?" He Yudong glared.

"Shh, keep your voice down!" Nie Jun quickly covered his mouth. "I'm serious!"

"Brother, what are you guys whispering about?" He Yushui, with her sharp ears, turned around and asked.

"N-nothing!" Nie Jun hurriedly covered up, "It was about the picnic another day!"

He Yushui's eyes lit up: "When? I want to go too!"

"I'll let you know when it's decided," Nie Jun replied vaguely, but in his heart he had made up his mind to pursue He Yushui.

Upon arriving at the courtyard house, He Yudong told He Yushui to go back inside first, but Nie Jun immediately pulled him to a corner, his face serious: "Yudong, I fell in love with Yushui at first sight, so give me a straight answer!"

He Yudong slapped his forehead: "Yushui is single right now and preparing for university entrance exams. If you like her, I won't object, but it absolutely can't affect her exams. If you delay her from going to university, I'll break your legs!"

"Don't worry!" Nie Jun patted his chest, "It absolutely won't affect her studies! Otherwise, you can kill me!"

"Alright, get lost, I have to go to work." He Yudong rolled her eyes at him. Nie Jun scurried away. He Yudong didn't object to the marriage. Nie Jun was a reliable person, came from a military family, and was a good catch. As long as Yushui liked him, that was fine.

In the afternoon, He Yudong returned to the infirmary. There wasn't much to do; he spent the entire afternoon reading and discussing medical techniques with Ding Qiunan. On his way home from get off work, he ran into He Yuzhu (Silly Zhu) at the factory gate, and the two went home together. He Yudong briefly recounted the day's events and cautioned him, "Beware of that old man; he's a hypocrite. You might not be able to tell, Silly Zhu."

Sha Zhu was upset to hear that Yu Shui had been wronged, and he'd been getting increasingly restless in the yard lately. He Yu Dong then said, "You're going on a blind date tomorrow. I'll keep an eye on Qin Huai Ru's side; I won't let her cause trouble. You're given the chance; whether it works out or not is up to you."

"Don't worry!" Sha Zhu said confidently, "I'll definitely win over Teacher Ran tomorrow!"

He Yudong smiled and handed him a watch: "Put on your trench coat, trousers, and leather shoes. Here, take this watch. No need to return it; I have even better ones." Sha Zhu was so touched that he couldn't put it down, and he liked it more and more as he wore it.

As soon as they arrived at the courtyard gate, Qin Huairu greeted them with a smile: "Shazhu is back? My cousin just arrived, why don't you two meet?"

Remembering He Yudong's words, Sha Zhu said in a flat tone, "No need, Sister Qin, I already have a blind date." He Yudong sneered, "This widow is always causing trouble. She can't live without ruining Sha Zhu's marriage."

"Look at what you're saying. My sister's here, why don't you meet her? Maybe it'll be more suitable." Qin Huairu persisted.

Sha Zhu looked at He Yudong, who raised an eyebrow: "How old are you? Can't you make your own judgment? How much effort have I put into your matter?" Sha Zhu nodded and said to Qin Huairu, "Really, it's not necessary, thank you." Then he went inside.

Qin Huairu tried to follow, but He Yudong stopped her: "Qin Huairu, what exactly are you trying to do? My brother has a blind date. Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Why didn't you come when my brother was worried about finding a wife? Why do you have to interfere when he's on a blind date with someone else? You're just trying to leech off my brother! With me here, no way!"

After He Yudong finished speaking, he went inside. Qin Huairu was so angry that her teeth itched, and a venomous glint flashed in her eyes. "Shazhu can only be mine. He Yudong, I will not let you get away with this!"

Back in her room, Qin Huairu's younger sister, Qin Jingru, anxiously asked, "Sister, how did it go? Did Shazhu see me?"

"I'm back, but I don't want to see you," Qin Huairu said irritably. "Last time I asked you to come see me, you ran off to the countryside without a word. Of course I was angry!"

"I thought he was an idiot!" Qin Jingru muttered. "You all call him 'Silly Zhu'!"

Qin Huai sighed, "I think you should just go back to your hometown and get married. Nobody would want you. Unless Sha Zhu fails his blind date tomorrow, you have no chance."

"What? He's going on a blind date tomorrow? I don't want to marry someone from the countryside!" Qin Jingru exclaimed anxiously. "Sister, you have to help me! Sha Zhu only makes seventy-odd yuan a month, that's a lot of money!"

