Courtyard House: I'm an engineer, and a fairy godmother transferred me to a different position.

The house, inside and out, had been repeatedly wiped clean by Liu Haizhong until it shone brightly. On the table, an enamel plate held washed red apples and roasted melon seeds, while jasmine tea brewed in several tea mugs emitted wisps of steam, somewhat easing the awkwardness.

Liu Haizhong, the host, kept rubbing his hands together, his gaze constantly drifting to the ramrod-straight guard behind Zhao's father. That solemn posture and calm face made his heart pound—this was a truly important person! He had never dared to imagine that his family could become related to such a family through marriage.

"Brother-in-law, aren't you panicking?"

Zhao Mengsheng slipped over to Liu Guangqi's side, winked, and asked in a low voice.

Liu Guangqi glanced at him, a slight smile playing on her lips: "What do I have to panic about?"

Having lived through two lifetimes, he felt only composure.

Zhao Mengsheng stopped joking and instead slipped to the table, grabbed an apple, and started eating it. However, his eyes kept glancing at Liu Guangqi, clearly still thinking about learning photography.

At this moment, Zhao's father had already entered the house. He did not rush to sit down, but slowly looked around. His gaze first fell on the "Glorious Labor" certificate on the wall, and he nodded slightly, a hint of approval in his eyes—it seemed that his in-laws were also hardworking and down-to-earth laborers.

Then he noticed a few old wooden crates in the corner, their paint faded and revealing the original color of the wood. He didn't seem bothered at all; instead, he smiled and said:

"Old Liu!"

"The house looks so neat and tidy!"

"Your courtyard house is much better; it has a lot more human touch, it's lively and welcoming than our old compound."

He patted Liu Haizhong's shoulder:

"No wonder he was able to train such an outstanding young man as Guangqi!"

……

His words carried significant weight.

Even Liu Guangqi couldn't help but sigh inwardly: Who says soldiers are all rough and uncouth? Look how well Zhao's father put it—he praised the man, complimented the family, and subtly brought the two families closer together.

Those who rise to the rank of general are all insightful, experienced, and have a broad vision. If one hadn't grown up in this courtyard, upon hearing these words, one might have mistaken this courtyard for a harmonious and warm paradise.

As Liu Haizhong listened, the anxiety that had been hanging over him finally subsided.

If you don't mind, that's fine.

His tightly clenched hands quietly loosened, and a look of both restraint and barely concealed joy appeared on his face. "Boss, this..."

"Brother Zhao, you flatter me!" His voice still trembled slightly. "We're just an ordinary working family. But to be honest, this courtyard is quite nice." He paused, as if to steady his voice, "We're recognized as an advanced family every year; our courtyard is on the list in Nanluoguxiang."

Anyone could tell that his unease hadn't completely faded.

This is understandable—Zhao Mengyun's parents, sitting opposite her, are people who can afford to drive a jeep and have an entourage.

It was his rumoredly capable mother-in-law who first noticed his unease and gently took over the conversation: "My dear in-laws, there's no need to stand on ceremony. The children themselves are on the same wavelength, that's more important than anything else. We all think Guangqi is a good child. Now that we're family, there's no need to be so polite."

This address of "in-laws" is both affectionate and subtly sets the tone for the relationship between the two families.

Liu Haizhong's lips moved slightly as he listened, and after a long while he could only nod repeatedly, his words becoming incoherent: "Yes, yes...we're all family, we're all family..."

On the other side, seeing that his wife had already expressed her opinion, and being a soldier, Zhao's father didn't mince words. When he picked up the enamel mug, the room immediately fell silent.

Liu Haizhong and his wife unconsciously held their breath, their eyes following his every move.

Zhao's father calmly took a sip of water, and the bottom of the cup fell onto the table with a soft sound.

"Old Liu," he straightened his expression, "we're here today to say a few honest words about the two children."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Zhao Mengyun and Liu Guangqi, who were sitting side by side. The clear approval in his eyes eased half of the anxiety in Liu Haizhong's heart.

"I won't beat around the bush." ​​Zhao's father spoke slowly but clearly. "I've heard about Guangqi before, and I've met him—he's to my liking. He has a solid reputation in the Ministry of Machine Building, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, and the Ministry of Light Industry. He's hardworking, capable, and a man who can get things done."

