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

Downstairs, He Yushui had just been promoted to the rank of section chief.

Days flow by like water.

Several years have passed in the blink of an eye, and it is now 1972.

The last bell of the school rang, breaking the afternoon silence—

"Graduated!!!"

That's right, Qin Huairu's eldest son, Li Guoxuan, graduated today.

He was born in 1950, so he's eighteen years old at most.

"Guoxuan! Guoxuan!!!"

As soon as he stepped out of the school gate, a girl with a flushed face shoved a letter into his hand, turned around and ran away as if a dog was chasing him.

"Another one."

Li Guoxuan sighed softly and casually stuffed it into his schoolbag.

This is the teenth or so love letter I've received from the girls in my class.

Back then, it was still the early days of **.

Graduation means unemployment; not an only child; not married—if you meet any one of these three conditions, you're out of a job.

Therefore, many students, as soon as they leave school, immediately get married and start living together with someone they like.

With his clean family background, reliable character, decent appearance, and his father being a key employee in the factory, Li Guoxuan naturally became a hot commodity.

If he agrees, some women are willing to marry him that very day.

"Heh, Guoxuan, you're quite popular, aren't you? You must have received a lot of love letters. Which one caught your eye?"

The speaker was Cao Ying, a classmate. She had a pretty face and a sharp, capable look in her eyes.

From the moment school ended, she watched as three or four girls took turns slipping letters into Li Guoxuan's hand.

Li Guoxuan shook his head.

Eighteen years old, barely grown up, who wants to get married?

Besides, his father, Li Wenguo, had already secured him a job at the steel rolling mill, so he didn't need to go to the factory at all. What was there to worry about?

"If you don't get married, won't you have to go on business trips to [illegible]?"

Cao Ying tilted her head and asked.

What's that place like? Sandstorms gnaw at your face, frostbite cracks your hands, and you can spend ten years in a ravine, not knowing where you'll be buried. If you can hide there, who would want to jump in?

Just as Li Guoxuan opened his mouth, a shout rang out—

"Cao Ying!!!"

Li Deying rushed over, panting heavily, sweat beading on her forehead, her eyes burning brightly, but all her light was on Cao Ying, without glancing at Li Guoxuan at all.

Cao Ying rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed.

Li Guoxuan knew in his heart that this person had been pursuing her for a long time.

Cao Ying is handsome and comes from a wealthy family. Li Deying is not the only one who wants to take advantage of her position.

"Graduation! Last day! I'll treat you to a state-run restaurant!" Li De spoke rapidly in English, his fingers unconsciously adjusting his collar.

"No," Cao Ying said decisively. "I'm having dinner with Li Guoxuan—he made the appointment first."

Before she finished speaking, she winked quickly at Li Guoxuan: "Do me a favor, just pretend."

Li Guoxuan shrugged, not contradicting him.

"Li, Cao Ying has already agreed to meet me. Let's reschedule for another day."

Cao Ying immediately smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

She was thoroughly annoyed by Li Deying—even though she had rejected him seven or eight times, he still clung to her, and she couldn't shake him off.

Using Li Guoxuan as a shield is meant to make it clear to everyone that she has someone else in her heart, so don't waste your time.

Li Deying's face darkened instantly, and she glared at Li Guoxuan with a sharp, piercing gaze.

Ugh……

So you've already held a grudge?

It seems like I'm losing out?

Li Guoxuan silently grumbled to himself.

Throughout history, besides being quick-tongued, women have been the quickest source of trouble.

"You just wait."

After saying this, Li Deying turned and left.

"Look, I did a small favor, and now I'm getting all this resentment."

Li Guoxuan spread his hands, looking completely wronged.

"I'm so sorry!" Cao Ying scratched her temple, "But Li Deying is just so persistent! I've made myself perfectly clear, but he just ignores me... What can I do?"

She paused, then smiled and said, "How about I treat you to a state-run restaurant? As an apology."

Li Guoxuan did not refuse: "Okay, but I have to go to the factory and tell my mother first."

"I'll go with you."

Cao Ying answered quickly – the steel rolling mill was just across the street, just around the corner.

……

"Brother Zhihui! Someone tried to steal the girl I've got my eye on right in front of me, you have to get revenge for me!"

Li Deying clenched her fists and rushed into her brother's room, her voice trembling.

"Hey, who's got the nerve to mess with my little brother's girl?"

Duan Zhihui's voice suddenly boomed, and he immediately exploded.

He and Li Deying's cousin grew up in the same government compound. When Li Deying was little, she often came to visit her cousin and would run around with his group of kids. Since they were about the same age, Duan Zhihui gradually began to treat her like his own little brother and protect her.

"It's my classmate, Li Guoxuan."

Li Deying immediately responded.

"Where are they? Where are they?"

"He's on his way to the state-run restaurant. Come on, Zhihui, I'll treat you to a good meal, and I'll point out that guy to you on the way."

A short while later.

Cao Ying and Li Guoxuan chatted enthusiastically all the way, and entered the state-run restaurant amidst laughter and conversation.

Outsiders seeing this scene would probably assume the two are dating.

Actually not.

Cao Ying did have some feelings for Li Guoxuan, but when it came to discussing marriage, she didn't even consider it.

She is the backbone of the grandchildren in the compound, with a solid family background and strong connections.

She had inquired about Li Guoxuan—his mother was a section chief at a steel rolling mill, and his father was a retired worker who had a child late in life.

Workers have to be 60 years old to retire, but Li Guoxuan is only 18. He's old enough to be a grandfather.

In Cao Ying's eyes, such a family was both ordinary and awkward.

The disparity between the two families was too great, and she didn't even want to entertain the idea.

It wasn't that she was snobbish, but her family would never give in, and she didn't want to waste her time and energy on something that was destined to have no outcome.

