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

After Qin Jingru finished her work, Zhou Feng gestured with his chin toward the inner room: "Come in, I have something to tell you."

Qin Jingru obediently followed Zhou Feng into the inner room, her heart suddenly pounding.

The girl had just given herself away and was on the verge of panic, her mind involuntarily starting to wander.

Zhou Feng didn't pay attention to any of that. Instead, he went to his bedside table, unlocked it, and pulled out a wallet.

It's called a wallet, but it's actually more like a crossbody bag, as it's stuffed full.

After unzipping the bag, you'll find stacks of bills, all sorts of colorful ones.

Qin Jingru stood by the bed, dumbfounded, her eyes wide open. She had never seen so much money in her entire life.

Zhou Feng counted out a dozen or so large unity bills and then 20 five-yuan bills, holding the thick stack of money in his hand.

Immediately afterwards, he took out a piece of cloth from the cabinet, wrapped the wallet in it, tied a knot, clipped it with a clip, and placed it by the bedside.

Qin Jingru stood there blankly, watching his actions, not knowing what he meant.

After finishing the cloth bag, Zhou Feng brought in a whole pork belly from the outer room. It weighed about ten pounds, tied with straw rope, and was marbled with fat and lean meat.

Seeing that he had prepared so many things, Qin Jingru felt not excitement, but rather increasing panic.

"Brother Zhou Feng, what are you doing...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Feng had already piled the money and meat in front of her: "Go back to the countryside today."

Qin Jingru's face changed instantly, turning completely pale, and her lips began to tremble.

"Go...go back to where in the countryside?" Her voice trembled slightly.

"Go back to your own home."

Zhou Feng looked slightly puzzled: "Aren't your parents still in the countryside? Take these things back with you."

As he spoke, he looked up at Qin Jingru and was immediately startled.

The girl's face had turned deathly pale, and tears streamed down her face.

"You...you don't want me anymore?" Her voice trembled with tears, and her whole body shook. "I knew it...I knew it...did you think I was that kind of easy girl last night? Did you think I was dirty? That I was shameless?"

She became more and more agitated as she spoke, tears streaming down her face, her voice cracking.

"Brother Zhou Feng, I admit I was shameless last night, but it was all in my heart! Please don't send me away, don't make me go back to the countryside, okay?"

As she spoke, she squatted down, buried her face in her knees, and cried so hard that her shoulders trembled.

Zhou Feng paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Who said I don't want you anymore?"

Qin Jingru raised her head, her face covered in tears, her eyes red, and looked at Zhou Feng.

Zhou Feng squatted down to look her in the eye and reached out to wipe away her tears: "I told you to go back to the countryside and deliver the things to your parents, I didn't say you couldn't come back. After you've delivered them, come back to the city, and I'll arrange a job for you."

Qin Jingru's crying stopped abruptly.

She stared at Zhou Feng with wide eyes, tears still clinging to her eyelashes and snot bubbles hanging from her nose, and asked blankly, "What...what did you say?"

"I told you, take your things home and come back, and I'll arrange a job for you."

Zhou Feng repeated, "Now that you have a job in the city, you can legitimately find a place to live. You can't keep living at your sister's place, can you? What am I supposed to do if you go back to your sister's?"

Qin Jingru's face flushed red again.

If Zhou Feng had said these words before today, she might not have understood them.

But once the deed was done, Zhou Feng's intentions were crystal clear to her.

"I...I thought you were telling me to go back to the countryside to get rid of me."

"Why would I kick you out? It was dark yesterday, and it was a last-minute decision, so I didn't perform well. We'll have a proper showdown when you get back."

These words made Qin Jingru feel uneasy, her face burning and even slightly stinging.

After their relationship changed, Zhou Feng's attitude towards her changed dramatically.

The two had gotten along well before, but Zhou Feng's attitude was mostly polite, unlike now, where although there was more teasing, it made people feel closer to him.

"You...how can you talk so rudely now..."

Qin Jingru muttered to herself, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, and she couldn't suppress her smile.

Tears were still on her face; she was crying and laughing at the same time, just like a child.

"Alright, stop crying."

Zhou Feng put the piece of pork belly in a plastic bag, then put it in a canvas bag, and had Qin Jingru carry it.

The cash was hidden inside the zipper on the inside of the canvas bag. He showed Qin Jingru how to open and close it before letting her leave.

"Take your things, leave early, and come back early. When you get back, come straight to me so I can arrange accommodation for you."

