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

Jia Zhangshi had originally hoped that Sha Zhu could save them this money, but now her eyes were filled with disappointment.

Li Jianguo glanced at the Jia family members.

"We only reduced the amount you asked for today because we're neighbors. Since you're not grateful, let the police calculate it and see how much you really owe."

"No. Please don't."

Jia Zhangshi panicked completely.

She knew exactly what was going on in her own house.

Back then, all the furniture was top-quality stuff personally purchased by Yang Zhigang; the furniture alone was worth over two hundred yuan. Ten years' rent for the three rooms, according to the street office's rates, would have been more than one hundred yuan.

If the police were to handle this strictly according to the rules, their family would be ruined.

After finishing the last two sunflower seeds, Xu Damao had watched the commotion to his heart's content, especially the sight of Sha Zhu getting his comeuppance, and he couldn't hold back any longer.

"Silly Zhu, Master Li is right, you really are a saint. Ah, that's a good word to use, cultured people are different."

"If you like being taken advantage of, don't drag others into it; nobody owes you anything."

"Xu Damao".

Sha Zhu was so angry that his veins bulged, and he rushed over to attack.

Lou Xiao'e quickly stopped her.

"Silly Zhu, that's enough. Don't you know what kind of person he is? Why bother arguing with him?"

He turned and glared at Xu Damao.

"Would it kill you to say less?"

"Wife, am I not telling the truth?"

Seeing that Sha Zhu was really about to act recklessly, Lou Xiao'e grabbed Xu Damao and pulled him aside.

Qin Huairu's eyes, brimming with tears, swept over everyone before finally settling on Li Jianguo's face.

"Li Jianguo, we really don't have that much money... Could you owe me some? I'll earn some money tonight by pasting cardboard boxes and pay you back as soon as possible..."

She bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. Her frail and helpless appearance was enough to evoke any man's protective instincts.

The men in the courtyard, watching this, felt a softening in their hearts.

Sha Zhu was heartbroken.

Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but take a second look.

Li Jianguo glanced at Jia Dongxu with sympathy.

This man is still alive, and there are already so many people eyeing his wife.

"Sorry, I don't accept that."

His tone was flat.

"I don't trust you. The debt just keeps piling up and then it's gone."

Director Huang nodded in agreement.

"That's right. Don't think you can bully Director Li just because he just got back. If I find out, I won't let him off easily."

The group that had been warned looked embarrassed.

Seeing that her goal had failed, Qin Huairu glanced at her mother-in-law and husband who were pretending to be deaf and dumb, gritted her teeth, and turned to Sha Zhu with tears in her eyes.

The reason for seeking him out was simple—Sha Zhu was a lone wolf with no family to worry about; he earned thirty-seven yuan a month and saved quite a bit over the course of a year. He also frequently helped out his family; he was a very good person.

"Silly Zhu, how about we take this money...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Sha Zhu nodded immediately when he saw those tearful eyes.

"Okay. I'll cover the money first, and you can pay me back later."

"Thanks, Shazhu. You're the best."

"hey-hey."

Sha Zhu scratched his head and grinned foolishly.

Li Jianguo's lips curled into a mocking smile.

He doesn't care who pays for it, as long as he gets the money.

With the money in hand, he began tidying up the house.

Director Huang asked two young men to help, but Li Jianguo waved his hand.

"Director, it's not like no one lives in this yard. They've lived here for over ten years, shouldn't they be the ones cleaning it up?"

Director Huang was taken aback, then smiled.

"That makes sense. You two can go back now; you don't need to work so hard today."

Li Jianguo took out two yuan and stuffed it into his hand.

"You've come all this way, let's go have a drink."

The two young men walked away with beaming smiles.

You get paid without doing any work? Where else can you find such a good deal?

Li Jianguo turned to the Jia family, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Jia Dongxu, and this lady, hurry up and vacate the room. I need to stay here tonight."

Before leaving, Director Huang didn't forget to give him a warning.

"Get your things sorted out properly, and don't let me find out you're slacking off. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."

