Courtyard House: My System - Artificial Human

"Tsk! Keep your voice down, why are you making such a fuss?"

Madam Jia clicked her tongue in displeasure and glared at her.

But Jia Dongxu was even more dissatisfied. Wasn't this just me causing trouble? He genuinely wanted to learn the skills from Liu Haizhong, as he planned to become his apprentice.

"Mother! Can you please not make decisions on your own? Or at least tell me first! What will Master Liu think of me now? And what if Yi Zhonghai finds out you were spreading lies and then holds a grudge against our family!"

"I don't understand any of this talk of opinions or disagreements!"

Jia Zhangshi pouted.

"Your mother is truly doing this for your own good. Think about it, if I didn't say this, would Liu Haizhong be in such a hurry? He and Yi Zhonghai have never gotten along. You know, Yi Zhonghai took you as his apprentice with the intention of supporting you in your old age. Would he be happy to see Yi Zhonghai get what he wants? Just wait, Dongxu, Liu Haizhong will definitely come looking for you!"

Jia Zhangshi spoke smugly, quite pleased with her own scheme.

As for what would happen if Yi Zhonghai found out, Jia Zhangshi didn't care at all. Anyway, it was a fact that Yi Zhonghai had no son. She had only added a little something. At most, there would be some gossip, so what?

Yi Zhonghai has no descendants, and now he's even lost his job. What can he do if he finds out?

Once Dongxu gets involved with the Liu family, and with the pitiful care of Officer Jin, will he still be afraid of Yi Zhonghai in this courtyard?

Jia Zhangshi's plan was good, but she didn't expect that Liu Haizhong, who was returning to the palace for the second time, would have an additional premise in his considerations.

When Liu Haizhong heard the rumors after getting home from get off work, he was amused at first, but he also thought to himself, "If I were to steal Yi Zhonghai's apprentice, wouldn't Yi Zhonghai be furious?"

Jia Dongxu has been getting along well with him these days, so taking him on as an apprentice wouldn't be a bad idea.

However, he then thought that Lin Weidong was quite dissatisfied with Jia Dongxu, and he had just received Lin Weidong's forgiveness, so it wasn't worth getting involved in this mess.

Lin Weidong had not expected Liu Haizhong to be so cautious, but he did not have the energy to train everyone in the courtyard at the moment.

After several busy days, it was the Lin family's turn to participate in the support and condolence activities for the military and their families.

On the day before Lunar New Year's Eve, Lin Weidong received instructions to leave work early and picked up Bai Ling at the Municipal Bureau.

Not long after the two returned to the courtyard house, Lin Weiguo and Fang Qin, the couple, also received the news and came over.

The "Honorary Plaque for Supporting the Military and Giving Preferential Treatment to Families of Servicemen" was issued to each household. After Lin Weidong came to Beijing, his household registration was registered at his work unit and not with Lin Weiguo.

According to regulations, the two brothers should live in separate households, one family per household.

On the surface, Lin Weiguo and his wife lived in a courtyard house, so they couldn't just not come over; they couldn't very well send the sign to the government compound.

However, including Bai Ling, who is about to file for marriage, all four members of the Lin family work in government agencies.

Whether due to concerns about the impact or the current shortage of supplies, the visiting team only brought two honorary plaques and a few Spring Festival couplets, emphasizing the ceremony and honor.

Even with all that, this honor is still dazzling and something to aspire to.

In this era of large, mixed-use courtyards where social customs and reputation were highly valued, the Lin family's honor could be partially transferred to the other residents of the courtyard.

In the future, when people go out and talk about how a family of a martyr lives in their courtyard, it will be a matter of pride.

People in Beijing love this kind of thing.

So after the delegation left, the Lin family completely dominated the headlines in the courtyard, and every household was talking about it.

Families with many children are already considering whether to send their sons to join the army.

This is one aspect of the government's active efforts to carry out activities to support and comfort military personnel and their families.

Among them, Liu Haizhong was deeply influenced and proud, and considered it the most seriously. He even planned to ask Lin Weidong for his opinion, since he had three sons.

However, shortly after the delegation left, Lin Weidong and his three companions also went out, and Liu Haizhong couldn't find them.

