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

Traveling north along the railway, it only took 5 days to get back.

They arrived outside the capital city of Beijing. Back in his spatial dimension, looking at the several tea trees that were growing very well, Li Jianguo nodded in satisfaction.

I slept for a while longer, this time only until noon.

Then, carrying the pre-prepared package, he swaggered into Beijing.

After returning to Beijing, I found a spot, packed up my donkey cart, and went back to No. 95 Courtyard.

Seeing Yan Bugui still guarding the door, one could tell that the coward hadn't made a move.

It's so much better to stay at home. All this running around is exhausting.

Li Jianguo and Yaoyao finished their dinner early at 5 p.m.

I took a shower in the room, then lay down on the bed and slept soundly until the next morning.

It took almost half a month to travel back and forth. I hadn't seen Chen Xueru for a long time. After breakfast...

Li Jianguo took the jar of wine to Chen Xueru's house.

Upon entering the courtyard, I saw Chen Xueru lying on a rocking chair, basking in the sun.

"Sister Xue Ru, you're living a pretty comfortable life."

"Jianguo, how did you get in?"

"I knocked on the door just now, but no one answered, so I climbed over the wall to get in."

"Oh, I was probably a little sleepy just now, and I fell asleep without realizing it while lying here."

Li Jianguo placed the wine jar on the table, pulled Chen Xueru up, and lay down on it with her in his arms.

The two of them basked in the sun together.

"Sister Xueru, I haven't been here yet. Could you give me this month's tasks later?"

"Okay, Jian Guo, if you find it difficult."

I can buy some from outside to complete the task.

"I see you've been in the countryside for half a month, that's too tiring for you."

"It's nothing, Sister Xue Ru, it's just a trip back to my hometown."

I should have come back much earlier, but my family insists that I stay a little longer.

"Yes, little brother Jianguo, it's been so long since I've seen you, I've been worried about you."

As Chen Xueru spoke, she touched Li Jianguo.

"Oh, I think you're hungry."

Come on, I'm going to feed you well today.

After saying that, Li Jianguo picked up Chen Xueru and carried her back to the room.

After having lunch, Li Jianguo went to the used bookstore.

I also found a few books on winemaking and tea processing.

So I strolled home.

That evening, Yan Bugui ignored Li Jianguo and even had a long face.

That guy is disgusting, and Yan Jiecheng is a real coward. You're absolutely right.

He hasn't even made a move yet; I really don't know what he's doing.

I have to give this coward a nudge tonight.

That evening, Li Jianguo specially stewed a small chicken with mushrooms and stir-fried some peanuts.

He went to the backyard and called out to the house.

Is Da Mao home?

"Brother Jianguo, what's up?"

"I'm inviting Yan Jiancheng over for drinks later. I made a chicken stew with mushrooms."

"Okay, Brother Jianguo, I'll go get Jiecheng in a bit."

After preparing snacks to go with the drinks at home, Li Jianguo also brought out a few bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

Xu Damao and Yan Jiecheng arrived shortly afterward.

After the three of them had a few drinks together, Li Jianguo began to ask questions.

"Jiecheng, we talked about buying a job before the New Year."

It's already mid-April, and there's still no sign of anything happening.

"Yes, Brother Jiecheng, so much time has passed."

Why are you still looking for odd jobs at the neighborhood office? What's going on with you?

Xu Damao couldn't wait to ask as well.

Yan Jiecheng poured out his grievances.

"Sigh, don't even mention it, I've always wanted to find a chance to steal it."

But my family is very strict. My dad goes to work, and my mom stays at home.

When my mother went out, she actually told the children to take good care of the house.

I didn't even have a chance to make a move; they were just playing inside.

My mom simply doesn't let the kids go out.

I only went out to buy groceries, and I left them to watch over things.

"Ah, Jiancheng, what you're saying is a problem."

"But haven't you thought of a way to get the two children out of the village?"

"Of course I've thought about it. Even if I send them out, they'll just play near the entrance and won't go far."

It was running around in the yard, and it wasn't convenient to take the money from where I hid it.

We still need to move the furniture, so it won't be available anytime soon.

If my siblings see this, we're all doomed.

Once I found a job as a lathe operator.

The price was agreed upon at that time.

But no matter what he did, he couldn't steal any money.

You all know very well what my family eats every day.

I rarely go grocery shopping, and even when I do, I have my two children watch over me.

As soon as my mom saw me, she urged me to go to the neighborhood office to find work.

I tried countless times, but never succeeded.

Sigh, I'm so worried, my hair's even turning a little gray.

Before Li Jianguo could even speak, Xu Damao came up with a terrible idea.

"Jiecheng! If you ask me, why don't you drug them tonight?"

Secretly put sleeping pills in the cornmeal porridge.

Once they're asleep, you can do whatever you want with them.

At this moment, Li Jianguo cursed inwardly.

That son of a bitch Xu Damao actually thinks the same way I do.

His plan was to get some sleeping pills so he could steal the money while he was asleep at night.

Great minds think alike!

Yan Jiecheng said with a troubled expression.

"Da Mao, I have no money. I don't even have money to buy sleeping pills."

Yan Jiecheng looked at Xu Damao with hopeful eyes.

Xu Damao then stood up generously.

"Hey, Jiecheng, how could I refuse to lend you this little bit of money?"

As he spoke, he took out a dollar from his pocket and slapped it on the table.

"Brother Jiecheng, go ahead and use the money to buy medicine, but remember to take two extra pills."

"It would be troublesome if you made a lot of noise in the house at night and woke them up."

"Thank you for today, Brother Da Mao, and thank you for the idea, Brother Jianguo."

Once I make money, I'll definitely treat you two to a good meal.

I'm getting a little embarrassed after using your services so many times.

"Come on, the brothers are all in the wine."

As he spoke, Yan Jiancheng downed the wine in his glass.

"Hey, Jiecheng, we're all brothers."

Even if I can't help others, I have to help you.

Xu Damao patted Yan Jiecheng on the shoulder in a show of magnanimity.

"Yes, Jiecheng, once this is done, you'll have a formal job too."

"The three of us will have plenty of opportunities to drink together in the future."

Li Jianguo also chimed in.

"Jiecheng, I think you should also find a job at the steel rolling mill."

The steel rolling mill is a well-known large factory, close to the hospital, and offers good benefits.

Then we'll be the three musketeers of the steel rolling mill, invincible under heaven.

We're going to make sure that idiot Zhu is dead.

"Okay, no problem, you two brothers. I'll look for a job at a steel rolling mill in the next couple of days."

Yan Jiecheng drank his wine with great enthusiasm.

After another hearty meal and drinks, the three parted ways.

Yao Yao quickly came over.

"Now the problem is solved. I reckon we'll definitely have to take action soon."

"This has dragged on until mid-April."

Yan Jiecheng is also a fool.

Why didn't he say something sooner when he encountered a problem? We brothers could all give him some advice.

He'd been brooding for months, not uttering a single word; he was incredibly foolish.