Courtyard House: In this life, I have a new home!

9

The factory manager jumped to his feet, his face flushed red: "Yi Zhonghai! What the hell? Have you no shame?"

"thump"

A muffled thud.

His knees slammed into the ground, kicking up dust.

The factory manager froze, still holding the teacup lid in his hand.

No one expected that this old guy would actually kneel down—light was still shining through the crack in the door!

"Old Yi! Get up!"

He panicked and went around the table to grab it.

"I won't get up unless you nod."

Yi Zhonghai's neck was tense, and his hands were gripping the cracks in the cement floor tightly.

He had already planned it out—he had already lost all face, and the gossip in the courtyard could drown his ankles.

Embarrassing? It doesn't hurt.

The warm feeling inside Qin Huairu's stomach couldn't be allowed to cool down.

The factory manager paused, feeling as if he had been hit in the chest with a hammer.

He's an eighth-level fitter who has trained more than thirty apprentices. When machines in the workshop break down, he can fix them all by listening to the sound with his eyes closed.

He held half the factory's life in his hands.

In the past, it was considered natural for someone with children to take over the job; some people even had their wives take over.

But now—he got divorced one day and married someone who could be his daughter the next?

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

The factory manager stared at Yi Zhonghai, nearly crushing the enamel mug in his hand.

The old man's face was all scrunched up like a steamed bun.

"Is she really pregnant?"

The factory manager hit the nail on the head.

She said yes... I only half believe her.

Yi Zhonghai rubbed the seams of his pants, his fingernails still stained with engine oil.

"Believe it for nothing!"

The factory manager slammed his hand on the table, splashing tea everywhere. "She wants an abortion, and you're going to stop her? Do you think you can stop her?"

Yi Zhonghai's Adam's apple bobbed, but he remained silent.

He was scared.

I'm afraid that if I really get vaccinated, there'll be nowhere to buy a remedy for it later.

What I fear even more is that if the baby is born, my old bones will have to continue carrying the burden.

The factory manager sneered, "You retire, and she takes your place? Ha, there's a long line of bachelors in the factory!"

"Someone gave her two pounds of cornmeal, and she'd smile."

"If someone touches the back of her hand, she won't even raise an eyebrow."

"You think she's a pitiful person? She's a living weight—she tilts to whichever side offers the highest price."

Yi Zhonghai scratched the back of his neck violently, flakes of skin falling off.

"I... can't care about that now."

His voice was dry, like sandpaper rubbing against wood.

Yi Zhonghai stared at the marriage certificate, his hands trembling.

This paper is burning hot, like a piece of red-hot iron.

His son is long gone, his wife is gone, and even the little face he had in the courtyard house has been shattered to pieces.

Now he's just an empty shell, stubbornly clinging to the role of a father.

Qin Huairu tiptoed and kissed his cheek loudly.

He didn't laugh, but just rubbed the hem of his clothes, his throat dry: "Shall we... go to the hospital first?"

"What's the rush?"

She tossed her hair, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Going on the weekend is pointless; the kids won't grow any legs anyway."

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Everyone in the factory knows how she got in! Stop pretending to be diligent!

She leaned closer, her breath brushing against his ear.

He abruptly took half a step back, bumping his head on the corner of the table: "Wait! What if...it really is pregnant!"

She rolled her eyes, spitting almost onto his shoes: "Useless trash!"

The two squeezed into his old house.

I used to call him "Uncle Yi".

Now that we've met, I'll take a detour.

Half a piece of phlegm, not yet crushed, was still stuck in the cracks between the blue bricks at the entrance.

People passing by would still vomit without hesitation.

The woman in front of me, packing her bags and leaving, stood ramrod straight.

She initiated the divorce.

But who would believe that?

The hands that have handed out chopsticks by the stove for decades are hotter than any vow.

The divorce proceedings went much more smoothly than I expected!

Yi Zhonghai immediately began arranging to marry Qin Huairu.

The old lady looked like she'd lost all her strength, slumped against the wall, panting heavily.

She paid for and lived in this courtyard for over thirty years.

Are you really not moving? Even if those two get married, they'll still have to squeeze into one room, sleeping bed to bed.

