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

the other side.

Hu Jiandong found the address and arrived at the gate of the Li family's courtyard house.

He looked up and bumped into Li Jinghan—bright eyes and white teeth, elegant and refined, standing inside the door with a smile on her face. His heart warmed and he couldn't help but grin.

Today she wore a dark black dress paired with black stiletto boots, which made her skin look as white as snow, smooth and radiant; a butterfly hair clip trembled slightly at her temple, adding a touch of playfulness. Hu Jiandong was increasingly captivated by her, secretly thinking: Marrying her is truly a stroke of incredible luck!

"Jiandong, you're here!"

Li Jinghan greeted her with a smile.

"You're not late, are you?"

He scratched his head and smiled憨厚ly.

"This is Uncle Haozi, Uncle Big Eyes."

She first introduced the elders.

Hu Jiandong quickly bowed and greeted him respectfully.

Then, following her through the hanging flower gate, they entered the Li residence.

There were more than a dozen cars parked in the yard. After his older children got married and started their own families, Li Wenguo added a few more cars from overseas.

Hu Jiandong had long known that the Li family was wealthy, so he wasn't surprised.

When they reached the small courtyard outside the main hall, they bumped into Xu Wanqing's third son, Li Guoxian—who was fifteen last year and sixteen this year. He had grown taller, but his temper hadn't mellowed at all; he was still the same headstrong and domineering man.

He led a group of younger siblings and they swarmed around him, blocking Hu Jiandong at the foot of the stone steps.

"So you're Hu Jiandong? Trying to kidnap my older sister?"

He raised his chin, looked me up and down, and sneered, "Tch! You thought you were so outstanding, but you're not even as good as my eldest brother, second brother, third brother, fourth brother, fifth brother... not even as good as me!"

He then turned to look at Li Jinghan, his face full of disdain: "Big sister, when did your taste drop? You picked such an ordinary-looking one?"

"Yeah, sister, I really don't understand!"

A string of younger siblings behind him started cheering in unison.

What?

Eldest brother, second brother, third brother, fourth brother, fifth brother... and "even I can't compare to him"?

Hu Jiandong was stunned on the spot, just like Jiang Yue last time. He was momentarily dumbfounded and almost thought he had misheard.

If Li Jinghan hadn't mentioned before that she had many younger siblings, and if there really had been more than a dozen teenagers standing in front of him, he wouldn't have believed Li Guoxian's words at all.

"You, Li Guoxian! Last time Guohua brought his girlfriend home, you jumped in to cause trouble; this time I brought people, and you're joining in the fun again—I think you're asking for a beating!"

Before Li Jinghan could finish speaking, she clenched her fists, ready to pounce.

"Li Jinghan! Don't do anything reckless! I'm not a child anymore, I'm not afraid of you!"

Li Guoxian was stubborn, but he secretly took half a step back, his voice weak.

"Trying to act tough right under my nose?"

She reacted quickly, grabbing his ear and twisting it until he winced, before finally making way for him.

Hu Jiandong was then able to enter the house and meet his future father-in-law and a group of aunts.

The greeting was polite and the atmosphere was harmonious, but his heart felt like it was stuffed with cotton—heavy and messy.

Even after lunch, when he stepped out of the Li residence, his head was still buzzing and his steps were unsteady.

"What's wrong?"

Li Jinghan tilted her head to look at him, unable to suppress a laugh, "Were you stunned by the scene at my house?"

That expression was exactly like Jiang Yue's last time.

Fortunately, I haven't taken him to the embassy grounds to meet the other concubines yet—otherwise, he might have been speechless on the spot.

Hu Jiandong shook his head vigorously to shake off the lingering image in his mind: a room full of mature aunts of varying charms, more than a dozen brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law eyeing him menacingly, and a baby crying with a bottle in his arms...

"Jinghan... why is Uncle Li like this... like this..."

He opened his mouth, trying to find a word to describe the shock, but the word got stuck in his throat, leaving him anxious and helpless.

So domineering, so hardcore, so terrifying!

"My family is large, and the relationships are complicated."

She smiled calmly, paused, and asked softly:

"Well, now... it's not too late to back down."

Li Jinghan paused, looked up at him, her gaze clear and solemn.

Hu Jiandong's heart tightened, and he blurted out, "No regrets! I have absolutely no regrets about marrying you in this life!"

"Let's go, to your house."

She nodded slightly, her tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable air of decisiveness.

Half an hour later, the two walked side by side into the Hu family's courtyard.

Two of his childhood friends, Lei Zi and Kai Zi, were squatting at the gate of the courtyard, smoking cigarettes and chatting idly, ash falling onto their trouser legs.

"Jiandong, you..."

The two had just looked up to greet each other when their gazes were fixed on Li Jinghan as if nailed to her, and their words came to an abrupt halt.

Absolutely!

Absolutely amazing!

How could there be such a vibrant and charming person in the world?

No, not a person—she's a fairy who stepped out of a painting!

"Cough cough!!!"

Hu Jiandong frowned and coughed twice, forcefully breaking through the daze.

He felt both triumphant and secretly annoyed: his daughter was dazzlingly beautiful, but being stared at like that was just not a pleasant feeling.

The cough snapped them back to reality, their Adam's apples bobbing up and down.

"Dongzi, who is this? She's ten times more eye-catching than your little sister!"

Lei Zi stared wide-eyed, his tone full of envy.

Actually, he had already guessed most of it, but he just hadn't said it outright.

"Is there even a question? Who else could it be but Dongzi's girlfriend?"

Kai Zi was straightforward; he immediately cut to the chase.

