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

"Zhou Feng! You're kicking me when I'm done with it, aren't you?!"

Xu Damao jumped up from his chair, his face red with anger.

"So you think my reputation, Xu Damao's, isn't worth this much? Let me tell you! Without me, you wouldn't even know which way Deputy Factory Director Li's office faces! You want to be a purchasing agent? Keep dreaming!"

"What's with all this talk about saving face? Who's got the nerve to want to take over the steel rolling mill?"

Just as Xu Damao was still shouting, Yan Bugui walked in from outside with a smile, carrying a cloth bag.

Looking at the scene inside the room and seeing Xu Damao's cockfighting-like appearance, he instantly guessed the situation with a high degree of accuracy.

Pushing up his glasses that had slipped down to the bridge of his nose, Yan Bugui asked with feigned curiosity, "Da Mao, what incredible favor did you do for Zhou Feng? The whole courtyard could hear you."

Xu Damao was already angry, and now that Yan Bugui had come over to talk to him, he had become the perfect person to confide in, and his tone was also a little boastful.

"This morning, I took Zhou Feng to see Deputy Factory Director Li, and then we took him into the steel rolling mill together."

"Deputy Factory Director Li is willing to give Zhou Feng a chance because of me, and will arrange a purchasing position for him in our steel rolling mill."

"Uncle, you be the judge! I helped him so much, is it too much to ask for a reward? That purchasing agent only earns forty-three yuan a month!"

Listening to Xu Damao's constant complaints, Yan Bugui's small eyes were practically overflowing with suspicion.

We've all lived together in the same courtyard for so many years, everyone knows each other's capabilities!

How could Xu Damao, a movie projectionist, possibly have the ability to arrange purchasing positions?

"A purchasing agent's job certainly involves more than just these, but Da Mao..."

Yan Bugui slowly drew out a word, his tone tinged with sarcasm: "It's not that I don't believe you, but how can a projectionist from the propaganda department have the ability to arrange purchasing personnel?"

"If Zhou Feng's matter succeeds, it'll be because he has connections or took a different path! You, at most, just... pointed him in the right direction?"

"Hey! Old Man Yan, you cheapskate!"

Yan Bugui's words made Xu Damao so angry that he shouted out his nickname and almost poked Yan Bugui's nose with his finger.

"So you all think I, Xu Damao, am just bragging here, huh!"

"I didn't say that!"

Yan Bugui spread his hands, turned to Zhou Feng, and changed the subject: "Zhou Feng, come on over to my house? I've got everything ready for you."

The latter nodded in agreement, then looked at Xu Damao and directly told him to leave.

"Brother Da Mao, I'm going out now, what do you think..."

Xu Damao felt a surge of anger rush to his head, and he felt like his lungs were about to explode!

He originally intended to turn around and leave, but when his eyes fell on the glistening piece of pork belly on the table, he hesitated for a second, then grabbed it fiercely and stormed out of Zhou Feng's room.

He wouldn't even look at those two eggs!

Lou Xiao'e returned home in a rage. She was still cooking when she heard Xu Damao slam the door shut with a loud bang, which startled her so much that she almost threw the spatula into the pot.

"Who is she talking to? Why is she so angry!"

"Who else? Zhou Feng from the front yard, and Old Man Yan!"

Xu Damao plopped down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), panting heavily with anger.

"Zhou Feng? I remember you two used to get along quite well, you were getting things from him every day."

Lou Xiao'e looked curious. Although she and Zhou Feng didn't usually interact much, she had seen his performance at both of the college-wide assemblies.

In this unchanging courtyard house, Zhou Feng stands out as quite unique.

"Nice my foot! I'll deliver the things he accepts, what's wrong with accepting a little rice or noodles from him!"

"I helped Zhou Feng so much, and he's such an ingrate, kicking me while I'm down! And that stingy Yan, he's so condescending!"

Hearing Xu Damao's words, Lou Xiao'e frowned, scooped the food out of the pot, and turned to look at her husband.

Xu Damao's abilities are unknown to others, but doesn't she know them all?

Zhou Feng is someone who can get so many supplies, what could Xu Damao possibly help him with?

"Hmph, this morning I..."

In front of his wife, Xu Damao repeated his "great achievements" of the day.

This time, they added a "little" embellishment, ultimately making it sound as if Deputy Factory Director Li was their grandson, and whatever he said was law.

Lou Xiao'e's brows furrowed deeper as she listened. She was no ordinary housewife; having come from a capitalist family, she understood the importance of relationships and face much better.

"Da Mao..."

Lou Xiao'e sighed, her tone tinged with helplessness.

"I'm not trying to be mean, but even though I don't know Deputy Factory Director Li personally, he's still a deputy factory director. Do you think you can just talk to him like that?"

"Besides, that purchasing position is a lucrative one. You think you can get it done with just a word, and even arrange for Zhou Feng to get it? Do you even believe that yourself?"

"If you ask me, it's probably Zhou Feng who arranged things himself. Don't try to make yourself look good."

Bang!

Xu Damao slammed his hand on the table beside him, stood up, pointed at Lou Xiao'e, and his face turned a deep purplish-red with anger.

"You...you don't believe me either, do you?"

This was the final straw that broke Xu Damao's spirits.

He had been upset outside and was hoping that Lou Xiao'e would comfort him when he got home, but he never expected that his own wife would undermine him!

"Da Mao, it's not that I don't believe you, I mean..."

"Alright! Stop talking!"

Lou Xiao'e wanted to explain something, but Xu Damao rudely interrupted her, his chest heaving violently.

"You all think I, Xu Damao, am useless, right? You all think that kid Zhou Feng is capable, right? Fine! Very well!"

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river! We'll see!"

He left behind a harsh remark, glared fiercely at Lou Xiao'e, turned and left the house, leaving Lou Xiao'e alone sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) sighing silently.

Meanwhile, Yan Bugui quickly chased his son, daughter-in-law, and daughter out of his house, even his third aunt was driven outside, before unlocking the lock on a small cabinet in the inner room.

Inside were several fine pieces of folk kiln porcelain and an old inkstone. Yan Bugui had specifically inquired about these items, and they were definitely antiques!

As for the other treasures he kept hidden in the cabinet, he didn't hide them from Zhou Feng, since he believed Zhou Feng wouldn't care about his paltry possessions.

After all, the supplies that Zhou Feng had exchanged were worth far more than his own.

Now that they've taken on purchasing duties, they have no interest in his little trinket.

On the contrary, he should hurry up and get more things back. In case Zhou Feng gets busy with factory affairs and puts aside the matter of old items, where will he get so many scarce materials?