Courtyard House: My Hidden Wheat Seeds Caused a National Sensation

The group of people, who were talking all at once, suddenly stopped and turned their gazes to the smiling figure at the table.

Li Jianye paused, holding his wine glass, and looked around at the gazes coming from all directions.

The room fell silent for a moment, even Chen Xueru and Xu Huizhen stopped talking and looked at him with some curiosity.

"That Li Jianye who's spreading the message outside, could he be you?"

Fan Jinyou smirked, his tone clearly sarcastic.

"it's me."

Li Jianye put down his cup and answered decisively.

Fan Jinyou burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking.

Do you know who I am?

Who are you?

"The street-level officials!"

Fan Jinyou puffed out his chest.

Old Niu chimed in casually, "Not anymore, he's at the neighborhood committee now."

A few low laughs rang out from the table.

Fan Jinyou's face darkened, and he waved his hand: "Temporary transfer! You'll be back in the neighborhood sooner or later!"

He stared at Li Jianye again, "Even if I'm not there now, there are still a lot of familiar faces inside."

If the quota for household registration were to change, wouldn't I know before you? You're making it sound so convincing—does that make sense? Absolutely not."

Li Jianye just shrugged and didn't reply.

Some things can't be said openly, such as the suggestion that he himself submitted.

With the approval from above, the quota for city dwellers will likely be tightened, and the surplus will flow to the countryside.

This is indeed a good thing to help in an emergency, but it is bound to cause resentment among those whose rations have been reduced.

If he admits it now, someone might actually roll up their sleeves and rush at him.

"Speechless now, huh?"

Seeing his silence, Fan Jinyou became even more arrogant. "You're just feeling guilty! Spreading rumors, undermining unity, you might even be a bad element hiding among the masses—or even a spy! Today you're coming with me to the police station to explain yourself."

Otherwise, everyone will not let you off the hook!

These words changed the way the people around him looked at him. Their surprise and unease were mixed with their scrutiny as they looked at Li Jianye as if they really wanted to find some hidden trace on his face.

"I'm spreading rumors?"

Li Jianye suddenly chuckled, "Alright, let's make a bet."

If this matter doesn't get reported within a week, I'll give you a thousand dollars and you'll have to go to the police station and confess yourself.

Everyone here is a witness. I live at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, and I can't run away.

He looked up at Fan Jinyou, his tone calm, "This cadre, are you willing to take the bet?"

"One thousand yuan..."

Fan Jinyou was stunned for a moment, then straightened his neck and said, "Trying to scare me with money? You think I wouldn't dare? Fine, I'll bet! If the newspaper doesn't publish it, I'll still pay you a thousand!"

After he finished speaking, he stared intently at Li Jianye, trying to detect any panic or hesitation on the other's face.

But all he saw was a pair of calm, slightly mocking eyes.

"That's incredibly foolish."

A faint smile appeared on Li Jianye's lips.

He had previously discussed this matter with Mr. H, whose attitude was clear and resolute—this reform would take root before the 1960s.

It was because he had this certainty in his heart that he proposed the seven-day bet to Fan Jinyou.

"Okay! It's a deal!"

Fan Jinyou straightened his back, nodded vigorously, and his expression was resolute.

Those who witnessed this scene couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

One thousand yuan! What an amount! Even a master craftsman of the eighth level, whose skills have reached the pinnacle, would have to scrimp and save and work hard for almost a whole year to possibly save up such a huge sum.

"Fan Jinyou, have you lost your mind?"

Chen Xueru turned her head to the side, her eyes filled with a mixture of astonishment and disbelief, as if she were looking at a madwoman who had lost her mind.

She knew Fan Jinyou's financial situation well. Over the years, he had only managed to save three or four hundred yuan. Where would he come from to gamble such an astronomical sum of a thousand yuan?

"I am perfectly sober."

Fan Jinyou waved his hand calmly and said with certainty, "If there really were such a change, my friends in the neighborhood office would definitely have told me."

Therefore, what he just said must have been pure fabrication.

"you……!"

Chen Xueru felt a tightness in her chest.

Last year, her ex-husband swindled her out of money, but Fan Jinyou stepped in and helped her recover most of it. She thought he had finally made some progress.