Qin Huairu's lips curled up, then she pretended to be helpless: "How can I help? Unless he fails his blind date..." She deliberately hinted to Qin Jingru to sabotage it, but in her heart she was making her own little plans. As long as Sha Zhu didn't marry someone else, she could continue to "bleed" him.

"Sister, you have to help me! I don't want to go back to the countryside!" Qin Jingru pleaded, her eyes reddening, as she grabbed Qin Huairu's hand.

"Look at what you're saying! You're my sister, how could I not help?" Qin Huairu said indignantly. "It's all Sha Zhu's fault! I at least told him I'd arrange for you to come on the blind date, but instead, he turned around and wanted to go on a blind date with someone else. What kind of nonsense is this?"

"What should we do, sis?" Qin Jingru was at a loss.

"Just listen to me tomorrow." Qin Huairu had already devised a series of plans to sabotage Sha Zhu's blind date.

He Yudong had been reading for a while when there was a knock at the door. Opening it, he saw Uncle Yi Zhonghai, and his brows immediately furrowed: "What is it?"

"Yu Dong, it was my fault today, I didn't understand the situation..." Yi Zhonghai rubbed his hands, wanting to apologize.

"Don't interrupt my reading if you have nothing to do," He Yudong said calmly.

"Are you still angry with me?" Yi Zhonghai asked anxiously.

"Why would I be angry with you? We're complete strangers. I can't be bothered with what happened today. Don't bother me again." He Yudong said, slamming the door shut.

Yi Zhonghai was furious after being turned away. This kid was too lawless and didn't know how to respect his elders! But then he thought of He Yudong's excellent medical skills and his future usefulness, so he didn't want to make things too tense. He had the same thought as Sha Zhu: he wanted to rely on Sha Zhu for his old age, so he didn't want to break off relations. But He Yudong wasn't Sha Zhu; he wouldn't fall for that.

The next morning, both Sha Zhu and He Yudong got up. Sha Zhu went to the market and bought a lot of vegetables, while He Yudong went out for a walk and brought back a big rooster, a large piece of pork belly, and a fish weighing over ten kilograms from his own little world. If the fruits in Baiguoyuan weren't still unripe, he would have liked to take some out, but he figured he would have to wait a few more days.

Upon entering the courtyard, they bumped into Aunt San watering the flowers. Seeing He Yudong carrying large bags, she immediately smiled. He Yudong had been bringing meat these past few days, and this big fish was enough for her family to eat for several days.

"Auntie San, watering the flowers?" He Yudong greeted her.

"Yes, Yudong, you bought so much stuff today?" Aunt San said happily.

"Today is a special day. Is Grandpa San out?"

"That's right, he went to pick up Zhu Zi early this morning! Your Uncle San is really worried about this."

"Alright, I'll send you some pork belly as a thank you gift later."

"Look at you, we're neighbors, no need to be so polite!" Aunt San said politely, but she was secretly overjoyed.

He Yudong knew perfectly well that Uncle San's family was shrewd and calculating, only willing to work for a reward. However, he didn't care about such small things; the key was to get the job done well, or there would be dire consequences.

As soon as He Yudong arrived home, he noticed several pairs of eyes fixed on the chicken, fish, and meat in his hands through the Qin family's window. Qin Jingru was startled to see him and tugged at Qin Huairu's sleeve: "Sister, isn't that He Yuzhu? He's quite handsome."

Regardless of the era, good looks are always a powerful asset. He Yudong's handsome appearance and refreshing demeanor made an excellent first impression on the naive Qin Jingru.

"He's not He Yuzhu, he's He Yuzhu's younger brother, He Yudong." Qin Huairu clenched his teeth as he mentioned He Yudong, his hatred surging.

"Sis, does He Yudong have a girlfriend? How about I go on a blind date with her? Anyway, Shazhu is going on a blind date with someone else." Although Qin Jingru is simple-minded, she is not completely stupid. Shazhu is almost thirty, while He Yudong is only in his early twenties, handsome and charismatic.

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"What are you thinking? Don't be fooled by his respectable appearance, he's full of bad intentions!" Qin Huairu glared at her.

"But he doesn't look like a bad person."

"Do bad people wear their 'bad' on their sleeves?" Qin Huairu scoffed. "He's the head of the infirmary, why would he even look at you?"

"Director? So young and already a leader?" Qin Jingru immediately perked up.

"Auntie, Uncle Yudong is such a nice guy, he always gives Huaihua delicious treats," Little Huaihua chimed in crisply.

