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

Two years ago, Li Guobiao had rejected several blind dates arranged by him, which made him feel that the boy was sensible; besides, the Duan family background was also acceptable.

So the two chose an auspicious day and set their wedding date.

Inside the police station canteen.

Lunch break.

Duan Yunyun was eating with her head down.

Li Guozhi sat down opposite her with his tray.

"Captain Li!"

She stood up and greeted them.

"It's time to get off work. Don't be so serious. Just call me brother—our two families are relatives."

He spoke with a smile.

The term "relative" did not originate from her engagement to Li Guobiao, but rather from the fact that his sister married Duan Tianming.

Duan Yunyun's father is Duan Tianming's cousin.

The two families are indeed connected by blood.

"Okay, Guozhi, is there something you need?"

"Yunmei, it's like this—I have a younger brother who works at the procuratorate and is still single. I wanted to ask if you have any thoughts on this?"

Li Guozhi was indeed there to act as a go-between.

Li Wenguo had already given instructions: if you meet a girl with a clean family background and decent looks, you should keep an eye out for her for your younger brothers.

Only then did he speak.

Duan Yunyun was taken aback for a moment, then smiled apologetically: "Brother Guozhi, I'm sorry, I recently started dating someone and we're engaged. We'll have the wedding when the time comes."

"Oh, is that so?"

Li Guozhi nodded, a hint of regret in his voice.

Duan Yunyun was outstanding in appearance and a member of the Duan family—although not the Duan family from the compound, they were related by blood and had a respectable family background.

"So...which family are you engaged to?"

Since there's no chance, and we're still family, I just asked casually, treating it as a casual chat at the dinner table.

"What a coincidence, the other person's surname is also Li, and their name is only one character different from yours—their family is of average means, but they are quite outstanding. They are currently the head of the publicity department at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, at the level of a full section chief."

Duan Yunyun introduced with a smile.

Their names differ by only one character?

Could it be my younger brother?

Li Guozhi's heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out:

"Yunmei, what's the name of this person who's engaged?"

"Li Guobiao is the head of the propaganda department at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill."

Duan Yunyun answered decisively.

Li Guobiao!!!

Ha...it really is one of our own brothers!

The family gatherings are held once a month, and the two of them may not attend every time, but over the past ten years, they have bumped into each other a few times and have long recognized each other.

"Oh, I see. Speaking of which, Guo Biao and I are actually related by blood."

Li Guozhi nodded, his tone flat.

relative?

Duan Yunyun was startled.

She knew perfectly well how wealthy Li Guozhi's family was—they were even deeper than the main branch of the Duan family, not even in the same league. How could they possibly be related to an ordinary family?

She immediately pressed further, "Are Guo Biao and Guo Zhi cousins?"

As soon as she said it, she realized that the two of them shared the character "Guo" in their names, so they were obviously of the same generation; nowadays, old-fashioned families still strictly adhere to the rules of generational naming.

"Go ask Guo Biao yourself."

Li Guozhi didn't respond. He knew that Li Guobiao hadn't revealed his true financial situation yet, still using the same vague rhetoric his father had used years ago. As for whether his younger brother was willing to break the ice, he didn't want to make that decision for him.

Duan Yunyun pursed her lips, her brows furrowed, and remained silent for a long time, as if a stone was weighing on her chest.

She wondered: Why did Guo Biao conceal his background?

Is it that they don't want to benefit from others' success and insist on earning their own future through their own abilities?

But then I remembered his triumphant, slightly smug look—

If he really relied on his family, he would have secured this section chief position long ago, so why would he need to show his joy?

Her fingertips unconsciously dug into her palm:

Should we pretend we know nothing?

The main entrance of the Education Bureau.

"Section Chief Cui, are you waiting for your partner to pick you up again?"

Several female colleagues, pushing their bicycles, bumped into Cui Jingjing, who was heavily pregnant, at the door and greeted her casually.

