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

Once the war ends, he'll likely turn to another side. At that point, the shift in allegiance will be swift and decisive, rendering the marriage contract worthless. If she knew the truth, what would she think?

That's it!

Let's just pretend for now and see how things go!

"Wen Guo, my brain felt like it was filled with mush last night, I was completely out of it and couldn't taste anything at all... How about I try again?"

She had already gotten up to leave, but Song Caidie suddenly tiptoed closer. As soon as she spoke, she realized her words were burning her tongue—she originally wanted to take back the bed sheet stained with the mark of her first night, but as soon as she stepped into the room, her tongue took a turn on its own.

Looking at the porcelain-white, pinkish face before him, perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps out of pity, Li Wenguo's Adam's apple bobbed, and suddenly he grinned with a slightly roguish smile...

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

Xue Yong was just a gofer; once he disappeared, he vanished without a trace. His replacement was a capable and efficient man who continued to set up gambling dens at the mahjong table, as slick and cunning as ever.

As for the three women who helped Xue Yong set up the scheme—Shufen, Xiaoqing, and Jiang Yan—they had long been dragged into the river and fed to the fish by Li Wenguo's men. Hongyu finally got her revenge. As for Tang Zhenbang, Song Caidie personally covered for him, only saying that he had sneaked into her room in the middle of the night with malicious intent and that she had ordered him to be thrown into the river.

The Song family were imperial relatives with deep roots; the Tang family, after much deliberation, dared not cause trouble, nor were they willing to stand up for this scoundrel, so they could only pretend to be deaf and dumb and quietly smooth things over.

Hearing that Li Wenguo's return was imminent, Song Caidie would go to that Western-style building every afternoon. The two would be entwined in tender affection, the window curtains swaying gently, light and shadow shifting, even the air felt thick and warm. Only at this time did she feel her heart was at peace, her days vibrant, and her life truly comforting.

Li Wenguo had almost finished spreading the seeds evenly and it was time to set off back to Beiping.

Although he had been in Qingzhong for over a month, he maintained real-time communication with his clone Niu Dali through the spatial connection, ensuring that he didn't miss any of the sabotage operations or intelligence network activities in the capital. However, his absence left He Shuting and the others feeling somewhat uncertain, making them more hesitant in their actions.

A minor incident also occurred during this time—

The three maids I bought a few years ago, like Xiao Cui and Xiao Ju, were all pretty and charming at the age of fifteen or fourteen. One of them, Xiao Xue, secretly got involved with the young man who delivered the vegetables.

The young man had bright, clear eyes and a sweet tongue. Every time he arrived carrying a basket of fresh, green vegetables, Xiaoxue would greet him in the backyard. Over time, his sweet words softened her heart.

Of course, Xiaoxue wasn't allowed to go out, as she was still clean.

Li Wenguo had long planned to take these three girls as his wives, but who knew that a vegetable vendor would suddenly appear and steal them away! He immediately turned pale and ordered his men to tie the two girls up and take them to the basement.

On the cold, damp cement ground, Xiaoxue and the vegetable seller knelt upright.

"Xiaoxue, when I bought you into this family, I made it clear to your face that you would be brought into the house and officially registered. And now, you've embarrassed me!"

Li Wenguo leaned back on the sofa, a cigarette swirling between his fingers, his face so somber it could be wrung out.

The rules were made perfectly clear from the beginning, but she insisted on defying them.

"Master Li, Xiaoxue knows she was wrong... You bought me and provided me with decent food and clothing; this kindness is etched into my bones. But my feelings for Xiao Chen are genuine. Please, have mercy and grant us our wish! In our next life, even if I'm reborn as a cow or a horse, Xiaoxue will serve you for the rest of my life!"

Xiaoxue lay on the ground, her forehead pressed against the cold earth, her voice trembling but each word clear.

What?

Will you be my livestock in my next life?

I think he has the heart of a bodhisattva.

Li Wenguo was almost amused by this ungrateful face.

