Courtyard House: The Fisherman Never Goes Sick

After getting off work in the afternoon, Yang Wei strolled towards the courtyard house.

I ran into Sha Zhu at the gate, and the two of them were walking home chatting and laughing.

"Brother Yang, the factory's been operating at full capacity lately, you must be exhausted," Sha Zhu said casually.

"It's alright. Compared to the people in the workshop, the work in the canteen is nothing. But now that you've become the deputy factory director, mainly in charge of safety and other issues, are you adapting well?" Yang Wei asked.

"It's alright, I'm adapting quite well. Luckily, I served as the head of the security department for a while, otherwise I really wouldn't have been able to adapt. When I first took over, I didn't understand any of the production safety issues," Sha Zhu said with a slight smile.

Having grown accustomed to being the deputy factory director, directing his subordinates every day, Sha Zhu had, over time, begun to display the air of a leader. His actions and speech also began to show composure, which made Yang Wei increasingly satisfied.

Promoting Sha Zhu to the position of deputy factory director wasn't as easy as it seemed. Wang Xinmin readily agreed, but on one condition—Sha Zhu had to be capable of the role and ensure the safe production of the steel rolling mill. Otherwise, even with Yang Wei's considerable influence, it wouldn't be enough in the face of an accident.

"Zhu Zi, remember, you must always keep production safety in mind."

Yang Wei had told Sha Zhu these things before he took office.

"Safety first, prevention is paramount. We must strictly implement the safety responsibility system, with each level holding the next accountable. There can be no carelessness. Most of our steel rolling mill's production relies on machinery. If anything goes wrong, it will be a serious matter. Losing your job is a small matter, but casualties are a big deal!" Yang Wei reiterated.

Although a comprehensive corporate safety management system has not yet been established in later generations, safety is always of paramount importance. Therefore, other matters can be disregarded, but safety must never be neglected. If you let your guard down, an accident will be a major disaster.

In workshops where everything is machine-made and operating at high speeds, even the smallest piece of clothing caught in the machine could result in instant death. In the future, with the advancement of information, Yang Wei had seen too many videos of workers accidentally getting caught in machines. Some were even trapped because of the machines, unable to shut them off, and were dragged or thrown to their deaths by the machines.

Just thinking about that scene makes Yang Wei remember the chills he felt when he first saw it.

"Don't worry, Brother Yang!"

"With mass production underway, I hold daily meetings with the workshop director, group leaders, and shift leaders to emphasize safety. We strictly prohibit any violations, and I even personally inspect the operations from the workshop floor. If I discover even one violation, I will deal with it severely without exception!"

Sha Zhu patted his chest and assured him.

Hearing his words, Yang Wei felt a little relieved.

After that, they stopped talking about things at the factory.

"By the way, Xiuqin's already showing, isn't she?"

"Yes, I'm four and a half months along, and my belly is starting to show. Yang-ge, I'm so excited about seeing my baby in just four or five months!"

Sha Zhu smiled longingly, revealing a set of bright white teeth.

Seeing him like this, Yang Wei felt the same way.

The two chatted and laughed as they returned home. After saying goodbye in the middle courtyard, Yang Wei went back to the backyard. He first went inside to inquire about Lou Xiao'e's condition and, finding everything was fine, washed his hands and went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

After the family finished eating, Yang Wei stayed home reading and watching over Lou Xiao'e as usual.

The morning sickness has completely subsided, but I'm still a little drowsy.

Yang Wei was reading a book, while Lou Xiao'e was lying in bed, already asleep.

It's 7 p.m.

It had already gotten dark.

Ran Qiuye, far away in Wutong Mountain in Shenzhen, along with her teachers and classmates, stepped out of the shadows and began their journey towards Hong Kong across the river.

"Everyone, stay close to me and don't get lost. There are some wild animals in these mountains. If we can't get through in one go, we'll be in mortal danger if we get stuck here."

Ran Qiuye's teacher warned in a deep voice.

He didn't know if there were wild animals. But he knew he had to bring these people with him. Someone was already waiting there. Exchanging these people for his first fortune would be enough for him to gain a foothold in Hong Kong.

He fantasized about selling these students to get enough money to become an upper-class person and live the life he wanted. At this moment, with his back to the crowd, his eyes revealed a look of expectation and greed.

Because it was too dark and he had his back to everyone, Ran Qiuye and the others couldn't see this scene at all. Otherwise, they would have known that this person was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

"Female students in the middle, male students in the back. We can only get through by working together. No loud noises or running around during this time, understand?"

The man, still uneasy, gave another instruction.

"Okay, teacher!"

A group of more than ten men and women readily agreed.

Ran Qiuye, mingling among the crowd, became the primary target of everyone's attention. Because among them, she was the only one who didn't want to go to Hong Kong and wanted to return home.

