Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

That afternoon, Jia Zhangshi was yelling and cursing at the entrance of the alley again when Zhao Xiulan, who was returning home from get off work, happened to see her.

Zhao Xiulan was not one to be trifled with. Upon seeing this, she walked over and grabbed Jia Zhangshi's arm with such force that Jia Zhangshi winced in pain.

"Jia Zhangshi, haven't you caused enough trouble! If you dare to tarnish my family's reputation again, I'll take you to the neighborhood committee today!"

Jia Zhangshi wanted to throw a tantrum, but Zhao Xiulan held her tightly, making it impossible for her to move.

The neighbors gathered around to watch the commotion, but no one stepped forward to help her. Instead, some shouted, "Sister Zhao did the right thing! Let her go to the neighborhood office and reflect on her actions!"

Zhao Xiulan dragged Jia Zhangshi toward the street office, cursing all the way.

"Your Dongxu's paralysis is your business, what does it have to do with us? Why didn't you say anything when you were taking advantage of the neighbors? Now that you're down on your luck, you're biting everyone you can. Have some shame!"

When she arrived at the neighborhood office, she was severely criticized on the spot and forced to write a self-criticism. She was warned that if she dared to talk nonsense again, she would be sent to the police station.

Jia Zhangshi was so frightened that she nodded repeatedly in apology and dared not utter another word.

When she slunk out of the neighborhood office, she couldn't even straighten her back.

Meanwhile, the Lin family on the other side remained quiet.

As evening approached, He Yushui stood hesitantly at the entrance of the Lin family compound, carrying an oil paper package.

Inside the oil-paper package was a sweet and soft osmanthus cake she had made herself, a recipe she had spent several days perfecting. She took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door.

Lin Weidong opened the door.

Upon seeing He Yushui, he paused for a moment: "Sister Yushui, is something the matter?"

He Yushui's cheeks flushed instantly. She handed the oil paper package forward, her voice barely audible, "I...I made some osmanthus cake. I was thinking you've been busy at the factory lately, so I brought you some to try."

Lin Weidong looked at the package of osmanthus cakes and said sincerely, "Thank you for your kindness, but I cannot accept it."

He paused, looking at He Yushui's surprised expression, and continued, "I'm only a teenager now, still young, and my mind is entirely focused on the technological research and development at the factory. I don't have time to think about these romantic things. You're a good girl, and you deserve someone better."

He Yushui's face gradually paled. She bit her lip and whispered, "I understand. Sorry to bother you."

After saying that, she turned and walked away quickly.

This scene was clearly seen by Lin Jianjun and Zhao Xiulan inside the house.

Zhao Xiulan sighed, and was about to say something when Lin Jianjun stopped her.

Lin Jianjun shook his head and said softly, "The child is grown up and has his own ideas. Although Weidong seems mature, he is still only a teenager and it's too early for him."

That evening, Lin Weidong packed his things and walked out of the office building, but he didn't notice that in the shadows at the alley entrance, three sneaky figures were staring at him with fierce glints in their eyes.

Xu Damao clenched his fists and whispered to Tiger and Rat, "That's him! Wait for him to get closer, then make your move!"

As I rounded a deserted corner, the footsteps behind me suddenly stopped.

Lin Weidong paused, and before he could turn around, he heard a gust of evil wind coming.

"Boy, you've got to die!"

Xu Damao's voice was filled with resentment as he and two masked fellow inmates suddenly sprang out of the shadows. He gripped a thick wooden stick in his hand and, without a word, smashed it down on Lin Weidong's head.

The tiger and the mouse were not to be outdone. One swung its fist, and the other picked up a brick from the ground, roaring as they pounced.

All three of them thought that Lin Weidong was just a weak, technically skilled scholar, and that dealing with him would be a piece of cake.

But what they didn't know was that Lin Weidong was now far more agile than the average person, and his reaction time was astonishingly fast.

Just as the wooden stick was about to hit his head, Lin Weidong suddenly turned to the side, narrowly avoiding it.

Xu Damao's wooden stick slammed against the wall with a dull thud, making his hand go numb.

Before Xu Damao could react, Lin Weidong kicked him squarely in the abdomen.

Xu Damao screamed, clutching his stomach and curling up like a shrimp, the wooden stick in his hand falling to the ground with a clatter.

The tiger charged forward, swinging its fist. Lin Weidong raised his hand to block, then grabbed the tiger's wrist and twisted it sharply. With a crisp "crack," the tiger's arm dislocated on the spot, causing it to writhe on the ground in pain.

The rat lunged at him with a brick in its hand, but Lin Weidong dodged to the side and his elbow slammed into the rat's ribs.

The mouse grunted, the brick flew out of its hand, and it collapsed to the ground, unable to even get up.

In just over ten seconds, the three of them were knocked off their feet by Lin Weidong.

Xu Damao was in so much pain that he was sweating profusely. Looking into Lin Weidong's cold eyes, a strong sense of fear welled up inside him.

He tried to get up and run, but Lin Weidong stepped on his back.

"Ah! Spare me! Spare me!" Xu Damao screamed in agony, begging for mercy incoherently.

The tiger and the mouse were so frightened that they lay on the ground, not daring to even breathe.

Lin Weidong looked down at them, not even bothering to remove his mask. He had long suspected that no one but Xu Damao would dare to ambush him so ruthlessly.

He raised his foot and kicked each of the three men hard in the knee and wrist.

"Snap! Snap!"

After a few teeth-grinding cracking sounds, heart-wrenching screams echoed through the alley.

Lin Weidong forcefully broke the arms and legs of Xu Damao and the other two.

"roll."

The three of them were in excruciating pain and dared not linger any longer. Supporting each other, they stumbled and staggered out of the alley, not daring to look back.

Lin Weidong dusted himself off, didn't even glance at the scattered wooden sticks and bricks on the ground, and turned to leave.

Since Xu Damao wants to play along, then he'll play along to the end; there'll be plenty of time to deal with things later.

Just as he stepped out of the alley, a crisp notification sound suddenly rang in his mind:

[Ding! The host has been attacked maliciously. The successful counterattack defended the host's safety, deterred the villains, and enhanced national prestige, triggering a military-exclusive reward!]

[Reward: A complete set of production blueprints for the Type 95 assault rifle!]

Lin Weidong stopped abruptly, his eyes lighting up instantly.

Type 95 automatic rifle!

He quickly reviewed the blueprints in his mind, from the rifling design of the barrel to the operating principle of the bolt and the feeding structure of the magazine, every detail was crystal clear.

Even the machine tool parameters and material standards required for production are clearly marked.

Previously, when the steel furnace was modified, the system only rewarded physical and intelligence enhancements. This time, however, it directly provided such important military blueprints!

Lin Weidong's heart began to race.