Courtyard House: My Hidden Wheat Seeds Caused a National Sensation

Yan Bugui stepped closer and lowered his voice, asking, "I heard that this summer's harvest was exceptionally good, with a bumper crop across the country. Is this news reliable?"

"real."

Li Jianye nodded readily, "It will be published in the newspaper in a few days, just keep an eye out for it."

"That's great! That's really great!"

Yan Bugui rubbed his hands excitedly, "These past six months have been tough, but we've finally reached a point where there's enough food!"

"Yes, things will get better from now on."

Li Jianye gently echoed, continuing to help his wife walk towards the inner courtyard. Along the way, they stopped to exchange a few pleasantries with familiar neighbors.

Half a year has passed quietly, and life in this courtyard has turned a new page.

Old Mr. Li from the front yard eventually moved away.

The son was transferred to work in another city, so the elderly woman moved there as well.

His south-facing room was thus vacated. With its bright windows and clean furniture, it immediately became a coveted spot in the eyes of everyone in the courtyard.

The competition for this room has never stopped in secret.

Several families approached Li Jianye, hoping he would intervene and transfer the houses to their names.

Li Jianye simply waved his hand, too lazy to get involved—getting involved in such messy and tedious matters would never bring peace.

Seeing that he was not a good fit, those with quick wits turned to flattering Yi Zhonghai.

This person invites you for tea, that person brings you snacks; they all want to take advantage of this "old man."

He took the house into his own hands.

Yi Zhonghai was quite pleased with this, and he was very pleased with the long-lost flattery from the hospital.

He deliberately didn't rush to make a decision, slowly sipping his tea and enjoying the feeling of regaining control of the neighborhood.

He Yuzhu's leg injury has finally healed, but he has been left with some lingering problems.

Perhaps due to the second surgery, he always walks with a slight limp and is somewhat unsteady on his feet.

I don't know who started it, but "the stupid cripple" came up first.

The nickname spread.

Because of this, He Yuzhu has had many arguments and fights, but no matter how much he fights, people still call him that behind his back, and he can't do anything about it.

As for Qin Huairu, she seemed to have changed since she started working at the factory.

I don't know what method she used, but she was transferred from the toilet cleaning job to the logistics department and became a proper female worker.

That skill was truly astonishing.

But her husband, Jia Dongxu, was already a suspicious person, and now he was even more worried, always feeling that his wife was doing something shameful behind his back.

These days, the sounds of smashing pots and bowls, arguing and cursing can be heard every few days from the Jia family's house.

"I'm home."

Li Jianye pushed open his own door and stepped aside to let Dilireba go in first. "From now on, I'll pick you up from get off work every day."

Try not to go out alone.

"Why be so careful?"

Delilah smiled and shook her head, "You're busy with work too, you don't need to bother with all this every day."

"It's not just for the children."

Li Jianye's expression became more serious, and he lowered his voice, "There might be some... shady people targeting me."

"Unclean...you mean enemy agents?"

Delilah was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized, "Because of the Golden Fertilizer incident? Then, what should we do?"

"Don't panic."

Li Jianye reached out and gently pinched her cheek. "I know what I'm doing. Nothing will go wrong."

Our baby isn't even born yet, how can I, as the father, just abandon him?

"You're just spouting bad luck!"

Dilireba gave him a reproachful glare.

"Okay, okay, I'll do as you say."

Li Jianye smiled and changed the subject, placing the lunchbox he was holding on the table.

Inside were still the meals he had prepared in the factory's processing workshop. "Come on, let's eat first."

After dinner, Li Jianye wanted to take a walk with his wife in the neighborhood.

It's not good for pregnant women to stay cooped up at home all the time.

Before they could even leave, Director Ma from the neighborhood committee walked in with a tall, thin man and immediately called for a general meeting of the entire neighborhood.

As everyone gathered at the central courtyard, their gazes swept over the unfamiliar face beside Director Ma, and their expressions became somewhat subtle.

"Nanyi?"

"Why is he here?"