"We know Xiaoyun's personality well. If she's set her mind on someone, she can't be wrong."

"We feel at ease leaving our daughter with him."

These words, though brief, carried great weight. It wasn't just approval, but a genuine affirmation. His attitude was clear—he accepted this son-in-law.

"Don't worry! Don't worry!" Liu Haizhong hurriedly replied, "Guangqi is so lucky to have a wife like Xiaoyun. We, the old couple, will absolutely treat Xiaoyun like our own daughter and won't let her suffer the slightest grievance."

The old man's eyes crinkled with laughter: "It's a blessing for the Liu family to have such an outstanding girl in the family."

Seeing the sincerity of the Liu family elders, Wu Shuang, the mother-in-law, also smiled faintly. She had just noticed clearly that when Zhao's father was speaking, Liu Haizhong had glanced at his son several times, his expression not that of someone making a decision, but rather that he was waiting for his son's opinion.

It seems that in this family, the father is in charge on the surface, but the one who actually makes the decisions is the quiet young man.

Now that her daughter is married, she no longer has to suffer mistreatment from her in-laws. With this in mind, she feels at ease.

Despite her decisive and efficient role in the military, at home she was simply a mother hoping for her daughter's well-being. She knew about Liu Guangqi's excellence earlier and understood it better than her husband did.

It is said that a mother-in-law grows happier and happier with her son-in-law the more she looks at him, even for someone like her who has experienced many ups and downs.

Just as her husband said, this young man is calm and composed, capable but not ostentatious, and has a long future ahead of him. What's most admirable is that his feelings for Xiaoyun are genuine and cannot be faked.

Thinking of this, Wu Shuang's smile deepened.

The teacup tilted slightly in her hand, and warm steam rose gently. She lowered her eyes and blew lightly on the water, her movements unhurried. Only after the foam had dissipated did she raise her eyes.

"Since there's nothing else to add, the marriage arrangements for the two children are settled today."

She paused slightly, then slowly turned her gaze to the young man opposite her.

"Guangqi, there are some things I need to say upfront. Xiaoyun's father and I are naturally satisfied with you, but—"

She gently placed the teacup back into the saucer, the porcelain striking each other with a crisp sound.

"If Xiaoyun suffers even the slightest injustice in the future, no matter what position you hold, I, as your mother, will be the first to not let you off easily."

The last sentence was spoken calmly, yet everyone present sensed its weight. It wasn't the rambling of an ordinary woman, but rather an unintentional revelation from someone who had long held a high position.

"mom--"

Zhao Mengyun's cheeks flushed slightly, and she said in a low voice, "Guangqi wouldn't do that."

Liu Guangqi had finally waited for this opportunity. He met his future mother-in-law's scrutinizing gaze and straightened his expression.

"Uncle and Aunt, please rest assured." He spoke each word clearly, "I guarantee with the rest of my life that I will never let Meng Yun suffer any injustice."

A moment of silence fell over the living room. Zhao's father and wife exchanged a glance, both showing approval. The marriage was now truly settled.

The tense atmosphere eased. Liu Haizhong, sitting next to him, secretly breathed a sigh of relief—he had been quite anxious before coming, after all, the Zhao family had a military background and a high social standing, and he was afraid there might be some trouble today. He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly, and that both in-laws were so understanding.

He felt relieved and started talking more.

"Brother Zhao, now that the marriage is settled, according to old customs, regarding the bride price..."

Liu Haizhong had already prepared himself mentally. Even if the other party asked for a high price, he would not flinch—he had to save face.

To everyone's surprise, Zhao's father smiled and waved his hand.

"Old Liu, this is a new society now. Those old customs should be simplified as much as possible. A bride price is just a token of goodwill, and it's enough to wish for good luck."

He turned to Liu Guangqi, his eyes filled with approval.

"I'll give you sixty-six yuan, for good luck."

Sixty-six?

Liu Haizhong froze, his hand holding the teacup hanging in mid-air, unable to recover for a long while. He wondered if he had misheard the number—not six hundred and sixty, but really only sixty-six?

As if reading his mind, Zhao's father continued, "I heard that Guangqi was allocated a house in a ministry. Let Mengyun take this money back to buy some new furniture and make our lives more comfortable. That's better than anything else. We don't care about those empty formalities."