Pooh!

You eat my food, wear my clothes, and then you want to elope with some other man? Do you really think I'm a pushover?

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife, slowly scraping across Xiaoxue's face, which was filled with stubbornness and fear—was this girl so bold, or had she been blinded by passion?

Little Snowman lives up to her name; her skin is as white as freshly solidified mutton fat, her face is a gentle oval shape, her eyes are large and bright, her nose is delicate and straight, and her lips are as pale as newly blooming cherry petals. She has just turned eighteen, and there is still a hint of childishness between her brows, but she is a true school beauty in the making—in two more years, she will surely grow into a top beauty that will make the entire internet hold its breath.

Of course, everyone understands the saying "a tall tree catches the wind, and a beautiful flower attracts butterflies."

Li Wenguo would never let go of a girl like that.

"Snapped!"

A slap landed, the force of which was only seven-tenths, but five scarlet finger marks still quickly appeared on that tender face.

"ah--!"

Xiaoxue screamed and her body trembled violently.

"You slut, do you really not know the price of betraying me?"

There are only two paths.

"Or throw him into the river to feed the fish."

"Either bury them alive, or listen to the sound of the earth."

"Choose for yourself."

His eyes were fierce, his voice low and hoarse, each word like a knife scraping against bone. Xiaoxue instantly turned pale, her legs went weak, and she trembled so much she could barely stand: "No... Master Li! Please spare me! I won't do it again! I really won't..."

Fear had crept over every inch of her skin.

"Shut up."

"Snapped!"

Another blow, symmetrical on both sides, causing her cheeks to swell up high.

Li Wenguo turned his head and stared at the young man selling vegetables next to him—he was frozen in place, even holding his breath, but if you looked closely, you could see that his calves were trembling uncontrollably, and his fingers were gripping the edge of the vegetable basket so tightly that his knuckles were white.

He was clearly a coward.

"You little bastard, you've got some nerve! You dare touch my woman?" Li Wenguo narrowed his eyes, approaching step by step. "Are you tired of living?"

"No, no! It really isn't! I... I had no idea! Xiaoxue... she's one of yours? If I had known earlier... even if I had ten bear hearts and eight leopard galls, I wouldn't have dared to touch her!"

The young man's teeth chattered, making it difficult for him to speak fluently; his tongue was constantly tied in knots.

"Stuttering? I don't have time to listen to your whiny nonsense!" Li Wenguo shouted angrily.

"I'm so sorry!"

He knelt down with a thud, his forehead hitting the ground hard.

Li Wenguo had originally intended to have Haozi and Dayan beat him half to death to vent his anger, but after glancing at Xiaoxue's pale face, he changed his mind—he had to cut off her hopes first.

"I'll give you a chance. According to the old rules, three cuts and six holes. After you're done, I'll allow you to go with Xiaoxue." With that, he pulled out a dagger from his waist. The blade flashed coldly, reflecting the sunlight, and was blindingly cold.

"ah?!"

"No! I don't want Xiaoxue anymore! I really don't want her! Master Li, spare me! Spare me!!"

He wailed and kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead bleeding from the repeated blows.

Looking at Xiao Chen, who had just held her hand and said "I'd die for you" a couple of days ago, but was now lying on the ground with tears streaming down his face, Xiao Xue felt a heavy weight pressing on her chest, a suffocating and cold feeling, and a bitter disappointment.

She bit her lip, but still asked, "Xiao Chen...were all those things you said a lie?"

"I..." He didn't dare to look up, "I just thought you were beautiful and wanted to...marry you. But since you're Master Li's woman, how could I dare to have any such thoughts?"

The meaning is very clear: it's about saving face, not about the person.

"Xiaoxue, do you see now?" Li Wenguo sneered, reaching out to pinch her chin, forcing her to look at him. "What love? It's all an illusion. The moment you show your face, a man's first thought is to pin you down in bed—sweet words are just a prelude, vows of eternal love are just a facade. Wake up."

