Courtyard House: My Hidden Wheat Seeds Caused a National Sensation

He murmured unconsciously.

These words reached Lin Wei's ears, and her expression turned ugly.

She had been staring at Li Jianye in a daze when the woman who turned to look at her glanced at her, and a feeling of shame welled up in her heart—only someone like him deserved to stand next to such an outstanding person.

Before the thought had even faded, she heard He Yuzhu muttering something, and a surge of anger rose up again.

"Comrade He Yuzhu?"

Her voice turned colder.

"Uh...sorry."

He Yuzhu then woke up with a start and hurriedly sat down opposite Lin Wei.

The two tacitly avoided mentioning their earlier embarrassment, but the atmosphere at the table had subtly changed.

"Please take a look at the menu, both of you."

The waiter came over at the right time and gently placed the booklet on the table.

"You order."

He Yuzhu pushed the menu toward Lin Wei, but couldn't help glancing at that beautiful figure again out of the corner of his eye.

He straightened his back and raised his voice, feigning ease:

"Order whatever you like! I'm a level eight chef. I live alone, have a high salary, and don't have to spend money on food."

"My savings account—is quite substantial!"

He completely forgot that his savings had long since vanished.

"it is good."

Lin Wei was unaware of the emptiness beneath his confidence.

She glanced at the menu, but her brows furrowed involuntarily—this was indeed her first time at this place.

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Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, casting dappled shadows on the polished tabletops of the Old Moscow Restaurant.

Lin Wei's fingertips hovered over the beautifully printed menu. She hesitated at first, but then He Yuzhu said, "Go for it."

The moment those words rang in her ears, she no longer hesitated.

Her long-suppressed appetite seemed to be unleashed, and a string of dish names flowed from her lips: "French fried pork chop, pan-fried fish, scrambled eggs with mushrooms, roast pork with side dishes, and braised chicken in a clay pot."

She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten her fill of meat, or rather, the last time she had a full meal.

Her gaze swept over the dessert bar, and she added a dish of sweet pear soup, along with two ounces of bread.

She turned to He Yuzhu, her tone carrying a long-lost lightness: "Would you like something to drink? How much staple food would you like?"

"Give me a cup of tea, please."

He Yuzhu glanced at Li Jianye, who was calm and composed at the next table, and followed suit, "Four ounces of bread."

"Another cup of black tea, please."

Lin Wei handed the closed menu to the waiter who was waiting nearby.

The dishes were served very quickly.

The old Mo of this era may not be considered extravagant, but it is certainly substantial.

The four main dishes and one soup that Li Jianye and his group ordered, along with pickled cucumbers and butter, looked quite sumptuous on the square table covered with a clean white tablecloth.

Li Jianye and Dilireba were completely absorbed in their own world, their knives and forks clinking lightly, whispering and laughing softly, oblivious to everyone around them.

The air around them seemed to become soft and pleasant.

In contrast, the atmosphere at He Yuzhu's table was much more stagnant.

They ate in silence, but their eyes kept drifting involuntarily to their neighbors.

He Yuzhu tried to say something to break the deadlock, but his words gradually turned into endless self-praise.

Lin Wei's brows furrowed more and more as she listened, while the faint whispers from the other table forced Li Jianye at the next table to turn his head slightly to hide the barely suppressed smile on his lips.

The dinner that brought Li Jianye great joy but made He Yuzhu feel extremely uncomfortable finally came to an end.

Li Jianye gestured for the bill to be settled, and the waiter quickly announced the amount: "Comrade, the total is thirty-one yuan and fifty-one cents."

Li Jianye nodded calmly; the price was within his expectations.

At this time and place, it is not uncommon for a single meal to cost an ordinary worker a month's salary.

However, to He Yuzhu, this sound was like a thunderclap.

He secretly groaned; after his savings were stolen, he had only managed to save thirty yuan over the past three months by living frugally, and he was carrying it all with him today.

Movie tickets, tricycle fare, candied hawthorns bought through an old acquaintance... miscellaneous expenses slipped through my fingers like sand through an hourglass. Now, after emptying all my pockets, I only have 29 yuan left.

