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

Those who were just about to leave stopped in their tracks.

People in this day and age, especially those from neighboring communities, mostly believe in the old saying—a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative.

After Yi Zhonghai said that, some people hesitated.

If it doesn't cost me anything, I'd just be helping out...

It seems like it's not entirely unacceptable?

Taking care of an elderly woman who is bedridden is not an easy task.

They cleaned up after the feces and urine, wiped the body, and fed the child.

It's a hassle to make several trips a day.

With nothing else to do, who would want to get involved?

But if they ignore it, the neighbors will say they're really mean-spirited.

Terrible.

No one said a word.

Silence, like a heavy stone, weighed on everyone's heads.

They looked at each other, their eyes met, and then they quickly looked away.

Everyone is waiting.

Who's going to speak first?

Yi Zhonghai's gaze slowly moved.

Finally, it fell on Li Jianguo.

"Director Li."

His voice carried a deliberately feigned politeness, but the calculation hidden deep in his eyes was impossible to conceal.

"You're the director, why don't you set an example? We can start with you, taking turns every day, okay?"

That's too polite of you.

But who couldn't understand the meaning behind those words?

This is an attempt to use public opinion to force Li Jianguo to comply.

If Li Jianguo disagrees, then he has no sense of community.

If they agree, it's hard for others to refuse.

A scene flashed through Yi Zhonghai's mind—Li Jianguo bending over, tending to the deaf old woman's excrement and urine.

That old man is not someone to be trifled with.

I really want to see Li Jianguo groveling before that old man.

It will definitely look great.

Yi Zhonghai.

Li Jianguo smiled.

The laughter was soft, with an indescribable quality.

He looked up at Yi Zhonghai with the same look he had given him, as if he were looking at a clown jumping around.

"Are you making a fool of us?"

Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat.

The forced smile on her face froze.

Could it be that all those little schemes of mine have been seen through?

"Director Li, what do you mean by that?"

Yi Zhonghai raised his voice, as if to embolden himself.

"I was just trying to do a good deed for my neighbors, you can't just slander me like that!"

"Slandering you?"

The smile on Li Jianguo's lips deepened.

The smile, however, didn't reach his eyes at all.

"I'm too lazy to bother with that."

He raised his hand and pointed to the room where the deaf old woman lived.

"Why should everyone take care of that old codger?"

The finger moves, pointing to the neighbors around it.

"We are neither her sons nor her grandsons, nor have we received any favors from her. You think you can get everyone to do anything just by talking?"

He paused for a moment.

"Will you pay?"

Yi Zhonghai opened his mouth.

He couldn't utter a word.

Of course, it's impossible to give money.

If he were paid, he would have done it himself long ago.

Could the deaf old woman possibly come up with her meager savings?

"We'll see."

Li Jianguo's voice was neither hurried nor slow.

"Isn't taking care of that old hag your responsibility as her son? After she dies, won't all that money be yours? Now you want everyone to take care of her for you? Where's your shame?"

These words are like a knife.

It directly broke through that thin layer of paper.

Everyone suddenly realized.

Yup!

The deaf old woman had previously said that all her money would eventually go to Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu, because they would take care of her in her old age.

Now look what's happened.

He took all the benefits.

Why make everyone do the hard work?

Does this person have no shame?

"Yi Zhonghai!"

Liu Haizhong's voice boomed from the crowd.

Seize this opportunity, stand on the moral high ground, and aim your cannons at Yi Zhonghai.

"You're so shameless! You take the benefits for yourself and expect everyone else to do the work for you? How can you be so brazen?"

How can there be such a shameless person?

So you get everyone to serve you while you reap the biggest benefits?

Think beautiful!

"Why aren't you getting out of here?"

Li Jianguo raised his chin.

The contempt in his eyes was as if he were looking at a pile of rotten, stinking things.

"Stay a little longer, or you'll get beaten up."

He parted his thin lips slightly and uttered a single word.

"roll."

Before he could finish speaking...

Suddenly, a hysterical outburst of cursing erupted from the deaf old woman's house.

"Li Jianguo! You little beast!"

The sound was sharp and piercing, like a rusty piece of iron scraping the bottom of a pot.

"You've ruined my life, and you still dare not serve me? Have you no conscience?!"

But now she can't even get out of bed.

No matter how fiercely you curse, you're still just a toothless tiger.

"Grandma, please stop scolding."

Someone shouted something.

"If you get sick from anger and end up in the hospital, you won't have many days left to live."

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd.

The laughter, like a tide, flooded the entire courtyard.

The shouting and cursing inside the house stopped abruptly.

It was as quiet as a grave.

I don't know if it's because I'm embarrassed, or because I'm really afraid of getting angry myself to death.

Yi Zhonghai's scheme failed.

He stood still.

His face turned pale and then flushed.

I was so embarrassed I wanted to disappear into the ground.

The gazes around him felt like countless needles pricking him.

disdain.

fling in teeth.

gloat.

"Sir, this is your mother, take good care of her yourself!"

"Exactly! Don't make such a fuss about finding someone else next time. We have our own parents to take care of!"

"Wanting to be waited on without paying? You're dreaming!"

Each word was like a knife, cutting into Yi Zhonghai's heart.

I was absolutely furious.

It felt like there was a fire burning in my chest, making my internal organs ache.

