My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 262: Silly Zhu's Blind Date with Liang Ladi

Sunday arrived in the blink of an eye. Zhang Lei got up early and looked at Ding Qiunan beside him: "Qiunan, did you tell Liang Ladi the exact time you asked her to come?" Ding Qiunan nodded: "I told her, in the morning, but she probably won't come that early." Zhang Lei thought for a moment: "Probably. Let's go to the door and check after we finish eating." Ding Qiunan agreed.

The other people in the courtyard also knew that Zhang Lei was going to arrange a blind date for Sha Zhu and Liang Ladi at their home, and they all got excited. After all, such a lively event was the most eye-catching thing in the courtyard.

After quickly finishing breakfast, Zhang Lei led Ding Qiunan outside the courtyard. A short while later, they saw Liang Ladi approaching. Ding Qiunan rushed to greet her, while Zhang Lei smiled and nodded to Liang Ladi as a greeting.

The commotion caused by the three quickly attracted the attention of the people in the courtyard. Someone had spread the word that Sha Zhu was going on a blind date, and everyone was curiously looking at Liang Ladi, making her feel a little embarrassed.

Upon arriving at the Intermediate People's Court, Zhang Lei coughed and said, "Qiu Nan, take Liang Ladi back to our house first. I'll go talk to Uncle He." Ding Qiu Nan replied, "Okay, sir."

Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangfu, Yan Jiecheng, Yan Jiefang, and other young men standing nearby listened to Ding Qiunan's address to Zhang Lei with envy and jealousy. Now everyone in the courtyard knew that Zhang Lei had five wives, and no one thought it was inappropriate. On the contrary, they all envied his good fortune—these young men, younger than Zhang Lei, had never even held a girl's hand, yet Zhang Lei was already the fourth oldest man in the courtyard, leaving them far behind.

Zhang Lei arrived at the He family's house and saw that He Yuzhu was wearing new clothes. If it weren't for the fact that he looked old from years of exposure to smoke and fire, he could be considered handsome. He Daqing saw him and asked with a smile, "Zhang Lei, have you arrived?" Zhang Lei nodded, "Yes, I'm at my house. I'd like you to come in and have a seat." He Daqing smiled and said, "Okay, thank you for your help today." Zhang Lei waved his hand, "No trouble at all."

Afterwards, He Daqing, He Yuzhu, He Yushui, and Qin Huairu followed Zhang Lei to his house. He Yushui happily approached Zhang Lei and said, "Brother Zhang Lei, thank you for taking care of my brother's matter." Zhang Lei patted her head and said, "Don't be so polite with me." He Yushui did not dodge and let him pat her head.

When the group arrived at Zhang Lei's house, He Yuzhu was stunned as soon as he entered—the three Ye Shuqin sisters, Lou Xiao'e, Ding Qiunan, plus Liang Ladi, the house was full of women that made his eyes dazzled. Seeing this, Zhang Lei kicked him directly: "Where are you looking?" Only then did the silly Zhu come to his senses and laugh awkwardly.

Zhang Lei led Sha Zhu into the living room, Liang Ladi was accompanied by Ding Qiunan, and the others waited outside. The neighbors in the courtyard also came to watch the excitement. The second uncle Liu Haizhong's family and the third uncle Yan Fugui's family crowded the courtyard.

Ye Shuqin didn't mind at all. She generously joined Ye Shuqi, Ye Shuhua, and Lou Xiao'e in handing out melon seeds and candies to everyone, who all smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

Inside, Zhang Lei introduced the two women: "Liang Ladi, this is the 'Silly Zhu' I told you about, He Yuzhu." He Yuzhu stood up and said nonchalantly, "Hello, I'm He Yuzhu. Everyone calls me 'Silly Zhu,' you can call me that too." Zhang Lei was speechless. Liang Ladi calmly replied, "Hello, I'm Liang Ladi."

Seeing that the two were a little reserved, Zhang Lei gave Ding Qiunan a wink, and Ding Qiunan smiled and said, "You two chat, we'll go out for a walk first." After saying that, the two left and closed the door.

With only the two of them left in the room, the atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Sha Zhu, thinking that he was the man, spoke first: "My family situation is like this: my dad remarried and has a stepmother. She lives in the backyard and has her own room. My younger sister is in school. I have two rooms of my own and work as a canteen cook at the steel rolling mill. I earn 37.5 yuan a month."

Liang Ladi nodded: "I work at the machine repair shop under the steel rolling mill. I'm a level two welder, and my salary is 41.5 yuan." Sha Zhu was a little surprised, not expecting her salary to be higher than his. He awkwardly praised her, "I didn't expect you to be so capable."

Liang Ladi shook her head: "There's no way around it. I'm a woman raising four children alone; I have to work hard." Sha Zhu nodded: "Zhang Lei told me about your situation. Do you have any requests of me?"

Liang Ladi looked at him: "I want to be transferred from the machine repair shop to the steel rolling mill. Can you do that? And what about my four children? Can you accept that?"

Sha Zhu was in a dilemma. He had thought about the child all night, and with He Daqing's persuasion, he could barely accept it. But he was not sure about the job transfer, so he said, "I can find a way to transfer the job, and I can accept the child, but I have a health problem, as you should know."

Liang Ladi nodded: "I've heard about it." Sha Zhu continued: "I have no other requirements for you, except that the child must take my surname in the future."

Liang Ladi was stunned: "Take your surname?" Sha Zhu replied matter-of-factly: "That's right, since you married me, the child will naturally take my surname." Liang Ladi frowned: "I need to discuss this with the child; I can't make that decision myself."

Sha Zhu frowned. "I only have this one request. If you can't fulfill it, then there's nothing more to say." Liang Ladi asked, puzzled, "You care so much about what the child's surname is?" Sha Zhu replied directly, "Of course! What if the child doesn't take my surname and turns out to be an ungrateful child?"

These words completely enraged Liang Ladi, who suddenly stood up: "Shazhu, you bastard! Who are you calling an ingrate?"

Those eavesdropping outside the window were stunned when they heard the sudden commotion inside. Then, they saw Liang Ladi burst out of the door, crying.

Zhang Lei quickly said to Ding Qiunan, "Qiunan, hurry up and go after them to find out what happened." He Daqing and the others also rushed into the house and were quite surprised to see a handprint on Shazhu's face.

Sha Zhu looked at Zhang Lei with a wronged expression: "What kind of person did you introduce me to? She's a tigress!" Zhang Lei frowned and asked, "What happened? How did you end up fighting?" Sha Zhu looked even more aggrieved: "She hit me! All I did was say she wanted her child to take my surname, did she have to go that far?"

Zhang Lei asked in surprise, "You started by talking about this? Nothing else?" Sha Zhu replied matter-of-factly, "What else is there to talk about? She's a widow; it's her good fortune that I've taken a liking to her!"

Zhang Lei cursed helplessly, "Silly Zhu, you're single by choice!" He Daqing was also furious and scolded, "Zhu Zi, didn't you say what I taught you yesterday?" Silly Zhu scratched his head awkwardly, "Dad, I forgot when I got nervous."

He Daqing was speechless. At this moment, Liu Haizhong walked over and scolded Sha Zhu, "Sha Zhu, you're already like this and you're still being picky! You should be grateful if any woman is willing to marry you!" Sha Zhu glared at him, "Second Uncle, this is none of your business! Mind your own business!"

Seeing this situation, Zhang Lei was completely speechless. He said to He Daqing, "Uncle He, you should take your son and leave. My little temple can't accommodate such a big Buddha."