She knew perfectly well that this courtyard had always been rife with problems, but she hadn't expected it to have deteriorated to this extent. Li Jianguo was an engineer hired by the steel rolling mill; he would be a valuable connection in the future. If he were bullied and driven away, their neighborhood would be the ones to suffer.

I should come and visit often.

Jia Dongxu went inside and started moving things.

Jia Zhangshi wasted his time.

"Oh dear, my old bones can't lift this. Huai Ru, what are you standing there for? Come and help!"

Qin Huairu shook the child in her arms, and the child immediately started crying.

"Mom, I'm breastfeeding. I'll come over after I've put the baby to sleep."

After saying that, he went into the room next door.

Li Jianguo sneered.

"Hey Hey Yuzhu, old man, don't just stand there watching the show. Don't you like helping out? Help out today. Go inside and get to work."

He ushered the two of them into the house as well.

Three rooms, four people, and a lot of stuff, but it was all Jia family junk. Li Jianguo didn't care at all; he kicked out anything that was in the way.

Touch it with your hands? He thinks it's dirty.

Madam Jia was heartbroken and kept twitching, but dared not speak out for fear that he would kick something else and break it. So she quickened her pace considerably.

"Li Jianguo, these all belong to the Jia family, be gentle."

Sha Zhu couldn't stand it anymore.

Yi Zhonghai quickly pulled him away.

"It's almost lunchtime, do you still want to eat? Get to work and stop talking nonsense."

The two went into Jia Zhangshi's room.

As soon as I opened the door, a stench, a mixture of urine, foot odor, rancidity, and mold, hit me, so strong it felt like a physical stench.

"vomit--"

Yi Zhonghai staggered out, vomiting violently as he leaned against the doorframe.

"What's wrong?"

Li Jianguo frowned and walked over.

He was already furious after just seeing the room with the stick, and decided to throw everything away. Now, he subconsciously peeked into Jia Zhangshi's room.

"I'll go."

The smell hit him like a fist, making his eyes sting.

He glared fiercely at Jia Zhangshi.

This is the room where his parents lived back then.

After vomiting, Yi Zhonghai launched into a tirade of curses.

"Aunt Zhang, are you living in a toilet? It smells like a latrine. How can an old woman like you be so filthy—"

"you."

Madam Jia blushed with embarrassment and muttered to herself.

"You'd have to ask my daughter-in-law... What's the use of a daughter-in-law who doesn't even tidy up her mother-in-law's room..."

Li Jianguo's voice was as cold as a knife.

"Throw everything out of here. I want this house restored to its original state. If you can't do it, call the police immediately and let the neighbors come and see."

He put on gloves, grabbed the junk in the house, and started throwing it outside.

Pots, pans, broken shoes, and tattered socks were all thrown all over the yard.

"Oh, my stuff!"

Jia Zhangshi screamed in anguish.

"Why are you throwing my things away? Don't go too far."

Seeing that he really didn't care about anything and just picked it up and smashed it, Jia Zhangshi was so frightened that she rushed into the house.

"Li Jianguo, please don't throw it away. I'll clean it up right away and make it spotless for you."

Her bulky body was now as agile as a fish, and she hurriedly began to put things away.

Just then—

Ding.

A crisp sound.

[Host hasn't checked in today yet, would you like to check in now?]

A system notification suddenly sounded in Li Jianguo's mind.

Li Jianguo was slightly taken aback.

I was so busy all day that I forgot about this.

After transmigrating, he was bound to a god-level sign-in system.

Sign in daily to receive a random reward.

It has its pros and cons, its useless parts and its treasures.

"Check-in".

He muttered a word to himself.

The virtual spinning wheel in my mind spun wildly for a few seconds before stopping.

[Congratulations, host, on successfully checking in! You have received a random reward—Gene Potion (While it won't make you invulnerable to bullets and poisons, it can enhance your physique to the limits of human capabilities)]

Master-level culinary skills (easily making the neighbor's kid drool)

Cleanliness Techniques (Environment where not a speck of dust can be tolerated)

[Holy Aura (Anyone with intentions to harm the host will immediately suffer misfortune)]

Master level proficient in Bajiquan

[Supplies in sufficient quantities]