Qin Jingru stood at the doorway, carrying the cloth bag, peering into the house. Tears still streamed down her face, but this time they weren't from sadness, but from joy.

After staring at Zhou Feng for a while, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but a thousand words stuck in her throat, and in the end she could only manage to squeeze out one sentence.

"Brother Zhou Feng, I'll follow you for the rest of my life. If you tell me to go east, I'll never go west. Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it."

She paused, then added, "If you don't believe me, I'll take my heart out and show it to you."

Although this era didn't have the same "laughing at poverty but not prostitution" mentality as later generations, Qin Jingru absolutely believed that a man who could spend hundreds of yuan on her—what else could it be but love?

Zhou Feng waved his hand dismissively: "Alright, enough of that nonsense. Hurry up and pack your things. While it's still early, take a car back. Be careful on the road, and don't let anyone see your belongings."

Although the countryside wasn't entirely peaceful, the safety of taking a bus around Beiping (Beijing) was generally guaranteed.

Qin Jingru nodded vigorously, tightened the strap of her canvas bag, and just as she reached the hanging flower gate, she suddenly ran back a few steps.

She stood on tiptoe and gave Zhou Feng a big kiss on the cheek before leaving his room with a smile.

"Hey! You're trying to take advantage of me!"

Zhou Feng stood at the door, watching her run out of the yard, touched the spot where he had been kissed, and suddenly a helpless smile appeared on his face.

Just then, he noticed two people standing in the corner out of the corner of his eye.

Yu Li and Yan Jiecheng had just come out of the back room and were originally planning to go to Auntie San's place to sit and chat.

After all, Yan Jiecheng had been missing for so many days and had just returned. It was so late last night, and there were many things we didn't have time to say.

As soon as the two stepped out, they saw Qin Jingru. Before Yu Li could even greet her, Qin Jingru turned around and ran back inside.

Then comes the scene where Zhou Feng is taken advantage of.

Yan Jiecheng wished he could saw off his own legs. Why was he walking so fast?

I was completely panicked, and sweat was streaming down my forehead.

He caught Zhou Feng and Qin Jingru in the act; is Zhou Feng going to hire someone to kill him to silence him?

On the contrary, Yu Li's eyes lit up.

Unexpectedly, Qin Jingru acted so quickly, even directly intercepting Comrade Bai Ling!

Whether it's Qin Jingru and the other woman vying for a man, or Zhou Feng choosing Qin Jingru, the difficulty for her to join in the future has been reduced by more than 90%!

Moreover, Yu Li knew perfectly well what was going on in her heart.

She wasn't there to break up other people's relationships; she was there to join them.

Persuading Qin Jingru is much easier than persuading Bai Ling!

"You... need something?"

Seeing the two of them standing there without saying a word, their expressions constantly changing, Zhou Feng asked out of curiosity.

He didn't care what would happen if Qin Jingru were discovered by these people. On the contrary, the couple kept providing him with emotional support, which made him feel even happier.

"Ah...ah? It's nothing, it's nothing! I just got something in my eye, Yu Li, could you take me inside and blow it out for me?"

Yan Jiecheng suddenly closed his eyes; he had never felt his mind working so fast before.

What Zhou Feng? What Qin Jingru?

He couldn't see anything; his eyes were blinded by the sandstorm!

Yu Li directly dodged his hand that was trying to grab her, and replied irritably, "Go inside first and let your mom blow on it for you. I have things to do!"

This is happening right in front of Zhou Feng. If Yan Jiecheng grabs her arm, how will she be able to work with Zhou Feng in the future?

Yan Jiecheng was completely stunned. He squinted and glanced at Yu Li out of the corner of his eye, wishing he could turn around and punch her twice.

Can't you see how embarrassed you are right now?

You can't even cooperate with him on something this simple!

But since we've already started pretending, we can only keep pretending to the end.

He simply closed his eyes and felt his way home along the base of the wall.

My hands were scribbling on the wall, and my feet were sinking into the mud.

Fortunately, his parents' house was right next to the front yard, and he found the door after some searching, but he almost tripped over the threshold and fell flat on his face.

Yu Li didn't leave; she stood by the hanging flower gate with a smile on her face.

"Comrade Zhou Feng. That room... would you like me to tidy it up for you?"

Yu Li's words carried a hint of probing.

Zhou Feng glanced up at her, but before he could speak, Yu Li quickly added, "You haven't washed your bedding all winter. I'm just sitting here anyway, so why don't I tidy it up for you?"

