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

"Hey, stop being so sour with me! Last time at the workshop gate, I saw you flirting with the factory's prettiest girl—she's not only the top girl in the factory, but she's also my next-door neighbor! If you really like each other, you should bring her home to meet my dad as soon as possible. Our houses are just across the wall, pick a good day to get married, and next year you'll be trailing a little tail behind you, won't you?"

Li Guoxian often saw his younger brother, who was three years younger than him, always walking in and out of the factory side by side with the prettiest female worker, their lunch boxes held even closer together than chopsticks. How could he not understand?

"We've only been dating for less than two months, how can I possibly ask her to meet my parents? What if she's not interested...?"

Li Guotao scratched the back of his head, his voice growing softer and softer.

"Are you stupid? They go to get off work and back together with you every day, eat together, and laugh together. What else could this be but dating? What are you being so coy about!"

"How about I go run the errand for you? Let's sound them out first?"

Li Guoxian shook his head, wishing he could crack open his head and take a look.

Xiaoju didn't have a high status in the Li family. More than ten years ago, she couldn't even stand steadily by the stove and was ordered around like a headless chicken. With a weak mother and a lowly son, Li Guotao walked with his shoulders hunched over from a young age, dared not raise his eyes when he spoke, and always had to weigh his decisions three times over.

"No need, no need, Brother Guoxian, I'll go talk to him myself!"

"Brother, I'm going in first!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already hurriedly turned into the workshop.

Li Guoxian watched his retreating figure, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly as he silently sighed.

Ultimately, Li Guotao's timid nature was partly a result of his own actions in raising him.

His mother, Xu Wanqing, was his lawfully wedded wife. From a young age, he was the "little tyrant" who swaggered around the courtyard, bullying whoever he could. Li Guotao endured the most punches and the longest cold stares, and fear seeped into his very bones.

Fortunately, he gradually recovered as he grew up—after all, a child raised in luxury naturally knows how to behave appropriately. It's just that his timidity is like a loose thread in an old cotton-padded jacket, which pricks people from time to time.

After finishing his morning's work, Li Guotao, as usual, walked into the canteen one after the other with the factory's most beautiful girl.

The head chef had already received Li Guowei's secret instructions, and every time he served the dishes, he would press the iron ladle down firmly: the green peppers and shredded pork were piled high, the braised beef with potatoes was covered half a ladle with oil, and even the vegetable soup had an extra ladle of oil on top.

The workers nearby stared in astonishment, muttering to themselves, "Could this kid be the master chef's long-lost nephew?"

However, no one dared to complain or show any dissatisfaction in person. After all, if they angered the chef, the scoop might tip or the hand might shake, resulting in half a scoop of meat being missing, which would be a huge loss.

He Yushui, the factory's beauty queen, also benefited somewhat from Li Guotao's influence. When serving meals, the cook would always secretly scoop out an extra spoonful, and her food would have a thicker layer of oil than others.

The two sat down at the two-person table by the window.

Remembering Li Guoxian's words that morning, "It's time to get serious," Li Guotao felt a surge of excitement, like a little rabbit jumping inside his chest. Mustering his courage, he spoke to He Yushui, who was engrossed in eating, "Yushui, um... I want to take you home to meet my parents. Would you... be willing?"

He Yushui's spoon had just picked up a clump of diced meat and white rice coated in sauce when she heard this, so she paused in mid-air and then gently placed it back on the rim of the bowl.

Her cheeks suddenly flushed with a rosy blush, her eyelashes drooped, and the corners of her lips turned up slightly, looking both shy and sweet.

Meeting the parents—this wasn't just a meal and tea; it was clearly the prelude to finalizing a lifelong commitment. She knew it perfectly well.

Her head drooped slightly, and her voice was as soft as a feather: "Mmm... okay."

But a quiet sense of relief washed over him: This blockhead has finally come to his senses!

She was happy to marry him. Not only because Li Guotao was handsome and tall, but also because of the person standing behind him—Li Wenguo.

