Courtyard House: My Hidden Wheat Seeds Caused a National Sensation

"I could tell from the taste while we were eating that Chef Nan Yi's cooking is much more to my liking."

……

"What?!"

Hearing the surrounding chatter, He Yuzhu stood there stunned.

"I don't believe it!"

"If you don't believe me, try it yourself."

Factory Director Yang pushed two plates of food towards him.

He Yuzhu, his face ashen, picked up a chopstick and put it in his mouth. After chewing for a moment, his expression suddenly changed.

Ma Hua had previously mentioned that his cooking was not as good as Nan Yi's, but he never took it seriously.

He had eaten the large pot dishes made by Nan Yi in the cafeteria, but he found them to be nothing special.

As for the private cooking service that Nan Yi prepared for him, Ma Hua never let him try it—which is why He Yuzhu always had that confidence in his heart.

But when he tasted it himself, he was speechless.

"She's actually... a little bit better than me..."

He found it hard to accept at first, but the facts were undeniable and left no room for argument.

Not long after, Xu Damao's loud voice blared from the factory's loudspeakers:

"Attention all staff! Attention all staff! In order to be transferred back to the canteen as a cook, He Yuzhu instructed Ma Hua to poison Chef Nan Yi, causing Chef Nan to suffer from severe diarrhea! Such egregious behavior must be publicly criticized throughout the factory! The disciplinary decision is as follows: Ma Hua will have his salary deducted for this month, and He Yuzhu will have six months' salary deducted! We hope everyone will take this as a warning and correct their behavior!"

The broadcast echoed in every corner of the factory area, and the workers immediately began to discuss it.

He Yuzhu stood there blankly, his ears ringing.

"Another six months' wages deducted?!"

He intended to scheme against others, but ended up getting himself caught in the crossfire.

He felt his eyes sting and almost burst into tears.

……

Whether He Yuzhu cried or not, Li Jianye didn't care.

But at this moment, he couldn't help but smile – he had encountered something quite interesting.

The car drove smoothly on the road.

Li Jianye's gaze swept across the window, lingering briefly on a figure on a street corner.

"What's wrong with that person... He was already hostile before he even saw me."

"The moment our eyes met, that malice surged several times over."

Not long ago, he achieved his third breakthrough in the rice project, which gave him the ability to sense malice.

Anyone within a ten-kilometer radius of him who harbors hostility towards him will appear in his consciousness like a spark in the dark night.

Therefore, he was quite certain that the seemingly ordinary pedestrian on the roadside harbored deep malice towards him.

"Could it be a hidden enemy agent?"

Just as they were speculating, the person suddenly moved.

The other party suddenly rushed towards the front of the car. Although he didn't know the specific intention, Li Jianye still decisively stepped on the gas, and the car accelerated away from the original spot.

The man missed his target and stood there waving his arms and cursing in the direction the car had left.

There were no rearview mirrors in the car, so Li Jianye couldn't see the other person's expression, but he could clearly feel the growing malice, like thick ink spreading through his senses.

"They're probably enemy agents."

"Report it to the police first."

He turned the steering wheel and drove toward the nearest police station.

The lights in the police station illuminated Li Jianye's calm face.

He gently placed the documents on the table; the edges of the papers were already slightly frayed.

"Comrade, I may have encountered a spy."

The police officer on duty looked up from the report and raised an eyebrow.

"A spy? Tell me the situation."

"I was driving through the Jianshe Road intersection when someone rammed straight into the front of my car."

Li Jianye spoke calmly, as if describing the weather, "It wasn't an accident, it was aimed at forcing me to stop."

The police officer twirled the pen in his hand, the cap tapping softly on the wooden table.

"A car crash and spies... isn't that connection a bit too far-fetched?"

He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. "There are quite a few disputes every day, most of them are misunderstandings."

Li Jianye did not offer any explanation, but simply pushed the pass with the red seal forward by half an inch.

The police officer took it casually, but his gaze suddenly stopped when he glanced at the paper.

He stood up abruptly, the chair legs scraping against the concrete floor with a screeching sound.

"Li Jianye? The Li Jianye who was commended in the newspaper?"

