Courtyard House: A Carefree Life Begins with a Lottery of Wish Power

The crowd gathered around and examined the newspaper closely; the leaders and foreign guests in the photos were indeed sitting on sofas.

While the onlookers were chattering amongst themselves, Lin Zhuo had already cut up the burlap sacks he had bought that morning and wrapped the entire sofa up.

And just like that, a spacious single sofa is complete.

Lin Zhuo dusted off the sawdust off his clothes, washed his hands, and sat heavily on the sofa amidst the curious gazes of everyone.

The spring's elasticity bounced Lin Zhuo up and down a few times before he slowly settled down.

Lin Zhuo leaned back in the bouncy chair and felt pretty good overall; it basically met his expectations.

It was even much better than many cheap sofas of later generations.

This reminded Lin Zhuo of the sofa his parents had when they got married when he was a child.

It sat there for decades without breaking down, until my house was demolished and I finally threw it away.

Now the entire sofa is made by my own hands, and the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment is incomparable to that of a ready-made sofa.

"Old Yan, this sofa is really nice. It looks very comfortable and stylish." The third aunt said with great envy.

Yan Jiecheng chimed in from the side:

"Dad, can you get me two sofas too? That would definitely make our family look good, and I'd be more likely to find a good wife."

The third uncle looked at the sofa with some envy, but after considering the cost, he shook his head and said:

"You just spout nonsense. Do you think my money grows on trees?"

"You saw how Kobayashi did it, didn't you?"

"I estimated that just the wood alone would be worth at least two or three chairs, not even counting the springs, ropes, and sacks. It's too expensive."

Others were also discussing it.

"Dad, can you get me a sofa for my wedding?"

"Go find somewhere cool to stay. We haven't even collected enough tickets for all 36 legs yet, where are we going to get you a sofa?"

The so-called "36-legged furniture" is an essential piece of furniture for weddings in this era.

The essentials are a bed, a wardrobe, a table, and four chairs or stools. The rest can be freely combined according to individual circumstances, such as a chest of drawers, a cupboard, a writing desk, and a bedside table, to make up 36 legs.

"This is a sofa. It looks comfortable."

"Lin Zhuo is really skilled; this is the first time I've ever seen someone make their own sofa."

"You know what, Xiao Lin is really skillful. No wonder he became a level four worker as soon as he joined the factory."

"I heard that Jia Dongxu didn't pass the Level 3 worker exam this time. It's really frustrating to compare yourself to others."

"Sometimes being skillful is just innate; you can't deny it."

Several middle-aged women whispered among themselves, glancing at Lin Zhuo one moment and then at Jia Dongxu the next.

Jia Dongxu vaguely heard people talking about him, and he hated Lin Zhuo so much that his teeth itched.

Seeing Lin Zhuo suddenly appear before everyone, Jia Zhangshi's face turned ugly. She narrowed her triangular eyes and snorted coldly:

"What's so great about a sofa?"

The courtyard became much quieter.

Many neighbors who used to envy the sofa now dare not speak up.

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong was overjoyed. "Old foxes are indeed shrewd," he thought, "Jia Zhangshi has managed to suppress Lin Zhuo with just one sentence."

Liu Haizhong also took the opportunity to show off his presence, clearing his throat and saying:

"We, the working class, especially our young comrades, must maintain the style of hard work and plain living."

"Kobayashi, is that right?"

Xu Damao quickly echoed, saying:

"Second Uncle, you're absolutely right. Workers should have the mindset and awareness of workers."

Lin Zhuo stood up and said to Li Kuiyong:

"Kuiyong, move the sofa inside."

Then, without looking at Liu Haizhong, Jia Zhangshi, and the others, he turned to Yan Bugui and said:

"Uncle, I'd like to ask you a question."

The third uncle loved to teach and enjoyed being asked questions. Upon hearing Lin Zhuo's words, he naturally replied:

"Okay, go ahead."

Lin Zhuo smiled and said:

"Uncle, I didn't quite hear you when I was working, but it seems like you just showed me the picture of the sofa in the newspaper."

The third uncle subconsciously said:

"yes."

As soon as he said it, Yan Bugui vaguely felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

Lin Zhuo didn't give Yan Bugui time to think further and immediately asked:

"Could you please read the headline of that news article for me?"

Yan Bugui's heart skipped a beat.

Good heavens, Lin Zhuo was waiting for me here.

Just now, Liu Haizhong and the others said that he was sitting on the sofa because he was indulging in pleasure, so now he's asking me to read this news headline.

This is digging a hole for myself.

"+5 from Yan Bugui's wish power".

Yan Bugui stammered, neither saying he would read it nor that he wouldn't, clutching the newspaper in his hand, caught in a dilemma.

The people in the courtyard couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

Sha Zhu couldn't stand it anymore and said:

"Uncle, you're the most literate person in this courtyard. Why don't you read something to everyone?"

Yan Bugui suddenly took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and said with a pained expression:

"Oh dear, my eyesight is getting worse and worse; I can't see such small print anymore."

"Whoever has good eyesight, go and read it aloud."

Watching Yan Bugui's clumsy performance, Lin Zhuo couldn't help but mutter to himself, "A cunning old fox."

He Yuzhu took the newspaper and volunteered:

"I have good eyesight, I'll do it."

Lin Zhuo smiled and said:

"Thanks, Brother Zhu."

He Yuzhu had been called "Silly Zhu" for over a decade or two, so it was a rare treat when someone called him "Brother Zhu," which made him overjoyed and feel that Lin Zhuo was a friend worth having.

Then, Lin Zhuo turned and glanced at Liu Haizhong, Xu Damao, and the Jia family mother and son, and said:

"What did one of you just say?"

Xu Damao narrowed his eyes and fell silent, as did the second uncle.

Instead, Madam Jia, hands on her hips, shouted:

"Hey, what's wrong with you?"

He Yuzhu didn't forget to tease Xu Damao, saying:

"Xu Damao, did you really say that just now?"

Upon hearing He Yuzhu's words, Xu Damao became somewhat anxious.

Just now, in order to suppress Lin Zhuo, I echoed a few words with my second uncle and the others.

Little did Lin Zhuo know that he would immediately bring up the news from the newspaper.

Xu Damao is wicked, but he's also quick to change his mind.

Although he hated Sha Zhu and Lin Zhuo to the core, he still put on a fawning smile, lightly patted his mouth twice, and said:

"I was just saying what Aunt Zhang and Uncle Er were saying."

Xu Damao subtly reminded Lin Zhuo that the culprits were Jia Zhangshi and Second Uncle.