Courtyard House: A Start with Black Gold Swallowing 100,000 Silver Dollars

"Hehe, now that things are settled, shouldn't we finish this last step...?"

He moved closer, grinning lewdly.

"Wen Guo, don't rush. Let my family meet with President Song first to confirm that this isn't just polite talk."

Seeing him frown, Xu Wanqing quickly added, her tone sincere: "Don't worry, once the negotiations begin, I will definitely keep my promise, whether it succeeds or not."

"You're not... just teasing me, are you?"

Li Wenguo withdrew his hand, crossed his arms, and put on a stern face.

He knew very well that this matter couldn't be rushed, but the necessary support and encouragement couldn't be missed.

"Wen Guo, if you don't trust me, surely you can trust Bank Manager Song? He's close to you; if I lied to you, wouldn't I be cutting off my own escape route?"

She paused, her gaze calm: "This time, it's the only time in my life, and the most important time—I have to hold onto every single bit of profit."

"Alright, alright, but I can't drag this out for too long, we need to set a date."

—Press her down a little more.

"One month. Regardless of whether the negotiations succeed or fail, I'll give it to you in thirty days."

She answered crisply and decisively.

Li Wenguo then nodded slightly, revealing a satisfied expression.

"Then...would you like to try again?"

Xu Wanqing lightly licked her lips with the tip of her tongue, her eyes like water, staring straight at him.

"Forget it, it's pointless."

A little cooling down at the right time is the best way to gauge the situation.

He always had a keen understanding of women's feelings.

Sure enough, she immediately pressed herself against him, her voice soft and seductive: "Wen Guo, what would make this interesting? I'll do whatever you say."

"Let's talk about it in a month."

He got up, paced a few steps, and turned his back.

When dealing with a woman who is cunning and ruthless, giving her too many smiles will only lower your standing.

Just after eleven o'clock, Li Wenguo pushed open the hotel door, a surge of frustration rising in his heart. He simply turned around and headed towards Mitsui Miri's house—to find some amusement and suppress that annoyance.

"Major Mitsui, is there any news on Sai Xishi? The Special Service has her in sight, casting a wide net throughout the city. Could you urge the police to act faster?"

Jingcun spoke rapidly, his brow furrowed, clearly unable to sit still.

He was, of course, unaware that Li Wenguo had already obtained the first map, and that Zhang Xiong'an had personally handed him the second one. The so-called "citywide manhunt for Sai Xishi" was nothing more than a smokescreen orchestrated by Li Wenguo's secret service—a ploy to make Jingcun panic and reveal his weaknesses, so that they could follow the clues and extract the final map.

"The police have been checking houses one by one since this morning, and the streets and alleys are full of people. You must have heard about this, Mr. Jingcun, right?"

Mitsui Miri spoke in a cold, hard tone, her eyes revealing impatience.

"It's been days! We haven't even found a single hair!"

Jingcun tapped his fingers on the table, his voice deep and resonant.

"Then I don't know—maybe the person you're looking for isn't even in Beiping, or maybe she's already hidden away in a mouse hole."

Jingcun's face suddenly darkened, his lips twitched twice, but he didn't reply.

"By the way, Mr. Jingcun, do me a favor."

Mitsui Miri suddenly adopted a lighter tone.

"We haven't even caught them yet, and you're already talking about other things?"

His voice was dry and clearly strained.

"This has nothing to do with me. I've done what I promised you."

Jingcun paused, then gritted his teeth and said, "Speak!"

"Tie someone up—Dong Haitang, captain of the third squad of the Lixing Society."

As she spoke, she handed over a photo.

"Didn't your Special Higher Police already plant spies in the Lixingshe? Wouldn't it be safer to do it yourself?"

Those Japanese spies had gone to great lengths to infiltrate the ranks, and if they were exposed due to the kidnapping, all their efforts would be in vain. Mitsui Miri couldn't bear to part with them, so she passed this hot potato to Jingcun.

"I'm currently planning something very important, and I can't afford to make any mistakes. Besides, you owe me a promise, remember?"

……

"Remember this—you must live to see people."

Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Jingcun took the photos away.

Mitsui Miri's lips curled slightly, a cold smile playing on her lips: Li Wenguo, once I have your woman in my grasp, you'll be completely at my mercy in Beiping.

These days, she frequently probed Li Wenguo, trying to extract information from him.

But Officer Li Wenguo felt like she was a night owl; the moment she touched a sensitive spot, her eyes would sharpen and her breathing would become wary. She could only stop in time, not daring to go any further.

However, the mole within the Lixingshe organization delivered the real goods.

Because of the investigation into the map, Li Wenguo's power suddenly increased dramatically—even Gao Yang from the first team and Qiu Sheng from the second team had to obey his orders.

