My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 321: Zhang Lei Cheating in Chess

The two quickly set up the chessboard, attracting a crowd of elderly people watching the spectacle. After making seven or eight moves, Zhang Lei, sensing the unfavorable situation, coughed lightly twice.

Helpless, Ye Shuqi secretly poked Zhang Lei's back with her finger. Zhang Lei immediately beamed and made a decisive move.

Old Yang felt increasingly strange as the game progressed, sensing something was amiss. Just moments ago, Zhang Lei's moves were chaotic, but how did he suddenly change his strategy? He assumed it was a new tactic Zhang Lei had devised and didn't think much of it, continuing the game.

But every time he was about to deliver the decisive blow to Zhang Lei, Zhang Lei would dodge as if he knew in advance. After half an hour of fierce fighting, Old Yang looked at his pieces and waved his hand helplessly: "Fine, you win. Let's play another game!"

Zhang Lei immediately became smug: "How about that? Now you know how awesome I am, right?"

Old Yang protested, "That doesn't count! I didn't play well this round, let's play again!"

Zhang Lei readily agreed: "Come on, I'm not afraid of anyone!"

As soon as the game started, Zhang Lei began coughing incessantly.

Old Yang couldn't help but frown: "Zhang Lei, what's wrong with you? If you're sick, go see a doctor. You keep coughing while playing chess; be careful you don't cough up your lungs."

Ye Shuqi covered her mouth and chuckled. Zhang Lei awkwardly explained, "It's nothing, I'm perfectly fine, I'm just thirsty."

Old Yang looked at Ye Shuqi with disbelief: "Aren't you his wife? Go home and get him a glass of water, so his cough doesn't disturb my train of thought."

Ye Shuqi nodded and got up to walk home.

As soon as she left, Zhang Lei panicked and had no idea what to do next.

Old Yang and the onlookers urged him to hurry up and get off. Zhang Lei had no choice but to bite the bullet and wander around aimlessly.

Old Yang's eyes lit up, and he immediately took the hit.

Zhang Lei hurriedly shouted, "Wait, I didn't see it clearly!"

Old Yang was displeased: "Once a move is made, it cannot be taken back! What's wrong with you?!"

Before long, Old Yang had captured most of Zhang Lei's pieces.

By the time Ye Shuqi returned with the water, the game was already beyond saving.

Zhang Lei quickly took the water glass and drank a couple of sips, then coughed desperately, but there was no movement from his back for a long time. He turned to look at Ye Shuqi, who just blinked innocently.

Ye Shuqi gently patted his shoulder: "Honey, this game is lost for good, not even a god can save it."

Looking at the few lonely chess pieces on the board, Zhang Lei said dejectedly, "I'm not playing anymore!"

Old Yang persisted, "Zhang Lei, how could you do this? You've definitely lost this round."

Zhang Lei said irritably, "My throat's sore, I'll play with you another day!"

Old Yang smiled smugly at everyone and said, "Young people are so impetuous. They should be as mature and steady as me, without being hasty or impatient."

Zhang Lei was furious and stood up dejectedly, heading home.

Ye Shuqi followed beside him and explained in a low voice, "Honey, it's really not my fault. I can't beat him at chess either."

Zhang Lei knew it wasn't her fault; it was just his bad luck. He huffed, "Don't go fetch water for me again next time!"

Ye Shuqi suggested helplessly, "Why don't you play Gomoku? It's easy, and I'll teach you a sure-win strategy."

Zhang Lei looked speechless: "Gomoku? Isn't that a game for kids?"

After saying that, he led Ye Shuqi home. They had only taken a few steps when they bumped into a few people.

Zhang Lei's eyes widened suddenly, and he strode forward in disbelief: "Xu Damao?"

Xu Damao saw Zhang Lei and gave an awkward smile: "Zhang Lei."

Zhang Lei then looked at Xu Damao's parents and nodded politely, "Damao's back?"

Xu's mother forced a smile at him but didn't say much. After all, Xu Damao had been released, and although he was only sentenced to three months, which wasn't a long time, his reputation was still not good.

