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

Li Wenguo finally spoke, his voice low but like a block of ice hitting the ground: "Let's not talk about evidence. These five rooms clearly aren't yours. Your occupying them and refusing to leave is already a violation of the rules. Aren't you afraid the police will come knocking and invite you in for questioning?"

"This property certificate says it's empty! I've been living here for a few years, how does that become 'occupancy'? If someone actually comes, I'll have something to say!"

Jia Zhangshi was quick-witted; she immediately changed "unclaimed" to "temporarily borrowed," trying to easily erase the matter.

"Who said it's ownerless? Was it a permit from the neighborhood committee? Or did the original owner say so himself?"

Li Wenguo's gaze was calm, but his tone was as cold and stern as if he were interrogating a criminal case.

"This house has been empty for so many years, isn't it considered ownerless?"

"Besides, I only said it was a temporary stay. If the landlord comes to the door, I'll make room immediately!"

Jia Zhangshi raised an eyebrow, her lips curled into a smirk, her words were barbed, and her face was full of arrogance.

Sha Zhu and Xu Damao were so angry that they clenched their back teeth and their cheeks twitched.

The others in the courtyard also felt a tightness in their chests, and their faces fell—why did such a troublemaker have to appear!

"I am the landlord. To be honest, all five rooms, along with the entire courtyard, are under my name. I just asked the neighborhood committee to rent them out, but I specifically kept these five rooms for my own use."

"The property deed is here, and the power of attorney stamped by the subdistrict office is also here."

Li Wenguo was too lazy to argue with a shrew, fearing it would lower his status. He gestured with his hand, and Haozi immediately handed over two pieces of paper, which were then spread out in front of Jia Zhangshi.

The neighbors who had just come over to watch the commotion and were unaware of the details gasped in shock when they heard that the entire courtyard belonged to Li Wenguo.

Oh my!

This is something that was built with real money!

But Madam Jia Zhang didn't respond at all, not even lifting her eyelids, and waved her hand: "I can't read, smearing my face with paper won't help!"

ho-

Good heavens, this is blatant cheating!

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

Yi Zhonghai silently closed his eyes, his brows furrowed. He knew this matter couldn't be delayed any longer—Li Wenguo was not someone to be trifled with, and any further concessions would only result in him being trampled into the mud.

Little did he know that Li Wenguo had come with a knife in his hand; he was polite on the surface but was determined to show no mercy.

"I'll head back now if there's nothing else."

With a twist of her body, Jia Zhangshi shrugged her shoulders and swung her arm, looking exactly like a stubborn, unyielding person.

She knew perfectly well that these five rooms, and even the entire courtyard, most likely really belonged to Li Wenguo. But she was certain of one thing—she wouldn't move!

What if the other party actually called the neighborhood committee? She would immediately burst into tears, slap her thigh, and wail about being poor, then launch into a melodramatic story of a widow raising a child, putting the other person on the moral high ground. The more respectable a person is, the more they fear embarrassment; if things really get out of hand and they can't save face in public, they might actually back down.

Moreover, it's almost the twelfth lunar month, and the plaque for the most advanced courtyard house is hanging overhead—if this gets out, the selection process is definitely over. Which person with a sense of honor would risk ruining their reputation for a few rooms?

If you force her to move? She'll just drag it out! She'll move a quilt every day, carry a basket of bowls every two days. Anyway, she's a woman, she can't do heavy work; her son is too busy at work to lend a hand. If she drags it out, who knows, Li Wenguo might find a more suitable place himself, then she'll be able to secure it.

As for calling the police? She had already prepared her excuse—she could just say "borrowing a place to stay" without hesitation, and if she squeezed out a couple of tears, the comrades would see that she was a widow and her child and would at most advise her to move out; they would never actually arrest her.

She was certain that Li Wenguo wouldn't take that step—at the very end of the year, who would want to be tainted with bad luck?

Hmph! You want me to step down? No way!

She kicked the door shut with a bang, slamming it shut behind her, and inwardly cursed.

These five rooms, with their carved window grilles, blue brick floors, and running water, each even have a washroom with a mirror—they're more comfortable than a single room in a state-run hotel! Let her move? Wishful thinking!

"Director Li, this Jia Zhangshi is outrageous! She's clearly being unreasonable and defiant! What do you suggest we do?"

Xu Damao was so anxious that he kept rubbing his hands together, his face full of concern, wishing he could curse in the street on Li Wenguo's behalf.

He wasn't just being enthusiastic—he was hoping to make an appearance in front of Director Li and get to know him better.

"Director Li, why don't you go back first? I'll personally go and persuade Jia Zhangshi; I guarantee she'll move out willingly!"

An old man was still stubbornly trying to smooth things over, hoping to extinguish the flames before they started smoking.

He and the older woman had no children and were relying on Jia Dongxu to support them in their old age, so they dared not offend Li Wenguo too much.

"Yes, Director Li, we will definitely persuade her to leave! You've seen it yourself, her behavior is really rude and beneath her dignity to argue with you. Besides, the end of the year is approaching, and the evaluation for advanced courtyard houses is just around the corner. We can't afford to jeopardize things at this crucial moment."

Uncle Erda glanced at Li Wenguo's expression while carefully choosing his words, his tone laced with caution.

This ambitious official was eager to get close to Li Wenguo and smoothly win that bright red medal.

"In my opinion, we should just rush in, throw everything over the wall, and ask everyone to leave—that would be the most efficient way!"

Sha Zhu raised his voice, his words were rough but his reasoning was sound, he was just too hot-tempered.

He Daqing's ears perked up, and he raised his hand to deliver a resounding slap to Sha Zhu's head: "Shut up! It's not your place to fire your own accord!"

