Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

After Liu Haizhong finished smoking Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu's cigarettes, he went to Yan Bugui's house.

After Liu Haizhong told Yan Bugui about the steel rolling mill's research workshop recruiting people, Yan Bugui also wanted to ask Li Yu for a spot.

"Old Yan, let me tell you, I just went to see Li Yu."

"But I didn't expect that this kid wouldn't give me any face at all."

"He not only disrespected me, but also failed to maintain good relations with the neighbors."

"How about we hold a college-wide meeting later and work together to teach him a lesson so he'll at least give us one spot? Then I'll talk to the other people in the college and persuade them to give up their spots."

Yan Bugui himself wanted to ask Li Yu for a spot, so he didn't want to offend Li Yu.

Seeing that Yan Bugui remained silent, Liu Haizhong knew that he was also calculating the number of spots available.

So he took out twenty yuan from his pocket and put it in Yan Bugui's hand.

"If you help me, I'll give you this twenty first, and if it works out, I'll give you fifty more, or I'll give you a hundred."

"How is it?"

Yan Bugui looked at the twenty in his hand. Although he also wanted to ask for a spot for his son.

But it's not guaranteed that you'll get it.

Yan Bugui put the money away and said, "I promise to help you with this, but I won't give you back the money no matter whether it works out or not."

Liu Haizhong gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, as long as you help me, I'll go and announce that we'll hold a hospital-wide meeting now."

Seeing Liu Haizhong leave, Yan Jiecheng said, "Dad, why don't we go to Li Yu and buy a spot?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Buy a spot? Do you know how much that costs? At least 600 yuan!"

"My family doesn't have any money. We live on my meager salary of 27.5 yuan a month."

Seeing that his father disagreed, Yan Jiecheng quickly said, "Can't I pay it back every month then?"

"Return it? How do you return it?" Yan Bugui asked with a serious expression.

Yan Jiecheng looked at Yan Bugui with dissatisfaction. In fact, Yan Jiecheng knew that Yan Bugui earned more than fifty yuan a month. He did not expect that Yan Bugui would rather take Liu Haizhong's one hundred and twenty yuan than buy himself a job.

Although Yan Bugui had considered buying a job, he still preferred the money in his hands.

Not long after, Li Yu was also notified by the Liu brothers, who were to hold a general meeting for the entire college.

"Look, this is their next step," Li Yu said as she and Bai Ling went into the courtyard.

Liu Haizhong, who was sitting at the square table, did not serve tea today. He and Yan Bugui sat solemnly watching everyone.

Upon seeing Li Yu and Bai Ling arrive, Liu Haizhong immediately stood up.

"Everyone, I've gathered you all here today to talk about one thing."

"Our steel rolling mill needs to recruit 500 workers."

Actually, the news had already spread throughout the compound this afternoon that the steel rolling mill was hiring.

Liu Haizhong then added, "Everyone knows it's difficult to get into a steel rolling mill, but Li Yu from our institute, as the workshop director of the steel rolling mill, has job openings available."

As soon as Liu Haizhong finished speaking, the crowd started discussing it.

Everyone started eyeing Li Yu's job opening.

Li Yu looked at Liu Haizhong without any expression, wanting to see what Liu Haizhong and the beasts in the yard would do.

"Quiet! Quiet!"

"As the stewards of our courtyard, Lao Yan and I are now jointly requesting that Li Yu allocate at least two spots to families in need within the courtyard."

As soon as Liu Haizhong finished speaking, many people in the courtyard began to echo his words.

Li Yu now understands that these people are all bad people as long as there is profit to be made.

"Li Yu, it's your turn to make a statement now," Liu Haizhong said.

"What stance are you talking about? What business is it of yours whether I have a spot or not? It's my freedom to give it to whomever I want," Li Yu said.

"Li Yu, as a member of this courtyard house, you have a duty to help those in need!"

Hearing Liu Haizhong's outrageous statement, Li Yu was so angry she laughed: "Why didn't you ask for the quota that the subdistrict office had?"

What does it mean to have an obligation?

Li Yu glanced at the people filling the courtyard.

Who helped me when my parents passed away?

"What obligations do I have to you?"