After he finished speaking, not only Liu Haizhong, but also his wife beside him were stunned.

Is sixty-six yuan a lot? In this alley, it's certainly not a small amount. But what kind of family is the Zhao family? This amount is really nothing to them. Moreover, they didn't keep a single penny, letting their daughter take it all back—such sincerity and understanding are truly rare.

Liu Haizhong snapped out of his daze, his face flushed red, feeling both excited and at a loss.

"This...this won't do! It's too little, far too little!"

He was so anxious that he wanted to get up from the sofa, feeling that the amount was unfair to his in-laws.

"Old Liu," Zhao's mother spoke this time, her voice gentle yet carrying an unyielding tone, "the amount of the bride price doesn't matter. What matters is that the two children live happily together. Guangqi is promising, and Mengyun is sensible; their lives won't be bad. Isn't that what we parents hope for?"

The matter of the bride price was thus settled.

Then they talked about the wedding date. Zhao's mother seemed to have been prepared, calmly saying, "The sixth of next month is an auspicious day, suitable for marriage."

"Mom—" Zhao Mengyun's ears turned red again, feeling that her mother was in a hurry to marry her off.

That's certainly true. The couple are stationed in the military year-round, and with the current situation, they're even more tied up. Only when their daughter is married can she truly feel at ease.

With everything settled, the two families shared a simple meal. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and conversation, the earlier subtle tension completely dissipated. Dusk was falling outside the window, bathing the room in a warm glow.

Dusk was falling, and it was getting late.

Zhao's father glanced out the window, then stood up. "Old Liu, it's getting late; we need to get back to the camp. Let's settle the children's matter here."

"If you need any help in the future, please let us know."

Liu Haizhong and his wife hurriedly got up to try and persuade him to stay.

Mr. Zhao smiled and waved his hand, saying, "There are rules in the team. Maybe next time. I'll definitely come and have a good drink with you next time I have a holiday."

His tone was gentle, yet it carried an unyielding air.

The crowd escorted Zhao's parents to the gate of the courtyard.

The neighbors who had been craning their necks and waiting for a long time in the courtyard had not yet dispersed.

Upon seeing Liu Haizhong emerge with a radiant face, chatting and laughing with his in-laws, everyone's eyes widened in astonishment.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment, then a hushed murmur arose.

"That's it? Wow, that was fast!"

"Look how happy Uncle Er is, his wrinkles have turned into deep furrows from laughing."

"Who said the Liu family was marrying up to someone of higher social standing? Look at them now..."

"Their in-laws, with their air of authority, are clearly not ordinary people, yet they are so easygoing."

"It's not that he's easygoing, it's that Guangqi is such a promising kid!"

This capable future mother-in-law has left.

No one expected that today's meeting between the two families would proceed so smoothly.

Seeing Zhao's father's demeanor earlier, everyone thought that the Liu family would not be able to get close to him this time, but they did not expect him to be so reasonable.

People of that status are so easy to get along with.

In an instant, a wave of envy for the Liu family welled up in the hearts of every household in the courtyard.

Of course, Liu Guangqi was unaware of all this.

At this moment, he and Zhao Mengyun were strolling leisurely outside.

Zhao's father and mother-in-law, Wu Shuang, were returning to their unit, so they didn't let Zhao Mengyun leave with them, but instead asked the young people to spend more time together.

On this rare day off, I didn't want to disturb their time together.

Only Zhao Mengsheng, that kid, kept wanting to go with his brother-in-law, but unfortunately his parents took him back without explanation.

Outside Nanluoguxiang, Liu Guangqi pushed his bicycle and walked slowly side by side with Zhao Mengyun.

"The sixth of next month—" Liu Guangqi suddenly smiled, "How about it? Aren't you getting excited?"

"Dream on! What do I have to hope for?"

Zhao Mengyun smiled, but still honestly said, "I have mixed feelings; I'm both looking forward to it and happy."

She looked up, her eyes sparkling: "And you?"

"I plan to go to my workplace tomorrow to submit my marriage application and get the paperwork done as soon as possible."

Liu Guangqi answered decisively.

These words warmed Zhao Mengyun's heart.