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

This woman is a goldmine; if we let her go, Dexian Club will lose more than 50,000 yuan. But he's just a doorman; if he causes trouble, the boss will be the first to throw him out and take the fall.

Finally—I'm free!

The moment Hongyu stepped out of the Dexian Guild Hall, she took a deep breath, and the taut string in her chest snapped.

This experience was like a blow to the head, and also like a reflection in a mirror. She made up her mind: from now on, she would settle down, go home, serve her man well, and never gamble, be greedy, or be gullible again.

She especially needed to use all her skills to coax Li Wenguo into submission—this was the key to her peaceful life.

"Oh dear, Aunt Yang, you're out already? Shall we push it a few more times?"

Before she could finish speaking, three familiar faces adorned with gold and jade blocked the doorway—it was Hongyu's three mahjong partners.

"Hey? What happened to your face?!"

Aunt Gui pointed at Hongyu's swollen face, exclaimed in surprise, and almost burst out laughing.

The other two also covered their mouths, their shoulders shaking.

"Shufen! Xiaoqing! Jiang Yan! You three vile women, you sluts, conspired to trap me! I was almost sold into a brothel, all thanks to you!"

Hongyu's eyes were bloodshot. She had already learned from Li Wenguo how the three of them had conspired with Dexian Club to lure her into the trap and try to make her an accomplice. Her anger exploded, and before she could finish speaking, she lunged at Shufen, who was closest to her, and slapped her hard across the face!

"Smack!!!"

It was so crisp it was deafening.

"Hongyu, you piece of trash, how dare you hit me? I'll tear you to pieces!"

"Go!"

Shufen scratched back and yelled at the two people behind her.

Now that the mask has been torn off, who still bothers to pretend to be respectable?

"Dafei—hold them down!"

How could Hongyu possibly withstand a three-on-one attack? But behind her stood Dafei.

Immediately, Shufen, Xiaoqing, and Jiang Yan were held down tightly.

"Slap! You slut!"

"Slap! You slut!"

"Slap! You slut!"

Hongyu slapped the face cleanly and forcefully, each slap carrying weight, and only stopped after eight slaps.

He was spitting insults, every word dripping with barbs.

They certainly deserve that title.

"Hey—what are you doing?"

Upon hearing the noise, the duty manager of Dexian Club rushed out, waving his hand and shouting to stop them.

"withdraw!"

Having already released her full power, Hongyu saw someone step forward, so she decisively withdrew her attack and turned to leave.

The two gleaming black sedans roared to life, kicking up a cloud of dust as they sped away.

The three men's cheeks burned, and although they were not swollen, the five finger marks were clearly visible, as if they had been branded with hot irons. They could only cover their faces and hide in the Dexian Guild Hall in a sorry state, rushing to Xue Yong to cry and plead, hoping that he would help them turn the tables.

Unfortunately, they were just concubines kept by a few wealthy merchants, and they didn't even have a decent guard at home. How could Xue Yong be willing to provoke Hongyu, who had an unknown background and a powerful backer, for the sake of three rootless women?

Hongyu's left cheek still bore a bruise, but the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, and her eyes sparkled—

This fight was exhilarating; it felt as if the pain on my face had been slapped onto someone else's face.

What warmed her heart even more was that having a good family background and powerful connections truly gave her confidence. When others saw her, they would even hold their breath a little lower.

Just like when Xue Yong saw Da Fei, he immediately put on a fawning smile, showing no trace of the fierce look he had yesterday.

Looking at the three women, they were pinned down and unable to move, unable to utter a single harsh word as she attacked them from both sides.

This sense of control made her secretly proud and even more convinced of one principle: only by making her husband happy could she stand firm, maintain control, and live comfortably.

"Is it settled?"

Inside the room, Li Wenguo had Xiao Cui on his left and Xiao Ju on his right, their clothes half-open and skirts disheveled, clearly indicating that they were about to make love.

"It's settled, sir. The debt is cleared, and the IOU has been burned to ashes in front of you."

Hongyu stood with her hands hanging down, her head bowed and eyes lowered, looking exactly like a docile young wife.

