Courtyard House: Starting as an eighth-grade worker, with too many wives.

"I'm not going to the hospital."

The deaf elderly woman, being helped by the police, finally couldn't hold back anymore and frantically waved her hands.

"I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine."

Li Jianguo curled his lips into a cold smile.

As he watched her being led away, he narrowed his eyes slightly, a dark light flashing in them.

Five Guarantees Households?

Because of this, his parents suffered for more than ten years in Northwest China.

This time when I come back, I need to settle the accounts one by one.

This little bit of hardship is just an appetizer.

After the deaf old lady was taken away, the courtyard was so quiet that you could hear the leaves falling to the ground.

Director Huang slapped his forehead.

"By the way, Mr. Li, we need to finalize the housing matter as soon as possible. You need to have a place to stay tonight."

"Yes, vacate the house."

Li Jianguo snapped out of his thoughts.

When Director Huang looked at him, there was a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

Given the deaf old lady's behavior, most people might have let it go because of her age. After all, arguing with an elderly person can easily lead to gossip if outsiders don't know the full story.

But she supports Li Jianguo's approach.

In all my years working in the neighborhood, the most troublesome thing has been these seasoned veterans.

"I brought two people with me to help you pack."

She waved to the two young men.

"You two, hurry up and get to work."

"Need not."

Li Jianguo waved his hand to stop him.

"Let's talk about the compensation first. I'd appreciate it if Director Huang could be a witness."

He turned and pushed the door open.

Although Banggeng vaguely felt that his family was in the wrong, he was used to being domineering and arrogant. At this moment, he was blocking the door with a pair of fire tongs in his hand, his eyes full of hostility.

"Dare to step into my house, I'll beat you to death."

Director Huang's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Jia Dongxu. Is this how you raise your child?"

"Director Huang, please don't be angry. The child is just being ignorant."

Jia Dongxu approached with a forced smile, then slapped Bang Geng on the back of the head.

"You blind fool."

Li Jianguo watched this scene with a cold eye.

She's ruthless when it comes to hitting children. But this man is even more cowardly than his mother.

Pushing open the door, the scene inside pierced his heart.

In my memory, this was my parents' wedding room.

Every piece of furniture and every decoration was carefully selected by them back then.

It's completely unrecognizable now, like it's been ransacked by bandits.

He didn't go inside; he turned around and came out.

"The house is unbearable to look at."

His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of emotion in his eyes.

"I don't want anything anymore. The furniture my parents bought back then, plus the rent from the past ten years, the Jia family should compensate me 300 yuan. Director Huang, do you think that's reasonable?"

Director Huang almost suffocated when he went in with Jia Zhangshi and Bang Geng's room, because of the smell.

She knew Li Zhigang; he was one of the best young men in the alley back then—clean-up, handsome, and cultured.

They had all visited the bridal chamber when they got married; every piece of furniture was exquisite.

It's turned into a pigsty now—no, even a pigsty is better than this.

"Three hundred is not much."

Director Huang was furious.

I think even 350 is acceptable.

"What? Three hundred and fifty?"

Like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, Jia Zhangshi jumped three feet high.

"No way. We don't have any money. The house is just sitting empty anyway, what's wrong with us staying there for a while? Can't we just vacate it now?"

She screamed so hard it was heart-wrenching, as if someone had ripped out her heart.

Qin Huairu's eyes were red and swollen as she looked at Li Jianguo with her watery eyes.

"Li Jianguo, we really don't have that much money. We have three children to support... Can we please not pay the compensation? Otherwise, the children will go hungry..."

She bit her lip, tears welling up but not yet falling. Her pitiful appearance would soften anyone's heart.

Sha Zhu couldn't hold back any longer.

"Li Jianguo, aren't you going a bit too far? Don't you know how hard the Jia family is doing? Asking for money is just pushing them to their doom. Here's what we'll do: we'll help you tidy up the house and make sure you're comfortable—"

"Oh."