Through her scheming and her connection with Wen Keyi, Cui Jingjing was promoted to section chief in just six months; with a little more effort next year, she is expected to become a deputy section chief.

As for Zhao Ziying, she had already set a trap and transferred her to the steel rolling mill, completely separating her from the Education Bureau and giving her exclusive control over all of Wen Keyi's resources.

Of course, if Zhao Ziying wanted to advance her career, Li Guotai could have given her a hand—but she never even considered it.

Home is her top priority. She only wants to keep Li Guoxiong safe and sound, so that he can focus on his work without any worries.

"Yeah, I'm waiting for my man."

Cui Jingjing responded.

Before she could finish speaking, Li Guojiang had already ridden his old bicycle around the street corner and stopped steadily in front of her.

"We'll be going now!"

Several female colleagues rode away.

As they passed Li Guojiang, several pairs of eyes glanced at him sideways, their undisguised contempt flashing across his face.

Cui Jingjing took in that look.

This also reminds me of the gossip I overheard outside the women's restroom stall a couple of days ago—

"You know, Section Chief Cui is so beautiful and has such a powerful background, how come she married an ordinary factory worker?"

"That's right, a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung."

"I really feel sorry for her."

"I don't think so. Didn't you see that young man was tall and handsome with regular features? Maybe he just likes that youthful energy."

"Hmph, what's the use of being young? If I had her looks, I would have already hooked up with the kids in the compound."

"Me too! Which kid from a high-ranking family isn't better than that young man?"

……

Cui Jingjing's temple veins throbbed slightly.

When she looked up at Li Guojiang again, her gaze was cold and harsh.

With Wen Keyi as her paving stone, she could have risen to a high position and become the one truly in power within a few years.

But this man in front of me might still be stuck in the clerk's cubicle a few years from now, making no progress.

Once the disparity in status becomes too great, with one standing on a high platform issuing orders and the other bowing and scraping to obey—where is the equality between husband and wife?

In Cui Jingjing's increasingly arrogant view, this was by no means an exaggeration.

It's clearly a stark, indelible rift between academic high-achievers and academic underachievers, the wealthy and the poor, the customer and the waiter serving tea and water.

At this very moment—

"Beep beep!!!"

A black sedan drove off, skidding along the side of the road.

"Guojiang, you've come to pick up your wife?"

The car window slowly rolled down. Wen Keyi first greeted Li Guojiang with a smile, then turned her head, slightly nodded her chin, and nodded to Cui Jingjing.

In her eyes, Li Guojiang was a true member of the Li family; Cui Jingjing, on the other hand, was someone who married into the family, so her status was naturally lower. This order of precedence wasn't just politeness; it was a matter of propriety and also a matter of closeness.

Cui Jingjing, quick-witted as a mirror, immediately took Li Guojiang's arm, her fingers moving precisely to his side. Leaning slightly forward, she smiled softly and brightly: "Hello, Aunt Wen!"

Wen Keyi looked at them, a warm feeling rising in her eyes: "Good, good... I hope you can always be this harmonious and happy."

As soon as he finished speaking, the car window rolled up silently, and the car glided steadily out of the alley.

The speaker took it as a common blessing, but the listener felt as if they had been gently pricked by a needle.

Cui Jingjing suddenly realized that her ability to gain a foothold, ask for resources, and be respected was all dependent on Li Guojiang. Without him, she would still be the middle school teacher whom the principal had leverage over and who was berated by parents at the school gate.

The fleeting thought that had just begun—to stand on his shoulders and catch one's breath—was instantly dampened.

"Jingjing, the scrap metal recycling station below the steel rolling mill just opened up a permanent position. Haven't you always been saying you wanted to bring your brother from the suburbs to Beijing? I've asked Guotai to reserve this position for your brother."

Li Guojiang pedaled his old-fashioned bicycle, the wind whistling past his ears, his voice flat and without any preamble.

