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

"Hehe, I knew it! A beautiful girl like Mei'e would never go back on her word!"

He grinned, then changed the subject, gently kicking the ball back: "So tell me, how far can our relationship go? Just tell me, I'm listening."

"Well... Wenguo, as you know, although I've been married, I can count on one hand the number of days I actually lived with my military officer husband. He was stationed in the military camp most of the year, and he would only show his face twice a year at most. So I'm actually quite clueless about things between men and women. It's all up to you to make the decision."

Lou Meie lowered her eyes and smiled, seemingly showing weakness, but in reality, she pushed the problem back into his hands without changing it.

Ah!

They put on quite a convincing act—the aroma of tea filled the air, and their acting was completely natural!

Still clinging to the facade of "purity"? Their skin is thick enough to stop a bullet!

But... let's see just how tough your shell really is.

Li Wenguo sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he stopped beating around the bush and revealed his true intentions: "Since we're not sticking close enough, how about we try 'negative distance' above 'zero distance'?"

The moment the words "negative distance" were uttered—

Lou Meie cursed inwardly: Vulgar!

The two had only known each other for eight days. For the first seven days, they were both busy with their own things, and it wasn't until the eighth day that they started eating and drinking tea together.

It's only been a few days? And you already want to pin her down on the bed? There's not even a crack in the door!

"Wen Guo, this really won't do... My family has strict rules, and you absolutely cannot cross the line before you get married."

She frowned and shook her head, her tone troubled, as if not unwilling, but unable—placing all the blame on family tradition, while claiming herself to be clean and spotless.

"That's easy, I'll come to propose marriage tomorrow."

Li Wenguo didn't even blink before bringing down the gavel on the spot.

"ah?!"

"W-This is way too fast?!"

Lou Meie's mind went blank, and she was completely stunned—she never expected that he would actually dare to speak up, and that he was so anxious as if he was afraid she would run away!

"Quickly? We've known each other for over a month! In other families, it's common for couples to get married before anything's even started. How many times have we met? How many times have we talked? We find each other agreeable and get along well, so it's only natural and reasonable for me to propose!"

His tone was firm, as if he were not proposing marriage, but signing a contract that was set in stone.

Hehe, marrying her into the family is the only real thing—once she's in, I've got all the power in my hands. I can train her however I want, and she'll do whatever I want with her.

"Wen Guo, you're really in a bit of a rush... I'm a little overwhelmed, can you give me some time to process this?"

"After all... I've only been a widow for a short time, and I always feel uneasy, like I'm walking on cotton. Wenguo, please give me a little more time, okay?"

Lou Meie had run out of tricks and could only lie to stall for time.

She knew perfectly well that her father and brother were currently eager to get in touch with Li Wenguo so they could use his connections to immigrate to the United States. If he actually came to propose marriage, the father and son would probably prepare the dowry overnight, leaving her no room to object.

"Alright, Mei'e, you're so lovable, I like you from the bottom of my heart, so I'll grant you a few more days."

Li Wenguo readily nodded, agreeing without hesitation.

Lou Meie had just breathed a sigh of relief when she heard a sharp "slap" in her ear—it was that familiar sound of someone slapping their thigh again!

My heart sank, and sure enough, I heard him slowly add, "But now... people should sit down, not stand."

She looked up into his eyes, which held three parts mockery and seven parts control, clearly stating, "You can't escape."

Sigh... When you're under someone's roof, how dare you not bow your head?

She sighed silently, got up, and obediently sat in his lap.

Once you're seated, your hands naturally can't be idle.

After several rounds of drinks and two rounds of dancing, Li Wenguo personally escorted Lou Meie home.

"I'm home now!"

Her red lips were burning hot from being blocked, and her voice was muffled.

"Okay, let's make it up tomorrow."

He gently pinched her cheek again before letting go.

Lou Meie stepped into her home with a belly full of indescribable feelings, only to find that her father, Lou Shiqin, had not gone to sleep and was sitting in the living room slowly making tea.

She knew perfectly well that this was specially prepared for her return. So she sat down next to her, reached out and took the teapot, and steadily poured a cup of hot tea.

"Mei'e, you've been a widow for almost five years now, it must have been so hard for you."

Lou Shiqin sighed softly, his eyes filled with pity.

"It's alright, spending time with my parents is also a way of showing filial piety."

"Father, please have some tea."

She handed the cup over with both hands, her fingertips slightly cool.

He had already guessed almost exactly what his father was going to say.

"Your parents are in good health, and Zhenhua is gradually becoming more capable of shouldering responsibilities, so you don't need to worry about things at home. But you're only in your early twenties, in the prime of your youth. You can't just let life become stagnant, can you?"

Sure enough, here it comes again—it's all about pressuring someone to marry.

Lou Meie's throat tightened, and her fingernails quietly dug into her palm.

Seeing her lower her eyes and remain silent, Lou Shiqin picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then said:

"A woman's life without a home of her own, without her own children, is like a bird with half a wing—unable to fly steadily, unable to land, and in the end, left only with loneliness, breathing her last breath alone—have you ever thought about that kind of life?"

His eagerness was not without reason: over the past five years, he had asked many people to act as matchmakers, introducing countless promising young people to him. They either thought she was too strong-willed or couldn't bring any help. But Li Wenguo was different—he was knowledgeable, had connections, and, more importantly, was willing to help the Lou family steadily expand their business overseas, even paving the way for their financial connections.

