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

"No big deal!" Li Wenguo said lazily, putting his arm behind his head. "Tomorrow morning, I'll have the steel mill issue a letter, and the neighborhood office will immediately register your household in Beijing. You'll be a true Beijing resident."

He scoffed inwardly: This girl is holding a golden rice bowl and still counting copper coins—in the next few years, a Hong Kong status will be much more prestigious than a Beijing household registration!

It's not that people from Beijing are inferior, but in the days before the handover, Hong Kong people received preferential treatment wherever they went. Policies were open and opportunities were plentiful, making it the most sought-after time.

"Thank you, sir! Sir, would you like me to massage your shoulders again?"

Upon hearing that she could obtain a Beijing household registration the next day, Qin Huairu's heart trembled. She felt as if she had been soaked in honey, and she leaned against him softly, her eyes sparkling and a smile playing on her lips.

"bring it on!"

Li Wenguo never stopped his wives from coming up to him—there was no reason to turn away the warmth that was offered to him.

Getting Qin Huairu a Beijing residency permit was just a matter of a word from him. The steel mill issued a letter of introduction, and the neighborhood committee processed it without even lifting a finger.

He remembered that she was going to work in a factory later, so he simply found her a quiet office job—no need to swing a hammer or get greasy, serving tea and water was considered work.

next morning

Li Wenguo led Qin Huairu straight into the factory's personnel department.

She clutched the hem of her dress, her steps as light as if she were walking on cotton, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was hitting her ribs—

Soon I'll be a proper city dweller with a secure job. Just thinking about it makes my fingertips burn.

"Dad—Director Li, is there something you need?"

Li Guotai, the director of the personnel department, looked up, but quickly changed his mind before he could finish speaking.

He is Xianglan's eldest son, born in 1932, and just turned 22 this year. He is also Li Wenguo's third son.

He wanted to blurt out "Father," but when he looked up and saw Qin Huairu standing behind him, so beautiful and charming, he swallowed the title back.

Qin Huairu was overjoyed and didn't notice that there was something wrong with the way "Director Li" was addressed.

But when she saw Li Guotai's face clearly, she stopped in her tracks and her breath caught in her throat.

For no other reason than that this young man is so handsome he seems unreal.

In this age when everyone is drab and pale, he is fair-skinned, tall, and handsome, with striking features. He looks like he stepped right out of a magazine. Anyone who sees him would be stunned.

Qin Huairu was no exception.

Fortunately, she was used to Li Wenguo's imposing presence every day, and she quickly came to her senses.

"Guotai, don't be so serious, we're family." Li Wenguo patted his son on the shoulder. "Come on, get acquainted with her—this is your Aunt Qin, she'll be joining us in a couple of days."

"Oh? Father! You're taking another concubine?"

Li Guotai's face fell, and his brows furrowed into a knot.

His mother already has enough wives to worry about, and now another one has been added? He's really old but still vigorous and tireless!

Not to mention the girl in front of him, who looked even younger than him, making him feel really embarrassed to call her "Aunt Qin".

"Stop talking nonsense and call for help!"

Li Wenguo's voice deepened, leaving no room for argument.

"Aunt Qin!"

Li Guotai had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

Qin Huairu was completely stunned—from the moment Li Wenguo began his introduction to the moment she heard the word "father," her mind was buzzing.

She never expected that this incredibly handsome young man was actually Li Wenguo's son!

She had just seen her stunningly beautiful daughter yesterday, and today she bumped into this son... Her legs went weak, and her heart pounded like a drum—this wasn't a wedding, it was like stumbling onto a stage!

But the facts were right in front of her, leaving her no choice but to believe them.

As she watched Li Wenguo's retreating figure, she suddenly felt that this man was like a deep well, calm on the surface but turbulent beneath. The closer she got, the less she could see through him, and the more curious she became—just how many astonishing trump cards did he still hold?

"Aunt Qin!"

Seeing that she was standing still, Li Guotai called out to her again.

"Oh, hello, hello!"