After speaking, Li Yu came to Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong took a step back as he looked at Li Yu, who was less than half a meter away from him.

Li Yu looked at Liu Haizhong and said, "I know what you're up to."

Then he turned to Yan Bugui and said, "I think Teacher Yan and everyone in the courtyard probably know this too."

Li Yu suddenly raised his hand and slapped Liu Haizhong across the face.

Liu Haizhong was knocked off the stool and onto the ground. Covering his slapped face, Liu Haizhong looked at Li Yu and said:

"You dare hit me? Do you believe I won't call the police right now?"

Li Yu waved his hand dismissively and said, "Sure, go ahead and report it. You came to my house today trying to bribe me with these things. We'll have a proper discussion about this with the police."

"You...you," Liu Haizhong said, covering his obviously swollen face.

Li Yu looked at the people in the courtyard and said, "The steel rolling mill hires people based on their abilities. If you need a spot, go to the street office. If you want to work, go to the steel rolling mill to register and take the exam."

"If anyone tries anything funny, don't blame me for being ruthless!" With that, he pulled Bai Ling back.

Liu Haizhong, who was on the ground, and Yan Bugui, who was sitting, looked at each other in bewilderment.

Seeing that the negotiations were not going to work out, everyone went home.

During the entire conference, Liu Haizhong was the only one injured, which not only cost him money but also resulted in him being slapped by Li Yu.

Liu Haizhong clearly felt a tooth fall out of his mouth.

Back home, Liu Haizhong beat his two sons until midnight.

Everyone in the courtyard could hear the screams coming from Liu Haizhong's house growing weaker and weaker.

Liu Haizhong only stopped when the two children were almost beaten unconscious.

Seeing the two men on the ground covered in leather belt marks, Liu Haizhong's anger subsided a little.

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu are now filled with resentment towards Liu Haizhong.

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu lay in bed with their eyes open, unable to sleep.

"Brother, are you asleep?"

"No," Liu Guangtian replied.

"Brother, I'm planning to go and beg Li Yu tomorrow to sell me a job."

Upon hearing Liu Guangfu's words, Liu Guangtian asked, "Where did you get the money?"

"I plan to pay back a little each month. I feel that if we continue to stay at home, Liu Haizhong will beat us to death sooner or later."

"If Li Yu agrees to sell me my spot tomorrow, I'll go work at the steel rolling mill, get a month's salary in advance, and move out."

"Then I'll go with you tomorrow," Liu Guangtian said in a low voice.

"As long as we can move out together and stay away from Liu Haizhong."

The next day, Li Yu was stopped by the Liu brothers on his way to the steel rolling mill by bicycle.

"Brother Li, we need to talk to you about something. Could we talk over here?" Liu Guangtian said timidly.

Curious about why these two wanted to see him, Li Yu followed them to a less crowded alley.

"So, what do you two brothers want from me?"

As soon as Li Yu finished speaking, the two brothers, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, knelt down in front of Li Yu.

"Brother Li Yu, please sell us two job openings. If we continue living at home, Liu Haizhong will beat us to death sooner or later."

Li Yu also heard the screams from the Liu family last night. "It seems these two are planning to leave Liu Haizhong's family."

Li Yu said, "Do you have money? You know, a job at the steel rolling mill costs seven hundred yuan these days."

Liu Guangfu quickly replied, "We can use our salaries to make up for it, as long as you leave us some living expenses each month."

Looking at the two men in front of him, Li Yu thought for a moment and then said to them, "You just want to make money and leave Liu Haizhong, right?"

When Li Yu suddenly asked this question, the two replied, "Yes."

"Then I have an even better suggestion. Would you dare to try it?"

"What suggestion?" the two asked in unison.

Li Yu looked at the two of them and said, "When you go to Hong Kong, I'll arrange for someone to teach you how to do business. You'll work for me from now on."

The two brothers exchanged a glance, then nodded firmly and said, "Okay!"

They dared to agree because they had heard that the Lou family was sent to Hong Kong by Li Yu.

"Alright, since you've agreed, I'll take you to the neighborhood office this afternoon to get the certificate. You can leave a letter for Liu Haizhong then."

"I'll buy you tickets today, and you can set off tonight."