I am Jia Dongjin in the Siheyuan (Courtyard House)

Chapter 52 Restlessness

The restlessness of the young people in courtyard No. 95 was finally ignited by Wang the matchmaker. He Yuzhu was the first to act. He stopped Wang the matchmaker who was about to leave and pulled her back into the courtyard.

"My name is He Yuzhu. I'm 24 years old. I'm a level 22 chef at a steel rolling mill. My monthly salary is 5 yuan. I have two private rooms, so I don't have to worry about food or drink. I only have one younger sister who is in junior high school. I have over 100 yuan in savings."

The chef is lucrative, and He Yuzhu is a good one, a real meat bun. It tastes delicious to a young lady, and Matchmaker Wang's face lit up.

Pretty girls are a valuable resource, but those in the matchmaking business know that outstanding young men are an even more valuable resource, and they are often snapped up by girls and mothers-in-law as soon as they are interviewed.

She quickly pulled out her notebook and began jotting down important information. "You're a good catch, what kind of person are you looking for?"

"I want to find a beautiful woman, someone who is somewhat cultured, gentle, virtuous, and good at managing a household. Ideally, she should be able to give me a son, as our He family has had only one son for three generations."

"Alright, Auntie will do her best. As a thank you gift, there will be a two-dollar thank you for the matchmaking after the matter is settled."

Matchmaker Wang put on a smile, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. This man doesn't know what's good for him. He doesn't even know what he looks like. He's just another hothead who wants to eat swan meat.

"Okay, thank you, Aunt Wang."

He Yuzhu opened the cupboard, took out the only piece of pork in the cupboard, wrapped it up, and handed it to Wang the matchmaker.

He Yuzhu was generous, which made Wang the matchmaker look at him with more respect. Her expression was no longer as friendly as before, and she asked a few more questions, advising He Yuzhu to lower his demands.

"He Yuzhu, this auntie is just telling the truth. The old lady also said that we should be realistic and practical in life. Pretty girls are beautiful, but if everything is as good as you say, they also want to find a good man, right? For example, cadres are prestigious and respectable, and they earn high salaries."

He Yuzhu understood the principle that matchmakers should not be offended. He scratched his head and looked troubled: "Then let's find one who is beautiful, gentle and virtuous."

After much deliberation, He Yuzhu gave up his education and his desire to have a son, but he was determined to find a beautiful girl.

The new requirements are easier to meet than before, making it much easier to keep the matchmaker. Matchmaker Wang had just met Jia Dongjin, that lecherous little scoundrel, and now another one has appeared. Sure enough, men are all lecherous until they die; there isn't a single good one.

While secretly chuckling to herself, Wang the matchmaker already had a vague idea of ​​her target in mind, but she still needed to go back and carefully consider it.

No sooner had Wang the matchmaker left the He family in the middle courtyard than she was snatched away by the second aunt who had been waiting outside. The Yan family's status had fallen to the dust. The former third aunt, Yang Ruihua, dared not compete with her and could only return to the front courtyard to continue waiting.

Director Wang of the neighborhood office dismissed the two uncles, but whether intentionally or unintentionally, he did not appoint Liu Haizhong as the new uncle, which made the Liu family a little embarrassed. The people in the courtyard were happy not to change the title, so as not to embarrass the Yi and Yan families.

At this time, the Liu family held a dominant position in the courtyard. Even though the second aunt arrived late, the original third aunt, Yang Ruihua, did not dare to compete with her for a place. This shows the importance of status, which can be reflected in all aspects of life and give priority to accessing high-quality resources.

Even when delivering a bowl of rice, Jia Zhangshi dared not neglect Liu Haizhong, lest she unknowingly offend him. This demonstrates the importance of status, and even Jia Dongjin had no objection.

To put it in modern terms, once you become powerful, everyone around you becomes a good person, and everything around you is good; bad things just avoid you.

After Yi Zhonghai and Yan Fugui stepped down, Liu Haizhong became the only steward of the courtyard house. His status became prominent, and even the matchmakers looked up to him.

"Oh, from Old Yan's family, wait a moment, let me talk to Guangqi's mother first, we'll take it one at a time, this isn't urgent."

Business was booming, and Wang the matchmaker couldn't stop smiling. She held the meat that He Yuzhu had given her and raised her pinky finger gracefully.

Yang Ruihua, the third aunt, waited anxiously in the front yard. She waited until the flowers were almost withered before Wang the matchmaker finally appeared.

"I'm so sorry, I just left the Liu family's place and the Xu family in the backyard stopped me again. They insisted on saying something to me, and I didn't expect it to take so long. I'm really sorry. You're talking to the eldest son, right? I remember he's not very old."

Matchmaker Wang spoke eloquently, but Yang Ruihua, the third aunt, understood the underlying meaning: the Yan family's reputation was ruined, and even matchmakers looked down on them.

