Courtyard House: Starting as an eighth-grade worker, with too many wives.

"I'll contribute five hundred out of the thousand. Sha Zhu already paid off the Jia family's debts, so this five hundred is for both of us. That's the most I can offer. The rest is up to the Jia family! That's all I have!"

"We don't have any money!"

Jia Dongxu stiffened his neck, like a fighting rooster.

"I have no money, but you can take my life! Go ahead and kill me if you dare!"

Factory Director Yang smiled.

That smile was chillingly cold.

"No money?"

He gestured with his chin toward the security department.

"Simple. Take him to the police station. Explain to the police station everything that happened and how I handled it. Let them question him at their leisure."

The security personnel immediately stepped forward, their footsteps thumping loudly.

"No! No!"

Jia Zhangshi screamed, her voice so shrill it could pierce eardrums.

"Five hundred it is! Our family will pay!"

She stumbled into the house like a frightened old hen. She pulled a tattered cloth bundle from the corner of the bedding, counted out five hundred yuan with trembling hands, and handed it over. Her hands shook like withered leaves in the wind.

Sha Zhu was stunned.

He stared at the stack of money, his eyes widening and getting rounder.

He paid the four hundred yuan for the Jia family because he genuinely thought they were broke and couldn't afford to eat.

original……

They're rich.

I just don't want to take it out.

They just thought he was a fool.

"So your family is rich."

His voice sounded a little ethereal, as if it were coming from a very distant place.

Qin Huairu kept her head down, remaining silent. Her shoulders trembled slightly.

"You have a lot of money too."

As Li Jianguo collected the money, he casually remarked in a nonchalant tone.

"As far as I know, your father has sent you a lot of money. In terms of wealth, you're probably richer than me in this compound. You just don't know it yourself."

Yi Zhonghai, who was reaching for his money, froze in mid-air, as if he had been struck by a pressure point.

"How is that possible?"

Sha Zhu stared at Li Jianguo in disbelief, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

"How could my dad possibly send me money? He abandoned me a long time ago! He left me behind and ran away!"

Yet, a glimmer of hope uncontrollably arose in my heart, like a spark suddenly igniting in the darkness.

"Sending money is true."

Li Jianguo took the money from Yi Zhonghai and counted it slowly, one bill at a time.

"As for why you didn't receive it... I have no idea. Maybe someone intercepted it midway. These days, anything can happen, right?"

He finished counting the money and nodded in satisfaction.

"One thousand yuan is enough. This matter ends here. I won't pursue it further. I hope you all behave yourselves."

His gaze swept over the group, like a dull knife grinding against their faces.

"Next time, it won't be as simple as just losing money. Next time, you'll be in jail."

Then he turned to Director Yang.

"Director Yang, you've been here so long without even having a glass of water. Please come in and sit for a while."

Factory Director Yang hesitated for a moment.

Looking at all the shrewd people in this compound, he worried that if he left, Li Jianguo would still be bullied.

"I'm definitely thirsty after standing for so long. Let me sit down for a while."

The two went inside.

In the courtyard, Sha Zhu was still standing there, frozen in place, like a fallen wooden stake.

Li Jianguo's words were like a seed that took root and sprouted in his heart.

Father……

Did he really send himself money?

If it's sent, what about the money?

Who took it?

His gaze slowly swept over the people in the courtyard—neighbors who had watched him grow up, all familiar faces.

Is it true that someone took the money his father sent behind his back?

Who could it be?

"Silly Zhu."

The deaf old woman's voice rang out, as if it were drifting from a very distant corner.

"Everyone in our compound knows each other. Li Jianguo has only been here for a few days. How much of what he says can be true? He'd be lucky if half of what he says is true."

She approached, leaning on her cane, her steps faltering.

"I think he's just hoping our compound will descend into chaos. That kind of person is selfish, malicious, and utterly wicked. You mustn't let him influence you. Everything he says is nonsense!"

Normally, Sha Zhu would definitely nod in agreement.

But today...

He was silent.

The deaf old woman felt a pang of unease as she looked into his suspicious eyes. Her heart pounded like a rabbit's.