When a handsome young man who looked even younger than herself addressed her respectfully as "Auntie," Qin Huairu felt her ears burning and didn't know what to do with her hands and feet.

"Alright, Guotai, give your Aunt Qin a referral—a Beijing residency permit from the neighborhood committee, and arrange a quiet office job for her."

Li Wenguo's words were concise and to the point.

"Okay, I'll take care of it right away."

Li Guotai sighed and picked up his pen to write a list.

Although unwilling, this "acquaintance" was both his father and his boss, so how could he dare to say a word against it?

Once the form was filled out, Li Wenguo took it and handed it to Qin Huairu: "If the factory encounters any problems in the future, just go to him. We're family, no need to be formal."

"oh oh!!!"

Qin Huairu didn't dare to say anything more, she just held the order tightly and nodded repeatedly.

After leaving the personnel department, the two turned and went to the street office, where the official seal of the Beijing household registration was firmly stamped on the paper.

On her way back, she glanced down at the offer letter stamped with a red seal.

Office worker, monthly salary 35 yuan.

Qin Huairu gently stroked the edge of the paper with her fingertips, and her heart suddenly warmed, as if a little sparrow had fluttered and bumped into her chest.

After figuring out the market over the past few days, she finally realized the significance of that number.

This is the salary that a mid-level fitter earns through hard work and dedication!

Others spend their days rummaging through machine tools, getting covered in grease, and swinging wrenches, their trouser legs always stained with iron filings and black dust; and what about me? I sit upright in a bright and clean cubicle, making a cup of tea, flipping through documents, all clean and tidy, yet my income is about the same.

Qin Huairu felt sweeter and sweeter as she thought about it, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, and even her breathing became lighter.

Marrying Li Wenguo is like living on clouds!

A winner in life? No, a winner in life is one who walks on gold bricks and holds a honey pot!

She clenched her fists secretly: From now on, she must serve her husband with gentle words and give birth to several strong sons as soon as possible, so as to be worthy of this blessing from heaven!

……

"Sir, I heard you've married a beautiful new wife!"

In the Li family's courtyard house, inside the Xianglan room.

She had just rested for a short while, her temples still glistening with sweat, her body limp against her husband's chest, her voice slightly hoarse, carrying a hint of languid coquettishness.

"Oh? Hanhan told you?"

Two days ago, he took Qin Huairu to the department store for a big shopping spree, and they happened to run into his eldest daughter.

"Hmm." Xianglan looked up and smiled. "Then shouldn't you take her to settle down in Hong Kong?"

"Yes, we'll set off in a couple of days."

"Sir, let Guowu go with us too, so he can settle down in Hong Kong from now on."

"Huh? Guowu is doing quite well in Beijing, isn't he? He's in a technical position at the factory, with a bright future ahead of him." Li Wenguo turned his head and looked at Xianglan's face with a hint of doubt.

"Hong Kong offers more opportunities and wider connections; it's much better than staying cooped up in Beijing." Xianglan's fingertips subtly moved downwards, her voice growing even softer. "Sir, don't you agree?"

But in his mind, he was quickly calculating: Could I be honest with the fact that I'm afraid Xu Meijing and Dong Haitang's eldest son will swallow up all of Hong Kong's assets?

Last time she accompanied Li Wenguo to Hong Kong to settle down, she saw with her own eyes those waterfront office buildings, the entire warehouse terminal, and the ledgers filled with cargo ship routes and real estate contracts—

Currently, Xu Meijing is in charge, assisted by Dong Haitang's eldest son.

She dared not gamble on what would happen after Li Wenguo's death, and she dared not believe the other wives who spoke sweet words but remained silent behind the scenes.

Guo Wu is only nineteen. He should go there early to register his name, secure a position, and gain experience. Even if he doesn't get the lion's share later, he can still get a piece of the pie.

It's better than waiting until the dust settles and then not being able to even get through the door.

Although Li Wenguo had assured her that each of her sons would receive a share, she trusted her husband's character, but she didn't believe that people's hearts could withstand the test of money. What if something unexpected happened one day? What would a woman like her have to compete with others?

"Oh... hiss—!"