Hu Jiandong was too lazy to say anything more, afraid that if he stood there for even a second longer, everyone in the alley would gather around him—Li Jinghan's figure, her face, and her calm and composed demeanor made her the center of attention wherever she went, impossible to ignore.

After a brief introduction, he led Li Jinghan quickly into the courtyard.

Sure enough, as soon as she turned the corner, Aunt Wang from next door grabbed her sleeve; as soon as she stepped onto the steps, Uncle Li from across the street stopped her to exchange pleasantries; even the speckled hen on the clothesline tilted its head and stared at her for three seconds before fluttering away.

"Here it comes!!!"

"Big brother's back with people—and sister-in-law's here!!!"

Hu Jianhua, who was guarding the gate, spotted the tall and slender figure next to his brother from afar and immediately turned around and shouted into the house.

A sudden chill ran through me:

Obediently boom!

Just by looking at his gait, his silhouette, and his overall aura, you can tell that he is no ordinary person!

She's probably even more outstanding than her second sister!

Upon hearing this, the people inside immediately sat up straight, even gripping their teacup lids more firmly.

Mother Hu straightened her back, put on the standard smile of a government official, and planned to establish her authority first and suppress her future daughter-in-law's arrogance.

Hu Ke'er leaned against the door frame, casually peeling an orange, thinking: No matter how pretty she is, she's still an outsider. She can't compare to the confidence I have from running around in the yard since I was a child.

But when Hu Jianhua actually welcomed them in, he immediately bumped into Li Jinghan—

He froze on the spot, and the enamel mug in his hand slammed against the door frame with a loud bang.

nice!

So beautiful!

Like spring water just beginning to rise, like the moon shining on a cold pool, I even forgot to change my breath.

"Cough cough!!!"

That familiar coughing sound pulled him back to reality once again.

"Oh, sister-in-law... Hello, sister-in-law, I..."

"What nonsense are you spouting? Call me Jinghan."

Hu Jiandong frowned and rebuked in a low voice.

They've only just started dating, haven't even touched each other's fingertips yet, calling each other "sister-in-law" is too hasty and reckless.

"Ah! I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry... I... I..."

Hu Jianhua was at a loss, his ears turning red all the way down to his neck.

"It's alright, let's go inside."

Li Jinghan smiled faintly, her tone as usual.

She was already used to this kind of scene.

These days, being too eye-catching can become a burden.

Men are so captivated by it that they can't move their legs, some even collide with telephone poles or step into stinking ditches.

The old saying is absolutely true: beautiful women can lead to trouble, and it's hard to guard against disaster.

Her poise and grace made Hu Jianhua's goodwill towards her soar.

She's not some spoiled, arrogant brat at all. She clearly has the gentle, refined air of someone raised in a scholarly family, dignified yet approachable.

"Let's go in."

The three of them stepped over the threshold and entered the main room.

Grandpa Hu, Grandma Hu, Father Hu, Mother Hu, and Hu Ke'er, who was leaning back in her chair eating sunflower seeds—all five pairs of eyes swept over and instantly lost their focus.

The girl before me was dressed simply, yet her fair complexion was undeniable, so white and translucent, so tender it seemed one could pinch water from it; there was not a trace of rusticity in her features, but rather she resembled a young lady from a wealthy family in the old days, pampered and cherished, with an air of elegance and strength.

Could there really be such a person in the world?

If this isn't a fairy descending to earth, then what is it?

Hu Jiandong took in everyone's stunned expressions, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

"Cough cough!!!"

He coughed so much on the way that he almost laughed—

From the courtyard gate to the main room, it took at least seven or eight shouts; anyone who didn't know better would have thought he had a lung problem.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Little Sister, this is Li Jinghan."

His voice was clear and distinct, each word spoken clearly and deliberately.

"Hello, Comrade Xiao Li."

Mr. Hu spoke first, and Grandpa Hu and Grandma Hu nodded with smiles, their expressions gentle.

"Hello Uncle Hu, hello Grandpa Hu, hello Grandma Hu, hello Aunt Hu, hello little sister!"

Li Jinghan bowed slightly, her smile gentle, her greeting unhurried, like a mountain stream, clean and comforting.

His demeanor was calm and composed, neither restrained nor ostentatious in his every move, revealing a dignified and gentle inner strength, without a single flaw.

Everyone present immediately became certain: This was no ordinary girl; she was clearly a well-bred lady from a prestigious family whose upbringing was ingrained in her very bones!

Good heavens!

Where did my son find such a precious young lady?

Mother Hu's heart trembled violently, and her fingertips involuntarily clenched the hem of her clothes.

Good heavens!

Is there really someone in the world more dazzling than me?

Hu Ke'er's mind went blank, as if someone had quietly drained her strength.

"Oh, dear girl, please have a seat! Please have a seat!"

A smile instantly spread across Hu's mother's face, and her tone became so warm that it was as if she had become a completely different person. The contrast between her previous and previous demeanor was astonishing.

It's perfect! It's exactly what I wanted!

Marrying a girl of such noble birth and elegant demeanor would be a source of pride, and others would be green with envy!

"Aunt Hu, you're too kind. Jiandong, Jianhua, please sit down."

His speech was poised and graceful, his demeanor measured and appropriate; even the way his fingertips rested on his knees was just right.

The whole family was extremely satisfied with their future daughter-in-law; all their previous doubts, criticisms, and grumbles had long since vanished. Only Hu Ke'er kept her eyes downcast, her fingers unconsciously twisting the edge of her scarf, looking listless, like a tender bud just touched by frost.

It was nearing dusk that day.

A tall woman with bright eyes stood in front of the window of the steel rolling mill's security room.