Stepping out of the courtyard gate, Li Chu glanced at his watch. It was only a little past one o'clock, still early. There was nothing much to do, so he decided to stroll back at his leisure.

The April sun felt warm on my skin, and a gentle breeze felt wonderful on my face.

Li Chu slowly walked back along the roadside, thinking about what he could do at this stage and what he should do in the future.

With the help of the sign-in system, my basic living needs are guaranteed.

Just stay put like that until it opens up. As for selling the items and tickets you get from signing in? Forget it, just throw in that... crime and find out.

Sigh, I really need to find a wife as soon as possible. With a wife, I'll have so much more entertainment at night. It'll also save my older sister from nagging me every time we meet. My hand touched the radio in my bag, and I casually put it into my online storage.

Suddenly, I thought of antiques. In this impoverished era, acquiring antiques didn't seem like a difficult task. I vaguely remember watching a video in my past life where a master surnamed Ma said that in this era, you could buy antiques in a trust store with your eyes closed; the worst you'd find would be from the late Ming Dynasty. There were almost no fakes, and even if there were, they were from the Republic of China period. In the 21st century, they could easily fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Li Chu frowned and thought for a moment. He didn't have that hobby. His predecessor's master had taught him a lot about identifying antiques. Oh well, he wouldn't deliberately buy them. If he came across a fine piece, he could keep it as a memento. Otherwise... he would have damaged quite a few good things.

Hoarding a few courtyard houses? Sigh, forget about it for at least the next ten years or so. Houses are allocated now, private sales are prohibited. Aside from a few remnants of the previous dynasty, who didn't get their houses allocated? But how many of these remnants of the previous dynasty are still alive and well?

Alright, stop overthinking it. With my skills and my brother-in-law's connections, I can build up my network over the next few years. I believe that even in the most challenging times, I will be able to survive peacefully.

After that major event at the end of 2019, I even researched the history of those famous hospitals. It seems the medical school I attended closed for a period, but the hospital I work at has remained stable. Okay, that's it. First and foremost, I need to focus on my job. Then, I can have a relationship with marriage in mind. I'll retreat to my little home and quietly watch the clouds drift by.

I wandered around looking here and there, and even went to Quanjude to buy a roast duck for dinner. I strolled leisurely to my doorstep, checked my watch, and it was already past five o'clock.

Looking at the courtyard gate from the entrance, Qin Huairu will probably be standing at the gate waiting for her lunchbox in a year or two.

"Dr. Li, what are you looking at at the door? Why don't you come in?"

"Uncle, I was just looking forward to the future, and you interrupted me."

"What are you looking out for at the gate? Looking out for something."

"Let me look to the future and imagine my wife."

"You little rascal, if you miss your wife, just say so. Why are you looking to the future?"

"Haha... Uncle San is brilliant!"

"Uncle, I have a roast duck and a bottle of good wine that my sister gave me. Come over later and we can have a drink together."

"That's good. I have another bottle of wine there, I'll bring it over later."

After thinking about the half-diluted liquor that Uncle San had brought, Li Chu waved his hand and said, "Alright, Uncle San, you don't need to bring anything. Just bring the person over."

The third uncle was overjoyed when he heard that he could have a free meal.

I went inside and turned on the stove. I took out three eggs from my spatial storage, intending to fry them. After thinking for a moment, I scooped out some pickled vegetables my older sister had made from a jar next to the cupboard, and took out the roast duck as well, placing them all on the table. There were also a few steamed buns in the cupboard; I'd heat them up later. All set. Then I took out a bottle of Xifeng liquor from my spatial storage. I'd been buying liquor from various supply and marketing cooperatives for the past two years, using any liquor coupons I got after signing in. My spatial storage contained all sorts of liquors: Fenjiu, Xifeng, Wuliangye, Moutai, Erguotou.

The eggs were scrambled and just as the steamed buns were being served, Uncle San came in carrying a plate. "I had some peanuts at home, so I brought them over."

It's really not easy for this old man Yan to actually have anything to offer. "This is great, eating peanuts and drinking wine is really nice."

"Right? I knew you liked this too, Xiao Chu."

He took two wine glasses and two pairs of chopsticks from the cabinet. "Come on, Uncle San, have a seat." He handed Uncle San a wine glass and a pair of chopsticks. He opened the wine, poured some for Uncle San, and then poured some for himself.

The third uncle looked at the wine in Li Chu's hand and said, "Xifeng wine, not bad. I haven't had such good wine in a long time."

"If you like it, drink more. Let's finish this bottle."

After saying that, he picked up his wine glass and said, "Come on, Uncle San, let's drink." He clinked glasses with Uncle San and downed the wine in one gulp.

"Pick up your chopsticks, Uncle, eat up, don't be shy."

The two ate, drank, and chatted.

Yan Bugui is a man who loves to scheme, but as long as his own interests aren't involved, he's quite an interesting person.

Li Chu also liked to chat and boast with his third uncle whenever he had free time.

Although this house was left by the original owner's parents, they didn't actually live here for very long. Not long after they moved in, the original owner's parents died in an accident. At that time, the original owner was already in college and living on campus. Later, after he graduated and started working, he returned to live here, and that's when Li Chu transmigrated.

In the past two years, Li Chu hasn't interacted much with the people in the courtyard house; the person he talks to most is Uncle San.