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

"The Japanese pirates were indeed fierce in their military might, but they were also incredibly arrogant—they even dared to try to swallow up the entire East Asia in one gulp. But the more arrogant they became, the more they ran into the blades of Britain and the United States. Once they were allowed to grow too powerful, they would immediately become the world's number one enemy. How could Britain and the United States sit idly by? They would definitely do everything in their power to crush them."

He paused, then looked intently at Song Qingzong: "Tell me, are the British and Americans secretly sending guns and medicine to us right now?"

Emperor Song Qingzong lowered his brows and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but he ultimately remained silent.

After all, Britain and the United States were indeed providing financial support to the Communist Party of China, helping them strengthen their resolve and sharpen their tools so they could confront Japan head-on.

"Right now, Britain is pinned down on the Western Front by Germany and can't spare the time to warn Japan; but the United States doesn't have that burden! As long as we hold on, the United States is bound to fall—their military strength is far beyond our reach. Once the US military enters the war, Japan's little operation will immediately collapse, and victory in the War of Resistance will truly be just around the corner."

"Furthermore, don't be fooled by the German army's current rampage and unstoppable advance. Their battle lines are stretched longer than noodles, and their supply lines are being bombed, cut off, and worn down every day. As long as the British army holds its ground, the German army will eventually run out of steam and collapse across the board. Once Britain is free to deal with the situation, the situation will only get worse for the Japanese. So, the war of resistance doesn't need to drag on for too long. At most, we'll see the outcome in 1954."

Li Wenguo spoke in a calm and steady tone, with clear and logical arguments, as if he had measured every sentence with a ruler. Every sentence hit the nail on the head, making it difficult to find fault with him.

"Can Wenguo really completely crush the Japanese in 1954?"

Song Tianlang, the older brother, couldn't help but interject.

He knew perfectly well that Britain and the United States had long been hostile towards Japan; if the United States really took action, Japan would be fighting on two fronts and putting out fires everywhere, and it really wouldn't be able to withstand it.

The Song family had thoroughly investigated America's situation—industrial machines roared day and night, ammunition was piled high, and fuel was transported in rivers. In the end, war comes down to who can keep their logistics running. The one with the longest supply wins, and the one with the shortest supply perishes.

"Hmph, you're just a lowly spy who's never even heard a gunshot, all you do is draw empty promises! Your theories sound impressive, but the international situation changes faster than flipping through a book; you can't possibly keep track of the days like that!"

Song Qingzong let out a cold laugh, his face full of disbelief.

He waved his hand again: "Besides, 1954? Can Cai Die afford to wait? While you're in Qingzhong now, pick an auspicious day and get the wedding done quickly!"

Whether it was out of protectiveness for his daughter or concern for the family's reputation, these words didn't seem out of place coming from his mouth.

Song Caidie lowered her eyes and remained silent, her fingertips secretly twisting the hem of her clothes—she couldn't wait to marry him, hoping he would go along with it and agree to the marriage.

Li Wenguo, however, stated firmly: "I still stand by one sentence: On the day of victory in the War of Resistance, I will marry Cai Die."

Song Caidie's heart sank, as if half a cloud had been swept away by the wind.

"Wen Guo, marrying my sister won't hinder your ability to fight the enemy and serve your country. On the contrary, with the Song family's support, your future will be more secure. Why cling to this idea?"

Song Tianlang quickly chimed in to smooth things over.

The father's face was so dark it looked like it could be wrung out.

"I'm thinking of Cai Die's sake—with the capital fallen, as the station chief, I could fall on my mission at any moment. If we get married now, and I die for my country, wouldn't that leave her a widow at such a young age? That would truly be harming her."

Li Wenguo spoke solemnly, each word carrying weight.

So that's where he got stuck!

Wen Guo... he actually thought of everything so thoroughly!

The innocent-minded Song Caidie's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, her heart burned with warmth, and her gaze softened to the point of overflowing with tenderness.

