Courtyard House: A Leisurely and Contented Life

Inside the steel rolling mill, Yang Jianye called out, "Zhang Chao, bring me that shelf I left by the door."

"Here it is, Master!" Zhang Chao ran to fetch the things.

Hua Zi, who had just rested, watched with a touch of envy. He used to be the one doing all this work. Zhang Chao was so lucky; he'd found such a good master right away.

"What, are you envious?"

Hearing the sound, Hua Zi turned around and quickly stood up: "Master, how could that be? You've been so good to me." He scratched his head and grinned foolishly.

He was a little envious, but not to the point of having any other thoughts. Li Yaoye was genuinely good to him. Besides, he couldn't do riveting work himself; he was illiterate, and the blueprints were like gibberish to him—he couldn't understand them no matter how hard he looked.

Li Yaoye nodded and smiled, "Good to know. The worst thing is when someone doesn't understand their own place, and ends up losing the sesame seeds while failing to pick up the watermelon."

Hua Zi nodded in agreement, "Master is right, I'll go pour you some tea."

Li Yaoye sat and waited, then his eyes darted around and he saw Qin Huairu squatting by the wall, reading a book again.

Initially, the workshop treated Qin Huairu rather coldly. Firstly, she was a widow, and there were some unpleasant rumors circulating in the factory; secondly, no one thought she could stay. In everyone's eyes, Qin Huairu only benefited from being close to the factory, having begged Jianye to teach her on her knees. Jianye couldn't refuse her request, and out of pity for her being a widow, he personally arranged for her to be transferred to the special workshop.

Ke Renjianye is a man of principle. He'll give you opportunities, but if you expect him to give you special treatment or open doors for you, you're dreaming. There's no way he'll even open a crack in the window.

Sure enough, five more arrived right after, all sent by the factory manager and director. If it came down to connections, even Qin Huairu couldn't compete. She was the only woman among the six, and not very educated. Without even a comprehensive comparison, it was clear from the bottom of her heart that she was destined to be eliminated.

That's how it should have been.

But... all I can say is that Qin Huairu is truly lucky. She reached a dead end, but someone just handed her a ladder, opening up a new path for her.

Even though she stayed, no one had high hopes for her. How high were Jianye's requirements? How complex were the riveting blueprints? These veteran craftsmen had experienced it firsthand. Qin Huairu was going to suffer from her lack of education.

At that moment, everyone felt sorry for her. This pity was something Qin Huairu had earned through her performance. She worked harder than the men, never complaining about hardship or fatigue in the workshop, and even when her shoulders were chafed raw, she endured it without a word. The workshop only found out about this after the factory doctor came to investigate.

From then on, everyone's impression of Qin Huairu changed. At least, he was a hard-working and resilient person. As long as you are serious, down-to-earth, willing to learn and work, you are a good person, and no one in the steel rolling mill will look down on you.

Ultimately, she's still uneducated. Keeping up with Jianye's progress is incredibly difficult.

But this time, Qin Huairu surprised everyone again. She was incredibly focused and diligent when studying, seizing every spare moment to flip through books, marking anything she didn't understand with a pen, and asking questions later. To understand the effects of quenching time and temperature on quality, she persistently pestered Master Hao for half an hour. No matter how much you chased her away or became impatient, she wouldn't leave, just patiently and politely asking you questions, always with a smile that left you speechless.

That attitude was somewhat reminiscent of Yang Jianye when he first entered the factory. Back then, he would cling to anyone he could find, a real leech!

Just as he was thinking this, Master Hao, who had finished resting, ran up to Yang Jianye and started laughing and scolding, "Jianye, you're not being fair!"

As Yang Jianye adjusted the frame and polished the surface, he asked, "Master Hao, what's wrong with me?"

Master Hao glared at her and said angrily, "Your apprentice has learned all your shameless tricks! Don't tell me you didn't know! Her mannerisms are exactly the same as yours back then."

