Courtyard House: My System - Artificial Human

"What? Cai Quanwu? He got a job at the steel rolling mill?"

In the backyard of the Liu family's courtyard house, Liu Haizhong was so startled that some cigarette ash fell onto his trouser leg. He quickly patted it off and looked up with a face full of surprise.

"Yes, Master! And that guy who was with him the other day, they both went to the steel rolling mill and are now apprentices in the fitter's workshop."

"Hey! What a small world! I'll have to report them to Xiao Lin; those two definitely didn't get in through legitimate means!"

Liu Hai was unhappy. His job at the steel mill was his livelihood and something he was proud of. How could those two be like him?

Jia Dongxu lagged behind, and without making a sound, took a cigarette from the cigarette box he had placed on the table.

"Master, I forgot my cigarettes!"

As soon as the two arrived at the middle courtyard, they heard a commotion in the front yard.

"What's going on? What's all the noise in the front yard?"

"I didn't notice! It was perfectly fine when I first came out!"

Jia Dongxu shook his head, Liu Haizhong paused, and walked towards the front yard.

There's no rush to complain to Lin Weidong; let's watch the show first.

As soon as the two arrived at the front yard, they saw Lin Weidong standing under the veranda, watching the commotion with a group of neighbors.

In the center of the crowd, Xu Damao's bright red handprint on his face was very conspicuous, and he stood there with his head drooping.

Beside him, Xu Fugui had a dark face and tried to speak up several times, but was interrupted each time.

Across from the Xu family father and son, several adult men surrounded them, pointing at Xu Fugui's nose and cursing. One of them was holding a stick, as if they were about to start a fight at the slightest provocation.

"At such a young age, he's already behaving badly. Look at his sleazy appearance! Let me tell you, Mr. Xu, if your family doesn't know how to discipline their son, don't blame us for taking matters into our own hands! Just wait and see if I don't break his legs!"

"You're barely out of your teens and you dare to come to our Jiudaowan to harass the girls? It's only because of the new society that you're saved. If it were before, I'd teach you a lesson!"

……

"Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin, what's going on?" Liu Haizhong was confused after hearing only half of what was happening, so he quickly went up to Lin Weidong and asked.

"What else could happen? Xu Damao tried to woo girls and pick up girls all the way to Jiudaowan, but he got caught by the parents and sent back."

"Oh dear, Xu Damao, how old is this kid and he's already thinking about all sorts of nonsense? Old Xu really doesn't know how to discipline his child!"

Liu Haizhong sounded regretful, but his face showed no corresponding expression; he was practically grinning from ear to ear.

Yan Bugui chimed in from the side.

"That's right! What's wrong with our department? First there was Jia Dongxu, and now this Xu Damao has popped up. Neither of them are learning anything good; they've ruined the atmosphere of our department!"

Jia Dongxu was standing behind Liu Haizhong, and he was displeased upon hearing this.

"Teacher Yan, what are you saying? This happened so long ago, why are you still bringing it up? You can't let it go, can you? Besides, I've already undergone education and reformation. You're just not trusting the police officers, aren't you?"

Jia Dongxu mimicked Lin Weidong's tone in his rebuttal, and Yan Bugui glanced at him sideways and immediately started talking.

"No way! How could I not believe the police officers? What I mean is, if you've done something wrong, correct it; if you haven't, keep up the good work. Look at Old Xu's family, they've come knocking on their door! How embarrassing! Luckily, Xiao Lin persuaded you to turn over a new leaf that day, otherwise... tsk tsk, you should thank Xiao Lin, don't you think, Old Liu?"

"Yes, yes, but Dongxu has changed for the better now, so don't be so pessimistic about him."

Liu Haizhong's face didn't look good either. Jia Dongxu is his apprentice now. Even if you don't respect the monk, you can't be so disrespectful to him!

This Yanbu Gui is so unrefined.

Liu Haizhong didn't want to pay much attention to Yan Bugui, so he suggested to Lin Weidong.

"Hey Weidong, I have something I'd like to talk to you about, is it a convenient time for you?"