Although she lived in the factory dormitory year-round, she would return to the courtyard house every two or three months. Through her daily interactions, she had long since figured out the father-son relationship between Li Guoxian and Li Wenguo; following the clues, she discovered that Li Guotao was his younger brother, and his identity naturally came to light.

She didn't just hear about Li Wenguo; she had witnessed it firsthand—the major incident that shook the entire alleyway before the National Day holiday: Jia Zhangshi was handcuffed and taken away on the spot, taken to the police station, without even having the strength to protest her innocence. She still remembers that scene clearly.

She's different from Silly Brother Zhu. She's quick-witted, ambitious, farsighted, and meticulous in her planning.

The people living in the courtyard house were all quite cunning: the old man was good at putting on airs, the deaf old woman was adept at sabotaging others in secret, and Lin Meili's family was even more adept at robbing and stealing; as for Brother Shazhu, he seemed to be possessed, willingly letting others treat him like a soft persimmon to be squeezed and a blood bag to be sucked dry.

Although the second uncle was fond of climbing the official ladder, he was a decent person. But his two sons were both cunning and only had their own little schemes in mind.

The third uncle was notoriously stingy and would take advantage of any bargain he saw. His son was no better; he was all talk and no action and always picked on the weak.

Xu Damao? His character is rotten to the core.

Fearing that she would be dragged into trouble by Brother Shazhu in the future, she had already planned her escape route—she needed to find a powerful backer who could protect her.

The first person she chose was a police officer from the local police station. Once she put on that blue uniform, who among the scheming people in the courtyard would dare to lay a finger on her?

But later, she witnessed firsthand how even the station chief treated Li Wenguo with utmost respect, personally offering him a seat and pouring him tea. She was struck by a realization: a powerful backer doesn't necessarily require a police uniform. As long as one has deep roots and a strong backbone, one can still command respect.

Just then, Li Guotao approached her, his eyes warm and his words sincere. She subtly probed him a few times, confirming that the two brothers were indeed related by blood, and then quietly included him in her wedding picture.

So as soon as Li Guotao finished speaking, she immediately lowered her eyes to hide her smile, responded softly, and even her fingertips revealed just the right amount of shyness.

"Okay, then let me know as soon as you've discussed it with your uncle."

Li Guotao immediately beamed with joy, his eyes shining like tiny lamps.

He Yushui is not only beautiful, but also the factory's recognized beauty queen. Now that she has agreed to the proposal, she has both a good reputation and a good image. How could she not be overjoyed?

Coincidentally, Li Wenguo is at the Li residence tonight.

Li Guotao entered the courtyard smoothly and immediately saw his father sitting in a rattan chair under the jujube tree, slowly drinking tea.

Forty-six years have passed. Li Wenguo is now fifty-nine years old, while Li Guotao is only twenty-two, a thirty-seven-year age difference between father and son. In this day and age, calling someone "Dad" is a comforting gesture to anyone.

"Guotao, what brings you back today? Don't you like the food at the factory?"

Li Wenguo looked up at his son, who was over thirty, with a gentle smile and a tone that was not at all perfunctory.

Over the years, the number of children has increased, and the house is so cramped that there's hardly any room to move. He originally wanted to move to a brighter place, but the current situation is uncertain. In addition, he has lived in this courtyard house since he became successful, and he hasn't moved for more than 30 years. The blue bricks and gray tiles are imbued with the warmth of human presence, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a blessed house.

So they let their sons, who were already working, move out, and the vacated room was just enough for the rest of the family to settle in.

So Li Guotao now lives in the textile factory's dormitory.

Li Wenguo knew his son well: to put it nicely, he was gentle, sensible, and obedient; to put it bluntly, he was too honest and too straightforward. But he was still his own flesh and blood, and he never judged people with prejudice; he truly loved him.

"No, no, Dad, the food at the factory is delicious! I came back today because I have something important to discuss with you."

