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

"The deputy directors of three factories?!"

Jia Zhangshi nearly jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed). "How old is he? He's only the deputy director of three factories?"

"I don't know either, but that Deputy Factory Director Li was really polite to Brother Zhou Feng. Talking to him felt like you were trying to curry favor with him. Brother Zhou Feng even said he'd teach me how to cook that beef so I could cook it for him in the future..."

Qin Jingru shook her head somewhat blankly, but as soon as she said that, Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu's expressions changed.

The two of them looked at each other, their facial expressions quite fascinating.

After a long while, Jia Zhangshi spoke first, her voice extremely low, as she leaned close to Qin Jingru: "Jingru, tell your aunt, how is Zhou Feng... treating you?"

"Huh...how is it?" Qin Jingru's face flushed red instantly, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at anyone.

"Why are you pretending with your aunt? Is he good to you? Does he have feelings for you?"

Madam Jia patted her lightly, her eyes seemingly shining.

"Auntie! What nonsense are you talking about? Zhou Feng is such a high-ranking leader, I'm just a country bumpkin, why would he want me!"

Although Qin Jingru came here hoping to date Zhou Feng, Jia Zhangshi's words were still too blunt for her, and she was so embarrassed that she almost buried her head in her chest.

"Let me tell you, Jingru, that's not necessarily true."

Jia Zhangshi leaned closer to Qin Jingru and lowered her voice: "Look, Zhou Feng is even going to teach you how to cook that expensive beef, and have you cook for him. Doesn't that mean he's interested in you? Beef that costs several hundred yuan a pound, your sister and I have never even heard of it, and now you've already eaten it!"

Qin Huairu remained silent, but her expression was a mixture of emotions.

She naturally understood what Jia Zhangshi and Qin Jingru meant by those words; they simply wanted her cousin to try and win it over.

She had the same intention when she went to the countryside to bring Qin Jingru back.

But after hearing Qin Jingru's description, she felt a little regretful.

If Zhou Feng were just a staff member in the purchasing department, even if his background were a bit mysterious, his cousin was so beautiful that he could barely be considered a suitable match.

But now he is the deputy director of three factories, and the meat he eats costs hundreds or even thousands of yuan per kilogram. How could Qin Jingru possibly be worthy of him?

To put it bluntly, she doesn't deserve it!

Only now did she understand why Bai Ling from the Municipal Bureau lived in this large courtyard – it was for Zhou Feng!

Why was Yu Li able to get a job just by saying nice things to others?

Because Zhou Feng is the deputy director of that factory!

"Mom, please stop! Zhou Feng has a girlfriend, doesn't he? And you've met Bai Ling before! Not only is she a leader, but she's also incredibly capable..."

Qin Huairu felt a little uneasy and took the initiative to interrupt Jia Zhangshi, who was still trying to persuade Qin Jingru, also wanting her cousin to calm down.

Unexpectedly, Madam Jia waved her hand dismissively, her face full of disdain.

"So what if Bai Ling is formidable? She's not here right now, is she? Besides, with her temper, what man could stand her?"

"Look at Zhou Feng's conditions. He's the deputy director of three factories and eats meat that costs several hundred yuan per kilogram. What woman wouldn't want to throw herself at a man like that? Anyway, you can forget about it. He wouldn't even look at a widow."

Interrupted by Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi's expression turned somewhat unpleasant, and she began to speak without restraint, getting more and more animated as she went on.

Qin Huairu's eyes reddened from her last sentence, and she sat down silently. Qin Jingru's face was also burning.

Jia Zhangshi simply sat down next to Qin Jingru, took her hand, and said, "Jingru, listen to me, what do we women want in life? Isn't it just someone to rely on? Don't listen to those people who talk about holding up half the sky, we're not cut out for that! If you could be with Zhou Feng, not only would you enjoy a good life, but your parents and sister would all benefit too, wouldn't they?"

She listed all of Qin Jingru's relatives, but didn't mention herself at all.

Anyway, if Qin Jingru and Zhou Feng get together, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law will definitely benefit as well.

"Auntie, I've met Comrade Bai Ling before, she's so beautiful..."

Qin Jingru's voice was barely audible, but Jia Zhangshi slapped her on the shoulder: "What's the use of being pretty? So what if you have a boyfriend?"

