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

"Oh, don't panic, don't worry, I know what I'm doing! Come on, take off your coat first."

"Huh? Take off...take off your clothes? What are you doing? I'm pregnant!"

Xu Wanqing's face darkened, her eyes filled with vigilance, and she subconsciously protected her lower abdomen, afraid that he would really make a move.

"What nonsense are you thinking? Who says taking off clothes means you have to get handsy?"

Li Wenguo rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Oh……"

She was skeptical, but she slowly did as instructed.

They've been completely under their thumb for a long time!

What else can we do if we don't listen?

Unfortunately, Xu Wanqing had no idea that this person's shamelessness was far beyond her imagination.

"You...you...aren't you afraid of hurting the child?"

"I told you I'd know my limits, so why are you still so sullen? If you don't even have this much trust, what did you marry me for?"

This time, Xu Wanqing finally saw clearly: the man in front of her had such thick skin that it was like an impenetrable fortress.

Seven days later, Li Wenguo paid a visit to Song Qingzhi.

Besides showing concern for Song Caidie's mother's condition, he handed her a detailed map of the medical route and then frankly revealed that he and Xu Wanqing were about to get married.

Incidentally, Song Caidie's mother needs to undergo heart surgery in the United States, and she set off by ship last month. This trip will likely take at least a year and a half before she returns to Beijing—the long and arduous journey is too much for her body to handle, so the longer it is delayed, the better.

With this gap in time, his relationship with Xu Wanqing naturally progressed smoothly.

"Are you and Xu Wanqing getting married?"

Upon hearing this, Song Qingzhi's brows immediately furrowed.

What about my own niece?

"Isn't this just leaving the colorful butterflies aside?"

His tone revealed a hint of displeasure.

Li Wenguo quickly waved his hand, "How could that be! Cai Die just went to the United States, and her return date is uncertain. If this drags on any longer, she might completely forget about me."

"Of course, it's not that I can't wait for her—it's just that Wanqing's belly is getting bigger every day, and I can't just stand by and do nothing, can I?"

As she finished speaking, a blush of embarrassment crept onto her face.

"You... ha!"

Song Qingzhi shook his head and smiled bitterly. He knew that an outstanding man like Li Wenguo was bound to attract attention. As for Xu Wanqing, he'd met her a few times; she was shrewd, capable, and cunning. Compared to his own naive and innocent niece, she was worlds apart—she'd probably be sold out and still have to count the money. Judging from Li Wenguo's helpless expression just now, he was probably being led by the nose by Xu Wanqing.

"Uncle Song, please rest assured, if Cai Die comes back and looks for me again, I will definitely not shirk my responsibilities and will take full account of them!"

Li Wenguo patted his chest and spoke with absolute certainty.

These words are both a promise and a reassurance.

As for Song Caidie—simple as a blank sheet of paper—as long as Xu Wanqing stands there with her pregnant belly, cries out a few grievances, and sighs softly, she will most likely back down and withdraw, without needing Li Wenguo to personally intervene.

Seeing that he was sincere and his words were meaningful, Song Qingzhi nodded slightly and his expression softened.

In his eyes, this was nothing more than a trivial matter. Although the Xu family could shake the capital with a stomp of their foot, there were many families across the country with deeper roots and wider influence; the Song family, on the other hand, was truly at the top of the pyramid. If Song Caidie insisted on marrying him in the future, Xu Wanqing would still have to give up her position.

With Song Qingzhi agreeing, Li Wenguo immediately turned to the Xu family to propose marriage.

The Xu family belonged to the military, and the entire five-courtyard compound was guarded by a full battalion—five hundred people patrolling in formation. From a distance, it looked exactly like a miniature military camp, imposing and impressive.

Guided by an adjutant, Li Wenguo soon met the head of the Xu family—Xu Wanqing's father, Xu Junshan.

This man, nearing fifty, wore a crisp military uniform and exuded a sharp, authoritative aura. Having wielded considerable power for many years, every gesture he made carried an undeniable and intimidating presence.

