Courtyard House: My System - Artificial Human

[Congratulations, host, on encountering Wen San, the protagonist of the TV series "Wolf Smoke Over Beiping". Reward: Two pairs of beginner clones (including one pair of overseas people)]

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Oh my goodness, Mr. Wen! This guy is quite a character! He's known as the "Little Spinning Top of Beijing"!

Lin Weidong couldn't help but smile as he recalled watching a compilation of Wen San getting slapped on short videos in his previous life.

"You know him?" Tian Zao noticed his strange expression and assumed that Lin Weidong knew the other person.

"You look familiar, but it's okay, let's go home first." Lin Weidong nodded, then put his arm around Tian Zao's shoulder and turned around.

The reward is already in hand; whether or not I accept it is unimportant.

The main point is that he didn't change his appearance today, and Wen San is someone who can't control his mouth, so it's inconvenient.

The two returned to courtyard number 13, where Hu Yi's wife had already prepared dinner.

The entire table was laden with delicious-looking dishes, and the rare ingredients were comparable to those served at a state banquet.

After listening to Hu Yi's wife's general introduction.

Even Tian Zao, who has recently gotten used to it, couldn't help but exclaim that such luxury is rare.

But she only praised it, and very sensibly didn't inquire about the source of the ingredients.

This was the couple's first reunion dinner during the Chinese New Year, and they enjoyed it immensely.

After dinner, while Tian Zao was taking a bath, Lin Weidong returned to the courtyard house.

There's another lively event he'll be attending in the courtyard.

With Lin Weidong backing him up today, Jia Dongxu really splurged and managed to get a full thirty yuan from Jia Zhangshi!

It's comparable to two months' salary for him.

Of course, he didn't need that much to prepare for the apprenticeship ceremony. He spent less than half of it to get everything ready, and put the rest in his own pocket.

From this day forward, he's got money in his pocket!

Lin Weidong's words from that morning also reached Liu Haizhong's ears.

When Lao Liu heard that Lin Weidong also supported it, his attitude immediately changed.

When Jia Dongxu returned with the apprenticeship gifts, Old Liu accepted him as his disciple without hesitation.

He even declared that he would prepare a formal apprenticeship banquet for Jia Dongxu!

We need to ask the old and young men in the courtyard to be witnesses.

The banquet was set according to the standards of Yi Zhonghai's family on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Since his master had given him so much face, Jia Dongxu knew he couldn't be slacking off. Before he could even warm the money in his pocket, he took out another ten yuan and gave it to Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong never expected such a good thing!

After receiving the money, he praised Jia Dongxu to the skies, making Jia Dongxu almost spit out bubbles.

"Dongxu, you are a filial son, and in principle, your master shouldn't take your money, but I'm really short of money lately..."

Jia Dongxu, his face beaming, politely interrupted.

"Hey! You're being too polite, Master. We're practically family! We'll get to know each other better later!"

"Sigh! Let's take it slow..."

……

In reality, Liu Haizhong's gesture of respect was a pretense; his true intention was to invite Lin Weidong over.

Inviting Lin Weidong to drink had become an obsession for him, especially since Lin Weidong hadn't lost his job this time after his second visit to the police station.

Liu Haizhong genuinely felt he had to do something, otherwise he would always feel inferior to Lin Weidong.

Inviting Lin Weidong alone would have a bad influence, so he didn't come. But the last time Yi Zhonghai hosted a banquet, it gave him some direction.

Lin Weidong had barely entered the house and hadn't even sat down when Liu Haizhong, who had received a reply from sentry Liu Guangqi in the backyard, came to visit.

"Wei Dong, hey! Here's the thing, Jia Dongxu from the Jia family in the Central Courtyard hasn't asked me to be his apprentice and learn his skills, so I was thinking of getting everyone in the courtyard, young and old, to be witnesses. I've set up two tables at my house. Do you have time?"

"Oh? Old Liu, you really took Jia Dongxu as your apprentice? Then I'll join in the fun."

Under Liu Haizhong's eager gaze, Lin Weidong smiled and agreed.

Liu Hai was secretly delighted! He thought to himself, "Just as I expected, as long as I go along with Lin Weidong's wishes, I'll get a response!"

He immediately expressed his opinion.