"Regardless of whether it's an old or new society, what capable man only has one woman by his side? Let me tell you, with Zhou Feng's qualities, being his mistress is better than finding an ordinary man. Look at these people who earn thirty or forty yuan a month, what kind of life are they living? 7000 yuan is enough for them to earn for a lifetime, and a piece of Zhou Feng's flesh is worth that much!"

It has to be said that this old woman's thinking was decades ahead of its time.

But as a woman born in the Qing Dynasty, the concept of having multiple wives and concubines was far more familiar to her than the so-called monogamy.

People like her would rather be a concubine of an official than a wife who has shared hardship with her husband!

What Jia Zhangshi said was indeed straightforward, but also very true.

The room fell silent.

Qin Huairu opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

At first, she thought her mother-in-law's words were shameless, but after years of raising her family alone, she had to admit that Zhou Feng's conditions were so good that she was jealous!

If she could have that kind of life, she would do anything, even be a maid, let alone a concubine!

It's a pity that Zhou Feng doesn't think much of her, otherwise how could Qin Jingru have gotten her chance?

The latter sat there, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes until they turned white.

Her mind was a jumbled mess. One moment she saw Zhou Feng's smiling face as he taught her how to fry beef, the next she saw the number 350 yuan flashing before her eyes, and then she heard Jia Zhangshi say that being a concubine was better than finding an ordinary man...

She was just a young girl who had just come from the countryside and wanted to marry into the city.

The amount of information that day was so overwhelming that Qin Jingru was finding it difficult to process it all.

"Jingru, it's not that your aunt is pressuring you, but think about what a great opportunity you have with Zhou Feng right now. The other day, Old Man Yan's daughter-in-law even brought her own sister over; you couldn't even get close to her. Aren't you going to make a good impression and make her dependent on you?"

"Once you've actually slept with Zhou Feng, who cares about Bai Ling or Hei Ling? What can she do to you?"

Seeing that Qin Jingru was wavering, Jia Zhangshi pressed her advantage, and her words became increasingly outrageous.

"Auntie, please don't say anymore!"

Qin Jingru was so embarrassed that she covered her face and tried to run away.

Such words are a bit too advanced for a young, unmarried woman.

But Jia Zhangshi grabbed her arm: "Where are you going? I'm telling you the truth. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Qin Jingru didn't answer, forcefully broke free from her hand, and ran out with her head down.

Although she didn't know where she was going, she couldn't stand listening to it anymore.

Only Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu remained in the room.

The latter sighed, "Mom, is this the right way to teach Jingru?"

"What's inappropriate about it?" Jia Zhangshi rolled her eyes at her. "I'm doing this for her own good! Just think about it, if she really went with Zhou Feng, what kind of life would she have? She'd be living the high life, wearing gold and silver, wouldn't that be a million times better than farming in the village?"

"But Zhou Feng might not be willing..."

"Not willing?" Madam Jia snorted. "Men, which one doesn't stray? Besides, Jingru isn't bad-looking at all, she's pretty and charming, not much worse than Bai Ling. As long as she takes the initiative, I don't believe Zhou Feng can resist!"

Having said that, Qin Huairu remained silent.

To be fair, if she had such an opportunity, she would never let it go.

Therefore, she understood that although what her mother-in-law said was unpleasant to hear, it was indeed true.

If a man is capable, he will never lack women around him.

Moreover, someone like Zhou Feng, the deputy director of three factories, eats beef that costs several hundred yuan per kilogram, and his refrigerator contains things that an ordinary person could not earn in a lifetime.

A person like that, let alone Qin Jingru…

Qin Huairu's face flushed slightly, but then turned deathly pale.

In the entire courtyard, who didn't know that Zhou Feng disliked their family?

She offered herself as a bedmate, but he probably wouldn't even look at her.

If she had known that Zhou Feng would appear in the courtyard, how could she have gotten so deeply involved with Sha Zhu, Xu Damao and others?

It's too late to say anything now.

Through the door, Qin Huairu glanced outside and saw her cousin sitting in the yard. She breathed a sigh of relief, then turned back to tidy the quilt on the kang (a heated brick bed): "Alright, Mom, stop talking. Go to sleep early."

Madam Jia grunted in agreement, took off her shoes, and climbed onto the kang (heated brick bed), muttering to herself, "I need to give Jingru a good talking-to; I can't let her miss this good opportunity..."

The lights went out, and the room became dark.

Jia Zhangshi lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), tossing and turning, unable to sleep, her mind filled with the number three hundred and fifty yuan.