Taking advantage of the situation, Japanese spies quickly identified Dong Haitang, the leader of the third squad: she was Li Wenguo's wife and had a son. Now the clues connected—he was the one behind Dong Haitang.

What's even more surprising is that his influence in the Second Division was so great that he could command all the secret agents in the entire division.

Mitsui Miri immediately decided: "To catch the thief, first catch the wife." If she could capture Dong Haitang, she wouldn't be afraid of Li Wenguo's submission. Once she succeeded, Beiping would be her chessboard!

After reaching an agreement, she returned to the hospital and caught a glimpse of Li Wenguo's black sedan parked quietly in front of the gate.

She remained expressionless, but inwardly she was churning with icy thoughts: Let's see how long you can keep your head over my shoulders.

Lixingshe, Dong Haitang's office.

"Tonight, you will lead your men to ambush this area. Spread out in all directions, and as soon as the target shows up, take him down immediately. Do not let a word of this leak out."

Li Wenguo pushed a hand-drawn sketch in front of Wen San.

"Understood, Mr. Li!"

Wen San acknowledged the order and turned to leave.

As soon as the door closed, Dong Haitang stepped forward and sat down in his lap, her fingertips twirling around his buttons.

"My 'luring the snake out of its hole' tactic is absolutely brilliant."

"Need I say more?" Li Wenguo raised his chin, unable to hide his smugness. "No matter how well the Japanese devils hide, they can't even hide their shadows under my nose."

His hand was already inside her clothes, completely unaware that his daughter-in-law was unusually clingy today.

"Sir, you certainly know how to exaggerate... But where exactly is Sai Xishi?"

She tilted her head and asked.

"Who said I found her?"

Before he finished speaking, his fingertips had already unbuttoned the second button on her collar.

"You...you didn't even look for it? Then that mission just now was—oh! I get it, you're ruthless!"

Dong Haitang's pupils contracted as she suddenly realized what was happening.

It turns out that Li Wenguo's plan wasn't to catch Sai Xishi at all, but rather to lure the big fish, Jingcun.

Previously, he had deliberately spread rumors that spies were also tracking Sai Xishi's whereabouts, putting Jingcun in a state of panic. Tonight, he would have Niu Dali pretend to inform that high-ranking official in the municipal government that the person had been captured. That official would surely report to his notebook immediately, and the anxious Jingcun would rush to arrest her at the first opportunity, fearing that the spies would beat him to it.

But there was no Sai Xishi there at all; instead, Wen San and his gang of skilled men were lying in ambush, waiting for Jingcun to walk right into their trap so they could catch him in one fell swoop.

"Hehe! You'll be the real 'poison' in a bit!"

Li Wenguo grinned, a few sly wrinkles appearing at the corners of his eyes.

Dong Haitang glanced at him sideways, her face full of disdain.

As he picked up his gun and prepared to leave, he suddenly realized that his wife was being visited by relatives.

In an instant, he understood everything—no wonder she was so attentive today, agreeing with him in a soft voice and cooperating with him in every way; she was taking him for a fool!

"You shrew, you'll be crying soon enough!"

Li Wenguo gritted his teeth and uttered a harsh statement.

"Sir, how can you blame me for this?"

"Tell me, if I don't take the initiative, will you really let me go?"

Dong Haitang scoffed, showing no sign of backing down.

That's no exaggeration. Every time he steps into the office, doesn't he head straight for her desk?

Li Wenguo's face flushed, and he immediately became arrogant: "It's a blessing you've accumulated over eight lifetimes that I'm willing to pamper you in my office! My concubines don't even have the right to get close to me!"

"Stop acting innocent after getting the benefit!"

Before she could finish speaking, he had already turned and strode toward the door—staying any longer would only lead to embarrassment.

Good fortune?

Pooh!

It's cheap?

Do you think I care about such a paltry bargain from you?

Dong Haitang felt a tightness in her chest as she listened to her husband's shameless and outrageous words.

"You shameless!!!"

He grabbed the pen holder from the table and smashed it hard.

"Bang!!!"

The pen holder hit the door panel and bounced to the ground.

Li Wenguo's temper flared up instantly, and he turned and went to Mitsui Miri.

As darkness fell, twilight descended.

After getting off work, Dong Haitang was driving home when, on a quiet stretch of road, two black cars suddenly sped towards him like cheetahs: one blocked the front of the car, forcing the driver to slam on the brakes; the other cut in front of the car on the right, blocking his way out.

"Aunt Dong, watch out!"

The two guards in the driver's seat gave a low shout and drew their pistols from their waists with lightning speed, pointing the muzzles at the approaching enemy.