But as she touched her chest, she wondered: What's the point?

Are you watching those two flirting all the time?

Did you really turn yourself into a walking pharmacy from anger?

She rolled up two old jackets, grabbed a cloth bag, and left.

Just before leaving, he glanced back at the courtyard house, his voice hoarse like sandpaper grinding iron:

I will never let my feet touch this ground in my entire life!

The magpie's nest has long been occupied; now it's someone else's bridal chamber.

But Yi Zhonghai doesn't look like a groom at all.

My mind is filled with that "son" who's nowhere to be found.

.

The next morning, Qin Huairu entered the steel rolling mill gate just in time.

The security guard at the gate spat, his spittle almost splashing onto her shoes.

She didn't even lift her eyelids, shrugged her shoulders, and strode inside.

From this day forward, she is also a paid, full-time employee!

Apprenticeship, 17.5 yuan per month.

The missing few dollars will be covered by Yi Zhonghai's retirement pension.

My reputation is ruined? I don't care.

Without Jia Zhangshi as a burden, the three children were raised well, earning a steady income of over thirty yuan.

Cursing? My ears are calloused from hearing it.

When Jia Dongxu first left, she was begging for food, collecting scraps, and sleeping under bridges while holding her baby. She heard all sorts of nasty things.

Now they've seized on Yi Zhonghai's weakness—his desire to have children—and they're determined not to budge!

Let others gossip? Let them be!

With my work badge hanging around my neck and my pay slip clutched in my hand—we're factory workers too!

If you take the money, I'll take it too; if you get a raise, I'll just wait it out.

The only problem was that no one was willing to take her along.

"I won't teach her! I think she's bad luck!"

"Bring her along? I'm afraid my apprentice will be gossiped about behind my back along with me!"

My wife said to stay as far away from her as possible!

"Get out! We don't accept this kind of goods in our factory!"

Has the factory manager lost his mind? He actually hired this woman?

Qin Huairu didn't care what others said.

There's an eighth-level fitter sitting at home!

She patted Yi Zhonghai on the shoulder: "Master, teach me how to be a fitter!"

Yi Zhonghai's eyes lit up, and he almost jumped up.

As long as you don't get involved in that kind of thing, teaching skills? A piece of cake!

Maybe she's sore from practicing that her arms and legs are weak, and she doesn't even want to think about that anymore...

Time flies, and the weekend is here in the blink of an eye.

"Walk!"

Yi Zhonghai grabbed the person and rushed to the hospital.

The courtyard behind them was filled with whispers, so the two of them automatically shut down their ears.

The results of it?

He returned with a livid face and his lips were taut.

Everyone understood immediately from her expression – she wasn't pregnant.

"Bang!"

The door was pounded on so hard it made a deafening noise.

He shouted in a low voice, "What exactly happened?"

"What happened?"

Qin Huairu's voice was even louder than his, "You can't do it because of me? I've had three kids, and I'm perfectly healthy!"

Yi Zhonghai felt a lump in his throat and almost rolled his eyes back.

They checked together today.

The doctor said his sperm motility was low, but there was nothing wrong with it; he just needed to try more.

Qin Huairu burst out laughing on the spot.

Yi Zhonghai silently swallowed his bitterness.

But this wife was bought at a high price, so no matter how hard it is, I have to keep working hard even with tears in my eyes!

Even if we have a daughter, we still have to raise her; the agreement is written in black and white.

Could he have another son next year? His knees creaked, his back stiffened, and clumps of hair fell out.

The matter of carrying on the family line had just begun to take shape when it slipped away again.

What?

Dry!

He swallowed pills, soaked goji berries, and ate stewed kidneys with every meal...

Two months have passed, and my belly is still there.

Qin Huairu is about to pass the fitter's exam and will soon receive her Level 1 certificate.

The master taught with all his heart, and the apprentice learned quickly and steadily.

But what about Yi Zhonghai?

Every part of my body is screaming warnings, but I still have to grit my teeth and keep going.

Something's not right, something's really not right...

