Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

A collective gasp filled the hall.

US dollars—some of them knew that one US dollar could be exchanged for two dollars and forty-six cents! But the most crucial problem was that ordinary people rarely came across this stuff.

$120,000 is an astronomical figure.

Tian Gang didn't say anything. Although 120,000 was a lot, it was only close to 300,000 RMB... but it wasn't a particularly big deal...

He was pretending to be calm.

Gao Feng and Zhao Weiguo exchanged a glance, both seeing the extreme shock in each other's eyes.

The children of those living in the compound always feel superior because they believe their parents were protecting the country and building it, and that their living conditions were far better than those of the children of the workers in the alleyways.

But now Zhang Dabiao alone has earned $12? This is real national development.

While they support the idea of ​​being superior, ... let alone $12, they've never even touched or seen 1 RMB!

A while ago, an accountant from a factory in that area embezzled 4000 yuan of public funds and fled; he was immediately arrested.

And Zhang Dabiao...

Gao Feng and Zhao Weiguo swallowed hard.

Director Zhao showed no sign of stopping and continued to submit the expense reports.

"At the beginning of June 1, although the licensing fee for the lighter patent encountered special international circumstances and was slightly delayed."

"But just a few days ago, the first $100,000 was deposited into the national treasury."

"He still owes Zhang Dabiao a final payment of $620,000, which is currently going through the international settlement process!"

"And the patent licensing for the omnidirectional wheels brought in another $60,000!"

Director Zhao slammed the document heavily on the table.

"In other words, in just two short years..."

"Comrade Zhang Dabiao's personal patent royalties have been received, amounting to 280,000 US dollars."

"There's still an outstanding debt of $620,000!"

$280,000 has arrived!

A debt of 620,000!

A total of $90 million!

That's over 220 million RMB!

These strings of numbers completely stunned Tian Gang and his group of parents from the compound; some of them even stumbled.

It's not that they're ignorant, but these days even state-owned factories wouldn't dare say they could earn that much foreign exchange in one or two years. If a factory can earn more than 1 in foreign exchange a year, that's something to celebrate.

Moreover, what was the concept of 62 million in 220 when the average wage was only 30 yuan?

They could fill this house to the brim, right? (They have no concept of money; they've never even seen 10.) That would be enough to ensure they'd have enough to eat and wear for the rest of their lives.

Although it is said that the common people cannot fight against the officials, when the common people have a certain amount of money, ordinary minor officials really don't know what to do.

The nine young men from the compound, who were squatting in the corner, didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Tian Yiming's face was ashen, and his eyes stared blankly at the ground.

What kind of monster did he mess with?

Someone of Zhang Dabiao's caliber, while perhaps not deserving to be called a national hero, would certainly be considered the god of wealth in Jiaodaokou and even Dongcheng District, right? Let alone him, even his father, Tian Gang, would be completely crushed if he were in his place.

Before Director Zhao could finish speaking, he raised his hand and gestured around the room.

"This is just his personal patent royalties; that's his personal money."

"Not to mention the manufacturing plants under our three ministries that benefited from Comrade Zhang Dabiao's inventions and creations."

"How much foreign exchange have we earned through export trade in the past two years!"

"Because his designs created countless jobs and supported countless families in Beijing!"

"What would that mean if you put all of that together?"

Director Zhao pressed closer and closer, walking directly up to Tian Gang.

"Tian Gang, tell me now."

"If Comrade Zhang Dabiao's brain were damaged by that bastard in your family..."

"Of all the people here today, who can take this responsibility!"

"Is it something you can afford?"

"It's your entire General Political Department compound that can handle the burden!"

Tian Gang was so intimidated by Director Zhao's aggressive manner that he took a step back.

Director Zhao took another step forward: "You're going to pay Zhang Dabiao compensation? Does he need your little bit of money? Who are you trying to humiliate?"

Tian Gang took another step back.

12 is nothing special for a second-generation rich kid; 90 would put them on the list of key protected individuals. But adding in these contributions, especially in export trade and employment...

Tian Gang realized this wasn't something a colonel could simply resolve by offering a favor. He had initially thought of paying 50 or 100 yuan to settle the matter, but now…

The entire venue was deathly silent.

The only sound was the crackling of the coal burning in the stove.

Tian Gang felt his throat was dry.

He swallowed.

At this moment, all his previous arrogance and confidence as a colonel were shattered in the face of absolute national interests and terrifying statistics.

They've gotten themselves into trouble.

Moreover, it would be a catastrophe that shakes the heavens.

For a strategist of this caliber, getting beaten to the point of bleeding is out of the question.

Even if someone trips and falls on the road, the higher-ups will send a special investigation team down to check if it was done by enemy agents.

His good-for-nothing son not only led a group of people to beat him up.

And they even used guns?

The mere thought of the word "gun" sent a chill down Tian Gang's spine, soaking his back in cold sweat.

Gao Feng stood at the door, his hands hanging limply at his sides.

He had always looked down on Mu Wanqing back in school, feeling that the songs she sang lacked grand narratives.

He also planned to use his own work, "Ode to the Steel Torrent," to compete with Mu Wanqing's work.

The results of it?

What grand narrative? Her fiancé is directly earning foreign exchange for the country, $90 in two years, and he's also providing the country with design and creative jobs that earn foreign exchange.

What is a grand narrative?

This is a grand narrative!

Zhao Weiguo also lowered his head, which had been held high all along.

He had previously mocked Zhang Dabiao as a country bumpkin, saying that Zhang Dabiao didn't understand music.

As it turns out, he doesn't need to understand it; he's already serving the country through action and practice. Music is just something to him—he can play it when he wants and not play it when he doesn't.

Now it seems that these children of high-ranking officials are nothing but frogs in a well compared to Zhang Dabiao.

The parents in the corner began to quietly back away.

No one dared to mention taking their own child with them anymore.

They were terrified of being associated with this case in any way.

Director Zhao coldly stared at Tian Gang, who was covered in sweat.

"Colonel Tian, ​​since you insist on taking people away..."

"Fine, you can take him away."

Director Zhao pointed to Tian Yiming, who was slumped on the ground in the corner.

"This kid not only openly flirted with Comrade Zhang Dabiao's fiancée and his fifteen-year-old god-sister."

"They even gathered people to beat up Comrade Zhang Dabiao."

"Most importantly, he also used a gun."

"If you insist on taking this perpetrator away today, there's nothing we can do to stop you."

"However, we also have to follow the normal procedures. Tomorrow morning, the three ministries will jointly report this matter to their respective superiors in detail."

"If the higher-ups send an inspection team to your General Political Department compound to investigate the origin of that gun, and while they're at it, check for loopholes in our anti-espionage and counter-espionage security work, and whether the procedures for taking people out of the police station are in accordance with regulations, don't say I didn't warn you beforehand."

"You, Tian Gang, should weigh the consequences yourself."