Flies don't land on eggs without cracks!

If these people hadn't been blinded by desire, they wouldn't have followed their teacher in trying to escape to Hong Kong. The idyllic scene depicted by their teacher had already captivated them, leaving them unable to extricate themselves. The only reason they've endured this long is because of their yearning for a better life. Otherwise, the mosquito bites and the unbearable cold would have long been unbearable for these privileged individuals.

The group quickly followed the middle-aged man, heading towards a route they were already familiar with.

Ran Qiuye's face showed a look of sorrow and helplessness.

I thought this teacher was a friend of my parents and could help my future studies, which is why I agreed to come here with him for research. Who knew his research project was actually about how to go to Hong Kong!

When she learned of this purpose, she made it clear that she wouldn't go and wanted to go back. But once you're on a pirate ship, it's not so easy to get off. Various forms of moral blackmail, pleas, and both soft and hard tactics left Ran Qiuye powerless, and she could only be swept along.

Ran Qiuye, walking among the crowd, suddenly burst into tears and gazed into the distance to the north.

"Yang Wei, I miss you so much! I long to see you again!"

"Mom and Dad, your daughter is unfilial; I can no longer be by your side to serve you!"

Goodbye, Shandong Province!

Goodbye, Beijing!

Goodbye, my motherland!

Yang Wei sat on the bed, leaning against the pillow, looking down at the book in his hand.

He glanced at Lou Xiao'e, who was fast asleep beside him, and smiled slightly.

A wife, kids, and a warm bed—that's the kind of life many men dream of.

However, under various life pressures, very few things can actually be achieved.

Many men and women, even when they are together, are dreaming different dreams while sleeping in the same bed.

He reached out and tightened the blanket around Lou Xiao'e.

Sensing Yang Wei's movement, Lou Xiao'e rolled over, hugged him, and continued sleeping.

"Like a little pig, eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating."

"I wonder how many pounds you'll gain this time!"

After saying something in a low voice, Yang Wei continued reading.

-

On a dark road at night.

Ran Qiuye followed in the footsteps of the others, crossing Wutong Mountain.

Heading straight to Hong Kong.

If they swim across, they will enter Yuen Long in Hong Kong.

If you go from Wutong Mountain, you will directly enter a place called Huashan in Hong Kong.

Many mainlanders who sneak over from Wutong Mountain, without finding relatives or friends, will stay in Huashan for a short time.

This Mount Hua is not the Mount Hua in China; it's just a name that's the same.

Ran Qiuye and the others were aware of all of this.

Since we've decided to go, we can't just leave without doing any research.

Furthermore, the middle-aged man did provide some relevant information to convince them.

Therefore, these people were very clear about where they would stay after arriving in Hong Kong.

"Classmates, once we reach Mount Hua on the other side, we only need to endure one night."

"Someone will come and take us out, help us get our identification documents, and find us accommodation. Then, you'll be able to enjoy life with your teacher!"

"There you'll find endless delicious food, unlimited money, luxurious houses, beautiful clothes—everything you could want."

"There's nothing Hong Kong can't do, only things you haven't thought of."

The middle-aged man continued to incite these people.

These words were less directed at Ran Qiuye and the others, and more a description of his own bright future.

Money doesn't come from thin air.

No pain, no gain!

And what about the sacrifice?

The middle-aged man couldn't help but glance back at the crowd.

In his eyes, these people were like piglets waiting to be sold.

As soon as the buyer arrives, he makes the purchase, and the money and goods are settled immediately.

From now on, we'll be separated by the vast world, never to meet again.

"Understood, teacher!" the students behind him replied softly.

His tone was filled with indescribable excitement and exhilaration.

"Students, quicken your pace!"

He urged them on again, and the middle-aged man led the group to walk quickly.

Wutong Mountain is actually very dangerous; it is home to many pythons and wild boars.

Especially at night, these animals are most frequently seen.

If you're not exceptionally brave, you really wouldn't dare to walk this way.

However, when faced with desires, there is nothing a person wouldn't dare to do.

After a bumpy and difficult journey, it took four hours to walk.

The brightly lit Hong Kong in the distance finally came into view.

The exhausted crowd was instantly invigorated upon seeing this scene.

"I saw it!!"

"We're almost there!!"

Hong Kong, here I come!!

"I want to eat big crabs, I want to live in a big house, I want lots and lots of money!!"

At that moment, the demon of desire that everyone had in their hearts erupted instantly.

Everyone dreams of what they want.

It seems like those things are meant to be kept in Hong Kong.

They can have it immediately as long as they go there.

There was only one person.

That was Ran Qiuye.

She had discussed this matter with Yang Wei.

Regarding the situation in China, and regarding the situation in Hong Kong.

According to Yang Wei, Hong Kong's unprecedented prosperity at this time was only due to domestic and international factors.

