Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

At the entrance of Hongxing Elementary School, the list of students' middle school entrance exam results had just been posted when it was immediately surrounded by a huge crowd. Lin Weidong squeezed through and spotted his name at a glance: 100 in Chinese and 100 in Math—perfect scores in both subjects, ranking first!

"My God! Lin Weidong really got full marks in two subjects!"

"That's incredible! Skipping a grade is one thing, but getting a perfect score on the entrance exam for junior high school is another! He's a prodigy!"

"The Lin family is on the verge of great success!"

Amid the murmurs, Lin Weidong calmly turned and went home. He had expected this all along; the entrance exam for junior high school was a piece of cake for him.

Not long after I got home, Principal Wang arrived with the Dean of Academic Affairs, carrying a prize wrapped in red cloth: a pen and a notebook. "Jianjun, Xiulan, congratulations! Dongzi did a fantastic job, getting perfect scores in two subjects! He's brought honor to our school!"

Lin Jianjun and Zhao Xiulan beamed with joy and quickly invited the principal into the house. Zhao Xiulan served tea and said proudly, "It's all thanks to the principal's excellent teaching; the children are also very hardworking."

Wang Jianjun ran excitedly to the Lin family home, followed by his father, Wang Jianguo. "Dad, I want to skip a grade too! I want to take the junior high school entrance exam like Weidong!"

Wang Jianguo's expression froze for a moment, then he grabbed him and said, "You little brat, how dare you compare yourself to Dongzi? Dongzi is a prodigy, and what are you? You only got 60 points on the last exam, and you want to skip a grade? I think you deserve a beating!" He raised his hand to hit him.

Lin Weidong quickly stopped him: "Uncle Wang, don't hit the child. Jianjun has made great progress recently. Take it slow."

Wang Jianguo sighed: "This kid has been spoiled by you, he thinks skipping grades is such an easy thing."

The news that Lin Weidong had scored full marks in two subjects spread like wildfire throughout the Hongxing Courtyard, and feelings of jealousy spread throughout the courtyard.

Sitting by the door, Madam Jia slapped her thigh and muttered, "This is outrageous! How can a little bastard be so capable? He must have copied it!"

Yi Zhonghai sat under the locust tree, his knuckles white from clenching his fists.

The more outstanding Lin Weidong was, the more resentful he felt, especially when he thought about how Lin Weidong had kicked out his front tooth and how Director Wang had criticized him for having to pay compensation. He was so angry that he gritted his teeth.

Yan Bugui sidled up to Yi Zhonghai and said sourly, "The Lin family is really riding high now. Dongzi got a perfect score, Jianjun was promoted to engineer, and Xiulan is the deputy director. They should throw a few tables to celebrate and let everyone share in the glory."

The two hit it off immediately and went to the Lin family's house together that afternoon. Yan Bugui got straight to the point: "Jianjun, Dongzi got full marks in two subjects. This is great news. According to custom, we should hold a banquet to entertain all the neighbors and let everyone share in your joy."

Yi Zhonghai chimed in, "Yes, Jianjun, we're all neighbors. Setting up a few tables for a banquet would make your family look generous."

Before Lin Jianjun could speak, Lin Weidong interjected, "Uncle Yan, Uncle Yi, how we celebrate our family's happy occasion is our business, so you don't need to worry about it."

Yan Bugui's expression changed: "You child, how can you talk like that? We meant well."

"Good intentions?" Lin Weidong sneered.

"Last time you went to the school to complain and try to stop me from taking the exam, why didn't you say anything nice? Now you want to freeload? No way!"

Zhao Xiulan also said, "Our family doesn't like extravagance, so we won't be holding a banquet. Please forgive us, gentlemen."

Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui were rebuffed and could only leave dejectedly, their hatred for the Lin family growing even stronger.

Xu Damao watched this scene from his own doorway, secretly pleased. He couldn't wait for the Lin family to have an even worse falling out with Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui, hoping they would both suffer heavy losses.

A few days later, another piece of good news arrived: the agricultural tractor modified according to the blueprints provided by Lin Weidong was successfully produced and rolled off the production line at the steel rolling mill.

After testing, the fuel efficiency and off-road performance far exceeded the original model. The factory manager specially praised Lin Jianjun at the factory-wide meeting and awarded him fifty yuan and a banner that read "Technology Pioneer".

The neighborhood committee also sent people to congratulate the Lin family, and they practically wore out the doorstep of the Lin family.

The Lin family's prosperity made the jealous people in the courtyard even more restless.

That evening, Xu Damao's parents came to the courtyard house, pulled Xu Damao into the house, and said mysteriously, "Son, we've found you a good match."

"It's Lou Xiao'e, the daughter of Lou Bancheng! Her family is rich and powerful, and she's beautiful too. You'd better seize this opportunity!"

Xu Damao's eyes lit up when he heard this.

Lou Bancheng is a well-known capitalist with a wealthy family background. If he could marry Lou Xiao'e, he would be set for life. "Really? Mom and Dad, you're not lying to me?"

"Of course it's true. We've already spoken with the Lou family, and you'll be able to meet them in a couple of days," Xu Damao's mother said with a smile.

These words were overheard by Lin Weidong, who happened to be passing by. He sneered inwardly. Xu Damao's character was completely unworthy of Lou Xiao'e, and in the original story, Xu Damao was infertile. Now was a perfect opportunity to strike at him.

That night, under cover of darkness, Lin Weidong went to the vicinity of the Lou family villa and threw a pre-written note into the yard.

After completing all this, Lin Weidong had just returned home when the system's mechanical voice rang in his mind: [Host has exposed the true face of a person with bad character, preventing innocent people from falling into unhappy marriages. Reward: One core blueprint for a top-bottom reblowing converter, +5 Intelligence attribute!]

A cool breeze instantly rushed into his brain, and Lin Weidong felt his thoughts becoming clearer and clearer. The technical principles that were previously somewhat vague suddenly became crystal clear.

The converter blueprints in my mind are incredibly detailed, from the furnace structure and oxygen supply system to the waste heat recovery device. Every detail is marked with precision and clarity. This technology can significantly improve the efficiency of steel smelting and reduce energy consumption, making it a powerful industrial tool!

Lin Weidong suppressed his elation and kept the blueprints in mind, planning to hand them over to his father at the right time.

Meanwhile, the Lou couple were troubled after seeing the note. But since it concerned their daughter's lifelong happiness, they dared not take it lightly and decided to take Xu Damao to the hospital for a check-up first.

On the day they met, the Lou family suggested taking Xu Damao to the hospital for a physical examination. Although reluctant, Xu Damao agreed in order to marry Lou Xiao'e. After the examination results came back, the Lou couple turned pale; Xu Damao was indeed infertile!

The doctor spoke to the Lou couple privately and said seriously, "The patient has been engaging in excessive sexual activity for a long time, and coupled with previous injuries, her reproductive function has been damaged. It will be very difficult for her to have children."

The Lou couple immediately decided to cancel the marriage, throwing the medical report at Xu Damao and coldly saying, "Xu Damao, you have disappointed us greatly. This marriage is off!"