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

"To press oil!"

Not only were Ding Xiaoqi and the others eager to press the oil, but Yang Yuerong also sent a telegram urging them to hurry up.

Li Wenguo's stock was already nearly depleted. If he were to actually go to the foreign firm to make purchases, he would easily give himself away if he wasn't careful—his spies were everywhere, checking the accounts and keeping an eye on him, and they would surely think he was an anti-Japanese element and arrest him to have chili water poured on him or put him on the tiger bench.

He wouldn't do something so foolish.

It's not that there aren't other options: having Niu Dali disguise himself as a Japanese merchant and sneak into the market to buy it is feasible. But the Japanese military warehouse is clearly piled high with barrels of oil, why waste money? Wouldn't it be more convenient to just steal some?

Li Wenguo squinted and pondered, an idea quietly taking shape.

……

"Brother-in-law, what terrible thing did my sister do to deserve this torture?"

That day, Wen Keyi couldn't bear to watch any longer—her older sister was listless and weak all day, unable to even get out of bed, and Xiao Guoyu depended entirely on her to hold him and feed him. She stood in front of Li Wenguo, clutching the hem of her clothes, her voice trembling, her eyes filled with fire.

"Hey, little brat, you can't just talk nonsense." Li Wenguo slowly raised his eyes. "When did I ever mistreat your sister? If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll sue you for defamation, you believe me?"

He spoke lightly, but he knew perfectly well what was going on: he had exhausted Wen Keren these past few days not for pleasure, but to exploit Wen Keyi's weakness—she couldn't bear to see her sister suffer, and the more she felt sorry for her, the easier it would be for her to submit and obediently marry him as his concubine.

After only two days of conversation, he had figured her out: Wen Keyi was tough on the outside but soft on the inside, sharp-tongued but warm-hearted. If he tried to force her, she would turn around and leave without the slightest hesitation.

But what's the situation outside right now? The city is engulfed in gunfire, the gates are tightly shut—it's impossible to get out!

So the only option was to target Wen Keren—no beatings or scolding, just endless nights of passionate lovemaking, lasting as long as possible, exhausting her energy and bodily fluids. How could Wen Keren endure it? Once she lay down, she couldn't get up, even breathing was difficult.

In her eyes, what else could this be but torment?

"You didn't torment her? Then why can't she even get out of bed?" Wen Keyi's voice suddenly rose, her fingertips digging into her palm.

She was convinced he was cheating—that scoundrel!

"We're consummating our marriage, understand?" Li Wenguo's lips curled into a smirk, his tone tinged with a hint of smugness. "Your brother-in-law is exceptionally gifted, with stamina far exceeding that of ordinary people. But women are delicate, and if they can't keep up, they naturally become exhausted. But she's my woman, so even if she can't keep up, she has to grit her teeth and persevere."

A man's ability to do this has always been his source of confidence and his asset.

"Don't you already have a wife? Why don't you go find Shuting? Wouldn't it be better to let her share some of the burden? Besides... isn't Shuting much prettier than my sister?"

Wen Keyi frowned, trying her best to suppress her anger. She was afraid that if she angered him, her sister would suffer even more.

"Oh, you mean Shuting?" Li Wenguo shrugged. "With four kids scrambling around her, if she lies down, who's going to comfort her, feed her, wipe her bottom, and change her diapers?"

As for the extra one—Sai Honglian's youngest daughter—she was too young, so only a state gift was brought to Wang'er Mountain.

"Stop nagging. Right now, the only one who can help me out of this predicament is your sister. She agreed, so she has to take care of it. Exhausted? If you're exhausted, just rest for a couple of days. It's not like you'll die."

You little punk, trying to argue with me? I'll make you mad!

"How could you do this? My sister is kind-hearted and gentle. She gave birth to your son, and you treat her like an animal!" Wen Keyi finally couldn't hold back and blurted out.

"Just for that 'bastard' you called me, tonight—I'll stay up with your sister until dawn." Li Wenguo said, then turned and left, heading straight for Wen Keren's bedroom.

"Wait! Hold on!" Wen Keyi hurriedly grabbed his sleeve. "I'm sorry, I spoke without thinking, please don't take it seriously..."

