Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

"Husband and wife?" Everyone was stunned, their faces showing confusion.

"Yes, we've been together for a while now, we just haven't gone through the formalities yet."

Widow Li held He Daqing's hand and said with a smile, "I was wrong just now. I shouldn't have been so impulsive and made everyone worry."

A chorus of boos erupted from the crowd; everyone felt tricked and criticized, "Even a couple arguing shouldn't be like this! It's a waste of everyone's time!"

"Exactly! You're such a grown man, making a fuss over such a small thing!"

"Isn't this just playing with people? Who are they?"

Widow Li apologized repeatedly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it was our fault, it won't happen again."

The crowd dispersed, grumbling and cursing. The hot-blooded youths released He Daqing, giving him a final glare as they left: "Treat your wife better from now on, don't let her suffer anymore!"

He Daqing lowered his head, his face ashen, his heart filled with humiliation and anger.

He shook off Widow Li's hand and walked out of the park without saying a word.

Back in the courtyard house, He Daqing felt increasingly resentful.

He felt he had been tricked by Widow Li and couldn't swallow his anger.

He suddenly realized that Widow Li no longer had any evidence, and then said to Widow Li, who had followed him back.

"You forced me to do this. I won't marry you. Don't try to outsmart me!"

Widow Li was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting He Daqing to suddenly turn against her.

"He Daqing, do you think you can just say you won't marry her and then do it?"

"Just don't regret it later, and don't beg me to marry you then."

After saying that, Widow Li quickly walked towards the deaf old woman's house.

He Daqing's heart skipped a beat. He felt that Widow Li would definitely not let this go, but he didn't know what she would do.

Remembering the meaningful look Li the widow gave him as she passed by, He Daqing felt a chill run down his spine, exactly the same feeling he had when he was stalked by wolves while hunting in the mountains.

Widow Li was secretly pleased with herself. During their scuffle in the park earlier that day, she had taken advantage of He Daqing's inattention to slip the underwear she had prepared beforehand into his pocket.

As long as he still has this item, he can forget about reneges on his debt.

That evening, she threatened to hold a hospital-wide meeting, just to see if he would still dare to betray her!

All of this was observed by the deaf old woman hiding inside the house. She watched the widow Li's smug expression and a smile crept onto her lips.

Back home, Widow Li looked at the old woman who was pretending to meditate with her eyes closed and said, "He Daqing didn't take the bait today. I didn't expect him to go back on his word after agreeing to come back so readily at the park."

"Luckily, I had a backup plan. I'll deal with him tonight after everyone gets back."

The deaf old woman kept her eyes closed and simply hummed in response.

Widow Li thought to herself with resentment at the deaf old woman's pretentious manner: "What's with the old hag's act? Does she really think she's still the mistress of Prince Gong's mansion?"

"She's just a drowning hen."

In the afternoon, Liu Haizhong stormed back to the courtyard house, seething with anger.

As soon as he entered, he ripped off his sweat- and smelly work clothes, threw them on the ground, and kicked a stool hard, the stool leg hitting the wall with a dull thud.

"Damn it!" he cursed, grabbed the enamel mug on the table and smashed it on the ground. The mug shattered into pieces, and water splashed all over the floor.

The second aunt didn't dare to make a sound inside the house; she silently carried a bucket of water for Liu Haizhong.

The scene of Sha Zhu making things difficult for me while I was cleaning the toilet, the scene of being ridiculed by everyone in the canteen at noon, and the humiliation of being ordered around by my coworkers all day long.

Scenes replayed in his mind, fueling his rage.

"Lin Weidong! Liu Guangtian! Sha Zhu! You just wait!" he growled through gritted teeth, his hands clenched into fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh without him even noticing.

"One day, I will pay back double what you have done to me!" Finally, he picked up a bucket and poured cold water over himself, trying to suppress his inner rage.

At the same time, Lin Weidong and Su Wanqing walked into the courtyard house side by side.

The two were still discussing the technical details of the eight-cylinder engine in hushed tones. "The crankshaft has high precision requirements and needs improvement. The existing equipment may not be able to meet the requirements. We need to find a way to modify it."

Su Wanqing said as she walked, and Lin Weidong nodded in agreement.

"I've already spoken to Director Li, and he's agreed to allocate special funds to upgrade the equipment. I'll need you to keep a close eye on the processing steps afterward."

Yan Bugui, the gatekeeper, caught sight of the two approaching. He glanced at them and, seeing that their hands were empty, turned around, picked up a watering can, and leisurely watered the potted plants in the yard, as if he hadn't seen them at all.

Lin Weidong and Su Wanqing exchanged a smile, ignoring his attitude, and walked straight towards the west courtyard.

When Sha Zhu returned home, he ran into He Daqing sitting on a stool, sighing and groaning, his brows furrowed and his face frighteningly gloomy.

"Dad, what's wrong? Who upset you?" Sha Zhu put down his lunchbox and asked, puzzled.

He Daqing looked up at him, opened his mouth, but ultimately shook his head and mumbled, "It's nothing, I'm just a little tired."

He was too ashamed to admit that he had been tricked by Widow Li, so he could only swallow his grievances.

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Sha Zhu didn't think much of it and turned to wash his hands.

Hearing the noise, Qin Huairu quickly put He Xiao down from her arms, tied on an apron, and went into the kitchen to quickly start preparing dinner.

Dinner had just ended, and the aroma of food still lingered in the courtyard when Widow Li's sharp voice suddenly shattered the tranquility of the courtyard.

"Oh no! My underwear is gone! Who stole my underwear?!"

She kept shouting as she paced back and forth in the yard, slapping her thighs with both hands, her face full of feigned anxiety, her eyes red as if she had suffered a great injustice.

"What's going on? Who stole something?" Yan Bugui immediately ran out of the house upon hearing this.

After listening to Widow Li's story, he called out to each household in the courtyard.

"Neighbors, come out here! We're having a community meeting! Widow Li's things are missing, we need to investigate thoroughly!"

Before long, everyone in the courtyard gathered around.

Yan Bugui cleared his throat and spoke first: "The reason I've gathered everyone here today is because Widow Li's personal belongings have gone missing. This is no small matter. In our courtyard, we absolutely cannot tolerate such petty theft! Widow Li, please tell everyone the details."