Siheyuan: Rebirth of Liu Ergou

Snowflakes were flying all over the sky, and the cold wind was chilling. Jia Zhang had frequent urination due to her old age, and she got up at night to squat in the public toilet. She wrapped herself tightly in her worn cotton jacket, and walked unsteadily on the snow.

Just as she was about to reach the public toilet, a familiar figure sneaked out from the nearby Liu Rui's yard. It was Lou Xiao'e. She was usually gentle and virtuous, but at this moment she looked flustered, looking back from time to time, as if she was afraid of being discovered.

Jia Zhang was startled, but then she was driven by curiosity. In the next few days, she got up at night as usual, but she was more careful. Sure enough, for several consecutive days at four in the morning, Lou Xiao'e would sneak out of Liu Rui's yard, her expression still nervous and hurried.

Jia Zhang secretly speculated in her heart, this secret made her both excited and nervous. She decided to go to Xu Damao, the village's "know-it-all", to see if he knew anything.

Xu Damao was forced to tell the truth to Jia Zhangshi. It turned out that there was a secret between Lou Xiao'e and Liu Rui. After hearing this, Jia Zhangshi felt mixed emotions. She hated Xu Damao for not reporting the secret, and she also thought of her son Jia Dongxu, who was crippled by Xu Damao and still unmarried. She couldn't help but have an idea in her mind.

She looked at the tall and strong Liu Rui and thought: It would be great if he could give birth to a child for her family! So, she forced Xu Damao to talk to Liu Rui to see if they could reach this "deal".

When Liu Rui heard Xu Damao's proposal, he was so angry that his face turned blue. He looked at Liu Ying beside him, with complex emotions flashing in his eyes. Liu Ying smiled and agreed. She thought that as long as Jia Dongxu could find a wife, it would not be a big deal to ask Liu Rui to help him have a child.

After hearing Liu Ying's reply, Jia Zhang was secretly delighted. She felt that she had finally found a way out for her son. Although this method was somewhat dishonorable, she no longer cared about it.

Thus, a storm of secrets and desires quietly unfolded in the courtyard of No. 95 Nanluoguxiang...

Anxious, with a face full of sorrow, Jia Zhang hurried to the door of matchmaker Wang. She clasped her hands together, as if she could grasp a glimmer of hope.

"Matchmaker Wang, you have to find a good match for my Dongxu!" Jia Zhang said impatiently as soon as she entered the door, with a gleam of anticipation in her eyes.

When matchmaker Wang heard this, she raised a barely perceptible smile, but she was secretly muttering in her heart: "Who doesn't know about Jia Dongxu's situation? It's not easy to find a good partner!"

"Oh, Jia Zhang, don't worry, I will do my best." Matchmaker Wang agreed, but she was thinking about how to deal with this difficult task.

As time went by, although matchmaker Wang ran around everywhere, she still couldn't find a family willing to marry their daughter to Jia Dongxu. This was not surprising. After all, Jia Dongxu's affairs had been widely spread. Who would be willing to push their daughter into the fire pit?

Seeing that Matchmaker Wang had not given any news, Jia Zhang became increasingly anxious. Finally, she could no longer hold back and came to Matchmaker Wang's door again.

"Matchmaker Wang, you took 3 yuan from me as a matchmaker, but now there is no news at all. Are you lying to me?" Jia Zhang asked angrily as soon as she entered the room.

When matchmaker Wang heard this, her face changed. She didn't expect Jia Zhang to question her so directly. She suppressed her displeasure and explained, "Jia Zhang, you can't say that. I did take your 3 yuan matchmaking fee, but I did try my best to find a partner for your Dongxu. Finding a partner is not like buying vegetables. How can it be done overnight?"

"Don't give me that! I knew you were lying to me!" Jia Zhang didn't listen to Wang the matchmaker's explanation at all. She thought Wang the matchmaker was just trying to fool her.

"I lied to you? What did I lie to you about? I was honestly looking for a partner for your Dongxu!" Matchmaker Wang was also angry. She felt that she was wronged.

"You took my money, but there was no result! Isn't this cheating me?" Jia Zhang's voice became louder and louder. She felt that she was fooled by Wang the matchmaker.

"You... You are totally unreasonable!" Matchmaker Wang was also very angry. She didn't expect Jia Zhang to be so unreasonable.

The quarrel between the two became more and more intense, and the sound echoed throughout the alley. The neighbors all leaned out and looked at the scene curiously. They secretly muttered in their hearts: "Jia Zhang and Wang the matchmaker usually have a good relationship, why are they quarreling so fiercely today?"

In the end, the quarrel ended with Wang the matchmaker returning the 3 yuan matchmaker fee. Jia Zhang took the money and left Wang the matchmaker's house angrily. Wang the matchmaker sat in front of the door, shaking with anger. She secretly swore in her heart: "I will never accept such a difficult matchmaker again!"

Jia Zhang returned home dejectedly and ran into Liu Ying who was about to go out.

After Liu Ying learned what happened, she comforted him, "Aunt Jia, don't worry, we can slowly find a marriage partner for Jia Dongxu."

Jia Zhang sighed, "What can we do? What do you think we should do with Dongxu in the future?"

Liu Ying rolled her eyes and said, "How about I go talk to Liu Rui and ask him to help me think of a solution?"

Jia Zhang's eyes lit up, "Yes, your Liu Rui knows a lot of people, maybe he can introduce a suitable girl to Dongxu."

Liu Ying nodded, "Okay, then I'll go find my Liu Rui now."

Having said that, Liu Ying quickly walked out of the door and went straight home.