She was terrified, afraid that a single wrong word would cause her sister to suffer a whole night.

"Admit your mistake? Too late." Li Wenguo gently pulled away from her hand. "Once I say it, I'll remember it. I mean what I say—I won't stop working until dawn."

"You call yourself a man? Your heart is smaller than a pinhead!"

"If you're so tough, go run wild in that little notebook! What kind of hero bullies women?"

Wen Keyi completely exploded, a breath rushing to her throat and spilling out in a rapid stream—her words, though not outrageous, were already bordering on offensive.

She forgot that Li Wenguo's skin was thicker than a city wall brick.

"Ha, just because you called me stingy, I've decided to take a day off tomorrow, lock myself in, and dedicate myself to 'serving' your sister."

"Ah? No! Please don't! I was wrong, please don't hurt my sister..."

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I apologize on behalf of my sister!"

When Wen Keyi heard that the man wanted to put more pressure on her, her heart tightened, and she stammered, bowing repeatedly.

If my sister is driven to the brink of collapse, it will all be her fault.

"Apologize? No need." Li Wenguo sneered, not even raising his eyelids. "I hold grudges very much. Besides—if we really did what you said and rushed out to confront that bastard head-on, what if he ended up dead in the street? Not only would your sister be widowed, but how would this whole family survive? From the stove to the coffin, I've been carrying the entire burden of this family. You silly girl, have you even thought about it?"

As he spoke, he reached out and lightly patted her cheek twice, his fingertips carrying a casual disdain, as if he were teasing a little sparrow that had crashed into a cage and was still flapping its wings.

Wen Keyi's lips moved, but she couldn't utter a single word. She knew very well that her sister was currently relying on this pillar for support; if the pillar collapsed, the roof would crumble.

"Then...what will it take for you to finally let go? To stop putting all the burden on my sister's shoulders? To stop her from coughing up blood?"

His voice trembled as he spoke, a desperate plea from someone with no other options.

Li Wenguo chuckled inwardly; the fish had finally taken the bait.

"Want to relieve her of her burden? Find someone to share it." He said slowly, "Didn't you bring this up just a couple of days ago? Shu Ting is too busy taking care of her baby, where would she find the energy? You should think about it yourself."

Just before leaving, he deliberately paused, his gaze like a wet snake, sliding from her hair to her toes before stepping out the door.

That gaze was scorching—Wen Keyi clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, staring intently at that back, a metallic taste lingering on her tongue.

Animals!

You bastard!

Scumbag! A scumbag rotten to the core!

She suddenly realized: this was no nonsense about "sharing the burden"; it was clearly using her sister as a rope to strangle her and force her to submit!

"You bastard!!!"

"Scumbag!!!"

"Utterly shameless!!!"

"Addicted to lust!!!"

"How could my sister have married such a scumbag?!"

She didn't know that her older sister had once humbled herself and worked as a porter at the docks to support her education...

Her mind was in turmoil: if she didn't agree, her brother-in-law would definitely make her suffer terribly; but if she agreed? She would rather chop off her fingers than touch him.

She looked down on Li Wenguo completely.

Even earlier, her heart had quietly fallen for someone else.

Yes, that's the senior who walked at the very front during the parade.

Two years ago, he went to the base area. Before leaving, he held her hand and said, "When I come back, let's build a new school together."

Li Wenguo never makes empty promises.

He turned around and went into Wen Keren's room.

Ke Ren was sitting by the window rocking the cradle when little Li Guoyu, just over two years old, recognized his father with a quick dart and pounced on him, shouting, "Daddy! Hug me! Lift me up high!"

Li Wenguo scooped up his son and kissed his chubby cheeks with a smile.

He did dote on the boy, but only when he was young and ignorant—once he reached school age, rules had to be established.

Spoiling children won't raise them to be upright; it will only produce a spoiled brat and a good-for-nothing.

He wouldn't stoop to doing something so foolish.

"Sir, you've arrived?"

Although Wen Keren was exhausted and her eyes were dark circles, she still put on a gentle smile.

She had long seen through her husband's intentions—he had his eye on her younger sister.