"it's me."

The police officer grabbed the coat draped over the back of the chair with such speed that he seemed like a completely different person.

"Dare to touch the model car? That's outrageous!"

He shouted into the inner room, "Old Zhang, Little Wang! Grab your weapons, something's up!"

The sound of drawers opening and closing came from the inner room.

Two young police officers strode out, adjusting their belts as they cast inquiring glances their way.

"Suspected enemy agents attempted to attack Comrade Li Jianye near the Jianshe Road intersection."

The on-duty police officer spoke rapidly, already opening the door. "Comrade Li, please give me directions."

The jeep rolled over the gravel road and stopped about 100 meters from the intersection.

The four people got out of the car and moved forward, hugging the wall.

The afternoon sun sliced ​​the alley into long strips of light and shadow. Li Jianye raised his hand to indicate that a man in black was talking quietly with another middle-aged man in work clothes by a utility pole ahead, and the two of them kept glancing around.

"The one in black."

Li Jianye lowered his voice, "The one next to him also has a problem."

The on-duty police officer pressed down on his shoulder: "You go about your business, leave this trash to us."

He gestured to his companion, and the three of them dispersed into the crowd on the street, like water droplets merging into a river.

Li Jianye stood there for two seconds, then turned and walked towards the jeep.

As the engine started, he glimpsed the three figures slowly closing in on their target in a triangular formation.

The steering wheel turned half a circle in his palm.

Fame, when used correctly, can indeed be a useful stepping stone.

The car headed towards the newspaper office.

There will be an interview in the afternoon about my experience in cultivating high-yield crops.

He stepped on the gas, and in the rearview mirror, the figure at the alley entrance had already become a blurry mess.

The car came to a stop in front of the newspaper office. Li Jianye opened the car door, but before his feet even touched the ground, a hostile gaze was already fixed on him.

It was a man walking slowly, his eyes filled with pinpoint hostility.

Li Jianye felt a chill run down his spine, but he did not panic.

The hostility was direct, but not intense; it didn't seem like the ruthless desperados who wanted to take lives, but rather like some kind of... calculated lurking.

As he was pondering this, the person arrived in front of him.

"Li Jianye!"

The voice was kept very low.

The man leaned closer, almost touching Li Jianye's ear, and spoke clearly: "I am Pangolin, serving the Great Japanese Empire."

He paused, observing Li Jianye's expression, and continued in a coaxing tone, "Lord Jianye, the Empire admires your talent."

If you agree, a monthly salary of 10,000 US dollars will be offered immediately, plus a million-dollar settlement allowance.

Once you get there, you'll be surrounded by wealth and beauty, with plenty of women to choose from.

How about this? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

As Li Jianye listened, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved into a smile, which eventually turned into a soft laugh.

He shook his head, as if he had heard some absurd joke.

"The price sounds intimidating."

His tone was calm, yet carried an unmistakable coldness: "Unfortunately, I don't sell ancestors here."

Before he finished speaking, he flicked his wrist with lightning speed and instantly twisted the pangolin's arm, firmly restraining it.

Caught off guard, the pangolin struggled and growled, "You...you dare to capture me? Lord Jianye, think of the consequences! You can't afford the wrath of the empire!"

"anger?"

Li Jianye increased the pressure, causing the other person to cry out in pain, "Or are you trying to give me a bowl of chicken soup with embellishments?"

The pangolin froze, then cried out, "You...how could you...?"

He realized his mistake as soon as the words left his mouth, his face turned ashen, and he quickly shut his mouth.

Li Jianye's eyes narrowed.

What was meant as a casual sarcastic remark unexpectedly revealed the truth.

Without saying another word, he led the ashen-faced pangolin straight to the security office at the newspaper office entrance.

Upon seeing this, the staff on duty immediately took over, and the section chief arrived with a serious expression.

Before long, Li Jianye, led by the section chief, met the newspaper editor-in-chief, whose face was solemn.

After listening to Li Jianye's account, especially the "toxic chicken soup" (a metaphor for motivational speeches),

The president frowned, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

"The banquet... tonight's original plan did include a dish of chicken stew with mushrooms."

