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

"Dad, Mom, this is He Yushui. It's quite a coincidence that her brother and she both live in Aunt Qin's courtyard house."

Li Guotao's introduction was frank and natural.

Xiaoju didn't think much of it, but carefully examined it and found it more and more pleasing to the eye, and the corners of her mouth slightly raised.

Li Wenguo, however, was different—his brows were furrowed even more deeply.

He Yushui? How could he not know? She's Sha Zhu's younger sister, a character who's definitely a main character in the story.

Depend on!

Why did Guotao get involved with Shazhu's sister?

In the original book, didn't she marry a local policeman?

How did she end up like this, almost becoming my daughter-in-law?

His mind was in turmoil.

To be honest, he had absolutely no desire to associate with the people in the courtyard house.

The two worlds are completely different – ​​on one side is the sweltering, everyday life of the city, while on the other is his respectable life with resources in hand, responsibilities on his shoulders, and powerful backers behind him.

But if they really get married, Sha Zhu will become one of their own. And those shrewd and calculating residents of the courtyard might use this relationship to curry favor, ask for favors, or demand benefits...

It's so annoying!

After considering this, Li Wenguo had already made up his mind:

This marriage will not take place.

Once the thought was made up, his expression turned serious.

Not harsh, nor warm, just perfectly aloof—even the air seemed to cool down a bit.

Of the three people at the table, everyone could sense the refusal.

He Yushui was the first to notice, feeling a heavy, dull ache in her chest, as if her heart had been squeezed.

She lowered her eyes to stare at the rim of the bowl, her nails digging quietly into her palms—without looking up, she already knew that the meal was probably over.

She couldn't understand why Uncle Li, who used to be so gentle and refined, had suddenly become so critical of her. Although she wasn't as radiant as Aunt Ju or as dignified as Aunt Qin, she was still pretty and had a well-proportioned figure. What did she lack that made her unworthy of his son?

Could it really be because of his humble origins?

By the way, the only thing she can't show off is that her family is too poor!

Sure enough, the next day at noon, Li Guotao came to the door with slumped shoulders and vacant eyes, saying in a dry voice, "My father...forbids this marriage."

"Guotao, tell me the truth, why exactly did Uncle Li stop you?"

He Yushui was so anxious that her fingertips dug into her palms, and her eyes were slightly red, as if she was about to shed tears at any moment.

He said... "You only have one older brother to support your family, and your father eloped with a widow, ruining your reputation. He was afraid it would affect our family's honor."

"well--"

Li Guotao let out a heavy sigh, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes, clearly reluctant to part with her.

really!

They think her family background is dirty!

He Yushui felt a chill in her heart, and a self-deprecating smile appeared on her lips.

She thought that by climbing onto the Li family's coattails, she could speak with her head held high in the courtyard and no longer be schemed against or dragged down by those people. Who knew they wouldn't even lift an eyelid, treating her like a dusty rag toss away at will.

Ugh!

That's some serious luck!

But when she caught sight of Li Guotao's dejected appearance, her eyes flickered, and her voice softened immediately: "Guotao, don't lie to me—do you really like me?"

"I love it! I love it from the bottom of my heart! Otherwise, what would I be after?"

He nodded hurriedly, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"Then... shall we go get our marriage certificate today? Once we have the red book, no one can separate us."

"I...I dare not."

His voice was weak, and his eyes darted around. "My dad has always been very strict with us siblings, and I've never disobeyed him since I was a child..."

What a loser!

Their bones are so soft they're not even as soft as a noodle!

He Yushui was so angry that her molars tightened.

She, a young unmarried woman, risked her reputation to come to his house, but he, fearing a scolding, cowered and shrank back—in this day and age, a woman who loses her chastity is harder to recover from than a man who gets a beating! Yet he cared more about the family's attitude than her life.

They're utterly hopeless!

Absolutely awful!

It's absolutely rotten!

The following night, He Yushui, carrying two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), knocked on Li Guotao's dormitory door.

She tossed and turned all day, unable to sleep soundly.

Now that she's hooked up with the Li family, she's determined not to let go.

Then let's just make it a fait accompli—once the deed is done, let's see how the Li family can pretend to be deaf and dumb then. They can't just stand by and watch their son bear the stigma of starting something and then abandoning it, can they?

Things progressed unexpectedly smoothly.

Li Guotao was already interested in her, and when she kept urging him to drink while wiping away tears and complaining, he lost his temper and his defenses crumbled.

As dawn broke, Li Guotao, who was usually listless, straightened his back and grabbed her hand: "Yushui, believe me! I keep my word! Today I'll go to my dad and marry you properly!"

His chest heaved, and his tone was resolute.

The words his father often repeated now became his source of confidence:

"The Li family can be poor, they can be mediocre, but they absolutely cannot shirk their responsibilities!"

"As long as the surname is Li, even if I'm bedridden for the rest of my life, my family can afford to support me!"

As for ambition? Li Wenguo never expected all his sons to become successful. He had too many sons, so he only selected a few outstanding ones to nurture; as for the rest, he had long planned to set up a family fund to provide them with monthly allowances to ensure their livelihood.

He never imagined that the principles he casually imparted to his son would become the crowbar that would pry open his own doorstep.

Of course, He Yushui had already prepared a backup plan—she pressed down hard on the corner of the blanket that had slipped off her chest with one hand, and grabbed Li Guotao, who was hurriedly putting on his pants, with the other: "Wait, Guotao, don't panic... This is my fault. I shouldn't have come here drunk yesterday. If this gets out of hand, your dad might suspect that I planned this all along and deliberately dragged you into it."

