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

Xu Jianwei's stomach was churning, but he forced a smile and complained, "Young Master Xu, please forgive me! All my cash is tied up in the raw silk market right now, my pockets are emptied, I really can't come up with a single penny!"

Seeing that he wouldn't listen to reason or threats, Young Master Xu's face suddenly darkened, his eyebrows twitched, and he looked like he was about to lose his temper.

Xu Jianwei's heart skipped a beat, and he sighed inwardly at his bad luck.

Now we've figured it out completely—Young Master Xu is like a hungry wolf that can never be satisfied. He eats everything up and then licks the bottom of the bowl clean. He wants results but is unwilling to put in a single effort or pay a single penny.

Unfortunately, his father holds a high position in the municipal government, and if you don't give your approval, he'll just flip the table.

"I'll pay for it myself, and you can pay me back after it's done."

Young Master Xu's tone was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

Fuck!

They're stingy to the core!

Reluctant to cast a net, yet hoping to catch a big fish?

Xu Jianwei was inwardly furious, but outwardly he was respectful, thanking him repeatedly and readily agreeing.

However, he had no intention of touching Li Wenguo, so he tentatively said, "Young Master Xu, I'll pay for it, but this person is, after all, the future son-in-law of the Xu family—even if it's just a concubine's arrangement, the Xu family can't really get involved. If word gets out, it'll ruin the family's reputation and make us a laughingstock. What do you think...?"

"Okay! I'll take care of the people, you just need to pay up."

Young Master Xu waved his hand dismissively.

He has plenty of idle people under him; it's just a matter of talking, and as long as no money is involved, everything is fine.

Soon, Feng Shao, the manager beside Young Master Xu, went straight to the foreign firm with a thousand silver dollars in his pocket and specifically requested to order firearms made in the UK—truly contraband.

According to international treaties, powers such as the United States are not allowed to sell military equipment to other countries.

But rules are rigid, but people are flexible: first, the goods are "legally transited" through neutral countries, and then secretly transported in, so that there is no leak on paper.

Of course, everything is fine as long as no one takes it seriously; but if you run into a serious and ruthless person—especially one with real power—trouble will come knocking immediately.

Li Wenguo had met Feng Shao a few times and knew that he was a close confidant of a high-ranking official in the municipal government. As usual, he greeted him with a smile, offered him tea and a seat.

When Feng Shao asked for guns worth 10,000 silver dollars, Li Wenguo agreed without batting an eye.

It was not uncommon for wealthy families to keep private armies and bandits; some even kept their bandits in the mountains outside the city, where they would engage in double-crossing and other illicit activities.

He also maintains his own armed force; this kind of business is just an open secret within the industry.

Feng Shao paid a deposit of one thousand silver dollars on the spot, signed a contract, and agreed to deliver the goods seven days later.

In reality, the warehouse was overflowing with goods, but the foreign firms always loved to put on an act—pretending to have tight supply and high prices so they could inflate their profits. It was just a routine, and nobody called it out on.

"Sir, have any unfamiliar faces been eyeing military supplies at the trading company lately?"

After much deliberation, and with Chang Binghui's occasional encouragement, Dong Haitang finally decided to use Li Wenguo's identity to gather intelligence by following the clues.

"Lift up the skirt first."

Li Wenguo didn't answer, but only gestured with his hand.

He grasped the two key points so easily.

"so?"

With a flick of her finger, Dong Haitang slowly lifted the semi-transparent silk nightgown.

"Higher! Higher!"

Li Wenguo urged her twice, but she still moved very slowly.

After all, she has a cold personality and doesn't like these roundabout sentiments.

"Do it yourself!"

Dong Haitang frowned, then simply gave up and turned away.

"Hey, if my hands were free, would it be your turn to grab them?"

"Your hands aren't going to grow legs and run away; even if you hang on me, you can still do whatever you want with them!"

