Courtyard House: A Start with Black Gold Swallowing 100,000 Silver Dollars

"Bang! Bang!"

Ten minutes later, two muffled thuds rang out.

"Something's happened?!"

"Where did the gunshot come from?!"

The hall immediately descended into chaos.

"Don't panic! Everyone, get outside!"

"You, immediately report this to the police station!"

Li Wenguo had already timed it perfectly. His face was tense with fear, but his voice was as steady as an iron plate, each word landing with conviction.

The patrol officers arrived quickly.

Taking advantage of a break to use the restroom, Li Wenguo replaced his hidden clone with Director Yang Zhengde's skin and made his appearance openly.

The routine questioning was just a formality, and he quickly slipped away.

The rest of the show is left to John Bull and Little Ben to tear each other apart.

Of course, the small country couldn't withstand it—doubling the compensation, international apology, and public condemnation were all inevitable.

How many lords and established financial magnates stand behind Inderer & Co.? They certainly wouldn't let this opportunity slip by easily.

They're being merciful by not squeezing out every last drop of profit.

With Charlie dead, Li Wenguo took over the seal of the trading company and temporarily served as its manager.

When the headquarters of the United States sent people to Beijing, the entire business community of the capital suddenly became lively—restaurants and private rooms were fully booked every day, business leaders took turns hosting banquets, and even representatives of trading companies from the United States, France, and Germany sent out invitations, just hoping to become acquainted with them.

After all, everyone knows that in the world today, John Bull is still the dominant force; and Indigo's several new machinery patents and chemical production lines are holding the lifelines of many people in its hands.

During that period, Li Wenguo was extremely busy – he didn't have many business deals, and his dinner engagements were scheduled until the end of the month.

But there are also things that are a headache.

Maria.

Seeing that the matter with Charlie was settled, she had no more scruples and became like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins, running wild with abandon.

The ambiguity between the two was no longer concealed; it was blatantly written on their faces.

On one occasion, he even barged into the foreign firm and, in front of more than a dozen employees in the lobby, stood on tiptoe and kissed Li Wenguo on the lips.

Everyone could see it clearly—this wasn't flirting, it was clearly a declaration of dominance.

Unfortunately, that foreign devil Charlie is long gone, and those who are burning with jealousy and can't wait for Li Wenguo to fall can't even find a way to complain.

I was so full of energy that my whole body was throbbing, but I had nowhere to vent it. I was incredibly frustrated.

Although his worries were gone, Li Wenguo still specifically instructed Maria: Don't go to the foreign firm, lest you cause trouble.

As the old saying goes, those who flaunt their love in public never end well.

Moreover, Maria's identity was already conspicuous and could not withstand any storms.

Li Wenguo didn't want that old saying to actually come true for him.

……

"Sir, I have something I'd like to discuss with you."

That night, as soon as Li Wenguo stepped into the main room, He Shuting leaned against the bed and spoke with a smile.

My belly is almost nine months along, high and round, no less than Xianglan's when she was pregnant.

"We've been married for so long, just say what you want to say."

Li Wenguo responded lightly, but his eyes were already glued to two things—her slightly bulging belly and her dazzling legs.

"It's like this... Ouch, please be gentle!"

A sudden, unexpected pain made her frown and glare at him reproachfully.

"Hehe! Slip of the tongue, oh no, a slip of the hand, just a slip of the hand!"

He grinned and immediately loosened his grip.

"That's right. Now that you control the foreign firms, the entry and exit of foreign cargo ships are all at your approval. Our newspaper has a shipment to transport, but we're afraid of being ripped off at every level if we go through the official channels. If we hitch a ride on your ship, wouldn't we save a lot of money?"

"Where to take it?"

Li Wenguo narrowed his eyes, a hint of insight in his smile.

"Shanxi borders."

She answered decisively.

Ah!

Linpan? Right next to the old Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia base area—this isn't taking a detour, it's practically being delivered straight to their doorstep!

Li Wenguo knew perfectly well what was going on, but he remained calm and composed. The higher He Shuting stood over there, the more secure his own position would be.

However, it cannot be revealed too obviously.

"Why would I make this trip just for your newspaper?"

"Oh, right, pull the hem of your skirt up a bit."

"It doesn't need to be too high, just enough to cover your knees."

Pooh!

There are so many varieties!

A hint of disdain flashed in He Shuting's eyes, but she still complied with him in the end. With a flick of her finger, the fabric slowly moved up, barely covering her dazzlingly white long legs.

"Help the newspaper; it's just a small favor for you."

"It's not clear yet—what would I gain if I helped you?"

As he asked the question, he subtly moved forward, striking the perfect balance.

"Sir, please relax. The market is slow right now, and the teachers are having a tough time too."

Her voice softened, with a hint of coquettishness at the end.

If Li Wenguo hadn't known her unwavering integrity and that every word she uttered was for the sake of the organization, he would have suspected that his wife might have had some kind of entanglement with that teacher.

"Fine, I agree. Five times the shipping fee."

"What?"

Five times?!

She sat up abruptly, her eyes wide open.

Every penny the newspaper earns flows into the bloodstream of the revolution. They even have to be careful with paper. Now, every time they open their mouths, they have to swallow five times the shipping costs.

I've seen people plunder every passing goose, but I've never seen anything this ruthless—this isn't just fleecing someone you know, it's like chopping off their wrist!

Fuck!

Her face darkened, and she clenched her teeth tightly: "This... is absolutely impossible!"

She slapped his arm away, and her skirt cascaded down, completely covering her legs.

She shrank further into the bed, almost trying to break free from his embrace.

