Courtyard House: My Time Travel is a Bit Too Strong

"My father-in-law and mother-in-law celebrate the festival on the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month," Lin Quan said.

"And what if you come back?" Ma Tao added.

"We'll set off after the Lunar New Year," Lin Quan replied after a pause.

"It's almost 11:30. Let's go have a drink." Ma Tao slammed his hand on the table.

"Okay." Lin Quan nodded in agreement. With his current constitution, the alcohol would dissipate without a trace in the blink of an eye.

After eating and drinking your fill and resting for half an hour, you'll feel refreshed again.

I grabbed a bottle of Wuliangye liquor and headed straight to a nearby restaurant, where I ordered a few hearty dishes.

While eating and chatting, the year-end bonus was settled.

"You can decide," Lin Quan said with a smile and a wave of his hand.

"Then let's make it 50,000 each." Li Xiong raised his glass.

He downed the whole thing in one gulp. Taking advantage of the moment, Liu Yu said, "Brother Quan, we're thinking of opening two more stores."

"Old Li, Xiao Yu, and I will each keep an eye on one," Ma Tao added.

"That's good." Lin Quan nodded.

With just this one storefront, the four people's combined monthly after-tax income easily exceeds one million.

Haizhou has a resident population of nearly 30 million. Even if we add two more cold noodle shops, or even ten times that number, it can still support the business.

After a satisfying meal and some casual conversation for over half an hour, Lin Quan hopped on his electric scooter and left alone.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Li Xiaochuan called.

"Is something the matter?" Lin Quan asked.

"Brother Quan, Fan Qin from our class... is also in Haizhou." Li Xiaochuan's voice was a little tentative.

Lin Quan had nothing to do anyway, so he rode his bike to the restaurant where they had arranged to meet.

Back in school, he never had any romantic feelings for Fan Qin; now it's even less likely.

He saw through Li Xiaochuan's intentions the moment they met that morning.

As soon as he entered, Li Xiaochuan hurriedly greeted him, "Brother Quan, sit here!"

Lin Quan casually picked a seat and sat down, feigning nonchalance: "Just you alone?"

"Fan Qin is still on her way, she'll be there soon." Li Xiaochuan's heart skipped a beat—Fan Qin was his wife, and the other person was asking about her before he even had a chance to sit down. How could this be considered a proper classmate?

Lin Quan pulled out a pack of Ziyun cigarettes and handed it over with a smile: "Want one?"

"Brother Quan, you still smoke this?" Li Xiaochuan was a little surprised.

"It's strong," Lin Quan said seriously. The cigarettes were a special supply he had picked up on the way, and he had more than he could finish. He bought this pack of Ziyun cigarettes partly to test the waters, and partly because he didn't want his old classmate with ulterior motives to take advantage of him.

"Oh, it actually sounds quite good." Li Xiaochuan replied casually, though he knew something was off.

After waiting for more than half an hour, Fan Qin slowly approached from several hundred meters away.

"Hey classmate, long time no see!" Lin Quan smiled naturally.

"Lin Quan? Li Xiaochuan?" Fan Qin's face showed just the right amount of surprise.

"Brother Quan, how many years have you been in Haizhou?" Li Xiaochuan asked.

"I came right after graduation," Lin Quan said without any attempt to hide it.

"Well... I worked in Chongqing for two years before being transferred to Haizhou the year before last..." Li Xiaochuan made up a story as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Come to think of it, it's been more than six years since we last met, hasn't it?" Fan Qin sighed at the right moment, acting with great feeling.

"Yes, it's been more than six years." Lin Quan answered crisply, his cooperation flawless.

Lin Quan didn't reply, but just lowered his head and picked up a piece of food—if he agreed any further, he might be cornered at the factory gate tomorrow trying to borrow money.

"Sigh, if I don't do some legitimate business, I can't even afford a house, let alone date. I don't even dare to think about it." Li Xiaochuan's stomach churned.

"Director Lin, can I take a photo with you?" A girl in her early twenties suddenly lit up.

"Of course," Lin Quan nodded in agreement.

