Silly Zhu grinned smugly. "There's hope!"
Then his face darkened again. "Tell me, Qin Huairu, are you really stupid or just pretending? I'm on a blind date, and you call me Silly Zhu right to her face? Couldn't you call me He Yuzhu? And Xu Damao—I'm dealing with him tonight!"
Qin Huairu snorted. "You are Silly Zhu. Why can't people call you that?"
"Enough, stop talking. Can you do me a favor tomorrow?"
"What favor?"
"My place is too messy. Help me straighten it up. Liu Liping might come tomorrow."
He Yushui hardly ever helped her brother clean up his room.
Ever since Jia Dongxu died, Qin Huairu had occasionally helped Silly Zhu tidy up his room in the afternoons, as thanks for all the help he had given her.
That was why Silly Zhu had asked her for help.
The moment Qin Huairu heard that, her expression immediately brightened. She smiled. "Don't worry. I won't hold up your plans."
The next day, the moment work ended, Silly Zhu rushed home.
As soon as he entered, he saw that the room was still a complete mess. The bedding had not been folded, and the clothes had not been washed.
He could not help frowning. "Where did Qin Huairu go? This is what she calls helping? Fine! I'll have to rely on myself!"
While Silly Zhu was cleaning up, Liu Liping arrived at the courtyard carrying two packets of pastries.
"He Yuzhu, are you home?"
Hearing her voice, Silly Zhu hurried outside. "Oh! Y-you're here? Hey, why did you bring gifts?"
"I wanted to visit the Deaf Old Lady you mentioned."
Silly Zhu immediately gave her a thumbs-up. "That's very thoughtful. Let's go right away!"
Silly Zhu deliberately raised his voice a little, wanting to remind Qin Huairu: I'm taking Liu Liping to the rear courtyard first. Hurry over and help clean up the room.
Qin Huairu came out smiling, carrying an empty basin. "Oh, you're already here?"
Liu Liping smiled politely. "Yes, Sister Qin."
Qin Huairu smiled helplessly. "Sigh! You know, Silly Zhu just needs someone to take care of him. He doesn't even know how to put things away at home. I wash his clothes and fold his bedding every day. What can I do? I'm like his older sister!"
As she spoke, she went into the room first, took Silly Zhu's clothes out of the washbasin, and deliberately placed his underwear right on top.
Silly Zhu's face immediately darkened.
Though the smile on Liu Liping's face did not change, she already understood the situation.
A pretty widow was washing clothes for a strong bachelor in his twenties, even displaying his underwear for all to see. Wasn't that clearly driving her away?
She had already lost interest in visiting the Deaf Old Lady in the rear courtyard, but she could only force herself to go through the motions.
Liu Liping sat in the rear courtyard for several minutes, asked about the Deaf Old Lady's health, and chatted about the neighborhood's everyday gossip.
She learned that Qin Huairu's husband had just died, that Jia Zhangshi was a fierce and unreasonable woman, and that only Silly Zhu in the entire courtyard had no qualms about helping the Jia family.
But no matter how much the Deaf Old Lady praised Silly Zhu for his kind heart, Liu Liping was no longer interested. This match was as good as over.
Silly Zhu still did not know what was happening and was about to start preparing dinner.
Liu Liping stood up. "No, I have something to do tonight. I only came because I found some spare time. Old Lady, I'll come visit you again when I have time."
The Deaf Old Lady said happily, "Good, good!"
After leaving, Liu Liping said to Silly Zhu, "Comrade He Yuzhu, please don't see me out. I'm going to the front courtyard to find Lou Xiao'e. Aunt Liu asked me to bring her something."
"Just give it to me. I'll deliver it to her."
"No need, Comrade. I'll go myself."
That one sentence left Silly Zhu dumbfounded. Liu Liping had already turned past the corner of the house before he scratched his head and muttered, "What does that mean? Is this falling through?"
"Silly Zhu, what happened?" the Deaf Old Lady hurriedly asked.
