My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 192: Helping Qin Huairu Get Her Vegetables

Soon, everyone's glasses were filled.

He Daqing raised his glass, looked at everyone, and said sincerely, "Everyone, I, He Daqing, have been away for nearly eight years. Thank you all for taking care of Sha Zhu and his sister. This glass is for you all."

Everyone raised their glasses and said politely, "Old He, you're too kind. As elders, this is what we should do."

Everyone agreed in unison, and soon they had drunk three cups in a row.

He Daqing's three opening drinks immediately enlivened the atmosphere at the table.

Seeing an opportunity to shine, Xu Damao immediately raised his glass, beaming, and said, "Uncle He, I'd like to take this opportunity to say a few words. Before you were here, Uncle He, that old bastard Yi Zhonghai was causing trouble all over our courtyard. You took care of him as soon as you arrived. I, Xu Damao, admire you! Let me offer you three toasts!"

Hearing Xu Damao's words, He Daqing's face lit up with joy, and he laughed loudly, "Good, good, good! Damao, I've known you've always been capable. These three cups are on me!"

Zhang Lei picked up a piece of food and tasted it. He had to admit that He Daqing's cooking skills were indeed much better than Sha Zhu's; the cooking time and flavor were more refined.

He glanced at Yan Fugui, who was only focused on eating, and said with a smile, "Third Uncle, don't just eat, have some wine too. The wine Xu Damao brought is pretty good."

Yan Fugui chewed his food and replied with a smile, "I should drink, I should drink." He said that, but his chopsticks didn't stop.

Zhang Lei then looked at Jia Zhangshi, who was engrossed in her meal, and said, "Jia Zhangshi, why don't you have a drink too?"

Madam Jia waved her hand: "You men are drinking, I'll pass."

Zhang Lei laughed and said, "No, Jia Zhangshi, there's food and wine tonight, it would be a shame if you didn't drink. Besides, the men in our courtyard might not be as capable as you."

Hearing Zhang Lei's praise, Jia Zhangshi's face immediately lit up with a smile: "Zhang Lei, if you say that, it means you have good taste. If I, Jia Zhangshi, were a man, I guarantee I'd be much smarter than all of them."

Upon hearing this, everyone curled their lips, thinking to themselves: What else can you, Jia Zhangshi, do besides throw tantrums and act shamelessly?

Zhang Lei continued, "Just because of what you said, all the men here have to drink with you, otherwise they'll lose face."

Liu Haizhong immediately chimed in, "Drink with her? Does she deserve it?"

Upon hearing Liu Haizhong's words, Jia Zhangshi slammed her hand on the table in anger: "Liu Haizhong, you fat bastard, who gave you the right to interrupt me?"

Liu Haizhong glared back: "Me, fat? I'm fatter than you!"

Xu Damao, who was watching the commotion from the sidelines and never one to shy away from making things worse, chimed in, "Second Uncle, Second Uncle, don't just talk the talk, why don't you do what Zhang Lei said and have a drink, and see who can outdrink whom!"

The crowd chimed in, "Yeah, Old Liu, you compare yourself to Jia Zhangshi!"

Provoked, Madam Jia became even more aggressive: "How about it, you fatso, all deflated now? Can't handle it anymore? You still dare to talk back to your old woman?"

Liu Haizhong, his face flushed and neck red, said, "Fine, I'll drink! Jia Zhangshi, don't blame me if you get sick from drinking!"

Xu Damao, quick-witted and agile, immediately filled their glasses with wine: "Come on, come on, talk is cheap, let's drink!"

Everyone was delighted to see Jia Zhangshi and Liu Haizhong actually drinking together, feeling that the play was even more intoxicating than the wine.

He Daqing then spoke up: "Everyone, have a drink too, eat and drink at the same time, don't just watch the fun."

Then everyone picked up their glasses and began to eat and drink.

Seeing that the time was right, Zhang Lei turned to Xu Damao and said, "Come on, Xu Damao, it's just the two of us young people here, let's have a good drink."