"We ordered about the same amount as them, so be careful not to order more..."

He was filled with anxiety, almost to the point of prayer.

The waiter's voice rang out clearly: "Comrade, your total is twenty-nine yuan and one mao."

He Yuzhu froze instantly, a surge of heat rushing to his cheeks.

He was just one cent short! Just one cent! Desperation gripped him like an invisible hand choking him.

He turned to Lin Wei, his face flushed red, his voice hoarse: "Um... I, I have exactly twenty-nine yuan on me."

"Could you... lend me a penny?"

He hurriedly pulled out the stack of banknotes that were slightly damp with sweat.

Lin Wei was stunned, a hint of surprise and barely perceptible dissatisfaction flashing across her face.

She is currently unemployed, lives at home, and has very limited allowance. She only habitually carries one cent with her when she goes out.

"If I had known this would happen, I would have ordered one less dish..."

She grumbled inwardly, reluctantly pulling out a slightly warm one-cent coin from the corner of her pocket.

The bill is settled.

The two walked out of the restaurant, which was decorated with a magnificent dome, and into the deepening night. They were penniless and remained silent the whole way.

Footsteps echoed in the empty street, but could not break the heavy and awkward silence between the two.

On the other side where they parted ways, the atmosphere was completely different.

Li Jianye and Dilireba walked side by side, the evening breeze caressing their faces.

"Is that the 'Silly Pillar' you mentioned?"

Delilah recalled He Yuzhu's boastful manner at the dinner table, shook her head slightly, and said with a hint of a smile, "He really looks older than his age, not like someone in his twenties."

Delilah, her eyes crinkling with a smile, recounted what she had just witnessed.

"That's right, his appearance makes him look older than he is."

Speaking of his father, he was quite an eccentric man. He actually ran off with a widow, leaving him and his young sister here.

"Are there really fathers like this in the world?"

Delilah's eyes widened.

The two chatted about He Yuzhu and the various things in that courtyard house along the way, and soon returned to the Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Because they had not yet obtained their marriage certificate, Li Jianye's dormitory room only had one bed.

He then let Delisilin stay for the time being, and went to the Agricultural Academy's guesthouse to rest.

This arrangement served two purposes: firstly, it was considerate of Dilisilin, who was visiting from afar for the first time, making her feel more at ease in an unfamiliar place; secondly, it was to avoid giving others cause for gossip and prevent unnecessary trouble.

"I'll get our marriage certificate with Xiaodi tomorrow."

With a vague expectation for tomorrow, Li Jianye gradually drifted off to sleep.

Night was falling.

He Yuzhu, on the other side, finally dragged his feet back to the entrance of the courtyard house.

Because he was penniless, he had no choice but to walk all the way, first taking Lin Wei home, and then walking back to this large courtyard alone. By the time he arrived, it was already very late.

"That hateful Li Jianye... why did he have to come back at this time?"

He Yuzhu's mind was in turmoil, but his feet turned towards the old man's house. "No, I have to talk to the old man."

He knocked on the courtyard gate and bumped into Yan Bugui, blurting out, "Third Uncle, has Li Jianye returned yet?"

"Li Jianye?"

Yan Bugui was taken aback. "Wasn't he away on a business trip?"

"It's alright now."

He Yuzhu waved his hand, already knowing in his heart that Li Jianye definitely wouldn't be returning to this courtyard tonight.

He already knew that the other party had another place to stay, after all, he hadn't seen him for several days before the business trip, but he didn't know the exact location.

"She must be with that fairy-like girl from today..."

He Yuzhu grew increasingly frustrated, muttering under his breath, "That girl doesn't look like a local. She probably met her on a business trip. That bastard..."

He arrived at Yi Zhonghai's door, cursing and swearing, and started banging on it.

After a while, Yi Zhonghai finally opened the door, still wearing his clothes, his face showing displeasure at being woken up: "Shazhu, what are you doing in the middle of the night?"

"Grandpa, something's happened!"

He Yuzhu squeezed through the door and said urgently, "I saw Li Jianye today! He's back! And he was with a girl who looked like an angel. They were chatting and laughing, and their relationship seemed quite special!"