The girl affectionately took his arm and pressed the shutter several times, taking three or four selfies.

"Director Lin, my name is Xu Yingying..." she said with a smile.

"You still recognize me?" Lin Quan raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"You're the world's richest man, who doesn't know you? In my heart, you're the best director in the country," Xu Yingying said confidently.

"Brother Quan, you're the richest man?!" Li Xiaochuan feigned surprise.

"I'm hardly the richest man," Lin Quan waved his hand. On the surface, his figures are the most impressive, but the old families that are rooted in the local area and have been passed down for more than ten generations have a wealth that even the Da Hong Group can't match.

"Director Lin, I won't keep you any longer!" Xu Yingying walked towards her friend.

"Brother Quan, you've really struck it rich?" Li Xiaochuan took a step closer.

"I just earned a little pocket money," Lin Quan said casually.

"Oh, right..." Fan Qin's eyes suddenly lit up, and her acting skills were palpable.

"I've donated almost all of my earnings," Lin Quan added.

"Brother Quan, can you lend me some money?" Li Xiaochuan looked at him expectantly.

"I'm married now, and my wife manages all the money," Lin Quan said seriously, without any flaws.

"I want to open a shop... I've saved about 200,000 yuan from working for several years, and my family has scraped together another 300,000 yuan, but I'm still short 2.75 million yuan. Brother Quan, can you help me out? I'll pay you back as soon as the business takes off!" Li Xiaochuan said in a low voice, his face full of bitterness.

Before she could finish speaking, Fan Qin had already opened her handbag—which had the word "crying" printed on it—and pulled out a Xiawei X01: "Xiao Chuan, I never expected you to be in such dire straits. I'm short on cash, so I can only lend you ten thousand."

"Thank you so much, Fan!" Li Xiaochuan thanked him repeatedly, his tone sincere.

"Sorry, my pockets are emptier than my face right now," Lin Quan said apologetically, spreading his hands.

Life is like a play, and it all depends on one's appearance.

Fan Qin's clothes were still carrying Li Xiaochuan's scent, and Li Xiaochuan's sleeves also retained Fan Qin's faint fragrance.

Perhaps it was Li Xiaochuan's influence, but Fan Qin looked more plump than before.

Lin Quan knew perfectly well what their relationship was.

Trying to trick him into spending money? Even if you team up with top actors and actresses, you won't succeed.

"Brother Quan, could you give me your sister-in-law's phone number? I want to talk to her in person." Li Xiaochuan refused to give in.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Quan immediately recited Chen Shiyan's number.

Li Xiaochuan dialed the number on the spot.

Chen Shiyan hung up immediately upon seeing the unfamiliar number.

"Brother Quan, why isn't your wife answering?" Li Xiaochuan frowned.

"How would I know?" Lin Quan kicked the ball cleanly and crisply.

"Could I call again using your phone?" Li Xiaochuan gritted his teeth. "I'm really out of options—if I can't rent a shop to do something soon, my girlfriend's family is going to break us up..."

"What are you planning to sell?" Lin Quan asked.

"I'm from Northeast China..." Li Xiaochuan said without hesitation, his words clear and logical.

"Special products from Northeast China are quite popular in Haizhou, so this approach is viable." Lin Quan nodded in agreement, cooperating flawlessly.

Nowadays, Haizhou can even roast and sell African coffee beans on the spot. How could they not be able to transport goods from the mountains of Northeast China? Even if there is a shortage locally, with a click of a finger, the express delivery will arrive the next day—this lie is too crude. He's not stupid; how could he not see through it?

"Brother Quan, can I borrow your phone to ask your wife for some more?" Li Xiaochuan asked eagerly.

"Okay!" Lin Quan raised his hand and tapped his watch, handing over the Xiawei X01.

Xiao Bai had already received the instructions and instantly took over the phone.

As soon as the call ended, Li Xiaochuan was berated for over half an hour by the imposter "Chen Shiyan." He clutched his phone and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"You've all seen it—this is the state I'm in right now." Lin Quan laughed at himself first, his self-deprecation unequivocally sarcastic.