Courtyard House: My System - Artificial Human

Full of energy after a good meal, Bai Ling attempted to conquer Lin Weidong by taking the lead.

Lin Weidong rested his head on his arm, squinted his eyes, and conserved his energy, waiting for the opportunity to launch a counterattack.

For the sake of a happy life on the fifteenth night, he must teach Bai Ling a lesson tonight.

……

Adults' entertainment activities are not exactly scarce, but they are not abundant either... in this era.

The next day, Lin Weidong, who had returned to the courtyard house first, pushed his bicycle out of the courtyard.

Just then, I saw Yi Zhonghai yawning as he went out to empty the chamber pot.

Compared to a while ago, the dark circles under his eyes are much more pronounced.

I reckon he studied hard last night.

But Lao Yi... no matter how hard you try, it will all be in vain!

"Going to work, Xiao Lin? Your jobs as cadres are so stable. Mine just disappears like that, sigh!"

When they met, Yi Zhonghai maintained a superficial greeting, ensuring that he didn't give anyone cause for gossip in the bustling courtyard.

Her words, however, turned the tables on Lin Weidong, as if she herself had been bullied.

"Of course I have to go to work! I'm not as carefree as you, Master Yi. I heard the old lady gave you some more money. When are you going to treat everyone in the courtyard to a meal again?"

Lin Weidong retorted, diverting everyone's attention before leaving.

"It's borrowed, it's borrowed!" Yi Zhonghai's face stiffened instantly as he forced an explanation to the crowd looking at him.

Is he being cool? Damn, there's nothing he can do about it, okay?

Ignoring the strange looks from the people in the courtyard, Yi Zhonghai hurriedly emptied the chamber pot, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

His reputation is now extremely bad.

Rumors are already circulating in the neighborhood that he, despite being an orphan, is taking advantage of the deaf old woman, who is also an orphan!

Yi Zhonghai was indignant. How could this be called taking advantage of someone who had no family to support them? Hadn't he taken care of the deaf old lady?

She's an old woman with bound feet; she can't even carry all the grain she buys back. What's the point of keeping that money?

"It's alright, Lao Yi, why bother with their opinions? They're just sour grapes!"

Inside the house, Gao Cuilan, who was gradually getting used to her current lifestyle, saw Yi Zhonghai getting ready to go to the grain store to make a show of going and couldn't help but offer a word of advice.

Yi Zhonghai wasn't just putting on an act; he was genuinely prepared to make money.

He gave a perfunctory reply, then grabbed a piece of cornbread, munched on it, and headed out the door.

What he values ​​most in his life is his reputation. He can have a bad reputation, but he can't give up on it!

Maintenance is still necessary when needed.

Moreover, most of the money he got from the old deaf man was used to buy medicine; the real expense would be when his son was born.

However, he is not too worried, as he now has two jobs.

His main job was moving sacks, and his side job was introducing clients to He Daqing and getting kickbacks from them.

The Lantern Festival is just around the corner, and there will be many families in need! He needs to reach out to them as soon as possible.

……

At the steel rolling mill, Liu Haizhong was serious and, in his spare time, he was also teaching Jia Dongxu how to be a skilled forger.

He is now a certified Level 4 worker.

His salary increased by four yuan compared to before, but this was not the most gratifying thing for him, because all workers who were promoted in the assessment also received a raise.

What truly pleased Liu Haizhong was that, after his worker grade was clearly defined, as a fourth-grade worker, he had become a pillar of the workshop.

Those of lower rank than him usually greet him politely as "Master Liu".

It sounds much better than the old ways of addressing him, like "Little Liu" or "Old Liu".

This gave Liu Haizhong the illusion that he had become an official, and he felt even more grateful to Lin Weidong for letting him go this time.

During lunch, he remembered his promise to Lin Weidong and felt anxious because he had not taken any action yet.

Previously, he could use the excuse of being busy preparing for the assessment, but now he has no reason not to do anything. In the past week or two, Lin Weidong has hardly paid any attention to him. Doesn't that mean he already has a problem with him?