"Hello, Uncle Xu!"

Li Wenguo stood ramrod straight, neither humble nor arrogant, his voice clear and resonant.

"Hmm, young man, you have a handsome appearance. Not bad, not bad."

Because he was the one who facilitated the cooperation between the Xu and Song families, Xu Junshan spoke in a gentle tone and had a warm expression.

"Uncle Xu, I've come to formally propose marriage to you today—I earnestly request that you agree to betroth Wanqing to me. This is my betrothal gift list."

He got straight to the point, without beating around the bush. People from the military have always disliked formalities; being direct is what shows sincerity the most.

"Okay, I approve of your marriage."

As expected, it was swift and decisive.

Xu Wanqing had already laid out her hand; if her father didn't agree, Li Wenguo wouldn't even get through the door.

The adjutant took the betrothal gift list and presented it with both hands.

Xu Junshan unfolded it with a hint of interest.

He knew that Li Wenguo was ostensibly a manager of a foreign firm, but in reality, he was a highly influential spy—efficient, courageous, and praised by even the highest levels of government in Nanjing, with the Song family holding him in high regard. That was why he was so eager to know what kind of astonishing dowry this new son-in-law could offer.

But when the list was laid out, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Eight thousand rifles!

Five hundred light machine guns!

Three hundred heavy machine guns!

One hundred mortars!

Fifty large-caliber howitzers!

Also includes a full set of ammunition, spare parts, transport vehicles, etc.

My goodness!

The firepower of an entire reorganized division!

This isn't a betrothal ceremony; it's practically throwing gold bricks at the Xu family's reputation!

Xu Junshan felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and his fingertips unconsciously dug into his palm.

Li Wenguo's move not only silenced the Xu family elders' skepticism about his "merchant background" but also subtly opened the door to the military. Sure enough, Xu Junshan immediately approached with a smile: "Wenguo, how about taking a substantive position in the military?"

A month later.

Xu Wanqing entered the Li family's gate.

The clan elders had originally chosen an auspicious day three months from now; however, she couldn't wait any longer—if she delayed any longer, her pregnancy would become obvious, and she would not only lose face, but also the dignity of the entire Xu family. So she hastily chose a slightly less auspicious day and rushed into the wedding.

After all, she was the principal wife, and the only daughter of a high-ranking military official, so the ceremony was naturally unprecedentedly grand, far surpassing the previous marriage to He Shuting.

The banquet alone booked out the entire day at Fuyuanlou, the top restaurant in Beijing.

……

Six months later.

"Bin-zai, look at my military uniform, don't I look smart?"

Outside the Li family mansion, Ding Xiaoqi stood tall with his chest out and stomach in, repeatedly smoothing out the wrinkles on his epaulets with his fingers, his eyebrows beaming with pride.

"What about me? How about that?"

Ah Gui straightened his back, adjusted his hat brim with one hand, and tugged at his collar with the other, his face full of barely suppressed excitement.

Li Wenguo's dowry was exchanged for a brigade-level administrative unit; Xu Junshan reciprocated with a generous offer.

Of course, although the establishment was provided, only one regiment of soldiers was allocated—Li Wenguo had to recruit, train, and support the remaining two regiments himself.

Even so, this is already the most generous treatment one can receive.

Guns and cannons are easy to buy; just throw silver dollars at them and the goods will arrive. But living people, especially elite soldiers who can be mobilized, fight well, and are trustworthy, cannot be assembled in a short time.

It was precisely because Xu Junshan saw through this that he truly regarded Li Wenguo as one of his own.

Li Wenguo readily accepted the offer without hesitation.

In the blink of an eye, Ding Xiaoqi, Agui, and their former bodyguards all donned the epaulettes of majors and transformed into military officers.

Now, inside and outside the Li residence, armed sentries stand guard, and entry and exit are strictly checked, with security measures now at the highest level.

"I must say, the two of you do look quite like military families in these uniforms."