He raised his eyes, a hint of heartache and anger flashing in them. "It seems there's a traitor among us."

Anyone capable of tampering with the food must be someone working in the kitchen.

I immediately arranged for a covert investigation.

The president acted swiftly and decisively, immediately heading out to make arrangements.

The room fell silent for a moment, and the interview continued in a slightly somber atmosphere.

After the interview, the planned banquet was naturally cancelled.

Although the president suggested finding another restaurant, Li Jianye politely declined.

He drove to pick up his wife and returned to their courtyard house.

As dusk deepened, the streetlights began to come on.

As soon as the car stopped outside the gate, Li Jianye saw Yan Bugui standing hunched over by the screen wall, his face bruised and battered, his glasses askew, looking quite disheveled.

"Third Uncle,"

Li Jianye got out of the car, walked closer, and asked, "What's wrong with your face...?"

Yan Bugui sighed and waved his hand, his eyes darting around, and mumbled, "Cough... don't mention it, bad luck, got bumped by a car."

He was clearly unwilling to talk more, and turned to walk into the courtyard, leaving behind a sullen and depressed figure.

Li Jianye did not investigate further, taking it as just another accident involving Yan Bugui.

However, he did take a second look at the glasses wrapped in white tape—they looked exactly like the ones described in the story.

Is this the inescapable fate of Yan Bugui?

He pondered to himself, exchanged a few more polite words with Yan Bu, and then led Dilisilin to the backyard.

Yan Bugui, looking utterly dejected, stormed into the house and yelled at his son, Yan Jiecheng, "Your idea is completely useless!"

Having tasted the sweetness of twenty yuan yesterday, Yan Bugui deliberately finished work early today and waited for an opportunity near the hospital.

He finally spotted a suitable person and went up to her, only to be told that she insisted he had deliberately bumped into him and even scolded him for spilling the chicken soup she had made for her mother.

As a result, Yan Bugui didn't get any money, but instead got punched twice.

Fortunately, he remembered his son's instructions and, after falling to the ground, never mentioned paying compensation, only repeatedly saying, "It's okay, it's okay."

That person didn't argue with him about the cost of the soup—otherwise, a pot of chicken soup wouldn't be a small amount.

"There's no way things will work every time."

Yan Jiecheng waved a small feather fan, looking calm. "Father, if we try a few more times, we'll eventually get a chance."

"I don't care!"

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Yan Bugui's eyes. "You have to tell me a more lucrative way—didn't you mention a big deal last time? Take me with you!"

Yan Jiecheng remained silent for a moment.

Involving my father wouldn't be a bad idea. Firstly, he could help with dealing with the things, and secondly, this matter probably can't be kept secret for long...

"OK."

He finally nodded, "But Father, you have to do everything I say."

"become!"

Yan Bugui immediately beamed with joy.

"This is my plan."

Yan Jiecheng lowered his voice and slowly said, "In Shichahai, nets are banned after autumn, and fishing is allowed. You know this rule."

That body of water happens to be under the jurisdiction of our unit, and I know all the people on night watch.

When it gets cooler, we'll sneak a net at night when no one's around and catch some fish.

"Dad, you'll be in charge of selling the fish."

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui's face immediately darkened: "You want me to take this risk? No way! I'd rather crash a car in front of the hospital!"

"Whatever you say."

Yan Jiecheng turned his face away.

"Don't rush..."

Yan Bugui quickly grabbed him, "Let's not go to the market, let's find a government purchasing agent and have him buy the fish, wouldn't that be safer?"

Yan Jiecheng thought for a moment and nodded, "That works too."

If you succeed in this matter, I will give you ten percent of the profits.

"Only 10%? I want 20%!"

"Just one-tenth."

The argument between the Yan father and son continued for a long time amidst increasingly loud shouts.

In the end, Yan Bugui received an extra 15% of the benefits, and Yan Jiecheng's monthly living expenses were increased by five yuan, which temporarily calmed the family turmoil.

Just as things quieted down inside, there was a knock on Li Jianye's door.

It was Nan Yi who came.

He held a ceramic jar in his hands, his face showing gratitude.

"Jianye, thanks to you for what happened at the factory today."