Courtyard Houses: From Families of Martyrs and Orphans to Giants of the Times

morning.

People in the compound gradually went out to work.

Yan Bugui, from the front yard, carrying a tattered briefcase, slowly rode out the door on his old, worn-out bicycle.

Sha Zhu was also wrapped in a cotton-padded coat, with half a cornbread in his mouth, muttering curses as he walked.

"Damn it, the cafeteria serves potatoes and cabbage every day."

"I feel like throwing up just from the smell of cabbage."

He Yushui followed behind, muttering to herself.

"Brother, you even stole someone else's leftover meat last night."

"Go away, what does a little girl like you know?"

Their voices faded into the distance.

The entire courtyard finally quieted down.

In the west wing of the backyard.

Lin Jian'an gently closed the door.

Then he glanced back at the kang (a heated brick bed).

Yi Xiulan was already asleep.

After taking the medicine yesterday, my complexion improved significantly.

At least he's not coughing up blood anymore.

But Lin Jian'an knew the truth.

This is only a temporary measure.

The root cause hasn't been cured yet.

This era.

The most needed thing for lung disease patients is medicine.

Especially penicillin.

Thinking about this...

Lin Jian'an couldn't help but rub his temples.

"Still poor..."

After all.

The problem is still about points.

The system store is a good thing.

But I don't have any points.

That's just for show.

"system."

[Host, please speak]

"Besides buying used items, are there any other ways to earn points?"

[Currently, only the recycling function is available.]

[Upon system level upgrade, new era quests, special trading features, and collection rewards will be available.]

Lin Jian'an sighed.

really.

At this stage, we can only pick up bargains.

But this actually put him at ease.

Because of this matter.

His major is relevant to his job.

In my past life, I was an antique dealer.

What is the most valuable?

What will rise in the future?

No one knows better than him.

People of this era.

They had no idea how outrageous the future collectibles market would be.

Many things that are now worth only a few cents and nobody wants them.

Decades later.

They can all fetch astronomical prices.

Thinking about this...

Lin Jian'an's eyes gradually brightened.

"Junkyard..."

"Used bookstore..."

"Old furniture..."

"There's gold everywhere these days."

He became more and more excited as he thought about it.

He then immediately got up and started rummaging through the boxes in the house.

There weren't many things in the room.

After all, the family had long been practically broke.

An old wooden crate in the corner.

It contained miscellaneous items left by my father, although they had already been tested.

A few copper coins.

A chipped enamel mug.

There's also an old pipe.

"System, check."

next second.

A system notification appeared immediately.

[Old copper coin: worth 2 points]

[Old-fashioned cigarette holder: worth 1 point]

[Republic of China Era Enamel Mug: Worth 1 point]

Lin Jian'an was secretly delighted.

It really can be changed.

Although not many.

But even a mosquito's leg is still meat.

"All will be recycled."

Swish!

Several things vanished instantly.

[Received 4 points]

Current points: 14

Looking at the system panel.

Lin Jian'an finally felt a little more at ease.

At least.

I now have a stable career path.

Available soon.

He frowned again.

"The problem is, we don't have many valuables at home."

"If we keep recycling like this, we'll eventually run out of space."

Just then.

The system suddenly beeped again.

High-value items detected

Location: Backyard woodshed

[Target: Older edition books]

Lin Jian'an suddenly looked up.

Woodshed?

In his memory.

Nobody ever goes to that dilapidated woodshed in the backyard.

It was filled with rotten wood and broken boxes.

Could there be a leak?

Thinking of this.

Lin Jian'an immediately stood up.

Push open the door.

A cold wind suddenly rushed into my neck.

He shivered from the cold.

Winters in Beijing in the 1950s were truly cold.

Unlike later generations.

With the air conditioner and heating on, the room feels like springtime.

These days...

They relied entirely on the coal stove to keep going.

Moreover, there isn't enough coal to burn.

A corner of the backyard.

The door to the woodshed was half-closed.

Lin Jian'an pushed open the door and went in.

A dusty smell wafted over.

He choked and frowned.

"Cough cough..."

It was pitch black inside.

A pile of scrap wood lay in the corner.

The ground was covered in coal ash.

There were also several large, moldy wooden crates.

Lin Jian'an squatted down.

Start flipping through it little by little.

The system prompts became increasingly clear.

[Target approaching...]

[Target approaching...]

at last.

He pulled out a yellowed old book from the bottommost broken box.

The cover is almost rotten.

There were also insects in the corners.

But you can still vaguely make out a few traditional Chinese characters.

The Record of Metal and Stone.

The instant I saw the book title.

Lin Jian'an's heart skipped a beat.

"Holy crap..."

In his previous life, he was an antique collector.

Of course I know about this.

The Record of Metal and Stone.

Written by Zhao Mingcheng of the Northern Song Dynasty.

It is dedicated to recording ancient bronze and stone artifacts.

Although the book in front of me is just a reprinted fragment from the Republican era.

It can be left for future generations.

It is still considered an ancient book.

Especially in the collecting community.

Many people collect older versions.

"System, check."

