It took a while for Xu Da Mao to understand the inside story, and he was stunned.
“There's no one who does things like Li Wu Wei, right? He stole Jia Dong Xu's girl, and now he wants to steal the guests at his wedding.
If the whole courtyard celebrates with Li Wu Wei, wouldn't the Jia family be unable to invite anyone?”
Xu Da Mao felt his morality crumbling. At the very least, people should have a conscience.
“Da Mao, stop whining here, quickly wash the vegetables. Your dad will be back for dinner soon.”
Xu Mu shoved the basket of vegetables into her son’s hand. It’s Jia Dong Xu’s misfortune, what does it have to do with you?
“Oh, okay!”
Xu Da Mao quickly went to wash the vegetables. He had to please his mother, so she could find him a wife.
…
In the middle courtyard, at the He family’s.
Li Wu Wei had arrived. He saw He Da Qing sitting there drinking alone, with not even a dish of peanuts on the table.
“Oh, having a drink.”
He Da Qing looked up, his brow furrowed. “Li Wu Wei, what are you doing here, coming to laugh at me?”
He Da Qing was at a low point in his life. After the widow Bai He Hua left, he was hit with bad luck after bad luck. He still hadn’t found a job.
He relied on Sha Zhu’s small salary to support three people, and Yu Shui was still in school.
He was spending his savings every day. If things continued like this, he would eventually be broke. How would he ever get a wife?
“Don’t say that. I’m getting married tomorrow, and I’m here to deliver an invitation to you, Uncle He.”
Li Wu Wei extended the invitation. This was a joyous occasion, and he needed someone to help out, so his attitude had to be a little better.
“You’re calling me Uncle?”
He Da Qing was a bit confused after receiving the invitation. “The Jia family already invited me. I can’t go to your place.”
“Really can’t go?”
Li Wu Wei had already bragged about it to Yan Bu Gui. He felt that he had helped He Da Qing before, so he should be able to convince him.
“I really can’t go. The Jia family’s invitation came first, and you’re too late.”
He Da Qing was still angry. At the entrance of Feng Ze Yuan, he had been put down quite badly.
“Uncle He, you have to go to my place tomorrow. You also have to bring Sha Zhu, and he’ll have to help me cook for free.”
Li Wu Wei sat down and pulled out a cigarette, offering one to him.
“Li Wu Wei, are you trying to threaten me with the bun business? I’ve said it before, our family was just helping someone sell buns, we weren’t merchants.”
He Da Qing’s face was ugly, but he still took the cigarette and lit it. To save money, he hadn’t even bought cigarettes recently.
Li Wu Wei shook his head. “It’s not about the buns. I saw your long-lost brother. A real brother. He looks exactly like you.”
“What? I have a brother? I don’t know anything about this.”
He Da Qing was completely baffled. He was lying through his teeth just to get him to help cook?
“Don’t believe me? The other day, after I ate at Feng Ze Yuan, I took a walk to the front gate of the street.
I saw a guy pulling a tricycle, and he looked exactly like you. Don’t tell me he’s your brother, even if you said they were twins, people would believe it.”
Li Wu Wei paused for a moment before continuing. “Help me with the wedding, and I’ll help you find your brother.”
“Are you serious? You’re not lying?”
He Da Qing carefully recalled. His He family had a widow lineage. His father had run away with a widow. Did he really have a half-brother?
“Do you think I would lie to you about something like this? Aren’t you looking for a job? There are lots of opportunities on the front gate street, with high wages.
Find your brother, and let him help you find a job. That would be great. You’ll have more family members in the He family, and you won’t be bullied by anyone.
Besides, you’re the eldest of the He family. You have an obligation to let your brother find his roots.”
Li Wu Wei took a drag of his cigarette. If He Da Qing still didn’t agree, he had other tricks. He just didn’t want to make things too ugly on his big day.
“Okay, I’ll help you for free, but you have to tell everyone I got paid five yuan. You also have to help me find my brother.”
He Da Qing thought that this kid was a bit rude, but what he said did make sense.
“No problem, remember to bring your gift money. After dinner, I’ll call Third Master, you, and Sha Zhu over to my place to discuss the wedding arrangements. We’ll have some peanuts and half a cup of wine, our family isn’t short of that.”
Seeing that the deal was done, Li Wu Wei didn’t stay long.
As soon as he went out, he happened to run into Sha Zhu, who was returning home.
“Li Wu Wei, what are you doing at my house?”
Sha Zhu couldn’t stand this guy. He bullied Qin Jie too much.
“You’ll know later.”
Li Wu Wei didn’t chat with Sha Zhu. Sha Zhu’s current cooking skills weren’t good enough to handle a banquet by himself.
“You punk!”
Sha Zhu spat out a curse. After returning home, he saw his father smoking. He wanted a cigarette, but he was afraid of getting beaten.
“Dad, what was Li Wu Wei doing at our house?”
“Oh, he’s getting married tomorrow and is having a wedding banquet. He asked me to help and gave me five yuan.”
He Da Qing casually answered, refusing to lose face, pretending to have received the money.
“He’s having a wedding banquet? What’s going on? How could he have the money?”
Sha Zhu didn’t think that guy treated Qin Jie well. He was confused for a moment.
Li Wu Wei had originally gone to the front courtyard to tell Yan Bu Gui about the situation, but he didn’t see him. Instead, he waited for his wife.
“Brother, you came to pick me up?”
Qin Huai Ru was overjoyed to see her husband as soon as she entered the courtyard.
“Yes, I just finished up, and I was about to come pick you up. Come on, let’s go home. I’ll tell you about it on the way.”
It was perfect. He took his wife home.
Once they got to the kitchen, Qin Huai Ru started making noodles and cooking. Li Wu Wei sat on a small stool, watching her busy herself. He occasionally messed with her, adding a bit of fun to their life.
“Brother, stop messing around. It’s later for you. I’m making dinner.”
Qin Huai Ru turned around and gave him a resentful look.
“Okay!”
Li Wu Wei quieted down and got down to business. “Huai Ru, there’s something special about our wedding. It’s like this…”
He immediately told her about the crowdfunded wedding, settling things at home first. He had to make sure Qin Huai Ru understood the process, so she wouldn’t accidentally reveal their wealth.
“Ah!”
Qin Huai Ru was stunned. This surprise came too suddenly. Could they have a wedding like this?
“Stop saying ‘ah’. If others hear you, it won’t be good.
Later, you can make more peanuts. I’ll invite Third Master and the He family father and son over to discuss the arrangements for the wedding tomorrow. We’ll have some peanuts and half a cup of wine. Our family isn’t short of that.”
Li Wu Wei had already figured out the process. He had to fight a tough battle tomorrow. He had to compete with the Jia family, just like two restaurants having wedding banquets, the one with fewer guests would be embarrassed.