Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

"It's like this—" He Yuzhu scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed, "I'd like to ask you to help me propose marriage."

"Oh! What wonderful news!" Director Ye laughed heartily. "Which lucky young lady will marry our Chef He?"

"The Lou family's, Lou Xiao'e."

"The Lou family?" Director Ye paused, tapping his fingers twice on the edge of the table. "There are no women with the surname Lou in our factory... I don't remember a single one."

He'd worked here for several years, and there were hardly any employees with the surname Lou; with thousands of people in such a large factory, he couldn't possibly remember the maiden names of every single one of them.

He Yuzhu quickly added, "She's Director Lou's daughter."

Director Ye was instantly speechless, his hand holding the teacup frozen in mid-air, stunned for a full five or six seconds.

No wonder he was stunned—it was still a year before the winds of change would blow. The working class had just gained a foothold, and who would have thought that the label of capitalist would be slapped on them in the blink of an eye?

(Just like in 2018, who could have predicted that a pandemic would shake the entire world?)

"Director Ye?" He Yuzhu raised his voice and called out softly.

Director Ye then came to his senses, carefully examined He Yuzhu for a few moments, and frowned slightly: "Master He, about this matter..."

—Aren't you just sending me to run into a brick wall with this gift box? If they ask, "Which Chef He?" and I answer, "The one in charge of the cafeteria," I'm afraid they'll kick me out immediately!

"Director, don't panic," He Yuzhu quickly explained. "I've already given Xiao'e the information. I just need you to make a trip there, get acquainted with the people, and act as a bridge. Whether it works out or not, I won't make things difficult for you."

Director Ye let out a long sigh of relief, the tense lines on his face relaxing: "Alright! Congratulations in advance! Tomorrow, prepare your things, and I'll carry them over for you. Let's officially 'acknowledge' this marriage."

At that time, there were two ways to propose marriage:

One type is the ordinary family, where the matchmaker first arranges a date with the woman, and then the man comes to the woman's house to check their birth dates and determine the betrothal gifts. Once the date arrives, they directly pick up the woman.

Another method is for the matchmaker to visit first and explain their intentions. If the woman nods, the two families are considered to have established a relationship, and the procedures will proceed step by step. If she shakes her head, she can leave gracefully without leaving any awkwardness.

"Then we'll have to rely on you!" He Yuzhu stood up to say goodbye. "You're busy, I'll go back to the cafeteria to work." After saying that, he turned around and walked quickly towards the kitchen.

Early the next morning,

He Yuzhu then went to the supply and marketing cooperative to make the necessary purchases, and brought the tobacco, alcohol and other food items back to the factory, personally handing them over to Director Ye.

None of them were expensive items—the cigarettes were ordinary brands, the liquor was local bulk, and the peanuts were sold by weight.

He knew perfectly well what the Lou family hadn't seen. They had cars parked in their yards, and the "Forever" bicycle he rode was an old one left behind by He Daqing before he left home.

From now on, any man with a sensitive stomach who's health-conscious should look to this route—like He Yuzhu in the 21st century, driving a small Alto, managing to hook up with someone who owns a private jet. The difference is like trying to catch a rocket exhaust with an enamel mug. What's even more incredible is that she's an only child! Isn't that infuriating?

My heart was already bursting with joy.

Director Ye had just finished a phone call with the Lou family and confirmed that both Mr. and Mrs. Lou were home when he immediately grabbed the gift box prepared by He Yuzhu and rushed to the Lou family's house.

Coincidentally, Lou Xiao'e is off work today and didn't go to the factory.

In the Lou family's living room, sunlight slanted across the old-fashioned rattan chairs.

As soon as he saw Ye enter, Mr. Lou smiled and said, "Little Ye, you're grinning from ear to ear today! What good news have you had?"

Director Ye's smile never faded as he walked in, exuding an air of confidence.

"That's right! Good things have come knocking, and they've asked me to be their matchmaker!"

Lou's father immediately understood what was going on—they were probably here to propose marriage.

He winked deliberately: "Oh? What good thing could possibly warrant your presence?"

Director Ye cleared his throat, and once he started talking, it was all spielous words: "You two are certainly familiar with Comrade He Yuzhu from our factory—honest, diligent, with a strong work ethic, and his family is also clean and upright!"

The words sound pleasant, but upon closer examination, "clean and honest, upright and honorable" doesn't mean that his ancestors had made meritorious contributions or received plaques; it's simply "a beggar eating tofu—utterly poor."

Lou's mother took over the conversation, her tone gentle yet firm: "We've met Xiao He twice, and he's a trustworthy person. But... it still depends on Xiao'e's own approval."

They didn't have much contact with He Yuzhu, and they didn't even know which way the main gate of the courtyard house faced.

Lou Xiao'e, on the other hand, made two trips herself, stayed overnight, and chatted for several days.

Upon hearing this, Director Ye's heart skipped a beat: Oh no!

Yesterday, He Yuzhu patted his chest and said that the matter had been finalized.

Hey! Didn't I just get a reputation as a "reliable young man" for free? Hmm, this kid's got something!

Lou's mother turned and strode upstairs, opening the door and teasingly saying, "Xiao'e, the matchmaker is already in the living room, and you're still in bed hatching eggs?"

Lou Xiao'e suddenly threw back the covers: "Mom! Who's here?"

"Who else could it be? Isn't it He Yuzhu, the one you've been sneaking around lately, hanging around their stove every other day?" Lou's mother laughed and exposed him.

