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

The Secret Service didn't believe for a second that the grain would be transported on foreign ships—foreign goods were exclusively for foreigners, and investigating would cause trouble, while not investigating would incur responsibility. So they simply shifted the blame to the police station: if something really went wrong, the police station would take the fall, and they could just drink tea and read the newspaper.

That's why the grain was successfully loaded onto the ship.

Li Wenguo, holding the title of deputy manager, smuggled in things as naturally as adding water to a teapot.

Before long, several flatbed carts approached, piled high with bulging "cotton bags" with brand-new seals and the logo of the foreign firm.

Kong Wu lifted a corner, glanced at the object, and waved his hand—let them pass.

Although they couldn't deliver all the food to the front lines at once, they managed to send a batch before they ran out of ammunition and food, allowing the soldiers to have a hot meal.

At least they weren't forced to charge into battle hungry.

The tension that had been building in Wang Zhiguo's heart for three days finally snapped away.

Back at the newspaper office, he immediately started praising He Shuting, his words constantly mentioning her husband, Li Wenguo—

"Your husband, Old Li, is truly a transport team in himself!"

He Shuting smiled, her eyes sparkling.

"By the way, Shuting, the organization will be sending a female comrade who is proficient in telegrams to Beijing in two days. Do you think it would be possible to ask Lao Li to help her get an identity certificate? She can stay at your house for a few days, and I will pick her up and move out once I have a safe place to stay."

"Sure, no problem!"

She agreed readily.

Need a certificate? Just get a stamp from the police station.

How many days can I stay here? Her family has a large courtyard with three courtyards and about forty rooms, half of which are empty and gathering dust. You can just tidy up any room without even needing to replace the broom.

"There's one more thing—" Wang Zhiguo rubbed his hands, a hint of embarrassment in his voice, "That last batch of grain completely emptied our funds, and now the accounts are almost empty. You see… could you ask your husband, Old Li, to be a little more lenient with the price on the radio station?"

It wasn't that he wanted to take advantage of anyone. He was simply penniless.

The newspaper company appears to be printing newspapers, but in reality, they have to be very careful with even the cost of ink; not to mention that this year, with the financial crackdown by the government and rice prices tripling, they are reluctant to spend even a penny.

Revolution isn't about shouting slogans; it's about squeezing every penny out of every corner and earning a living through sheer hard work!

"Don't worry, I'll tell you when I get back." He Shuting nodded in agreement, her voice clear and bright. "How many units do you need?"

"Ten units."

"Okay!"

Wang Zhiguo clicked his tongue in amazement: Having an insider in a foreign firm really makes a difference!

Controlled or prohibited goods, as long as the silver dollar is valuable enough, people will give it to you without hesitation, and the price will be kept very low.

Unlike others, who struggle in the black market, not only do they spend money, but they are also often bitten in return, living in constant fear like thieves.

This radio has been out of stock on the black market for three months!

Nine out of ten shipments had to be sent to various outposts overnight, but Wang Zhiguo didn't intend to trouble Li Wenguo with this task again.

He had his own underground transportation network—he knew the people, the roads, and the sentries.

The radio is tiny, easily fitting into a suitcase and carried around discreetly. If you can't even handle something this simple, you can only blame yourself for not having a tight enough network or deep enough stakes. It needs to be changed, immediately.

After exchanging the coded message, He Shuting got up to take her leave.

She was the newspaper's accountant, handling everything from accounts to payroll and loan disbursements.

I need to go to the bank to withdraw my salary first thing tomorrow morning.

"Shu Ting, shall I go with you?" Zhao Hengwei was already waiting by the door, and before he finished speaking, he had already stepped forward. "It's not safe for you to go alone."

"No need, I'll take a car, it's fine," she politely declined.

Zhao Hengwei, however, seemed not to hear him, continuing, "Recently, there have been groups of pickpockets outside HSBC. If they can't snatch something, they'll try to snatch bags in the street. With so many eyes watching, they'll have to think twice..."

