Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

"Um..." Zhou Feng subconsciously sat up a little straighter, "Comrade Bai Ling, let me tell you about Yu Li's matter. Here's what happened."

Bai Ling didn't stop moving, but her ears twitched slightly.

"When I went out shopping before, I ran into some colleagues from the factory, and we chatted for a while. Yu Li happened to overhear me and, knowing that I was going to be the deputy factory manager at the new factory, came over and begged me to help her find a job."

"We usually have a good relationship with the Yan family. I thought that Yan Jiecheng doesn't have a proper job and her life is so difficult. She finally mustered up the courage to ask us for help, so I thought I'd do her a favor."

"People are usually very polite to me, and Yu Li isn't the type to cause trouble, so it's nothing serious."

Bai Ling nodded.

Normally speaking, Zhou Feng and the Yan family do have a good relationship, so helping them get a job wouldn't be a big deal.

But she still felt uneasy, even though Yu Li was already married.

Bai Ling sullenly draped the rag over the rim of the basin, picked it up, and walked towards the door. At the doorway, she suddenly stopped, turned back to look at Zhou Feng, and said, "Then you can arrange it that way."

Zhou Feng sat there for a long time without saying a word.

Is this the end of it?

He had been thinking about how he should answer if Bai Ling asked him any pointed questions.

I had prepared a whole series of explanations, but they didn't ask any further questions at all.

After emptying the dirty water outside, Bai Ling's gaze swept over Old Yan's house.

Although she is not married yet, she has seen far too much in law enforcement.

Life is too hard these days. Some women will do anything to find a way out.

Like the man in Yu Li's family, he's 24 years old and still living off his parents, occasionally doing odd jobs, a complete waste.

In this situation, it's not impossible that Yu Li might have other motives.

Standing in the outer courtyard, she was stunned for a moment, the winter wind stinging her face.

But all she could do was take a deep breath, suppress the jumbled thoughts in her mind, and carry the basin back.

Since Zhou Feng explained it to her, she had to believe him.

After all, although she and Zhou Feng were already very close, they weren't married, so she couldn't control who he wanted to help.

As soon as Bai Ling opened the door and entered the house, Zhou Feng rushed over and grabbed her hand.

"Wow, look how cold your hands are. Why are you taking so long to pour out this dirty water? Come over here and warm them up!"

As he spoke, he pulled Bai Ling to the front of the heater and adjusted the angle.

Seeing his attentive manner, Bai Ling felt much of her previous discomfort dissipate.

After placing the basin down, she forced a smile and said, "I just wanted some fresh air outside; it's too hot inside."

Zhou Feng stared at her for a long time, then suddenly sighed.

Why are you sighing?

"It's nothing!"

Zhou Feng pursed his lips.

Bai Ling is a wonderful girl in every way. She's beautiful, efficient, capable, and genuinely devoted to him.

It's in this era!

There's really no other way...

Although the two had already slept in the same bed, it was just sleeping; taking it any further was impossible.

Unlike Zhou Feng from later generations, who would quickly advance the relationship once it was established, Zhou Feng was different.

In the 1960s, no matter how good your relationship was, you couldn't even think about certain things before you got that marriage certificate.

Sometimes Zhou Feng felt quite helpless, but then he thought, "That's what a proper girl is like."

If he really lowers his standards, wouldn't that make him seem dishonest, only caring about that trivial matter?

"Alright, stop thinking about it." Zhou Feng stood up, dusted himself off, and said, "I'm going out for a bit."

"Where to?"

"Foreign Affairs Department, go talk to Yu Li. They've come to me for help, so I have to give them a definite answer. Let's make things clear today, so they won't keep worrying about it."

Bai Ling nodded and didn't stop him.

Zhou Feng walked to the door, then suddenly turned back: "What do you want to eat tonight? I'll cook for you! I have plenty of food here!"

"Never mind that, go about your business. You don't need to worry about dinner at home."

Bai Ling rolled her eyes at Zhou Feng, annoyed.

This guy is still playing hard to get with her, using both carrot and stick tactics?

First I make you angry, then I give you a sweet treat?

The problem is, these dates aren't even sweet!

During the time Zhou Feng brought the appliances over, she basically ate all the semi-finished products.

In summary, they are quite fragrant, but almost all of them have the same taste and texture.

It tastes pretty good at first bite, but after eating it a lot, it's just so-so. It's really not as good as the dishes she makes herself.