"this……"

Li Guotao paused, a vein throbbed on his forehead, and his eyes flickered.

Although he was gentle by nature, he wasn't stupid. Once he calmed down, a series of questions immediately popped into his mind:

Was it really such a coincidence that she shed those few tears yesterday? And wasn't it just too easy for her to finish every glass of wine?

"You...had you already planned this out?"

"I don't know what will happen in the future, I only know that my heart is full of you. Now I can't live with you anymore, it feels like there's a stone pressing on my chest, I can't breathe, I just want to talk to you properly, drown my sorrows in alcohol, get drunk, and bury this love completely—who would have thought things would turn out like this."

"But if this really puts you in a difficult position, then let's pretend nothing happened last night and never see each other again."

He Yushui's eyes were slightly red, her tone was earnest, but her fingertips secretly dug into her palm.

She knew Li Guotao's personality all too well: he was hesitant in the face of problems, soft-hearted, and afraid of his family, especially of his father's glare, which made him nod and agree on the spot.

"Don't be afraid. After this happened, I'm determined to marry you."

Li Guotao stood up straight, his voice steady and powerful.

He drank too much yesterday, but he wasn't so confused that he was unconscious. When He Yushui leaned closer, it wasn't that he couldn't dodge, but that he didn't even intend to—this was precisely the confidence he had been building up for a long time, so he could go back and stand up to his father. If he really didn't want to marry her, a push would be enough.

To put it bluntly, the two of them understood each other implicitly, and things naturally progressed from there.

Thankfully, it didn't break down!

He Yushui breathed a sigh of relief and secretly praised Li Guotao's opinion.

When faced with a major event, one's mind remains clear.

"How about I go home with you and meet your dad? I'll explain things to him in person, and I guarantee he'll agree."

Li Guotao clenched his fists, his eyes shining.

"I know a little about Uncle Li's temper; I'm afraid a few sweet words won't be enough to change his mind."

He Yushui gently shook her head.

"Then... then tell me, what should we do?"

Li Guotao's voice tightened. He knew better than anyone that once his father got determined, he was capable of losing money, breaking off the engagement, or even severing ties with his family.

"In seven days, that will be the time when I'm most likely to get pregnant..."

He Yushui lowered her eyes, her ears burning red.

A month later.

Li Wenguo stared intently at Li Guotao, who was kneeling in the middle of the main room, not daring to lift his head.

He slammed his hand on the octagonal table, making the teacups jump. "Well, well! You've really gotten yourself into a relationship. Why don't you just fly to the heavens!"

He poked his son's forehead hard with his finger: "Did a donkey kick your head? Or did you get your brains caught in a door frame? He Yushui clearly set a trap, and you just walked right into it! How did I, Li Wenguo, end up with such an idiot! If I had known this would happen, I should have wrapped him in a diaper and plastered him on the wall after he was born!"

He got angrier and angrier as he spoke, and his shouts made the roof beams tremble.

"Sir, please calm down! Guotao is only in his early twenties, he's practically a teenager! Let him marry her, he's of marriageable age anyway, it's not shameful!"

Xiaoju rushed forward, patting her husband's back with her delicate white hands while leaning her whole body against his shoulder. She seemed to be protecting her son, but in reality, she was drawing her husband's anger onto herself—she understood this man too well.

"You good-for-nothing woman, what do you know!"

"You're in your twenties and you're still considered young? Young enough to get someone pregnant?!"

Li Wenguo started cursing at Xiaoju, but he didn't push her away.

This reaction was exactly what she had expected. She knelt down and knelt at her father-in-law's feet, talking on and on for a whole hour.

His anger had finally subsided somewhat, and Li Wenguo ordered in a deep voice, "Summon He Yushui."

Now that the child is conceived, forcing someone to have an abortion or giving them money to get rid of them is not something we can do right now.

Back then, money wasn't powerful enough to buy off one's conscience.

Besides, He Yushui's move was clearly aimed at the Li family's doorstep.

Li Wenguo then only had one option: to negotiate.

You can only enter if you agree; otherwise, there's no point in talking.

It was the same state-run restaurant, the same private room. The ten dishes were still steaming, and the table was laden with food, but only Li Wenguo and He Yushui were sitting opposite each other.

"What?!"

"You want me to sever all ties with my brother?!"

He Yushui's expression changed drastically, and her lips trembled slightly.

Severing ties with relatives sounds simple, but in practice it's like cutting flesh and bones.

First of all, Sha Zhu raised her single-handedly. If he were to turn against her, how would he be any different from an ingrate who throws away a bone after gnawing on it? The neighbors' spittle could drown him.

Secondly, if she really marries into the Li family, others will only grit their teeth and say: Look, in order to climb the social ladder, she doesn't even want the brother who raised her! She's even more heartless than an ingrate.

She's just a young girl with no connections; her reputation is ruined. How will she survive?

"That's right. Only after you've broken off all ties with Sha Zhu will the doors of the Li family be open for you."

Li Wenguo slowly picked up a piece of glossy, tender braised pork with preserved mustard greens, put it in his mouth, and chewed it carefully.

Once He Yushui breaks up with Shazhu, those people in the courtyard will never again be able to use Shazhu's reputation to beg for mercy, take advantage of him, or seek benefits.

Even if it's Sha Zhu, he absolutely cannot claim to be related to the Li family.

Because He Yushui is no longer Shazhu's biological sister.

She bit her lower lip, her fingertips digging into her palm, her delicate face taut and pale, her eyes churning with a tearing hesitation.

This question was incredibly heavy for her—choosing either side felt like stabbing herself in the heart.