She wasn't even given a chance to speak again.

"Madam, where are you going?"

Liu Shouhou had been waiting outside the door. As soon as He Shuting came out, he immediately went to greet her without even glancing at Zhao Hengwei.

HSBC.

"Alright, get in!" He deftly pulled the rickshaw over.

"Sun Gang, could you give my colleague a ride if you're going the same way?" He Shuting had no choice but to add.

"Yes, Madam." Sun Gang replied verbally, but his steps were a beat slower—the wheels had barely started moving when he was already behind, leaving Zhao Hengwei several steps behind.

Liu Shouhou and Sun Gang were perfectly aware of Zhao Hengwei's intentions. They just didn't want to openly break ties because they were all in the same organization.

He Shuting certainly understood what he was planning. But he never crossed the line, never passed notes, never gave gifts, never said anything ambiguous, he only appeared when he was supposed to and spoke when he was supposed to.

The two are both comrades and neighbors. If she were to make such a definitive statement, it would only make her seem like she was making a mountain out of a molehill and being narrow-minded.

This is precisely where Zhao Hengwei's cleverness lies—

He knew he had no chance at all, but times were tough, and who could say what tomorrow would bring?

Natural disasters, wars, sudden illnesses, accidents... it's not impossible that one day Li Wenguo might be unable to breathe in a woman's arms and suddenly let go.

Li Wenguo has always been fond of beautiful women, and he has married four beautiful and charming wives. There are also rumors that he keeps many female confidantes outside. Ordinary people really can't resist such a situation.

Right now, all he wants is to make a good impression on He Shuting and quietly pave the way for that faint hope for the future.

Her humble attitude is understandable—He Shuting is simply too outstanding, her beauty is dazzling and compelling, and almost no one can remain unmoved.

If it weren't for her ample and somewhat ostentatious bust, she would truly be considered flawless.

Unfortunately, Zhao Hengwei's tastes were exactly the same as Li Wenguo's.

More importantly, back in school, he had secretly engraved He Shuting's name in his heart.

It's a pity that the He family has always been meticulous in its calculations when it comes to marrying off their daughters, and they have extremely strict family rules, explicitly forbidding early romantic relationships. Otherwise, with Zhao Hengwei's handsome appearance, he might not have lost to Li Wenguo.

How could Li Wenguo have ended up getting such a great deal?

But just as the convoy passed the intersection, gunfire suddenly erupted!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Bullets darted about like locusts, grazing the walls and scattering sparks.

The four men's faces turned deathly pale instantly.

"Quick! Retreat with the lady!"

Liu Shouhou and Sun Gang took a step forward and blocked He Shuting's path, firing as they retreated quickly toward the sidewalk cover, finally crouching low and disappearing into a narrow alley.

Zhao Hengwei was completely left behind, left to fend for himself.

Fortunately, he was quick on his feet and followed closely behind into the alleyway.

"Fuck his ancestors!"

"These Japanese spies are tough nuts to crack!"

"Judging by his skills, he's probably a seasoned veteran in the military!"

Wen San, huddled behind an overturned car, spat at Wu Xiaogou, who was behind the car opposite.

"That's right, Brother Wen. Luckily, we persuaded Aunt Dong not to go any closer, otherwise she would probably be heartbroken by now."

Wu Xiaogou glanced back and saw seven or eight corpses lying haphazardly on the ground—some were his own people, and some were unlucky passersby. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his palms were covered in cold sweat.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

"Oh shit!"

"Doing this kind of work is even more dangerous than following Boss Liu and Boss Liu in the underworld!"

Wen San lowered his body to fight back while gritting his teeth and growling.

At least those who double-crossed were nothing more than a bunch of good-for-nothings carrying pistols and hurling grenades.

These men were all armed with long guns and magazines, their firepower as fierce as an iron broom, leaving a trail of blood in their wake.

"They turned into that alley ahead, give chase!"

Chang Binghui hid behind the door frame of a roadside grocery store, where he had a wide field of vision and immediately spotted the backs of three Japanese spies as they slipped into the alley.

