A courtyard house, equipped with a fishing system, living in an era.

This was the first time Qin Huairu had seen a bicycle enter the courtyard since she had been there for so long.

Seeing that she had calmed down, Luo Wencui scolded Jia Zhangshi, who deserved to be scolded.

He glanced at Xu Pingan and Yan Bugui, then said goodbye to Qin Huairu and left.

Not long after Luo Wencui left, Jia Dongxu came looking for her.

"What did your master's wife just say to you?"

Qin Huairu spoke listlessly.

"What else can I say? Just advise me to be a good daughter-in-law to my mother-in-law and live a good life with you!"

Jia Dongxu chuckled and moved a little closer.

"Don't worry, tomorrow is my first time visiting as the new son-in-law, how could I not make a good impression?!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu's smile became even more genuine.

"but……"

Before his smile could fully bloom, Jia Dongxu added, "However..."

Qin Huairu isn't stupid, but she definitely won't say anything nice later.

"However, Mom is right. I'm only a first-level worker now, and our wedding cost a lot. We also bought a sewing machine... We're really short on money!"

"How about this, when we leave home, we'll do as Mom said, and then I'll buy a couple more things along the way. Is that alright?"

Qin Huairu appeared compliant, but inwardly she felt extremely uncomfortable.

Did our family go broke from buying sewing machines?

Wasn't that sewing machine bought by my master and mistress?

The Yi family immediately shared this news with Qin Huairu, which could bring them closer and demonstrate their strength.

Qin Huairu simply pretended not to know anything about Jia Dongxu's side...

However, she doesn't intend to expose it now.

Qin Huairu looked at the bicycle in Xu Ping'an's hand and said hopefully to Jia Dongxu.

"Dongxu, Qin Family Village isn't too far, but it still takes most of the day to walk there. Why don't you borrow a bicycle?"

Regardless of whether it's convenient or not, riding a bicycle home is such a prestigious thing!

Even if the car doesn't belong to them, being able to borrow one is still a great skill!

Nanluoguxiang is considered an affluent area, and it is inhabited by working-class families of this era.

A few households also own their own bicycles.

Normally, loans are only lent out for weddings!

After all, it's a joyous occasion, so we can share in the happiness...

Don't even bring up the topic of returning to your parents' home... if you do, you'll just get slapped in the face!

So Qin Huairu hadn't thought about it before.

But when she saw Xu Pingan pushing a bicycle back, Qin Huairu's mind started to wander.

Upon hearing the word "bicycle," Jia Dongxu swallowed hard and looked up at Xu Ping'an, who was walking towards the east side of the courtyard.

"Where am I supposed to borrow a bicycle during the Chinese New Year?"

Before he finished speaking, Jia Dongxu followed Qin Huairu's gaze and looked at Xu Ping'an.

"He must have something to do by borrowing the car, right?"

Qin Huairu rolled her eyes at Jia Dongxu, and that single glance was enough to make him fall head over heels.

"Dongxu, go ask him. It's not a big deal. Besides, Ping An might just want to take his two younger sisters out to play!"

"Going out for fun is nothing compared to visiting your parents' home. Besides, you don't want to waste a whole day on the road tomorrow, do you?"

Jia Dongxu didn't know which sentence had struck a chord with him, but he gritted his teeth and finally agreed.

"Okay, then I'll go borrow a car from Ping An!"

……

"What? You want to borrow my car?"

Xu Pingan looked at Jia Dongxu with a puzzled expression, trying to see through the mask to understand this incomprehensible face.

"Yes, tomorrow is the second day of the Lunar New Year, isn't it? I need to take Huai Ru back to her parents' house, and I'd like to borrow a car for convenience..."

Xu Pingan sometimes felt that he couldn't figure out the thought process of these people.

Although the car belongs to him, he has always claimed to others that he has borrowed it...

"If you want to borrow a bicycle, fine, go ask someone who has one. What's the point of you asking me?"

Hearing Xu Pingan say that, Jia Dongxu felt a little embarrassed.

"You have a car, don't you? You just don't want to lend it to me? We're all neighbors, that's why I asked you..."

Xu Pingan remained silent.

So, does that mean I should thank him for asking me for help?

Thank him for giving me face?

From this perspective, Jia Dongxu truly deserves to be Yi Zhonghai's disciple...

