Courtyard House: Starting as an engineer, crushing a yard full of poultry

"This is all thanks to our whole family, not just my own. If it weren't for the 100 yuan my father gave me, I wouldn't know how to give gifts. Our Liu family will gradually get better. Don't look at how powerful that Li Xiangdong family is next door. Once your son is in a position of power, I will kick him out of the steel mill sooner or later."

Liu Guangqi had also drunk a few ounces of liquor, and the father and son started bragging to each other.

Aside from the father and son bragging, everyone else in the family could only stand by and laugh along.

It's because they lack the ability; getting a position in the steel rolling mill would certainly broaden their career path considerably.

Meanwhile, at Xu Damao's home.

"Xiao'e, I have good news for you. In a couple of days, I will be the section chief. Your husband will then be a man with a formal title over there. Our career path will gradually broaden and things will get better. When I become the section chief, I will visit your parents."

Xu Damao was drinking cheap liquor and eating peanuts, looking carefree and happy.

Thinking to myself, if I hadn't been smart enough to go and have a few drinks with Li Xiangdong and the others when they had their dinner party at 387...

How could anyone have heard such good news if it weren't for Li Xiangdong pointing out the right path?

Xu Damao racked his brains but still couldn't figure out where to give the gift, but this Factory Director Li was indeed quite capable.

I only gave away some small yellow croakers, and I was able to get this position as I wished.

These little yellow croakers aren't mine, so why are you so upset? I'm just keeping them safe for my parents-in-law.

Regardless, he has paved his own way, and Xu Damao is confident that he can rely on his own abilities to move forward.

It's only a matter of time before he continues to work at the steel rolling mill.

"Xu Damao, how many times have I told you, if you can't drink, don't drink here. You think you're someone special just because you drank a little bit of piss? Your affairs haven't been settled yet, and you're already bragging here. When you finally get a position at the steel mill, I'll definitely cook you a feast of good wine and food when you come back."

Lou Xiao'e looked displeased; she didn't believe Xu Damao could accomplish this in such a short time.

To have managed to secure a minor official position in a steel rolling mill is remarkable, considering Xu Damao didn't even have a formal government job.

It was very difficult to make a living in a steel rolling mill.

Everyone has to be mindful of their superiors' moods, let alone bragging about how they've managed to get a section chief position.

Chapter 83 Seducing He Yuzhu

The next day.

At He Yushui's home.

"Sister Yushui, it's the weekend today. I'm going to take a walk around the city by myself. I'll go straight back after I'm done. If you have anything to do, just go about your business. Don't worry about me."

After getting up, Yu Haitang washed up and dressed herself up a bit.

Based on her conversation with He Yushui yesterday, Yu Haitang had already made up her mind.

The man called Sha Zhu's real name is He Yuzhu. According to He Yushui, he is a fairly well-off cook.

In this day and age, if you work with a cook, you're guaranteed three meals a day.

Being able to settle down in the city and have enough to eat three meals a day.

For a girl from the countryside, this is already a very good way out.

Moreover, this silly Zhu is already working in the kitchen of the steel rolling mill, so it would be easy to arrange a small job for him.

"Oh, what else could I be doing? I'm just busy with random things. My teacher asked me to buy some books, saying they'll be helpful for my future development. So I'm going to the bookstore to browse around. You go have fun by yourself. See you at school later."

He Yushui did not try to keep Yu Haitang, based on the attitudes of Chief Engineer Li and Sister Li towards Yu Haitang yesterday.

He Yushui was too naive and noticed something fishy.

If a female cousin doesn't play with her female cousin, it can only mean that Yu Haitang might have some minor issues.

Since that's the case, let's not get too involved. The best outcome would be to maintain a normal friendship.

"Okay, I'm going out now."

Yu Haitang said with a smile, not minding He Yushui's slightly cold attitude at all.

Just as the time was right, Yu Haitang strolled into the courtyard of the siheyuan (traditional courtyard house).

Just then, Sha Zhu also got up and went outside to fetch water to wash up.

He Yuzhu's eyes lit up when he saw Yu Haitang; she had both a great figure and the right age.

In He Yuzhu's eyes, Yu Haitang was no less than Yu Li, which made He Yuzhu's heart flutter.

Sha Zhu also wants a wife, but for so many years no one has ever been interested in him.

Now that I've lowered my expectations, it just so happens that Yu Haitang is still a rural resident, so she's definitely trying to climb the social ladder by associating with people in the city.

He Yuzhu also began to make plans in his mind.

Unfortunately, high-level hunters often appear in the form of prey, something that Sha Zhu could never have imagined.

