Chapter 101 Stop just having fun!

"Hey, Engineer Zhao, where did you bring this young lady back from?"

"Could it be that you're getting married?" Madam Jia asked first.

"Old Jia, don't talk nonsense here!"

I, Lao Zhao, am a married man. This is my cousin from the countryside!

"Cousin? That would be like a marriage between relatives!" Madam Jia teased with a smile.

"Go away, go away, there's no point in arguing with you."

I still need to go to the backyard to talk to the old lady about important matters.

Zhao Yonghe waved his hands repeatedly at Jia Zhangshi, wanting only to get away as soon as possible.

"Is she really not your new wife?"

The other women in the front yard also came over to ask questions.

"This is my cousin, my real cousin!"

Zhao Yonghe had no choice but to repeat the explanation over and over again.

Old Zhao simply couldn't argue with this group of enthusiastic and joking women.

He quickly led the girl towards the central courtyard.

Then, Chen Shuxiang and Li Guihua surrounded him again.

They questioned him thoroughly and meticulously for quite some time.

The young woman who followed him in remained silent throughout.

Her cheeks, however, were as red as ripe apples.

Zhao Yonghe spent a lot of time explaining,

He finally managed to explain his purpose.

So Chen Shuxiang led the two of them...

They walked together towards the old lady's residence in the backyard.

Fortunately, Zhao Yecui is currently at home resting and taking care of her pregnancy.

No one came out to join the fun.

Otherwise, they would probably have to endure another round of detailed questioning.

They came to see the old lady.

Actually, it was for one thing—to rent a house.

For short-term rental only, one side room is sufficient.

The houses in the front yard were already fully occupied.

There is really no spare space.

The only option is to arrange it in the Intermediate People's Court.

The old lady did not agree immediately.

Instead, he looked at the girl and asked first:

"Young lady, where are you from?"

My cousin is from Shanxi.

Fearing the girl might say something wrong, Zhao Yonghe quickly answered for her.

"I wasn't asking you, Zhao boy."

Let the girl speak for herself.

The old lady waved her hand, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Auntie, you're a scoundrel from Shantou!"

The young woman probably thought the old lady had a kind and friendly face.

Unable to hold back, I blurted out a phrase from my hometown dialect.

As soon as she said this, the old lady's brows furrowed slightly.

She's experienced so much in her life, how could she not tell?

This accent doesn't sound like Shanxi dialect at all; it sounds more like the accent from Shaanxi.

"Your accent doesn't sound like it's from Shanxi."

"Sounds like someone from Shaanxi, doesn't it?"

The old lady looked at Zhao Yonghe and asked with a faint smile.

On Zhao Yonghe's forehead,

A fine layer of sweat immediately appeared.

Chen Shuxiang quietly moved a few steps closer to the old lady.

He also secretly became more vigilant.

That area in Shaanxi was Communist territory.

This matter cannot be taken lightly.

"Yes, I'm from Shanxi. My home is in Fenglingdu."

That place is right next to Shaanxi, so the accents are inevitably somewhat similar.

Zhao Yonghe hurriedly offered an explanation.

"Who else is in the girl's family?"

What exactly is their relationship with the Zhao family's son?

The old lady continued to ask questions at a leisurely pace.

"There's no one else at home; he's my cousin."

The young woman answered softly in somewhat broken Mandarin.

The old lady said nothing more, but simply gazed quietly at the young woman before her.

"He is indeed handsome and well-proportioned."

What are your plans in coming to Beijing?

"I found a marriage for my cousin."

After the New Year, we'll send her there to get married.

Zhao Yonghe couldn't resist answering first once again.

"Young man from the Zhao family, I don't think I asked you any questions just now."

If you continue to answer for her like this...

Then we need not discuss this matter any further.

The old lady's tone was very calm, yet it conveyed an undeniable air of authority.

"Yes, yes, you're right, ma'am. I was being presumptuous."

Zhao Yonghe quickly agreed and dared not say another word.

He wasn't actually unable to find another place to settle people.

But after thinking it over, I still felt that this courtyard house was the safest option.

Especially the families living in the middle and back courtyards,

He had been secretly observing for a long time.

Of course, Yi Zhonghai's family is excluded.

The way Yi Zhonghai looked at him

It always seemed as if they wanted to devour him alive, their intentions full of hostility.

Fortunately, they were only staying for a few days and wouldn't stay long.

Moreover, the girl beside him,

After this brief time together, he was well aware that she was no ordinary woman.

He was someone who had truly fought the Japanese to the death.

Only after entering Beijing did he deliberately conceal his sharpness and brilliance.

When he first saw her, he could hardly believe it.

Such a spirited and decisive person is actually a young woman who is not yet married.

"Girl, tell me yourself."

What exactly are you planning to do in the city?

The old lady once again posed the question to Wang Qiuping.

"Get married." Her answer was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

"Where does your in-laws live?"

"Tianjin." The young woman glanced at Zhao Yonghe discreetly.

Seeing that he nodded slightly in acknowledgment, she then answered softly.

"Young man from the Zhao family, since you're a local from Beijing..."