The two chose a two-person table in the lobby and sat down.

The waiter brought the menu, his face devoid of any smile.

Those who hold onto their secure jobs tend to have high expectations of others; everyone's seen this these days, and nobody finds it strange.

As they were flipping through the menu to order, a young man suddenly walked out of the next private room, headed straight for the restroom, and paused as he passed their table.

"Guoxuan? You're here for dinner too?"

Li Jiacheng immediately recognized this "uncle" who was the same age as him.

Yes, it's Uncle.

He is Li Guofu's eldest son, eighteen years old this year, the same age as Li Guoxuan. To avoid sounding awkward to others, he is only called by his name when they are out; only when they return home, or during festivals, is he addressed as "Uncle" according to custom.

"Jiacheng? You're here too?"

Li Guoxuan responded with a smile.

"Yeah, I've graduated, so I'm getting together with my classmates."

Before he finished speaking, he had already walked to the table.

"Jia Cheng?"

"cousin?"

The two were stunned when they met face to face.

Cao Ying is Cao Baoguo's youngest daughter.

Li Jiacheng is the eldest son of Li Guofu and Cao Baoguo's younger sister.

They are indeed cousins.

Moreover, the two were born only one month apart.

How did you two meet?

Cao Ying blurted out, her face full of surprise.

She knew that Li Jiacheng didn't go to the same school as her, and she was even more aware of how wealthy his family was. She just couldn't understand how he could get in touch with a kid from an ordinary family like Li Guoxuan.

Li Jiacheng glanced at Cao Ying, then at Li Guoxuan, his eyes darting around before he chuckled, "Oh, Guoxuan lives at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, and I live at No. 96. We're neighbors across the hall, how could we not know each other?"

He paused, then added, "Right, Guoxuan?"

He kept it a secret because he was afraid Cao Ying would mistakenly think they were dating. If she knew that he was Li Guoxuan's nephew and she was his cousin, the complicated relationship would probably scare her away.

My intention was simply not to cause trouble; I meant well.

"Oh—so you live across the hall!"

Cao Ying suddenly realized, turned to look at Li Guoxuan, and nodded.

"Ah...yes, yes!"

Li Guoxuan was slightly embarrassed, and only now did he realize that Cao Ying was actually his distant cousin, and according to seniority, he was her elder.

"You guys eat, I'm going back first."

Before leaving, Li Jiacheng winked at Li Guoxuan, and when Cao Ying wasn't looking, he mouthed two words: "Keep it a secret."

As soon as everyone left, Li Guoxuan started talking to Cao Ying about work.

His father, Li Guofu, used his connections to get him a job at the Construction Bureau, a formal government agency with a permanent position. Unlike factory assembly lines, the work was easy, the environment was good, and the benefits were substantial.

This position is all thanks to Qin Huairu's influence.

Coincidentally, Cao Ying was also a new employee at the Construction Bureau, and they would be colleagues from now on.

It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was bustling with people, some just entering and others wiping their mouths as they left their seats.

The two were chatting enthusiastically, completely unaware that Li Deying had led Duan Zhihui and two young men into the restaurant.

Li Deying glanced at Li Guoxuan and Cao Ying from afar, her brows furrowing with a hint of gloom. She then leaned closer to Duan Zhihui and whispered, "Brother, that kid is too conspicuous. Help me deal with him."

"Sanzi, go."

Duan Zhihui nodded to one of the young men.

Sanzi picked up a half-empty glass of baijiu and swayed unsteadily as he passed Li Guoxuan's table. Suddenly, he swayed and fell straight into Li Guoxuan's arms, spilling the baijiu all over Li Guoxuan's shirt, soaking a large area of ​​it.

"How do you walk like that?"

"Are your eyes on the back of your head?"

Li Guoxuan frowned and wiped his collar, his tone slightly displeased, but he wasn't really angry—he just assumed the other person had drunk too much and lost his temper.

But before he could finish speaking, the third son glared at him and said, "You fucking have such a foul mouth?"

"You're the one who tripped me, that's why I fell on top of you! And you're trying to blame me?"

That sober yet fierce appearance immediately made Li Guoxuan realize: this wasn't a drunkard losing control; it was aimed at him.

Cao Ying, sitting opposite her, immediately tensed her jaw and furrowed her brows into a deep frown.

The two sat facing each other, and Li Guoxuan didn't even lift his knees, let alone trip her—it simply didn't make sense. She knew perfectly well: this was deliberately provoking her.

"Comrade, I didn't touch you. You bumped into me yourself. Don't blame me." Li Guoxuan's voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

"Didn't stick out your foot? If I hadn't stuck out my foot, would I have fallen on you?" Sanzi's voice suddenly rose. "What are you pretending to be innocent for? You're really good at toying with people!"

Upon hearing this, all the diners in the room turned their heads in unison.

Duan Zhihui immediately stood up and yelled in their direction, "Who touched my brother?"

He shouted and dragged another young man with long hair as he strode over.

Because of his long, flowing hair, everyone in the courtyard called him "Long Hair".

Li Deying didn't move, her hat pulled low, her back to them, afraid that Cao Ying would recognize her—afraid that it would worsen her impression of her.

In fact, he had no presence in Cao Ying's eyes at all, so it's not a matter of losing points, because he never gained any points.

"Kid, you dare mess with my brother? You're asking for trouble?"

Duan Zhihui raised his chin, his face full of fierce features, clearly there to cause trouble.

"This is a state-run restaurant. Fighting is illegal. If you cause any more trouble, I'll call the police immediately."

The female server behind the counter stepped out, her voice crisp and clear.

She was in her early twenties, wearing faded blue overalls, with bright eyes, showing no fear of these recent graduates.

"Don't worry, we won't do it here."