Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

The snow outside has just stopped.

Lin Weidong got up early and helped Zhao Xiulan out of the house, his movements slow and careful.

"Mom, slow down, the floor is slippery."

"Oh, I'm fine. You're too nervous."

Zhao Xiulan scolded him, but couldn't hide the smile on her face.

Lin Jianjun followed behind, repeatedly instructing, "Get a thorough check-up at the hospital, and tell me immediately if anything is found."

"Don't worry, Dad, we'll be back soon."

Lin Weidong helped his mother out of the yard, where the dark green jeep was parked quietly in the snow.

He gently opened the passenger door, helped Zhao Xiulan into the car, and then closed the door.

He quickly walked around to the driver's seat and started the car.

The engine started smoothly, and the wheels crunched through the thin layer of snow as they drove out of the alley.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the alley outside courtyard number 95.

The little rascal, along with the skinny, long-haired man, huddled in a corner to avoid the wind, their eyes fixed on the alleyway.

Seeing the dark green Jeep drive out of the alley, the little rascal spat out a curse:

"Good heavens, this Lin Weidong is really damn arrogant!"

"They travel in jeeps; even ordinary cadres don't get this kind of treatment!"

Not long after, the jeep stopped in front of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Lin Weidong turned off the engine, got out of the car, and carefully helped Zhao Xiulan into the hospital.

The hospital was bustling with people, and the smell of disinfectant filled the air. He took his mother directly to the gynecology clinic.

Because he had called Li Huaide last night and asked him to contact an acquaintance at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in advance, he could get the check-up done directly.

In the examination room, the female doctor carefully examined the patient and then ordered tests.

Lin Weidong accompanied him throughout the entire process, from paying fees and queuing to picking up the results.

When the test results came back, the doctor smiled and said, "Congratulations, you're pregnant."

"It's still early in the pregnancy, the pregnant woman is in good health, she just needs to take good care of herself."

Zhao Xiulan breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her repeatedly.

He and Lin Jianjun had always wanted to have another child, but they hadn't been able to for many years.

Meanwhile, inside the courtyard house.

Zhang was washing vegetables in a basin by the sink, the cold water biting at her bones.

She moved nimbly, her face showing none of her usual timidity.

He had just washed his hands twice when he heard footsteps behind him. He Daqing walked over carrying a bucket of water.

Her voice was gentle: "Mrs. Zhang, the water is cold, let me help you wash."

Zhang turned around, paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "No need to trouble Brother He, I can manage on my own."

"What trouble is there? We're neighbors."

He Daqing put down the water bucket and took the vegetable basin.

The two stood by the pool, chatting casually; anyone who didn't know them would think they were a couple.

This scene was clearly seen by Yi Zhonghai inside the house through the window.

He clenched his fists, his teeth grinding together.

He cursed inwardly.

"Adulterer! Shameless bastards! Do you really think I'm dead?!"

"That bitch Zhang, she even said she has nothing to do with He Daqing."

By the pool, He Da finished washing the vegetables and casually picked up Zhang's bucket of water: "I'll help you carry the water back."

Just as Zhang was about to decline, a furious roar suddenly erupted from behind her:

"He Daqing! You beast, you're flirting with someone else's wife in broad daylight! Have you no shame?!"

Yi Zhonghai rushed out and started cursing at He Daqing.

Zhang immediately stepped forward, blocking He Daqing, and looked coldly at Yi Zhonghai.

"Yi Zhonghai, watch your mouth!"

"We're divorced. Who I talk to and who does my chores is none of your business!"

"So what if you're divorced?"

"You used to be my wife!" Yi Zhonghai roared, his eyes red.

"That was true before, but not anymore!"

"When you hit me, did you never think of me as your wife?"

Zhang's words left Yi Zhonghai speechless.

Hearing the commotion, the neighbors gathered around to see what was happening.

Liu Haizhong watched Yi Zhonghai's current state and felt a sense of satisfaction.

Jia Zhangshi secretly rejoiced: "Let them argue, let them argue, it would be best if they separated as soon as possible."

Yi Zhonghai was embarrassed and humiliated by being publicly confronted, and in a fit of anger, he raised his hand and pushed He Daqing.

"I told you not to meddle in other people's business!"

He was prepared early on, dodged to the side, and then executed an over-the-shoulder throw.

"Yi Zhonghai, don't be unreasonable!"

"Zhang is a free woman now. If you lay a hand on her again, I won't be polite!"

"You dare touch me?" Yi Zhonghai scrambled to his feet like a madman.

He pounced on her, and the two instantly began to wrestle.

"dad!"

Sha Zhu happened to come back from outside. When he saw his father fighting with Yi Zhonghai, he immediately rushed over and forcibly separated the two.

Yi Zhonghai, his clothes disheveled, pointed at He Daqing and Sha Zhu and began to curse.

"You He family father and son are all scoundrels! You gang up on people! I'm not finished with you!"

Jia Zhangshi hurriedly ran over and pulled Yi Zhonghai away: "Zhonghai, don't argue with them. They outnumber us, and we'll suffer the consequences."

Just then, the sound of a car engine turning off came from the alley entrance.

Lin Weidong helped Zhao Xiulan in and immediately saw that the courtyard was in complete chaos.

Zhao Xiulan's face darkened, and she stepped forward, shouting, "Stop it! What's all the noise about!"

Everyone fell silent.

After Yan Bugui finished explaining the whole story...

Zhao Xiulan looked at Yi Zhonghai, her tone serious: "Yi Zhonghai, let me tell you, you and Zhang are divorced, and legally you have no relationship whatsoever!"

"It's her freedom to choose who she associates with and who she wants to spend her life with."

"You have no right to interfere, much less to resort to violence!"

Then she looked at everyone and said, "If anyone tries to gossip or stir up trouble about this again..."

"The subdistrict office will treat all such cases as disrupting public order and will show absolutely no leniency!"

Yi Zhonghai's face turned pale and then red. In front of the entire hospital, he was scolded by Zhao Xiulan until he couldn't lift his head.

Finally, she shook off Jia Zhangshi's sleeve, gritted her teeth, and said, "You just wait!" before turning around and slamming the door shut as she went inside.

Jia Zhangshi looked at her empty hands and at Yi Zhonghai's departing figure at the gate.

"What the hell? Serves you right for being childless, damn it!"

The farce has ended.

Lin Weidong helped his mother back to the west wing, but one thing remained on his mind.

He could clearly feel it when he left home this morning and just came back.

There were several malicious eyes staring at him from the alley entrance.

Then he told his parents, "I'm going out for a bit."

He turned around and quietly went to the backyard.

He climbed over the wall, silently made his way to the corner of the alleyway, and crouched behind the wall to listen quietly.

Not far away, the little rascals and their friends were still whispering among themselves.

"Brother, let's go straight there after it's completely dark. We can unload the wheels in five minutes!"

"After unloading, you can exchange it for some corn noodles on the black market."

The scoundrel glanced at the other man: "Damn it, what a loser. I was tailing him to take him down."

"You made me wait so many days, I was originally planning to just break all four of my limbs."

"Now I'm going to break his limbs."

"Let's take off a wheel and vent our frustration today."

Lin Weidong, hidden in the shadows, turned cold.

There are too many people during the day, making it inconvenient to use lethal force.

Since you want to come and remove the wheels tonight.

Then I'll give you a good thrashing tonight.