Cui Jingjing's family is indeed from a rural area on the outskirts of Beijing. She has a younger brother, and her parents had long ago instilled in her the idea that if she becomes successful, she should help her brother out.

But as soon as she said those words, her heart burned—he was the one who gave her her future, and he was the one who offered her brother's way out. Where did she get the confidence to secretly weigh his worth in her heart?

"Thank you, Guojiang!" she replied crisply, her words carrying weight.

Fortunately, she woke up in time. Among the younger generation of the Li family, some were already frowning and shaking their heads behind her back, resenting her for being too calculating towards Li Guojiang. And this dissatisfaction was emanating from Li Wenguo.

If she really turned cold and spoke indifferently, she probably wouldn't even have stepped out the door before being spitted at.

"Hey, what are you thanking me for? You're being too formal." Li Guojiang's lips curled up, a hint of childish smugness in his expression.

Cui Jingjing felt a sense of relief, and just as a sweet feeling welled up inside her, she saw him suddenly lean closer and lower his voice: "Really want to thank me? Tonight... can you rub that for me again?"

Her ears burned instantly. She lowered her eyes and only gave a soft "hmm," barely uttering the last syllable.

On the other end.

Li Guofang stepped into the courtyard carrying a brown paper package.

"Here, your dad sent it."

He casually handed the bag to Xu Yaling and took the swaddled baby himself—his daughter was only two months old, her little hands clenched into pink balls, looking at him with wet eyes.

My eldest son, who is a little over a year old, was curled up in the corner of the kang (a heated brick bed) sleeping, his little belly rising and falling.

Xu Yaling tore open the package. Inside was a stack of Hong Kong dollars, a full ten thousand; and a letter, the edges of which were worn and frayed.

He tossed the money onto the table, but immediately opened the letter.

Ever since the Xu family moved to Hong Kong, they have made the same commitment every year without fail: ten thousand Hong Kong dollars plus a letter.

The money isn't much, but I'm worried about the rumors; if I really let go, it would have multiplied several times over long ago.

The letter was filled with phrases he knew by heart—it essentially said that with the Li family's support in Hong Kong, his business was thriving, his life was comfortable, and he maintained a respectable public image; it also subtly instructed Xu Yaling to respect Li Guofang and treat him well. He added at the end: the Li family was now a powerful force in Hong Kong, practically the most influential. The meaning was clear, though not explicitly stated: cling to this powerful family, don't let go for a moment.

After scanning the last line, Xu Yaling glanced at her husband, who was rubbing his beard against her daughter's cheek, and then held the letter up to the oil lamp, the flame "whooshing" away the writing.

She would never let him see it.

After more than three years of marriage, she had Li Guofang completely under her control.

If he really sees through the condescending condescension in the letter, who knows if he might actually dare to speak up one day?

"Is there any possibility of further advancement in defense next year?" she asked.

"No chance. I was just promoted to section chief this year, and my brother-in-law said I have to wait at least three years." He answered quickly.

"Your brother-in-law is the factory manager now, right? What if he gets transferred or promoted—wouldn't that leave a vacancy for you?" She crossed her arms over her chest, her tone light but her voice heavy.

"Don't worry about it." He waved his hand. "My sister will be promoted to deputy factory director next year. Even if my brother-in-law leaves, she still has connections above her."

Xu Yaling was taken aback: "Your sister... is also a leader in the factory?"

"Yes." He nodded. "He was originally a section chief. With the help of his brother-in-law and his father-in-law—the Party Secretary Dang Wei in the factory—he has been promoting him. He's definitely going to be the deputy factory director next year."

What the hell?!

Besides this brother-in-law, the factory has so many other relatives connected to it.

Is even Party Secretary Dang Wei one of our own?

Xu Yaling was stunned on the spot, feeling as if something had hit her chest.

The sentence from the letter suddenly popped into my mind: "Pay more attention to Li Guofang."