This is the intersection of imports and exports, the middleman of all transactions.

That's why this place is so prosperous.

However, Ran Qiuye clearly remembered one sentence.

"The rich can do whatever they want, while the poor don't even have the right to drink water."

Although she didn't know why Yang Wei knew so much about this place.

However, Ran Qiuye believed Yang Wei's words and actions without a doubt.

So, she couldn't help but have a question about the wonderful life her teacher described.

Is it really that wonderful?

"Otherwise, why would so many people want to go to Hong Kong?"

Was Yang Wei wrong?

The more she got closer to Hong Kong, the more doubts she had.

They fell into doubt.

However, when she glanced at the teacher standing in front of her, whom she had initially thought was a very good teacher...

This is the time to transform into a demon who controls the desires of others.

She seemed to have found an answer in her heart.

Intellectual and gentle, these are the qualities of a woman.

However, this does not mean that Ran Qiuye is really a weak woman who doesn't understand anything!

In the original story, the Ran family suffered a major upheaval. Although Ran Qiuye lost her job, she was still able to live peacefully and get through the most difficult days.

This is enough to show that she is a woman who is gentle on the outside but strong on the inside.

Therefore, at this moment, Ran Qiuye made a decision.

Since we can't leave now, we have to go to Hong Kong.

Then I can no longer stay with these people.

Otherwise, there will inevitably be unforeseen difficulties and obstacles in the future.

Unconsciously, Yang Wei's face appeared in her mind.

"Akiha, remember this: everything in this world follows a certain pattern."

"When everyone is focused on rushing towards something, you must be prepared to retreat at any time. But when everyone is preparing to retreat, you must also be prepared to take the initiative and attack."

"Only in this way can you stand out from the crowd and achieve success."

At this moment, Ran Qiuye made a decision.

Her demeanor changed completely, becoming a blend of strength and gentleness.

The middle-aged male teacher standing at the front turned around and looked at everyone.

Suddenly his gaze sharpened and landed on Ran Qiuye.

I've discovered a different kind of charm.

At this moment, Ran Qiuye showed a strange and inexplicable change.

Although I don't know why.

However, a hint of longing and greed was revealed deep in his eyes.

"Alright everyone, take a two-minute break, have some water, and eat some dry rations. Now we're going to press on and reach our destination in one go!"

He gave the order and came to Ran Qiuye's side.

She said softly, "Qiuye, you are Lao Ran's daughter, and he and I have been friends for many years. Don't worry, stay with me, and I will definitely not let you suffer."

"Once you get to Hong Kong, if you want to continue your studies, I can recommend you to Hong Kong University for further education. After you graduate, there will be opportunities to return to Beijing and see your parents again."

"Okay, thank you, teacher, I understand!"

At this moment, Ran Qiuye became docile.

Upon hearing her words, a hint of doubt appeared in the man's eyes.

However, Ran Qiuye kept glancing at the view of Hong Kong across the river.

His furrowed brows relaxed.

I guessed that it must be because he saw the bustling Hong Kong that he turned out this way.

Yang Wei was in Beijing, reading by candlelight, with his pregnant wife sleeping soundly beside him.

Little did he know that another girl he longed for was going through the biggest crisis of her life!

Facing a mature yet ruthless teacher, she is plotting how to escape his clutches.

Years later, when they met again, Yang Wei realized just how dangerous that night had been.

At 11:30 p.m., Yang Wei, who was about to go to sleep, suddenly felt a throbbing in his heart.

It felt like my heart was being squeezed tightly in an invisible hand, as if it were about to burst at any moment.

Just as he was about to stand up, he suddenly lost his balance and fell back onto the bed.

"What happened?"

Why does my heart suddenly feel so uncomfortable?

At that moment, Yang Wei suddenly felt as if he were facing death.

A fine layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and his whole body turned deathly pale instantly.

Lou Xiao'e, who was still fast asleep nearby, did not notice what was happening.

Heart palpitations come on quickly and go away quickly.

It took about ten seconds to return to normal.

After taking a few deep breaths, Yang Wei slowly felt his body under his control and then slowly stood up.

Humans have some kind of sixth sense.

It's just that some people perceive it very clearly, while others perceive it very vaguely.

For example, one day you suddenly have a sudden urge and feel like you might find money on the street.

When you go out, you will see a Mao Zedong bill on the roadside, quietly waiting for you to bend down and pick it up.

Many people have encountered this situation.

It's a feeling, very mysterious.

However, almost everyone will encounter this in their lifetime.

Or you might see someone you don't know well, and when you meet them for the first time, you feel like you've seen them before, and you can't help but feel close to them, and you might even develop a relationship in the future.

Wait, all these situations can be attributed to a sixth sense.

Yang Wei was in this situation at that moment.

He knew that something about him was happening.

