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

She came from a high-ranking official's family, and growing up wasn't about fairy tales, but about real people and events. In officialdom, people aren't framed with knives, but with women; they're ruined not by evidence, but by "looking like it." Before the investigation is complete, not a single mistake can be made.

She folded the shirt neatly, put it back in its place, and turned to go to the kitchen to boil water. Her movements were so steady that she didn't even knock the kettle lid over.

Of course, the possibility that her husband might have ulterior motives couldn't be completely ruled out. Zeng Minzhi thought to herself: for now, she would remain calm and keep a close watch on things while waiting for the baby to be born in two months—at this crucial juncture, she couldn't afford any mistakes. If she became emotionally unstable, the pregnancy would be precarious, and both mother and child would be in jeopardy.

Pregnant women are most susceptible to mental and emotional disturbances.

Another half month passed.

The small courtyard where Tian Tian lived was surrounded by a solid blue brick wall, and several oleanders in the corner were blooming with pale pink flowers.

Li Guoxin lay on his back on the bed, completely naked without a blanket, a half-extinguished cigarette dangling from his hand, its ash piled up but not flicked off.

"Guoxin, is your wife about to give birth?" Tian Tian turned to her side, propped her elbow on the pillow, and twirled a strand of hair around her fingertips.

"Hmm, another month and a half." He didn't even lift his eyelids, the smoke slowly drifting upwards.

"Oh... how has she been lately? Has she been eating well and sleeping soundly? You know, the worst thing about this time of year is when people are feeling down, anxious, or angry."

Her voice was light and airy, like a thin thread gently draped over my ear.

"It's pretty much the same as before, quite stable." He paused, then suddenly turned his head. "You ask very detailed questions."

The vigilance honed in officialdom surfaced like an instinct—but something about those words just didn't quite ring true.

"Oh my, isn't this your fourth time becoming a father?" She chuckled, lightly scratching her earlobe with her nail. "I just had a daughter at the beginning of the year, and your Minzhi is carrying another one. That makes four little lives in total."

Her two children were never registered in the household registration book; Zeng Minzhi was pregnant with her second child.

"You never even ask which way my brother's door faces, but today you're suddenly worrying about her feelings?"

Li Guoxin curled his lip, not bothering to hide his disdain.

The two had been entangled for over eight years and knew each other inside and out. In his eyes, Tian Tian was a shrewd schemer—soft on the outside, hard on the inside, and always cunning. If it weren't for the safety of her and their two children holding him back, he would have sent her to Hong Kong long ago.

That's right, the mere mention of "sending them away" would inevitably lead to an argument. In the end, she would kneel at the courtyard gate, clutching her child, tears and snot streaming down her face, repeating over and over, "If you dare lay a finger on me, I'll jump into the well with them!"

He believed. He truly believed. Even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance, he wouldn't dare gamble.

So, he came twice a month for twelve months of the year.

They originally agreed to meet once a month, but then she cried, gave birth to two children, and cried again, thus doubling the frequency.

So—would she genuinely miss Zeng Minzhi?

They probably wish that person would have a premature birth, die prematurely, or leave prematurely, so that a position can be made available.

"Hmph, someone was just asking out of kindness, and you turn around and blame them."

Tian Tian immediately changed her tone, her voice softened, and the last syllable was drawn out in a sweet and soft tone, like a freshly steamed glutinous rice ball.

She had practiced this move for many years and knew it so well that she could do it with her eyes closed.

"It's getting late, I'll wash my face and leave."

Li Guoxin threw off the covers, got up, and slipped on his slippers to go into the adjacent washroom.

As soon as the door closed, Tian Tian immediately lifted the pillow—underneath lay a small section of long, shiny black hair, already wrapped in paper. She tiptoed closer and, before his shirt was fully buttoned, quietly slipped it into his left breast pocket, deliberately rubbing her fingertips against the fabric.

"All this time, you really didn't notice anything?"

She smiled at the mottled mirror on the wall, her red lips curving into a cold arc.

Then he let out a low sneer: "Let's see how long you can hold out."

Stuffing a hair into his pocket was a move she had planned long ago. She deliberately chose to do it during Zeng Minzhi's second trimester, when the fetus was most vulnerable—waiting for the hair to be discovered, waiting for her to become suspicious, toss and turn, counting her heartbeats at night, waiting for her to lose control and confront him, smash bowls and cups, even resorting to physical violence…

If the baby slips, she falls, and the marriage ends—she's won.

The methods may be simple, but the timing can be crucial.

What she wanted was never a clean reputation, but the title of wife of a county party committee member, which would give her two children the confidence to walk with their heads held high in the future.

As for being found out by Li Guoxin? She had already planned it out—at most, she'd get a scolding, a couple of slaps, and a couple of days in solitary confinement. But as long as Zeng Minzhi got into trouble, it would be worth it.

After washing up, Li Guoxin changed his clothes and even stood in front of the mirror to straighten his collar and dust off his shoulders, as if afraid of leaving any marks.

But he didn't look down at his chest—the silent "token" lay quietly under the fabric, like a nail embedded in his flesh.

When he returned home, Zeng Minzhi was indeed in front of the dressing mirror, holding a strand of black hair and slowly twirling the end with her fingertips.

These days, she understands things better than anyone else: every time he comes back from going out, there are always one or two unfamiliar hairs on the pillow, inside his clothes, or even on the rim of his teacup—clearly meant for her to see.

It's not a test, it's a provocation; it's not negligence, it's a trap.

