Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

In the military workshop of the steel rolling mill, Lin Weidong and Su Wanqing were squatting next to the damaged four-axis linkage machine tool, intently inspecting the burnt spindle bearing.

Oil stains covered Lin Weidong's cuffs. He was holding a wrench and had just unscrewed a screw when he heard hurried footsteps coming from the workshop door.

"Lin Weidong, come with us!" Two police officers in uniform walked in and flashed their badges.

Lin Weidong paused, stopped what he was doing, and asked in confusion, "Comrade, what's going on?"

"Someone reported you for deliberately damaging national military equipment and assaulting the child of a state cadre. We have received orders to take you back to the Public Security Bureau for investigation." As the police officer spoke, he stepped forward to grab Lin Weidong's arm.

Su Wanqing suddenly stood up and blocked Lin Weidong's path. "You've got the wrong person!"

"It was Ji Boda who arbitrarily modified the machine tool parameters, causing the equipment damage, and then he twisted the truth to slander me. Chief Engineer Lin acted in self-defense and did not intentionally injure anyone! All the workers in the workshop can testify to this!"

"Is there some mistake? Let's talk at the police station." The police officer remained unmoved, forcibly pulled Su Wanqing away, and dragged Lin Weidong out.

"Let him go!"

Su Wanqing was so anxious that she wanted to rush forward, but she was held back by the workers around her.

Lin Weidong turned to the anxious Su Wanqing and said, "Don't worry, I didn't do anything wrong, everything will be fine. I'll leave the machine tool repair to you."

As Su Wanqing watched Lin Weidong being escorted into the car, her eyes instantly reddened.

She took a deep breath, turned around and ran to the factory office, grabbed the phone and dialed her father, Su Zhenbang.

"Dad, something terrible has happened! Lin Weidong has been arrested by the police!"

Then Su Wanqing recounted the whole story.

Upon hearing this, Su Zhenbang on the other end of the phone slammed his fist on the table in fury, exclaiming, "Outrageous! That brat Ji Boda, relying on his family's power, does whatever he wants and even dares to frame a meritorious official!"

"Don't worry, I'm coming right now. I happen to have dealings with old comrades from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Public Security. I'm determined to handle this matter today!"

Meanwhile, Li Huaide was terrified when he learned that Lin Weidong had been arrested.

While cursing Ji Boda as a bastard, he quickly dialed his father-in-law's number.

"Dad, something's happened! Lin Weidong has been arrested by the police. It was Ji Boda's mother who did it. What should we do?" Li Huaide's voice was filled with anxiety.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then a voice said, "Don't get involved in this, and don't meddle."

"Lin Weidong is a key figure in the military industry project. Behind him are not only steel rolling mills, but also key national projects."

"Don't worry, someone will take care of it. Just wait and see."

After a moment's thought, Li Huaide immediately understood his father-in-law's meaning.

After hanging up the phone, I immediately grabbed my coat and rushed to the municipal bureau. Even if I couldn't help, I had to go and see what was going on.

Ji Boda was sitting on the sofa in his mother's office, his face still bearing bruises, but he looked smug.

His mother, Zhao Shuya, is the deputy director of the General Office of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee. She has always been protective of her son. Seeing her son beaten like this, and hearing her son exaggerate and say that Lin Weidong was "jealous of his talent," she was deeply moved.

"Intentionally designed machine tool defects and even physically assaulted people," he was instantly enraged and immediately dialed the phone of a captain in the Public Security Bureau, demanding that the person be arrested immediately.

"Mom, you must make Lin Weidong pay the price this time, and let him know that our family is not to be trifled with!" Ji Boda said viciously.

Liu Shuya patted her son's head and said, "Don't worry, with Mom here, no one can bully you."

"A mere worker's son dares to challenge you? He's utterly ignorant and arrogant."

"Once he's sentenced, have your uncle remove him from the steel mill completely, so he can never hold his head up high again."

Liu Haizhong had just left the workshop, pondering how to climb the next level, when he heard the news that Lin Weidong had been arrested by the Public Security Bureau. He was overjoyed and almost jumped up on the spot.

"Good! Good! That kid Lin Weidong, he always thought he was so important just because he's a senior engineer, but he's finally done for! It's so satisfying!"

He secretly calculated that if Lin Weidong really committed a crime, Zhao Xiulan, as his mother, would definitely be implicated as well.

As Jia Zhangshi sat pasting matchboxes by the door, she kept cursing after hearing the news of Lin Weidong's arrest: "He got his comeuppance! He really got his comeuppance!"

"That little bastard Lin Weidong, he's always flirting with that vixen Su Wanqing, and now he's damaged state property. He deserves to be arrested! He should be sentenced to ten or eight years and never come out!"

As she cursed, she glanced in the direction of the deaf old woman's house, her eyes filled with schadenfreude.

She knew that the deaf old woman and Widow Li also didn't get along with Lin Weidong, and now that Lin Weidong was in trouble, they must be very happy.

Sure enough, the deaf old woman and Widow Li, sitting inside the house, both showed delighted smiles upon hearing the news circulating in the courtyard.

"What a pleasant surprise!"

The deaf old woman took a sip of tea and continued, "Now that's good. If Lin Weidong is really sentenced, Zhao Xiulan, as his mother, will definitely be implicated."

"By then, she'll be too busy taking care of herself to stand up to us anymore."

Widow Li smiled and said, "Yes, old lady."

"Once Zhao Xiulan falls, this courtyard house will be ours."

"Let's put in a little more effort with He Daqing and make him completely submit. Then even Sha Zhu will have to listen to us, and no one will dare to stand in our way anymore."

The two women exchanged a smile, already fantasizing about how they would wield immense power in the courtyard after Lin Weidong and Zhao Xiulan fell from grace.

The neighbors in the courtyard also gathered together and discussed it. Some people sympathized with Lin Weidong and felt that he might have been wronged.

Some people also took advantage of the situation, joining Liu Haizhong and Jia Zhangshi in mocking them.

Qin Huairu stood at her doorstep, holding her son He Xiao, her face full of worry.

But they dared not stand up and refute, for fear of getting into trouble.

At that moment, Lin Jianjun rushed over to the entrance of the Municipal Public Security Bureau.

He rushed over from the steel mill as soon as he received the news, his heart filled with anxiety and worry.

He had just arrived at the entrance of the Municipal Bureau when he saw Zhao Xiulan rushing over on her bicycle, her face full of anxiety and her eyes red.

"Jianjun, how is it? What about Weidong?" Zhao Xiulan stopped the car and asked hurriedly.

"I just arrived, I haven't gone in yet."

Lin Jianjun helped his wife up and comforted her, "Don't worry, Weidong will be alright. Let's go in and ask what's going on."

Just then, the sound of a car horn came from afar.

Su Zhenbang arrived in a military jeep, followed by several cars, clearly indicating that he was someone of considerable importance.

At the same time, Li Huaide also arrived at the entrance of the Municipal Bureau. Seeing Su Zhenbang with so many people, he immediately felt reassured.