Yi Zhonghai ran around like crazy, visiting three different hospitals, and his test results were crumpled from being clutched so tightly—but he was perfectly healthy and had no problem conceiving!

But why isn't Qin Huairu pregnant?

He kicked open the courtyard gate, his eyes bloodshot: "Tomorrow, come with me to investigate!"

"What are you investigating? I work every day!"

Qin Huairu rolled her eyes. "Those three kids, aren't they all my children?"

These words were like a brick, silencing him for six months.

This time he's denying it! There's always a problem between them!

There weren't any pits? How did the kid disappear?

Yi Zhonghai, who was hallucinating from missing his son, picked up the same energy he used to use when he scolded Aunt Yi, and his voice shook the roof tiles.

Qin Huairu shrank back, but still managed to ask for leave.

The next day, the doctor pushed up his glasses, suppressing a laugh, and said, "Ma'am, your IUD is still in place!"

"What ring?"

The two of them were stunned.

"The IUD! You got it inserted yourself!"

Wang Aiguo squatted at the entrance of the courtyard, swinging Xiao Chenxi's toes, and squinting at the direction of the hospital.

When those two come back, the roof of the courtyard house will probably be torn off.

He tampered with that ring.

I didn't put it in by hand, but it's done systematically, so it's no different from pressing a switch myself.

Who gave Yi Zhonghai the right to use his position as factory director to relentlessly target Yi Hongmei?

New and old accounts, settle them all together.

To his surprise, he turned his attention to Qin Huairu.

Wang Aiguo shook his head—she's not clean, the child can't be dirty.

Little Chenxi tugged at his ear: "Daddy! Get up!"

Wang Aiguo laughed. This wasn't telling him to lie down.

He wanted to learn to walk, but he mispronounced "crawl" instead.

The.

This kid doesn't crave meat at all.

It's strange that they only eat seafood.

In someone else's home? Back in Beijing, even the most powerful person couldn't handle it.

Wang Aiguo is different.

He has the whole ocean in his pocket!

My baby is only ten months old, but has already tasted all kinds of delicacies.

I've recently been eyeing mantis shrimp, which we call "shrimp crawlers" back home.

Xiao Chenxi's speech is still not fluent, and the first thing she said was "crawl".

.

His son wanted to eat, so he started cooking without saying a word.

Before 11 o'clock, the stove was already smoking.

The fresh air rushed straight into my nose and filled the entire yard.

"Ouch!"

"What fancy dish are you making this time?"

"Wang Aiguo, can't you have some martial ethics...?"

"It's only just past noon!"

"Are you looking to have a baby? My daughter just turned one month old!"

The complaints exploded.

More than a year has passed, and everyone is still dazzled by the aroma of his family's food.

Yi Zhonghai has long become a laughing stock.

Now, all they talk about is "making Wang Aiguo a big shot."

.

Wang Aiguo knew it perfectly well—

Be the boss? Nobody believes that!

Isn't what he's after just the big fish that was given away for free a while ago?

It was so satisfying to eat back then.

Later, he stopped fishing, and the welfare program was immediately cut off.

Would they really let him take the position?

Shouldn't we share some of the benefits with our neighbors?

Maybe they can even make some extra money.

These people in the courtyard house, they won't say a word unless they get a bargain, they're all as shrewd as monkeys.

I went fishing back then purely to set a trap for Yi Zhonghai.

The two people are lying at the bottom of the pit, panting, so there's no need for him to reach out and pull them up.

Uncle Yi?

Pooh!

You call me Uncle Ling, and it hurts my ears!

Clang!

The courtyard gate was kicked in half.

Yi Zhonghai roared, his voice shaking the rooftops: "Get inside! You fat old man!!!"

Huh?

Everyone was salivating from the enticing aroma when they heard this noise and all perked up their ears.

Is the show about to begin?

Today I'm going to the hospital for a follow-up check-up, aren't I?

Judging from his fierce appearance, he probably messed up with Qin Huairu!

My God!

Yi Zhonghai had only been discharged from the hospital a few days ago, and his face hadn't even recovered yet, when he sold everything he owned to marry Qin Huairu.

And what happened? My wife's belly remained flat.

This life is really tough!