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

"The future of the country ultimately belongs to you young people. Especially you, Director Li, you are the one who brings us the most surprises. We are also looking forward to you bringing even more surprises. Our factory is counting on you."

He got up to take his leave.

Li Jianguo handed him a bag of pears he had bought that day, insisting that he take it with him.

Factory Director Yang did not refuse again.

Before leaving, he patted Li Jianguo's shoulder firmly. His hand was thick and warm.

"Director Li, the future of the nation rests on your shoulders. It's a heavy burden. But don't worry, we will fully support you. No matter what it is, if you need anything, just let us know. Even if it means selling everything we own, no matter how difficult it is, we will solve it for you! This is my promise to you!"

"Thank you, Director Yang."

Li Jianguo smiled and saw him off.

This may not be the best of times.

But this is an era in which everyone works together and strives together.

Factory Director Yang has left.

As usual, Li Jianguo cooked dinner for himself, ate heartily, and went to bed early.

Early the next morning.

When he woke up, he found it unusually quiet outside.

He glanced at his watch.

It's my usual wake-up time.

At this time of day, it would usually be bustling outside. People's voices, footsteps, conversations. Why is it so quiet today? It's quiet, unlike a weekday. So quiet I can hear my own breathing.

Thinking about what happened yesterday, he instantly understood.

"System, check-in."

As he got out of bed, he opened the God-level Sign-in System.

"Congratulations, host, you have obtained the following supplies: a few milk candies, a bottle of cola, and a tropical fruit gift pack."

Looking at the reward, he slightly curled his lip.

"My luck hasn't been great lately. I haven't won any special rewards for several days. I'm having a really bad run of luck."

However, he did like these supplies.

They even have Coke.

A glass of ice-cold cola on a sweltering summer day is pure bliss. It's refreshingly cool and invigorating.

But it's the dead of winter right now.

A glass of ice-cold cola can freeze you from your teeth to your stomach. You'll shiver all over.

He stored the cola and tropical fruit in the system's storage space and took out the unlabeled toffee.

The first two items aren't really suitable for this era; they're fine for a personal treat now and then. But candy can be used to appease other people's children. Kids' eyes light up at the sight of candy.

After washing up, he began preparing breakfast.

The system provides him with daily supplies, and combined with what he buys himself, he has no shortage of food, and in fact, his diet is quite plentiful. He can have whatever he wants to eat.

This morning, he planned to make scallion pancakes and have them with a bowl of hot soy milk.

Perfect match.

However, time is tight, and there's no time to grind soybeans. I can buy those outside. But for scallion pancakes, I'll have to make them myself.

Li Jianguo is someone who has unlocked master-level culinary skills.

After preparing the ingredients, he started working. He kneaded the dough, rolled it out, and chopped scallions.

Soon, the fragrance filled the entire courtyard. The aroma, like an invisible hand, seemed to penetrate people's noses.

The scallion pancakes came out of the pan, golden and crispy. I quickly stir-fried a side dish, vibrant green and fresh. I also made a simple poached chicken dish with the chicken I bought yesterday, the dipping sauce perfectly seasoned.

This breakfast was absolutely luxurious. It was even more lavish than what you'd find in a restaurant.

At this time, even leaders wouldn't be able to eat such a lavish meal so early in the morning.

The aroma wafted over to the next room.

The two children of the Jia family started crying. Their voices were high-pitched and thin, like kittens meowing.

Those two little girls were already disliked. What good could come of them crying for food now?

Two slaps.

The crying grew louder. Heart-wrenching.

The once quiet courtyard suddenly became lively.

Frustrated and agitated, Jia Zhangshi came out of the house and stood in the courtyard, cursing loudly. Spittle flew everywhere.

"You inhuman bastard! Eating such a good meal first thing in the morning! You're taking other people's hard-earned money, even Zhou the Skinflint wouldn't be as ruthless as you! What kind of humanity is this? What are you eating? You'll stuff yourself to death!"

The insults poured out like a rapid-fire monologue, one after another, without repeating themselves.

In this respect, Jia Zhangshi was indeed talented. A natural-born expert at cursing.

The elderly deaf woman, who had difficulty moving around, heard this from inside the house and responded in kind. Her voice drifted out of the window.

"That's right! He's not human! He's heartless!"

