Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

After a month, the renovation project of the east courtyard was also completely completed, and the courtyard has been completely transformed.

The previously overgrown and uneven ground was completely leveled and compacted, and new blue bricks were laid on it. The three north-facing rooms, totaling 200 square meters, were combined and their functions were redesigned.

Bedroom: Approximately 50 square meters, spacious and bright, with a newly made solid wood bed, wardrobe, and desk. The windows have been replaced with clear glass windows, and plain-colored curtains are hung.

Study: Approximately 50 square meters, with a row of bookshelves against the wall, a large desk, a comfortable chair with a backrest, bright lighting, and a quiet environment.

Living room: Approximately 70 square meters, it feels very bright and spacious. A heavy, old-fashioned eight-immortal table sits in the center, surrounded by several long benches. Near the window, a dark-colored writing desk and a leather-backed office chair are thoughtfully placed, reflecting the characteristics of a cadre family and meeting the needs of daily work and entertaining guests.

Kitchen: Approximately 30 square meters, with a brand new stove. Most importantly, a water pipe is directly connected to the kitchen sink! There is also space reserved next to it for a future coal stove and coal briquettes.

What satisfied Liu Jianguo the most were two renovations:

First, a clean, independent toilet was carefully built with bricks and stones in the southwest corner of the courtyard, against the courtyard wall.

This was not a traditional dry toilet, but an improvement made by the factory's engineering team at his request.

A small sedimentation tank was built below the toilet, and pipes were laid that connect directly to the public sewage ditch in the alley, which is regularly cleaned by the municipal sanitation department.

Although it still requires scooping water with a ladle to flush, it has achieved targeted discharge of feces and sewage, and the sanitary conditions are far superior to ordinary dry toilets.

Secondly, a small, inconspicuous but sturdy door was newly opened in the southeast corner, so that he could completely bypass the front and middle yards and enter and exit directly through the small door, thus maximizing his privacy.

To combat the harsh northern cold, multiple sets of cast iron radiators were installed in each room, with pipes connecting to a small coal-fired boiler installed in a small compartment next to the kitchen. The winter heating problem was completely solved.

Having obtained the complete set of keys to the east courtyard, Liu Jianguo weighed them in his hand, his gaze falling on the key specifically marked for the newly opened small door in the southeast corner. He already had a plan in mind.

This back door is usually avoided and used only as an emergency or temporary access route.

He knew all too well that in the years to come, being overly high-profile and unconventional would only make him a target of criticism. If he remained aloof from the community all the time, and the atmosphere tightened up in a few years, he would find his way of life uncomfortable.

To gain a foothold in this large courtyard, and even secretly control the situation, one must first learn to "integrate into the community," at least outwardly appear respectable. Having made up his mind, he kept the back door key separate and decided to use the front gate in the front yard for daily use.

That afternoon, after finishing dealing with the backlog of documents at the factory, Liu Jianguo noticed that it was getting late, so he packed up his things, picked up the set of keys that marked ownership of the East Wing, and went home after get off work.

He deliberately chose to enter through the front gate. As soon as he stepped into the familiar black lacquered wooden doorway, a figure emerged from the shadows—it was none other than his third uncle, Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui's face was plastered with a carefully calculated, enthusiastic smile, as if he had been waiting for a long time. He quickly stepped forward and said:

"Oh! Director Liu, you're off work! You've worked so hard! I saw that your east wing was completely tidied up a couple of days ago, with all the doors and windows tightly shut. I've been keeping an eye on things here for you every day, watching over you. Don't worry, absolutely no one will dare to cause trouble!" His words were full of self-praise.

Liu Jianguo chuckled inwardly, thinking:

As expected of the legendary "calculator" and "gatekeeper" Yan Bugui, his ability to be well-informed, seize every opportunity, and invest in advance is truly well-deserved.

He remained expressionless, merely nodding perfunctorily and replying casually, "Thank you for your trouble, Teacher Yan. There's nothing valuable, just some broken tables and benches."

Having said that, he didn't bother to argue any further and strode towards the moon gate of the central courtyard, leaving Yan Bugui, who was still trying to get closer, behind him.

Just as I passed through the moon gate into the central courtyard, before I could even see the gate to my own east wing, I heard hurried footsteps beside me. Turning my head, I saw a middle-aged man with a slightly chubby belly, wearing blue work clothes. It was my second uncle, Liu Haizhong, with an almost fawning smile on his face, practically running towards me.

Liu Haizhong's mind has been racing ever since he heard a month ago that a young deputy director had moved into the institute.

In his limited understanding, "section chief" was an extraordinary high-ranking official, the highest "official" he could ever come into contact with in his life! Being a "second uncle" in charge of things in the institute was not satisfying at all, and he longed to become an "official" with real power and the ability to manage people.

He felt that Liu Jianguo was his benefactor and a stepping stone, and he had been thinking about how to curry favor with him so that Director Liu could promote him to an official position. However, Liu Jianguo had been busy establishing his authority, placing people in positions, and tidying up his house for the past month, and had not returned to the compound at all, leaving Liu Haizhong with a lot of enthusiasm but nowhere to put it into practice.

He finally managed to bump into the person in question at the Intermediate People's Court today, and he wasn't about to let this golden opportunity slip by, so he immediately rushed over.

Liu Haizhong ran up to Liu Jianguo, took a breath, and grinned from ear to ear. He immediately began to pledge his loyalty:

"Director Liu, you're off work! You've worked so hard all day!"

He racked his brains, wanting to appear more useful, and pointed towards the east courtyard, saying:

"You've just moved back, the yard and house definitely need some tidying up, right? Would you like some cleaning? I'll go to the front and middle yards right away and call a few of the older women to help you get everything organized!"

These words were spoken hastily, yet they revealed a clumsiness and shallowness. It was a clear attempt to flatter, but unfortunately, the speaker lacked knowledge and could only come up with this expression of "asking someone to do work" after much thought.

Looking at Liu Haizhong's impatient appearance, Liu Jianguo felt both annoyed and amused, thinking:

Having just dealt with the scheming doorman Yan Bugui, another official-obsessed man, Liu Haizhong, has arrived. Wanting to be an official and climb the ladder isn't necessarily a bad thing in this environment; people naturally strive for higher positions. The mistake lies in not being clever enough, using inferior methods, and stubbornly clinging to the idea of ​​becoming an official. This makes one easily manipulated and prone to causing trouble.

He didn't want to argue with Liu Haizhong any longer, so he simply pointed to the outbuildings in the central courtyard that were already occupied, and said in a flat tone but with a clear sense of detachment:

"No need to trouble everyone. Li Bing, Li Wu, Li Liang, and Li Cheng, who live in the Intermediate Court, see them? They are all comrades from our security department. I have already spoken to them, and they will be able to lend a hand when they come over later."

This statement both rejected Liu Haizhong's "good intentions" and made it clear that there were already people of their own in the hospital, and there was no need for outsiders to interfere.

It's true what they say, speak of the devil and he appears.

As soon as Liu Jianguo finished speaking, the doors of the several outbuildings in the central courtyard opened one after another. Li Bing, Li Wu, Li Liang, and Li Cheng, as if they had been waiting for a signal, quickly came out of the rooms and walked over in an orderly fashion.

The four men approached Liu Jianguo with respectful yet not servile attitudes, saying in unison, "Director, we've arrived. Please let us know if there's anything that needs tidying up."