Hearing this, Yang Jianye laughed and replied, "You're mistaken. I didn't teach her that. I just told her that if she wants to learn skills, she has to be humble, ask questions, and learn whenever she can." He glanced at Qin Huairu, who was engrossed in her studies by the wall, "As for how to ask questions and how to learn, that's up to her."

It was indeed beyond Yang Jianye's expectations that Qin Huai could barely keep up with the pace, and it also allowed him to see another side of this woman.

People never know their own abilities or hidden potential unless they are pushed. If Qin Huai can maintain this level of performance, even if she doesn't become a senior technician, her life will still get better and better, and she will rise above others.

After finishing their work, Yang Jianye and the others carried the baby walkers to the shed.

"Master Yang." Yu Haitang is here again.

She wore a plaid undershirt and a wool vest, wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat. Perhaps to show off her figure, the coat was left open. To be honest, Yang Jianye felt cold for her; it was at least four or five degrees below zero outside today.

Should I buy Yingzi a new pair of gloves? Her knitted ones probably aren't warm enough.

Seeing him glance at her, his mind immediately wandering off, Yu Haitang felt disheartened. What was wrong with this man? She had specially brought out her best clothes, even leaving them open, just to get him to look at her more, and now she was numb with cold. And yet, he was daydreaming right in front of her! Was he thinking about his wife again?

Yu Haitang was puzzled. Just how good was his wife that he was so infatuated with her? Or was it... that he was doing it on purpose, afraid to see her because he was afraid of being attracted to her, so every time they met, he would think of other women to numb himself and not look at her beauty, so that he wouldn't make a mistake.

It has to be said, women's imaginations can be quite terrifying.

"Comrade Yu Haitang, is something the matter?" Yang Jianye snapped out of his reverie, his tone somewhat anxious.

Seeing his expression, Yu Haitang felt even more strongly that he was deliberately avoiding her, afraid of being attracted to her. Realizing this, her face lit up with a bright smile: "I have something to ask you. I'm here on behalf of the publicity department to invite you. We'd like you to share a story about your academic progress on the radio."

Then Yu Haitang's eyes lit up, and she said, "Also, everyone wants to hear the counselor's letter."

Hearing her say that, Yang Jianye thought to himself, "She's really well-informed."

Yang Jianye had also decided whether to make the instructor's letter public. He planned to read it aloud to everyone to boost team spirit and morale. Higher morale meant more energy for work, and it would also improve factory efficiency and eliminate any year-end lethargy.

Of course, the main reason is that word has spread. Everyone knows about it, and keeping the letter hidden would be detrimental to unity, giving the impression of being seemingly low-key but actually ostentatious. After all, everyone knows you received the advisor's letter, and they're curious about what he said. If you keep it to yourself and don't let everyone read it, their curiosity will be constantly piqued, and every time they see him, they'll be reminded of it. Over time, this will definitely create resentment. You just received a letter of commendation! You're letting everyone read it and learn from the advisor's spirit, and you're not even happy to keep it to yourself? What's there to be proud of? Really…

"I agree."

Yang Jianye agreed, but he also had conditions.

"You say it." Yu Haitang's heart burned with passion.

She, as the announcer, would definitely be the one to read the advisor's letter, which was a great opportunity to shine. As long as she maintained a positive attitude, gave her best performance, and displayed a spirited and proactive demeanor, she was sure to gain the system's attention and might even be interviewed and praised.

Thinking about all this, Yu Haitang wished she could agree to his proposal right now.

"I'll read the letter myself, and I'll decide how I read it," Yang Jianye said, oblivious to Yu Haitang's instantly frozen smile. "Of course, the content won't be changed."

Not hearing a reply, Yang Jianye looked up and saw Yu Haitang staring blankly at him, as if someone had acupunctured her.

Yang Jianye frowned: "That's my request. You can go and report it to your superiors."

