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

When things are booming, the threshold is worn down by footsteps; when things are deserted, even a shadow is considered an eyesore.

It was exactly 6 p.m.

As usual, Li Guojiang strolled into the gate of Hongxing School, his leather shoes polished to a shine, and a gold-rimmed watch peeking out from his cuffs.

Ever since the news spread that Lu Fangfang—the daughter of the director of the Yu Bureau—bowed and apologized to Cui Jingjing in front of all the teachers, the entire school changed its attitude.

Teacher Zhao had been transferred to a suburban primary school long ago. The principal would avoid Cui Jingjing whenever he saw her, and this year's "Outstanding Teacher" certificate was stuffed directly into her desk drawer.

She walks with a brisk pace, and in the break room, people offer her sugar and water; even the cleaning lady gives her two extra pieces of osmanthus cake.

But she knew very well that all of this was supported by the name Li Guojiang.

What's even clearer is that, compared to the Li family's mountain, he was nothing more than a small pebble basking in the sun at its foot.

If one day it is really carried up to the mountainside, the light will probably blind people.

So, it's time to close the net.

That night, she coaxed Li Guojiang until he was completely weak in the knees before he slowly sat up, twirling his hair with his fingertips, his brow furrowed, and sighing repeatedly.

"Jingjing? Something's not right?" He immediately sat up and put his hand on her shoulder.

After more than a month, he was completely captivated by her eyes—that clingy charm and that intensely sweet feeling made him think about her whether his eyes were open or closed at night.

"Guojiang..." She looked down at her lower abdomen, her voice as soft as a feather falling to the ground, "I'm pregnant."

That's right. She's betting everything on what's happening in her belly.

"You...you're pregnant?"

"hiss--"

"be mine?"

His pupils contracted, and he blurted it out.

"Yes, it was tested yesterday."

She looked up at him, her gaze clear.

But upon noticing his face darken, she immediately softened her tone: "If it's difficult... I... I can get rid of it."

Li Guojiang's face darkened, not because he was pregnant, but because he was afraid that his father, Li Wenguo, would find out and start a fight.

But when he looked up and saw Cui Jingjing's eyes, which always seemed to linger on his heart, the panic in his heart was instantly suppressed, and even his spine straightened a little. He stared at her, his voice as steady as a stake driven into the ground: "No, so what if you're pregnant—I'll marry you."

Cui Jingjing's heart skipped a beat, and she almost burst into tears of joy, but she bit her lower lip and gently shook her head: "But I'm a widow... Would your family agree? I don't want you to fall out with your parents for my sake."

"Don't worry, I'll go back and apologize properly. Once Dad's anger subsides, he'll probably back down. I'll go now, wait for my message."

"Pop!!!"

A sudden heat rose to Li Guojiang's forehead, and he turned and slipped out the door.

He could keep a straight face when he was with Cui Jingjing, but as soon as he stepped into his own courtyard, his legs started to feel weak. His mind was filled with the image of his father grabbing a rattan cane and whipping him, and his ears were ringing.

Fortunately, Li Wenguo was still chatting with a group of women and children in the main room, and the gathering hadn't ended. Li Guojiang lingered in the corridor for a few minutes, and then the door to the main room creaked open, and he came out.

"Father, I have something to discuss with you."

Li Wenguo, who was about to go find Xianglan, suddenly turned and entered Jinhua's room.

……

"You bastard!!!"

"Is this really something you've messed up? Or are you just covering for someone else?"

Li Wenguo raised his eyelids slightly, his voice low but sharp. He had only asked this question because Li Guojiang had unwittingly become the one to take over the mess last time.

"It's definitely mine. Jingjing and I have been dating for over a month."

Li Guojiang hung his head, his fingers clenching the seams of his trousers.

What are people for?

"What's the situation like at home?"

Li Wenguo asked again. He never stopped his son from finding a partner, as long as he didn't end up like Li Guoxiong, getting married without even a word. He would turn a blind eye. "Is your belly big?" "So what if it's big? It would be strange if you didn't truly love someone to get pregnant."

"Whoosh!!"

The most difficult sentence to utter was finally about to come out. Li Guojiang took a deep breath, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

Li Wenguo frowned, knowing that this matter was probably unavoidable.

"Dad, the girl I'm close to is a teacher at Red Star School named Cui Jingjing. She used to be my homeroom teacher."

Li Wenguo nodded without saying a word. He had met Cui Jingjing before; she was pretty, but a bit older than he looked, around twenty-five or twenty-four, which was tolerable.

But as soon as the next sentence was uttered, his face turned completely black.

"Her...her husband was a soldier who sacrificed his life for the country, and now...she's all alone."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Wenguo's face had turned ashen. Li Guojiang lowered his head even further, his shoulders slightly hunched.

Even Jin Hua, who was sitting to the side drinking white fungus and lotus seed soup, froze in mid-air, her spoon still in her hand.

—Did he get involved with a widow?

"You mean, you got together with a widow and got her pregnant?"

Li Wenguo's voice was as cold as well water.

Li Guojiang didn't respond, only burying his chin even deeper. But that silence was more resolute than a nod.

"You idiot, can't you just give me a break?!"

"Last time you got tricked, I cleaned up your mess until midnight; this time, you've gone and jumped right into the fire! Are you trying to drive me crazy?!"

"Smack!!!"

A solid slap landed squarely on the back of his head.

A barrage of insults followed: "I told you long ago to stay away from these wild things, but you wouldn't listen! And now you're even messing around with widows? What's the difference between you and those idle loafers loitering around the street?!"

"Stand up straight!!!"

Li Guojiang was grimacing and rubbing his head when he heard the roar, and he immediately straightened up.

"Smack!!!"

Another blow, even harder than the last.