"He lives a life of luxury, spending other people's money. Even the bandits before liberation weren't as ruthless as him! This kind of person will get what's coming to him sooner or later! He'll die a horrible death!"

Li Jianguo heard it all clearly.

He scoffed, completely unconcerned.

If he takes every little insult from those two people to heart, he'll just be angry all day and won't get anything done. What about getting any important business done?

He came out of the house.

In that instant—

Jia Zhangshi and the deaf old woman fell silent instantly, as if someone had grabbed their throats. They were like two chickens whose necks had suddenly been squeezed.

"puff."

Li Jianguo couldn't help but chuckle softly.

I thought these two old ladies were really capable.

So, you're actually quite afraid of yourself. A paper tiger.

He hopped on his bicycle, humming a little tune, and headed out to work. The bicycle chain whirred softly.

As soon as the car left the hospital gate, I heard a "ouch" from behind.

The two people who were just arguing so fiercely have triggered a divine aura.

Jia Zhangshi slipped and twisted her ankle on the steps. She fell to the ground, gasping for breath in pain.

The deaf old woman inside accidentally bit her tongue, and she cried out in pain. Blood even came out.

Li Jianguo glanced at the system notification and laughed even harder.

"Son! He's gone!"

After Li Jianguo walked away, Jia Zhangshi got up from the ground, limped into the house, and her face was twitching with pain.

"Don't worry, Mom, I've arranged everything. This time, I'll make sure he's utterly disgraced! He'll regret it!"

Jia Dongxu picked up the letter he had prepared beforehand and carefully stuffed it into the envelope. His movements were light and slow, as if he were doing an extremely delicate task.

That was something he forced Qin Huairu to write last night. Every single word was written according to his wishes.

The letter stated that Qin Huairu had agreed to a date with Li Jianguo and asked him to meet her at a certain place that evening.

"Hmph, with this, let's see how he tries to deny it! He won't be able to clear his name even if he jumps into the Yellow River!"

A sinister smile crept across his face, like a viper flicking its tongue.

It's as if I can already see Li Jianguo being scorned by everyone, fired from the factory, and driven out of the compound.

"If we can bring him down this time, it'll be worth it no matter what! No matter how much it costs!"

Jia Zhangshi also laughed excitedly, her face full of wrinkles.

She gazed greedily at the three rooms, her eyes filled with covetousness.

They used to live there and considered it their own. Now, with six family members crammed into this small, dilapidated house, she's had enough. She can't even stretch her legs out at night.

"However, from now on, Qin Huairu's reputation will be ruined."

Jia Zhangshi suddenly blurted out this sentence, as if she had just thought of it.

But she quickly started laughing again.

"It's alright. Once we get rid of Li Jianguo, we'll have a house and money, and we can even marry another one! A young, unmarried woman won't be a problem!"

Jia Dongxu chuckled, his eyes narrowing into slits.

"Qin Huairu has always been restless. It's good to change her. Banggeng is no longer suitable, and we need someone else to carry on the family line. We can't keep having these two girls. What's the use of girls? Sooner or later they'll belong to someone else's family."

His idea was extremely beautiful.

He didn't care whether Qin Huairu was willing or not. In his eyes, she was just a tool.

This mother and son are rotten to the core; they are the epitome of scum.

Clutching the letter, Jia Dongxu excitedly slipped into Li Jianguo's room, his steps light and quick, like a mouse.

He found a spot in the study and carefully placed the letter under a book.

That's it.

Now let's see how Li Jianguo tries to explain himself. He can't explain himself no matter how hard he tries.

After doing all this, he quietly withdrew, just as he had come, without making a sound.

After walking around the yard and seeing that no one was around, he breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest.

Steel rolling mill.

Sha Zhu arrived early in the morning.

As usual, he went straight to the cafeteria and didn't go to the ore section at the back.

After all that happened yesterday, he thought he wouldn't have to follow Li Jianguo today, right? Moving ore in the back was inhuman work—dirty, tiring, and cold. The kitchen was much more comfortable; it was warm, and he could even sneak a bite to eat.

As soon as I entered the kitchen, I bumped into Nan Yi.

"Master He? What brings you to the kitchen?"

Nan Yi was busy with his work, but he looked up and greeted him. His smile was polite, but it lacked warmth.

