Courtyard House: Starting by inheriting the tradition and suppressing the barbarians.

The Yan family.

Previously, Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li's wedding was held in a very modest manner.

But at least he managed to marry her.

however.

However, Yu Li's life after marrying into the family was not as good as she had imagined.

Yan Bugui, that shrewd father-in-law, was better at calculating than anyone else.

"Yu Li, now that you've entered the Yan family, you're family."

"Our family has a rule: to be thrifty and never waste a single needle or thread."

Yan Bugui established a rule at the dinner table: "From now on, half of your salary will be handed over to me and your mother for safekeeping."

"Keep the rest for your own spending money."

"Also, you need to do more housework. Don't tell me you're busy with work. You're the wife, so you need to be more accommodating."

Yu Li rolled her eyes at the sound of it.

Hand over half of your salary?

Still have work to do?

Although she is unemployed, she is temporarily pasting matchboxes at the neighborhood office.

But you're already being schemed against before you've even made any money. Who can stand that?

And look at the food on the table, there are two strips of pickled vegetables in front of each person.

A bowl of cornmeal porridge so thin you could see your reflection in it, without a drop of oil.

"Dad, isn't this a bit too frugal?"

"I haven't seen any meat for days," Yu Li complained.

"Meat? What time is it now? Difficult times!"

"We're lucky to have anything to eat!"

Yan Bugui glared, "Look at the Jia family next door, they can't even afford cornmeal anymore!"

Yu Li had nothing to say and could only lower her head and drink her porridge.

But her gaze kept drifting towards the backyard.

There, wisps of smoke were rising from Li Xuan's chimney, the aroma of stewed meat!

"We live in the same compound, so why is there such a big difference between us?"

Yu Li felt a pang of jealousy.

After dinner, Yan Bugui told everyone to turn off the lights and go to bed early in order to save electricity.

Yu Li couldn't sleep, so she used the excuse of going to the toilet to sneak out to the backyard.

In the backyard, Li Xuan's house was brightly lit.

Through the window, she saw Su Yun sitting on the sofa knitting a sweater.

He Yushui was reading a book, Li Tian was doing his homework, and Xiaoyu was playing with toys.

On the table was a plate of clean apples and a large plate of peanuts and melon seeds.

Li Xuanzheng was holding a cup of hot tea, smiling as he spoke to his family.

The room was warm and cozy, filled with laughter and cheerful conversation.

That scene was simply heaven!

"That's wonderful..."

Yu Li was mesmerized.

This is the kind of life a human being should live!

Then she thought about her stingy father-in-law and her submissive husband, Yan Jiecheng.

The resentment and unwillingness in her heart grew wildly like weeds.

......

The next day, Sunday.

Li Xuan was washing clothes in the courtyard.

Yu Li saw it, her eyes darted around, and she took the basin and walked over.

"Director Li, are you doing laundry?"

Yu Li's voice was sickeningly sweet, and she deliberately pulled her collar down a little.

Even though she was wearing a thick cotton-padded coat, there wasn't much to see.

Then, he moved closer to Li Xuan.

"Oh, sister-in-law, so early?"

Li Xuan didn't even look up, continuing to scrub the clothes.

"Oh dear, the water is so cold on such a cold day."

"You're a high-ranking official, how can you do such rough work?"

"Come, come, let your sister-in-law help you wash!"

As Yu Li spoke, she reached out to snatch the clothes from Li Xuan's hand.

She's got a good plan!

As long as she can get in touch with Li Xuan, even if it's just a little bit of benefit slipping through her fingers, it will be enough for her to enjoy.

Moreover, Li Xuan is both handsome and capable, a million times better than that good-for-nothing Yan Jiecheng!

Li Xuan pulled his hand away, avoiding her hand.

"No need, sister-in-law, I can manage on my own."

He doesn't mind having someone help him.

However, he politely declined such well-intentioned but malicious attempts at "attentiveness".

Especially Yu Li, whose eyes revealed a shrewdness and calculation.

They're just like the Yan family.

"Oh, why are you being so polite with me? We're neighbors!"

Yu Li persisted, determined to get closer.

Just then.

"Yu Li! What are you doing?"

A furious roar came from the hanging flower gate.

Yan Jiecheng stood there with a dark face, holding a bucket of urine that had just been emptied, his eyes looking like he wanted to devour someone.

Although he wasn't as capable as Li Xuan.

But he's a man!

What I can't stand the most is my wife being intimate with other men!

Especially Li Xuan, whom he both envied and felt inferior to!

"Understand? Don't misunderstand!"

"I just saw that Director Li was working hard washing clothes and wanted to lend a hand..." Yu Li said somewhat guiltily.

"Give them a hand? I think you're just trying to get close to them!"

Yan Jiecheng slammed the chamber pot down and rushed forward to grab Yu Li, yelling, "Go home! You shameful thing!"

"What are you doing? You're hurting me!"

Yu Li also got angry, shaking off his hand, "Yan Jiecheng, what's wrong with you?"

"Director Li is a good person, what's wrong with helping him?"

"Besides, if your family weren't so stingy, would I need to go to such lengths to cultivate a good relationship with them?"

"You...you look down on me? Then go find him!"

"See if they want you or not!" Yan Jiecheng said angrily.

The two started arguing loudly in the yard, attracting a large crowd of onlookers.

Yan Bugui ran out when he heard the commotion, and when he saw the situation, he stomped his feet in anger.

"What a disgrace to our family! What a disgrace to our family! All of you, get back home!"

Li Xuan, holding a washbasin, watched the farce unfold and shook his head.

"Poverty-stricken couples face a hundred sorrows."

"The Yan family is going to cause trouble in the future."

He turned and went back into the house, closing the door and shutting out all the noise and scheming.

......