Song Tianlang frowned, his gaze sweeping back and forth across him, as if weighing the weight of his words; his mother also nodded slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

Only Emperor Qingzong of Song curled his lip, his expression full of sarcasm—

A guy who can't move his legs when he sees a woman, would he really stay away from marrying a woman who isn't even his fiancée yet? Nobody would believe that!

But a doubt arose in his mind: Why did Li Wenguo refuse to agree no matter what?

Could it be that... the Xu family's daughter holds the title of the principal wife, and he's afraid of wronging his own daughter, so he's only willing to give her the position of a concubine?

Yes! That's exactly right!

snort!

You want my daughter, the Song family's daughter, to be subservient as someone's concubine? Dream on!

Aside from this calculation, Emperor Qingzong of Song couldn't think of any other reason.

"Alright, I'll transfer you back to Qingzhong, to a more relaxed job—no gunfire, no life-threatening dangers, and the wedding can be held immediately!"

He simply cut off the source of the problem, directly eliminating the "danger" excuse.

Let's see what excuse you can come up with now!

"Thank you for your kindness, Uncle Song. But in my hometown outside the capital, my entire clan was slaughtered by the Japanese. The blood debt has not been repaid, and this hatred is irreconcilable. I will personally kill all the enemies and will never retreat to the rear to enjoy peace."

Li Wenguo's answer was crisp and clear, without any flaws.

Trying to persuade him? That would only discourage people and breed resentment.

The hatred of having my entire family wiped out is etched into my bones.

Fuck!

This kid is really tough to deal with!

Emperor Qingzong of Song secretly gritted his teeth.

As Song Caidie watched as all of the man's family members were brutally murdered by the Japanese soldiers, her heart felt like it was being crushed by a cold stone. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around his arm, and her fingertips turned slightly white.

The surroundings were so quiet that you could hear the gentle swaying of the wind chimes on the eaves.

"Wenguo, come and see the child!"

Seeing her son-in-law's gloomy expression, Song's mother quickly handed the swaddled baby to her daughter, hoping to warm the chill in his heart with this soft little life.

"This...is this really my and Cai Die's child?"

Li Wenguo's pupils contracted slightly, his voice filled with disbelief.

In just five days, the bloodline had already been quietly planted—my body is really quite vigorous!

A single, decisive hit!

"Hmm, look, his eyebrows and eyes are just like yours." Song Caidie looked down at the baby in her arms, her smile as gentle as spring water, and gently lifted the little guy closer to him.

Emperor Song Qingzong stood to the side, but his face gradually darkened.

His son had been married for many years and had no children; now, this chubby, fair-skinned grandson, whom he had taken for granted, was the apple of his eye. He would play with him, feed him, and change his diapers. But now, seeing his son acknowledge his biological father, he felt a sudden tightness in his chest, as if half of the glass cup he held in his hands had been snatched away, leaving him feeling both hot and bitter.

No!

If this guy refuses to marry my daughter, then don't even think about taking the child away!

—The child was conceived by a daughter, but the marriage didn't happen, so the child is definitely from the Song family!

He gritted his teeth and silently made a decision.

Not only him, but also his elder brother and sister-in-law, and Song Chenshi in the main room, all gathered around, their eyes filled with love and hesitation. This child was so adorable, but the bloodline involved marriage, face, and clan rules, leaving them with a mix of emotions.

Song Qingzong glanced around and saw that the whole family doted on the child. Then, considering that his son and daughter-in-law might not be able to have any more children, he made up his mind.

As soon as lunch ended, he pulled Li Wenguo into the west wing, his tone low but firm: "If you don't hold a wedding, the child will stay with the Song family."

Li Wenguo hesitated for a moment, lowered his eyes, and then nodded in agreement.

It's just a child; what's wrong with letting the Song family raise him for now?

Moreover, with the Song family as a protective shield, the next year—from the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan to the chaotic period before the founding of the People's Republic of China—was exactly what they needed: a stable backer.

