Courtyard House: The Fisherman Never Goes Sick

In those days, telephones weren't even common, and pagers were nowhere to be seen. Even public telephones were a rare sight, with only 1598 units available by the 80s; now, having a thousand was considered a stroke of luck—making an instant call was as difficult as ascending to heaven. It wasn't that the government didn't want to build them; it was simply that the lines and technology were bottlenecks, leaving no other option.

Yang Wei went back to his room, his mind racing with doubt: Want to have a long phone conversation with Lou Xiao'e? No way! If he hadn't told his family beforehand, they'd be in complete chaos the moment he got home, and Lou Xiao'e would probably be frantically searching for him.

What made him both relieved and frustrated was that he wouldn't be seeing Ran Qiuye this National Day holiday. Ran Qiuye was working on a project with the professor her father knew, and had to stay in Shandong Province; she wouldn't be able to return to Beijing until winter break. He was relieved that he could keep the marriage a secret for a while longer; but frustrated because he wouldn't see that college student energy of hers anymore—strolling around campus, exuding an intellectual air, wasn't it even more pronounced than before?

A woman with intellectual beauty is like a slow-acting poison, making men's hearts itch with desire, and they can't resist.

Yang Wei lay in bed pondering for a long time, then thought of Yang Yourong, whom he had just seen at the restaurant. Her face was indeed alluring, but she was also a rose with thorns, a veritable Black Widow who would devour people without spitting out the bones. He hadn't gotten to know her well, but just looking at her, he sensed a dangerous aura. "No, I have to ask Old Man Sun, what kind of person is this Yang Yourong!" Thinking this, he got up and stepped towards the door to find Sun Jiufu.

To his surprise, the door had barely opened a crack when he was greeted by Yang Yourong's smiling face—she was holding up her hand, about to knock. "Oh, what a coincidence! How did you know I was here?"

"Could it be that we're telepathically connected?" Before Yang Wei could reply, she exclaimed.

Yang Wei's brows furrowed deeply—she was so troublesome! Such a persistent vixen! This beautiful woman was relentlessly pursuing him, and instead of feeling honored, he was getting a headache from all the annoyance. "Teacher Yang, is there something you need?" His smile vanished, replaced by a cold, icy expression.

"Can't I chat with you if there's nothing wrong?" Yang Yourong acted as if she hadn't heard her, still smiling.

"Professor Yang, reputation is a good thing, please have some self-respect," Yang Wei said, suppressing his anger. "I have a family, and besides, this is a state guesthouse—is what you're doing appropriate?"

His tone was sharp enough, wasn't it? But the "vixen" opposite him didn't even blink, still staring at him. "What's my status? What's my position? What's my reputation? I'm not some big shot, what would I need that for?" she retorted in rapid succession. "I'm working overtime to tutor the head chef of a state banquet, is there a problem with that?"

Despite the woman's seemingly respectable questions, Yang Wei knew perfectly well what she was up to—every step she took seemed deliberate. The more he thought about it, the more panicked he became: a lone man and woman locked in a room for an hour—wouldn't that cause a huge scandal?

"Alright, I understand what you meant during the day. No need for tutoring." Yang Wei cut the subject cleanly. "I have to go out, so could you please move along?"

"I knew you were annoyed with me." Yang Yourong blinked her alluring eyes. "But we've never met before and have no connection whatsoever. Why are you annoyed with me? Give me an explanation and I'm leaving right now."

"Why do you have so many 'whys'? I'm not a walking encyclopedia of questions." Yang Wei took a step forward, forcing her to take a half-step back. "You teach your classes, I'll study mine. Wouldn't it be better if we kept to ourselves? You're a widow, and I'm a married man. Less contact is better for both of us."

After saying that, he turned around, closed the door, and left, completely ignoring her.

Yang Yourong didn't speak, but the light in her eyes shone even brighter—like a greedy fox spotting fresh food, she became even more excited.

Yang Wei walked ahead, feeling like he had thorns sticking out his back. He was extremely annoyed: "What did I do to deserve this? How did I end up with this guy?" Unable to figure it out, he could only place his hopes on Sun Jiufu—that old man must know something.