"Could it be... that the empty room is going to fall into his hands?"

"Tsk, what kind of mess is this old man making!"

Amidst the whispers, an uneasy premonition spread through the crowd.

"Is everyone here?"

Seeing that Yi Zhonghai nodded, Director Ma cleared his throat and said, "I called everyone here today for no other important reason than to introduce a new neighbor to the neighborhood."

As soon as the neighborhood director, Lao Ma, finished speaking, the courtyard fell silent.

Nanyi.

The new cook at the steel rolling mill canteen.

The name, like a cold piece of iron, suddenly crashed into the afternoon air of the courtyard.

Those who had secretly plotted to open the empty room in the front yard all changed their expressions.

Yi Zhonghai stood in the crowd, his face taut, the usual steady smile of a steward completely hidden from his lips.

His heart felt heavy.

In the past few days, people have been coming to his door with boxes of snacks and sweet words to sound him out. He hadn't experienced that feeling of being surrounded and begged in a long time, and he was starting to crave it. Before he knew it, he had been putting it off for several days.

Unexpectedly, while things were being delayed, the house had already been sold.

Well, that little bit of popularity we just built up will probably vanish along with this confirmed news.

He could almost feel the once eager gazes behind him gradually cooling down, turning into silent complaints.

Old Ma, of course, couldn't see these undercurrents.

He continued in a loud voice, "From today onwards, Comrade Nan Yi will live in this room in the front yard."

Nan Yi, come here and get to know the people—this is Yan Bugui, the manager of the front yard, also known as the third uncle in the yard; this is Yi Zhonghai, the manager of the middle yard, the first uncle; and this is Liu Haizhong, the manager of the back yard, the second uncle.

If you encounter any inconvenience in your life in the future, please feel free to contact them.

Nan Yi bowed slightly forward, his face bearing the gentle, warm smile often seen on a cook's face, and cupped his hands to the people in the courtyard: "Hello, neighbors. My name is Nan Yi, and I work in the steel mill's canteen."

I'm new here, so please take care of me from now on.

He was originally the head chef at the machine repair shop under the steel rolling mill, but due to some circumstances, he was transferred to the main factory canteen.

However, the dormitory at the main factory was already full, so he had to travel between the machine repair shop and the steel rolling mill every day, which was quite a long journey.

The factory manager kept this in mind, and coincidentally, a room became available in the courtyard. After some maneuvering, he settled the man there.

After giving his instructions, Old Ma clapped his hands, but didn't rush to leave. He turned around and strolled over to Li Jianye, who was standing in the shadow of the eaves. He whispered a few words to him, smiled, and then left with his hands behind his back.

The people in the courtyard were used to this scene; who didn't know that Li Jianye had some powerful connections? Nan Yi, however, caught a glimpse of this scene and his heart stirred slightly.

He felt that the young man looked familiar. After a moment's thought, he remembered that he had seen him from afar the day he was transferred to the main factory. He seemed to be a cadre in the factory.

However, he was not one to flatter. He only glanced at it before turning away, then pushed open the door to the still unfamiliar room that belonged to him, and began to look around at where he would be staying.

In another corner of the courtyard, He Yuzhu leaned against a weathered pillar, his gaze fixed on Nan Yi's back like a nail, his teeth clenched so tightly they ached.

A surge of turbid air rose up from my chest.

This is the person who took his original spot in the cafeteria, blocking his way back.

If it weren't for him... He Yuzhu narrowed his eyes, his rough fingers unconsciously rubbing the seams of his trousers. A vague thought, with a hint of ruthlessness, quietly peeked out.

A thought flashed through his mind.

I've got an idea.

When the factory assigns a reception task, secretly add something to his food.

When it's his turn to host the meal, he's sure to make a fool of himself.

As for myself.

They could then be invited back to the cafeteria to cook for the leaders.

maybe.

This opportunity will allow me to regain my footing in the cafeteria.

Working in this boiler room is absolutely inhuman!

He was engrossed in thinking.