Others only see her as gentle and polite, but beneath that gentleness lies a sharp, clear-headedness. The more someone tries to provoke her into losing her composure, the more she must remain calm, sit firmly, and protect her belly.

All the rights and wrongs can be settled slowly, one by one, after the child is safely delivered and she has recovered.

As for who was pulling the bow and arrow behind the scenes, she already had a general idea in her mind, but she wasn't in a hurry to reveal it.

Compared to the underhanded tactics and calculated maneuvers employed by his older brother Li Guoxin in his backyard, things were much easier for his younger brother Li Guoqing.

Huang Xirou never considered the idea of ​​becoming his official wife. She knew her place—she was a mistress, and only intended to be a dutiful one. Aside from serving Li Guoqing well, she never paid him any attention to his career, nor did she interfere in his family affairs. When the danger period arrived, she changed her approach to intimacy, never vying for anything, never causing trouble, and never pestering him.

She was someone who had been influenced by the power of those above her, and she knew what it meant to "bite off more than you can chew." She dared not have any wild thoughts, for fear of bringing trouble upon herself.

Therefore, Li Guoqing was extremely accurate in his selection of women: he didn't choose innocent, naive girls, but rather those with experience. This made things much easier—first-hand women often harbor resentment, while second-hand women are quick-witted, know their limits, and value their lives.

Now that his sister-in-law is two months pregnant, he still comes to Huang Xirou's place twice a month as usual.

The two were lying naked, with Li Guoqing smoking a cigarette, the smoke spreading out in circles, just like his father Li Wenguo back then.

"Guoqing," Huang Xirou leaned against the headboard, holding a small round mirror in her hand as she applied lipstick, "are you staying in the county, or... being transferred?"

"Adjust."

He exhaled a puff of smoke. "Now I'm the director of the county government office. After this term, I'll go back to Beijing."

Having served as a section chief for two years, he had already established himself. The capital city was the ladder to climb higher; only by climbing higher could he gain experience. He only needed to come to the county to "gild his resume" if he wanted to be appointed mayor. But for him now, positions below county magistrate were merely transitional.

Upon hearing this, Huang Xirou paused, the mirror hovering near her lips.

The next second, she leaned closer, resting her chin gently on his shoulder, her voice soft and sweet: "Then... could you help me too? Transfer me back to the capital?"

She didn't want to be trapped in this small county town for the rest of her life. Her connection with Li Guoqing was simply a way out.

"Back to Beijing?" He turned his head, his cigarette butt glowing slightly. "What are you going back for?"

"Isn't it better to stay in the county? You're a proper bureau chief here now, what's the point of going back to Beijing?"

Huang Xirou was promoted to this position at the beginning of the year; she is a full-fledged section-level cadre.

"Haven't you heard the old saying? Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix."

"It's so much more comfortable in the county—you can speak up and get things done. Unlike in the capital, where you have to be careful about what you say even when you're making tea or pouring water."

Li Guoqing wasn't happy that she was being transferred there too. They'd maintained that kind of relationship for years, but there were too many familiar faces in Beijing; a chance encounter in a teahouse or a bump into each other in an elevator could easily give them away. He'd already planned it out: once he was transferred back, he'd quietly end things.

Over the years, he gave her everything he was supposed to. Positions, career advancement, resources... Just the journey from deputy section chief to section chief, and then to bureau chief through exceptional promotion, would have taken most people twenty years to achieve. He wasn't the type to just walk away, and he certainly didn't intend to take advantage of her for nothing.

"Guoqing, I don't like staying in the county." Her voice softened, but there was still a strong force in it. "If you help me, just get me back to the capital, and I promise you—whenever you want to see me, I'll be there; whatever you call me, I'll respond. Even if we get married in the future, you'll still be the most important person in my heart."

In order to return to Beijing, she put aside all considerations of face, rules, and propriety.

She paused, then added softly, "Actually... I don't have to get married. I can stay with you for the rest of my life and be your woman."

These words are like a red-hot charcoal thrown into still water.

Her mother passed away long ago, and her father remarried, only calling once during the Lunar New Year. She is truly all alone now, clinging to life with only one breath – not out of resentment, but out of a sense of pride.

She insisted on returning to the place where she was born and raised, so that those who used to look down on her would look up to her.

Why do you do this?

Li Guoqing stared at her, his brows furrowed into a deep line.

She smiled, her eyes shining brightly: "If you're willing to agree, I'll change the locks right now, and keep only one key for you; I'll raise the threshold, just so you can step in alone."

When the topic of "a lover for life" came up, she suddenly felt relieved: That's right, why get married? And having children doesn't necessarily have to be tied to marriage.

If you want a son or daughter in the future, just talk to him. Raising children to adulthood means having someone to serve them tea and medicine, someone to carry their coffin—does one have to tie a red paper insignia to be considered a parent?

Those who can break free from old constraints are never the smartest, but rather the ones who dare to tear themselves apart and are least afraid of pain.

Later, he kept trying to persuade her, and so did she. She talked about the advantages of living in the capital, listing them one by one in a very practical way: they lived close by, could visit each other frequently, and he wouldn't have to wait until the next day to knock on the door at night; she would watch over him when he was busy and keep him company when he was free, even adjusting his breathing rhythm for him.

She said with a half-smile, "How can a body that has given birth compare to mine, which has never been touched by the world? It's just the right firmness and softness, and you can control it as you please." She then leaned closer and said, "If you like, you can call me 'Little Slave' or 'Ah Yuan' in private... You decide the role, and I'll play it."