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

After returning home, I passed by the entrance of No. 95 courtyard.

Yan Bugui still gave Li Jianguo a cold snort.

Because of the conference, Yan Bugui had been ignoring Li Jianguo for a long time.

Ignoring it is ignoring it, but the problem is that Yan Bugui is making trouble for himself.

Every time Li Jianguo passed by, he would snort coldly and put on a sour face.

Li Jianguo was so disgusted by the whole thing that he couldn't just slap the other person because they looked annoyed.

After returning home, Li Jianguo was about to wash up and go to bed with Yao Yao.

Unexpectedly, Xu Damao and Yan Jiancheng showed up at the door.

Looking at the oil paper package in Xu Damao's hand, you could tell that the two of them wanted to drink again.

Li Jianguo then asked Yao Yao to stir-fry a plate of peanuts, and at the same time opened two bottles of Lotus White wine.

I can't bear to let these two drink the good wine I brewed myself.

The three of them sat down again and began to drink and chat.

Xu Damao couldn't wait to ask.

"Brother Jianguo, how did you do that? You actually changed houses with Shazhu after the conference."

It's the main house in the central courtyard of the courtyard house, considered the best house in the entire courtyard.

"Haha, Da Mao, I have a brilliant plan, but I can't tell you this secret."

I was even using this to manipulate Sha Zhu.

Li Jianguo was very secretive and didn't reveal a single word.

"Brother Jianguo, I'm so worried about the conference. My dad probably lost a lot of money."

He was so distressed that his meals had been reduced significantly over the past few months.

I used to only eat until I was 7% full, but now I can only eat until I'm 5% full.

I'm often so hungry that I feel dizzy and lightheaded.

Sometimes I even have to drink cold water to stave off hunger.

Yan Jiecheng gave Li Jianguo a resentful look.

"It's all a success, an accident, purely an accident. Come on, have a couple more drinks."

Eat a few more bites of vegetables to replenish your energy; wine is the essence of grain.

Li Jianguo poured Yan Jiecheng a glass, feeling embarrassed.

He never expected Yan Bugui to be so ruthless, so greedy for money, he was hopeless.

"Brother Jianguo, a group of people went to beat up Shazhu, why did you go up to help Shazhu?"

"It would be better to kill this idiot."

"Da Mao, look at you, your vision is too narrow. You said that both families should beat up Sha Zhu together."

What's going on here? Are Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui going to join forces?

Both families have large populations, think about it.

Jie Cheng, your family has three sons, and Liu Haizhong's family also has three sons.

Both families have a total of six young men, and then a little older.

Who in our compound can handle your two families?

Besides, what you two families did really go a bit too far.

A group of people beat up a fool just for the sake of a house.

This is why we didn't manage to snag them. Let me tell you, if we had actually managed to get both houses...

When Sha Zhu panicked, he called the police station.

Your dad and Liu Haizhong definitely need to go in.

At this moment, Yan Jiecheng started to panic.

"Brother Jianguo, no way, that idiot Zhu actually dared to call the police."

We'll beat him into submission in one go.

"Hey, Jiancheng, don't get any ideas."

Two years ago, Sha Zhu even managed to get his own father arrested by the police.

Tell me, do you think he'll let your dad and Liu Haizhong off the hook?

That's absolutely impossible. If we call the police, we'll both end up in jail.

Five people from our department have already been admitted. Do you still want to get married in the future?

Five old men from one courtyard were imprisoned.

What has our department become? Who would dare to go near it?

Xu Damao was also unhappy when the topic of going to prison came up.

"Damn it, it's all that damned Yi Zhonghai's fault. If it weren't for him reporting us..."

How could my dad possibly be in jail? This guy even got his sentence reduced.

"Heaven is truly blind."

Xu Damao angrily downed a glass of water.

"Da Mao, you're wrong to think like that. Think about it, even if he's sentenced to 13 years..."

He can still walk with a limp, on one leg. Can he keep going?

It's been 13 years. Even if he persevered, look at how he's been tortured!

When he returned to the courtyard, his wife had run away again.

He was just an old man living alone, and a former convict, so he couldn't even find a job.

When the time comes, you can't just beat him up whenever you want, or vent your anger whenever you want.

You can beat him up every few days.

Li Jianguo was stirring things up in a sly way.

Xu Damao quickly raised his glass and toasted Li Jianguo.

"Brother Jianguo, you have a good point. I feel much better now that you've said that."

Just you wait, when Yi Zhonghai gets out, I'll see how I deal with him.

We must break his other leg too.

"Yes, that's right. Da Mao will have plenty of opportunities to get revenge."

We're not in a hurry; it would be better if he died inside.

Even if you don't die, you'll still suffer when you get out.

"By the way, Damao, you've taken over your dad's job? How's it going?"

When Li Jianguo mentioned work, he glanced at Yan Jiecheng.

Sure enough, his expression was not good. As long as he didn't look good, things would be easier from there.

"Brother Jianguo, you have no idea how lucrative the job of a projectionist really is."

In every village he went to, there was a group of people serving him.

They treat you to good food and drinks, and I always have a little wine and some meat when I visit.

I won't leave them there properly; when I leave, I can take some local specialties with me.

Sometimes they even give me some money; this kind of life is something even the gods wouldn't trade.

It seems Xu Damao was probably messing around in the countryside.

I then discovered that his thing was broken.

"That's good. Seeing that you're doing well puts my mind at ease."

Jie Cheng, I heard you're still here, doing odd jobs? You'd better hurry.

Li Jianguo hadn't forgotten Yan Bugui's recent attitude towards him.

He still dares to sulk and grumble at me? I'll have to teach him a lesson.

"Oh, Jianguo is driving me crazy. I also want to find a proper job."

But my dad just doesn't want to spend money, so now I can only take odd jobs at the neighborhood office.

Or I could go to the train station to carry heavy bags, but I haven't been able to get enough to eat lately.

He could only eat until he was half full, and he didn't even have the strength to carry heavy loads, so he could only take on light jobs.

Yan Jiecheng spoke of his recent situation with a worried expression.

"I think your family is probably a small business owner, I've heard that from the neighbors too."

Your family shouldn't be short of money, so why don't you spend some money to buy you a job?

Li Jianguo asked the question knowing the answer already.

"Brother Jianguo, don't mention it. Don't you know what my father is like?"

He's incredibly stingy; he'd rather save up than buy me a job.

I'm so worried, so I'm doing odd jobs now.

I have to pay for food every month, so I can't save much money at all.

"If I wanted to buy a job, I don't know when I'd be able to save up enough money."

"Jiecheng, I'm worried for you now. You're only one year younger than Damao, right?"

You have a job now, and you'll be an apprentice for two or three years.

Once you're officially hired, you'll probably be able to get married.

You don't have a job now, and you keep putting it off until you reach marriageable age.

You won't even be able to find a partner then.

Think about it, which family would want to hire a street thug?

"Yeah, Jianguo, you're right. This matter is driving me crazy."

But I have no money, and I'm not even eligible for a job assigned by the neighborhood committee.

Yan Jiecheng downed another glass of wine, looking troubled.