Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 309

The two of them immediately looked troubled, their faces contorted with reluctance to learn.

At this moment, Xu Zhaodi came in from outside and asked, "What's wrong? Why do you all look so miserable?"

“You’ve come at the right time. Do you know simplified Chinese characters?” He Yuzhu asked.

"Simplified Chinese characters? Of course I don't know them either!"

"That's perfect. Bring over a stool, and you can learn simplified Chinese characters too."

"What?" Xu Zhaodi was dumbfounded. Huizhi and Xiangye smiled happily, now there was one more person to keep them company.

Huizhen brought notebooks and pencils, and distributed some to everyone. He Yuzhu then began teaching.

The environment was terrible, mainly because everyone was holding their babies, especially Xiu'er, who was only a little over a year old and very mischievous. She couldn't sit still and always wanted to get up and walk around.

After an hour of arguing, the simplified character "又" was taught, but the learning effect was... well, let's just say it wasn't great.

"That's enough for today, we'll continue tomorrow." He Yuzhu finally announced the end of get out of class.

Xu Zhaodi immediately darted out and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Before, Xu Zhaodi would come and stay for half a day, sometimes even shamelessly asking for a free meal. But today she ran away faster than a rabbit.

Teaching literacy is a difficult task. Even after teaching them at home for two or three days, they still showed a lot of resistance.

After all, they are not young anymore, and it's not like they're in school anymore, so learning to read is a very difficult thing.

He Yuzhu would spend his days teaching them to read. After all, they were young and learned quickly. Once they got through the initial adjustment period, it would be much easier later on.

Fan Jinyou kept a low profile and was initially not used to it. He felt he had lost face, and many acquaintances would make fun of him for going from a street cadre to an ordinary employee, which annoyed him.

She had been thinking about how to drag He Yuzhu down with her and make him lose face. She soon found an opportunity and stopped her cousin Zhao Yali on the way.

"Sister, there's something I want to tell you."

"What's the matter? Why can't we talk in the tavern? Why are you waiting for me on the way here?"

Chapter 227 Making trouble

"It's about He Yuzhu, of course," Fan Jinyou said.

Zhao Yali was surprised: "Fan Jinyou, you still have such thoughts even now? Don't you look at yourself? You used to be a respectable street cadre, and now you've been reduced to an ordinary worker. How come you want to drag me down with you?"

"Look at what you're saying! What do you mean I'm dragging you down with me? Don't you feel frustrated being the company manager?"

"I think it's great!" Zhao Yali said, though her words were not entirely sincere.

Although he was nominally the general manager, he actually did the work of an accountant. He Yuzhu was in charge of the entire tavern. Whether it was ordering drinks or managing the daily affairs, He Yuzhu was in charge. Everyone listened to what he said, but when he said something, others had to consider it carefully and make sure it did not contradict He Yuzhu's will before they could carry it out.

Although he said it was all good, he knew in his heart that he was doing a really shameful job as a public relations manager and had not established any authority.

"Good? You think you did a good job? You're not ashamed, but I am!" Fan Jinyou said with a face full of sarcasm.

"You?" Zhao Yali was so angry that her chest swelled up by a size, but He Yuzhu's abilities were undeniable. Even Fan Jinyou couldn't beat him before. She knew in her heart that her own level was not as good as Fan Jinyou's. Before coming to the tavern, she was just an ordinary sales clerk behind the counter. She didn't have any real skills, so how could she possibly beat He Yuzhu?

“Sister, your brother has never done anything to wrong you before, right? You lost your job, so I put you in this tavern,” Fan Jinyou said.

Zhao Yali nodded. This was the truth. If it weren't for Fan Jinyou's help, it would have been impossible for her husband's meager salary to support the Eight Vajras.

"If it weren't for you, my eight children wouldn't have anything to eat."

"So, we siblings still need to join forces to defeat He Yuzhu."

"Just the two of us?"

“I believe that He Yuzhu is not invincible. Everyone has weaknesses. I have also discovered his weaknesses. This time, I will definitely make him unlucky.”

Fan Jinyou has recently come to understand that the equal footing between private and public managers will not be broken. However, within a small unit, who takes the lead is another matter entirely.

If He Yuzhu is discredited, he will lose most of his say, and Zhao Yali will have the final say. In this way, he, as a meritorious official, will also have a chance to be promoted.

After all, he used to be a cadre in the street office, then became a cadre in the neighborhood committee, and then became an ordinary employee in the street office.

Fan Jinyou dreams of becoming a cadre again every day. To become a cadre, he needs to achieve results. To achieve results, the first thing he needs to do is to defeat He Yuzhu.

However, to defeat He Yuzhu, Zhao Yali's help is needed.

Zhao Yali was indeed dissatisfied with He Yuzhu's rule, but knowing she was no match for him, she chose to endure it.