Fragment of an old Republic of China edition of "Jinshi Lu"

[Value: 20 points]

[Testing and Evaluation: Possesses historical and collectible value]

Lin Jian'an's breathing quickened.

Twenty points!

This was the first time he had ever encountered something of such high value.

He even felt like he had won the lottery.

"Recycle!"

next second.

The old books vanished instantly.

[Received 20 points]

Current points: 34

[New Player Quest Progress: 2/3]

The moment the system notification sounded.

Lin Jian'an almost burst out laughing.

Thirty-four points!

Finally, it's not in single digits anymore!

And more importantly—

He was absolutely certain of one thing.

System recycling standards.

It truly has future value!

What does this mean?

This means the entire 1950s.

Something worthless in the eyes of others.

In his eyes.

It's all gold mines!

"Sent..."

"This time they've really struck it rich..."

Lin Jian'an's heart was beating faster and faster.

She even had trouble controlling her emotions.

To know.

It's only 1952 now.

Far from a true collecting craze.

It's still a long way off.

Now these old books, calligraphy and paintings, and old furniture.

Nobody took it seriously.

Many families even burn it as firewood because they think it takes up too much space.

But he knew.

Decades later.

How much are these things worth?

Just then.

The system voice sounded again.

[Host detected to have acquired high-value recycling for the first time]

[Reward: Basic Appraisal Skill]

next second.

A wave of unfamiliar memories rushed into my mind.

porcelain.

Calligraphy and paintings.

timber.

bronze.

stamp.

Various identification techniques have emerged in rapid succession.

Lin Jian'an's head felt throbbing.

Several seconds passed.

It took a while for me to recover.

"Holy crap..."

"Can the system even provide top-level infusions?"

He looked down at a broken wooden plank on the ground.

Almost instantly.

The information popped into my mind.

Common elm wood

[No collectible value]

Then look at the old brass lock next to it.

[Republic of China Era Brass Lock]

[Slight collectible value]

Lin Jian'an was overjoyed.

This ability is so useful.

I'll go to the recycling center from now on.

It's practically like having X-ray vision.

Just then.

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside.

And then there's Jia Zhangshi's raspy voice.

"I knew it!"

"That kid's always acting suspiciously!"

"Something's definitely hidden here!"

Lin Jian'an's eyes turned cold instantly.

Followed by.

The door to the woodshed was pushed open.

Jia Zhangshi poked her head in.

Lin Jian'an was spotted squatting inside at a glance.

"Yo."

"He was secretly hiding something, just as I suspected."

she said.

His eyes started darting around.

Especially notice the overturned wooden crate on the ground.

That look in his eyes.

I wish I could pounce on him right then and there.

Lin Jian'an slowly stood up.

"What's up?"

Jia Zhangshi snorted.

"Can't I come if there's nothing wrong?"

"This is the woodshed in the yard."

"It's not yours."

talking.

Her eyes suddenly lit up.

Because she saw what was underneath the wooden box.

There was also half a piece of oil paper pressing down on it.

These days.

Oil paper is not a cheap thing.

Jia Zhangshi immediately reached out her hand.

"What is this?"

Available in the next second.

Snapped!

Lin Jian'an pressed down on her wrist.

"Don't touch it."

Jia Zhangshi cried out in pain, "Ouch!"

"You little brat!"

"You still dare to make a move?"

She was about to throw a tantrum.

But she found Lin Jian'an staring at her coldly.

That look in his eyes.

It sent chills down her spine.

I don't know why.

She always felt that...

This child has changed.

The quiet, unassuming boy from before is gone.

Look at that look in your eyes now.

Like a wolf cub.

"Take it away!"

She shouted something, sounding fierce but actually weak.

Lin Jianan, however, did not let go.

He simply spoke.

"Don't go through my things again."

I'm really going to slap you.

The voice was very calm.

The calmer it is.

The scarier it is.

Jia Zhangshi actually started to back down.

She shook off his hand.

He was muttering curses under his breath.

"What the hell?"

"It's just a dilapidated woodshed."

"They really think they're something special."

You can criticize as you please.

She still left.

After everyone left.

Lin Jian'an's eyes slowly turned cold.

he knows.

The Jia family has already set their sights on me.

after.

The trouble will only increase.

But he didn't panic.

Because now.

He now has real confidence.

system.

That is the foundation upon which he stands in this era.

and.

As you accumulate more and more points.

The things he can exchange for will become increasingly outrageous.

food.

drug.

Industrial products.

There may even be mechanical equipment in the future.

Thinking about this...

Lin Jian'an slowly exhaled.

Then open the system store.

My gaze slowly fell on the bottom column.

There.

There's something new that we didn't have before.

[Basic Constitution Enhancement Liquid: 30 points]

There was also a line of smaller text next to it.

[Limited to one purchase]

Lin Jian'an's heart started racing.

Physical enhancement?

This is good stuff.

In this era.

Health is the most important thing.

Especially in the future, he will be involved in the black market, collecting antiques, and finding bargains in the countryside.

You absolutely need to be healthy.

He stared at the enhancement fluid for several seconds.

With one last grit of teeth.

"exchange."