Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

"Teacher Yan, what's going on?" Principal Wang asked with a frown and a serious tone.

Yan Bugui quickly said, "Principal, you've come at the perfect time! Lin Weidong isn't studying properly; he spends all his time tutoring other students at school, which is hindering his own and others' learning. I'm here to stop him!"

"Is that so?" Principal Wang looked at Lin Weidong. "Lin Weidong, tell us what happened."

Lin Weidong truthfully stated, "Principal, I tutored Wang Jianjun during breaks, without disrupting class or affecting other students. Wang Jianjun has a weak foundation, and I wanted to help him improve his grades. Isn't that a good thing? The reason Teacher Yan stopped me is because I previously reported him for leaving get off work early and taking advantage of others. He's settling a personal score."

"You're talking nonsense! Principal, don't listen to him, he's just lying!"

"Principal, I'm telling the truth, and all the students in the class can testify to that," Lin Weidong said.

The surrounding students nodded in agreement: "Yes, Principal, what Lin Weidong said is true. Teacher Yan is deliberately targeting him!"

"We all saw it; Lin Weidong tutored Wang Jianjun very diligently, and Wang Jianjun has made great progress!"

Principal Wang's face grew increasingly grim. He had long been dissatisfied with Yan Bugui's behavior, and now, witnessing him publicly harass students, he was even more enraged.

Principal Wang shouted sternly, "Yan Bugui! As a teacher, you not only neglect your duties and take advantage of others, but you also use your position to settle personal scores and prevent students from helping each other. Do you deserve to be a teacher?"

Yan Bugui trembled with fear and lowered his head, not daring to speak.

"Starting today, you are suspended for a week to reflect on your mistakes!" Principal Wang said coldly. "If you don't reflect well, you don't need to come to work at all!"

After speaking, Principal Wang looked at Lin Weidong, his tone softening: "Lin Weidong, you did a great job. Helping your classmate is commendable. From now on, you will continue to tutor Wang Jianjun, and no one is allowed to stop you!"

"Thank you, Principal!" Lin Weidong nodded with a smile.

Yan Bugui's face turned pale, and his eyes were filled with resentment as he looked at Lin Weidong, but he dared not say another word and could only turn around and leave in a dejected manner.

Seeing Yan Bugui's disheveled figure, the students cheered and gave Lin Weidong a thumbs up.

He Yushui said with a smile, "Lin Weidong, you're amazing! Even the principal is on your side!"

Wang Jianjun excitedly said, "Brother, you're awesome! I'm no longer afraid of Teacher Yan!"

As night fell, most of the lamps in the courtyard houses were used sparingly, except for the Lin family, whose kerosene lamps were still lit, casting a warm glow through the paper windows. Yan Bugui, filled with resentment, strolled over to the Lin family's door.

He was about to raise his hand to knock on the door when he remembered the embarrassment of being severely criticized by the principal during the day. He cleared his throat, put on a scholarly appearance, and called out to the inside of the door: "Brother Lin Jianjun, your foolish brother Yan Bugui has something important to discuss with you. Please open the door and let's talk."

The door creaked open, and Zhao Xiulan stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips, her face devoid of any smile: "Yan Bugui, what important matter can't be discussed tomorrow at this hour? My Jianjun just got off work and is resting; he doesn't have time to chatter with you."

Yan Bugui's smile froze, and he suppressed his anger, saying, "Sister-in-law Xiulan, you are mistaken. I came here today because of Lin Weidong. At such a young age, he is arrogant and disrespectful at school, not only talking back to teachers but also encouraging students to have extra classes, which has disrupted the school's atmosphere. You should discipline him properly."

Zhao Xiulan sneered, "Discipline? My son skipped a grade and got a perfect score, and he's even willing to tutor his classmates—that's a good thing! But Uncle Yan, he slacks off at work, takes advantage of others, and when his bonus was docked, he came to my house to vent his anger. You, a teacher, aren't you ashamed?"

Yan Bugui, stung by the attack, retorted defiantly, "You...you're slandering me! I'm an educator, how could I do such a despicable thing? Lin Weidong has no respect for his elders and will surely become a troublemaker in the future. If you don't restrain him, he'll get into trouble sooner or later!"

"Whether my son is good or not is none of your concern! If you're so bored, go home and figure out how to earn back your bonus, instead of stirring up trouble here. You're not welcome in our house, so get out!"

As she spoke, Zhao Xiulan reached out and shoved Yan Bugui. Yan Bugui staggered back a few steps, shouting anxiously, "This brat is incorrigible! The Lin family's reputation is worrying; they'll decline sooner or later!"

Zhao Xiulan was too lazy to waste words with him and slammed the door shut. Yan Bugui stood at the door, trembling with anger, but dared not force his way in. He could only stomp his feet and curse a few times for being "immoral," before slinking home in disgrace.

After this incident, Lin Weidong's reputation as a prodigy who skipped grades and dared to confront Yan Bugui quickly spread around the courtyard. The neighbors in the surrounding streets all knew that a seven-year-old prodigy had entered fifth grade at the Hongxing Courtyard, and they all urged their children: "Play with Lin Weidong more often, absorb his genius, and study hard."

After that, every day after school, the area in front of Lin Weidong's house was surrounded by children who came to ask him questions and play with him. Even the few teenagers in the yard who used to follow Jia Dongxu around quietly changed their allegiance and would go to Lin's house whenever they had the chance, wanting to learn skills from Lin Weidong.

That afternoon, Lin Weidong had just returned home from school when he saw a strange girl standing at the gate of the courtyard. The girl was wearing a faded blue cotton shirt, had two braids, and had delicate features. She was Qin Huairu, who was to be introduced to Jia Dongxu by the matchmaker.

Lin Weidong's eyes lit up, and he began to think: "Qin Huairu is virtuous and capable. If she really marries Jia Dongxu and suffers with Jia Zhangshi, her life will be ruined. Anyway, Shazhu has a good relationship with my family, so I might as well help him win over his goddess."

He immediately ran to the steel mill's canteen to find Sha Zhu, just in time to see him about to leave work, carrying the food he had saved for the deaf old lady. Lin Weidong grabbed Sha Zhu's arm and whispered, "Brother Sha Zhu, I have good news for you!"

"What good news?" Sha Zhu asked, looking puzzled.

"A young woman named Qin Huairu has arrived at the courtyard gate. The matchmaker wants to introduce her to Jia Dongxu. She's incredibly beautiful and capable. You'd be missing out!"

Sha Zhu was taken aback: "Why should I get involved in Jia Dongxu's relationship?"

Lin Weidong panicked. "What girl? It's not decided yet! Jia Dongxu's mother, Jia Zhangshi, is notoriously mean. If Qin Huairu marries into that family, she'll definitely suffer! You're different. You have a skill, your own savings, and no burdens. Only by marrying you can she live a good life. Listen to me, go there now, show your sincerity, and win her over!"

Sha Zhu was swayed by Lin Weidong's words. He had long wanted to find a wife to settle down with, but hadn't found the right one. Hearing Lin Weidong's words, he felt a little itchy: "But...but what sincerity do I have?"

"Money! Haven't you saved up quite a bit of your salary? Take out twenty yuan as a bride price, and tell her about your situation; she'll definitely agree!"