Binzi crossed his arms, looked him up and down, and said in a tone that was half teasing and half admitting it.

"Hehe, of course! Now I'm the battalion commander, Battalion Commander Ding! Binzi, from now on, when you see me, you have to stand at attention, salute, and say 'Greetings, Battalion Commander Ding!'"

Ding Xiaoqi raised her chin slightly, looking quite smug.

"Yes, yes, and don't forget about me—Battalion Commander Liu!"

Ah Gui immediately chimed in, deliberately swaying his shoulders.

Both men came from humble backgrounds, had never attended military academy, and had never led troops. The fact that they had reached the rank of battalion commander was already the limit of Li Wenguo's extraordinary promotion; if they were to be promoted to regimental commander, they probably wouldn't even be able to recite the drill commands properly.

"Pah! Your skin is thicker than a city wall! You want me to call you battalion commander? In your next life!"

Bin rolled his eyes, showing no politeness whatsoever.

"Hey, the sour smell can waft for miles! Binzi, why did you refuse to enlist back then? Otherwise, you'd be battalion commanders like the two of you now!"

Ding Xiaoqi glanced at her sideways, her lips curling up even higher.

These men were Li Wenguo's most trusted confidants. The first question he asked was whether they were willing to join the army. Ding Xiaoqi, Agui, and the others immediately agreed; only Binzi and Dayan waved their hands in polite refusal.

Li Wenguo didn't force them, and instead gave them the honorary title of "military staff officer," which was just a nominal position.

"Alright, alright, stop showing off! Have you finished what Master Li asked you to do? Each person needs a battalion, from recruitment to training, and they must be in good shape by the end of the month!"

Big Eyes, who had long disliked their behavior, finally couldn't help but interject, his tone urgent and sharp.

"squeak--!"

A black sedan came to a smooth stop at the entrance.

The four men glanced at the license plate, immediately stopped laughing, straightened their backs, and slapped their heels together.

Tong Jinyi, who was in the passenger seat, quickly got out of the car, walked around to the back door in a few steps, bent down and held the edge of the car door with his arms bent at a standard ninety-degree angle.

Inside the car, Xu Wanqing gently stroked her protruding belly with one hand and placed the other on his forearm before slowly stepping out.

"Good day, Madam!"

The four men clasped their hands in unison, their voices loud and clear.

Xu Wanqing never spoke much to them and strode straight inside. But as soon as she reached the steps, she noticed Binzi and Dayan were also there, paused, and asked, "Is Master home?"

Since he was still working at the foreign firm, Li Wenguo naturally couldn't let Ding Xiaoqi and Agui, who were in military uniforms, continue to drive for him, so he replaced them with Binzi and Dayan.

"Reporting to Madam, Master Li arrived an hour ago."

Binzi lowered his head and lowered his hands, his voice extremely low.

This newlywed lady had a much more imposing presence than the former Mrs. He; one had to be careful even when breathing.

After listening, Xu Wanqing didn't say much and stepped into the courtyard.

"Greetings, Commander Tong!"

The four men stood at attention in unison, raised their arms in salute, their movements swift and respectful.

The regiment assigned by Li Wenguo's father-in-law, Xu Junshan, was under the command of Tong Jinyi. In name, it was a respectable part of Xu Wanqing's dowry—so Tong Jinyi was indeed one of Li Wenguo's men at the moment.

However, his real job was to protect Xu Wanqing, acting as both her driver and bodyguard.

Furthermore, Tong Jinyi had already started a family and had a son.

Xu Wanqing also personally promised that after this generation, the Xu family would no longer keep adopted children, and the Tong family descendants would no longer need to serve the Xu family descendants.

"Hmm, how's the framework for the two battalions coming along?"

His gaze swept over them, his tone steady yet weighty.

"This... is still under construction."

Ding Xiaoqi and Agui unconsciously shrank their necks and answered hesitantly.

How can someone who has only recently entered the profession expect to be proficient in everything from the start?