The Beginning of a Courtyard House: Sixty Years of Internal Strength

"Brother Jianguo, you lied so smoothly, without even changing your expression."

"Oh, Yao Yao, what can we do?"

This is the only way we can get by; otherwise, we really have no other choice.

"Brother Jianguo, you've really been wronged."

I should have said I couldn't get pregnant.

"Alright, Yao Yao. That's enough, it's all done."

My parents won't urge me anymore.

The two returned to the courtyard, and this year they didn't need Li Jianguo to give them any instructions.

Yan Bugui was happily directing his son.

The Spring Festival couplets in front of Li Jian's house have been pasted up.

Yan Bugui's initiative is truly remarkable.

"Teacher Yan, that's great! You're doing all the work for free, isn't it?"

"Alright, Jianguo, stop making fun of your third uncle."

We do this every year. I bet you went home to see your parents again.

I've decided to put it on for you.

"How is it? Isn't the calligraphy of this couplet better than last year's?"

Li Jianguo glanced at it twice, but he couldn't tell whether it was good or bad.

I gave a casual reply.

"Teacher Yan, your handwriting is really good."

I feel like you could set up a street stall and sell your calligraphy.

That way, you'll have some income too.

"Sigh, you're laughing at Uncle San again."

I know my skill level.

I'm still far from being a professional.

As she said this, Yao Yao had already grabbed two handfuls of peanuts and placed them on the table in the middle.

After returning inside, the two each made themselves a cup of tea.

The two of them were already being very frugal with their drinks.

However, the tea leaves go down very quickly.

Now there's less than a pound left.

On New Year's Eve, I watched as the He and Jia families bustled about, enjoying each other's happiness.

What a fresh start for the new year!

He Yuzhu has gone even further this year.

They prepared more than a dozen dishes and filled a whole table.

Qin Huairu's belly is now showing.

I expect to give birth in a few months after the New Year.

I don't know if it's a boy or a girl this time.

He Yushui was the only one in the room who looked sullen as he watched the others enjoying themselves.

She just can't fit in.

Li Jianguo originally thought the year would pass peacefully.

Unexpectedly, on the second day of the Lunar New Year...

Yan Jiecheng brought Xu Damao to the door, along with an oil paper package and a bottle of wine.

Yan Jiecheng really went all out this time.

There was actually a roast chicken inside the oil paper package.

Moreover, the liquor he brought wasn't just loose bottles; it was a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

Li Jianguo took out a few leftovers from the New Year's feast and opened two bottles of white wine.

The three of them started drinking again.

"Brothers, I really have no other choice this time."

Now, as soon as I get home, people take turns watching me.

They were truly united in their hatred of the enemy.

What other options do the two older brothers have?

I can't even get close to them normally, let alone when they're cooking.

As soon as I approach, one of my younger brothers stares at me.

I'm so worried my head is about to explode.

After hearing this, Li Jianguo and Xu Damao exchanged a glance.

The other party could see the amusement in his eyes, after all, his actions were just too foolish.

Li Jianguo comforted Yan Jiecheng.

"Sigh, Jiecheng, you have so little patience."

They were too hasty; they've already alerted the enemy.

You probably won't be able to win over your parents anytime soon.

Xu Damao quickly chimed in.

"That's true. They're watching you every day now, and nobody can do anything about it."

"Sigh, do you two really have no better ideas?"

Li Jianguo then gave a hint.

"There's really no good way unless you know something about your parents."

Make a threat.

Think about how Yi Zhonghai got in there.

As long as you can threaten your father.

Then he won't dare make you pay him back.

Upon hearing this, Yan Jiecheng's eyes began to dart around.

He thought for a long time, and realized that his father was only a little stingy.

He hasn't made any major mistakes.

"Brother Jianguo, besides being stingy, my dad also likes to take advantage of small things."

He hasn't done anything else serious.

In terms of composition, small business owners make up the majority.

There's no way they can threaten him.

Yan Jiecheng looked at Li Jianguo with a troubled expression.

Li Jianguo felt that this guy was really stupid, so he quickly looked at Xu Damao.

Unexpectedly, Xu Damao also looked at Li Jianguo with a confused expression.

Well, it seems Xu Damao isn't all that smart.

Xu Damao looked at Li Jianguo.

After thinking about it for a long time, I still couldn't figure out what wrong Old Man Yan had done.

Li Jianguo slowly began to keep everyone in suspense.

"Hey, Jiancheng, I really don't know whether I should remind you about this."

What if you mess it up?

"If we put your old man in jail too, wouldn't that be a much bigger crime?"

"Brother Jianguo, please tell me quickly, or I'll mess this up?"

I was just threatening him; how could I possibly actually report him to my father?

As long as he doesn't make me pay back the money, we're even.

Yan Jiecheng looked at Li Jianguo with a pleading expression.

Li Jianguo sighed dramatically before speaking.

"Jiecheng, didn't you tell us everything about your father?"

He's stingy. Think about it, he's only stingy in the yard.

Are you this stingy at school too?

"Of course, he's like this at school too. So what if he's stingy?"

"Jiecheng, how can you be so stupid?"

Think about it, he keeps doing this in the yard, taking advantage of his neighbors.

Who could he possibly take advantage of at school?

Colleagues might take a small share, but leaders wouldn't dare.

Aren't most of them students?

All you need to do then is write a letter of complaint.

Have the student's parents sign and put their fingerprints on the document.

He said he always takes advantage of children and takes their things.

Do you think this is a big deal? Can we threaten him?

As long as you report it.

Your dad will lose his job right away, you believe it or not?

Yan Jie was immediately stunned.

"Brother Jianguo, you're absolutely right."

My dad often brags about it at home.

They asked the child for a pen and a notebook or something.

Sometimes my dad gets to eat a couple of bites of the kids' lunch.

Now that you mention it, it certainly is a big deal.

Xu Damao was the kind of person who loved to watch the drama unfold.

"Yes, that's definitely the case."

Plus, your dad is a small business owner.

Your family must have employed people before.

They've always exploited people.

They even dare to exploit the flowers of our motherland.

This is a huge deal!

How many years has your father been a teacher?

This shows how many years he has exploited people.

We need to inquire from top to bottom.

Your old man might end up in jail.

Yan Jiecheng's heart skipped a beat.

"Brother Da Mao, no way."

"It's just trying to get a small advantage, how can I even get in?"

Yan Jiecheng looked at Xu Damao in disbelief.

"It's built! How is that impossible?"

Think about it, he only needs one pen at a time, it's not much.

But it can't withstand your father's constant tormenting over and over again.

He's been teaching for so many years, and he's benefited from all that time.

Even if you add it up penny by penny, it probably won't be a small amount.