Zhou Feng passed through the hanging flower gate and arrived at the west outer courtyard.

The outer courtyard houses are all reverse-facing rooms, and the conditions are much worse than those in the inner courtyard; they are cold in winter and hot in summer.

Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li lived in the room on the west side. There were some odds and ends piled up at the door, but it was tidy.

Zhou Feng stepped forward and knocked on the door.

There was a moment of silence inside, then footsteps could be heard.

The door creaked open, revealing Yan Jiecheng's face.

Yan Jiecheng still had a smile and curiosity on his face, but when he saw that the person who came was Zhou Feng, his smile disappeared instantly, and his face visibly fell down, as if Zhou Feng had come to collect a debt.

"Comrade Zhou... Zhou Feng? Is there something you need at my house?"

Although he was a little apprehensive, he still felt somewhat confident because this was his own home, and asked a question with slight hesitation.

Zhou Feng didn't bother to pay him any attention.

Yan Jiecheng has maintained this attitude towards him ever since the chicken incident ended.

After getting caught doing something shameful, instead of reflecting on his actions, he complained and blamed others. You can see right through a person like that.

"I'm looking for Yu Li, is she here?"

Without mincing words with Yan Jiecheng, Zhou Feng asked the question directly.

Yan Jiecheng's expression turned even uglier.

The young man came to see his wife during the day; it was the same young man he didn't get along with!

"Why do you want to see her?"

Something's up.

Zhou Feng didn't want to give him even a single extra word.

For a moment, both of them fell silent. Yan Jiecheng stood blocking the doorway, unsure whether to go in or back.

Just then, Yu Li's voice came from inside: "Who is it?"

"I am Zhou Feng!"

Zhou Feng, standing outside the door, raised his voice in response, and the footsteps inside the room instantly grew closer.

The next second, Yu Li peeked out from behind Yan Jiecheng, saw Zhou Feng, and her eyes lit up: "Zhou Feng? What brings you here? Come in and sit down!"

"No, no, you come out yourself. I'll just say a few words and leave."

Yu Li's face immediately lit up with joy. Zhou Feng coming to see her at this time must mean he'd found a job!

"Okay, let's talk in the yard then!"

As she spoke, she reached out and pushed Yan Jiecheng aside, then walked out of the house.

Yan Jiecheng's face darkened as he was pushed aside.

Yu Li had been giving him a hard time these past few days, but he never expected her to smile like this in front of Zhou Feng.

But he couldn't say anything unpleasant in front of Zhou Feng, so he could only watch indignantly as Yu Li and Zhou Feng walked to the courtyard wall.

These two clearly didn't want him to hear anything.

It's still quite cold outside. Zhou Feng is wearing a lot of clothes, but Yu Li shivered as soon as she came out of the room.

Since everything was settled, Zhou Feng didn't waste any more time and said directly, "Comrade Yu Li, the matter you mentioned to me last time is settled."

"real?"

"real."

Zhou Feng nodded seriously, "After the New Year, you'll report to the hatchery and breeding farm. I've made all the arrangements for you."

"You mean that new hatchery and breeding farm that opened outside the city? Are you really going to book it there?"

"Yes, that's it. But I have to say something first. You've never done this before, so you're considered inexperienced. You'll only be an apprentice when you join the factory and won't be eligible for the eight-level wage system. Your monthly salary is 21.3 yuan. We'll see how you perform after the apprenticeship period. Are you willing to do that?"

"I do! I do!"

Yu Li's mind was practically reeling from the sight of images; her eyes were red with excitement.

"Twenty-one yuan and thirty cents, is that too little? I was staying at home before, and I didn't earn a single penny! Comrade Zhou Feng, thank you so much!"

If Yan Jiecheng hadn't been watching her so disapprovingly, she would have loved to give Zhou Feng a big hug.

Yan Jiecheng leaned against his doorway, straining his ears to listen, but he didn't hear everything except for the words "21.3 yuan".

Even so, this number caused his expression to change repeatedly.

What happened?

Why did Zhou Feng tell Yu Li it was 21.3 yuan?

What is this money for?

Yan Jiecheng's mind was full of questions, while Zhou Feng was already preparing to go back.

"You should go inside now. I'll leave after I've finished talking to you."

"Hey? Wait a minute, I have something to do!"