Seeing his father put down his teacup and listen attentively, Li Guotao sat up straight and spoke more confidently: "I've met someone at the factory, and I'd like to bring her back to meet you. If you approve, I'll get things done as soon as possible and try to get the wedding before the end of the year."

"Oh? That's great news!" Li Wenguo laughed heartily. "Now that you have a formal job, it's time to settle down and start a family. If it weren't for the fact that your older brothers aren't married yet, I would have already asked someone to arrange it for you."

If there's anything that's on his mind right now, it's definitely his son's wedding.

As long as matchmaker Aunt Zhang introduced the couple, he would immediately ask someone to investigate—if the family background was respectable and the temperament was amiable, he would agree to the marriage; if the family was of equal social standing and the woman was good-looking, he would not hesitate at all.

Of course, with many sons, Li Wenguo was also open-minded: "If you choose one yourself, that's fine too."

After all, the children have grown up surrounded by beautiful women, so they have broad horizons and high aspirations. They would never bring in any shady or inferior person.

"Dad, I'm taking a day off the day after tomorrow. Should I bring her home to meet you?"

Li Guotao asked the question crisply and directly.

"OK."

Li Wenguo nodded in agreement, his tone simple yet weighty.

As soon as Li Guotao went out, Xiaoju gracefully emerged from the inner room—she was wearing a silk nightgown as thin as a cicada's wing, her waist was slender, and her steps were graceful. She sat in her husband's lap like a lazy yet alluring cat.

Xiaoju was born in the early 2000s and is now just over forty. But life has been good for her, and her husband pampers her. Her complexion is as radiant as a peach blossom in early spring, her skin is fair and translucent, firm and smooth. Her figure is also tall and slender, with a prominent bust and buttocks. She is a beautiful woman who still retains her charm.

"Sir, has Guotao really decided on someone this time?"

Her eyes sparkled, and her voice was so soft it could melt water.

"Yes, bring him over the day after tomorrow to show him the place."

Before Li Wenguo could finish speaking, his hand had already slid inside her collar.

"Before I knew it, Guotao is about to settle down and start a family..."

"Indeed, time flies, sir!"

Her fingertips also quietly reached down.

"Good times never last, so savor every moment as much as you can—hehe!"

Li Wenguo smiled mischievously, a sly glint in his eyes.

"Then—should we call Xiao Cui over? We're short one player for a game of Dou Dizhu (a card game)?"

"Or how about we invite Xiaoxue to join us, and the four of us play a couple of rounds of mahjong?"

Xiaoju blinked, her voice trailing off in a sweet and seductive tone.

"Yes! Of course! But... let's warm up first."

Inside a private room of a state-run restaurant.

Li Wenguo and Xiaoju sat side by side, while Li Guotao and He Yushui sat opposite each other.

Twelve main dishes, eight cold and ten hot, filled the table: steamed shad glistened with silver, braised pork knuckle was glistening and fragrant, and there was also perfectly cooked stir-fried sea cucumber with scallions, and crisp and tender salt and pepper shrimp balls...

In these days of increasingly scarce resources, ordinary people would probably swallow their saliva three times upon seeing this.

But for Li Wenguo and Xiaoju, it was just an ordinary meal.

We chose to meet here for two reasons: first, there are many family members around who might gossip and scare the woman away; second, we wanted a bright and respectable setting to avoid any awkwardness.

Upon first meeting, Li Wenguo's brow furrowed slightly.

He was certain he had seen this girl before—her face was very familiar, but he just couldn't remember where they had bumped into each other.

He only goes to Qin Huairu's place two or three days a week, while He Yushui moved out to live alone a few years ago and has a formal job, so she rarely goes home. Naturally, the two rarely meet.

Furthermore, the last time I saw her, she was a naive and thin young girl with yellow hair; now she is twenty-two years old, her features have matured, her eyebrows and eyes are clear and beautiful, and her temperament is calm. She is no longer the little girl with a ponytail.