Li Jianguo sneered, looking at him like he was a clown jumping around.

"I begged them to stay? If they stay, they have to pay rent, that's only fair. You're such a saint, you'll pay for it yourself?"

Sha Zhu choked.

But Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up.

Yi Zhonghai coughed and strode out, adopting the air of an elder.

If he didn't speak up, his authority in the courtyard would be completely destroyed.

Since Li Jianguo is moving in, he has to abide by the rules of this courtyard.

"Li Jianguo."

He spoke earnestly, as if educating an ignorant junior.

"Aren't you going to work at the steel rolling mill? I happen to be an eighth-grade worker there; I can mentor you. We're neighbors, so let's be forgiving, what do you think?"

The words were kind, but the tone sounded like a threat.

Li Jianguo remained silent.

Director Huang smiled first.

"Hey, old man, so what if you're an eighth-grade worker? Too bad Master Li doesn't need your guidance."

Yi Zhonghai was stunned.

"What do you mean?"

"You really don't care about things at the factory."

Director Huang gave a half-smile.

"The man in front of you is the newly transferred Level 8 engineer from the steel rolling mill. In fact, he's your superior. You, a Level 8 fitter, are nothing compared to him. Are you even an engineer?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the courtyard fell silent.

All eyes were fixed on Li Jianguo, as if he were an alien visitor.

A look of surprise flashed across Lou Xiao'e's eyes.

Xu Damao's mind started working, his eyes darting around quickly—he hadn't offended this guy today, so maybe he could make connections.

Qin Huairu's large, watery eyes became increasingly complex, and when she looked at Li Jianguo, her gaze was so thick it could be drawn out like silk.

Unfortunately, Li Jianguo didn't notice.

He just smiled faintly.

"Director Huang, you flatter me. Whether you're a worker or an engineer, you're all contributing to the construction of our country."

It was a casual remark, yet it confirmed his identity.

Yi Zhonghai's face looked as if he had been slapped a dozen times.

He was just threatening them, and now look what happened, he's been slapped in the face.

Looking at Li Jianguo now is like chewing meat and finding a fly in it—he can't spit it out, and swallowing it makes him feel nauseous.

If there were a crack in the ground, he really wanted to crawl into it, and they would even have to compete to see which way they could crawl in the fastest.

Sha Zhu was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses.

"So you're the new engineer the factory was talking about. Our institute is going to produce an engineer, that's great news!"

He grinned broadly, his smile genuine and honest.

Li Jianguo did not respond.

Sha Zhu awkwardly touched his nose, but still forced himself to continue.

"Li Jianguo, look at you, an engineer. You make at least a hundred yuan a month, enough to eat and drink on your own. Why bully people like this? The Jia family only has Dongxu and his wife earning money, less than a hundred yuan combined, supporting a family of six. And you're making them lose money? Aren't you driving them to the brink of despair?"

He got excited as he spoke, his finger almost poking Li Jianguo's nose.

"Our compound has been harmonious and helpful to each other for years. Since you want to be a part of it, you should respect tradition. Let's forget about the money. What do you say, Uncle One, Uncle Two, Uncle Three?"

Yi Zhonghai has just been humiliated, so he's pretending not to hear.

Second Uncle Liu Haizhong felt his chance to shine had come, so he cleared his throat, adopting an official air.

"I think Sha Zhu is right. Li Jianguo, let's forget about the money. We should help each other out in the compound."

"cut."

Li Jianguo's lips curled into a mocking smile.

When you can't win an argument, you resort to moral blackmail? You can't even do things yourself, yet you're bossing others around.

He stared coldly at Sha Zhu.

"roll."

"Hey, what's wrong with you—"

"Shut up."

Li Jianguo shut him down with a single sentence.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, it's your business if you like to play the saint and take care of others without expecting anything in return. Don't expect others to be like you. I earned my own money. You don't like it? Go earn it yourself if you're so capable."