"Huaihua, shut up!" Qin Huairu quickly stopped her, then turned to Qin Jingru and said, "Jingru, I'm doing this for your own good. He's really no good, and he wouldn't even look at you." She had brought Qin Jingru along to ruin Shazhu's blind date, and if Qin Jingru got involved with He Yudong, the plan would be ruined.

"Sister, I'm the prettiest girl in the village, maybe," Qin Jingru retorted.

"You silly girl..." Qin Huairu said with exasperation. She thought to herself: Relying on this silly girl won't work, and I'm not confident I can handle it myself. With He Yudong around, things are going to be tricky.

Just as she was worrying, Qin Huairu caught a glimpse of Xu Damao leading his bicycle past the gate, and her eyes lit up. She went around to the back gate of the courtyard and strode to the front gate for a "chance encounter".

"Hey, Sister Qin, where are you going?" Xu Damao quickly asked.

"Da Mao, going out? I heard you've been cleaning toilets lately?" Qin Huairu teased him with a smile.

"I was framed! Now I'm back as a projectionist, the factory can't do without me!" Xu Damao said proudly. He believed that his film projection skills were the best in the world. He had given bribes to Deputy Director Li a few days ago to get his job back.

"Who framed you? You, Xu Damao, are so capable." Qin Huai flattered.

"They're just like those idiot brothers! I'll take care of them sooner or later."

"I think you should give up. Brother Shazhu is doing well at the factory. Can you compete with him? Shazhu is about to get married and have a big, healthy son. Won't he outshine you?"

"Bullshit! If that idiot Zhu can find a wife, I'll take his surname!" Xu Damao was furious, unaware that he was being led into Qin Huairu's trap.

"Don't believe me? Your blind date will be here soon, and then you can take his surname. I have to go now, I have something to do." Qin Huairu smiled and slipped back into the courtyard.

Xu Damao stared at her back and sneered. He knew exactly what this widow was thinking. She had come to tip off Sha Zhu that his blind date was coming and wanted him to sabotage it.

But he didn't care. He and Sha Zhu had never gotten along since childhood, and he would never let Sha Zhu succeed in his blind date. Besides, his wife Lou Xiao'e hadn't had a child for many years, and he was getting anxious. If Sha Zhu got married and had children, wouldn't people laugh at him?

As for Qin Huairu's little scheme, he didn't take it to heart at all.

Xu Damao was turning his bicycle around when he bumped into Qin Jingru coming out of the courtyard gate. She was on her way to the public toilet.

"Hey, aren't you Sister Qin's sister?" Xu Damao quickly chimed in. He'd had ulterior motives when he saw Qin Jingru at the factory square last time, but she'd gone back to her hometown the next day, and he'd almost forgotten about it. Could it be that the "blind date for Silly Zhu" Qin Huairu mentioned was actually Qin Jingru?

He thought to himself: Qin Huairu is ruthless. On one hand, she arranged for his cousin to go on a blind date with Sha Zhu, and on the other hand, she hinted that he should sabotage it. Her intentions are so vicious!

"Who are you?" Qin Jingru looked at him in confusion.

"Me? Xu Damao! A projectionist at the steel mill. We met in the square before!" Xu Damao quickly introduced himself.

"Oh, it's you." Qin Jingru remembered, but looked wary. "What do you want?"

"Girl, how am I a bad person?" Xu Damao feigned innocence. "You came here this time to go on a blind date with Sha Zhu, right? Your sister is really something, letting you go on a blind date with a dim-witted cook, what were she thinking?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Qin Jingru retorted. "My sister said He Yuzhu isn't stupid. He's a factory chef, earning over seventy yuan a month!" After saying that, she walked towards the toilet.

Xu Damao waited outside the restroom for a long time before Qin Jingru finally came out. He didn't notice a pair of eyes staring at him from the corner—it was He Yudong. He Yudong had long anticipated that Qin Jingru would be restless and try to sabotage the blind date with Xu Damao; he had seen everything clearly during their "chance encounter."

When Xu Damao saw Qin Jingru come out, he leaned over and whispered a few words in her ear. Qin Jingru hesitated for a moment, then followed him on his bicycle and left. He Yudong didn't follow; he turned back to the courtyard and bumped into Lou Xiao'e leaving.

"Lou Xiao'e!" He Yudong called out.

"What's wrong?" Lou Xiao'e asked, puzzled.

He Yudong looked around and lowered his voice: "I just saw your Xu Damao walking around Wangfujing with a girl in his arms. That girl looks like Qin Jingru, Qin Huairu's sister."