"That manager who forced you into prostitution...did he touch you?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was deep and commanding.

That manager was determined to get rid of him—if he didn't lay a hand on him, he'd just cripple him and throw him in a ditch; but if he dared to touch anything, he'd chop that place up.

"No, I didn't touch it... I really didn't gain anything!"

Hongyu shook her head hastily, convinced of the truth in her heart.

Did his hand touch you?

Before he finished speaking, he had already reached out to unbutton Xiao Cui's clothes.

"...It seems like I pinched your arm."

Hongyu hesitated for a moment before speaking.

She was indeed grabbed yesterday, but she broke free immediately, in the blink of an eye.

Li Wenguo suddenly stopped, his gaze sharp as he slashed at her, his voice icy: "Which hand?"

"Right...right hand!"

Hongyu's heart clenched, and her throat tightened.

He abruptly stood up, grabbed her right wrist, and slammed his thumb into the inside of her forearm—

"Is this the place?"

"Yes, yes! Sir, this is it..."

She stood stiffly, afraid to struggle, her voice trembling.

He glanced at her face, now completely healed, and his interest waned. He pulled a silver tube of ointment from his pocket (actually from his personal storage space) and handed it to her: "Apply this. Otherwise, I won't have the energy."

He waved his hand, signaling her to step back.

Three fingers, right hand.

He silently memorized it.

Then, a playful smile appeared on his face, and he slowly strolled over to Xiao Cui and Xiao Ju.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Thanks to Li Wenguo's tireless efforts, apart from Dong Haitang, all of his other concubines conceived during the critical period he had accurately predicted, and most of them were already secretly pregnant.

Dong Haitang already has three children, two boys and one girl, and her attitude is firm: she will not have any more children.

Li Wenguo knew that she had a mission to fulfill for the Party and the country, so he did not insist.

Moreover, the identity of a spy is actually a very strong talisman for Qingzhong's family.

Dong Haitang had already thoroughly investigated the Dexian Guild: it was backed by several section chiefs and directors—not the highest-ranking officials, but not to be underestimated. They posed a threat to Li Wenguo, but were not yet a cause for serious concern.

As for the Xu family? They pose absolutely no threat.

He couldn't be bothered with it, nor did he need to bother—if the Xu family wouldn't do such dirty work, others would be eager to. The one truly eyeing his woman was Xue Yong; those officials hiding behind the scenes neither showed their faces nor made any moves, so he didn't bother to stir up trouble.

Keep a close eye on Xue Yong and deal with him; that will be enough.

Haozi, Dayan, and several hidden sentries who had never shown their faces waited for three days before finally intercepting Xue Yong in a narrow alley. They knocked him down with a single blow and dragged him into the basement of a property owned by Li Wenguo.

It was exactly 9 p.m.

"Hongyu, come with me."

"Yes, sir!"

Half a month later, the ointment had completely smoothed away the bruises on Hongyu's face, and now she was radiant with youthful beauty, her eyes sparkling.

"Change to something...something more alluring."

Hongyu was dressed in a scarlet cheongsam, her figure exquisite, her eyes sparkling. But Li Wenguo glanced at her and shook his head—too gentle, not sharp enough. What he wanted today wasn't beauty, but something that would cut to the bone.

"Change to this one!"

After trying on two outfits, Li Wenguo still couldn't suppress the vibe, so he simply picked one out himself: the skirt was so short it almost hung down to his thighs, the neckline was so low you could glimpse the shadow under his collarbone, and the waistline was cinched like a taut bowstring.

"ah???"

"Wear...this outfit?"

Hongyu pinched the hem of her skirt with her fingertips, her cheeks were slightly hot, and her eyes were unfocused.

This was a battle robe specially prepared for their wedding night—close-fitting, revealing, and with a touch of shameful seduction. Wearing it out now—isn't her husband afraid that Xue Yong won't be intimidated, but will instead enrage her?

She didn't even need to look in a mirror to know: any man whose eyes met hers would surely swallow hard, his eyes would burn with fury, and he would want to pounce on her and tear the fabric off.