Li Wenguo raised his hand and pressed down, and the entire place instantly fell silent, so quiet that you could hear the wind whistling through the roof tiles.

His gaze swept over the crowd, his voice not loud, but like iron nails driven into wood:

"Please don't worry, everyone. I know what I'm doing. Today, whether Jia Zhangshi moves or not, she has to move."

Then he gestured with his chin towards Haozi, "Go, tell Douding to bring some people over here."

"Director Li, you wouldn't actually listen to that gossip from Sha Zhu and be planning to have someone forcibly move Jia Zhangshi out, would you?"

The old man, Yi Zhonghai, felt a chill run down his spine, thinking that Li Wenguo was really angry and was going to send men to force Jia Zhangshi to vacate the house.

That won't do. If we're not careful, things could easily escalate into a fight, with pushing, pulling, smashing doors and cabinets. If someone gets hurt, and the neighborhood committee or security guards come to our door, the matter will be impossible to cover up right away.

"Yes, yes, Director Li, let's talk things out and discuss things. You mustn't resort to violence! This method is too reckless. If word gets out, it will not only damage your reputation but also ruin our courtyard's name. We'll probably lose our chance to be recognized as an advanced collective at the end of the year."

Second Uncle Liu Haizhong quickly chimed in, saying that what he cared about most was the bronze plaque that read "Advanced Courtyard House," fearing that it would be lost at the slightest sign of trouble.

"You don't need to interfere in this matter; I know what I'm doing."

Li Wenguo spoke calmly, without the slightest ripple.

He stood upright from beginning to end, his expression calm and composed, as if it were nothing more than sweeping a fallen leaf or dusting off a speck of dust, exuding a calm and steadfast confidence.

"this……?!"

Yi Zhonghai was about to offer further advice when he met Li Wenguo's sweeping gaze—calm, yet like an iron gate closing, brooking no argument. His throat tightened, and the words caught in his throat.

Li Wenguo stood there quietly, and everyone in the courtyard knew tacitly that the show was about to begin. No one moved, and even their coughs were kept to a minimum.

Soon,

A series of hurried and orderly footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate, making the blue bricks vibrate slightly.

Everyone turned to look, and Sha Zhu and Xu Damao even stood on tiptoe, craning their necks as if they wanted to squeeze through the crowd.

But as the footsteps drew closer, the people in the front row suddenly gasped and instinctively stepped back to the sides, making way for a narrow passage.

Only then did the two men see clearly—more than twenty officers in dark blue police uniforms strode into the courtyard, their epaulets gleaming, their expressions solemn, their backs straight as steel nails driven into the ground.

What?!

Why are there so many people?

Could it be that all the comrades from the entire institute have come?

Everyone in the courtyard felt a tightness in their chest and a buzzing in their heads.

It's just a dispute over occupancy of a house. Normally, two police officers would just ask a few questions and take a statement, and that would be the end of it. Why make such a fuss?

To outsiders, this setup clearly resembles a crackdown on roving criminals and the dismantling of their hideouts.

"Mr. Li... Mr. Li!"

"Hello!!!"

The one leading the group was a man in his forties with slightly dark skin, high brow bones, and sharp eyes. He strode forward, stopped, and gave a solemn salute.

He wanted to blurt out "Master Li," but he swallowed the words back—Li Wenguo had told him long ago: "This is a new society. You are a public servant and the head of the police station. When you see me, call me Mr. Li."

Dou Ding was originally a guard, but later volunteered to join the army. Li Wenguo approved his appointment as a battalion commander on the spot. After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, he surrendered to the organization with Ding Xiaoqi, A Gui and other former subordinates, as Li Wenguo had suggested. After being demobilized, he was assigned to be the head of the local police station.

"Director Dou, five of my rooms are being forcibly occupied. What should I do?"

Li Wenguo's tone was so casual, it was as if he were asking if there was any new garlic at the market today.

Director Dou?

He's the director!

hiss--

The people in the courtyard were stunned. No one expected that Li Wenguo's casual remark could summon the head of the police station and his entire team to handle matters, as if the police station were the guard post at the gate of his own courtyard. They were so shocked that they couldn't speak.

What's even clearer is that Jia Zhangshi has really messed up this time.

Among those who appeared in police uniforms, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong had the worst expressions.

Yi Zhonghai was disheartened—with the comrade's arrival, it was impossible to smooth things over, and his old face was completely useless.

Liu Haizhong was anxious—the application materials for the advanced courtyard house had just been submitted, and this incident at this critical juncture meant that it might not even pass the initial review.

Strangely enough, they didn't resent Li Wenguo at all; instead, they secretly complained about the Jia family.

After all, Li Wenguo was a factory leader, and someone who stood on the new social ladder. There was a world between them and him, so they didn't dare to harbor any petty thoughts.

The remaining residents all became onlookers, gathering in small groups to whisper among themselves.

"The police have arrived; the Jia family is likely to suffer this time."

"Indeed! Madam Jia is sure to suffer a setback this time."

"Tumbled? He might end up in jail for a few days."

"Don't you know how powerful Director Li is? If you mess with him, you won't have an easy time."

"Hehe, finally someone's gone to teach this shrew a lesson."

"It would be best to lock her up for a while, so she won't run wild in the yard every day."

The happiest of all were Sha Zhu and Xu Damao.

Xu Damao couldn't suppress the smirk on his face as he muttered, "This time, Jia Zhangshi is completely doomed."

Sha Zhu was even more ruthless: "If we could just kick Jia Dongxu out of the steel mill while we were at it, that would be truly satisfying!"

"Let's see if this old man can still protect him."

The two usually clashed and it was common for them to fight, but this time they were united and put in their best effort.