Qin Jingru's successful snatching of the prize truly excited her.

Zhou Feng didn't respond, but sighed casually.

Yesterday, Qin Jingru and I had quite a bit of fun, and I'm still in a post-coital state.

So even though Yu Li was quite pretty, Zhou Feng had already relaxed his guard.

I feel so lazy, all I want to do is lie on the bed and do nothing, think about nothing.

If I can fall asleep, I'll sleep; if I can't, I'll play on my phone for a while.

"No need," Zhou Feng waved his hand. "I can handle it myself later. You go ahead with your work."

Yu Li's smile froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered: "How can that be? You're a cadre, how can I trouble you with such a small matter? I'm quick and efficient, I'll finish it in no time."

As she spoke, she actually took a step forward, as if to go inside.

Zhou Feng turned sideways and silently blocked the doorway.

This block makes the meaning clear.

Yu Li stopped in her tracks immediately.

She looked up at Zhou Feng, and Zhou Feng looked down at her. The two stared at each other for a moment.

Zhou Feng's face was expressionless; he showed neither anger nor impatience, just a very calm demeanor.

Yu Li bit her lip, her eyes darted around, and suddenly smiled: "Alright then, I won't bother you any longer. Just let me know whenever you're ready to tidy up."

"Um."

Yu Li turned to leave, but after taking two steps, she stopped, turned back, and asked casually, "Comrade Zhou Feng, did Jingru go back to her hometown?"

As Zhou Feng turned around, he hummed in agreement.

This gave Yu Li a clear idea of ​​what was going on.

She was too anxious just now, which is why she couldn't think things through.

Zhou Feng must have just confirmed his relationship with Qin Jingru last night. It's only been one night, and she's being so enthusiastic. She definitely can't accept it.

We're still too hasty; we need to take things slowly and methodically.

"Forget it, no rush." ​​Yu Li cheered herself up in her heart. "Qin Jingru succeeded because she's young, pretty, and proactive. I'm different; I have my own path."

Thinking of this, she remembered Yan Jiecheng.

That coward was so scared when he saw Zhou Feng and Qin Jingru that he didn't dare open his eyes and even asked her to blow on them for him.

Bullshit!

"Coward," Yu Li muttered under her breath, and stepped into the door of the Third Aunt's house.

The three aunts and Yan Jiecheng were talking inside the house when they saw Yu Li come in, and neither of them gave her a friendly look.

Although the Special Operations Division forbids Yan Jiecheng from discussing Zhou Feng with his family, he can still talk about Yu Li's failure to help him out of the predicament.

What kind of wife is this? She doesn't cooperate with him at all when they're out together!

What's even more infuriating is that she won't let him touch her at all, even at home!

The couple lived like strangers, even separated by a curtain between their beds.

Of course, it's not good to tell his mother about this, otherwise the whole family will think that he, the eldest son, is incompetent.

In fact, Yan Jiecheng was overthinking it. Even if he didn't say it, his family members all thought he was incompetent.

Qin Jingru, carrying a canvas bag, came out of the courtyard, walked through the alley, and headed towards the main street.

The sun is already up, and people are coming and going in the alley.

Qin Jingru walked with her head down, the blush on her face still lingering, but the corners of her mouth kept turning up, she couldn't suppress it.

I feel like laughing after walking a few steps, but after laughing I feel silly and I try to purse my lips, but after a while I can't stop laughing.

But after walking a few steps, he started reaching behind him again, as if afraid that someone was eyeing his bag.

This bag contains several hundred yuan and about ten kilograms of meat. Anyone would be worried if they were in this bag.

As I was walking, I heard someone call out from the opposite direction, "Hey, isn't this Jingru?"

Qin Jingru looked up and her heart skipped a beat.

The one walking over is Jia Zhangshi!

Others may not know what happened yesterday, but Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu certainly do, since she didn't come home all night.

What happened? How could those two widows not know?

"Auntie, you just got back?"

Qin Jingru asked a question, feigning calmness.

Jia Zhangshi looked him up and down, glancing at the bag before looking at the person.

The canvas packaging was bulging, clearly indicating that there were quite a lot of things inside.

The next second, the old lady's eyes moved to Qin Huairu's face, and she immediately understood what was going on.

Qin Jingru's face was fair with a rosy glow, her eyes were watery, and her eyes and brows had an indescribable charm.

Her eyes and brows were brimming with spring, and her face was radiant with peach blossoms.

That was an expression that only those who had been through it could understand!