Dong Haitang's expression hardened, and he quickly drew his gun, his back ramrod straight.

"Bang!!!"

"Bang!!!"

"Bang!!!"

The car in front rolled down its window, guns spewed fire, and bullets precisely struck the chests of the two guards.

Two men in black, dressed in Zhongshan suits and wearing masks, jumped out of the car on the side. One of them swung an iron bar and smashed it hard against the rear window. With a loud crash, the glass shattered into a spiderweb pattern. The other man deftly pulled off the safety pin of a dark grenade and tossed it into the car. White smoke billowed out, choking and irritating the nose and throat.

"This is……"

"Sleeping gas?!"

Dong Haitang instinctively covered her mouth and nose, but still inhaled a few breaths. Her vision went black, and her body went limp. Two men in black took advantage of the situation to drag her out of the car and shove her into the back.

In the driver's seat, the two guards were already lying in pools of blood, lifeless.

"Squeak—!"

The two black cars sped away.

The whole process took no more than a minute and a half, quick and efficient, clearly the work of a seasoned veteran.

Upon hearing the gunshot, pedestrians on the street scattered like birds and beasts.

Although patrol officers came from afar upon hearing the commotion, they moved as slowly as if taking a stroll.

Dong Haitang was eventually kidnapped!

At that moment, Li Wenguo, who was having a meal with Mitsui Miri, was unaware that his bedmate had been kidnapped.

He planned to have a "detailed talk" with Mitsui Miri after the meal, and then rushed back to Lixingsha to await good news.

After finishing their meal, the two strolled into the courtyard.

"Enjoy this, it's the last time."

Just as Li Wenguo leaned down and pressed down on her, a whisper from Mitsui Miri drifted into his ear, as light as a sigh and as cold as frost.

But with desire raging at that moment, he had no time to ponder the hidden meaning in those words.

The important thing is to take care of the business first.

In fact, these words were not only spoken to him, but also her most genuine inner monologue.

She wasn't completely unmoved by her intimacy with Li Wenguo, but she always viewed it as a great humiliation, which is why she gritted her teeth and endured it time and time again, engraving the resistance into her very bones.

An hour and a half later.

Li Wenguo fastened his belt and pushed open the door, only to see a person standing at the gate of the courtyard—Shangyuan Tianzi?

What is she here for?

The men with big eyes who were waiting outside the courtyard recognized her as a colleague from the foreign firm and let her in.

Li Wenguo raised his hand in greeting, his attitude natural.

Uehara nods with a smile, but the smile is on her face and doesn't reach her eyes; it's as if she's watching a farce.

"Miss Kurai, I've brought what you requested!"

Mitsui Miri was only loosely wrapped in a thin nightgown, her neckline and collarbone gleaming coldly white under the light. But there were only two people in the room—a woman and a man who had already thoroughly exposed each other's secrets. Neither of them paid any attention, and she simply took the palm-sized hardcover booklet from Uezono Tadako's hand.

What is that?

Secret Service ID?

Li Wenguo frowned, staring intently at the notebook, his heart sinking – it was too familiar; he had an identical copy in his pocket.

"Oh, Mr. Li, does this look familiar? Guess whose it is?"

Mitsui Miri's lips curled slightly, and a hint of amusement, like a cat teasing a mouse, flickered in her eyes.

Li Wenguo's spine subtly tensed.

Something's not right. Something's really not right—Uezono Tadako and Kurai Daisora, who were previously so respectful, are now like snakes with their skin removed, exuding a nonchalant arrogance.

And then there's this notebook.

His gaze swept over the documents spread out on the table—yes, they were exactly the same.

These two Japanese spies in skirts are indeed spies in the enemy camp!

The thought had barely formed in his mind when his hand was already on the holster at his waist, his knuckles snapping shut, and the gun grip was firmly nestled in his palm.

He strode forward, grabbed the ID, flipped it open, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

Dong Haitang's name was prominently displayed on the first page!

Did something happen to her?

"You are Japanese spies!"

"Where is Dong Haitang? What did you do to her?"

Li Wenguo's voice was extremely low, like a dull knife scraping across an iron plate.

"Oh? It's nothing, just inviting her over as a 'guest'."

Mitsui Miri, who had been suppressed for so long, suddenly raised her chin. The pent-up frustration in her chest turned into a sense of pleasure, and even her breathing became lighter.

But before that moment of comfort could even dissipate, a hand as strong as an iron clamp gripped her slender neck tightly—her skin was smooth, yet it couldn't withstand the brutal force.

"You dare touch my wife? You're asking for trouble!"

With a lift of his arm, Mitsui Miri's feet instantly rose more than half a meter off the ground, her toes kicking futilely at the air.