Courtyard House: A Veteran Returns Home and Becomes a Father

Early the next morning, Master Lei led his two apprentices to courtyard number 96.

By this time, Su Mo's family had finished eating. His daughter, Niannian, was playing with two little Dobermans in the yard, while Su Mo, his master, and his advisor were drinking tea in the yard, and Xia Wanqing and his master's wife were washing clothes together.

When Su Mo saw Master Lei arrive, he quickly stood up and said, "Master Lei, you've arrived."

Master Lei said, "Yes, boss, let's get ready to start work."

Su Mo turned to look at his master, his grandmaster, Xia Wanqing, and his master's wife, "Construction starts today, let's go take a look together!"

The advisor, Su Hanlin, said, "We won't go today. We can't be of much help anyway, so let's not cause any trouble. We'll go together once it's all set up."

Master, Mistress, and Xia Wanqing echoed in agreement.

Xia Wanqing said, "Yes, I also have to take care of Niannian. It's quite messy during the renovation. I don't want the little girl running around and getting hurt again."

Seeing that there was no other way, Su Mo had no choice but to say, "Alright, let's go then."

So Su Mo and Master Lei left courtyard number 96 and headed to the east wing of courtyard number 95.

Yan Bugui, who was sitting at the gate, saw the group of people coming and, upon seeing that the leader was Su Mo, was so frightened that he immediately ran away, forgetting even to take his stool, and ran back to his house.

Su Mo didn't pay much attention to Yan Bugui's funny appearance and led Master Lei and his group to the east courtyard.

Qin Huairu, who was washing clothes in the middle courtyard, saw a group of people heading towards the east courtyard. She then realized that the person leading the group must be Su Mo, the one who had beaten her mother-in-law.

So he didn't even have time to pack up the laundry utensils before rushing back to the Jia family home.

"Mom, Dongxu, the person who hit you yesterday is here today. He's already inside the east wing."

Jia Zhangshi, who had been lying listlessly in bed, immediately sprang up with a thud upon hearing that her attackers had arrived, shouting, "Dongxu, go quickly and call your master! We must settle this score with him today; it won't be less than 500 yuan!"

Jia Dongxu rushed to Yi Zhonghai's house, "Master, that person came yesterday, what should we do?"

"Don't rush, go and call Second Uncle and Sha Zhu over first. It'll be easier if we have more people. We'll meet at the east courtyard gate."

So Jia Dongxu quickly ran outside to call for help.

At this time, inside the east courtyard,

Master Lei, along with his two apprentices, carrying tools, followed behind Su Mo.

"Brother Su, I've drawn up the blueprints for you overnight. Take a look." Master Lei spread out a detailed blueprint on the stone table.

Su Mo glanced at it and couldn't help but admire it. The blueprints clearly marked the structure and layout of the house, and even the route of the drainage pipes, making it more thorough than he had imagined.

"Master Lei has excellent skills. We'll make it according to your drawings."

"Alright! Let's go take a look at the wood you mentioned first, so I can adjust some details based on its dimensions." Master Lei was clearly still somewhat skeptical of the "good wood" Su Mo had mentioned.

The moment Su Mo led them and opened the gate to the east courtyard.

Master Lei and his two apprentices behind him were all frozen in place.

"This...this...this..."

Master Lei pointed to the mountain of timber in the yard, his hands trembling like a leaf, his old eyes wide open, and his mouth agape enough to fit an egg.

He rushed over in a few steps, and like caressing a lover, his trembling hands touched a piece of golden nanmu wood with a diameter of nearly one meter, feeling its warm touch and beautiful texture.

"Golden...golden nanmu! It's golden nanmu!"

He ran to another pile, looking at the rosewood pieces with ghost face patterns, and his voice changed.

"And Hainan Huanghuali! My God! This... this must be the coffin lid of some prince, to have such fine material used!"

The two apprentices were also dumbfounded. They had been working with their master for so many years, and they had never even seen or heard of anyone using this level of timber to build a house.

This is an absolute waste! No, this is unheard of!

Master Lei walked around the pile of timber again and again, his expression shifting from shock to ecstasy, and then to utter devotion.

He whirled around, grabbed Su Mo's arm, and his face flushed with excitement: "Su... Brother Su! You... you really want to use all this material to build a house?"

"Otherwise what?" Su Mo asked matter-of-factly, "To keep them as firewood?"

"No way! No way!" Master Lei stamped his feet in frustration. "Such fine material! If you used it to make furniture, every piece would be a family heirloom! If you use it for beams and doors and windows, and your colleagues find out, they'll gossip about me and call me a spendthrift!"

"Master Lei, no matter how good the materials are, they are ultimately for serving people," Su Mo patted his hand and said earnestly. "I invited you here because I value your 'Yangshi Lei' craftsmanship. Only the best craftsmanship is worthy of the best materials. I hope you can use these materials to build my family the sturdiest and most comfortable house. That is their greatest value."

These words struck Master Lei's heart like a heavy hammer.

He stared blankly at Su Mo, looking into his clear and firm eyes, and suddenly understood something.

Yes, what do craftsmen pursue throughout their lives?

Isn't it simply about using the best materials, applying all your life's learning, and creating a work that can be passed down through generations?

And right before him was the opportunity he had been dreaming of!

"Alright!" Master Lei took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with unprecedented light. "Young Master Su, don't worry! I, Lei, will take this job! I swear on the name of my Lei family ancestors for eight generations, if I don't build you a house that can be passed down through generations, I will personally smash the 'Yangshi Lei' brand!"

"However, Master Lei, I only have one request: when we use this wood, you'd better apply a coat of varnish for me, you know what I mean." Su Mo gave Master Lei a knowing look.

Master Lei immediately patted his chest, "Boss, don't worry, I'll definitely do a good job for you, no one can find fault with me."

So Master Lei and his group started working, and just two or three minutes later, they arrived at the gate with a series of footsteps.

The next moment, the courtyard gate was pushed open with a bang.