Looking back now, he is still the same as ever: reckless, narrow-minded, short-sighted, and incapable of accomplishing anything!

"Don't worry, Xue Ru."

Fan Jinyou's tone became cheerful, with a hint of smugness, "Once I get this thousand yuan for free, I'll ask the boss for vouchers for Zhang Laomo's restaurant, and we'll go try it out together."

My boss has always valued me, so a meal voucher is no big deal for him.

His words caused the previously restless atmosphere in the tavern to subtly shift.

The patrons exchanged glances, their eyes darting back and forth between Li Jianye and Fan Jinyou.

To be fair, they were more inclined to believe Fan Jinyou—after all, Fan was known for his excellent information network in the area.

"Squeak—"

Just as the building fell into an odd silence, the creaking sound of the wooden door being pushed open broke the stillness.

An elderly woman with gray hair stepped in.

"Wow, everyone's all here today."

Li Jianye turned around upon hearing the sound, and for a moment almost thought it was Jia Zhangshi visiting.

Upon closer inspection, she realized it was an elderly woman whose face bore a striking resemblance to hers.

"Auntie Director!"

Fan Jinyou's eyes lit up, and he hurried forward, "What brings you here? Have you eaten yet?"

"I haven't had time to do that yet."

"That's perfect, why don't you come in and have something to eat?"

"No, no, I have important business to attend to."

The old lady waved her hands repeatedly, then said seriously, "I've come to inform everyone that the grain ration for city residents will be reduced in a while."

It will be published in the newspaper soon, so everyone will know what to expect and will have to be careful with their food.

Look at me, I've even skipped dinner now.

"Alright, I still have to pass on messages to other shops, I'll be going now."

Before she finished speaking, she had already turned and left.

In the tavern, it was as if a huge boulder had suddenly been thrown down.

Everyone froze in place, and after a moment, shocked gazes were all turned to Li Jianye.

The same question exploded in everyone's minds: How could he have known about this news in advance?

Then, another fact came crashing down on them like a bucket of ice water: Good heavens, this man had won a thousand dollars in the blink of an eye with just a few words!

Countless gazes turned to Fan Jinyou, their previous hesitation gone, replaced by naked pity and mockery for someone considered mentally challenged.

Fan Jin stood there frozen like a clay or wooden sculpture, still in the posture of inviting the headmistress inside, which looked particularly comical.

In the shadows of the corner, Qiangzi, who had been silently drinking, suddenly chuckled and slowly spoke, his voice full of mockery: "Officer Fan, that bet from earlier... does it still stand? If you ask me, if you really can't afford it, you might as well..."

"You don't have to give it to them!"

"Hahaha--"

"Qiangzi is right! Anyway, this isn't the first time you, Fan Jinyou, have gone back on your word. What can you do if you renege?"

"That's right, a thousand dollars, what couldn't you buy with that?"

The laughter and sarcasm around him felt like needles pricking Fan Jinyou's face. His face turned pale and then red, and his knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists.

The scales in his heart swayed back and forth—giving money might salvage his reputation a little; but that was a thousand dollars, where would he get so much money? If he didn't give it, he would save the money, but from now on he would probably never be able to hold his head up on this street again.

What's even more upsetting is that this loss of face is real and there's no escaping it.

Just as Fan Jin was feeling extremely uncomfortable and everyone was laughing and joking, several other gazes in the tavern quietly fell on Li Jianye.

Chen Xueru and Xu Huizhen exchanged a glance, and both looked at the calm young man.

They were all intelligent women who had seen many storms, and they could tell at a glance that Li Jianye's composure was unusual.

Such a person is worth getting to know better.

In the corner, Uncle Niu took a sip of his drink, his gaze lingering on Li Jianye for a moment.

He secretly pondered that this kid's information network was so extensive that he must be someone with connections.

The man next to Niu Ye was also sizing up Li Jianye, calculating in his mind: This guy doesn't seem to lack money or status, so it's worth trying to build a relationship with him.

These days, times are getting tougher and tougher. If you really can't make it, you might as well sell your ancestral home to raise capital and learn to do some business... After all, doing business is worse than just sitting around doing nothing.