But looking at Li Jianguo.

He simply couldn't muster the courage to rush up and fight.

The young man stood there, exuding a ruthless aura that chilled him to the bone.

That kind of ruthlessness seeps out from the very marrow of his bones.

"Yi Zhonghai!"

The deaf old woman's voice came from inside the house.

His voice was as hoarse as a broken bellows.

"Come in!"

Yi Zhonghai kept his head down.

I strode quickly through that door.

Behind me, the door slammed shut.

It blocked out the outside world's gaze and also blocked out those harsh laughs.

Seeing that there was no excitement to be had, the people outside dispersed in twos and threes.

The deaf old woman receives a subsidy but does not work.

The elderly couple, Yi Zhonghai and his wife, have no children, but they have saved up quite a bit over the years.

These two people have no worries about food and drink.

But they are different.

They still have to work, earn money, and support their families.

Who has time to bother with these trivial matters?

In the room.

The light was dim.

The stench of excrement and urine lingered in the air like a haunting ghost.

Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old woman sat facing each other.

It was quite a distance away.

half an hour.

The deaf old woman gritted her teeth.

The few remaining teeth ground together with a grinding sound.

He squeezed out each word, one by one, from between his teeth.

"Li Jianguo...must die."

Yi Zhonghai nodded.

His eyes were so dark they looked like they were about to drip water.

"If he doesn't die, none of us will have a good life."

The deaf old woman remained silent for a while.

He reached out shakily and pulled a pocket watch from under his pillow.

That watch looks quite exquisite.

But it's already very old.

The plating on the watch case is mottled, and the peeling areas reveal the dark yellow copper base underneath.

It should be an old item from before the founding of the People's Republic of China.

She handed the form to Yi Zhonghai.

"This hospitalization cost a lot of money. More money will be needed in the future."

His voice was hoarse, yet it carried a somber tone.

"Take this and pawn it at the old Xinlong Pawnshop. Keep the money."

Yi Zhonghai was taken aback.

Looking at the watch in his hand, he felt like he was holding a hot potato.

"this……"

"Stop pushing it."

The deaf old woman interrupted him.

"Xinlong Pawnshop used to be fair. Although they've changed now, I only trust them. If you pawn your item there, I'll need your help in the future."

Yi Zhonghai thought for a moment.

It seems like it's acceptable to do the work myself and receive this watch as payment.

He did not refuse again.

He tucked his pocket watch into his pocket and went out.

The pawnshop clerk took the pocket watch, glanced at it, and his expression changed.

"Whose is this?"

"There was an old lady in our compound. I took care of her, and she gave me a gift as a thank you."

"oh."

The man breathed a sigh of relief.

He turned around and went inside to find the shopkeeper.

Soon, a stack of money was handed to Yi Zhonghai.

Once he leaves...

The waiter and the shopkeeper immediately went to the backyard.

Of course, Yi Zhonghai was unaware of these things.

Little did he know that the deaf old woman was using the watch to deliver a message to someone who was truly useful.

The gates of the steel rolling mill were wide open in the morning light.

Li Jianguo walked in, carrying a stack of blueprints in his arms.

This is the last batch of drawings.

The parts that were arranged to be processed in other factories some time ago have all been delivered to the assembly workshop today.

After working so hard for so long, we can finally see the results.

This feeling made my feet feel lighter.

in the workshop.

All the various parts were categorized and arranged neatly.

The most eye-catching thing is the engine.

The black body gleamed with a cold, hard metallic sheen.

Li Jianguo took off his coat and draped it over the rack next to him.

Together with the workers, they began assembling the car equipped with the new engine.

This is a car modified from a Ford prototype.

The car body is black.

The lines are smooth, like a cheetah poised to pounce.

It exudes a majestic and elegant air.

However, for now, it's just an empty shell.

Wait for them to give it a soul.

The moment Li Jianguo appeared, everyone's eyes lit up.

Excited.

look forward to.

There's also that exhilarating feeling of about to make history with your own hands.

Li Jianguo looked at these people.

Without further ado.

The blueprints were placed on the table, spread out, and made a crisp sound.

Comrades.

The sound wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"After working so hard for so long, a new chapter in history is about to be born from our hands."

Scan the area.

My gaze swept over those excited faces.

"start!"

"start--"

The cheers nearly lifted the roof off.

Everyone gathered around.

Take your positions.

The workshop quickly quieted down.

There was only the soft sound of tools colliding.

And occasional hushed conversations.

Everyone had an excited look on their face.

But his hand movements were very steady.

Every step was taken to the extreme.

They assembled all the parts by hand.

The workers sent by the steel rolling mill were completely useless.

At last.

engine.

Li Jianguo personally took charge.

Bending over, his fingers moved steadily and skillfully.

When the last screw was tightened, it made a soft click.

This car, which was completely independently developed and has full independent intellectual property rights, was born.

engine.

Steel used in car body construction.

Materials used in various components.

Almost all of them came from Li Jianguo's inventions.

This means they no longer need to learn technology from foreigners.

They kicked away the technological barriers that developed countries had monopolized for decades.

Of course, this is just the beginning.

They first tackled the engine problem.

Next, we still need to tackle the body, chassis, transmission...

One day, we'll make foreigners envious of the cars they make.

We want Chinese cars to be able to travel all over the world.