However, almost everyone he could be connected with in this world lived in this courtyard house.

"What exactly happened?"

"Could it be that something is wrong with my health?"

Or perhaps...

Yang Wei's expression changed involuntarily.

Now, the only one who might change is left.

That silly girl who lives far away in Guangzhou.

"No way!!!"

At this moment, Yang Wei's face turned ugly again.

If something happens to that silly girl, it could very well affect me.

Could this be a bad omen?

At that moment, Yang Wei felt a sense of panic.

"Damn it, is it really true?!"

"What if she doesn't listen to my advice and actually goes there?"

At this moment, even with immense skill, Yang Wei was powerless.

All we can do is wait quietly!

With the emperor far away and communication and transportation underdeveloped, it was unrealistic to even want to go to Guangzhou.

"No, I'll go to the Ran family tomorrow!"

Thinking of this, Yang Wei glanced at Lou Xiao'e, who was fast asleep beside him, stood up, and turned off the light.

Yang Wei, in the darkness, could not fall asleep for a long time.

This night was destined to be a sleepless one.

-

We have already crossed Wutong Mountain.

There was only one barbed wire fence left in front of us.

Once you get through this barbed wire fence, the rest of the road will be wide open.

Everyone's eyes were filled with hope and anticipation for the future.

The line between beauty and darkness is truly thin.

The more beautiful your fantasies about the future, the darker the reality that may be the next second.

"Let's go, let's go to Hong Kong and live a good life!"

The middle-aged man waved his hand and led the group straight ahead.

At this time, there weren't many guards here, nor were there police dogs patrolling the mountains and forests.

Only the staff who block the entrances and exits during the day will patrol back and forth.

At this moment, all the staff members had already fallen asleep, going to find the Duke of Zhou's daughter to do some things they liked.

We reached the edge of the barbed wire fence.

"Quickly, cut these wires!"

Several male students took out the pliers they had prepared beforehand, and forcefully snapped the wire, making an opening that they could crawl through.

Then, the middle-aged man took the lead and stood on the opposite side, directing everyone to crawl over one by one.

Once everyone, including Ran Qiuye, had arrived, a smile of success finally appeared on his face.

After four and a half hours, we finally crossed Wutong Mountain and arrived in Hong Kong.

"We did it, students!"

"We're about to live the life we ​​want, classmates!"

"Thank you for believing in me and following me all this way. Don't worry, your teacher will never let you down!"

Seeing that the task was about to be completed, he excitedly told everyone.

"Alright, now follow me forward. We still need to cross a small river before we reach our destination!"

Then, everyone listened to him and followed him forward.

Dapeng Bay!

After crossing that, you'll reach the Huashan area on the other side.

There, not only were there people who had rushed over early, but also a middle-aged man who wanted to make a deal.

Once you get there, nothing more will happen.

There are always people waiting here year-round, just to help these people who have escaped here get through.

Each person only needs to pay five yuan to get a spot.

After arriving here, we waited for a short while before we saw a small boat approaching.

The middle-aged man stepped forward, negotiated for a while, paid the money, and then organized everyone to sit down.

"Teacher Li, will we really be able to live in a big house and have a good life?"

After everyone boarded the boat, Ran Qiuye suddenly asked Teacher Li a question from the crowd.

Upon hearing Ran Qiuye's words, the other party did not answer immediately. Instead, he turned back to look at the increasingly distant Wutong Mountain, stared at it for a long time, and then smiled again. He exchanged a glance with Ran Qiuye, looked at the others again, and then spoke.

"You will naturally live a good life. Trust your teacher, you won't go wrong. I assure you, everything I've told you will come true."

Teacher Li's full name is Li Wei.

At this moment, that square face looked so sincere and kind.

However, when Ran Qiuye heard him speak, she didn't look at him, but instead looked at the boatman who was rowing the boat.

Upon hearing Li Wei's words, the other party revealed a mocking smile, and looked at them with a pitiful expression.

At that moment, Ran Qiuye had her answer.

He glanced at the river that was still a long way ahead, shifted his body almost imperceptibly, reached out and grabbed the side of the boat, and waited quietly.

Time passed quickly, and in twenty minutes we would be arriving at Mount Hua on the other side.

When they were still a few hundred meters away, Ran Qiuye, who was sitting on the boat, suddenly stood up without warning and jumped directly into Dapeng Bay.

He plunged in.

"Thump—"

The sudden change caught everyone off guard; no one knew why it happened.

"Help! Akiba!!"

However, no matter how Li Wei called out, Ran Qiuye, who had entered the water, never resurfaced.

As for the boatman, he didn't even bother to look at him, and just kept rowing the boat rhythmically.

"Save you my foot! This is all deep water, I'm not going in!"

"It's better that he's dead, at least he won't have to suffer hunger and cold there!!"