One word from above, and the people below run themselves ragged.

Wen San, Wu Xiaogou, and the spies lying in ambush all around immediately gave chase.

Dong Haitang naturally didn't fall behind either. Although she lagged behind the group, her pace was not slow at all—as long as these Japanese soldiers were killed, she would definitely be credited.

Capture alive? Nobody even considered that.

This group is too ruthless; they use deadly moves every time. If you really try to fight them head-on, you might lose everything and not a single one of them will survive.

Killing him became the only way to survive.

In the alley.

Liu Shouhou and Sun Gang, each perched behind the brick wall on either side of the crossroads, watched as three fierce-looking men with guns stormed in, their hearts pounding.

"Skinny Monkey, what should we do?"

Sun Gang asked in a low voice.

Liu Shouhou quickly glanced behind him—the alley ended abruptly, leaving no way to retreat; the bare blue brick walls on both sides were devoid of even a single wooden stake.

If those three happen to walk by and discover them hiding here, they can just fire a burst of bullets.

Of course, it's also possible to bypass it directly...

But he didn't dare to gamble.

Just now on the road, two innocent passersby were taken down by them like targets.

He didn't want to repeat the same mistake.

So he gestured with his chin toward the opposite side and said, "Fire! Nail them down first, then let the others catch up and deal with them."

"become!"

Sun Gang nodded in response.

The two men suddenly leaned out, their guns spitting fire.

"Baka!"

"There's an ambush! Take cover!"

The three men rushed into the threshold of a shop, barely managing to protect their vital organs, and then opened fire on each other.

"Shu Ting, why are your two drivers carrying guns? If the Lixing Society sees them, we'll be in deep trouble!"

Zhao Hengwei's forehead was sweating, and his voice was strained.

He could see clearly that those chasing after him were plainclothes officers from the Lixingshe Society.

If they discover that two ordinary rickshaw pullers have weapons on their belts, they should be taken back for strict interrogation on the spot.

Isn't this pushing Liu Shouhou and Sun Gang into a fire pit?

"this……"

He Shuting's lips turned white, and her mind went blank.

She had never experienced such a scene before. Her whole body stiffened, and she even forgot the rhythm of her breathing. She could only let Liu Shouhou and the others make the decisions.

What do you think?

She asked back in a trembling voice.

Zhao Hengwei had already thoroughly searched the alley—it was a dead end, with brick walls on both sides over three meters high, impossible to climb over by hand.

A thought flashed through his mind, and he blurted out, "Pretend we don't know them! Once they're taken away, we'll leave the city immediately!"

Liu Shouhou and Sun Gang have long been the unwavering gatekeepers of He Shuting's residence. This identity is easily verified, and He Shuting is definitely involved.

Not only is she in trouble, but the entire Li family will also suffer.

"Absolutely not!!!"

Before He Shuting could finish speaking, she flatly refused, her refusal firm and decisive.

Zhao Hengwei's words were clearly forcing her to abandon her husband and young child and flee the capital overnight—how could she do such a thing?

"But if we don't leave, we'll all be dragged into a dark cell by the secret agents! Can you withstand those tortures? What will happen to everyone at the newspaper then..." Zhao Hengwei stopped abruptly, but He Shuting's mind was already in turmoil.

Yes!

Can I really hold on?

What if he couldn't hold back and confessed? Wouldn't that be like throwing the entire newspaper office into a fire pit?

But what will happen to my father if I just leave?

And then there's Guohua—he's only a month old and still breastfeeding. How could she bear to let her son suckle someone else's milk?

Liu Shouhou was on high alert, keeping a close watch on the alley entrance. The situation was extremely critical, so he had no time to pay attention to their argument.

"Skinny Monkey, should we throw a grenade and send those little devils to their deaths?"

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Sun Gang lowered his voice and asked.

"No need. The spies will surround us immediately; it'll be easier for them to take action."

Liu Shouhou didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice as soft as the wind brushing past a crack in the wall.