Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

After Ding Qiunan finished dealing with the situation, she stood up and let out a slight sigh of relief. Liu Jianguo then instructed Li Bing, who was waiting outside:

"Li Bing, go to the propaganda department and use their loudspeaker to issue an official notice in the name of the security department: From today onwards, anyone who pretends to be sick without reason and gathers in the infirmary to disrupt order will be immediately arrested and brought back to the security department, given a demerit, and the incident will be reported to the entire factory! After you're done here, take the brothers back to rest. Li Cheng and the others can stay here to keep watch."

"Yes, Chief!" Li Bing accepted the order and left.

Liu Jianguo then turned to Ding Qiunan, who was standing to the side with her hands at her sides, and his tone became somewhat unpredictable: "Comrade Ding Qiunan, everything is fine here. You, come with me to the office."

He paused, lowered his voice, and said with an air of unquestionable authority, "I think I strained my arm a couple of days ago. Could you take a look at it too? And while you're at it... let me check if your other skills have improved in the last two months."

Ding Qiunan's face flushed red to her ears, her head drooped even lower, and her nails almost dug into her palms, but she still silently followed Liu Jianguo into his private deputy director's office.

Liu Jianguo closed the door behind him, the latch clicking softly, making Ding Qiunan's heart skip a beat.

Liu Jianguo didn't rush to check. Instead, he walked to the corner, picked up the bulging military satchel he had brought back from Baotou, rummaged around inside, and pulled out something wrapped in soft cloth.

He opened the cloth bag, revealing a bowl that wasn't finely crafted but had a distinct grassland feel, gleaming with a silvery sheen. He handed it to Ding Qiunan, his tone casual yet leaving no room for refusal:

"Here, take this. I bought it on a whim while on a business trip to Inner Mongolia because this bowl seemed a bit unique. It's a gift for you; see if you like it." Ding Qiunan took the heavy silver bowl in a daze, the icy touch sending a chill down her spine, her emotions a complex mix. She had initially thought this was just a cold, naked transaction, exchanging six months of humiliation for the whitewashing of her father's records and the safety of her family.

But this man who so forcefully controls her body and destiny is now giving her a gift? What is this? Is it a slap followed by a sweet treat? Or...? She dared not think too deeply about it.

A faint, strange feeling, which she herself was unwilling to admit, mixed with humiliation, confusion, and a pitiful sense of dependence, quietly began to grow.

In this era where chastity is valued above all else, once a woman loses her virginity to a man, it often means that she will be bound to him for life. Even if it is initially forced, many will eventually accept their fate in despair and convince themselves to remain faithful to him until the end.

Ding Qiunan felt as if she herself was sliding into this abyss.

(Specific description omitted here)...

As the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased, Liu Jianguo leaned against the headboard with satisfaction, pulling Ding Qiunan, who was silently weeping, into his arms. He gently twirled the ends of her hair with his fingers, his tone carrying a possessive satisfaction and a rare gentleness: "Good girl... From now on, be like this, obediently. With me, you're tied to my waist for life, you can't escape."

He paused, as if making a promise to a pet, "But don't worry, as long as you behave, if you have any difficulties or need anything, just ask. As long as it's not excessive, I can do it for you."

Ding Qiunan buried her face in his chest, tears soaking his shirt. Her body trembled slightly, and after a long while, as if she had exhausted all her strength, she let out a soft, almost inaudible "Mmm" with a heavy nasal tone. This sound seemed to drain all her will to resist.

"Alright, stop crying."

Liu Jianguo patted her on the back, his tone cold and realistic, "Besides that marriage certificate, how have I ever treated you badly? The food, clothes, and everything else I provide are a hundred times better than if you had married some random worker and were struggling to make ends meet every day."

He released her and gestured, "Go, get ready."

Ding Qiunan silently got up, turned her back to him, and quickly tidied her messy clothes and hair.

Liu Jianguo quickly dressed, resuming his demeanor as a leading cadre. He sat behind his desk, lit a cigarette, and looked at Ding Qiunan, whose eyes were slightly red, saying calmly, "Now tell me, are there any specific difficulties?"

Ding Qiunan remained silent for a long time, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, clearly going through a fierce internal struggle.

Finally, she raised her head, her eyes filled with a desperate resolve, and her voice, though not loud, was exceptionally clear: "I...I don't want to go back to the machine repair shop. Director Liu, I want...to stay at the steel rolling mill."

Liu Jianguo stared into her eyes, as if trying to see into her heart, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "Oh? You've really made up your mind? Staying here won't give you as much freedom. I'll give you one more chance. If you decide, come see me every two days from now on. Serve me well like you did just now, can you do that?"

The blush that had just faded from Ding Qiunan's face returned, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she said in a self-deprecating voice:

"It's already like this... what else can I do? Except for not having a formal status, it's no different from... it's the same as marrying you. I will... I will take good care of you. Besides, going back to the machine repair shop... what good will it do? I'll be living in fear, always having to watch my step, and no one can help me..."

Liu Jianguo nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, now that you've figured it out, I'll go find a way. In the future, when there are no outsiders, just call me Jianguo. Don't keep calling me Director Liu; it's too formal."

He waved his hand, his tone slightly mocking, "Go ahead and get busy, I... my wife without a title." Ding Qiunan's cheeks flushed, she gave a soft "hmm," turned around, opened the door, and limped away quickly from this place that had left her with such complicated feelings.

Watching Ding Qiunan disappear through the door, Liu Jianguo rubbed his chin.

The training period at the machine repair shop is usually six months, and two months have already passed. We need to hurry to get this done.

He straightened his clothes and strolled toward the office of Li Huaide, the deputy factory director in charge of logistics and personnel.

The office door was ajar, but Liu Jianguo didn't stand on ceremony. He knocked twice and then pushed the door open to enter.

Li Huaide was sitting with his legs crossed, leisurely sipping tea and reading the newspaper.

Liu Jianguo immediately put on a familiar smile and joked:

"Oh, my dear Director Li, it's so much more comfortable here! I just got back, barely settled in, and already I have to outwit enemy spies and maintain order in the factory. It's true what they say, comparisons are odious!"

Li Huaide put down his newspaper, laughed, and scolded, "Get lost! Don't give me that crap! You never come here unless you have something to say! Just get to the point, what's up?"

Liu Jianguo chuckled and pulled up a chair to sit down: "What bad intentions could I possibly have? There are just two small matters I need to report to you, my head steward."