I painted an aircraft carrier on the courtyard house for Dongda University.

Seeing the two nod with shining eyes, Zhou Weiguo was just about to continue reasoning with them when a notification sound suddenly rang in his mind.

Ding-dong! Detected that the host severely punished the courtyard pest Jia Zhangshi, which conforms to the positive energy system's behavioral guidelines, a reward is hereby issued:

Energy Points 5

20 banknotes of the 1956 edition of the 5-yuan note (printed in the Soviet Union)

Special offer cigarettes* 3 cartons

Special supply of Moutai* 1 case (20 bottles)

"Holy crap, this is good stuff!" Zhou Weiguo was overjoyed. He hadn't had the chance to enjoy these things in his previous life. He pretended to take something out of his pocket, but actually pulled out a box of special cigarettes from his system space. Ignoring the bewildered expressions on the two men's faces, he tore open the packaging.

Only then did he realize he hadn't brought matches. He Yuzhu, finally quick-witted, ran to the bedside and rummaged around for a while before finding a box of matches to light for Zhou Weiguo. "Uncle, I've never seen this cigarette box before?" He Yuzhu asked curiously, his big face close to Zhou Weiguo's.

Zhou Weiguo, too lazy to explain, tossed him a cigarette and leaned back in his chair, puffing away. He Yuzhu happily took the cigarette, mimicking Zhou's manner, and took a deep drag, coughing and choking, but still grinning, "Uncle, this cigarette is really strong! It's even better than what the factory leaders smoke!"

Meanwhile, at the Jia family's house, Qin Huairu was pacing anxiously inside. Dongxu hadn't returned, and her mother-in-law had been arrested. She had been trying to stop her mother-in-law from causing trouble, but had been scolded and hadn't dared to help. Even after seeing the police officers and Director Wang, she instinctively retreated to the back of the crowd. Now she truly didn't know what to do. Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Qin Huairu nervously opened it, only to find it was Uncle Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai's expression was grave, his brows furrowed deeply, and he lowered his voice, asking, "Huai Ru, where is Dong Xu?"

Qin Huairu looked bewildered, her eyes red-rimmed, her voice trembling with tears: "Uncle, I don't know either. He left before dawn and hasn't come back yet. My mother-in-law has been taken away by the police, what are we going to do?"

Yi Zhonghai looked at Qin Huairu with a meaningful expression and said, "Huairu, there's only one way to save your mother-in-law now, it just depends on whether you're willing to do it. I think you don't want your mother-in-law to go in, wait until Dongxu comes back and deals with you."

Qin Huairu was startled by these words and quickly said, "Uncle, please tell me, I'll listen to whatever you say."

Yi Zhonghai looked at Qin Huairu: "Let me tell you, Sha Zhu's uncle is not easy to deal with. Your mother-in-law was arrested because of him. If you can get him to confess and get her out of the police station, this matter will be over. But you have to be prepared; he definitely won't agree easily. From my interactions with him these past two days, I've found that this guy is not easy to handle; you can't confront him directly. Here's what you'll do: in a little while, go directly to Sha Zhu's doorstep, kneel down there, and then…"

After hearing Yi Zhonghai's words, Qin Huairu seemed to unleash her true colors as a manipulative woman. Her eyes lit up, and she looked at Yi Zhonghai with unwavering determination, saying, "Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely go and rescue my mother-in-law! I refuse to believe that he can be so heartless as to ignore me even if I kneel at his door!" With that, Qin Huairu pretended to wipe away her tears, straightened her clothes, and prepared to head towards Sha Zhu's house. Her posture suggested that as long as she knelt down, everything would be resolved.

Watching Qin Huairu leave, Yi Zhonghai gave a gloomy, crooked smile.

Yi Zhonghai was calculating in his mind that as long as Qin Huairu knelt before Zhou Weiguo, he could take the opportunity to spread rumors in the courtyard that Zhou Weiguo was difficult to get along with and even had designs on Qin Huairu, thereby reversing public opinion against the Jia family. At that time, no matter how tough Zhou Weiguo was, he would have to bow his head amidst everyone's spittle.

He rubbed his hands together, turned around and slowly walked into the courtyard, intending to spread the word and ignite public opinion.

Qin Huairu walked directly to the entrance of Sha Zhu's house, knelt on the bluestone slab, and cried out in a deliberately amplified voice, her voice trembling with tears, "Brother Zhou! Please spare my mother-in-law! She's a widow, so old, she can't withstand the torment in the police station. Please be a good person and let her go! If you have any anger, take it out on me, I, Qin Huairu, will not say a word. I beg you! Although my mother-in-law is a bit domineering, she's still my mother-in-law. I beg you, please let her go for my sake!"

Hearing the noise, Zhou Weiguo and He Yuzhu, who were smoking inside, frowned instantly, snorted coldly, threw their cigarette butts on the ground and stomped them out, and walked straight out the door.

As soon as the two stepped outside, they saw Qin Huairu lying on the ground, heartbroken. She only slightly raised her head when she saw them, her reddened eyes filled with pleading, her face still streaked with tears. She looked pitiful and kept begging for mercy, "Brother Zhou, please be magnanimous and have mercy on me!"

Zhou Weiguo was someone who had been exposed to the internet in his previous life, so this level of intensity couldn't possibly have any effect on him.

Meanwhile, He Yuzhu was completely dumbfounded, standing there frozen in place. Looking down at the delicate and pitiful Sister Qin, and seeing everyone dressed lightly in the middle of summer, with clothes of this era having little elasticity, the sight made He Yuzhu blush furiously.

He Yuzhu's Adam's apple bobbed twice, his eyes filled with struggle. He turned to face Zhou Weiguo, his eyes remaining fixed on the same spot. His lips trembled as if he wanted to say something, but he was afraid of saying the wrong thing and angering Zhou Weiguo. He was as awkward as a child who had done something wrong. What was most infuriating was that he even drooled at the end.

Upon seeing He Yuzhu's appearance, Qin Huairu was overjoyed and cried even more bitterly. She even tremblingly grabbed He Yuzhu's leg and pleaded for her, "Brother Zhu, you and Brother Zhou, please beg for my life! I'm really desperate. If Dongxu finds out when he comes back, he'll beat me to death!" As she spoke, she deliberately leaned forward, making He Yuzhu's "gun" almost uncontrollable.

Zhou Weiguo glanced coldly at He Yuzhu's absent-minded appearance, sneered inwardly, and directly pulled out his belt and swung it in the air. With a loud "crack," He Yuzhu was startled and only then came to his senses.

Zhou Weiguo glanced around and thought, "Wow, these extras are here really fast! Dozens of people are standing in the courtyard, all watching the He family like they're watching a show."

Ignoring everything else, Zhou Weiguo looked down at the woman on the ground, who was pretending to kneel, and said loudly, "First of all, I am He Yuzhu's maternal uncle. You are of the same generation as He Yuzhu, so I can accept this kneeling. However, since it's not a holiday, there are no red envelopes. No need for formalities."

Upon hearing this, the surrounding neighbors began to whisper among themselves, and even Yi Zhonghai's expression changed repeatedly.