"That Wei Dong, huh! Actually, this is what I was thinking: since Yi Zhonghai isn't spreading rumors about you, I'll steal his apprentice to vent your anger! Heh, just you wait and see how I deal with Yi Zhonghai!"

Lin Weidong's cheerful expression immediately turned serious upon hearing this, and he thought to himself that Old Liu really lacked political wisdom!

You know this in your heart, why say it so openly?

This is a sign of immaturity!

"Old Liu! If you really think that way, I don't think it's a good idea. It's true that Master Yi told me the gossip, but he got a beating from the people at the front gate and lost his job. To be honest, I've already moved on from that. It's not worth making you accept Dongxu because of my situation. That would be unfair to Dongxu."

Lin Weidong's high-sounding words made Liu Haizhong's face turn green. He thought to himself, "Could it be that I've tried to flatter him but ended up making a fool of myself?"

After criticizing him, Lin Weidong affirmed his actions.

"I thought you, Lao Liu, genuinely thought Dongxu had some talent and was filial, which is why you wanted to take him on! I didn't expect it was for this reason. Of course, I'm still very happy that you stood up for me; it shows our friendship wasn't in vain. But there's really no need for me to compromise! I won't force myself!"

As Lin Weidong spoke, he handed a Zhonghua cigarette to Liu Haizhong, who was feeling anxious.

After several days, he drew a Zhonghua cigarette again, and Liu Haizhong suddenly realized what was going on.

"Oh dear, look at this... It's my fault for not explaining clearly! That's right! I only took Dongxu in because he's filial and studious, it has absolutely nothing to do with Yi Zhonghai. So, Weidong, how about you be my witness?"

That's more accurate!

Lin Weidong finally nodded in satisfaction and followed him out of the courtyard.

Liu Haizhong chuckled all the way, puffing on his cigarette, determined to give Yi Zhonghai a good thrashing and a lesson.

As Lin Weidong, the main guest, entered, Liu Haizhong immediately signaled Jia Dongxu to invite the others in the courtyard to take their seats.

Everyone had received the news long ago, and some even saved the meat for their families, waiting on empty stomachs.

Although we should improve our meals during the Lunar New Year, there should be limits. It certainly shouldn't be as lavish and extravagant as a banquet.

Of course, the apprenticeship banquet was no ordinary event, and everyone brought gifts to offer their congratulations.

At this moment, one by one, at Jia Dongxu's invitation, they walked towards the backyard chatting and laughing, making the yard extremely lively.

Some residents living in the front and middle courtyards would glance at Yi Zhonghai's house curiously as they passed by, only to find that the lights were off early in the morning.

"Hey! Look at Old Yi, he's going to such lengths to have a son!"

Some people grinned lewdly, while others shook their heads in disapproval.

"He didn't have a son, did he? Have you all forgotten? There were rumors that he was going to take Jia Dongxu as his wife, but Old Liu beat him to it. How can he not be embarrassed?"

"He's lost his job, what's the point of teaching? If you ask me, Lao Liu is perfect."

……

When eating at the Yi family's banquet, people speak to the Yi family; when eating at the Liu family's banquet, they naturally speak to the Liu family. Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, which caused Yi Zhonghai considerable trouble.

Inside the dark side room of the central courtyard.

Yi Zhonghai sat at his doorstep, gritting his teeth and puffing on his cigarette.

Every time someone outside the courtyard said something, he would grit his teeth and stare intently at the Jia family across the street through the curtain.

Gao Cuilan saw Yi Zhonghai's expression and was secretly pleased.

In her view, this was not a shameful thing at all, but a good thing!

She had long disliked Jia Zhangshi, let alone raising Jia Dongxu as a son according to Yi Zhonghai's suggestion.

Of course, she didn't dare tell the truth to Yi Zhonghai, who was in a fit of anger, so she sighed against her will and offered words of comfort.

"Old Yi... don't think about it anymore, let them have their fun, anyway we'll have our own child soon."

These are completely different things, okay?

He had repeatedly tried to curry favor with Jia Dongxu, and the last time he was arrested, it was because he spoke up for the Jia family that he ended up in that situation.

But what about the Jia family? How did they repay them?

Yi Zhonghai remained silent, only staring in the direction of the opposite door, his eyes filled with deep, unyielding resentment.