Courtyard House: My Hidden Wheat Seeds Caused a National Sensation

Upon receiving the news, he turned and walked towards Wangfujing.

In the days that followed, he planned to first make the small-scale tillage machine he had conceived.

Once this matter is resolved, the grain seeds collected for him from various regions by the Academy of Agricultural Sciences should also be delivered.

Later, he planned to leave Beijing and travel around to find wild crops.

Wild plants often contain richer genetic potential, which can help him advance breeding more quickly.

Moreover, if someone asks why the variety has improved so quickly after a trip to the mountains and fields, you can say that you were lucky and accidentally discovered a superior wild species – that would be the most natural excuse.

He decided to settle down in this courtyard for the time being.

Purchasing some daily necessities is naturally the most important thing right now.

"Wait until the market opens at night..."

I need to make a trip there.

They sold some grain in exchange for some cash.

Otherwise, we wouldn't even be able to afford a bicycle.

Farmers always lived a life of hardship.

He only had 132 yuan on him.

The hundred dollars inside were given to him by Mr. H before he left.

Bicycles have seen a significant price increase due to the craze of a few years ago.

The cheapest one now costs 230 yuan.

The years to come will likely be even more difficult – in 1962, it had to sell for six hundred dollars.

He simply can't raise that amount of money right now.

However, Li Jianye was not flustered.

With that strange manor there,

The grain supply is always plentiful.

In those days, flour was the most valuable currency.

There's no worry about not being able to exchange it for money.

Just a trip to the market at night will cover the cost of the bicycle.

……

In the courtyard,

Seeing Li Jianye leave with Director Wang,

Jia Zhangshi immediately rushed to the door of the south-facing room.

Since we can't win the bid for this house,

At the very least, we need to move our own furniture back!

"Um?

It was locked?

Upon seeing the newly hung iron lock on the door, Jia Zhangshi's anger flared up.

It jumped up from the ground.

"That little brat!"

"Do you really intend to embezzle our Jia family's property?"

She turned around and went back into her own house.

He brought over a hammer.

There was a loud "bang" as they followed the lock.

Two times.

The latch snapped open, and the wooden door sprang open a crack.

"snort!

I told you to lock the door!

You dare to take over my things!

Today I'll make sure you don't even have a board to lie on!

……

After finishing many miscellaneous tasks yesterday,

It's getting late.

Li Jianye didn't have a chance to properly see the city.

It's still early today.

He then decided to wander around.

1959 marked the beginning of a difficult year.

Food was scarce, and everyone's stomachs were empty.

To save energy, there were far fewer people strolling around on the streets.

The rain had just stopped.

The pedestrians were all hurrying along, each going to their own destination.

Whether it's rushing to finish a project or making purchases.

However, a number of people were fishing along the moat.

They were not indulging in leisurely pursuits.

I just wanted to catch some fish and shrimp to fill my meal.

The goods in the shop were also sparse.

Food was especially scarce.

There were often situations where people had money and coupons but couldn't buy grain.

"It's really tough, really desolate."

Li Jianye sighed softly, but continued to pace slowly.

His main purpose in turning around was to familiarize himself with the road layout.

To live in this city from now on, you'll need to get to know the streets and alleys.

I roughly circled around,

He then went to Wangfujing.

They bought some bedding, clothes, basins, bowls, and other miscellaneous items.

This trip cost ten yuan.

Then he carried a bulging bundle on his back.

I went straight to the neighborhood office.

After meeting up with Director Wang, the two went back to the courtyard house together.

Director Wang,

After a while, they arrived at the courtyard gate.

Please don't come in with me yet.

Please allow me to enter the hospital alone.

Please wait outside for a moment.

When the entire college meeting starts inside...

"You can come in later."

"A hospital-wide meeting?"

Researcher Li, what's wrong with you...?

Director Wang was taken aback upon hearing this.

Director Wang,

I inquired about it a bit this afternoon.

I found that the scene in the courtyard was quite different from what you had described earlier.