He cursed even more fiercely, hurling every filthy word at Li Jianguo. His spittle flew everywhere as he cursed.

Then--

"Where did these wasps come from?!"

Someone shouted, their voice filled with terror.

Everyone looked up in horror.

In the dead of winter, a swarm of wasps flew in! Although there weren't many, only a dozen or so, it was enough to terrify anyone. The wasps buzzed around, the sound of their wings vibrating sending chills down your spine.

"Oh my god!"

The crowd erupted in chaos, scattering in all directions. Footsteps were hurried, and screams filled the air.

But these wasps seemed to have eyes.

No one is stinging.

He just stared at the deaf old lady.

"Ouch! Help!"

She waved her cane, her steps faltering. The deaf old woman dodged left and right, but those little creatures kept squeezing into the gaps, into her hair, and into her collar.

In no time, the deaf old woman's face was covered in red, swollen bumps, and her eyes were squinted into slits.

"Where did these wasps come from in the dead of winter?"

The survivors, still shaken, murmured amongst themselves. They looked at each other.

"This is too weird..."

"And why are you staring at the deaf old lady?"

"Is this some kind of divine punishment for her? Did she do something wicked?"

They may verbally advocate breaking down feudal superstitions, but deep down, ordinary people prefer to believe in their existence. Some things are simply inexplicable.

This bizarre scene completely changed the way they looked at the deaf old woman. They looked at her as if she were an ominous creature.

The Jia family.

The family, looking drab and worn, huddled together in the house, like a nest of rats huddled in a hole.

Staring at his dwindling savings, his face lost its luster. A thick wad of money was missing from that stack.

Jia Dongxu gritted his teeth and paced back and forth in the room like a trapped beast.

"That bastard Li Jianguo! I'm not finished with him! I'll definitely find a chance..."

After searching for a long time, I still couldn't come up with a solution.

He was fired and couldn't even get into the steel mill. He didn't even have a chance for revenge.

Like an angry pufferfish, no matter how big it inflates itself, it can't harm its opponent in the slightest. It can only make itself angry.

"no."

Jia Zhangshi slammed her hand on the table, making a loud "smack".

"Li Jianguo is the director now, and he has Director Yang behind him. If this continues, we'll never be able to hold our heads high in front of him again! We must get revenge for what happened today, or how can our family face anyone in this neighborhood?"

The mother and son discussed it for a long time, but couldn't come up with a plan. They talked back and forth, but it was all useless nonsense.

Jia Dongxu glanced around the room irritably, his gaze settling on Qin Huairu.

She was looking down, silently tending to her two children. Her profile looked gentle and serene.

A sudden inspiration flashed through his mind, like a beam of light streaking across his vision.

"mom."

He lowered his voice and leaned close to Jia Zhangshi's ear.

"Do you think... a honey trap would work on Li Jianguo?"

Madam Jia was taken aback for a moment, then understood her son's meaning, and her gaze fell on Qin Huairu. Her gaze was like that of someone appraising a piece of merchandise.

"This trick... might work. Men are all the same."

As the mother and son stared at her simultaneously, Qin Huairu felt a sense of foreboding. It was as if a cold hand was slowly creeping up her back.

"Our family has been ruined by Li Jianguo, we have to get revenge."

Jia Dongxu stared at her, his gaze like two knives.

"Now, it's your turn to do some chores around the house."

Qin Huairu bit her lip and nodded gently. Her lips turned white from biting them.

"...What do you want me to do?"

"Aren't you the best at pretending?"

Jia Dongxu sneered, his smile full of mockery.

"You managed to make that big idiot Sha Zhu completely obedient, doing whatever you ask. I believe you can handle a young upstart like Li Jianguo too. Don't I know your methods?"

"What?"

Qin Huairu looked up in disbelief, her eyes wide open.

She feigned weakness and flirted with Sha Zhu because she had no other choice; it was for the sake of her family. But now, her husband had exposed her, and the shame and anger... felt like a knife stabbing straight into her heart.

"Alright, stop pretending."

Jia Dongxu waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away flies.

"You think I don't know? Who can you fool with your little tricks?"

He moved closer, his face almost touching hers.

