Courtyard House: Starting as an engineer, crushing a yard full of poultry

"Who are you?" Li Xiangdong looked at the eighteen or nineteen-year-old man in front of him.

"I'm Liu Guangtian. Section Chief Li is in a meeting," Liu Guangtian said obsequiously.

Looking at Li Xiangdong, who was only two years older than him, and who was already an engineer earning 150 yuan a month, Liu Guangtian's eyes reddened with envy.

"Yeah, thank you."

Li Xiangdong nodded, put on his hat and wrapped himself in his military overcoat. He locked the door as soon as he came out, and brought the bed and wardrobe that had been outside into the room.

It's better to have some flavor than to have it ruined by beasts.

Upon arriving at the central courtyard, I saw a gas lamp hanging on a branch of a magnolia tree, illuminating the entire courtyard.

In front of this large magnolia tree, there was an octagonal table. Facing south and sitting opposite everyone was Yi Zhonghai. To his left and right were Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong.

On the table were a teacup and some melon seeds and peanuts. Yan Bugui, like a mouse, was busy peeling peanuts.

Behind Yi Zhonghai was a grand chair, where the deaf old woman sat in a very dignified manner.

Li Xiangdong originally wanted to sit in the back, but Yi Zhonghai called out, "Li Xiangdong, today's meeting is for you, so come sit in the front."

Li Xingdong sneered, picked up his stool, and headed forward. Since Yi Zhonghai wanted to cause trouble, he might as well play along.

Li Xiangdong carried the stool over and placed it next to Yi Zhonghai. He then shoved Yi Zhonghai aside with a swagger and sat down himself.

"You...you go to the bottom left!" Yi Zhonghai was furious. This was his seat, and no one else was allowed to sit there.

"Yi Zhonghai, who are you? You want me to sit down here? This is the Emperor's dragon throne; sitting on it is a capital offense!" Li Xiangdong fired off a barrage of questions:

"You, Yi Zhonghai, are nothing but a shoddy, low-level worker! Just a nobody, a nobody coordinator. What, you think you can play the bureaucratic game?"

Yi Zhonghai was speechless, unable to refute any of Li Xiangdong's points. He was forced to stand on the sidelines.

“Alright, let’s talk about you locking the door!” Liu Haizhong started: “Who are you locking the door to keep out of? Tell me, who in the yard looks like a thief?”

These few sentences were taught to me by Yan Bugui.

"Yes, who are you accusing of being a thief?" Jia Zhangshi screamed like a pig being slaughtered.

"Lock the door? That's my door, I can lock it whenever I want. Do you, Liu Haizhong, have the final say on my things?" Li Xiangdong said coldly, "If someone tells me I won't lock the door, fine, he can be responsible for anything that's missing!"

"All you have to do is say you're in charge of the bangs."

Liu Haizhong, his blood boiling, slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Fine, I'll take responsibility!"

Liu Haizhong's strategy was to first put pressure on Li Xiangdong and suppress Li Xiangdong's arrogance.

Liu Haizhong had already made his plans. Only Banggeng and Jia Zhangshi in the yard were known for petty theft. They'd only be stealing food. Even if they were caught, it wouldn't be Liu Haizhong who had to pay for it.

"That's enough. I have some blueprints at home. I've also designed a machine tool that's at the forefront of international standards. If anything goes wrong, Liu Haizhong, you'll be responsible," Li Xiangdong said calmly.

"It's not impossible that they'd label you an enemy agent."

"What?" Liu Haizhong jumped up immediately: "No, this won't do. Locking the door has nothing to do with me."

He can't afford to take that responsibility; he might lose his head.

Yi Zhonghai sat angrily with Yan Bugui. He never expected Li Xiangdong to act so unpredictably, leaving him completely bewildered.

“Uh, you’re an engineer. That’s special, you can lock the door!” Yan Bugui hurriedly stepped in.

"Tsk tsk, do I need your permission, Yan Bugui, to lock the door or not?" Li Xiangdong said disdainfully, "Do you really think you're some big shot? You're just a bad elementary school teacher!"

"What are you pretending for?!"

Chapter Twelve: Slapping Yi Zhonghai (Seeking flowers and votes!)

Winter vacation is just around the corner. At Hongxing Elementary School, where Yan Bugui works, teachers are being evaluated. Yan Bugui failed the evaluation and will not receive his New Year's bonus.

This was Yang Yuhua, Yan Bugui's wife, discussing something with Yan Jiecheng at home. Li Xiangdong overheard them.

"I...I...I..." Yan Bugui was about to vomit blood. How did Li Xiangdong find out about his affairs? But he still had to follow the previous steps:

"Fine, you're an official, we can't interfere."

"But you should also show the demeanor of a cadre. You know how to make carpentry, so what's wrong with making some furniture for everyone?"

“We’re all neighbors in this compound. If you help us, we can help you in the future.”

Li Xiangdong was truly disgusted by this beast.

"Yan Bugui, what do you want to do? Now that capitalists and landlords have been overthrown, what, do you still want to exploit me?" Li Xiangdong said coldly.

“Exploit you? No way. How could that be…” Yan Bugui was startled.

“No, you want me to work for you for free? That’s exploitation! Tsk tsk, even landlords used to at least feed and pay their farmhands. You’re even more ruthless than those landlords!” Li Xiangdong said, “I need to report this to your school.”

Yan Bugui's scalp tingled, and he hurriedly exclaimed, "No, no, I won't ask you to make furniture anymore. I'm sorry, I misspoke."

