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

If we use the tactic of delaying, it will be too late, and the matter may simply be dropped; but right now, we absolutely cannot upset this man.

"Your sister? I'm afraid you can't persuade her."

Chang Daman waved his hand, his tone resolute.

Cui Mingming's heart tightened, and she opened her mouth to reply, but Chang Daman continued, "However, let's try a different approach; maybe it will work."

"Which way?" He immediately perked up his ears.

"Didn't you say your sister married a good-for-nothing husband? Then start with him—make him file for divorce. Once they're divorced, your sister will be free, right?"

Chang Daman smiled, picked up his teacup, blew on it, and said, "Doesn't that make perfect sense? She can come and marry me now?"

He understood things far better than Cui Mingming: a greenhorn who had only been in the city for a few years from the countryside, what did he know about subtle maneuvering? But he was different—he was attracted to Cui Jingjing not only because she was young (nearly ten years younger than him), nor only because her appearance was flawless, but also because she was a powerful section chief in the Education Bureau, and like him, a single woman who had lost her husband. A wife like that was hard to find even with a lantern.

"Yes! Yes! Let that good-for-nothing brother-in-law admit to getting a divorce himself. My sister can't keep using 'being married' as a shield, can she?"

Cui Mingming's eyes lit up, and she slapped her thigh in approval.

"Then tell me," Chang Daman asked slowly, "what makes him willing to divorce me?"

Cui Mingming was speechless for a moment, then let out two dry laughs.

"That's right—the older sister is a section-level cadre, with a high salary, real power, and good looks; and Li Guojiang? Just an ordinary factory worker sweeping the edges, getting involved with Cui Jingjing is practically a stroke of incredible luck. And now you expect him to give up voluntarily? Isn't that just wishful thinking?"

Chang Daman scoffed inwardly: If it weren't for Cui Jingjing, he wouldn't even bother looking at Cui Mingming.

The city dweller's disdain for country folk is ingrained in their bones. But now, if he wants to marry someone's sister, he has to reluctantly give him a hand.

"Here's the thing: there's a widow living at number 120 in Rouge Lane, her surname is Xiang, and people call her Xiangxiang. Give her the name 'Old Chang,' pay her money, and knock on her door. Then invite your good-for-nothing brother-in-law over for drinks—once they're in bed together, immediately tell your sister to catch them in the act. This marriage will have to end whether they like it or not."

"Your sister will lose face and definitely dump him."

Cui Mingming became more and more excited as she listened, nodding vigorously: "Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"

"Section Chief Chang, you're truly brilliant!"

"Haha, this time my sister is definitely getting a divorce!"

Chang Daman laughed along, but his lips curled slightly – country folk are country folk, city people were tired of this trick ten years ago.

The real skill they possess is using connections and back channels.

Could he possibly deal with Li Guojiang? It's not even worth his effort.

Two days later, Cui Mingming arranged to meet Li Guojiang, and they went straight to the small courtyard at No. 120 Yanzhi Lane.

Before setting off, he had already reached an agreement with Xiangxiang: the person introduced by the section chief would cost double and would speak frankly.

Xiangxiang was fair-skinned and plump, with striking eyebrows and eyes. She exuded an air of worldliness that made anyone who saw her wonder: Is this the proper woman from a respectable family?

When Li Guojiang entered the room, he glanced at her and frowned slightly. He assumed she was his brother-in-law's newly recognized god-relative or distant cousin and didn't say anything.

After a few rounds of drinks, Xiangxiang sat next to him, leaning on his shoulder, and toasted him one cup after another. Only then did Li Guojiang realize that she was the hostess Cui Mingming had invited for him!

But he didn't think anything of it; instead, he assumed his brother-in-law needed something from him, which was why he was being so obsequious.

So they let loose, drinking and laughing together, taking the opportunity to touch hands and rub waists, trying to get a little advantage.

His father, Li Wenguo, said "I don't care anymore" back then, and he never showed up again.

For the past four years, Li Guojiang has lived a carefree life, with no one to control him or take him seriously. He does whatever he wants, becoming increasingly wild and unrestrained.

Of course, this was said outside—at home, Cui Jingjing was extremely strict, like an iron barrel. So whenever there was a loophole, Li Guojiang would immediately rush to take advantage of it.

Seeing her good-for-nothing brother-in-law flirting and exchanging glances with the widow Xiangxiang, Cui Mingming remained outwardly calm, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief: Go ahead and play around, play hard, wait until things go wrong, then you'll have your day!

After the meal, Cui Mingming pretended to invite Li Guojiang to stay overnight, but Li Guojiang waved his hand and declined without hesitation.

Although Xiangxiang was pretty and had a supple waist, she paled in comparison to Cui Jingjing. Not to mention, Cui Jingjing's official position was rising higher and higher, her power so intimidating he didn't dare even breathe loudly. Hugging and joking were fine, but to actually do something serious? He didn't even dare entertain the thought.

If you really want to get things done, why don't you just go home?

No matter how fragrant the wildflowers by the roadside are, they can't compare to a blooming peony in your home—is there even a need to compare?

Watching Li Guojiang's retreating figure as if his pants were on fire, Cui Mingming's face darkened, and she cursed inwardly: This good-for-nothing, all brains and no guts!

"Heh, your brother-in-law either has strong willpower, or your sister is just much stronger than me, so she's too lazy to stay here any longer."

