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

"Damn, Dad, you're too ruthless! I've already paid you back all the money."

Do I even have any money left? Will I even be able to eat?

"What are you eating? The family has paid for your meals."

They provide you with meals every month, so you don't have to spend any money.

Besides, the food at the factory is cheap.

How much can you spend each month?

Don't worry, I've already calculated it for you.

That's enough for your monthly expenses; you won't starve.

This time, Yan Jiecheng truly experienced what it means to be at the mercy of others.

I had no choice but to pick up the pen and sign my name.

Just as he was about to get up and go outside, Yan Bugui called him back.

"Wait, we haven't put our fingerprints on yet."

Yan Bugui then took out another inkpad.

Yan Jiancheng walked back, touched it briefly, and then pressed it down hard.

Then he walked out of the house without saying a word.

Yan Bugui and Yang Ruihua exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with excitement.

Yan Jiecheng really didn't want to stay in the courtyard anymore.

I went straight to my friend's house, planning to move back tomorrow.

"Brother Jianguo, you're amazing! You guessed it perfectly."

"Of course, you have to reward me properly today."

As soon as Li Jianguo finished speaking, he pounced on him.

The following evening, Li Jianguo was surprised that Yan Jiecheng had recovered so quickly.

He brought Xu Damao to find Li Jianguo for drinks.

This time, it was Yan Jiecheng who took an oil paper package and a loose bottle.

Upon opening the oil paper package, all that was inside were some peanuts.

Li Jianguo shook his head helplessly.

Then I asked Yao Yao to cook another dish.

Then he spoke.

"Jiecheng, you seem upset. What's wrong?"

"Put away the loose ones, and drink mine instead."

Li Jianguo asked the question knowing the answer already.

Then I took out two more bottles of Lotus White wine.

After pouring the wine, Yan Jiecheng gulped down a glass.

"Brother Da Mao, Brother Jie Cheng, I'm suffering so much."

You have no idea how my father treated me.

Yan Jiecheng recounted Yan Bugui's actions from the previous day.

And there's that IOU for two thousand yuan.

Xu Damao clicked his tongue in disbelief as he listened.

"Jiecheng, your dad is ruthless, isn't he? A 2000 yuan IOU."

You'd be working for ages to earn that much.

Even if you get a permanent position, earning 30 yuan a month is something that will happen two or three years from now.

If you pay 30 per month, that's 360 per year.

2000? You'll have to pay it back in five or six years.

Two or three years of internship, plus the time after becoming a full-time employee.

You'll have to pay it back in seven or eight years.

How old will you be by then?

After hearing Xu Damao's explanation of the accounts, Yan Jiecheng became even more desperate.

Li Jianguo quickly comforted him.

"Jie Cheng, perhaps it's not as exaggerated as Xu Damao said."

You need to work hard and get promoted as soon as possible.

You'll be promoted to a level six or seven worker within three or four years.

If you can earn seventy or eighty a month, you can make money much faster.

You can save 100 yuan in two months, which is more than 600 yuan in a year.

It won't be more than a few years.

"Jianguo, don't try to comfort me with nonsense."

When will he become a sixth or seventh grade worker?

Just look at Jia Dongxu.

Before Yi Zhonghai went in, he had been in charge for so many years.

I'm just a level 2 worker now, I don't earn much money a month.

Xu Damao directly shattered Yan Jiecheng's illusions.

The glimmer of hope in Yan Jiecheng's eyes immediately died out.

It was only at this point that Li Jianguo started to complain.

"Sigh, Jiancheng, there is one thing you have indeed made a mistake about."

If you had hardened your heart back then, you could have actually threatened your father.

Yan Jiecheng was taken aback.

"Brother Jianguo, what did I do wrong?"

"Just think about it, this little over a thousand yuan is enough to make your dad so angry he'll bleed."

Is money more important to him or you?

Yan Jiecheng blurted it out without thinking.

"Money is definitely more important. He might really send me to jail for money."

"So, your dad must have hidden more money than this, right?"

If only you had gritted your teeth and taken it all back then.

Find a secluded corner to hide yourself.

Think about it, isn't your dad at his wit's end with you?

He would never dare to call the police, even if he did, he would send you to jail.

With so much money gone, your dad is now too afraid to call the police.

He has to beg his grandparents for money.

"Then you will be the true head of the household."

Upon hearing this, Yan Jiecheng finally realized what was happening and slapped himself hard across the face.

"Oh dear, why didn't I think of that back then? I was so soft-hearted."

I think I took all the money.

Sigh, it's too late now. My dad has already deposited the money in the bank.

To prevent me from stealing money again, he simply deposited it in the bank.

I can't exactly rob a bank, can I?

Yan Jiecheng started to mutter and sigh.

But he thought to himself, "My dad can't possibly keep his gold bars in the bank, can he?"

These gold bars are far more valuable than money.

If you deposit your gold bars in a bank, they will be forcibly converted into cash.

There's absolutely no way I could keep it; maybe I should find a way to steal the gold bars.

Xu Damao also started adding fuel to the fire.

"Alas, indeed, Jiecheng, this is a mistake that will haunt you forever."

You shouldn't have signed and put your fingerprint on it in the first place.

But they stubbornly denied it, insisting that it was borrowed from me.

I'll cover for you with that lie then.

I also told you that the money was a loan from me.

Even if Old Man Yan goes to the police at that time.

At most, we'll just have a verbal argument.

How can he prove that you stole the money from your home?

You can just say that something in your house was stolen by an outsider.

Now that you've signed, there's really no other way.

Upon hearing this, Yan Jiecheng regretted it even more and slapped himself twice.

"Brother Da Mao, I was really wrong."

I really didn't think of that at the time, and I should have denied it vehemently yesterday.

My dad has no evidence.

How did he know whether I stole it or someone else did?

Oh, I really regret it so much.

Xu Damao quickly came up with another idea.

"I think it will be completed."

You might as well wait a little longer, about a year.

Find a way to steal that IOU.

"Once it's burned, they'll deny everything."

"Brother Da Mao, you're right."

I must find a chance to steal the IOU back.

After I stole it back, my dad couldn't do anything about it.

Yan Jiecheng downed two more glasses of wine.

Li Jianguo then offered words of comfort.

There are always more solutions than problems, and perseverance will always pay off.

"If you're patient, you'll steal it someday."

"Thank you both for your advice."

After a while, I figured out a way to steal the IOU.

I don't know where my dad is hiding, but I have to find him.

At this moment, Yan Jiecheng secretly made a vow.

He absolutely cannot be in debt, or he really won't be able to survive.

The three then began to toast each other again.

Yan Jiecheng tried to drown his sorrows in alcohol, but his sorrows only deepened.

Unexpectedly, he got drunk even faster than Xu Damao.

After finishing the two bottles of Lotus White wine, he opened his own small container and started drinking.

He got himself drunk in no time, but Xu Damao didn't get drunk this time.

Yan Jiecheng stole all the wine.

He helped Yan Jiecheng back to the rear room.