A warm sensation enveloped him, Li Wenguo's Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyelids snapped shut. "Alright, I'll ask Guowu what he thinks tomorrow."

Xianglan, who was beneath her, straightened her back and became even more active.

Li Guowu had been instructed by his own mother long ago, so he naturally knew how to respond to his father.

A few days later, Li Wenguo, along with Qin Huairu, Haozi, Dayan, Li Guotai, and four of his sons, boarded a ship to Hong Kong.

Haozi's second son, Dayan's second son, Binzi's eldest son, and Dafei's third son.

The four men had previously sworn to follow Li Wenguo for life and serve as his personal bodyguards. Li Wenguo has always valued loyalty and righteousness, and this time he simply brought their sons along, hoping that the four families could also turn their lives around, settle down, and join the ranks of Hong Kong's new elites, so that they could live out their old age in peace and comfort.

In reality, they were already incredibly wealthy and could easily afford to travel abroad and enjoy a life of luxury. But who wouldn't want their children and grandchildren to achieve even greater success? So they gritted their teeth and continued to serve them diligently.

With Qin Huairu by his side on the boat, Li Wenguo didn't feel lonely at all.

On two or three nights, he would take her hand and slip to the stern of the boat, lean against the railing to watch the stars reflected on the sea, and teach her to stretch her muscles and move her waist and legs while enjoying the salty sea breeze.

A few days later, the ship slowly docked at the port.

The changes in Hong Kong are astonishing.

It feels like a lifetime has passed since I last visited.

The dock has expanded three or four times, with cranes standing tall and giant ships densely packed together; in the distance, buildings rise from the ground, their glass curtain walls piercing the clouds, densely packed and so high that their tops cannot be seen.

"Mr. Li, it's only been two or three years, but Hong Kong seems to have changed its entire structure!"

Haozi took off his sunglasses, squinted and looked into the distance, his voice full of surprise.

"Absolutely! It's at least ten times more bustling than the capital!"

Big Eyes clicked his tongue and shook his head repeatedly.

Those young people who were setting foot in Hong Kong for the first time, and Qin Huairu who was seeing a modern city for the first time, were all stunned, their eyes wide open, speechless for a long time.

"Hong Kong follows the path of capitalism. Besides, back when it was liberated, how many landlords, foreign firm owners, and silk shopkeepers fled here with their families? After accumulating wealth over the years, what's so surprising about its sudden explosion?"

Li Wenguo remained calm, his tone as indifferent as if he were discussing the weather, "This is only twenty or thirty stories high, and the streets are still quite loose—it's nothing compared to what will happen later."

In a single sentence, his vision was revealed to be different from that of others.

The ship docked steadily, and everyone stepped onto the concrete ground of the pier. With solid footing, they felt at ease.

To the left of the dock stands a five-story office building with several large, gilded characters embedded in its exterior wall, gleaming heavily.

Yellow River Wharf Office Building.

That's right.

This deep-water port was taken over by Li Wenguo's property company long ago. After expansion and renovation, it handles cargo ships and business opportunities day and night.

The profits at the docks were astonishingly high—if shipping companies didn't fawn over and appease Yellow River Industry, they wouldn't even be able to get a berth; any delay would mean a huge loss of real money.

"Yellow River Industry? Dad, this dock... is it really ours?"

Li Guowu's eyes lit up as soon as he heard from his mother that his father's business in Hong Kong was called Yellow River Industries.

"right."

"The coastal prime land is incredibly valuable; how could Yellow River Industry possibly let it go?"

Li Wenguo's tone was calm, yet it was like a nail being driven into wood.

This isn't the only case; Yellow River Industry has acquired wharves in multiple locations, and two new ports are under construction at a rapid pace.

Their ambition is obvious: to seize all the deep-water berths in Hong Kong.

Li Wenguo secretly wondered to himself—would people in Hong Kong call him "King of the Docks" in the future?

A group of young people, including Qin Huairu, gasped in astonishment: Such a large dock, privately owned? Not public? Uncle Li (Master Li) is too hardcore!