Delilah was completely unaware of the undercurrents around her.

She had long been accustomed to Li Jianye's extraordinary abilities, and the discussions and gazes she received were like a gentle breeze to her ears.

However, the small dish in front of her was particularly to her liking, and she almost finished it before she knew it.

Li Jianye poured himself a glass of wine, his expression indifferent.

He never really took that thousand-dollar bet to heart.

Whether Fan Jin gives or doesn't, the other party will be embarrassed, and he will not lose out either way.

"I'll take responsibility for this debt!"

Fan Jinyou suddenly gritted his teeth, his voice rising as if to suppress all his previous hesitation:

"The gentlemen of Beijing keep their word! A thousand is a thousand, not a penny less!"

"Wow, that's generous!"

Some people give a thumbs up, but their praise always carries a hint of schadenfreude.

Fan Jinyou's face flushed, and he turned to Chen Xueru, lowering his voice to say:

"Xueru, lend me a thousand first, I will definitely pay you back later."

Chen Xueru looked up at him, a complex disappointment flashing in her eyes.

She had indeed harbored some thoughts of a long-term relationship with him, but at this moment, as if blown by a cold wind, she suddenly became much more sober.

She still paid the money—not for anything else, but to repay the favor he had done for helping her reclaim her family property back then.

"Jianye,"

She turned to Li Jianye, her tone returning to its usual crispness, "I'll pay for it; you can come with me to my house to get it in a bit."

Li Jianye waved his hand and smiled slightly:

No rush.

Keep the money for now. Order a few things for me, and the cost of labor and materials will be deducted from it.

If you need more, just let me know—I trust you to handle things.

Chen Xueru was taken aback, and then a barely perceptible warmth appeared in her eyes.

In the hospital, He Yuzhu lay paralyzed on the hospital bed, staring at his leg, which was now back in a cast, feeling as if his heart was stuffed with a wad of wet cotton.

The doctor's words were still ringing in my ears: the bone has been set, but I'll probably have a limp when I walk from now on.

The word "cripple" hit him so hard he saw stars.

He suddenly turned his head and glared at Xu Damao in the next bed, his eyes filled with a look that seemed to want to tear a piece of flesh out of him.

"Xu Damao!"

He forced out the words through gritted teeth, "It's all your fault, you fucking responsible!"

Xu Damao shrank back and didn't dare to say a word.

He Yuzhu's chest heaved as he thought of another name: Jia Dongxu.

If it weren't for that guy, I wouldn't have had to break my leg again. Just throwing away his comic books is too lenient on him.

"Wait, all of you just wait, until this leg can move again..." He clenched his fist.

But right now, money is the more pressing issue.

I haven't been able to go to the cafeteria for three months, my salary has stopped, and I still have two mouths to feed at home.

Thinking of He Yushui made his head ache even more.

No, now there are two mouths, that Qin Jingru... He closed his eyes in frustration.

At this very moment, in the west wing of the courtyard house, He Yushui slammed the door shut, blocking Qin Jingru's clamor from outside.

She leaned against the door, her shoulders shaking with anger.

I can't live like this anymore.

Ever since my cousin from the countryside moved in, all the peace and quiet she had, along with the occasional greasy smell my brother brought back, have been completely ruined.

Qin Jingru not only ate and lived there for free, but she also acted as if everything in the house was hers to have.

He Yushui walked to her narrow bed and sat down, looking at the thin layer of dust that had accumulated on the windowsill.

Although her brother used to be careless, he at least cared about her as his younger sister. But now? All he cares about is arguing with Xu Damao and his leg injury. He doesn't care about her at all. And this new person in the house is like an inescapable plaster, sticking to her life and absorbing the little warmth she has left.

She heard Qin Jingru outside, probably laughing and talking loudly with someone in the courtyard again; her shrill voice hurt her eardrums.

He Yushui buried her face in her hands.

Why has this home suddenly become so unfamiliar, so unbearable to stay in?

In the courtyard, Yan Jiecheng rubbed his hands together, looked at the east room and then at the west room, a smile on his face that was a mixture of flattery and self-righteous shrewdness.