After being stirred up by Fan Jinyou, the hidden thoughts in his heart resurfaced.

However, he still retained some rationality and asked, "Then what do you suggest we do?"

"I've noticed that foreigner Elena has been spending a lot of time with him lately. Let's keep an eye on things and see if He Yuzhu is..."

When the conversation turned to gossip, Zhao Yali immediately perked up and asked curiously, "You mean those two are having an affair?"

Fan Jinyou nodded: "I think so."

"Really?" Zhao Yali found it absurd and said, "His wife is so good. Although she had a daughter as her first child, she gave birth to a son as her second child!"

"Are you stupid? Elena is the eldest brother's woman, how can she be compared to a little girl from the countryside?"

“That makes sense,” Zhao Yali nodded.

In the evening, He Yuzhu sat in his usual spot, chatting with Uncle Niu and listening to him tell stories. A fragrant breeze wafted over, and when he turned his head, he saw Elena's pretty face.

"You came?"

"Ah."

Elena then ordered wine and food. After drinking a small amount of wine, she felt lightheaded.

Fan Jinyou was on duty when he suddenly saw Elena singing and dancing again, just like she had done the other day.

The tavern quickly became as lively as a bustling market, with everyone clapping and cheering for Elena.

Elena has recently gone crazy; if anyone tries to provoke her, she'll start dancing.

Fan Jinyou then went next door and said to Zhao Yali, "Come and take a look."

"What happened?" Zhao Yali asked.

As they talked, the two walked from the small restaurant to the small tavern.

Zhao Yali saw that Elena was dancing a passionate and unrestrained dance to the rhythm of the applause from the crowd.

If that were all, it wouldn't be a big deal, since they are foreign friends after all. However, right now, He Yuzhu is dancing with Elena. The two of them are in high spirits, exchanging glances, and everyone is cheering.

If Zhao Yali hadn't been misled by Fan Jinyou this morning, she wouldn't feel anything unusual now. However, after what they said this morning, Zhao Yali felt that their relationship was too intimate.

Fan Jinyou said, "Look at this, what does it look like?"

"Don't even mention the two of them, they're just too intimate. If you didn't know better, you'd think they were a married couple."

“Yes, this is outrageous,” Fan Jinyou said.

“But we cannot convict He Yuzhu based on this alone.”

"Why don't we go and complain to his wife?" Fan Jingyou knew this wasn't a big deal; they were just singing and dancing in front of everyone.

Zhao Yali felt goosebumps all over her body as she listened to Elena calling her "darling" so affectionately. She said, "I think it's fine."

"Then why don't you hurry up and go?" Fan Jinyou said.

Zhao Yali looked at He Yuzhu, who was singing and dancing, and then turned and left the tavern.

They turned into the alley behind the house, then knocked on the back door. Xiangye asked, "What's up?"

"It's nothing serious, I just wanted to chat with the landlady."

Xiangye invited her into the main room and poured her a glass of water. Xu Huizhen asked, "Did Manager Zhao need something from me?"

"I just came over to sit for a while." After saying that, she turned to look at Xiangye next to her.

Xiangye immediately understood that Xiuer must have something to say to the landlady, so she took Xiuer out.

Zhao Yali chatted casually about trivial matters, praising Xu Huizhen profusely before bringing up Elena's matter.

As Zhao Yali continued her story, Xu Huizhen's expression became somewhat strange. She hadn't expected Zhao Yali to come and gossip about He Yuzhu.

"Oh dear, look at my mouth, I just talk nonsense. Don't take it to heart, I'm just making things up, they're all baseless."

See how eloquent he is? After stirring things up, he then says this and extricates himself from the situation.

Chapter 228 Objection

Xu Huizhen understood Zhao Yali's little tricks perfectly well, and said, "I know. I'll talk to him about this later. How can he get so close to a foreign woman? If it causes any rumors, it will only bring shame to the country!"

Zhao Yali was somewhat disappointed to see that Xu Huizhen wasn't very angry; she had thought Xu Huizhen would be very angry!

It seems that my words did not have the desired effect.

After chatting about everyday things for a while, Zhao Yali took her leave.

Xu Huizhen sighed. She knew her man's character perfectly well, and perhaps she and Elena had truly developed a friendship that went beyond friendship.

He had nothing to worry about Elena; after all, she was a foreigner, and it was impossible for the two of them to stay together for long. What he was most worried about was Chen Xueru.

Chen Xueru looked different from others; she was beautiful, and every smile and gesture of hers attracted men's attention, naturally exuding boundless charm.

She truly deserves to be called a beauty.

Xiangye came in and advised, "Sister, don't listen to her nonsense. My brother isn't that kind of person. He wouldn't do anything to betray you."