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

Sitting in her chair, Madam Jia glanced at Qin Jingru's state and the alluring look on her face, and an idea immediately formed in her mind. The corners of her lips curled up slightly.

Qin Jingru's legs were still trembling slightly. This young man really put all his strength into her!

At her age, she doesn't have any particular thoughts, but if Qin Huairu notices her, wouldn't she be drooling with envy?

"Jingru, why don't you eat some more?"

Qin Huairu blushed slightly as she looked at her three children, who looked like starving ghosts.

Even if they were afraid Qin Jingru would steal their food, this action was far too obvious.

Moreover, Qin Jingru came from the countryside, and Bang Geng and the others made Qin Huairu feel somewhat ashamed.

"No, no, sis, I've eaten enough today."

When Qin Huairu asked again, Qin Jingru felt her face getting hot.

She really ate a lot today; that scoundrel Zhou Feng even lied to her, saying it was nutritious, with all that protein…

I talked to my mom for so long last night, and I've never heard of anything like this before.

I don't know if he made it up or if he was just deliberately trying to insult people!

However, there was good news: Zhou Feng told her that the action was to help her so that her future children would have more milk to drink.

It's unclear what Zhou Feng was emphasizing in his words, but Qin Jingru clearly focused on the word "child."

Future children…

Doesn't this prove that Brother Zhou Feng doesn't mind having her have his child?

Sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), Qin Jingru imagined the scene of her family of three—herself, Zhou Feng, and her son—and a smile involuntarily spread across her face.

"Mom, what happened to Auntie?"

Xiao Dang tugged at Qin Huairu's sleeve with some curiosity.

From their perspective, after Qin Jingru spoke, she sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and giggled like an idiot—how terrifying!

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Your aunt is just thinking about something."

Qin Huairu touched her daughter's hair, her tone tinged with a hint of emotion.

Who hasn't gone through the stage of teenage romance?

It's a pity that she now has to take care of her mother-in-law and has three young children to feed, so she probably won't have that youthful and innocent feeling anymore.

After the Jia family finished eating, Qin Huairu went to wash the dishes, Banggeng went into the inner room to do his homework, and Xiaodang and Huaihua played in the yard.

Madam Jia sat down next to Qin Jingru and took her hand: "Jingru, your aunt has a few words from the bottom of her heart to say to you."

Qin Jingru looked somewhat bewildered, but still looked up at her and listened attentively.

"From now on, you'll be staying with your auntie. You don't have to worry about anything. If you want to go to Zhou Feng's place, you can go. No one can say anything. Your auntie will cover for you. From now on, this place is your home. Don't be shy about doing anything here."

Madam Jia tried her best to smile as sincerely as possible; she had probably never been so kind in her entire life.

"Oh, Auntie, I know, Brother Zhou Feng told me about it."

"But there's one thing I need to make clear to you: you need to be clear about who's close and who's distant."

Jia Zhangshi's tone suddenly became a little more formal, causing Qin Huairu, who was clearing the dishes, to involuntarily prick up her ears.

Qin Jingru was also a little confused: "Auntie, what do you mean by that?"

She wouldn't allow it if the other party said anything bad about Zhou Feng.

Unexpectedly, Madam Jia pointed at Qin Huairu, who was cleaning, and said, "A woman follows her husband wherever he goes. Since you're with Zhou Feng, you have to follow his lead. Your cousin is your cousin; if she asks you to do something, you have to think it over first. Don't just listen to her every word."

"Well…"

Qin Jingru glanced at Jia Zhangshi, then at Qin Huairu, completely baffled as to what she was up to.

Aren't they from the same family?

Why is Jia Zhangshi telling her to ignore her daughter-in-law?

Qin Huairu, who was still busy, felt a little embarrassed. She glared at the kang (a heated brick bed) but didn't say anything.

Jia Zhangshi sighed inwardly, thinking, "Isn't this just because she's afraid Qin Huairu is too easily swayed?"

If she takes a liking to those supplies and says or does something she shouldn't, then all her good days will be over.

Therefore, she had to take precautions to protect Qin Jingru and prevent that foolish woman from ruining things.

"Mom, will Auntie be living with us from now on?"

Xiao Dang He Huaihua, who had just returned from outside, glanced at Qin Jingru and asked her a question out of curiosity.

"Yes, Auntie will be living with us from now on."