"I always see things through to the end. Giving up halfway? No way!"

"you--"

Dong Haitang felt a lump in her throat, her face flushed red. She had never seen anyone so shameless. "Don't forget, I'm the one who calls the shots here!"

Li Wenguo, unhurriedly, brought out his trump card again.

Dong Haitang had no choice but to grit her teeth and swallow her anger.

After much effort, it was only with great difficulty that I managed to get him to nod in approval.

"That's it, that's it! The allure is in the way it's partially concealed, like a pipa player playing a seductive tune!"

Dong Haitang rolled her eyes, shaking her head inwardly—a perfectly good ancient poem, twisted into something reeking of money; only this man could do such a thing. "Sir, you haven't answered the question I just asked."

Which one?

"Are there any people with questionable backgrounds working in these trading companies? — Wait a minute!"

Before she could finish speaking, a commotion like a bugle call suddenly erupted, choking Dong Haitang back down her throat.

Two hours passed.

"You damned spy, you've gotten intelligence right under my nose?"

Upon hearing that Dong Haitang was plotting against him, Li Wenguo's face immediately darkened.

"Saying something won't hurt you."

"Not losing weight? What you're losing is my reputation!"

How much is your signboard worth?

Dong Haitang sneered inwardly.

"If I don't tell, who will know?"

"Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know."

Li Wenguo raised his hand, pointing to the sky and the ground, then to her, and then to himself.

I……

Dong Haitang's temples throbbed—why is this person so good at beating around the bush and arguing?

"Should we talk or not?"

"If you don't give in, I'm moving into the dorm tonight!"

Driven to this point, they had no choice but to utter their final harsh words.

"Hey! You dare?"

"You'll see if I dare!"

Dong Haitang was determined to go all out; at worst, she'd get another beating, but she could just bear it.

"So you've got some nerve, huh? You're so eager for promotion and wealth that you're neglecting your family? Good! Very good!"

After uttering a few harsh words, she finally revealed Manager He's name—the manager of Peiyuan Trading Company whom she had suspected earlier.

Of course, Li Wenguo was happy to see this happen: his wife's promotion would benefit the whole family. But he didn't want her to have it easy; he wanted to keep her in suspense so that it would seem more substantial.

He handled this move with remarkable skill.

"Peiyuan Trading Company, Manager He Chaomin?"

Chang Binghui sat in his office, his brows slightly furrowed, slowly uttering the name as his mind raced through the person's past.

Peiyuan Trading Company was well-known for its foreign goods, which were imported from major trading companies and then distributed to various regions.

He Chaomin has been the manager for almost twenty years. Logically speaking, his resume is clear and his background is very solid.

But this is only superficial; the true depth of the problem needs to be explored further.

However, he didn't care much at the moment, and instead felt that Li Wenguo was just going through the motions.

It wasn't until Dong Haitang added, "At the end of last year, he bought a batch of guns from the trading company, along with listening devices, tape recorders, and... a radio."

Radio station!!!

Chang Binghui's body jolted, and he stood up abruptly.

Guns could be sold to bandits and thugs; listening devices and tape recorders could be sold to corrupt officials to carry out shady deals; but radios were either used by underground party members or Japanese puppet regime agents!

Moreover, there are always benefits to be had, so who would turn down a good deal of money?

But reality slapped him in the face – Li Wenguo was immediately exposed by Dong Haitang's words, "If you don't deliver the goods, I'll give you a stir-fry with a strong wok hei."

He Chaomin never dreamed this would happen.

A week later.

Feng Shao, the steward sent by Young Master Xu, agreed to set today as the day for the handover.

This batch of goods was contraband, and the buyer was someone who could shake the dust off the capital with a stomp of his foot. Li Wenguo dared not be arrogant and personally guarded the warehouse of the Index & Co., waiting for the buyer to come to the door.

Feng Shao had already brought Niu Dali, the deputy director of the police station, onto the boat, agreeing to lead a team straight to the scene to catch him red-handed and capture him with the stolen goods.