Lou Xiao'e had only been to the He family's house twice—from childhood to adulthood, she had never even stepped foot in the door of a male classmate's house. If it weren't for their pot of tender braised pork and bowl of hot sweet fermented rice soup with glutinous rice balls, she wouldn't have bothered to even set foot there!

"Mom! What nonsense are you talking about? I was doing something important!" Her face flushed red, but her mouth remained as hard as a freshly cooked rice cake.

"Alright, alright, let's get down to business—we need to settle this important matter of life properly!" Lou's mother glanced at her daughter's reddened ears and unfocused eyes, and she knew perfectly well that the person in this girl's heart had probably already taken root.

Back then, marriage proposals weren't like the elaborate schemes of today. Most of the time, the two families' elders would meet, find each other agreeable, and then the younger generation would exchange greetings and handkerchiefs—that was it. After marriage, the relationship could develop gradually; who would stop you?

In earlier years, young ladies from respectable families would keep a copy of "The Romance of the Western Chamber" under their pillows in their boudoirs, dreaming of their ideal husbands; for many others, even the groom's height, shape, and appearance were determined by the matchmaker's words before the wedding ceremony.

"Oh! Mom, I'm not talking to you anymore!" Lou Xiao'e grabbed the blanket and wrapped herself up tightly, leaving only her bright eyes showing.

Lou's mother feigned a sigh: "Alright, alright, I'll go down and tell them right away—that my daughter isn't happy!"

"Mom! You're so mean!" A muffled voice trembled from under the covers. "Who said I wasn't happy?!" Her face was as red as a freshly picked hawthorn berry.

Lou's mother sat down and asked softly, "Tell me, how does he treat you? Has he laid a hand on you?"

"To get handsy" is an old-fashioned way of saying it, and the meaning is quite clear: if you get handsy before things are settled, the neighbors will shake their heads, the elders will frown, and who would dare to hand their daughter over?

"He dares? He's gone too far!" Lou Xiao'e gripped the corner of the blanket tightly, her mouth taunting, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upwards.

Looking at her daughter's appearance, Lou's mother understood: This girl's soul had already drifted out of the alley with someone else.

"Then, Mom will go down and agree, and the two families will officially recognize each other as relatives?"

Lou Xiao'e nodded quickly, then shyly shrank back into the quilt, leaving only a strand of her dark hair hanging on the edge of the quilt.

Back in the living room, Lou's mother smiled and said, "Xiao Ye, thank you for making the trip today. Tomorrow, please bring Xiao He over for a simple meal."

Upon hearing this, Director Ye immediately understood: "Congratulations to both families on this auspicious marriage!"

His trip was worthwhile; his brows and eyes were beaming with joy.

Mr. and Mrs. Lou were all smiles, and the enamel mug on the coffee table was even reflected in the light.

……

At noon, as soon as Director Ye returned to the factory, he went straight to the canteen kitchen.

"Master He, come out for a moment!"

He Yuzhu was tossing the iron wok when he heard the call, so he immediately wiped his hands and came out to greet them.

According to custom, when people meet and get engaged, the matchmaker must accompany them on this journey.

Director Ye lowered his voice, his eyes crinkling with amusement: "Xiao He, it's done! Bring a gift tomorrow, and we'll visit together!"

He Yuzhu said modestly, "I'm really sorry to have to trouble Director Ye like this..."

In my heart, a string of firecrackers had already exploded.

Director Ye patted him on the shoulder: "We're family, it's just a matter of lending a hand. Ultimately, it's your own good fortune!"

—But in his heart he thought: Hey, this kid, so cunning and sly, he actually managed to get me!

"Hurry up and get busy. Before you leave work, go ask Director Zhang for leave." With that, he turned and left.

This leave is hard to get approved! I just got scolded a couple of days ago. Sigh, I have to brave any danger to get a wife.

Ma Hua leaned closer, winking and saying, "Master, you look radiant today, is there some good news?"

He Yuzhu glanced at him sideways: "You little rascal, you're born to gossip! Stop talking nonsense and get your work done."

Ma Hua didn't care at all; instead, he puffed out his chest—in his eyes, his mentor was praising his cleverness!

"Master, Sister Liu Lan said she'll bring her cousin to meet me in a couple of days!" He rubbed his hands together with delight.

He Yuzhu shook his head and didn't respond.

This kid can't keep a secret; if you keep talking about it, he could brag until dark. Don't respond? He'll just turn around and show off to someone else.

Ma Hua indeed launched into a long tirade: "Sister Liu Lan is so generous! She said her cousin just turned seventeen and is eager to settle down in the city, and it just so happened that I asked her about it—isn't that perfect timing!"

He Yuzhu had already cooked the dishes in the pot. He listened while serving them, without saying a word.

He handed over the task of serving the food to his apprentice and then headed straight for the storage room—first asking his night school teacher for a few days' leave, and then carrying back several thick burlap sacks.

He strolled home lazily, his steps unsteady.

As soon as He Yushui stepped into the courtyard, she saw He Yuzhu carrying several bulging burlap sacks on his shoulders and in his hands, covered in dust and mud.

He Yushui was taken aback: "Brother, why are you carrying this pile of sacks?" There were no pickled vegetables or stored grains at home, and she frowned in confusion.

He Yuzhu grinned and deliberately tossed the sack up a little: "Cloth coupons are so tight they're practically choking me, so I got this for you—to make you a cotton-padded coat, so you won't be shivering with your neck hunched over!"

Burlap sacks are no ordinary commodity; you have to use connections and offer cigarettes to get one. They're sturdy and durable, perfect for making clothes that withstand the wind, and especially great for carrying things.