He gasped in pain, rubbing his temples frantically.

This time, Jinhua didn't stop her. She too harbored a burning anger—a few days ago, Xiuxiu told her that her son, Li Guofang, had married a wealthy young lady from a prestigious family, and she had secretly envied her for days, hoping her own son could also marry into such a family. And what happened? A widow!

She was so angry that her nails dug into her palms, and she wished she could go up and slap her a couple of times.

--a shame!

After cursing enough, Li Wenguo threw down the words, "From now on, you can live however you want, I don't care anymore!"

In Li Wenguo's eyes, Li Guojiang was already grouped with Li Guotao, Li Guofang, and Li Guolei—it wasn't that he didn't want to be raised, but that he wasn't worth the effort to cultivate.

Their requirements weren't that high—unlike Li Guohua, Li Guofu, Li Guotai, Li Guowei, Li Guozhi, Li Guoyu, and Li Guoli, who were very particular. Therefore, Li Wenguo never really cared much about the wives his son chose; they didn't necessarily have to come from a wealthy family.

But a widow? He absolutely refused to acknowledge her. However, Li Guojiang's actions this time, along with his previous disgraceful behavior, had completely chilled Li Wenguo's heart. He made up his mind: from now on, he would not interfere in his son's affairs. If he caused trouble, he would bear it himself; if he stumbled, he would get up on his own; he would never again lend a hand or ask about it. Otherwise, he would eventually fall ill from anger.

Upon hearing this, Li Guojiang felt a sense of relief.

They were secretly pleased.

So you just ignore it? Does that mean you can do whatever you want? Nobody's watching, nobody's stopping you?

It's like a horse that has broken free of its reins, ready to gallop at any moment; or like a bird that has escaped its cage, flapping its wings and soaring high into the sky.

He turned around and ran to Cui Jingjing to deliver the news.

When Cui Jingjing heard him say, "Dad won't take care of me anymore," she didn't show any joy on her face, but her heart skipped a beat.

She suppressed her emotions and remained calm, telling Li Guojiang to go back and urge his family to find a date as soon as possible so that the wedding could be held.

……

"Aren't you quite capable?"

"I said I'd let go, so I'll just let go. Why don't you just check the almanac yourself?"

Li Wenguo reprimanded him with a cold face.

"Then...what about hosting a banquet and inviting guests?"

Li Guojiang's voice was weak as he tentatively asked.

"You're in charge of all the arrangements; I don't have time for it."

Li Wenguo was resolute.

"But I... I really don't know how!"

He scratched the back of his head.

"Don't you? What's it to me?"

"You're my own father!"

His voice trailed off.

"Oh, so now you remember I'm your father? Why didn't you listen to me back then?"

Li Wenguo lifted his eyelids and stared straight at it.

"I...I..."

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

"Alright, from now on, make your own decisions and run your own errands. Don't come hanging around in front of me anymore."

Li Guojiang understood this sentence—"I don't care" meant he would no longer bail him out, do anything for him, or support him.

"Father, I was wrong!"

He immediately lowered his head.

"Oh, where did I go wrong?"

"It's too late."

Li Wenguo didn't give it another glance. This time, he was determined to make his son taste the bitterness of his own downfall.

This was also a way of showing Cui Jingjing her trump card: Don't think that just because you've entered the door you've climbed up to the Li family.

Li Guojiang had already told his father everything about his relationship with Cui Jingjing. Li Wenguo saw through this charade immediately.

In truth, Li Guojiang himself knew that he was being led by the nose. He was just too deeply involved, willing to play the fool, just like Sha Zhu.

"Mother! You have to help me!"

Seeing that all hope was lost with his father, he turned and rushed toward his mother.

"How dare I, a mere woman, make decisions for you?"

"Besides, I don't understand these things!"

Jin Hua dared not anger Li Wenguo, and her words were full of reluctance to back down.

But since they were still her own flesh and blood, she still suggested, "Go find your brother Guoyu and ask him to help you arrange things."

The reason for seeking out Li Guoyu is that he is the superior of the superior of the superior of Li Guojiang, the deputy director of the Second Garment Factory.

"Okay, okay!"

Li Guojiang had just stepped out the door when he turned back and asked in a low voice, "Mother, what about the house and the bride price...?"

This is what he truly cares about.

"I'll go talk to your father."

He then hurriedly went to Mao'er Hutong to find Li Guoyu.

"Brother! Sister-in-law!!!"

Li Guoyu lived in a courtyard in Mao'er Hutong, not far from the courtyard where the Kong family lived, which is why he chose to settle down there.

Living in the same alley were several older brothers, sisters, and brothers-in-law.

In the future, this place will also become a government compound, just like No. 96 Nanluoguxiang.

"Guojiang, have you eaten yet?"

"Sister-in-law, would you like me to heat up a couple more dishes for you?"

Kong Liuting, heavily pregnant, asked.

In the past nine years, she has given birth to three children, and this is her fourth.

"No, no, sister-in-law, I just ate!"

Li Guojiang quickly waved his hand.

"Here'll pour you a glass of wine, along with some peanuts and melon seeds."

Kong Liuting brought over a small dish of peanuts, a small dish of melon seeds, and a bottle of wine, then turned to look after the children, leaving only the two brothers in the room.

"Guojiang, what do you want?"

Li Guoyu got straight to the point.

Li Guojiang then recounted in detail how his father had abandoned his responsibilities and how he was eager to marry Cui Jingjing.

After listening, Li Guoyu did not respond immediately, but pondered quietly.

What she was pondering wasn't how to plan the wedding, but rather what her father, Li Wenguo, really meant by those words—

Is it that they really don't want to deal with it anymore? Or are they hiding other school admissions plans?