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

"What do you mean by exchanging grain? Grain isn't something you can just exchange so easily!"

Zhou Feng glared at Xu Damao and retorted irritably. The latter didn't care at all, but instead, his eyes darted around and he immediately found another excuse.

"Yes, yes, how could it be exchanging grain? We're all neighbors, and since you like those old things, it's only right that we help you find some!"

"If we ever run out of food, it would be only natural for you to lend a hand."

This made Zhou Feng look at him with some surprise.

You know what, Xu Damao is really quick-witted. Before Zhou Feng could even prepare his explanation, he had already given him a way out.

"Like this thing, how much can you help me out with in the future?"

Xu Damao was pointing at the colorful porcelain hat stand that Zhou Feng had previously taken back from Uncle Cha.

"Fifteen catties of rice, plus five eggs."

"What about those carved chairs by the wall?"

"It depends on the exquisiteness of the carvings, the age of the piece, and the material. A good one could cost as much as thirty catties of rice, and I also have a piece of fat about two fingers wide."

Zhou Feng didn't intend to hide it from Xu Damao. After all, when it comes to the scope of his popularity and abilities, he was much wider than Yan Bugui!

If Xu Damao could help, the collection of these old items would be several times faster!

"Oh! You should have said so earlier!"

Xu Damao's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh: "My wife Lou Xiao'e's family may not have much else, but they have a lot of old things! I'll bring a few pieces for you to see another day?"

The other two quickly walked over: "Comrade Zhou Feng, we also have some interesting things at home. Let's go get them for you to take a look!"

Yan Bugui panicked upon hearing this and quickly stepped in front of them: "Zhou Feng, I was the one who first introduced you to this! We..."

"Don't worry, Uncle!" Zhou Feng smiled. "We'll each keep our own accounts. We'll still do what we always have, you won't be shortchanged!"

Seeing the group leave, clearly displeased with each other, a slight smile curved at the corner of Zhou Feng's lips.

It's good that they're rolled up; only when they're rolled up can we get more!

"Aren't they condoning the evils of capitalism? I certainly can't let Zhou Feng disrupt the atmosphere of our courtyard house like this!"

After leaving the courtyard, Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu walked on the main road toward the steel rolling mill, with Sha Zhu muttering to himself.

Today, Zhou Feng came out with a kitchen knife and berated him and the old man, making him lose face in front of everyone, especially Qin Huairu!

How could this courtyard war god pretend nothing happened? He had to get rid of this guy and make him lose face like this!

Qin Huairu sighed inwardly, praying that Sha Zhu wouldn't cause any trouble.

If Zhou Feng decides to stop accepting the rice and flour, then the hard-won extra way to get rice and flour will be completely blocked!

If it's about collecting old items, she might not be unable to find them outside; she could even ask her father to help search for them in the countryside.

After all, during the chaos of war more than a decade ago, many urban families fled to the countryside, and they should have had a considerable amount of stock!

"Zhu Zi, after all, you're neighbors. Don't go too far with Zhou Feng. You'll see each other all the time, so let's try to keep things peaceful!"

After thinking for a few seconds, she still spoke up to persuade Sha Zhu, lest he really think of reporting Zhou Feng.

Sha Zhu turned and stared blankly at Qin Huairu for a long while, then gave her a thumbs up: "Sister Qin, it has to be you! Zhou Feng did such a despicable thing, and you still say such things. You're so kind! I'll listen to you and ignore him!"

After seeing these people off, Zhou Feng reluctantly took out a towel and soap from the room to tidy himself up.

Sometimes it's not that he wants to provoke anyone, but rather that Sha Zhu and his gang come to him on their own initiative!

In the distance, an older woman helped a deaf old lady out of the backyard for a stroll, and they happened to see Zhou Feng washing up.

"Grandma, what do you think Zhou Feng does? Not only can he exchange so many things, but he's also so particular about washing his face. Look at his soap, it's quite nice, and he even has a special box for it. I've never seen anything like it before. It's really an eye-opener."

An older woman was muttering to the deaf old lady next to her. Although she hadn't come to the front yard to watch the commotion that morning, she still knew that her husband, Lao Yi, had been scolded by Zhou Feng.

This made her feel a little dissatisfied with Zhou Feng, this young man.

Even the best-natured person has different levels of closeness and distance. How could she not be upset when Zhou Feng publicly criticized the man she had lived with for decades in front of so many people?

"Heh, young people these days have a lot more exposure to the world, it's normal for us women not to know."

The deaf old lady gave a casual reply, without expressing any opinion on Zhou Feng.

Having lived to such an old age, she has seen all sorts of people, regardless of their organization, identity, or even nationality.

But Zhou Feng, she really couldn't see through him after observing him for several days!

Whether it's his daily life and speaking habits, or his most basic attitude towards others, he is completely different from the people in this courtyard.

There may be respect, but it's definitely not much.

Moreover, Zhou Feng thought that no one else knew about his exchange of supplies with Yan Bugui, but how could these aunties and grandmas who wandered around the yard all the time not have noticed what was going on between them!

It's just that no one will point it out to their face.

But to the deaf old lady, Zhou Feng's identity was strange in every way.

These days, there are definitely people who can afford to exchange so many resources for those so-called "old items," but they are definitely not the residents living in their courtyard houses!

Then Zhou Feng's identity is questionable.

Who is he working for?

Why are the people behind him collecting these old items?

Based on this old lady's many years of experience, her most cherished belief can be summed up in four words: "prudent self-preservation."

Don't look at things you can't see clearly, don't think about things you can't understand, and resolutely don't participate in things that seem mysterious!

The right way is to follow your heart and seek benefit while avoiding harm!

So, even though her eldest grandson went to cause trouble for Zhou Feng, and her eldest son also went to help, this old lady remained calm and composed.

Even when an older woman tried to stir things up, she didn't agree with her and even casually sided with Zhou Feng and refuted him.

Immediately afterwards, the old lady switched to her "pretend to be deaf and dumb" mode, ignoring whatever the older woman was saying.

Even as the two of them passed by Zhou Feng, who was washing up, the old lady didn't even glance at him and walked right past him.

When the older woman helped the deaf old lady across, Zhou Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

He can openly confront Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai, and when he gets carried away, he even dares to use a knife.

However, he was still a little intimidated by this kind of old lady and didn't want to provoke her directly.

This kind of person is like a toad crawling on your foot; it doesn't bite, but it's annoying.

Even if you just touch her lightly, or even just say something harsh, she will fall to the ground.

Regardless of whether it requires a significant price to resolve, doing it this way will only make you feel incredibly annoyed.

Only after the two women left the courtyard did the deaf old lady look at the middle-aged woman and say seriously, "Go back and tell Xiao Yi, don't mess with this Zhou Feng if you don't have to!"

"Okay, I... I understand."

The older woman nodded. She didn't know what the deaf old lady meant, but it would be fine to relay the words to Yi Zhonghai verbatim.