Zhang Lei didn't ask any more questions and stepped aside to make way.

Soon, the news of Xu Damao's return caused a stir in the courtyard at No. 95, and a great uproar ensued.

Zhang Lei thought Xu Damao would be well-behaved for a while after returning, but he was stunned when news suddenly came that Xu Damao was going on a blind date.

He looked at Ye Shuqin, who had told him the news, and asked seriously, "Shuqin, are you sure Xu Damao wants to go on a blind date?"

Ye Shuqin nodded: "Honey, it's true. I called you over to come and see. I heard the matchmaker has already taken people to Xu Damao's house."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lei immediately ran towards courtyard number 95.

Lou Xiao'e, standing to the side, laughed and said, "Why don't we go join in the fun?"

Ye Shuqin and Ye Shuqi exchanged a glance, shook their heads, and decided not to go. Ye Shuhua stood with Lou Xiao'e, ready to watch the excitement. Chen Xueru, who had never seen a blind date before, followed along. Finally, Lou Xiao'e, Ye Shuhua, and Chen Xueru walked together towards the courtyard house at No. 95.

Zhang Lei had already run quickly to the backyard of courtyard house number 95, where he saw a large crowd gathered in front of Xu Damao's house. He quietly crept over and peeked inside.

At this moment, Yan Fugui coughed twice: "Zhang Lei."

Zhang Lei turned around and saw Yan Fugui. He greeted him with a smile, "Oh, Third Uncle, you're here too?"

Yan Fugui was speechless. He'd been standing there for ages, and Zhang Lei hadn't even noticed him. Yan Fugui gave an awkward, helpless laugh: "Just got here, just got here."

Zhang Lei asked curiously, "Third Uncle, do you know what's going on inside?"

Yan Fugui chuckled nonchalantly, "I heard that the woman Old Xu arranged for Xu Damao this time is a widow with a child."

Zhang Lei's eyes widened instantly: "What? A widow? Xu Damao would agree to that?"

Yan Fugui scoffed, "What else could he possibly be unwilling to do? The Xu family is almost extinct; this is just a roundabout way to continue the family line."

Zhang Lei immediately understood and quickly asked, "Third Uncle, what does that girl look like?"

Yan Fugui thought for a moment: "His looks are average, but he has a rather delicate appearance. He's more than a match for Xu Damao."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lei became even more excited and immediately squeezed in, shouting, "Make way, make way, make way!" Anyone who didn't know better would have thought that an important relative of the Xu family had come to visit.

Everyone was somewhat surprised when they saw that it was Zhang Lei.

Zhang Lei squeezed to the front and saw the matchmaker. He immediately went up to her and asked, "How's it going inside? Did the meeting go smoothly?"

The matchmaker, assuming it was a relative of the Xu family, quickly replied, "The conversation went very well."

Zhang Lei pressed further, "Which family is the girl from? Which village? Have you found out everything about her?"

The matchmaker, pressed by his earnest questions, had no choice but to say, "This woman is from Zhangjiazhuang outside the city, named Zhang Caifeng. Her husband died last year, and her family refused to take her in. Her husband's family thought she was unlucky and kicked her out. Now she's raising three children alone, and it's not easy for her."

Zhang Lei feigned a sigh: "Ah, times are tough, she's really had a hard time."

The matchmaker immediately chimed in, "Who says otherwise? Such a wonderful girl would be incredibly lucky to marry into your Xu family."

Zhang Lei quickly waved his hand: "Hey, my surname isn't Xu."

The matchmaker was taken aback: "Aren't you a relative of the Xu family?"

Zhang Lei laughed and said, "No, I'm just a neighbor in the courtyard."

The matchmaker rolled her eyes immediately: "Go away, what are you doing causing trouble here?"

Zhang Lei had already found out what he wanted to know, and said with a smile, "Isn't this just caring about the neighbors?"

Just as he was about to leave, he saw Sha Zhu rushing over here.

Zhang Lei was immediately puzzled. Why was this guy here too? He stopped moving and stood there, wanting to see what Sha Zhu was up to.