"You're talking nonsense!" Lou Xiao'e retorted immediately. Xu Damao's recent misfortunes were all related to He Yudong, and she was thoroughly fed up with him. "Our Damao isn't that kind of person!"

"Fine, don't believe me then." He Yudong sneered, "Have you forgotten how Xu Damao got drunk and harassed a young girl and was punished by having to clean the toilet? He also often said in front of others that you can't have children, but as a doctor, I can tell you that you are in excellent health!" After saying that, he turned to leave.

"Wait a minute!" Lou Xiao'e called out to him.

"Is there anything else?"

"Are you telling the truth?" Lou Xiao'e was still skeptical.

"I, He Yudong, never lie," He Yudong said. "But if you question Xu Damao, he'll definitely deny it. If you say you're going back to your parents' house for a few days, he'll bring the woman back without hesitation. Try it if you don't believe me. Lou Xiao'e, you're a good woman, it's a pity you married the wrong person."

He Yudong shook his head and left. Lou Xiao'e felt a tightness in her chest. Recently, Xu Damao had been treating her worse and worse, and always complaining that she couldn't get pregnant. Their relationship had long been strained, but she believed that "if you're married, you have to live well," and never thought about divorce. But if Xu Damao really cheated, the situation would change.

He Yudong's words sprouted in her heart like a seed. She often visited the old lady and saw that the old lady's white hair had turned black after He Yudong's treatment, so she believed in his excellent medical skills. Hearing him say that he was in good health, she had the idea of ​​going to the hospital for a checkup.

On the other hand, Xu Damao, with his silver tongue, completely convinced Qin Jingru that "Shazhu and Qin Huairu were having an affair." He then coaxed and tricked Qin Jingru into shopping at Wangfujing, buying her clothes and treating her to hot pot. In those days, Xu Damao was a master at picking up girls, willing to spend money and using sweet talk. How could Qin Jingru, a simple-minded girl from the countryside, resist such charm?

Xu Damao seized the opportunity to confess his feelings, even promising to divorce Lou Xiao'e for Qin Jingru. Qin Jingru was deeply moved, completely forgetting about the "handsome He Yudong" she had seen through the window earlier that day. "Looks can't put food on the table," she thought. "Xu Damao is much more reliable!"

Around 10 a.m., Uncle Yan Fugui led Teacher Ran to the courtyard. Sha Zhu was dressed neatly, looking as energetic as a young man, and even wore a Longines watch. Teacher Ran had heard from Yan Fugui that He Yuzhu was outstanding, and was already curious. Her first impression of him was good; he didn't seem like a cook, but rather like an intellectual.

"Zhu Zi, I've brought Teacher Ran. You young people can chat, I won't disturb you." Yan Fugui was sensible, still thinking about He Yudong's ten pounds of pork belly.

He Yushui was in He Yudong's room. He Yudong didn't go out; he was afraid his handsome face would steal his brother's thunder and make Teacher Ran look down on the blind date. Although He Yuzhu looked presentable now, he still couldn't compare to the naturally charismatic He Yudong.

"Brother, will this blind date go well?" He Yushui asked.

"We'll see what fate has in store for him," He Yudong said. "You go outside and keep watch, make sure Qin Huairu doesn't cause any trouble. I reckon that widow is peeking through the window, trying to find a way to sabotage things."

"Okay, leave it to me!" During this time, He Yushui listened to her second brother and admired him the most, thinking that he was like a god who knew everything.

Qin Huairu stood by the window, staring at Sha Zhu's front door, a cold glint in her eyes, her fists clenched so tightly her nails almost dug into her flesh. She had just seen Sha Zhu's fashionable attire and the young, beautiful Teacher Ran, and then looked at herself as a widow—she couldn't compare to them in any way. But she was unwilling to accept it; she absolutely couldn't let Sha Zhu succeed in his blind date!

Just then, the Symphony No. 5, also known as "Fate Symphony," began to play in Sha Zhu's room. Sha Zhu started showing off the knowledge he had heard from He Yudong, leaving Teacher Ran completely bewildered, which made Teacher Ran like him even more.

"I didn't expect Comrade He Yuzhu to know these things. I underestimated you," Teacher Ran laughed.

"It's nothing, I just read books in my spare time." Sha Zhu said proudly, his younger brother was too amazing, he had planned everything for him.

When Teacher Ran heard that he loved reading, she became even more interested: "What kind of books do you usually read?"