Upon entering Sun Jiufu's room, seeing his helpless expression, Sun Jiufu chuckled first: "What's wrong? This old man introduced you to a beautiful woman, and you're giving me a sour look?"

Yang Wei glared at him: "You still dare to talk! That's called being disloyal and heartless!"

"You just left this old man there and ran off, and you still have the nerve to say that? You're disrespectful to your elders!" Yang Wei rolled his eyes and complained irritably, "Don't be so ungrateful for getting the benefits."

"You should be grateful! There are tons of people in the entire state guesthouse desperate to get close to Xiao Rong, you're the only oddball." Sun Jiufu pointed at Yang Wei's nose, grinning from ear to ear. "You turned down a relationship that was practically offered to you, and even tried to push it away. What's wrong with your head?"

"Mr. Sun, I'm really puzzled. Who exactly is this Teacher Yang?" Yang Wei quickly approached, looking distressed. "Please, have mercy and show me the way! She just cornered me again, insisting on tutoring me, and I'm really nervous!"

Sun Jiufu's smile faded, and he sighed, "Xiao Rong isn't a bad person, she's just unlucky."

He glanced at Yang Wei and said meaningfully, "Perhaps she finds you interesting, unlike other men who look at her with hooks in their eyes. She's only willing to get close to a gentleman."

Yang Wei stood there, stunned, his lips twitching.

So, she'll only let me go if I stare at her lecherously? What kind of bizarre logic is that?

The waters are too deep; Yang Wei said he couldn't handle them.

"However, don't treat this like a monster. If you can get along well with her, you'll benefit from it in the future." Sun Jiufu lowered his voice. "Her family background is not simple, I won't go into details. Just remember, in this state guesthouse, her words carry more weight than Xu Guoqing's; in the entire city of Beijing, there are very few who can outdo her."

"Alright, that's all I have to say. Think it over yourself. It's getting late, so get lost. I need to rest."

After saying that, Sun Jiufu directly told them to leave. Whether he was genuinely tired or deliberately making room for the two of them, Yang Wei could only be bewildered as he was kicked out.

Back in his room, Yang Wei breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully Yang Yourong wasn't there.

Yang Yourong didn't come again that night, but Yang Wei couldn't sleep.

It wasn't that he was picky about beds; rather, his mind was filled with the image of that woman. Her identity, family background, her motives for approaching him… there was definitely information behind it that he didn't know. In this era of limited information, he was completely clueless about anything he wanted to investigate, so he could only stay in his room and rack his brains.

Even as he drifted off to sleep late into the night, he still couldn't figure it out, only feeling that something eerie about the whole affair. Oh well, he'd just have to wait and see. He'd test her next time she came looking for him.

The next morning.

Although he went to bed late, Yang Wei woke up feeling refreshed. The system's hidden benefits were right there; his stamina was incredible, and only Lou Xiao'e truly understood the secret behind it.

Before arriving at the state guesthouse, he had just mastered the "god-level fighting technique" he had won in a lottery. Being god-level, it was no mere showmanship. Every move the system gave him was aimed at vital points; they were all killing techniques.

Once the attack is launched, the force cannot be controlled, resulting in either death or serious injury.

Yang Wei knew perfectly well: "These days, even being a hooligan can get you the death penalty. If I actually kill someone, I'll be in deep trouble too. I should avoid using martial arts as much as possible; it's my trump card for survival."

"Even if I use that move, I have to do it flawlessly, leaving no trace, completely destroying everything." Yang Wei silently recited the mantra in his mind, but unexpectedly discovered that this fighting technique had a hidden secret.

He didn't know when it had started, but his arms and lower body had become increasingly steady and powerful—a pleasant surprise indeed. The upcoming state banquet was no small matter; representatives from all over the country, plus foreign guests, would fill at least five or six hundred tables. For such a large-scale event, the kitchen was a battlefield, allowing no room for error. If any link in the chain broke down, it would be a catastrophic avalanche.