After saying that, he went into the shed, unlocked the car, propped up the car, and started strapping the walker onto the back seat.

"No, why are you reading it yourself?" Yu Haitang rushed in, looking confused and anxious. "I'm the factory's announcer, it's my job!"

Yang Jianye glanced back and said, "Whether it's your job or not is decided by the factory's propaganda department. Besides, the letter was written to me, so why can't I read it?"

Yu Haitang became even more anxious. Of course, she understood the logic, but understanding didn't mean she had to accept it. If Yang Jianye read the letter aloud, wouldn't her entire opportunity be gone? Wouldn't this once-in-a-lifetime chance slip away?

Yu Haitang was unwilling to accept this; she was counting on this opportunity to gain the attention and appreciation of her superiors. Just moments ago, she had even prepared her acceptance speech. Now, Yang Jianye was suddenly telling her that the opportunity was gone?

No, Yu Haitang cannot accept this.

"Master Yang, please help me out, just consider it a favor, okay?"

Yang Jianye pushed the cart forward, with Yu Haitang following closely behind.

"Comrade Yu Haitang, this isn't a question of whether or not to help!"

Seeing her persistent pestering, Yang Jianye stopped and said seriously, "Please respect my personal choice."

"I know, Master Yang, I know." Yu Haitang nodded repeatedly, her tone softening. "But I just want to ask, what did I do wrong to make you so prejudiced against me?"

Seeing that he wasn't leaving, Yu Haitang also stopped, looking at him with a wronged expression.

She just wanted to know what she had done wrong. From their first meeting, he had been prejudiced against her. Had she offended him without realizing it? But no matter how she thought about it, she couldn't find a clue. She even wondered if there was some long-standing grudge between their families that had caused her to suffer this undeserved misfortune.

Yu Haitang couldn't understand it, she really couldn't understand it!

What did I do to Yang Jianye that he dislikes me like this?!

Yang Jianye was taken aback by her question. He harbored a prejudice against her? It seemed there was indeed such a thing. From the first time he heard her name, he instinctively felt a resistance, a resistance stemming from a character he had played in a past life.

Can……

Thinking about it carefully, this compound is now completely unrecognizable.

Granny Jia became a maid, not only cooking for the family every day, but also sweeping the streets, emptying chamber pots, and scrubbing toilets, all while being controlled by Qin Huairu.

Granny Jia became a maid, not only cooking for the family every day, but also sweeping the streets, emptying chamber pots, and scrubbing toilets, all while being controlled by Qin Huairu.

Sha Zhu is no longer the simpleton who used to put people in sacks; he's now addicted to eating brains.

Yi Zhonghai's whole endeavors have backfired, leaving him with nothing.

Yan Bugui, hey, this former third uncle has now become the first uncle, and he's even learned the "invest first, then get a return" trick.

As for Qin Huairu... she actually became his apprentice, burying herself in her studies all day long. Even Yang Jianye had to give her a few words of praise for her serious and focused attitude.

Thinking about it carefully, it really is unbelievable.

A tiny butterfly, without anyone knowing, has caused a huge change.

But in reality, you could say that nothing has changed.

Even if someone could truly foresee the future, there are countless possibilities for what the future holds. Nothing is immutable except change itself.

Even time undergoes subtle changes every year, let alone insignificant human beings.

So, there's no script! Why should Yu Haitang be the way he "knows" her to be? What's wrong with wanting to improve?

Yang Jianye looked at her seriously: "I'm sorry, Comrade Yu Haitang, I apologize for this."

Hearing this, Yu Haitang's eyes lit up: "So you're agreeing to my request?"

"No."

Yang Jianye answered decisively, shaking his head and saying, "I apologize for my preconceived prejudice, but that won't affect my decision. Sorry, I have to go now."

With a long stride, he stepped onto the pedals and rode off.

A cold wind howled, leaving only Begonia alone, bewildered in the wind.

so cold...