"Is this my car? I just borrowed it from my boss..."

"My business is more important, could you lend it to me first?"

"Then why do you think I went out to borrow a car? Just so you could use it later?"

"What do you have to do tomorrow? Can't you walk there?"

Xu Pingan shut up. This person was either brooding or pretending to be stupid; there was no way to reason with him anymore.

"No!"

With that, Xu Pingan turned to go back into the house.

"Oh, Ping An..."

Jia Dongxu reached out to pull him.

Xu Pingan turned around and swung his hand, directly slapping his arm away.

"It's the first day of the Lunar New Year, don't make me want to slap you, okay?"

He felt the pain in his arm, and also the pressure and disdain in Xu Ping'an's tone.

Jia Dongxu's face immediately turned a deep purplish-red.

For a moment, neither advancing nor retreating was an option!

Only after watching Xu Pingan enter the house and close the door did she glare at Xu Pingan's front door with resentment before hurrying away.

Going straight back won't work either...

Not to mention the injustice he suffered, he hadn't even completed the task Qin Huairu had given him!

What should you do if you've been bullied? Of course, you should go back and find someone to protect you.

Instead of going home, Jia Dongxu went straight into Yi Zhonghai's house.

"Master..."

Jia Dongxu's tone was tinged with grievance, and his cry of "Master" was melodious and gentle.

But Yi Zhonghai got goosebumps all over.

"Dongxu, is there something you need?"

"Master, I want to borrow a bicycle, but Xu Ping'an from the east courtyard won't lend it to me..."

After so many years of getting along, Yi Zhonghai had come to know Jia Dongxu very well, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Where did he get the bicycle?"

"It seems like they went out to borrow it specifically this afternoon!"

"You're lending me a bicycle that someone else borrowed?"

"Master, but I'm taking Huairu back to her parents' home tomorrow, and it's quite a distance with no public transportation. My business is more important!"

Yi Zhonghai is a little tired.

This apprentice has one good quality: he's obedient!

But that's all this apprentice has to offer!

The person went out of their way to borrow the bicycle; there must be something going on!

Your matter is more important, so I should lend it to you. He's your father, after all.

However, everyone understands the reasoning behind it, but Yi Zhonghai still decided to take charge of the matter.

the reason is simple!

His status is different now; the list of resident liaisons was submitted before the Lunar New Year.

It's him, Yi Zhonghai!

Yi Zhonghai still vividly remembers Xu Ping'an's attitude when he went to the Xu family in the east courtyard to discuss matters.

He has always been the type who might not repay a favor, but will definitely avenge a wrong!

This is a perfect opportunity to put pressure on Xu Ping'an!

Does right and wrong matter? What matters is your attitude, Xu Ping'an. At the very least, you should respect the elderly and care for the young...

Having made up his mind, Yi Zhonghai arranged for Jia Dongxu to go back first, as he intended to go to the meeting alone.

……

Boom boom boom!

Hearing the knock on the door, Xu Ping'an frowned.

Before he could speak, the person outside had already pushed the door open and come in.

Xu Ping'an's face darkened. He looked up and saw it was Yi Zhonghai again. Was this guy never going to stop?

"Safety……"

"Get out!"

Yi Zhonghai's smile froze on his face, as if he couldn't believe that anyone would dare to speak to him like that.

"What did you say?"

Xu Ping'an's expression was serious as he repeated himself, word by word.

"I said, get out!"

Yi Zhonghai's face immediately turned a deep liver color, almost exactly the same as Jia Dongxu's face just now.

At this point, Xu Ping'an had already begun to suspect that Jia Dongxu might be Yi Zhonghai's son.

Otherwise, how could the two of them achieve such perfect synchronization of expressions without even discussing it?

"You...is this how you talk to your elders?"

"An elder? Let's not even talk about the fact that we've only known each other for less than three months..."

"Even if we do have some kind of relationship, so what? Does that mean you can just walk into my house without knocking?"

Xu Pingan, who had been sitting, stood up and looked down into Yi Zhonghai's eyes.

"Was I too polite to you last time?"

Yi Zhonghai's anger faded, replaced by a hint of helplessness.

"Ping An, I didn't think this through. I apologize..."

Upon hearing this, Xu Pingan dropped his sneer and mockery.

At this moment, he truly began to value Yi Zhonghai.