Qin Huairu nodded, and Xiao Dang immediately smiled.

She and Huaihua still liked their aunt very much. After all, their aunt wasn't like their grandmother, who only knew how to praise their brother and looked down on them.

"Great!" Banggeng grinned. "Now I'll have someone to play with!"

Madam Jia stroked her grandson's head, smiling as she gently instructed, "Good boy, you must listen to your aunt from now on, okay?"

As long as I can get along well with Qin Jingru, there won't be any major problems following Zhou Feng's lead.

"Got it!" Banggeng replied crisply.

He agreed, but the kid's eyes kept darting around, as if he was thinking about something.

"My aunt might not have much time to play with you guys in the future. Brother Zhou Feng said that he'll arrange for me to go to the factory in a few days and find me a job that isn't too tiring."

After Qin Huairu married into the Beiping family, everyone in the village would always talk about her cousin who had married into the city whenever they saw her.

Now that she has a powerful backer in Beiping, how can she not show off?

Seeing the astonishment in her cousin's and her mother-in-law's eyes, Qin Jingru felt more comfortable than drinking a glass of ice water on a hot summer day.

"You guys keep going, I'm going to use the restroom outside."

Qin Jingru happily got off the kang (a heated brick bed) and walked outside with a delighted expression.

After they've shown off, we definitely need to give them a private talk so they can have a good look at how envious they are.

Although Qin Jingru had no chance to show off before, she seemed to know this method very well.

Once she was out of sight, Qin Huairu lowered her voice and said, "Mom, don't you think this is a bit of a loss?"

"What did you lose?" Madam Jia straightened up and looked at her.

"Think about it, Zhou Feng is so rich and powerful. We're only giving him some food to take care of Jingru. Isn't that too stingy? He can even arrange a job for Jingru. Maybe I should..."

"What are you talking about tomorrow? Qin Huairu, are you out of your mind?"

Jia Zhangshi's face immediately darkened.

She understood perfectly well what her daughter-in-law was planning.

It's nothing more than hearing that Qin Jingru had a job in the factory that wasn't tiring, and he was envious and wanted to go too.

The key question is, who are you? Do you even deserve to have Zhou Feng arrange a job for you?

If you go to their door with those words, you'll immediately become their enemy!

Qin Huairu trembled as she was scolded: "Mom, I didn't mean to..."

"What are you talking about?" Madam Jia pointed at her nose. "How many times have I told you? For someone of her status, asking for things is the stupidest thing to do!"

"These are important people in the family. The more you ask, the less they want to give. If you don't ask and just do your job well, they'll feel indebted to you and give you even more, understand?"

"Really?" Qin Huairu asked, half believing it.

"Why would I lie to you?" Madam Jia sat down on the edge of the bed. "Think about it, is Zhou Feng someone who lacks anything? What he lacks is someone he can trust. If we take good care of Jingru for him, he'll remember it. Would he ever treat us badly in the future?"

Qin Huairu thought about it and it seemed to make sense.

"Besides," Jia Zhangshi lowered her voice, "we can hold out for a few years and not ask him for anything. When Banggeng grows up, we can have Jingru talk to him and get him a job. Isn't that better than the pittance you're asking for now? You can keep your current job, and then our family will have two jobs!"

Qin Huairu's eyes lit up.

Work!

These days, it's so hard to get a proper job!

If Bang Geng can find a job through Zhou Feng, or even get Zhou Feng to introduce him to the leadership circle, what will he have to worry about in the future?

"Mom, you're right!" Qin Huairu nodded repeatedly. "I was too shrewd."

If it were just about herself, Qin Huairu might still be somewhat dissatisfied, or even want to refute it.

But when the topic turned to sticks, Qin Huairu had no other thoughts.

"It's good that you know." Madam Jia stood up. "Alright, stop thinking about those things. Taking good care of Jingru is more important than anything else."

Qin Huairu responded and turned to leave.

It's so dark outside! What if Jingru can't see the road when she comes back? She has to go pick her up!

The next morning, Qin Jingru came to Zhou Feng's house early and prepared breakfast for him.

Zhou Feng didn't even lock the door last night so that she could come in easily.

She also consciously tiptoed around so as not to disturb Zhou Feng's rest.

But when another figure appeared at the door, both of their expressions changed simultaneously.

Bai Ling wore a slight sneer, while Qin Jingru seemed a little flustered.