Riding his bike to the free market, Yang Jianye pushed it inside, his eyes constantly scanning the stalls on both sides. He wanted to buy a pair of gloves for his wife, but he didn't have any coupons and didn't want to ask for favors for such a small thing, so the free market was the best place to go.

Halfway there, I spotted the person I was looking for—a fellow villager who sold wool.

Two pounds of coarse wool cost three cents, and Yang Jianye bought twenty pounds in one go. For three cents, he got a large ball of wool, tied it securely with straw rope, and carried it away.

When they arrived home, they could see steam rising from the chimney in the front yard; Yingzi was cooking. Yang Jianye parked the car at the door and first untied the walker.

Hearing the commotion, Yingzi came out wearing an apron. She stood at the door, took a look, and hurried over to help.

"This car is so beautiful, it even has wheels!" Yingzi looked at it from left to right, really liking it.

Yang Jianye laughed and said, "I've been busy all afternoon, how could I not look beautiful?"

"My man is amazing!" Yingzi praised, and Yang Jianye laughed. Seeing him laugh, Yingzi laughed too.

Yingzi took the walker off the ground and tried pushing it back and forth. The wheels spun smoothly and didn't wobble at all. She was delighted and praised, "Jianye, this walker is really well made!"

"That's right, it was made by your man himself, how could it not be good?" Yang Jianye pocketed it again.

Looking at his childish face, Yingzi gave him a disapproving look before noticing the ball of wool he was carrying.

"This is... wool?" Yingzi asked curiously, taking it. "What are you buying it for?"

"I'll make you gloves." Yang Jianye handed her a ball of wool. "I'll cut up your old coat, make a pair of gloves, and stuff them with wool—they'll definitely keep you warm."

Yingzi nodded, pondering, "Then we need to make felt from this wool first."

Loose, coarse wool cannot be used directly; even if stuffed tightly, it will still be airy. It must first be made into wool felt.

Take a suitable amount of wool, spread it evenly, and roll it forward firmly. Then, place a corncob underneath and use a felting needle to gently poke and fix the surface. Roll continuously during the poking process to ensure that every area is evenly poked until it is semi-felt. At this step, trim the ends to make it flat. Continue rolling and poking, filling any depressions or defects with wool. Repeat this process until the wool is firm and completely felted.

After the felt is finished, cut out the shape according to the size of the glove, fill the palm part with the whole piece, and use the scraps of material to fill the thumb. Finally, sew the outer fabric together, and the sturdy and warm old wool gloves are complete.

As for the style, it depends on your own craftsmanship. But it's warm, really warm! Several times warmer than knitted wool.

Yingzi went back to the main house to cook, while Yang Jianye found a needle and a corncob, and took the wool to the side room.

Shear the wool, lay it flat, press it down firmly, roll it forward, place the corncob underneath, and start poking.

This isn't really a skill. If you have an elderly person in your family who has experience making wool items, they can teach you in one or two lessons. Even without formal instruction, you can learn it by watching a few times; it's not difficult.

When Yingzi called him to eat, Yang Jianye had just finished making a sheet. Seeing the smooth felt, Yingzi stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek.

Dinner was simple: porridge, steamed buns, one meat dish, and one vegetable dish. Looking at the dishes on the table, Yingzi suddenly felt that she had become complacent. One meat dish and one vegetable dish, porridge and steamed buns made mostly of white flour—and she still thought that was "simple"?

They've gotten too cocky, really gotten too cocky!

Yingzi reminded herself that she couldn't become complacent just because life was good. Every meal she ate was the result of her and her husband's hard work, and it was understandable that they could afford to eat well, but she absolutely couldn't afford to be extravagant or wasteful.

Seeing her husband wolf down his food, Yingzi happily got up to clear the dishes.

After wiping his mouth with his hand, Yang Jianye went next door to continue making felt.

The two had a clear division of labor: he made the felt, and Yingzi was in charge of the outside of the gloves.