"What?"

Yi Zhonghai suddenly paused.

An old story that he had deliberately suppressed in his heart suddenly resurfaced.

The figure that had once kept him at a disadvantage and filled him with anxiety seemed to be vividly present before his eyes again.

"Li Jianye...he's back?"

Yi Zhonghai's voice sounded somewhat strained.

Over the past three months, he had finally waited for the personnel changes in the subdistrict office, with Director Wang being transferred and Deputy Director Ma taking over.

He went to great lengths to gradually regain his reputation in the courtyard; and through various connections, he finally regained his position as an elder.

Just when life was about to return to a stable and smooth track, Li Jianye returned at this time.

Yi Zhonghai remained silent for a moment, then took a long breath, as if he had made up his mind.

"Pillar,"

His expression turned serious. "We can't afford to mess with Li Jianye."

When he comes back, just treat him politely and don't provoke him again.

Did you hear me?

"But--"

"No buts."

Yi Zhonghai interrupted him, his tone heavy, "If you don't want to ruin your reputation, lose your job at the factory, or have to sleep under bridges to make a living, then listen to me this time."

I've figured it out. As long as we don't provoke him, he won't cause us any trouble.

I've got it.

Yi Zhonghai repeatedly emphasized, his voice stern and leaving no room for argument: "Listen to me carefully, whatever you do, don't provoke him, understand?"

He Yuzhu waved his hand absentmindedly, his tone perfunctory: "I know, I know, old man, you're too timid."

"Alright, that's enough for now. You can rest."

Before he finished speaking, he had already turned and walked away.

Watching He Yuzhu stride away, Yi Zhonghai let out a long, helpless sigh and muttered to himself, "I just hope you don't really cause any trouble... otherwise, I'll just have to... ignore you."

He shook his head, turned around, and walked back into the house.

Finding someone to rely on in his old age is certainly his deepest desire, but right now, maintaining a stable life is the most important thing.

……

Li Jianye was naturally unaware of this minor commotion in the courtyard.

The next morning, after he woke up, he rode his bicycle with Dilireba to the neighborhood office to register their marriage.

The procedures were completed exceptionally smoothly.

Marriage certificates in this era were more like beautifully printed award certificates.

The two men each held one card, looked at each other, and smiled.

"young married woman."

"The head of the household."

The way they addressed each other carried a touch of old-fashioned intimacy, yet was also full of the joy of new life.

Li Jianye was prepared. He took out peanuts wrapped in red paper and distributed them to the staff.

This move delighted everyone—in those days, peanuts were a very precious snack, even rarer than candy.

Then, he took out his camera and asked someone to take a photo of him and Delilah in front of the office as a memento of their marriage.

After finishing his business, Li Jianye originally intended to give Director Wang some peanuts as a small token of his appreciation.

Only after inquiring did I learn that Director Wang had been transferred elsewhere, and the newly appointed director was none other than Deputy Director Ma, who had close ties with Yi Zhonghai.

This news surprised Li Jianye slightly, but he quickly came to terms with it.

He didn't go to Deputy Director Ma's place, but went straight away from the subdistrict office with Dilisilin.

The two rode their bicycles for a while, wandering through the streets and alleys of Beijing, and then made a special trip to "Old Moscow" at noon.

We enjoyed a sumptuous lunch at the restaurant, and it wasn't until the afternoon that we leisurely made our way to the steel rolling mill.

Upon arriving at the factory, Li Jianye first sought out the factory leaders, presented them with peanuts, and handed them his wedding invitation—he planned to hold his wedding banquet at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences on October 2nd.

He then met with Liu Weiping to confirm that everything was going smoothly recently before going to the finance department to collect his salary. They also received the "three major items" that the ministry had previously awarded him but hadn't been able to collect due to his business trip.

A sewing machine, a grandfather clock, and a radio.

Factory Director Yang was very thoughtful. He specially arranged a truck to load these large items, along with Li Jianye's bicycle, and personally drove him and Dilireba back to the courtyard house.