"Brother Zhu, you're up so early this morning. Isn't the steel mill closed today? Why don't you sleep in and catch up on some sleep?"

Yu Haitang's sweet, girlish voice was like a sharp sword, piercing through He Yuzhu's heart.

This almost made He Yuzhu lose control, and he quickly restrained the rage within him.

"I'm already used to getting up early. The steel mill is indeed closed today, but I have to go to a leader's house this afternoon to cook him some food. I'm free this morning, so I'll wander around outside. What about you, Haitang, what are you planning to do so early in the morning?"

He Yuzhu asked hurriedly, looking extremely anxious.

Yu Haitang sneered inwardly when she saw He Yuzhu's appearance.

The people in the city are nothing special; he only said a few words and he had Sha Zhu completely bewitched.

Sha Zhu actually has connections with the leaders?

We should seize this opportunity even more, if he can say a few more words to the leader.

If I finish junior high school, can't I go straight into a steel rolling mill and get a formal job?

That's a hundred times better than my deadbeat father; now the city residency issue will be much easier to resolve.

"I don't have anything going on. I just came from the countryside and wanted to explore Beijing properly. I've heard that Beijing has a long history and culture, and there are some fun and delicious places to visit. But I'm not very familiar with the area, so I'll just have to take my time."

Yu Haitang's tone was slightly aggrieved, yet also somewhat naive.

He Yuzhu had never seen a woman like this before.

He was surrounded by widows or married women.

He Yuzhu had never seen a young and beautiful woman like Yu Haitang before, so how could he withstand such a test?

"What a coincidence, I happen to have nothing to do this morning. I've been rooted in this city since I was a child. When I was little, I sold steamed buns on this street. When I grew up, I went to work in a steel mill and do some manual labor to cook for everyone."

"Since Miss Haitang wants to explore Beijing properly, if you don't mind, I can be your guide and take you around."

He Yuzhu spoke very quickly, as if afraid that if he was even a second too slow, Yu Haitang would reject him.

When Yu Haitang saw that the fish had finally taken the bait, she decided not to waste the time she had gotten up so early and braved the cold in the yard in her clothes.

As long as I can get He Yuzhu out, I can easily manipulate him with my own brains.

Once they get the marriage certificate and the engagement is finalized, He Yuzhu won't be able to run away even if he wanted to.

As for the widow Qin in the courtyard, she was not worth mentioning at all in Yu Haitang's mind.

What advantages could a mere widow with three children to offer compared to a young and beautiful woman like myself?

"If Brother Zhuzi has nothing else to do and is willing to take me around, that would be wonderful, as long as it doesn't interfere with Brother Zhuzi's business."

"Then I'll wait at the door until Brother Zhu finishes washing up. If we stay in the yard, I'm afraid some people will see us and gossip, which wouldn't be good for anyone."

Yu Haitang gave a sweet smile and didn't look at He Yuzhu again.

Instead, he quickly walked out of the courtyard. Although there weren't many people up to wash up so early in the morning.

However, Yu Haitang also gained a general understanding of the customs and practices within the courtyard houses.

In this situation, it's best not to let others gossip behind your back, lest you lose He Yuzhu, this golden son-in-law.

Then the gain outweighs the loss.

…island…

(Good Money Zhao) "Zhuzi, put your clothes that need changing inside the house. I'll wash them for you when I have time at noon."

Qin Huairu walked out calmly and spoke softly to He Yuzhu.

"Sister Qin, don't trouble yourself with that. Yu Haitang's sister is waiting for me to take her out to play. As for those things, I can take care of them myself when I get back, so that no one will see us and think that we have an ambiguous relationship."

He Yuzhu is really tough now, having a woman as beautiful as Yu Haitang.

How could he possibly be interested in a widow, especially since the widow would at most let him touch her hand?

On this trip, I can't help but hold her little hand, and if things progress a little faster, I can't help but touch her little mouth. What a wonderful thing that would be!

It's better than being in a murky relationship with a widow all the time, especially since she won't let me touch her. What's going on here?

Although He Yuzhu was foolish, he was also very clear that he couldn't let himself be taken advantage of.

Chapter 84 Qin Huairu senses the crisis

“Zhu Zi, she’s just a young girl, how would she know these things? I’ve always been the one washing for you, haven’t I? How come you don’t care about me anymore now that you have a little sister?”

As Qin Huairu spoke, she leaned over and grabbed He Yuzhu's hands, rubbing them against her.

This brush almost made He Yuzhu lose control. He had never received such treatment before in Qin Huairu's place.