Liu Haizhong was so worried that he couldn't eat. He asked his apprentice about the surveillance situation.

Jia Dongxu took a couple of bites of stir-fried cabbage before finally preparing his report.

"Before, he was either brewing medicine or trying to curry favor with the deaf old lady in the courtyard. I don't know much about his behavior when he goes out, but don't worry, Master, I've arranged for someone to keep an eye on him! I'll ask him when I get home after get off work and let you know."

Jia Dongxu wasn't just making excuses or lying. He now not only has his mother keeping an eye on him and helping him out, but also Sha Zhu, who came to him seeking cooperation, to lend a hand.

However, considering that his master and the He family were not on good terms, Jia Dongxu did not bring up the matter of Sha Zhu.

……

When Jia Dongxu got home from get off work in the evening, he first asked his mother about the situation.

"Same as always! Dongxu, when do you guys pay salaries?"

Madam Jia didn't pay any attention to it, and after giving a perfunctory answer, she immediately asked about the matter she was concerned about.

"It's still early, Mother. Why are you asking such questions? You need to pay attention to the things I'm telling you; this is to avenge my master!"

Jia Dongxu left helplessly, placing his hopes on Sha Zhu, and went out with half a pack of cigarettes in his pocket.

After exchanging a glance, the two left the courtyard house one after the other, and found a corner outside to hide and whisper to each other.

"I've been following him around for half the day. You wouldn't believe how two-faced Yi Zhonghai is. He doesn't work hard at the grain store at all; he just chats around with people!"

After listening, Jia Dongxu silently analyzed the situation, while He Yuzhu spoke anxiously.

"Hey, do you think Yi Zhonghai is plotting something again? Why don't we strike first, put a sack over his head, and give him a good beating?"

He Yuzhu harbored deep resentment towards Yi Zhonghai and didn't take his father He Daqing's instructions that day to heart at all.

He not only continued his mission and recruited Jia Dongxu, successfully completing the surveillance task, but also helped devise strategies.

However, his plan... was nothing new in Jia Dongxu's eyes.

He considered himself a member of the new generation of working class and looked down on it.

But this matter is not actually up to Jia Dongxu to decide.

He figured that the reason for causing trouble for Yi Zhonghai was to vent his anger for his master, Liu Haizhong, and beating him up would be a practical and direct solution.

After parting ways with Sha Zhu, Jia Dongxu immediately ran back to the backyard to report to Liu Haizhong.

"...Master, I think we should put him in a sack and give him a good beating!"

After finishing his report, Jia Dongxu didn't forget to pin Sha Zhu's plan on himself.

Liu Haizhong silently puffed on his cigarette, thinking that this was indeed a good idea.

First, teach Lin Weidong a lesson so he won't have any complaints about me, then I'll come up with a plan to slowly work things out with him.

After discussing it, the master and apprentice decided to ambush the person on the road the next day. Liu Haizhong also asked Jia Dongxu to tell his mother to act as an inside man to keep watch.

Jia Dongxu agreed, but he had no intention of contacting his mother.

He couldn't rely on his mother at all, so he turned around and told Sha Zhu about his plan.

He Yuzhu was excited and looked forward to tomorrow's operation.

Without noticing that Yi Zhonghai had called his father, He Daqing, out again after returning home.

……

The unusual activity in the courtyard house could no longer be kept secret from Lin Weidong.

Moreover, Liu Haizhong didn't intend to hide it; he even planned to take credit for it!

When Lin Weidong returned that evening, Liu Haizhong came to report to him.

"Weidong! You know, that Yi Zhonghai is really infuriating. He's ruined our beautiful courtyard house's reputation. People outside are saying that our house is a den of childless men! I have to teach him a lesson..."

After giving his report, both overt and covert, Liu Haizhong left, satisfied, with a Zhonghua cigarette dangling from his lips.

He was satisfied, but Lin Weidong was not.

This old Liu, given so many days to prepare, only came up with the idea of ​​putting a sack over his head?

A simple reprimand wasn't enough to meet his expectations.

How exactly can we fully unleash the innovative thinking of this group of people?