Not arranging a marriage for the girl with someone close by would make it easier for them to take care of each other in the future.

Why did you end up recommending a place as far away as Tianjin?

The old lady turned her head and her gaze fell heavily on Zhao Yonghe.

At this moment, Zhao Yonghe's heart was filled with...

He even felt a little regretful for bringing the person to this courtyard house.

This old lady is very perceptive and shrewd; she is not easily fooled.

"Grandma, the man I'm marrying is a brother I've been through thick and thin with."

I have absolute faith in his character and integrity.

Zhao Yonghe carefully chose his words and answered cautiously.

The old lady gave Zhao Yonghe a deep look.

This kid looks refined and scholarly.

But the old lady knew from the first moment she saw him that he was no ordinary person.

As for his specific identity and background,

The old lady was unwilling to delve any further into the matter.

As long as you don't cause trouble for this courtyard, that's enough.

"Alright, Grandma, I'll trust you this time."

"Thank you for your understanding, ma'am. As for the rental..."

Zhao Yonghe tentatively asked.

"No rush. Young lady, what's your name? How old are you?"

The old lady then turned her gaze to Wang Qiuping.

"Auntie, my name is Wang Qiuping, and I am twenty-one years old."

"Twenty-one? How come you're only starting to talk about getting engaged at this age?"

"In previous years, the Japanese were extremely aggressive, waging wars everywhere and causing widespread suffering."

The wedding was thus delayed indefinitely.

Wang Qiuping's words were half truth and half deliberate concealment.

"Oh, I see. Alright, Shuxiang,"

Take her to clean up the west wing of the central courtyard.

"Young Master Zhao, please stay. I have a few more words to say to you privately."

As the old lady spoke, she pulled out a bunch of keys from under the cabinet next to the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Grandma, why don't we talk over at my place?"

Should I call Zhu Zi over to keep you company?

Chen Shuxiang took the keys, but she was still a little worried.

"No need. What can that Zhao kid do to an old woman like me?"

The old lady tapped her cane lightly on the ground.

"No, absolutely not, the old lady is joking."

Zhao Yonghe readily agreed.

Seeing that the old lady's attitude was very firm, Chen Shuxiang

He then pulled Wang Qiuping and turned to walk out of the room.

She walked and laughed as she spoke:

"The Wang family's daughter is truly beautiful."

I wonder which young man in Tianjin will get lucky and marry into this family.

"Sister-in-law He, that person... I still haven't met him."

At this moment, Wang Qiuping revealed a shy demeanor unique to young women.

You still need to practice your Mandarin.

"I can no longer casually speak my old hometown dialect."

Chen Shuxiang lowered her voice and carefully reminded her.

"Understood, thank you for the reminder, Sister-in-law He."

"Stop calling me 'sister-in-law' all the time."

My husband's family name is He, and my maternal family name is Chen.

You can call me Sister-in-law He, or Sister Chen, it's fine either way.

"Then I'll call you Sister-in-law He."

Wang Qiuping readily agreed.

Speaking of the men in this courtyard house

It's really unfortunate that none of them are home today.

Old Jia went out to buy grain.

He Daqing went out to prepare a banquet for someone.

Yi Zhonghai was busy with something and was nowhere to be seen.

Xu Wangcai is still working at the shop and hasn't taken a day off.

He can only rest after the boss finishes his work and lets him come back.

As for the others in the front yard, they were all busy with their own things.

He was either out doing odd jobs to earn money or going out to chop firewood and do housework.

Upon arriving at the Intermediate People's Court, Chen Shuxiang immediately raised her voice and shouted.

"Zhu Zi, stop playing around!"

"Have Damao watch over your sister. You go to the old lady's place in the backyard."

"Okay, Mother!"

He Yuzhu was playing with He Yushui on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Hearing this, he gently pinched his little sister's chubby cheeks.

He reached out and placed her in Xu Damao's arms, who was sitting to the side.

"Keep an eye on our girl, and be a good girl."

Otherwise, when I get back, I'll give you a good beating.

"Got it, Brother Zhu."

Xu Damao quickly and obediently agreed.

He Yuzhu jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed).

He Yushui's little mouth immediately pursed up, looking like she was about to cry.

Xu Damao quickly picked up the toy beside him and bent down to try and make her happy.

He Yuzhu went out the door,

Upon seeing the young woman standing next to her mother, she froze on the spot.

He couldn't help but ponder it to himself:

"Why does this person look so familiar?"

That big-mouthed guy, isn't he a movie star from my past life...?

Who was that again?

"What are you daydreaming about? This is your Aunt Wang, Wang Qiuping."

"Hurry up and call for help!"

Seeing her son standing there in a daze, Chen Shuxiang quickly urged him on.

"Aunt Wang? Wang Qiuping?"

He Yuzhu muttered something under his breath.

"How did she end up in our courtyard house?"

The plot isn't unfolding the way I expected.

"You brat, what are you staring at that girl for?"

"Hurry up and call for help!"

Chen Shuxiang saw that her son was still in a daze.

She reached out and gently patted the back of his neck.