Director Yang Zhengde was close to Li Wenguo, and Feng Shao, fearing complications, didn't bother him at all.

But Niu Dali's team made too much noise, alarming his clone "Yang Zhengde" who was in the office. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately sensed something was wrong.

As he stepped out the door, he bumped into Zhang, the last patrol officer to come downstairs. He immediately called out, "Zhang, where are you all headed?"

When Xiao Zhang saw that it was the bureau chief asking the question, his legs tightened, and he blurted out, "To the British trading company! But... Deputy Bureau Chief Niu didn't explain in detail what it was for."

Foreign firm?

What happened?

Could it be... that I'm going to have to move my main body?

The clone's mind raced.

He knew perfectly well that Feng Shao had gone to pick up that batch of weapons today, and that Feng Shao himself was also present.

Why did Deputy Director Niu choose this moment to rush over? What was he after?

They were clearly after that batch of contraband weapons, and wanted to detain people on the spot and solidify their crimes!

This is a setup!

A thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately understood—this wasn't an investigation, it was a trap, waiting to crush the real person to death!

The clone's hair stood on end instantly, and it immediately sent a message to its personal space.

A thin piece of paper was stuffed inside, the handwriting messy yet fierce.

But then he frowned and wondered: Why would Feng Shaoping want to kill him for no reason?

the other side.

Outside the warehouse, Li Wenguo suddenly felt a slight tremor in the space.

With a sudden surge of energy, he probed in instantly.

His face instantly turned ashen.

I am!

Feng Shao, you treacherous bastard, you really dare to stab me in the back?!

You just wait!

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was watching him, he flicked his finger and silently reached deep into the wooden crate, storing the entire batch of contraband into his spatial storage and replacing it with several old domestically made guns—a Hanyang rifle, a Type 24 rifle, and two Bren guns.

Fortunately, the gadgets he had previously smuggled were a mixed bag, and he also had a corner piled with his own creations.

If it's exposed, it's at most considered a violation of procurement regulations, not a serious crime.

As soon as he finished tidying up, Feng Shao entered the warehouse with the sound of his leather shoes.

As soon as he entered, he asked, "Manager Li, are all the things I ordered complete?"

"Ha, Mr. Feng, don't worry, it's all here! Let's inspect the goods first, and then settle the payment immediately!"

Li Wenguo wore a smile on his face, but in his heart he silently cursed Feng Shao's ancestors for eighteen generations.

I have to act—pretend I know nothing, so the other party won't become suspicious.

"No need, Manager Li." Feng Shao said sternly, in a businesslike manner. "I'm just a gofer. The person in charge hasn't shown up yet. We'll handle the inspection when he arrives."

He was always serious and rarely smiled; even the corners of his mouth looked like they had been measured with a ruler.

"Okay! I'll do as you say!"

Li Wenguo nodded in agreement, secretly sneering:

Ha, let's see if you can still keep that face later!

……

Deputy Director Niu acted swiftly, and soon he and his men blocked the doorway.

He knew exactly who was behind Feng Shao—a person who truly held the reins of the police force, so naturally he was determined to do his best to get things done.

By the way, this Niu Dali has only been the deputy director for less than three months.

The former deputy director had been suspicious of the clone "Yang Zhengde," but when the man disappeared, the position became vacant, and he just happened to take it.

Ultimately, this matter still falls on Li Wenguo's shoulders.

"Oh, Deputy Director Niu, what brings you here? What instructions do you have? Please let me know!"

Li Wenguo put on a smile that was three parts polite and seven parts stiff.

He planned to play along, let them perform their act until the truth was revealed, and then see who was the one pulling the show and who had been exposed.

Seeing his guilty expression, Feng Shao and Niu Dali assumed he was showing his true colors and scoffed inwardly, not even bothering to lift their eyes.