Furthermore, after he leaves Chongqing, he will make Cai Die pregnant again. A child is merely the first seed to sprout branches and leaves, insignificant in comparison.

Everything went smoothly in Chongqing this time. The incident with Hongyu a year ago had intimidated the concubines in the family, and everyone behaved themselves and stayed at home, so naturally no one was watching or causing trouble.

My time in Chongqing felt just like an emperor touring his harem—everyone was flattered and everything was done perfectly.

Jin Hua and Xiu Xiu, in particular, were just over twenty, with skin as smooth as jade and delicate figures. When they clung to him, their soft whispers were enough to melt one's bones. Li Wenguo even considered buying two more pretty girls of fifteen or sixteen, carefully nurturing them for a few years, and then taking them into his service once they had fully matured.

But then he thought that the founding of the nation was only a few years away, and the atmosphere was getting tense. If he was not careful, he would be reported and attacked. So he held back.

Besides, when the family reunites in a few years, they'll be too busy taking care of the children to think about these things.

Comfortable days always slip by like flowing water. In the blink of an eye, the day of departure arrived. After making the necessary arrangements, Li Wenguo boarded the cargo ship returning to Beijing.

Five days passed quickly, the ship docked, and he had already returned to the capital.

They immediately plunged into a covert war with the Japanese, engaging in both overt and covert attacks, proceeding cautiously step by step.

Six months later, a thunderclap resounded across the globe—

The Japanese devils brazenly launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a key US naval stronghold!

Less than a month later, the United States declared war on Japan and formally joined the alliance of China, Britain, and France.

Once the order to fight was given, factories across the country sprang into action, working day and night to produce military equipment. Selena had already stockpiled a large number of weapons according to Li Wenguo's secret orders, and had expanded the production capacity of the existing factories more than three times, with the production lines running day and night to supply the front lines, making a fortune.

It wasn't just weapons. During the war, stocks in core industries such as automobiles, machinery, pharmaceuticals, oil, and mining surged more than tenfold. The capital that Li Wenguo had invested long ago had multiplied more than tenfold.

Although he cannot compare to those long-established financial magnates with a century of accumulated wealth, he is undoubtedly the richest man in the United States.

In reality, in terms of strength, it is only a hair's breadth away from the top conglomerates.

Therefore, Li Wenguo instructed Selena to form the "Li-Selena Foundation," which rose rapidly during the war and firmly established its foundation.

The equity distribution was divided into ten shares: one share for each of the six dolls; one share for him and one share for Selena; and because the children were still young, the signed agreement was made with ironclad terms, consisting entirely of unilateral binding clauses.

The remaining two portions held deeper meaning—one was given to Xianglan, who remained steadfastly loyal to him, and the other was secretly given to Xu Wanqing.

On the surface, the entire conglomerate is managed by Selena, but in reality, it is always Li Wenguo who is pulling the strings.

In the capital city.

The New Year had just passed, and time jumped to 1942.

The new treaty signed in the US capital will not be discussed for now.

But the capital city welcomed a figure that Li Wenguo had never expected—

Mitsui Meili!

She succeeded Songyuan as the head of the intelligence agency, becoming the sharpest blade in the capital. Before she even settled in, she summoned Director Niu Dali into her office.

His first words were: "Is Li Wenguo still in the capital?"

She hadn't set foot in this city for over five years. Back then, during the hasty evacuation, she left stepping on shattered glass and ashes from broken walls, her boot heels still embedded in the base of a half-collapsed flagpole.

Returning now, the bluestone path remains cold and hard, while she stands by the window, her military uniform impeccably straight, her waistline cinched tightly, her epaulets gleaming. She resembles a samurai sword that has not yet been drawn from its sheath, its chill still lingering—strikingly beautiful, yet also imposingly heavy.

Her figure was even more stunning: narrow shoulders and a slender waist, yet her breasts were so full they almost burst through the buttons of her uniform. When she walked, even the wind seemed to swirl around her, and with each step she swayed, she exuded an alluring charm.