After all, the former was the wife candidate Zhou Feng had mentioned, while she was just the one who took the initiative to become a mistress.

"Sister Bai Ling...you...you're here too! I was making breakfast..."

Qin Jingru's face turned pale, and she didn't even know what to say. She just stiffly continued preparing breakfast.

Bai Ling forced a smile, walked into the kitchen, and said softly, "Comrade Jingru, let's have a talk..."

The two whispered to each other in the kitchen, and soon the white porridge was cooked, and the bacon and eggs were fried. Bai Ling prepared the eight-treasure dish again and fried a few corn pancakes. Zhou Feng then opened his eyes in a daze.

I just woke up and I'm still a little hungry.

"You're here so early, Kyo... eh?"

Zhou Feng only saw Qin Jingru at first glance, but before he could finish speaking, his gaze swept to Bai Ling behind her, and he froze on the spot.

What's going on?

How did they end up bumping into each other?

Creating this kind of chaotic scene first thing in the morning, huh?

After a few awkward seconds, Zhou Feng cleared his throat, got out of bed as if nothing had happened, dressed himself, and calmly went to the yard to wash up.

In this situation, as long as he isn't embarrassed, then the other two are the ones who will be embarrassed!

Qin Jingru and Bai Ling exchanged a glance, and a smile appeared on their lips at the same time.

Although Zhou Feng had just pretended to be very calm, you could tell from his walking posture and facial expression that he was still just putting on a show of composure.

Who told him to have so many ideas and take advantage of the two of them? It's only right to embarrass him a little.

Normally, Zhou Feng's washing up takes only three or four minutes, but today it took him more than ten minutes before he casually walked back from the yard.

"Let's eat..."

Zhou Feng coughed lightly, looked at the two women sitting side by side opposite him, and then lowered his head to drink his congee.

Are the two of them really that close?

Shouldn't things be tense at this point, with him mediating and the two eventually accepting each other, and him then embracing both women?

What's the situation now?

Did they successfully win each other over?

The atmosphere during breakfast for the three of them was incredibly strange.

To be honest, no one responded to Zhou Feng's words the entire time. Even when Qin Jingru tried to speak, Bai Ling would pull her back from under the table.

To be honest, the two women were chatting and laughing, but no one paid any attention to Zhou Feng.

However, none of that matters.

As long as the two of them don't fight when they meet, I'll not only ignore Zhou Feng, I'll even make him abstain from sex for a month... a week... a day!

After breakfast, Bai Ling left the courtyard to attend to her own business. Qin Jingru quietly tidied up the room.

Zhou Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief, put his arm around the girl from behind, and whispered in her ear, "What were you two talking about? Why were you ignoring me?"

"No...no, Sister Bai Ling said I can't tell you!"

Although Qin Jingru's pretty face was flushed with embarrassment, she still puffed out her cheeks and reached out to push Zhou Feng's hand down, who had already started climbing.

Now that she knew Bai Ling's attitude, she felt much more relaxed, at least she wouldn't worry about being bullied or suppressed by the other party!

At first, she wasn't that scared.

Back at home, Qin's mother told her all night about the treatment of concubines in the old society, which was simply horrifying.

As the two were whispering sweet nothings to each other, a knock came at the door, followed by a familiar voice and name.

"Boss, is the boss home? This is Ma Yingjie!"

Zhou Feng raised an eyebrow, released Qin Jingru, then helped her button up her clothes before walking to the door and opening it.

Upon seeing Zhou Feng, Ma Yingjie quickly bowed and greeted him. Although Qin Jingru, whose face was flushed, was behind Zhou Feng, he seemed not to see her, only wearing a fawning smile on his face: "Factory Director, I've come to report to you on my work."

This is what Li Huaide once taught him: a qualified assistant should not look at things he shouldn't look at, not remember things he shouldn't know, and not listen to things he shouldn't listen to.

"What happened at the factory?"

Zhou Feng remembered that Ma Yingjie had already been hired, but he was not required to handle any of the factory's operations or logistics. He would only be needed when the factory's machinery and equipment needed repair or application.

"No...no, it's just that our hatchery's first batch of broiler chickens has been harvested, so the factory wanted to let you know!"

Ma Yingjie's face showed a hint of excitement. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that there were chickens that could be ready for slaughter so quickly!