She hurriedly smiled wryly and said, "My daughter Jiecheng is 20 now, which is only in the last two years. She's currently contacting agricultural machinery factories for jobs, so finding someone sooner rather than later gives her more options. Our Yan family is a scholarly family with a clean and upright family tradition. Jiecheng is a good-looking girl, so we just need to find someone suitable for her. We're not a picky family, and we promise to treat the girl well."

"Okay, tell me what kind of person you're looking for, and I'll do my best."

Unable to beat customers without cause, Matchmaker Wang forced a smile.

The Jia family made a fortune of 500 yuan. With the addition and subtraction, the Yan family lost 300 yuan, and their wealth is probably gone. Yan Fugui's salary reduction is a hot topic, and Wang the matchmaker knows it all.

Seeing that the Yan family was almost starving, yet still dared to admire a fine young woman, what blind girl would jump into the fire pit of the Yan family? Matchmaker Wang was very worried about her own safety, fearing that the girl's mother would kick her out of the house with a broom.

"Sister, I want to go home."

The city is full of traps, and the young girl wants to go back to the countryside.

"Staying here a little longer will save the family some food, which is also a contribution to the family."

Qin Huairu rejected her sister's suggestion without even looking up.

Jia Dongjin's search for a partner was unstoppable, and Qin Jingru was heartbroken. After waking up from the dream, she made up an excuse, saying that she wanted to go home to rest and recuperate for a while.

Unfortunately, Xiao Dang was too young, and Jia Zhangshi couldn't take care of her alone. Out of respect for her cousin Qin Huairu, Qin Jingru could only try her best to stick to her job as a nanny.

These days, having multiple female leads results in being charged with hooliganism, with the lowest punishment being exile to the Northwest for hard labor, and the highest being being shot and forced to eat peanuts.

Jia Dongjin had the desire, but not the courage. He even kept his distance from He Yushui, let alone Qin Jingru.

After learning the reason from Jia Zhangshi, he privately informed Qin Huairu that he would do his best to introduce Qin Jingru to potential partners in the future, which barely made the atmosphere less awkward.

"Sis, what are you doing?"

Listen to advice and you'll eat your fill. Qin Jingru was a typical young girl in love, her mind already hazy and confused. After being talked to, she accepted her fate and regained 90% of her normal thinking.

After finishing making her new clothes for the New Year, Qin Huairu picked out a few pieces from the leftover scraps and was now concentrating on sewing and assembling them.

When her younger sister asked, Qin Huairu complained, "You and your mother-in-law are both rough and careless. The bicycle seat has been worn out for a long time, and the springs are showing. Dongjin's pants are all worn out, and you don't even care. I'm thinking of making a cloth cover for the bicycle seat so that it won't wear out the pants and it will be more comfortable to sit on. It's almost finished."

"It's true, Brother Dongjin's pants are torn in the crotch."

Qin Jingru slapped her forehead, revealing her girlish nature.

"Sister-in-law, you have to go to work soon. You should learn to ride a bicycle. It will be more convenient for you to go home at noon."

Outside, Jia Dongjin's voice rang out.

When the baby is just over a month old, he can't eat solid food or drink milk, so he has to drink formula. At this time, formula is a scarce resource, which is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Qin Huairu could only squeeze out a small bowl of milk before leaving for work, and then feed it again at noon, just to barely meet Xiao Dang's needs.

This has led to a demand for driving lessons.

"Jingru, let's go learn to ride a bicycle together, and we can try out the seat covers."

In the alley outside the courtyard gate, the Qin sisters were frantically learning to drive. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, Jia Dongjin simply stood by as their instructor and security guard.

Qin Jingru has grown into a young woman. Her behavior that day was witnessed by Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongjin. Jia Zhangshi has already given her youngest son a clear warning.

At this time, fame was paramount, and Qin Jingru was at the age of youthful infatuation, so Jia Dongjin dared not approach her; he could only observe from afar.

"One of you learns, and the other holds you from behind. Keep your eyes on the front, not the sides. Just hold on tight from behind. Riding a bicycle is actually very simple. Once you learn, it's hard to fall."

Watching his progress in learning to drive, Jia Dongjin sat on the threshold of the courtyard gate. He nodded in satisfaction and encouraged loudly, "Now you can ride a little faster. Sister-in-law, you're not as good as your sister. Look how fast she learns."

In this era, conservatism was paramount, so Jia Dongjin simply didn't even call him by his name, only referring to him by his courtesy name.

Encouraged, Qin Jingru forged ahead with even greater vigor, while Qin Huairu, unable to keep up, was forced to let go.

Qin Jingru was riding happily when she turned around and realized that she was getting further and further away from her sister and had lost her protection. The little girl panicked and, in her haste, her bicycle wobbled and crashed into a pedestrian in front of her.

"Oh dear, how are you riding your bike?!"

The young man who was hit screamed in pain.

Upon seeing the identity of the person who was hit, Jia Dongjin was startled, realizing he had gotten himself into trouble.

"This is bad!"