"That's convenient! Tell me, what's up?"

Lin Weidong was in a really good mood at the moment, and asked with a smile.

"Here's what happened. Yesterday, Dongxu saw Fan Jinyou at the front gate of the steel rolling mill, along with that slovenly kid who came with him the other day. These two actually went to work at the factory as apprentices. I'm wondering... could they have bribed someone to get in? The steel rolling mill can't just hire anyone, right? What qualifications do they have? Can you do anything about this?"

Are you trying to insult someone indirectly in front of the person in question?

Lin Weidong's face darkened.

"Old Liu! Look, this is where your thinking is flawed. You're jumping to conclusions before you've even investigated the matter. It's a fact that the steel mill is expanding its workforce, right? It's a fact that there are requirements for apprentices, but they're not that strict, right? In our compound alone, Old Huang, Old Wang, several families' kids have gotten in. Does that mean they all got in through crooked means?"

Liu Haizhong scratched his head, stumbling over the barrage of questions, and managed a weak explanation.

"I was just thinking about how we had a falling out with the people from the courtyard house! And now that their people have come into the steel mill... sigh, anyway, I'm really upset."

"What are you afraid of? In terms of history and relationship, isn't our institute closer to the steel mill than they are to Qianmen? Even in terms of numbers, we have more people than them, so relax! Under normal circumstances, we won't suffer any losses!"

Liu Haizhong didn't understand the deeper meaning behind Lin Weidong's words and thought that what Lin Weidong said made sense. He clapped his hands and laughed.

"That's right! Weidong, you're so quick-witted. I didn't even think of that. Hey! So, if Fan Jin and his two buddies run into us at the steel mill, they'd better keep their tails between their legs! Otherwise, we'll have to teach them a lesson! Hehe... Weidong, what do you suggest?"

Old Liu, that's a bit impolite of you!

Lin Weidong didn't say anything, but pulled up his shirt collar.

"What's wrong, Weidong? There's nothing wrong with the clothes!" Liu Haizhong leaned closer to take a look, then looked up with a bewildered expression.

"Look at your brain! Who does Xiao Lin think he is to conspire with you? You're just trying to harm Xiao Lin! I'm not trying to be mean, but Lao Liu... you're absolutely up to no good!"

Yan Bugui finally seized the opportunity and frantically tried to sow discord.

Liu Haizhong realized what was happening and quickly explained.

"Don't talk nonsense! How could I harm Weidong? I just didn't think of it for a moment."

"You haven't harmed anyone yet? Ha... Who was it that tricked Xiaolin into going to Dashilan last time?"

"I...I didn't mean it, okay? Besides, Weidong has already forgiven me, so why are you instigating this? What does it have to do with you? You're always betraying your own people, even bullying them right at our doorstep. You're the one leading them around and taking them to the hospital. Who's really up to no good here?"

"Exactly, exactly! Teacher Yan, you're supposed to be a teacher, yet you set such a bad example for the kids in the neighborhood? Hey? Teacher Yan, are you related to that old guy from the movie theater? No wonder you've always been on their side!"

Jia Dongxu also got his chance, and the master and apprentice worked together to tell Yan Bugui about Hong Wen.

"Bullshit! I, Yan Bugui, am an upright and honest man. Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin, tell me, aren't they deliberately slandering me? That day, Officer Jin said no one was allowed to gossip in the courtyard... Be careful, or I'll report you both!"

"Alright, you two take your time arguing. I'm going back to calm down."

In contrast, Lin Weidong loved watching Yan Bugui suffer setbacks and didn't care at all; he simply walked away.

Seeing this, Liu Haizhong became even more arrogant and pointed at Yan Bugui's nose while cursing.

The commotion here quickly surpassed that of the side, and the onlookers in the courtyard all turned their attention away.

Xu Fugui felt a little relieved, but the group from Jiudaowanzi felt uneasy.

The residents of this courtyard house seem quite united. There's even someone helping to distract them?

Why did they have to start arguing now of all times?