My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 149: Qin Huairu Seeks Help

When Zhang Lei heard Yan Fugui agree, he immediately said, "Uncle, just go to the trust store. That's where I bought mine. Pick a lower-quality one; you can get it for a few dozen yuan."

After saying that, he patted Yan Fugui on the shoulder and turned to walk towards the front yard.

Yan Fugui was stunned for a moment, then slapped his forehead, thinking with annoyance, "Hey, why didn't I think of that? Zhang Lei got the better deal again!"

Zhang Lei had already run quickly to the front yard, picked out the prettiest flower, and carried it straight home.

The three older women saw this and chased after him, shouting, "Zhang Lei! Zhang Lei! What are you doing? Stealing my flowers?"

As Zhang Lei ran, he turned back and said, "Third Aunt, this is what Third Uncle promised to give me! If you don't believe me, go ask Third Uncle!"

Holding the flowers, he almost bumped into Ye Shuqin.

Seeing him panting heavily, Ye Shuqin couldn't help but ask, "Husband, what are you doing? Were you chased by a dog?"

Zhang Lei quickly retorted, "Pah! You're the one who got chased by a dog! I was just grabbing flowers!"

Ye Shuqin glanced at the flowers in his arms, then at his smug expression, and couldn't help but ask, "Did you scheme against Third Uncle again?"

Zhang Lei retorted confidently, "That wasn't scheming! I got it through my own wisdom! Who told you to be so smart?"

Looking at Zhang Lei's smug expression, Ye Shuqin felt both annoyed and amused, and couldn't help but ask, "Honey, why do you insist on having Uncle San's flowers? Can't we just buy our own?"

Zhang Lei snorted and said confidently, "Who told him to scheme against me with a flowerpot? I'm going to get my revenge. That's what you call 'an eye for an eye'!"

Seeing Zhang Lei looking like a child asking for candy, Ye Shuqin stopped trying to persuade him and just shook her head helplessly.

Zhang Lei handed the flowerpot he was carrying to Ye Shuqin, saying, "Take this home and put it away properly. Although this third uncle is usually very calculating and a real tightwad, I have to admit he's quite skilled at growing flowers. Look at these flowers, how lush and vibrant they are!"

Ye Shuqin took the flowerpot and examined it carefully. She had to admit that Zhang Lei was right; the flowers were indeed beautiful. She smiled and said, "Then it seems I'll have to find some time to ask Uncle San for advice on how to grow flowers."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lei quickly waved his hand and said, "Come on! If you want to learn how to grow flowers from him, you need to give him a gift first. He won't teach you. Besides, if you really learn from him, he'll probably be wary of you, afraid you'll steal his business!"

Ye Shuqin asked, somewhat puzzled, "What kind of business is this?"

Zhang Lei laughed and said, "You don't understand. Growing flowers is a skill, and there are many self-righteous intellectuals who like these pretentious things. If they find someone they like, selling a potted plant for five or six yuan is not a problem."

Ye Shuqin's eyes widened in disbelief. "Husband, are you serious? A potted plant can sell for so much money?" she exclaimed.

Zhang Lei nodded: "Of course it's true. If everyone weren't so poor, the flower market would have sprung up long ago. But these things are treasures to those who like them, and worthless to those who don't. Don't overthink it, just keep them and enjoy their beauty."

After Ye Shuqin left, Zhang Lei was about to go to the backyard to brag to Yan Fugui. But just as he passed the middle courtyard, he heard Jia Zhangshi calling him.

Zhang Lei looked back, saw that no one else was around, pointed to himself, and said, "Jia Zhangshi, did you call me?"

Jia Zhangshi looked at Zhang Lei and said, "It's you, Zhang Lei! Hey, come here right now!"

Good heavens! Zhang Lei was furious when he heard this. He said, "Jia Zhangshi, what kind of attitude is this? You think I'll just go over there because you tell me to?"

As if ignoring Zhang Lei's complaints, Jia Zhangshi urged, "Zhang Lei, hurry up and help me lift my son onto that table!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lei immediately perked up, inwardly cursing: "Good heavens, Jia Zhangshi is really cunning; she wants her son, Jia Dongxu, to come to the table and freeload too."

He thought about it again and realized that it didn't seem wrong. Although Jia Dongxu's leg was broken, his buttocks were fine. He could sit there and eat a meal without any problem.

So he replied, "Okay, okay, I'm coming!"

With the combined efforts of Jia Zhangshi and Zhang Lei, the two of them carefully placed Jia Dongxu next to a table in the central courtyard.

Zhang Lei glanced at Jia Dongxu's clothes, which were clean and tidy, and thought to himself that this must be Qin Huairu's doing.

After settling Jia Dongxu in, Madam Jia turned to Qin Huairu and instructed, "Qin Huairu, go find another table. I'll take Bang Geng and reserve other tables. Our family will need three tables. Remember to pack plenty of food to take home!"

Upon hearing Jia Zhangshi's words, Zhang Lei couldn't help but exclaim under his breath, "Holy shit!"

He then realized that Jia Zhangshi's scheme was even more cunning than Yan's. He remembered clearly that the Jia family had only given a dime as a gift, yet they were going to eat at three tables with that dime—they had taken taking advantage of others to the extreme!

Just as Qin Huairu turned around, whether intentionally or not, she touched Zhang Lei's arm directly with her large white rabbit.

This sudden impact startled Zhang Lei.

Looking at Qin Huairu's feigned composure, he immediately understood: Qin Huairu definitely had feelings for him.

So, Zhang Lei walked calmly to Qin Huairu's side, coughed lightly, and said, "I'm going to the restroom."

After saying that, he went straight out of the courtyard and waited next to the public toilet.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Qin Huairu also quietly came out.

Seeing Qin Huairu come out, Zhang Lei walked towards a more secluded place, with Qin Huairu following silently behind.

Soon, the two arrived at a secluded corner.

Zhang Lei stopped and looked at Qin Huairu, a half-smile on his face. "Qin Huairu, what do you want with me?"

Qin Huairu feigned innocence and said, "Zhang Lei, who needs your help?"

Zhang Lei looked at her and said slowly, "You didn't come to me because you needed something, so you deliberately let me take advantage of you and even followed me here?"

Qin Huairu's face flushed red instantly, and she stammered, "I...I just happened to..."

Zhang Lei raised an eyebrow: "Oh, is that so? Well, if you're not going to tell me, I'm leaving."

After he finished speaking, he turned to leave.

Seeing this, Qin Huairu quickly stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and said urgently, "Don't go!"