Even seasoned veteran Sun Jiufu began rigorous physical training a year ago, all to ensure a successful conclusion to this final state banquet of his life. The title of state banquet chef may seem glamorous, but only they know the blood, sweat, and tears behind it. There's no such thing as a free lunch. If something does fall from the sky, it'll be a hard disc, enough to kill someone.

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After washing up, Yang Wei knocked on Sun Jiufu's door, and the two went to the dining room together. They ate breakfast quietly, and Yang Wei secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't see Yang Yourong. Little did he know that this appearance had become the subject of old man Sun's gossip.

"Kid, Xiao Rong has both a great figure and a beautiful face, why are you hiding like this?" Old Sun said with a half-smile as he peeled an egg.

Yang Wei shook his head vigorously: "Old Sun, you don't know, the hardest thing to bear in this world is the kindness of a beautiful woman. I have a virtuous wife at home, I would never be unfaithful, and I would never want to be tainted by other women."

Yang Wei saw right through Old Man Sun's intentions. The old man clearly wanted to watch the show, and Yang Wei didn't care what benefit it would bring him. In any case, he would never grant that vixen's wish.

"Hmph, lusting after my body? You're not worthy." Yang Wei sneered inwardly. "Don't even think about touching one of my toes in this lifetime. This body of mine is reserved for my wife."

After eating, I entered the classroom at exactly 7:59.

The door was pushed open, and Yang Yourong walked in.

Today she wore a simple white suit, her makeup was flawless, and she walked with the stride of a model, her chest held high, a high-end perfume wafting through the air. These days, simplicity is valued, and her outfit and perfume were definitely not from a simple background; she couldn't have gotten them without some overseas connections.

This woman practically screamed "I'm special" on her face. The more glamorous her makeup, the louder the alarm bells rang in Yang Wei's mind. The deeper her background, the more wary he became. Why would such a woman go to such lengths to throw herself into his arms? If he hadn't been able to resist opening the door last night, he'd probably be trapped by now.

The meat that's brought to your mouth is often the hottest. The more vibrant the color of the poison, the faster you die. Yang Wei saw it clearly: this woman was not only a seductive vixen, but also a deadly poison that kills instantly.

He glanced at her briefly before quickly lowering his head, adopting an "I'm oblivious to everything else" attitude. From now on, he would only look at the floor during class and never make eye contact with her. He didn't care if he said something harsh in private, as long as it made her back down.

Yang Wei's only purpose in coming here was to obtain the certificate for a state banquet chef; he had no intention of getting involved in any conspiracy. Such murky waters could easily lead to utter ruin, and he had a long life ahead of him; he couldn't afford to jeopardize his future.

From the moment Yang Yourong appeared, her smile never faded, like a blooming peony, making everyone who saw her feel uneasy.

Her eyes, like hooks, were fixed on Yang Wei as she recounted the morning's lesson schedule.

This was the last class of the morning. The remaining tasks were simply to go to the kitchen to familiarize himself with the stove and utensils; once he got the hang of it, he could manage. Yang Wei's mind was racing with calculations: as long as he could get through this morning, this ordeal would be over, and from then on, he and this beautiful Ms. Yang would go their separate ways and have nothing more to do with each other.

But as the saying goes, "The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease." In this world, things often turn out differently: when you want peace and quiet, peace and quiet elude you; when you try to avoid trouble, trouble seems to walk right into your path.

After class at noon, Yang Wei, carrying his lunchbox, slipped over and sat down next to Old Sun as usual. The cafeteria was crowded and noisy; everyone had seen what happened yesterday. These past few days, Yang Yourong had been searching for him all over the cafeteria, and everyone knew it perfectly well. This woman was polite to others, but it was a distant politeness, devoid of any ulterior motives. Yet, with Yang Wei, she was all smiles and charm, her eyes brimming with allure.

.

Judging from his appearance and expression, anyone with eyes could see that among all the bachelors in the room, if anyone could win Yang Yourong's heart, it would be Yang Wei, and probably no one else. The others gave up hope and could only watch enviously from the sidelines.

Yang Wei was eating quietly with Old Man Sun when suddenly a shadow loomed over him.

"Gentlemen, would you mind if I shared a table with you?"