She used to be timid and thought that a woman's life was nothing more than clinging to a vine. She didn't want her younger sister to live as a shadow dependent on others, so she kept Wen Keyi hidden away and rarely mentioned her even to her own family.

As for Li Wenguo? She knew better than anyone that this man was intolerant of even the slightest imperfection and would never let go of Ke Yi. If it weren't for the fact that her little notebook had infiltrated the capital, she would never have allowed her sister to step through that door.

But with war raging all around, having a safe roof over one's head is a blessing. Since my sister has shown herself, then so be it.

If you really want to marry her, it's good to do so—at least when things get tough in the future, your sister won't be all alone.

Besides, what could she possibly stop? She didn't even dare to look her husband in the eye.

After putting Xiao Guoyu to sleep, Li Wenguo suddenly ripped open her collar.

"Keren, you should know what's going on." His voice was low and hoarse.

"Yes, if Master wants to take my sister as a concubine, I have no objection." She lowered her eyes and spoke calmly. "She has a stubborn temper, but I will persuade her slowly. In these chaotic times, if she can stay under Master's protection, I can feel at ease."

"Oh, my darling..." He stroked the back of her neck and sighed, "You understand me so well. You're so obedient that I can't bear to torment you anymore."

Li Wenguo spoke lightly, but his hands never stopped moving.

really big!

So bright!

"Don't worry, sir. After you welcome my sister into the family, I'll rest for a month or so and take good care of myself."

Wen Keren remained gentle and soft-spoken, her eyes lowered, as tender as a handful of spring water.

"How about this—tomorrow you'll tell everyone she's pregnant. My sister's pregnant and being tormented every night, the pregnancy is unstable, she could miscarry at any moment, her life is hanging by a thread... How can she possibly get an erection?"

Li Wenguo's words were like a blow to the head.

If the pregnant older sister was pushed to the brink of life and death, how could the younger sister maintain her composure?

Ruthless, truly ruthless!

Wen Keren's fingertips trembled slightly, and her breath hitched for a beat.

She suddenly remembered what kind of business this man in front of her had done in his early years—a life of danger and ruthlessness, not someone who cared about sentiment.

What happened next is not something I can go into detail about.

It was midnight in the blink of an eye.

Niu Dali, wearing a black cloth hood, crept to the gate of a low courtyard in the west of the city and raised his hand to knock on the door.

"Thump, thump, thump—"

"Knock knock!!!"

Three long and two short sounds, a distinct rhythm. The door opened in response.

The room was already packed with people, with about twenty men squatting against the wall, their sweat and gunpowder mingling heavily in the air.

Niu Dali unfolded a yellowed old map of Beijing, spread it on the table, and pointed heavily at a spot: "That warehouse behind Donghuan Alley, the little notebook is full of essential military supplies—the stationmaster has ordered it to be blown up!"

Before he finished speaking, he picked up the bulging black canvas bag at his feet and unzipped it with a "whoosh".

Good heavens—it was neatly stacked inside, filled with blocks of explosives wrapped with detonators and fuses; a rough estimate put it at over a hundred pounds.

"The plan is clear: you feign an attack on the main gate to lure out all the Japanese soldiers guarding the warehouse; I'll sneak in amidst the chaos and plant the explosives. As soon as I withdraw, or if the warehouse explodes, we'll retreat immediately! Understand?"

"Understood! Mission accomplished!"

Everyone lowered their voices and responded in unison.

"Sir, this job requires quick hands and feet, and a lot of courage... How about letting me do it?"

A young agent with broad shoulders and long legs suddenly stepped forward, his eyes clear and his voice steady.

Although Niu Dali's face was covered, the deep wrinkles on his forehead and his hoarse voice clearly indicated that he was an old but tough fellow—something like scaling walls, crawling through windows, and leaping over beams and ridges might not be something he could handle.

The young man's mention of this was genuinely for the sake of the mission.

"No need."

"Follow orders."

Niu Dali's tone was resolute.

How could he agree? Going in and out alone was the best way to swallow all the supplies into his personal space. If even one more person went in, there would be more variables and a greater risk of being exposed.