He was able to transfer from the third canteen to the first canteen entirely thanks to Li Jianguo's help. He had to do this job well so as not to let Li Jianguo down. That's why he arrived especially early today, before dawn.

"What else can I do besides work?"

Sha Zhu ignored him, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to start hitting him.

Nan Yi put down what he was holding, still smiling, but his eyes were devoid of emotion. His gaze was as if he were looking at a stranger.

"Master He, you've come to the wrong place, haven't you?"

"You've been a chef here since yesterday."

"You are now under the supervision of Director Li's project team, and you should go to the ore area behind."

"Stop talking nonsense!!"

Sha Zhu's temper flared up instantly, and his face turned bright red.

"I'm the cook here! You're the one who should get out! Who do you think you are?"

Nan Yi didn't argue with him, she just smiled faintly.

"I heard that Master He fell into the latrine yesterday?"

"Are you all clean?"

"What we make here is food that we'll be eating. If it's filthy... who would dare to eat it?"

As soon as he finished speaking...

The few people in the kitchen who were initially quite happy to see Sha Zhu instantly changed their expressions and subconsciously took a few steps back, as if avoiding a plague.

"Master He, you're really not part of the canteen anymore... Please don't make things difficult for us. We still have to work."

Others chimed in, each adding their own comment.

Sha Zhu was blasted out like that.

He stood at the entrance of the cafeteria, stomping his feet in anger, making a loud "thump" sound on the ground.

His face turned bright red, and he clenched his teeth so tightly they made a grinding sound.

"Li Jianguo! I'm not finished with you!"

"You damned bastard! I'll make you pay! Just you wait!"

If anger could kill, he would have torn Li Jianguo to pieces long ago.

Fuming with anger, he turned and walked towards the ore smelting area behind him, his steps heavy and hurried.

The sun climbed high in the sky, hanging down scorchingly, turning the smelting area behind the factory into a giant iron pot.

The air felt like it was burning with an invisible fire. Every breath I took felt like my trachea had been finely sanded by sandpaper, and it burned painfully.

Sha Zhu raised his arm to wipe his sweat; his sleeve was already soaked. When he rubbed it against his eyelids, it stung painfully, like someone had sprinkled coarse salt on his eyeballs, making it difficult to even blink. He squinted and scanned inside, his gaze like a boning knife, as if he wanted to gouge out holes in the mountains of scrap and the rusty old machinery.

no one.

Li Jianguo didn't even see a hair.

The fire in his chest suddenly shot up to his throat, burning it until it was dry. Even swallowing saliva felt like swallowing charcoal, the burning sensation spreading down his throat. His eyes were bloodshot, with dense, cracked veins covering the whites of his eyes like parched earth.

hide?

Okay, go ahead and hide.

He clenched his teeth, his gums aching and throbbing, and squeezed out the words through his teeth, spitting out saliva: "Trying to hide, huh?"

He turned and ran towards the factory gate. His footsteps pounded the ground, heavy and muffled, like a sledgehammer being pounded into the earth, making his soles numb.

He didn't rush out when he reached the door. Having worked in the kitchen for several years, he knew when to lie low. He found a corner, crouched down, and shrank into the shadows, revealing only half his face, his eyes fixed intently on the people passing by.

The sun slowly climbed overhead.

Sweat soaked through my clothes again and again on my back, leaving white sweat stains like saltwater. My chest was also soaked through; water could be wrung out from the collar where it touched my skin, and it smelled salty and fishy.

But he couldn't care less about any of that.

One thing kept replaying in his mind: Li Jianguo kicked him out of the kitchen and made him move stones—this was revenge, this was bullying someone by abusing his power. He, Sha Zhu, had been in Beijing for so many years and had never suffered such a loss, never bowed his head like this.

The sound of a bicycle chain could be heard in the distance.

The chain clattered against the chain box, a sound unique to old bikes, and it was incredibly annoying to hear.

Sha Zhu's eyelids twitched.

Li Jianguo rode over slowly, his face showing a hint of sleepiness, his eyelids drooping as if he hadn't fully woken up from his afternoon nap. A lunchbox, made of aluminum, hung from the handlebars, swaying as it rode, making a tinkling sound like gongs hitting the handlebars.

Right now.