Yu Li reached out and tugged at Zhou Feng's arm, then said earnestly, "You've helped me so much, I don't know how to thank you enough! How about this, I'll give you half of my monthly salary as a small token of my appreciation."

Zhou Feng was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "No need, no need, what would I do with your money? Keep it for yourself."

Putting aside everything else, when he was at the steel rolling mill, he made four figures in a single purchase during the Chinese New Year!

The ten or so yuan a month is really of little use to him.

"That won't do!" Yu Li exclaimed urgently. "You helped me; I can't just accept it for nothing. That's not fair. You have to give it to me!"

"We're all neighbors, it's only right to help each other out."

Zhou Feng thought that even if someone was passively touching the dough, it was still touching the dough, so it was only right to give them some compensation.

But it's fine to think these things in your mind, but saying them out loud will cause trouble.

After much arguing, seeing that Zhou Feng absolutely refused, Yu Li grew anxious and grabbed his sleeve: "Zhou Feng, listen to me! You have to take this money, at least... at least that's what you have to say to others!"

Zhou Feng was taken aback by these words, but when he noticed Yu Li glancing towards the front yard, he instantly understood what was going on.

Even if he doesn't want the money, the news still needs to be spread.

This is meant to shut the Yan family up!

It makes sense, considering she was a woman who stayed at home, and Zhou Feng suddenly arranged a job for her, with a monthly salary of 21.3 yuan.

If we don't find a pretext, not only will the Yan family cause trouble at home, but the neighbors outside will also gossip about it every day.

Now there's no need for such worries. This job isn't free; it's earned by exchanging half of your monthly salary!

Zhou Feng helped us, and we didn't receive it for nothing. We gave him the benefits we were entitled to, and nobody can say anything about it.

Zhou Feng nodded: "Okay, we'll do it your way."

Yu Li breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Then it's settled. Comrade Zhou Feng, thank you so much."

"Why are you being so polite with me?"

Zhou Feng waved his hand and turned to walk towards his home.

Before leaving, he glanced back at Yan Jiecheng, his face looking as if he had swallowed a dead fly.

As soon as Zhou Feng left, Yu Li returned to her room. The moment the door closed, Yan Jie exploded.

"Yu Li!"

You could tell he was suppressing his anger; his voice was hoarse.

"What do you mean? When did you go to see Zhou Feng? Why didn't you tell me?"

Yu Li was in a good mood when his shout startled her, and her face darkened: "When I contacted him is none of your business!"

"How can it be nothing? You're my wife! You're going to find other men behind my back?"

Yan Jiecheng stared wide-eyed, his expression turning somewhat ferocious.

Yu Li sneered, "Behind your back? What did I do behind your back? I went to ask for help in broad daylight, what law did I break? You're so capable, why don't you find me a job? What can you do with that pittance you earn a month? If I don't go out and find work, are we going to starve?"

Yan Jiecheng was speechless after being rebuked, his face turning red with embarrassment.

Yu Li continued, "Besides, I begged Zhou Feng to introduce me to a job, and now it's done. I earn 21.3 yuan a month, give him 10 yuan, and I still have 11.3 yuan left!"

"Give him ten yuan?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Jiecheng's voice cracked, sounding like a duck that had been strangled.

"Are you crazy? You earn 21.3 yuan a month, and you still want to give Zhou Feng 10 yuan? Why should you?"

That's 21.3 yuan!

Yan Jiecheng works odd jobs outside, and he's lucky if he can earn about 10 yuan a month, even if he works himself to the bone. And he's not even guaranteed to have work every day.

Yu Li begged to come back to this job, which pays 21.3 yuan a month, more than double what he earns!

Why should he hand over the total amount of money he earns in a month to Zhou Feng?

"Nonsense, he introduced me to the job. It's only fair that I give him half my salary. What are you yelling about?"

"Do you know how much more we could buy if we had just 10 yuan more each month!"

When it comes to money, Yan Jiecheng fully inherited Yan Bugui's genes, being stingy to an outrageous degree.

Let him know that having to give Zhou Feng 10 yuan every month is worse than killing him.

Yu Li glared coldly at Yan Jiecheng.

"Let me do the math for you. If you go to work, you can earn 11.3 yuan a month. If you don't work, you won't get a single penny!"

"If I don't go to work, how much income will our family have? How much money can you earn? You're over 20 years old, do you still want to ask your parents for money?"

Yan Jiecheng opened his mouth, but no words came out.