Li Wenguo certainly understood. But he wasn't bringing Hongyu out to flaunt her; he was using her as a weapon to stab right under Xue Yong's nose. As for whether he was jealous or not, that was none of his business.

In the car, Hongyu's vibrant and alluring appearance had already aroused Li Wenguo's desire. His fingertips traced the back of her neck, his knee brushed against the outside of her thigh, and his breathing became heavier. Fortunately, he remembered the important matter and didn't lose control, managing to suppress the fire back into his belt.

The car pulled into another estate, and the wrought-iron gate slowly opened. As soon as Hongyu stepped on the pedal, her eyes lit up: "Master, is this also our property?"

Good heavens, how extravagant! Fountains are scattered everywhere, roses are in abundance, and in the distance, that cream-colored building with gold-framed windows and upturned eaves—just one look and you know it's incredibly expensive.

"Hongyu, my foundation is deeper than the sea you've ever seen." Li Wenguo put his arm around her shoulder, his voice neither too loud nor too soft. "You just need to do your duty, raise the children to be sensible and reasonable, and you will be well taken care of in the future, enjoying wealth and honor."

His words were barbed—he hadn't forgotten her foolish behavior last time.

"Don't worry, Master! Hongyu will listen to you for the rest of her life, serving you well and raising the children with care, ensuring they all become successful and upright like you!"

She lowered her eyes and answered quickly and softly, her fingertips secretly digging into her palm.

"Yes, it's good that you know what I mean."

The husband responded calmly, releasing his grip. "Lead the way."

Haozi and Dayan had already been ushered to the front. Hongyu's outfit was truly eye-catching—a low-cut short skirt that swayed with every step, revealing her curves; she was practically the most alluring top girl in the nightclub. The two of them kept their heads down and hunched over, not daring to even glance at her out of the corner of their eyes.

"Sir...would you like to try something new here tonight?"

Hongyu leaned close to his ear, her voice soft and sweet, like honey wrapped around a hook.

Li Wenguo glanced at her sideways: "Stop scratching your head here. You can be wild when you see people later."

"Oh~" She covered her mouth and smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

Pushing open the door, one is greeted by a Western-style scene: a snow-white leather sofa gleams softly, a leopard-print carpet is laid out without a single wrinkle, a fireplace is embedded in the wall, copper-carved lace gleams with a dim light, and even the chandelier is a waterfall of crystal beads.

This house originally belonged to foreigners, but when the Japanese bombed it, they packed their bags and fled overnight, which benefited Li Wenguo.

"Oh my god...it's so beautiful!"

Hongyu couldn't help but sigh softly, but her husband led her forward without daring to stop for even a moment.

"This...is this the basement?"

Haozi lifted the hidden door in the floorboards, revealing a dark opening that led downwards. Hongyu's heart tightened, and she stopped in her tracks.

The image of the beating she received two weeks ago suddenly flashed into her mind—the brutal beating, the dull thud of the belt striking her flesh, her kneeling on the concrete floor trembling like a fallen leaf. And now she's here again? She's been so careful lately, even her speech has been subdued; could it be… she's upset him again?

"Don't be afraid, we've put the past behind us." Li Wenguo noticed her tense body and patted the back of her hand. "There's someone locked up downstairs, I'll take you there to see his face."

"Oh...oh!" She breathed a sigh of relief and followed him down the steps.

This basement is much brighter than the one at home: the wooden floors are polished to a shine, the walls are painted snow-white, and there are leather armchairs, low cabinets, and a simple bar counter in the corner. Even the partitions are kept clean and tidy, looking like they could be lived in.

"Ugh... Ugh!"

A muffled groan, as if someone had been gagged, reached her ears. Hongyu looked in the direction of the sound and saw a figure bound to a stone pillar in the direction of the kitchen.

Haozi snapped on the overhead light, and as soon as the light fell, her pupils constricted—

Manager Xue?!

How did he end up tied up here by the master?

She abruptly turned to look at her husband, her lips slightly parted, her eyes filled with surprise and disbelief, and a hint of barely concealed panic.