She rolled over and nudged Qin Huairu beside her: "Tell me, what exactly does that fish that costs seven thousand yuan a pound taste like?"

Qin Huairu remained silent, pretending to be asleep.

Madam Jia turned over again, muttering to herself, "I wonder if that girl Jingru can seize this opportunity... If she succeeds, our family will be set for life..."

As she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer until it became the sound of even breathing.

You might even dream about that fish.

Early the next morning, Qin Jingru ran to Zhou Feng's door and called out softly twice, but there was no response from inside. Instead, Yu Li walked in from outside.

"Don't call him, he's still not awake at this hour, don't wake him up."

Qin Jingru, who had just realized something, suddenly puffed out her cheeks and looked at Yu Li with an unfriendly expression.

The woman had just reminded Jingru of something, which made Jingru happy, but what she said next made Jingru very unhappy.

Why would a married woman like you care whether Zhou Feng is awake or not?

Yu Li didn't seem to care about Qin Jingru's sudden resistance; instead, she just smiled casually.

"My sister went back yesterday. You don't need to argue with me like this. When Bai Ling comes back, she'll be the real obstacle."

Yesterday afternoon, Yu Li and Yu Haitang had a good chat.

The latter also recognized her own position and Zhou Feng's attitude towards her.

Since the other person had no feelings for her, Yu Haitang didn't need to be so shameless as to keep pestering Zhou Feng.

It's just a bit of a shame that such a good guy can't be with her.

Yu Li has figured out what she should do next.

Regardless of whether she and Yan Jiecheng separate, she and Zhou Feng have no future together.

So why is she getting involved?

Let Qin Jingru compete with Bai Ling!

Given Bai Ling's status and circumstances, Qin Jingru has no chance of winning against her.

But in this situation, if Zhou Feng could also win over Qin Jingru, wouldn't she also have a chance?

Having figured things out, Yu Li's attitude towards Qin Jingru improved.

Who told her that she had no advantage over Bai Ling at all?

It wasn't until noon that Zhou Feng got out of bed to wash up.

Upon opening the door, I saw Yu Li and Qin Jingru chatting.

The latter had just arrived in Beiping and didn't know anyone. She was a simple young girl, and it was incredibly easy for Yu Li to get close to her.

In just half an hour, the two seemed to be inseparable.

In any case, as long as they don't steal her Zhou Feng's brother, they can all be good friends.

After washing up, Zhou Feng waved his hand and said, "Let's go eat at Donglaishun!"

In the original novel, Xu Damao knew to buy Qin Jingru an outfit and take her out to a restaurant.

How could our Comrade Zhou Feng be inferior to Da Mao?

Although Yu Li is here too, it's not like she's missing out on a bite.

He invited them all over, and two beautiful women accompanied him to dinner. Just looking at them made him feel much better.

Qin Jingru, in particular, didn't know much about Beiping City. She had only been there a few times but hadn't really explored it properly or made any purchases.

So, I provided a lot of emotional support along the way with Zhou Feng.

As the saying goes, a man's greatest sense of accomplishment comes from the adoring gaze of a young girl.

There was no rush to eat this meal. Zhou Feng first took Qin Jingru to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought her a bright red woolen coat and a women's watch.

This expense alone made Qin Jingru tremble all over, and her lips even started to quiver.

This watch is quite expensive!

Adding the value of industrial coupons, it would probably take their family more than a year to save up enough work points, excluding food expenses!

That's over 100 yuan!

My left hand unconsciously rose forward, my entire arm stiff, as if afraid that I would fling the watch off my wrist if I moved it.

Before I even left the street, my forehead was already sweating.

"It's not Jingru, it's just a watch, it shouldn't be this serious! What did you eat yesterday, have you forgotten?"

Zhou Feng looked at Qin Jingru, whose walking was becoming increasingly stiff, with amusement.

He hadn't originally planned to buy a watch, but he happened to find the industrial vouchers that Li Huaide had given him yesterday, so he just used them.

After all, he didn't really need to buy anything here.

However, the amount she spent using the industrial vouchers was still quite large for Qin Jingru and Yu Li.

Yu Li definitely didn't understand what Zhou Feng meant by "eat what," but Qin Jingru understood in an instant.

She ate two steaks yesterday that cost over 300 yuan each, so what's a mere 100 yuan watch compared to that?

But... in these two days, she made Zhou Feng spend more than 700 yuan. How is she going to pay it back?