Courtyard House: My Time Travel is a Bit Too Strong

To put it bluntly, as long as one does not betray the country, break the law, or cross the red line, the four words "orphan of a martyr" alone are an invisible talisman—in this day and age, they are harder than a steel seal and heavier than an official stamp.

Lin Quan had already stepped out of the grain shop and was walking slowly through the streets. His pace was unhurried, but his eyes were like a comb, carefully tracing the streets and alleys: blue brick walls, piles of coal briquettes, blue cloth shirts swaying on clotheslines, and the faint sound of broadcast gymnastics music coming from afar...

As he turned into Nanluoguxiang, he ran into the wave of factory workers leaving get off work.

The streets were filled with groups of workers, their work clothes faded from washing, the cuffs frayed, and the bronze badges of the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill pinned to their chests, shimmering in the setting sun.

"It wasn't even the critical moment of public-private partnership yet, but the workers already stood much straighter than those who later sat in offices."

Lin Quan spotted several familiar faces in the crowd – they were the “old acquaintances” from the neighboring No. 95 courtyard.

The master and disciple Yi Zhonghai, the "Lord of Morality," and Liu Haizhong and his son, who acted out a "filial piety" relationship more realistically than a theatrical performance.

Lin Quan paused for a moment, then his feet seemed to spring into action, and he took off again, his steps so fast they almost created a gust of wind.

He didn't want to see them at all!

What you fear most is exactly what happens.

He had just started walking briskly, his eyes still darting around, when a clear and enthusiastic voice called out from behind him, "Koizumi—!"

It is Yi Zhonghai.

Lin Quan's back stiffened as if he had been pricked by a nail, but in less than half a second, his shoulders relaxed, and his steps not only did not stop, but became even more hurried, as if a death warrant was following him.

"Koizumi! Wait!"

Yi Zhonghai was unwilling to give up, and called out twice, raising his voice several degrees.

Lin Quan closed his ears and silently chanted in his mind, "I won't listen, I won't listen, you bastard chanting scriptures."

Yi Zhonghai never expected that his mouth, which was usually so effective in the courtyard, would be so useless today that he couldn't even hold onto a single person's back. Before he could finish speaking, Lin Quan had already slipped into the alley entrance, leaving only a wisp of her clothes fluttering in the wind before disappearing from sight.

Yi Zhonghai's smile faltered, a shadow of unease crossing his eyes, but it quickly vanished as he scratched the back of his head, muttering, "This kid... why is he acting like he's seen a ghost?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Jia Dongxu scoffed, his nostrils flaring upwards: "I think he's asking for a beating; he should be given a good thrashing with a bamboo ruler!"

This man was tall and slender, with naturally curly hair and strikingly handsome features. Even before Lin Quan consumed the crystal core, he might not have been able to overshadow him at all when they stood together.

Why did Qin Huairu choose him? Just looking at his face is enough to explain it.

As for his character? Lin Quan remembered it very clearly: from childhood, he would steal candy, eggs, and pencils; as an adult, he would steal grain coupons, freeload off meal tickets, and deceive female workers' feelings—he completely took away Jia Zhangshi's lazy, greedy, and vain habits, leaving not a trace.

While Yi Zhonghai and his apprentice were clicking their tongues and complaining, there was another person in the crowd who, despite not being old, looked much older. He squinted at the direction where Lin Quan had disappeared, remaining calm and composed, yet he had thoroughly analyzed the scene from beginning to end.

That man was none other than He Daqing, who had a penchant for visiting widows' homes.

Outsiders could only see the figures moving around in the courtyard, unable to figure out what was going on; He Daqing appeared rough and reckless, but in reality he was as clear-headed as a mirror and could not tolerate any nonsense.

He knew all the different kinds of people in that courtyard—fish, shrimp, eagles, sparrows—very well.

"This young Lin does indeed have some talent..."

"His family wealth is unassuming, but his mind is sharper than a knife..."

"If you would be willing to take care of Sha Zhu and his sister, I can leave this world in peace!"