"Go seduce Li Jianguo. I'll ruin his reputation. Then, I'll let the whole steel mill know that Li Jianguo is a scumbag who seduces a married woman! Let's see if he still has the face to stay in the factory!"

Qin Huairu's lips moved slightly.

She wanted to refuse.

But Jia Dongxu had already raised his fist. The fist dangled in front of her eyes, the knuckles cracking as he clenched it.

She lowered her eyes and nodded.

Yet, a strange, inexplicable hope arose in my heart, like a glimmer of light suddenly appearing in the darkness.

What if... Li Jianguo really likes her?

That kind of man is capable, cultured, and a director. How can a good-for-nothing like Jia Dongxu compare?

Perhaps...

She truly escaped from suffering.

Li Jianguo.

This was the first time that Director Yang had visited.

Li Jianguo offered him fruit. The fresh pears were bright yellow and looked very tempting.

"In this freezing weather, you can still eat fruit?"

Factory Director Yang was somewhat surprised, and his eyes lit up.

He is indeed the factory manager, but his salary has to support his entire family, and relatives often come to beg for money. Life is very tight; how long has it been since he tasted fruit? He can't even afford to buy any for the New Year.

Looking at the fresh pears on Li Jianguo's table, a hint of envy flashed in his eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed.

"A friend went out of town and brought some back for me. It's nothing fancy, just some pears. The factory manager likes them, so I'm taking some home for my family to try."

"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Thinking of his daughter who loved fruit, Director Yang didn't refuse. That girl was obsessed with fruit.

"Director Yang, there's something I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Li Jianguo had originally planned to investigate the deaf old woman's status as a recipient of the "Five Guarantees" (a government-provided social welfare program) himself. However, he had more pressing matters to attend to and didn't have time to waste on such a treacherous person.

Director Yang's visit today has broadened his horizons.

"Director Li, why are you being so polite with me?"

Factory Director Yang patted his chest, making a loud "slap slap" sound.

"I can't help you with the technical aspects, but in other areas, no problem. Just tell me. As long as it's within my power, I won't hesitate."

"Then I'll just say it directly."

Li Jianguo looked at him with a sincere gaze.

"It's true that I said today that the deaf old lady's status as a recipient of the 'Five Guarantees' was fake. But I don't have concrete evidence. I hope Director Yang can help me investigate how the deaf old lady was eligible for the 'Five Guarantees' in the first place. Is there anything fishy going on?"

"Why are you so fixated on this?"

Factory Director Yang looked puzzled and frowned slightly.

Li Jianguo is a promising young engineer at the steel rolling mill. What kind of grudge could he possibly have against an old lady? It's just a conflict between people who live in the same compound, it shouldn't be this complicated, right?

Li Jianguo paused for a moment.

Then she explained why her parents had gone to the Northwest back then. Her voice was very flat, as if she were telling someone else's story.

"I've always felt resentful. This old woman forced my parents to go to the Northwest. If I could let her live comfortably, then I, as her son, would be a complete failure. What would I be then?"

Upon hearing this, Director Yang's expression changed, as if a shadow had fallen over him.

"This old woman... how could she be so vicious? She looks so respectable, but her heart is so black?"

He took a deep breath.

"Okay, I understand. Don't worry, I'll find out the truth! Leave this to me!"

For him, finding out about an old lady was not a difficult task.

The selection process for the "Five Guarantees" recipients appears fair on the surface, but there are ways to manipulate it. He's seen plenty of people trying to take advantage of the situation. There are such people in every era.

If we investigate, we can find out the results quickly.

After the matter was settled, Director Yang brought up another issue.

"Director Li, although the new project has only been running for a short time, everyone is watching closely. I think the first phase should be finished soon according to your plan. I hope you can also arrange the second phase of work as soon as possible. Let's get it done sooner rather than later. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can hold our heads high."

Li Jianguo nodded with a smile.

"Even if the factory manager hadn't come today, I would have made arrangements as soon as possible. I hope that our country's cars can use domestically produced engines as soon as possible. This is not only your expectation, but also my expectation. It is the expectation of all of us."

Director Yang looked pleased, his eyes and brows beaming with joy.