Silly Zhu told her everything that had just happened. The Deaf Old Lady pursed her lips in anger. "Sigh! You! You! Can't you clean up your own room?"
"How would a grown man like me know how to clean? I'm a cook—I only know how to deal with pots, bowls, ladles, and basins!"
The Deaf Old Lady snorted and said nothing. Silly Zhu sighed and could only return home in disappointment.
In the front courtyard, Liu Liping handed a form to Lou Xiao'e.
"Sister Xiao'e, you forgot to take this form. Aunt Liu asked me to bring it over."
"Oh, I was just about to go back and get it. I need to fill it out tonight. Thanks, Liping."
"It's nothing. I'll be going now."
"Why didn't you have dinner at He Yuzhu's place?"
Liu Liping smiled openly. "Ah, Aunt Liu didn't investigate clearly enough. He Yuzhu already has someone suitable for him. There's even someone at home making his bed, folding his bedding, washing his clothes, and scrubbing his dishes. I was unnecessary on this visit and made a fool of myself."
The moment Lin Zhen heard that, he knew it was Qin Huairu's handiwork.
He smiled. "There's nothing foolish about it. Even if there is, the fool isn't you."
Liu Liping smiled modestly in thanks. "By the way, I heard Aunt Liu say that if this one still doesn't work out, then the task of introducing partners to people in this courtyard will be handed over to you, Sister Xiao'e. After all, you know everyone's circumstances well, so it'll be easier to make matches."
Lou Xiao'e smiled. "Since it's an assignment, I'll take it. But He Yuzhu really is difficult to handle."
After Liu Liping left, Lou Xiao'e frowned. "Being a matchmaker really isn't easy. Do I really have to introduce someone to Liu Guangtian?"
Lin Zhen said, "Don't even think about it. Have you forgotten about Liu Haizhong going to your family's old house in the middle of the night? If Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu have the ability, they can find someone themselves. If not, they can stay bachelors."
"It's precisely because I haven't forgotten that I feel this job is hard. I don't want to introduce someone to him, but I'm afraid I won't complete the assignment."
Seeing her concerns, Lin Zhen smiled. "Aunt Liu has already washed her hands of this courtyard. Just do enough to keep up appearances. If the higher-ups ask, say those two are too picky."
Lou Xiao'e nodded. "Exactly. If Silly Zhu hasn't turned down thirty matches, he's turned down at least twenty-five!"
"That's why he should stay single!"
After leaving the Siheyuan, Liu Liping had just turned into the alley when she ran into Xu Damao head-on.
Xu Damao hurriedly slammed on his bicycle brakes.
With a broad smile, he said, "You must be little sister Liu Liping, right?"
Liu Liping did not have much impression of Xu Damao. "You are?"
"I'm from the Siheyuan, Silly Zhu's neighbor. We met yesterday morning."
"Oh, hello. Is there something you need?"
"No, no. I just wanted to say hello. I heard you're an inspector at the Thermos Factory?"
"Yes."
"That's great. I have an assignment tomorrow afternoon to show a movie at your Thermos Factory. Come watch it—I'll save you the best seat."
Liu Liping smiled. "All right, thank you. I'll bring my sisters along tomorrow."
Xu Damao was delighted. "Don't be so formal. Just call me Damao. Tomorrow afternoon at six—remember to come!"
Watching Liu Liping's figure slowly disappear, Xu Damao regretted marrying Qin Jingru too early.
Other than being young and pretty, Qin Jingru had nothing. No education, and no common language between them.
Especially since they had been married for over three months, yet there had been no sign of a pregnancy.
After meeting Liu Liping, Xu Damao regretted even more that he had married so rashly.
Liu Liping was educated, had a job, and was pretty. No matter how he looked at it, she was better than Qin Jingru.
Most importantly, she could ruin Silly Zhu's chances.
Xu Damao did not yet know that Qin Huairu had already ruined Silly Zhu's chances. As he plotted to himself, he gave a cold smile and returned to the Siheyuan.
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