That was not a peaceful and harmonious courtyard.

This floor,

You must have noticed this lately, right?

"That's right."

Director Wang nodded, his expression slightly serious.

Director Wang nodded in sympathy, his face somber.

He used to think that courtyard house was the most respectable in the neighborhood, but after meeting Jia Zhangshi today, he vaguely realized that he might have been wrong.

Back at the subdistrict office, he secretly reviewed several old files and discovered that there seemed to be some shady dealings between Yi Zhonghai and Deputy Director Ma.

Unfortunately, there were not enough clues, and Deputy Director Ma had someone backing him up; otherwise, he would have dismissed and investigated this person long ago.

"In my opinion, you would be better off not showing yourself for the time being."

Director Wang lowered his voice and said, "This way, we can see clearly what those people are doing behind the scenes."

"Alright."

Director Wang glanced at Li Jianye, his expression complex. "Researcher Li is indeed young and promising; his thinking is much clearer than ours."

"You flatter me too much."

Li Jianye waved his hand, "I'm just a farmer who's been a bit luckier."

As they talked, they walked to a small alley near the courtyard house and said goodbye there.

Li Jianye carried his luggage into the courtyard alone, and was greeted by Yan Bugui with a smile: "Researcher Li is back?"

"Has Uncle San eaten yet?"

"Not yet."

Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses. "Isn't this exactly what we've been waiting for so we can hold a hospital-wide meeting?"

"Wait until I have a meeting?"

"It's an old rule in our compound. When new neighbors come, everyone has to get to know them. After all, we'll be living under the same roof, so we need to get to know each other, right?"

As Yan Bugui spoke, he suddenly took half a step closer and lowered his voice to a whisper, “But there’s something you need to be careful about—the tables, chairs, and cabinets in your room were actually purchased by the Jia and Liu families themselves.”

They'll definitely bring this up at the meeting later.

Li Jianye was taken aback upon hearing this.

Normally, government-allocated housing should be equipped with basic furniture, although the rent should be calculated separately. However, after carefully reviewing the rental agreement, he found that furniture rental fees were not listed at all.

He thought it was a favor left by the previous resident, and even secretly speculated that the neighborhood committee had made a special exception for him because they saw that he was valued by his superiors.

Who would have thought it would turn out like this?

"Just keep it in mind."

"Go back inside and rest. When you hear the gong, come to the central courtyard."

After Yan Bugui finished speaking, he added a smiley face.

His overtures were not without reason—who wouldn't be envious of Li Jianye's monthly income of four hundred yuan? Saying a few nice words now costs nothing, and he might benefit from it in the future.

"Thank you for the pointers."

Li Jianye responded indifferently and walked straight to the backyard.

Yan Bugui glanced at his retreating figure, pursed his lips, and ultimately said nothing more, turning back to tend to the few half-withered potted plants on the windowsill.

……

Li Jianye had just stepped through the moon gate into the central courtyard when he stopped in his tracks.

Outside the Jia family's door, there were several familiar pieces of furniture—the very same set of tables, chairs, and cabinets that should have been in his room.

They arrived as expected.

He stared at the pile of belongings that had been dragged to the porch, his brows gradually furrowing.

Although he had heard rumors from Yan Bugui beforehand, when he actually saw it with his own eyes, a surge of anger still rose within him.

What annoyed him wasn't that he couldn't gain any advantage, but rather the way these people behaved—clearly each had their own agenda, yet they insisted on putting on a facade of harmony throughout the courtyard.

The crisp sound of the bolt breaking seemed to still echo in the air.

Li Jianye looked around. The empty house was just a bare floor, not even a mat to lie on was left for him.

A surge of anger shot straight to the top of his head, making his temples throb.

That wasn't all—the door was locked, and since they were able to move the furniture out piece by piece, the lock naturally wasn't spared either.

He bought the lock himself for five cents, and it just went down the drain.