Xu Damao was not to be outdone and downed three cups with Zhang Lei in a row.

But he hadn't eaten much food beforehand, and he drank too quickly. After three cups, he was already feeling a bit lightheaded.

Zhang Lei deliberately provoked him: "Xu Damao, are you impotent?"

Xu Damao immediately became anxious upon hearing this: "Zhang Lei, you're underestimating me! How can a man say he can't do it? If he can't, we'll drink three more times!"

Zhang Lei laughed: "Okay, come on."

At that moment, Zhang Lei caught a glimpse of someone standing at the entrance of the He family's house out of the corner of his eye.

He squinted and took a closer look, only to discover that it was Qin Huairu.

Zhang Lei was immediately puzzled: Why is she here?

At this point, Zhang Lei no longer cared about drinking with Xu Damao. He downed his drink in a few gulps, then turned and walked out the door.

Reaching the doorway, Zhang Lei looked at Qin Huairu and asked, "Qin Huairu, what's going on?"

Qin Huairu looked at Zhang Lei somewhat awkwardly and said in a low voice, "I came to see how my mother-in-law is eating."

Seeing Qin Huairu's pursed lips and tense expression, Zhang Lei understood a bit. He said with a half-smile, "Qin Huairu, are you... craving something?"

Seeing Qin Huairu's nervous yet expectant expression, Zhang Lei smiled knowingly and said, "Come out with me."

Soon, the two arrived outside the courtyard.

The night was pitch black, and all was quiet. Qin Huairu became even more nervous. She looked at Zhang Lei uneasily, her voice trembling slightly, "Zhang Lei, why did you call me out?"

Zhang Lei smiled and said, "I called you out because there's good news."

Qin Huairu asked in confusion, "What is it?"

Zhang Lei lowered his voice and said slowly, "Qin Huairu, now I've almost found a good opportunity for you to break away from the Jia family."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu's eyes widened in disbelief, and she exclaimed, "Really?"

Zhang Lei nodded, about to say, "I've found you a way out," but then swallowed the words back.

He thought to himself: No, I can't tell Qin Huairu the specific plan yet. What if she accidentally lets it slip?

Then, Zhang Lei changed the subject, looking at her with a half-smile, and said, "Qin Huairu, if I help you get out of the Jia family and even arrange accommodation for you, how will you thank me?"

Qin Huairu was stunned for a moment, then her eyes became complicated. After thinking for a while, she said in a tone that was both helpless and reckless, "How...how should I thank you?"

Looking at Qin Huairu's face, which appeared exceptionally pale and pitiful in the night, Zhang Lei thought to himself: This Qin Huairu seems willing to do anything to escape this misery.

Zhang Lei looked at Qin Huairu and said, "Think about it, what do you have to offer me?"

Qin Huairu thought for a moment and said, "Even though I've left the Jia family, isn't everything still yours?"

Zhang Lei shook his head and said, "That's a matter for later."

He paused, his gaze lingering on Qin Huairu for a moment, as if he were calculating something, before saying, "Qin Huairu, if you want to leave the Jia family, you'll have to show some sincerity and ability."

Qin Huairu looked at him nervously: "What sincerity do I need to show? I... I'll follow your arrangements."

About half an hour later, the two walked out of the alley. Qin Huairu wiped the food from the corner of her mouth, glared at Zhang Lei, and thought to herself: So young, yet so many tricks up his sleeve.

Zhang Lei didn't look at Qin Huairu, and said in a low voice, "For the time being, do as I say. Create some conflict at the Jia family's place, and then act a little aggrieved, making everyone in the courtyard think you've suffered a great deal at the Jia family's place."

Qin Huairu was taken aback, somewhat puzzled: "The more wronged I seem, the better?"

Zhang Lei looked at her and said calmly, "Yes. Only when everyone sympathizes with you and feels sorry for you will people stand by your side if you want to leave the Jia family in the future, and no one will say you are ungrateful."

Qin Huairu was silent for a moment, seemingly processing his words, then gently bit her lip and said, "I understand, I will do as you say."