Yang Yourong arrived at the table right on time, carrying a tray. She made polite remarks, but her body was already slightly tilted, clearly determined to win.

Yang Wei felt incredibly choked up, his head spinning. He glanced up at her, his disgust undisguised, as if he were looking at something filthy. Sun Jiufu, sitting opposite him, witnessed this scene and his heart skipped a beat.

These days, although relationships between men and women seem simple and conservative, there's always a shadow where there's light. Sun Jiufu had seen all that shady stuff between Deputy Factory Director Li and Liu Lan in the original story. Logically, any man should be captivated by such an unexpected stroke of luck. But this woman in front of him, Yang Yourong, has both looks and figure, and she's actively courting him—why is Yang Wei acting like he's seen a ghost?

To say that Yang Wei is ignorant of social etiquette is utter nonsense. After spending the last few days with him, Sun Jiufu could see clearly that although the young man was young, he was incredibly calm and experienced in his speech and actions. For such a composed person to publicly show his displeasure could only mean one thing: Yang Wei loathed this woman to the core, and he couldn't even be bothered to pretend anymore.

Sun Jiufu's eyes darted around, and he shifted slightly to make room for her: "Xiao Rong, sit down. Now that the class is over, you can finally relax. For the next year, you can do whatever you want."

He was trying to smooth things over and steer the conversation towards everyday family matters.

Yang Yourong sat down, sighed, and revealed a well-hidden weariness between her brows: "Old Sun, you don't know, I'm not destined for a life of leisure. The foreign exchange market has been incredibly turbulent lately. You know what I do. Without some skills, it's questionable whether I could even handle today's task. There are less than three months left until the year-end settlement. If I don't produce some decent results, it's hard to say whether I'll still be standing here talking to you next year."

Sun Jiufu picked up a piece of food and said slowly, "Well, there's no way around it. If you're going to do this kind of work, you have to put in the effort. But I see you're quite capable, young lady. Completing the task is just a matter of lifting a finger. I'm just an old man who can only stir-fry vegetables; I can't help you much. If you get tired someday, come to my little courtyard. I'll prepare a couple of good dishes for you to relax. That shouldn't be a problem!"

These words revealed the loving kindness of an elder. Yang Yourong also genuinely respected Sun Jiufu, her tone carrying a touch of sincerity: "Then I must thank you. In the entire capital, there's a long queue to eat your personally cooked dishes. Your promise is more precious than anything else; my trip to this state banquet to give this lecture was definitely worthwhile."

At this point, she paused, and her beautiful eyes suddenly turned, staring intently at Yang Wei, who had been silently eating.

Sun Jiufu, being a shrewd man, immediately cooperated and asked, "What's a pity?"

Yang Yourong gave a bitter smile, her eyes filled with resentment: "It's a pity that someone could have lent a hand, but instead they just stood there watching the show. No matter how much I tried to be nice, they wouldn't give me the slightest chance."

"Oh? You mean, Xiao Yang can help you handle that foreign exchange business?" Sun Jiufu feigned surprise.

"Of course! You don't know, the person who recommended Master Yang is my boss. He praised him to my face, saying that Master Yang is a once-in-a-century genius, with great strategic thinking and ingenious plans, but he is low-key and doesn't like to show off, which is why his reputation is not well-known."

Upon hearing this, Yang Wei paused, his chopsticks still in his hand, the mystery in his heart finally solved.

So that's where the root of the problem lies! No wonder this woman was so smitten the first time they met, showering him with attention, practically throwing herself at him, and even hinting that she could "do whatever she wanted." She was clinging to him like a lifeline, hoping he'd help her complete that damn foreign exchange task.

Yang Wei was secretly delighted: If you want something from me, just say so. If I could help, would I really turn you away considering your status and background? Why did you have to go through all this trouble, using a honey trap and playing hard to get, and finally come up with this elaborate scheme?

He couldn't be bothered to listen to their cryptic banter any longer. He quickly shoveled the rice out of his bowl, put his chopsticks on the table, and stood up. Without even glancing at Yang Yourong, he simply cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Sun Jiufu: "Old Sun, I'm full. I'll head back to the kitchen now. Please enjoy your meal!"