If this matter is brought to the school, Yan Bugui will either be dismissed or suspended.

The residents below stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.

Xu Damao looked smug, constantly popping sunflower seeds into his mouth.

When Li Xiangdong saw Yan Bugui shrink back like an old turtle, he sneered and said, "With your level of skill, you're nothing outside the courtyard house."

"It's so cold, everyone, let's disperse!"

Li Xiangdong picked up the stool and left.

"Stop right there!" Yi Zhonghai slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

Li Xiangdong then walked to the open space in front of the table.

"So, what else do you, Yi Zhonghai, have to say?" Li Xiangdong said calmly.

"Of course I did say that. Let's not talk about other things. Now let's talk about your disrespect for the elderly and children..." Yi Zhonghai's square face was full of anger, but he looked righteous.

"Stop! Yi Zhonghai, you talk about respecting the elderly and caring for the young? Who are the 'elders'? Are you one of them?" Li Xiangdong scoffed. "Don't you find that a bit too much to say?"

"I'm talking about the ancestors of our Red Star Compound!" Yi Zhonghai shouted. "What did you say when I asked you to show some respect to our ancestors?"

"Yi Zhonghai, stop it. You like to randomly claim ancestors, but that doesn't mean I like it. Just don't drag me into it when you're claiming ancestors." Li Xiangdong said calmly, "A neighbor I don't even know, and you want me to give her a bowl of meat? How dare you, Yi Zhonghai, have such a big face?"

"How can you say that an old woman who made straw sandals for Red Army soldiers and whose will is that of a martyr doesn't deserve your respect?" Yi Zhonghai said righteously, "Kneel down and apologize to the old woman!"

"Yi Zhonghai, have you gone mad? Do you think you're some kind of local tyrant in this courtyard? How about I give you a three-kneeling-nine-bows ceremony?" Li Xiangdong laughed in exasperation.

Seeing that Li Xiangdong wasn't buying it, Yi Zhonghai gave Sha Zhu a wink. Sha Zhu was constantly stealing glances at Qin Huairu, especially at the large and small bears on her chest.

Fortunately, Sha Zhu saw Yi Zhonghai's signal and immediately jumped up.

“Li Xiangdong, you’re a cadre in the factory, but in the compound you have to listen to this old man.” Sha Zhu said fiercely, “Right now, kneel down and kowtow to the old lady.”

"You seem unwilling? Then I'll help you!"

Sha Zhu reached out and grabbed Li Xiangdong by the collar.

Jia Dongxu felt a surge of satisfaction. Just now, Yi Zhonghai had passed by his door with an empty bowl, making Bang Geng, who was waiting for meat, cry his heart out. Jia Dongxu genuinely felt sorry for him.

In Jia Dongxu's mind, it was no big deal for Sha Zhu to handle Li Xiangdong.

Li Xiangdong was furious and decided to teach Sha Zhu a lesson.

Li Xiangdong knew these beasts; they knew he was an engineer and the head of the factory's technical department. Yet they still dared to scheme against him so brazenly. Wasn't it because they thought he was young and just a bookworm who only knew how to study?

Now is the time to display our strength and crush the birds.

Li Xiangdong has demonstrated martial arts during his previous live streams. He also practiced level eight martial arts for a period of time, and he has also practiced grappling techniques.

Now he possessed the energy of two bodies, and his control over his muscles had reached an exquisite level. He instantly became a martial arts master, a master as tall as a three-story building.

Li Xiangdong raised his hand and grabbed Sha Zhu's wrist. Sha Zhu's old face was filled with shock, as if he couldn't believe Li Xiangdong could so easily grab his wrist.

Before Sha Zhu could struggle, Li Xiangdong slammed into him with a powerful thrust of his hips. The impact sent Sha Zhu's feet off the ground, his body swinging upwards.

Li Xiangdong grabbed Sha Zhu's wrist and swung it forcefully, throwing Sha Zhu over his shoulder.

"Pass!"

With a loud crash, Sha Zhu slammed onto the octagonal table. Fortunately, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui saw what was happening and quickly scrambled to get out of the way.

What was seen was Li Xiangdong grabbing Sha Zhu's wrist with one hand. He then swung it like a windmill, slamming it onto the octagonal table.

"Ouch! Ouch!"

Sha Zhu cried out in pain. But he quickly got up and got off the eight-immortal table.

"How's the pillar?"

The deaf old woman, who had remained silent all along, could no longer hold back.

"Yes, Zhu Zi, are you alright?" Yi Zhonghai asked with concern.

"It's nothing, I'm in good health. I wasn't paying attention and he ambushed me." Sha Zhu grinned, still trying to act like a hero.

Xu Damao jumped up upon seeing this and immediately made a few sarcastic remarks to Sha Zhu. But he quickly pulled Lou Xiao'e back down. Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui wiped away a cold sweat; thankfully, Li Xiangdong hadn't made a move. Otherwise, their old bones wouldn't have been enough for Li Xiangdong to break them apart! That strength was immense!

"Li Xiangdong, why are you hitting people?" Yi Zhonghai shouted angrily at Li Xiangdong.

"Yi Zhonghai, are you blind? Didn't you see that Sha Zhu attacked first?" Li Xiangdong sneered. "And who do you think you are, daring to question me?"

"This... you're not wrong for taking action like Sha Zhu? It takes two to tango."

Yi Zhonghai shouted.

"It takes two to tango!" Li Xiangdong reached out and slapped Yi Zhonghai across the face, the resounding slap echoing loudly. "Let's see if it takes two to tango."