"Follow me, and you'll have a real life. Power, money, people—you'll have it all, fine clothes, sumptuous food, and can do whatever you want. Look at him—" He spat on the ground, "a vegetable seller, dirt poor, living in a leaky shack, can't even afford a decent pair of pants. Follow him? You'll either starve or freeze to death. If you get into trouble one day, he'll probably sell you into a brothel to pay off your debts!"

"Now, choose."

He roared out the last two words, making the window paper vibrate.

Xiaoxue shuddered, tears not falling, but her head nodding rapidly: "Me and Grandpa! Me and Grandpa!"

People eventually have to bow their heads, especially Xiaoxue, who is only eighteen and has never experienced hardship. Facing Li Wenguo, she couldn't even straighten her back, let alone resist—she was too easy to manipulate.

After that, things went smoothly. Xiaoxue was dragged upstairs by Li Wenguo and defiled on the spot. The vegetable seller was dragged to the riverbank that night, tied with stones, and sunk to the bottom.

Xiaoxue was kept in the dark about this. She's only eighteen, still quite naive, and it might give her nightmares.

That evening, Li Wenguo said a few words to Xu Wanqing, then hurriedly bid farewell to Song Caidie and the others before boarding the ship back to Beijing.

Of course, Li Wenguo also took the other two maids he had previously bought into his household, had them professionally dressed, and brought them into the family, so as to prevent others from being envious and causing trouble.

But Xiaoxue was a wild and daring girl with a criminal record, so Li Wenguo simply took her on the ship when he returned—both to prevent her from being seduced by outsiders again, and to avoid himself being bored at sea for five days.

The cargo ship cleaved through the inky black waters and sailed into the deep ocean, the night wind carrying a salty, fishy smell. Li Wenguo quietly strolled to the stern, took out the bodies of Tang Zhenbang and the driver from his personal storage space, and tossed them into the surging black waves, letting the fish tear them apart.

He leaned against the cold iron railing, the sea breeze brushing his face, chilling and piercing. This desolate and vast scenery stirred a slight urge in his blood. Looking around to make sure no one was there, he smirked, slipped into the cabin, grabbed Xiaoxue's wrist, and dragged her out.

"Sir, let's not stay here... Let's go back to the cabin."

Her voice was strained, and she shrank back.

"Snapped!"

A hard slap landed on her face, the sound stinging.

"You filthy bitch, I've been giving you the cold shoulder these past few days, and you think you're some kind of master? Have you forgotten how you begged for mercy on your knees last time?"

Xiaoxue trembled all over, and hurriedly lowered her head, choking back tears: "No, no, Master, Xiaoxue knows she was wrong, Xiaoxue is willing, really willing..."

"If you refuse a toast, you'll have to drink a penalty cup."

"My temper is really raging today."

Before he could finish speaking, he roughly pressed the back of her head down and slammed it against his waist.

Five days later, the ship docked, and the capital city came into view.

His appearance finally put the minds of He Shuting and the other women at ease.

"Xiaoxue? Why did you come back with me?"

He Shuting spotted her at a glance, both surprised and suspicious, thinking to herself: "I'm afraid the master had his fill on the boat and is reluctant to let her go."

After all, Xiaoxue has skin as smooth as jade and beautiful features. Although she is young, her waist and hips have already developed an alluring curve. In two more years, she will probably attract more attention than I do.

"ah?!"

"Madam... you're still alive?"

Xiaoxue was so startled when she saw her former master that she took a half step back and blurted out the words.

"Pah! What a jinx! Who are you cursing? You're perfectly fine, why are you bringing bad luck on us!"

Li Wenguo's face immediately darkened, and his voice boomed so loudly that the deck vibrated.

He had long lost his patience after this girl secretly tried to seduce someone else; if it weren't for the fact that she was clean and easy to handle, he would have sent her to clean the outhouse long ago.

Xiaoxue's shoulders slumped, her eyes reddened, and she only dared to stare at the tips of her shoes.