Someone suddenly patted my shoulder.

"What are you daydreaming about? I called you several times and you didn't hear me."

He Yuzhu turned his head and glared at Jia Dongxu.

The anger in my heart hadn't subsided.

I had originally planned to find an opportunity to beat this kid up and vent my anger.

But after several months, they still hadn't found the right opportunity.

Jia Dongxu is now staying at home and never shows up at the factory.

He spent every day tending the boiler, working himself to the bone, his body covered in coal dust.

After get off work, I have to go to the public bathhouse to shower, which makes it even later when I get home.

The matter of putting the burlap sacks on the bags was repeatedly postponed.

"You guys have tomorrow off, right? How about we go fishing together?"

"fishing?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu unconsciously pursed his lips.

Since leaving the kitchen, I've definitely been lacking in oil and fat in my stomach.

"Okay, let's go tomorrow."

"It's settled then. You prepare your own rod, line, and hook."

Jia Dongxu walked home with a smile, fanning himself with a tattered palm-leaf fan.

On days when I don't have to go to work, I feel completely relaxed.

The only thing that made him uncomfortable was that he always felt Qin Huairu was exchanging glances with other men.

People in the courtyard would always whisper behind their backs when they saw the couple together.

The feeling was like an invisible hat pressing down on you.

……

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

Sunday, a rare day off.

All the fatigue from the week seemed to be waiting to dissipate on this day.

But today's peace is destined to be shattered.

News of a bumper harvest and increased food supplies in the city had already been printed in the newspapers distributed in the early morning.

The news swept through the streets and alleys like the wind.

The people reading the newspaper were in an uproar.

"We have food! Finally, we have food!"

"After being starving for half a year... can we finally have a full meal?"

"I heard recently that the harvest was good, but I never expected it to be such a bumper crop!"

"The ration has been adjusted back to 32 jin per month!"

"I read in the newspaper that it was all thanks to that new fertilizer... and that wheat seed that yields a thousand catties per mu, all of which were developed by Li Jianye."

Who is this person?

"The newspaper said he was originally a farmer who figured it out on his own?"

"Self-taught? You actually have that skill?"

……

For a time, the name was the talk of the town, in every corner of the city, and during casual conversations.

Li Jianye.

These three words spread throughout the north and south, and were imprinted in the hearts of countless people.

……

In the fields.

The production team leaders and Party secretaries of each village, holding the newly arrived newspapers, stood in the threshing ground or commune courtyard and read them aloud to the gathered commune members.

The sound traveled far on the wind.

The newspaper was carefully unfolded, carrying the distinctive smell of ink.

The person reading the newspaper had a loud voice, enunciating each word clearly and forcefully, as if they wanted to penetrate the earthen walls of this simple house.

"Comrade Li Jianye demonstrated the most valuable qualities of the working people: diligence in learning and ability to think critically."

The sound echoed in the air, below which were faces tanned dark by the sun, intently tilted upwards.

"When he was just an ordinary farmer, he did not see farming as just a repetitive task of bending over and sweating."

The land, in his hands, became a partner that needed to be carefully considered.

Through observation and experimentation, he eventually made the winter wheat ears weigh heavier than ever before, resulting in an impressive yield per acre.

This is not just a single season's bumper harvest; it means more people can fill their stomachs, and it means our country has stood tall and is at the forefront of the world when it comes to food security.

The person reading the newspaper paused briefly, glanced at the crowd, and then continued reading.

"When he became an agricultural researcher, his vision did not stop at existing achievements."

Books are his ladder, and thinking is his wings.

He led his team to overcome difficulties and developed a fertilizer with extraordinary efficacy.

This fertilizer, named "Golden Fertilizer," has given the land unprecedented vitality, and the crops are growing so well that everyone who has seen it is amazed.

We've taken the lead once again on this track.

Later, he focused his energy on agricultural machinery.

Under his guidance, more efficient and labor-saving machines appeared in the fields.

Countless farmers were thus able to catch their breath, while the harvests became more and more abundant year by year.