Just as she was figuring out how to get in touch with Lin Quan and build rapport, Lin Quan had already taken off, heading straight for his own No. 96 courtyard without any hesitation.

With a slam, the door closed. Lin Quan let out a long sigh, his voice low and menacing: "These beasts, they really are persistent..."

He wasn't afraid—he was annoyed! He was utterly fed up with those scumbags next door; he couldn't even bear to look at them!

This isn't the post-apocalyptic world Qiao Jingjing lived in; there are no hordes of zombies, and no collapsed rules. Order still exists, ironclad laws remain, and anyone who crosses the line will be punished.

If Lin Quan wants to live a peaceful life, he must abide by the rules of this world.

Even though he now possesses the power of thunder and is a rare awakened being, far surpassing ordinary people, he is still far from being able to turn his hand to make clouds or rain!

All he wanted was to live life as he pleased—to lie down, catch his breath, drink some hot tea, and listen to the wind and watch the clouds.

Want to get stronger? It's simple—take some rice, flour, cooking oil, canned goods, and cloth, and exchange them with Qiao Jingjing for a few zombie crystal cores. You can live a safe and peaceful life without causing trouble.

As for those petty squabbles and those filthy people? Get as far away as possible!

As soon as Lin Quan stepped into the backyard, he reached for the enamel mug, wanting to drink some cool water to calm his restlessness—

Suddenly, a semi-transparent mirrored doorway silently appeared, its edges shimmering like ripples spreading across the water.

Swah——

With a flash of light and shadow, Qiao Jingjing took a step forward and landed gracefully.

A black leather jacket accentuated his slender waist, leather pants highlighted his long legs, and combat boots clattered on the ground; his cold, frosty eyes, paired with his perfectly tailored figure, made him a sight to behold even after ten more glances.

But Lin Quan's gaze swept over her and landed on the dark red bloodstains on her cuffs and knees. He stopped in his tracks and frowned slightly.

Qiao Jingjing noticed his stunned expression, a slight smile playing on her lips, her voice crisp and clear:

"Don't worry, I don't have the virus."

"When the time-space mirror crosses the boundary, it will crush all pathogens and pollutants into dust."

Lin Quan felt a sense of relief, almost forgetting about this incident—just now, upon seeing the bloodstains, a chill ran down his spine.

Thankfully, the mirror was reliable! If it had really brought the corpse poison in, the entire city would have been in grave danger.

Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine.

Composing himself, he stepped forward and softened his tone, "Why don't you go wash up first? I'll boil some water right away."

Qiao Jingjing nodded and only replied with one word: "Okay."

"My home is simple, don't be picky..."

"Tomorrow I'll find someone to renovate the yard, build walls where needed, and install water pipes where needed."

As he led the way, he scratched the back of his neck and explained somewhat awkwardly.

Although this courtyard is a two-section siheyuan (traditional courtyard house), it is not a rare sight nowadays, but in terms of living comfort, it is really shabby - there is no private bathroom, you have to go to the public toilet at the entrance of the alley, and even the stove is just makeshift.

Qiao Jingjing listened, her steps unwavering, but her voice trailing off softly:

"Whatever materials are needed for renovating the courtyard, I'll prepare a batch and ship it over directly."

Only after the words left my mouth did I realize that I had already come to regard this place as my home.

It's not a temporary residence, not a place to settle down—it's a place where you can let down your guard and relax your tense nerves.

Upon closer reflection, it's not surprising:

There are no zombie roars here, no one stabbing you in the back, you don't have to sleep with your eyes open, and you don't have to hide a hint of wariness behind your smile.

The presence of forests and springs is the essence of peace and stability.

At this moment, Lin Quan, who was leading the way, did not hesitate at all about Qiao Jingjing's suggestion.

If life could be more comfortable, who would be foolish enough to refuse?

When they reached the kitchen area, Lin Quan pointed to the old wooden door next to him: "The shower is over there—in a partitioned-off small room."

"You rest for a while, I'll go boil some water right away."