Xiangxiang leaned against the door frame, laughing lightly and playfully.

Upon hearing this, Cui Mingming's mind finally clicked—that's right, in every way is her sister better than her? Going home to find her sister would be a hundred times better than staying cooped up here.

"You're right, my sister is indeed much prettier than you, that's why he's in such a hurry to get home."

"But you...didn't accomplish anything at all, so how do you account for that?"

"I paid you on the spot, you can't just take the money and not do any work!"

Cui Mingming was so anxious that she kept stamping her feet.

idiot!

Xiangxiang rolled her eyes inwardly, but put on an even bigger smile: "Don't worry, next time I'll get him something to 'enliven' things, he won't be out of line."

Cui Mingming then grinned.

But when his gaze swept over Xiangxiang's alluring expression, he couldn't help but feel a tickle in his heart.

"What, you want to try it too?"

"For Lao Chang's sake—if the money's right, I might go with you."

She glanced at him sideways, her voice soft and cloying.

Cui Mingming deflated like a punctured balloon, and muttered, "Fine, I'll go first. I'll come back on my next day off."

Fifty yuan a time? He can't afford it.

Fifty yuan is enough to marry a decent wife, how could he dare to be so extravagant? Besides, he can't even scrape together thirty yuan right now.

Despite Xiangxiang's flamboyant appearance and explicit speech, she wasn't actually in that line of work. Her real livelihood was what later generations called "honey trap."

They only take on risky jobs, charging such high prices per job, all for the sake of "stability" and "ruthlessness".

The clients were all section chiefs and division chiefs, and she was responsible for setting traps, framing people, and gathering evidence against them—all the dirty and tiring work was done by her face.

Want to sleep with her? Not so easy.

Fifty dollars, who wouldn't be picky?

When Li Guojiang pushed open the door, he ran into Cui Jingjing, who had just finished showering. Her wet hair hung down her shoulders, and a warm fragrance wafted towards him. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he quickened his pace.

Cui Jingjing was twenty-eight years old, a time of voluptuous beauty, which was like a red-hot pair of tongs to a man in the prime of his life.

Moreover, he was also harboring a burning desire to vent, which made him even more restless.

"Let Jialiang go next door to play with his brother for a while."

Jialiang is his eldest son, who is four years old. His youngest daughter is only two years old, has just learned to walk, and has already gone to bed.

The child was sitting on a small stool, learning to draw with his mother, and drawing a crooked sun on the paper with crayons.

"What's the rush? Let's talk about it after our son falls asleep."

Cui Jingjing glanced up and immediately understood what he was trying to do with that monkey-like expression, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.

"Then...then hurry up, it's urgent!"

Li Guojiang could only offer a dry, perfunctory urging.

"Go take a shower first."

"Oh, why take a bath? A splash of water will cool all my anger down!"

Actually, now is the perfect time to wash it off—it will wash away the smell of alcohol mixed with the sweet, cloying scent on Xiangxiang's body.

But he didn't wash it.

Once the two lay down, Cui Jingjing twitched her nose and smelled the lingering scent of alcohol on his collar, along with a faint, unfamiliar fragrance of perfume.

Fortunately, she didn't find any other clues, and just kept it to herself without making a fuss.

Afterwards, before throwing his coat into the washing machine outside the hall, she ran her fingertips over the fabric and, sure enough, found two long, thin, black hairs tucked into the cuff buttons.

"That damn Guojiang, he's probably out drinking and carousing again!"

She gritted her teeth and spat under her breath.

No wonder he looked so eager when he came in.

"Who exactly are they on?"

After stuffing the clothes into the washing machine, she went back to her room to wait. When Li Guojiang came out drying his hair, she casually asked, "Who did you drink with today?"

Caught off guard, Li Guojiang tossed his hair as he answered, "With your brother."

"Oh, right, he invited me for drinks, he must have had something he wanted to say but couldn't—I was so focused on getting there that I completely forgot to ask."

Cui Jingjing's smile vanished abruptly, like a candle flame extinguished by the wind.

Having endured four years in the official factory, she had long since become shrewd and perceptive. In a flash, she realized that this younger brother was probably after her and Li Guojiang. What did he want? Did she even need to guess? He simply wanted to break them up.

But she didn't rush to tell her husband, nor did she intend to confront her brother immediately. Instead, she kept it to herself and waited to see how things would develop.

She wanted to see if she could get some real benefits out of this situation.

Ultimately, this plan stems from a lack of confidence.

Indeed, in the four years since she married into the Li family, her father-in-law, Li Wenguo, had never given her a second glance, let alone inquired about her well-being. Every time they met, his eyes were full of impatience, and even her uncles and sisters-in-law gradually distanced themselves from her, their words revealing a hint of disdain.

Over the years, she has lived as if walking on thin ice, being careful in everything she does and trying to avoid any mistakes—for fear that one day a careless mistake would become Li Wenguo's excuse to kick her out.

Therefore, she had to plan for herself.

If Li Guojiang really did something to wrong her, and felt guilty and indebted to her because of it... then her position in the Li family would be even more secure.

It's all a scheme!

In Qingyan County.

"Guoqing, did I serve you well just now?"

Huang Xirou leaned against him, her eyes slightly shimmering, her voice as soft as honey.

After being exiled to Qingyan County by Li Guofu, she never gave up hope. She always thought about climbing up to someone influential so that she could use their help to turn her life around and eventually return to the capital.