Five times the shipping cost? How many guns, how many bullets, how many packs of cotton wool could that buy?

With just one sentence, you pocketed all the money your comrades risked their lives for?

How can we face our brothers who are rolling in the mud and bleeding on the front lines?

How could He Shuting not know—that extra 40% definitely went into his private coffers!

"Hey, hey, Shuting, wait a minute!"

He placed one hand on her shoulder, leaned forward, and his warm breath brushed against her earlobe:

"If the newspaper is really in dire straits... I won't charge you, as long as you give me..."

A fire suddenly ignited in her heart.

OK!

After going through all this trouble, it turns out they were up to the same idea all along!

You really never get tired of listening to this!

Now she was truly caught in a dilemma—if she didn't agree, the goods wouldn't be shipped; if she agreed, her dignity would be shattered.

She was a proper young lady who had read the Book of Poetry and the Book of Rites, not a plaything to be manipulated.

Choose.

"Two paths, you choose."

His voice was deep and unhurried, yet it sounded like a rope being tightened round and round.

Ugh!

Good heavens, why did I have to marry such a man?

After much deliberation, I finally bowed my head—organizational matters are of paramount importance, while personal reputation is as insignificant as dust.

Grit your teeth? No, just purse your lips, close your eyes, and it'll pass...

"Okay... alright!"

She lowered her eyes, her cheeks were so hot they could fry an egg, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum.

"But my belly is so big right now, it looks like I'm carrying a watermelon. I can't even squat properly or kneel down. Could you please postpone this formality until after the baby is born and I've recovered?"

"Oh, no problem, no rush!"

"Then it's settled—you can thank him in person after you've finished your postpartum confinement and your complexion has improved."

Li Wenguo's eyebrows were raised high, and he couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth.

But inwardly he clicked his tongue in amazement:

Getting her to open her mouth is harder than prying open a metal box!

"Hahaha--"

"Shu Ting—"

"The local produce has arrived safely back home; everything went smoothly without a ripple!"

"Your husband is incredibly powerful and influential!"

"You'd better thank him properly for me!"

Wang Zhiguo smiled so hard his eyes narrowed into slits and his face was flushed.

Foreign ships are different—they're fast and reliable, bypassing all checkpoints along the way. No one dares to stop them, no one dares to inspect them, and no one dares to ask for favors.

If they could rely entirely on foreign ships for cargo transport in the future, Wang Zhiguo would be able to snore loudly at night and wouldn't have to stay up with one eye open anymore.

Wang Zhiguo's face was shiny with oil, but He Shuting only tugged at the corners of her mouth, her smile floating on her face, but it didn't catch her eye.

After all, this "smooth sailing" was something she earned by bending her back!

"It's a small matter; it's all up to the organization."

Her tone was light, as if brushing away a speck of dust.

"Well said! The organization is exactly in need of promising young, reliable, and capable individuals like you!"

"I'm genuinely happy!"

"Shuting, there will probably be a lot of 'local specialties' to come, so your husband will have to make a few more trips."

He Shuting's fingertips tightened, her lips suddenly froze, and a cold, astringent feeling rose in her heart.

After this... how much dignity will I have left?

--------

"Wow--!!!"

A clear cry pierced the night.

Xianglan finally gave birth to a baby girl safely.

"Master Li! Master Li! Mother and daughter are both safe and sound, adults and children are all well!"

Upon hearing this, Li Wenguo, who was pacing anxiously outside the door, relaxed his shoulders and let out a long sigh, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

To ensure everything went smoothly, he hired three experienced midwives well in advance, each with over twenty years of experience in the field and having delivered hundreds of babies. The hospital was also well-prepared, with a car parked at the entrance ready to assist him in case of any mishaps, allowing him to be rushed to the hospital for a cesarean section.

If it weren't for the three midwives unanimously asserting that Xianglan's pelvis was wide, the baby was in the correct position, and a natural birth was a sure thing; if it weren't for Xianglan's own fear of scarring, her fear of Li Wenguo's dislike, and her concerns about the risks of a cesarean section and the difficulty in healing the incision—Li Wenguo would never have let her take the slightest risk.

He Shuting and Hongyu, who were standing to the side, also quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

The reason the two were relieved was that the child was a girl, not a boy.

These days, the idea of ​​valuing sons over daughters can't be overturned with just a few words.

By the way, Hongyu is already pregnant.

Baomintang's gynecological expertise is truly remarkable.

"Hahaha--"

"Great! That's wonderful! I, Li Wenguo, have a daughter!"

"Ten silver dollars each, every single one!"

Having lived two lives, Li Wenguo finally has his bloodline continue—this joy emanates from the very core of his being.

He came from the modern era and always cherished his children as the apple of his eye, never thinking that his son was precious and his daughter was insignificant.

When my daughter gets married in the future, she will be given a grand wedding with a red bridal procession and generous gifts. It will be a magnificent and dignified occasion.

"Xianglan, thank you for your hard work."

He leaned over and sat on the edge of the bed, his voice gentle.

"My lord... I am useless and have failed your expectations..."

Xianglan's face was deathly pale, her lips were bluish, and her eyes were so dim that it was heartbreaking.

How could Li Wenguo not understand? He quickly leaned closer to coax and persuade him:

"Nonsense! You're healthy and resilient; I'd be more than happy to have you!"

"Besides, whether you have a boy or a girl isn't up to you to choose. Who knows, Shuting and Hongyu might even be carrying twin girls!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already gently picked up the little girl who had just eaten and was fast asleep, put her in the cradle, turned around, rolled up his sleeves, and leaned closer.

"You're so mean!"

Xianglan's cheeks flushed, but the blush dissipated with those soft words.