Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

As evening approached, Lin Weidong had just stepped into the courtyard house when he was stopped by a figure.

The person who came was none other than Jia Zhangshi.

She had been waiting at the door all afternoon, and as soon as she saw Lin Weidong, she rushed over and grabbed his arm: "Lin Weidong! You're finally back! You have to stand up for me!"

Lin Weidong frowned and shook off her hand: "What is it?"

Jia Zhangshi shouted loudly, "My Dongxu! He was perfectly healthy, and now he's paralyzed in bed and can't get up. This is all the steel mill's fault! Your factory can't just ignore this!"

He then moved closer to Lin Weidong, his voice suddenly lowering, "I know you're a big leader in the factory now, and your father is also a cadre."

"Dongxu can't work right now, so arrange an easy office job for me, and I'll fill in for him! I don't want anything else, I just want an easy job to make a living!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Weidong understood Jia Zhangshi's purpose.

Although Jia Dongxu's paralysis was caused by the steel rolling mill, it was also due to his violation of regulations, and the steel rolling mill also paid him several hundred yuan in compensation.

She's really something else, trying to take advantage of the situation while still dreaming of a leisurely office job. That's just wishful thinking.

"Jia Zhangshi, have some shame! There are factory rules about substitute work; you have no right to act recklessly here!"

Hearing Lin Weidong's words, Jia Zhangshi became anxious. "How can you talk like that! Now that your Lin family is doing well, have you forgotten the kindness of our neighbors? I'm going to stay here today; I won't leave until you give me a job!"

Lin Weidong was too lazy to waste words with her, so he reached out, grabbed her arm, and pushed her away.

He was young and strong, and Jia Zhangshi was no match for him. She was pushed back several steps and sat down on the ground with a thud.

Jia Zhangshi lay on the ground, throwing a tantrum, yelling, "Oh no! Murder! Lin Weidong is bullying people! Officials are bullying ordinary people! Heaven has no eyes!"

She cried and cursed, "Old Jia, come quick! We, a widow and her child, are being bullied! The Lin family is so mean! Not only did they instigate Dongxu's divorce so that that bitch Zhang Guilan could take Banggeng away, but now they're hitting me!"

"Old Jia, hurry up and take the Lin family members away!"

The neighbors in the courtyard were all alarmed and peeked out to see what was going on.

Yan Bugui huddled at his doorstep, smirking, while Liu Haizhong squatted against the wall, his eyes darting around, clearly plotting something.

Just then, Zhao Xiulan returned from get off work. Hearing Jia Zhangshi's cursing, she frowned and quickly walked over.

"Jia Zhangshi, haven't you caused enough trouble! You're throwing a tantrum and cursing people here, spouting all that feudal superstition stuff. Do you want to be sent to the police station?"

Jia Zhangshi's crying stopped abruptly.

What she feared most was the police station; the image of Yi Zhonghai being arrested was still vivid in her mind.

She reluctantly got up from the ground, dusted herself off, and muttered, "I just wanted justice..."

Zhao Xiulan sneered, "Fairness? If you want fairness, go to the neighborhood office. If you dare to cause trouble here again, I'll call the police right now!"

Speechless, Jia Zhangshi glared at Lin Weidong and slunk away to the side.

Seeing Jia Zhangshi like this, Zhao Xiulan and Lin Weidong went home.

As the onlookers gradually dispersed, Liu Haizhong quietly approached Jia Zhangshi and whispered, "Jia Zhangshi, don't confront Lin Weidong head-on. He's a big shot at the factory now. Making a scene at home won't work; you have to go to the steel mill and cause trouble!"

He suggested to Jia Zhangshi: "Go cry at the factory gate, make a scene at the office building, and make a big fuss. The factory will definitely arrange a job for you in order to quell the situation."

Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up; she thought the idea was feasible.

That very night, he started thinking about how to cause trouble at the steel rolling mill the next day.

As expected, Jia Zhangshi caused a scene at the gate of the steel rolling mill early the next morning.

She sat on the ground crying and wailing, attracting a large crowd that completely blocked the gate of the steel rolling mill.

Upon hearing the news, Li Huaide was furious. There were already quite a few people filling in at the steel mill; if Jia Zhangshi really made a scene, it would have a terrible impact.

To make an example of others, Li Huaide directly ordered the cancellation of the substitute worker positions in the workshop where the Jia family worked.

Furthermore, the security department detained Jia Zhangshi for half a day.

He tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice instead; not only did he not get the job, he lost even the slightest chance.

In the afternoon, Jia Zhangshi, who had left the security office, ran back to the courtyard in a fit of rage and went straight to Liu Haizhong.

"It was all your terrible idea!"

Jia Zhangshi pointed at Liu Haizhong's nose and said, "Now look what's happened! The substitute position is gone! You have to compensate me! Pay me back!"

Liu Haizhong's expression changed: "How was I supposed to know this would happen? Don't try to scam me!"

Jia Zhangshi sat down directly in front of Liu Haizhong's door and started throwing a tantrum, shouting, "I don't care! I won't leave until you give me money! Your second and third sons still have to go to school. If I come here to cause trouble every day, how will you behave!"

Unable to resist her persistent nagging, Liu Haizhong had no choice but to grit his teeth, take out two hundred yuan from home, and give it to her.

Jia Zhangshi clutched the money, still unsatisfied, but knowing that further fuss would bring no benefit, she could only grumble and leave. Liu Haizhong watched her retreating figure, trembling with anger, yet daring not to retaliate.

No sooner had Jia Zhangshi left than screams of agony came from the Liu family home from Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu.

Meanwhile, He Yuzhu and Qin Huairu were sitting at home, chatting about the lively things happening in the yard.

"That Jia Zhangshi, she's really courting death!"

He Yuzhu took a sip of tea and clicked his tongue, saying, "Doesn't she know what time it is? Lin Weidong is so powerful now, a top technician at the steel rolling mill, even the factory director treats him with respect. How dare she go and mess with him!"

Qin Huairu smiled and glanced at him: "You only talk about others, but didn't you realize that your sister Yushui has feelings for Lin Weidong?"

He Yuzhu paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "It's no use being interested. Who is Lin Weidong now? He's doing big things, with a bright future ahead of him. Yushui is just a lab technician; he's not even close to being his equal."

Just as chaos erupted in the courtyard, a long-distance bus slowly drove into the city.

Xu Damao got off the car carrying a tattered bundle.

He was wearing ill-fitting clothes, his face was sallow, and he looked extremely disheveled.

Walking on the familiar streets, Xu Damao felt a mix of emotions.

He recalled his days in the courtyard house, his struggles with Sha Zhu, and the frustration of being suppressed at every turn after Lin Weidong rose to power.

Especially after hearing that Lin Weidong had become a big shot in the steel rolling mill and was enjoying great success, he felt as if he were being pricked by needles, and his heart was burning with jealousy.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.

Lin Weidong, you just wait! From this day forward, we're sworn enemies!