If they could secure this marriage alliance, the Lou family business could quietly withdraw and move to a more stable location; if they remained trapped in the quagmire of domestic turmoil, they would be lucky to even preserve their capital, let alone dare to talk about expansion.

How could a shrewd businessman let his silver rot under his pillow? How could he stand by and watch his money slowly shrink in the bank?

"Give me some time..." she whispered.

She was indeed attracted to Li Wenguo—he was eloquent, knew his place, and his appearance suited her taste; but when he stared at her, his eyes were too blatantly burning, like a hungry wolf eyeing a freshly peeled peach—he was never after her as a person, but rather her physical appearance.

The military family's son initially doted on her like a precious jewel, but within six months, he was out drinking and gambling with his new lover in a restaurant, not even bothering to see her off when she returned to her parents' home. Then, on the very day she returned home, he suddenly died beside the stable, and she became a widow overnight.

Coincidentally, the Xu family and Li Wenguo had some old acquaintances.

The thought sent a chill down her spine: what if Li Wenguo was the same way, discarding her like a worn-out shoe once the novelty wore off, leaving her alone in an empty room, repeating the same mistake... then what difference would it make whether she married him or not?

Ultimately, a scar has been left in her heart.

If that's the case, she'd rather live a peaceful life—at least, that peace is her own choice.

"Alright, but Wenguo is the most suitable for you right now. He doesn't care at all that you were a widow. You need to carefully consider his sincerity."

After Lou Shiqin finished speaking, he got up and went up the steps, his figure quickly disappearing into the shadows on the second floor.

"Sigh...why am I so unlucky?"

Looking at herself in the mirror, she suddenly smiled bitterly: "What's the use of being good-looking?"

"It would be better if I were plain-looking, then those stinky men would have fewer crooked thoughts and wouldn't be bothering me all the time."

Lou Meie leaned against the window, her brows furrowed with an inescapable weariness.

A few days later, in the evening.

More than 30 miles from the capital, a copper mine lies quietly in a mountain valley.

Copper is the lifeblood of making bullets and casting cannon barrels, so the miners work here day and night. However, after nightfall, the forcibly conscripted miners are already fast asleep in their shacks, leaving only Japanese sentries pacing back and forth in the cold wind with their guns.

This medium-sized mine was guarded by two squadrons of nearly 300 soldiers—after all, with hundreds of laborers crammed together, it would be impossible to suppress any disturbances with fewer people.

Outside the mine, dark shadows silently rolled in like a tide, quickly gathering into an impenetrable fortress.

At the very front were three tanks.

That's right, those were the three iron lumps that Niu Dali had forcibly pried out of the Japanese armory.

In the blink of an eye, a Japanese squad of over fifty men guarding the mine gate saw the three massive black formations hurtling towards them. The squad leader yelled, "Hey! Which unit are you from? State your number!"

"Stop the car immediately!"

The only response he received was an increasingly piercing roar from the engine, which in turn caused the car to accelerate rapidly.

"Baka! Fire!!!"

The squad leader's expression changed drastically, and he drew his sword and roared.

But when the bullets hit the steel plate, they only sent up a series of sparks, making a clanging sound, without leaving even a mark.

Three tanks rammed straight into the metal gate. With a loud crash, the steel frame shattered, debris flew everywhere, and they tore open a gap, crushing the wreckage as they rushed into the heart of the mine.

"Enemy attack!!!"

"Enemy attack!!!"

Two hours later, the gunfire completely ceased.

Thick smoke billowed from the mine, scorched earth covered the ground, and broken walls and ruins lay scattered across the fields!

The ground was littered with the corpses of Japanese soldiers, lying haphazardly, their blood soaking the yellow earth.

There are also remains of soldiers who fought on the front lines against the Japanese, but they are few and far between.

"Commander Douding, thanks to your timely support, we were able to take over this mine and rescue hundreds of villagers!"

Battalion Commander Chen Jiang grabbed Dou Ding's wrist, his palm burning hot, his voice trembling, and his eyes filled with sincere enthusiasm.

The rescued miners were mostly young and middle-aged laborers from villages near Beijing, many of whom came from Chenjia Village.

Previously, underground party members who had infiltrated the mine sent out a secret report. Chen Jiang quickly drafted a telegram, asking Yang Yuerong to "speak to him in his ear" and request Li Wenguo to send troops to help in the battle—not only to destroy the mine, but also to rescue these people before the Japanese army moved away.

Li Wenguo was the first to see the telegram. He glanced at the words "Please have Instructor Yang check the air," then immediately slammed the paper on the table: "Pretend I didn't see it!"

He turned and went downstairs.

Before leaving, she added, "From now on, any requests for Yue Rong to 'blow wind' will not count."

He Shuting rolled her eyes on the spot—how could she not understand her husband's little scheme?

He carried the telegram straight to Yang Yuerong's room.

Sure enough, not long after entering the house, Li Wenguo, who was pretending to flip through a newspaper in the living room, saw Yang Yuerong come downstairs with her head down, her ears red, and looking a little flustered.

"Wenguo, come to my room. There's something I want to discuss with you."

Li Wenguo slowly put down the newspaper, feigning composure: "Oh? What is it? I was reading the news."

"Well... there's something I wanted to discuss with you."

Yang Yuerong gently twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingertips, her voice as soft as a feather.

Li Wenguo glanced at her sideways, adopting an air of superiority: "Fine, let me finish reading this editorial first."

"Oh……"

Ha, isn't it all up to me to do what I want?

He chuckled inwardly.

Thus, the scene of DouDing leading his team to provide assistance came about.