Taking advantage of the fact that everyone was present today, Lin Weidong took Bai Ling directly to the Fang family for a meal, which could be considered an early New Year celebration.

Even though tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve, none of the four of them will actually get a holiday; they all have to stay at their posts.

Needless to say, Old Man Fang was another one.

But he talked a lot today.

In the minds of Chinese people, the new year is only considered to have passed after the Lunar New Year. Looking back on the past and looking forward to the future, the old man began to give Lin Weiguo and his brother advice.

Lin Weidong listened attentively. Although he came from the future and knew a lot about the course of history, he knew far less about the details than people in the present day. Moreover, some of the information came from someone of Fang Laotou's status.

After dinner, on their way back to Courtyard No. 13 with Bai Ling, Lin Weidong could already feel the festive atmosphere.

Although there were few streetlights on the road, there were many more pedestrians than usual, resembling a scene of people taking a walk after dinner in later times.

Bai Ling sat on the back of the bicycle, pressed against Lin Weidong's back, rambling on about the plans after the New Year. When Lin Weidong didn't respond, she tightened her embrace and asked.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking... what will it be like decades from now?" Lin Weidong's thoughts drifted from his memories, his tone wistful.

Upon hearing this, Bai Ling looked around at the surrounding streets, her thoughts wandering, and tightened her grip on Lin Weidong's waist.

She thought to herself, at the very least, the Lin family should have many children and grandchildren, since there were two of them, herself and Tian Zao...

In courtyard number 13, Tian Zao gradually transitioned from a carnivore to a sweet tooth.

As soon as Lin Weidong and his companion entered, she pulled them to try some new snacks.

In the backyard hall, candlelight flickered as the three sat around the stove, setting out snacks and dried fruits, brewing tea and chatting, continuing their earlier conversation about their hopes for the future.

Lin Weidong focused his attention on brewing tea, occasionally dealing with the leftover snacks the two had eaten.

He didn't flaunt his knowledge of the future, leaving more room for Bai Ling and Tian Zao, two people of his time, to imagine their future families and their future countries, which was quite enjoyable.

In the front courtyard, Mr. and Mrs. Hu were tidying up two half-new, half-old, and not particularly eye-catching red lanterns, and arranging Spring Festival couplets and window decorations, preparing to welcome the joyous New Year tomorrow.

In the courtyard, Yan Bugui finished writing the last couplet by candlelight, then put down his handwritten copybook and brush.

His initially satisfied expression turned into a sigh when he thought about the Lin family's honor today.

I'll lose a penny!

Yang Ruihua knew his character well and comforted him upon seeing this.

"Alright, stop sighing. Maybe Xiao Lin doesn't even know you can write Spring Festival couplets!"

"Ugh!"

Yan Bugui sighed again. It would have been better if he hadn't known. What he feared was that Lin Weidong had never even considered asking him to write.

This not only shows that he looks down on him as the only scholar in the courtyard, but also indicates that Lin Weidong has a problem with him.

He was incredibly envious of the visiting team today. After watching the excitement, Yan Bugui suddenly realized that he had underestimated the Lin family's connections.

I used to think that Jin Lu could outshine Lin Weidong, but now I realize how short-sighted I was.

Many people shared Yan Bugui's thoughts, and the deaf old lady in the backyard even connected it to Xiao Wang's previous instructions.

He became even less willing to support Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai made no progress after several days of effort. The deaf old lady was completely unmoved and even advised him that he might be a swindler and not to be fooled.

Yi Zhonghai scoffed, how could what he saw with his own eyes be a lie?

On New Year's Eve, Yi Zhonghai, who could no longer tolerate it, decided to take advantage of the gossip-loving atmosphere in the courtyard to boost his own reputation.

He had Gao Cuilan prepare a very lavish New Year's Eve dinner and invited the old lady to his home for the New Year.

Although the deaf old lady didn't want to support him, she didn't intend to break off the relationship directly either, especially since she was also craving it!

Who doesn't want to eat something good during the Chinese New Year?

Her stomach was craving food, so she went along.

This trip had no consequences; the very next day, word spread throughout the compound that Yi Zhonghai was treating her like his own mother and was determined to take care of her in her old age!

The deaf old lady's face immediately darkened.

……