To make matters worse, even the latches on the door frames used for padlocks were pried off, and repairing both doors will cost at least five cents.

In the end, a dollar just disappeared without any explanation.

The memories of being bullied and harassed by the Qin family, both openly and secretly, surged up uncontrollably, mingling with the mess before him, choking him and making it hard for him to breathe.

"Great, really great."

He practically spat out those words through gritted teeth, “‘Birds Fill the Courtyard’ truly lives up to its name.”

You want me to sleep on the floor? You want to break my lock? Fine, we'll see.

If I don't empty your coffers, then my life as someone from the future will have been in vain.

"You've made me unhappy, so I'll make you really 'bleed'."

"Clang clang clang clang..."

A sudden burst of rapid gong sounds broke the deathly silence in the room.

Immediately afterwards, a drawn-out shout came from the courtyard:

"Let's have a hospital-wide meeting!"

Before he could finish speaking, the door, which could no longer be closed properly, creaked open.

A sound was heard as someone pushed the door open from the outside.

A man, reeking of kitchen fumes, barged in. It was Sha Zhu, He Yuzhu.

"Hey, newbie! I told you to go drive...huh?"

He Yuzhu's words caught in his throat. His eyes widened as he looked Li Jianye up and down, his face filled with astonishment. "Researcher Li... Researcher Li? What are you doing here?"

He never expected that the new resident arranged by the neighborhood committee for him to move into the empty house in the backyard would be the same person he had met briefly at the cafeteria at noon.

"Researcher Li! This...this is such a coincidence!"

He Yuzhu realized what was happening, and his tone carried a hint of unconscious familiarity and surprise, "So we're going to be neighbors from now on!"

"Yes, it is quite a coincidence."

Li Jianye twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile that lacked warmth.

"Alright, let's hurry up then, the three gentlemen are waiting."

He Yuzhu stepped aside to clear the doorway.

"Let's go."

The two walked out of the room one after the other, passed through the hanging flower gate, and arrived at the central courtyard where a lot of people had already gathered.

Since it was the new neighbors' first appearance, almost everyone in the courtyard who could come was there. Men, women, and children gathered in a circle, whispering and murmuring like a swarm of restless bees.

In the center of the crowd, an old eight-immortal table was set up in the open space, with three chairs beside it, where the three leaders of this courtyard house sat upright—Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui.

Yi Zhonghai's gaze swept across the crowd. When he saw Li Jianye appear, his usual steady smile appeared on his face. He raised his hand and pressed down: "Everyone, please be quiet. Everyone is here."

The main reason we've gathered everyone here today is to welcome our new neighbors and let them get to know each other.

Everyone knows that Old Zhao's house in the backyard has been empty for a while.

The neighborhood had been discussing this before. The Jia and Liu families were facing housing difficulties, and our neighborhood committee was also looking out for those in need. I had already submitted my application.

However, the higher-ups had their own considerations and arrangements, and ultimately decided to allocate the two rooms to this new comrade.

As long-time neighbors, we should understand and support the leaders' decision.

Okay, comrade, why don't you come to the middle and introduce yourself to everyone?

As soon as Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, the atmosphere of curious observation in the courtyard changed imperceptibly.

Many gazes fell upon Li Jianye, who stood alone at the front, gradually mixed with scrutiny, suspicion, and even undisguised contempt.

Yi Zhonghai's seemingly fair but actually suggestive words were like a stone thrown into still water, easily creating ripples—why should one person occupy two rooms? The Jia and Liu families, who might have originally been allocated rooms, now seemed to have been wronged.

"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant."

Li Jianye sneered inwardly, instantly recognizing the subtle barb hidden in those words.

These few words not only accused him of "using connections" to get things done, but also...

The hat sparked public outrage, and even more so, the potential question of "furniture ownership."

The problem was that they paved the way in advance and occupied the moral high ground.

.

He remained expressionless, seemingly oblivious to the strange looks he received. He walked steadily to the center of the courtyard, met everyone's gaze, and spoke frankly: