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

"Zhang Xiong'an, do you regret it?"

Knowing his death was imminent, Zhang Xiong'an decided to throw caution to the wind: "Regret? I regret not pinning you down on the haystack and fucking you to the very end! I regret not tearing your mouth apart! I regret not..."

Li Wenguo's eyebrows twitched as he listened, and he gave Ding Xiaoqi a wink.

Ding Xiaoqi swung the butt of his gun and smashed it down hard on his chin—

"Ugh!!!"

With a muffled howl, several teeth mixed with blood and foam spurted out, his jaw was crooked, his mouth was torn, and his whole face was swollen beyond recognition.

"See that? He shows no remorse whatsoever, and instead spews filth. This kind of traitorous dog who betrays his country and sells out his ancestors for personal gain should be executed."

Click!

Li Wenguo deftly loaded Browning's gun, pointed the muzzle upwards, and shoved it into Sai Xishi's hand.

"Xiao Zhuang, brothers, today I, Sai Xi Shi, will personally avenge your deaths—go in peace."

boom! ! !

The gun fired, Zhang Xiong'an's brains splattered, his body stiffened, and he collapsed to the ground.

"What about the rest? What should we do with them?" Li Wenguo asked.

"Those who collude with the Japanese pirates will be spared."

Sai Xishi turned her face to the side, her gaze sharp as a nail, piercing straight into Li Wenguo's eyes.

In that one glance, he understood—it wasn't just a warning, but a declaration with a knife hanging over his head:

Even if she becomes his eighth concubine in the future, as long as he dares to collude with the Japanese, he will still turn his back on her and kill her without hesitation.

That woman, she really dares to do that!

Be a traitor? Dream on!

If you dare glare at me today, I'll make you kneel down and call me "Dad" and beg for mercy!

Li Wenguo rolled his eyes inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.

All the bandits' corpses, along with their shattered remains, were piled together, doused with oil, and burned. Who cared if any escaped? If one or two mice scurried into the woods, who would bother chasing them?

The troops withdrew and returned to camp.

Before leaving, Li Wenguo specifically instructed Ding Xiaoqi to prepare another generous gift and secretly send it into the military camp—a token of gratitude to the soldiers, but not related to marriage.

After all, Sai Xishi came from a humble background and was the eighth concubine. Like Xiao Cui and Xiao Ju, she didn't hold a banquet or a feast. She didn't even bother to look up the almanac or choose an auspicious time. She was simply carried into the house.

"Sir, you've really gone all out—you've quietly brought in another one. Are you planning to fill up every empty room in the entire mansion before you're satisfied?"

Marrying a concubine was, after all, a joyous occasion for Li Wenguo, and as usual, a lavish banquet was held at his home.

Two large tables were also set up on the bluestone ground in the courtyard, specifically for the guards to eat and drink in a lively manner.

All his wives and concubines were present, ostensibly to welcome the newly arrived Sai Xishi, but in reality, it was also to familiarize themselves with her and establish proper etiquette.

After only a few rounds of drinks, Dong Haitang glanced sideways at her, his words laced with sarcasm: "Oh, this newcomer hasn't even touched his chopsticks yet, but he's already practicing his 'silent meditation'?"

Of all the women in the house, she was the only one who dared to flirt with her husband's beard in person.

Xianglan has always been docile, and Hongyu is used to bowing her head; He Shuting, as the principal wife, has to maintain appearances and save face for her husband, so she naturally won't break off relations—besides, she's not even in the mansion right now.

Xu Meijing spends all her time with the baby; her heart has long been captivated by her child.

Xiao Cui and Xiao Ju? I can't even be bothered to mention them. In name, they are concubines, but in reality, they are not even as good as maids. They are still ordered around by the four concubines in front of them, serving tea and water, folding quilts and making beds, and doing everything else.

But things are different now—their bellies are starting to bulge and their waists are getting rounder; Hongyu, needless to say, is nine months pregnant and could give birth at any time, and her status has already risen significantly.

Sai Xishi, exquisitely made up and dressed in a crimson wedding gown, sat gracefully at the banquet, a smile playing on her lips, but her eyes were as cold as ice. Her mind was in turmoil: Had she jumped into a fire pit or fallen into a wolf's den?

I originally thought that Li Wenguo only had one wife and one concubine, and at most, he would add another one as a decoration.

To her surprise, upon entering the house, she stumbled upon a total of six wives and concubines! Each one was beautiful and alluring, some more voluptuous than her, some taller, and even two who had once surpassed her on the list of most beautiful courtesans.

Is this person collecting portraits of beautiful women? Or do they just love gathering unruly, wild horses?

Good heavens! How can such a freak exist in the world?

And I, too, became a thorn stuck in a pile of rouge in his backyard!

In an instant, Sai Xishi felt as if dark clouds were pressing down on her, and her life was devoid of any light.

The night is getting darker.

Li Wenguo's "highlight" moment quietly arrived.

In the bridal chamber, red silk hung to the floor, candlelight flickered, and even the window paper was pasted with "double happiness" characters dyed with cinnabar. The bed was wide enough for three people to lie side by side, and heavy golden bells hung from its four corners.

"Honglian... Actually, two years ago at Wang'er Mountain, when you were lying unconscious in a pool of blood, I lifted the messy hair from your forehead and my heart skipped a beat when I first saw your face—from that moment on, I..."

He had intended to smooth out her rough edges with a few kind words. After all, she had been bought with money, and the methods weren't exactly respectable. He needed to appease her a bit so he could rein her in later.

Before the words were even finished, Sai Xishi coldly interrupted, "Stop acting. I accept that you took my body; but if you dare to cross the line, I'll make you regret tonight for the rest of your life." After saying that, she closed her eyes and leaned back, her back taut like a drawn sword.

Yes, this is the real Sai Xi Shi.

Hey!

You stubborn woman, you think you can keep it up? Let's see how long you can stay tough!

Li Wenguo sneered inwardly and leaned down to press down on him.

For the next seven days, he stayed in Sai Honglian's room every night, tormenting her relentlessly each time, determined to tame this wild horse and make her obedient.

Despite her relentless efforts, Sai Honglian persevered—every morning she would lean against the wall to move, her legs trembling beneath her skirt, yet the flame in her eyes never went out.

Everyone in the household could see that the master and his new concubine were locked in a fierce battle, and the other wives and concubines all avoided them, afraid of getting involved. Only Dong Haitang, who was usually cold and taciturn, secretly glanced at Sai Honglian a few more times, and a trace of admiration rose in her heart.

She was a notorious bandit leader on Wang'er Mountain, far superior in courage, skill, and experience in blood and fire compared to the pampered young women kept in this secluded mansion.

That evening, Li Wenguo went to He Shuting's place—after all, he hadn't shown his face for too long, and if he didn't go soon, the main wife might really give up. After feeding the child, Dong Haitang put on a thin shirt and walked straight into Sai Honglian's room.

She was wearing a new ice silk nightgown that Li Wenguo had bought for her. The neckline was so low that it almost slipped off her shoulders, and the skirt was so short that it barely covered her upper thighs. Anyone who pushed open the door and bumped into her would have a nosebleed.

—But he picked these clothes out himself. If he doesn't wear them, he'll just have to show his face wrapped in a bed sheet.

She sat alone under the lamp, sipping small sips of strong liquor, her Adam's apple bobbing slightly, her eyes vacant.

She had avenged herself, but her position in the intelligence department was now merely an empty shell. Suddenly, she didn't know where to go, who to trust, or who to rely on. The only thing she could hold onto was opposing Li Wenguo.

Even if she gets hurt every time, she'll still keep going.

"I've investigated everything clearly, from Sai Xishi to the old story of Wang'er Mountain," Dong Haitang said, leaning against the doorframe, her voice neither loud nor soft.

Sai Honglian raised her eyes, her gaze sharp as a blade: "Oh? It seems you really have a lot of influence with me."

Throughout the entire household, besides her, there was no one else who dared to openly expose Li Wenguo's shortcomings, mock his arrogance, or laugh at his pretentiousness.

"Whether he spoils you or not, I don't care. But here's a piece of advice for you—I may seem cold on the outside but I'm warm on the inside. I might scold you and be fierce to you, but in my heart, I value you more than anyone else. If you're even slightly willing to give me a break, I'll immediately back down."

As for her background? Dong Haitang, a former intelligence agent, had already figured it out on the very first day she entered the door.

Li Wenguo didn't even need to say a word.

But she didn't say it.

"Hmph! Whether he's cold on the outside but warm on the inside, or warm on the outside but cold on the inside—if things aren't going my way, don't blame me for turning my back on him. Today he can have me wrapped around his little finger, but tomorrow I can just walk away!"

Sai Honglian didn't take Li Wenguo's reaction seriously at all. What she was really concerned about was not his temper, but his underlying stance.

She was almost certain that this man was a venomous wasp that bites at both ends; even if he was disguised as a member of the Communist Party, he was hiding secret agents underneath, swaying back and forth, stepping on both sides of the boat to gain real benefits.

In Sai Honglian's eyes, this kind of person is like a reed on a wall that will fall with the wind, unable to take root.

She was a formidable bandit leader, loyal, trustworthy, and wouldn't bend over even with a knife to her throat. She had the utmost contempt for spineless opportunists.

The day she finally catches Li Wenguo with irrefutable evidence of betraying the organization—that will be the day she draws her sword, tears off her robe, and leaves.

Husband? She couldn't tolerate her husband engaging in activities that harmed the public for personal gain.

If she had to choose between the organization and Li Wenguo, she wouldn't even blink: she'd choose the organization.

The organization's goal was to turn the country around, to save the nation, and to enable the poor to stand tall. That was the glory that was truly won through hard-fought battles.

What about Li Wenguo? He's just a fence-sitter, licking the hand of whoever offers him favors. No matter how high the benefits are piled up, they can't cover up the underlying superficiality and scheming. Sooner or later, he'll ruin others and bury himself in the mud.

To be honest, Sai Honglian's prejudice against Li Wenguo was as sour and intense as aged vinegar. But this resentment didn't just fall from the sky—back then, in order to coax her into marrying him, he had deliberately disguised himself as a gay man, deceiving her into opening her heart.

You reap what you sow. He'll have to swallow all the lies he told in the end!

"Judging from your expression, you seem to harbor a deep grudge against me. Can you open up to me? Did he force you to go through with the wedding at gunpoint, or did he drug you?"

When Dong Haitang saw that Sai Honglian's expression turned cold when Li Wenguo was mentioned, she became interested and asked with a smile.

"Ha... Even you say that about him, it seems he's truly rotten to the core."

Sai Honglian lightly steered the conversation away, tilted her head back and downed another glass of wine, her throat burning.

"Hey, want a bite?"

She shook the empty glass and handed it over.

"No, the baby is still breastfeeding."

Dong Haitang pulled up a chair and sat down. "Besides," she said, "whether he's despicable, greedy, or lustful—he's your man, you can't just divorce him, can you?"

These words, though seemingly meant as advice, were actually like a thin thread, gently wrapping around Sai Honglian's wrist.

She had to be careful: the man in front of her was a bandit leader who once roamed the mountains and forests and would kill people at the drop of a hat. He was no pushover.

I'll say it again: those who walk different paths cannot make plans together.

Sai Honglian understood the implied meaning and simply stuck to her words.

What a hard and stubborn rock!

Dong Haitang sighed inwardly.

But since the problem lies in the "path," can't we try a different path? Besides, Sai Honglian was once a mountain bandit leader; she's quick-witted, agile, and daring. She's more effective at investigating Japanese spies and keeping an eye on secret agents than many formally trained professionals.

"You're just idling around all day anyway, how about I set up a stage for you to show off your skills?"

Seeing Sai Honglian lazily shake her head, she immediately added, "Don't worry, it's not a leisurely job like serving tea and water or filling out forms and stamping documents—it's a job where you shed blood for the country and risk your life for the people."

Sai Honglian, who had been leaning back in her chair with a slightly tipsy look in her eyes, suddenly sat up straight, her eyes instantly becoming sharp as knives, locking onto Dong Haitang.

For the country and its people? Loyal to the nation?

Could it be... that she's also a member of the local faction?

Unfortunately, she guessed the wrong way—she was indeed alert, but her vision was off by a tiny bit.