Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

Chapter 1: From Clinking Glasses to a Battlefield, Before the Wine Glasses Are Cold, the Smoke of Battle Rises

The deafening explosion, like a death knell from hell, rang out without warning at the alley entrance. The violent sound, accompanied by a blast of air, swept in, rattling the windows of courtyard number 95, clattering dishes and spilling soup and wine everywhere. Immediately following was a barrage of gunfire—the crisp bursts of Type 54 pistols mingled with the rapid, continuous, tearing sounds of fully automatic weapons, ripping apart the festive and peaceful atmosphere of the wedding banquet in an instant!

Dead silence.

Time seemed to freeze for half a second. The smiles on the faces of the guests in the courtyard, which had not yet faded, were replaced by extreme terror. The women opened their mouths wide, but no sound came out; the men's hands, holding wine glasses, froze in mid-air, their eyes blank; the children stood there, dumbfounded, not understanding what had happened.

"ah--!!!"

A piercing scream, seemingly capable of shattering eardrums, finally erupted from the throats of several young women. This scream acted as a signal, instantly igniting the pent-up panic!

"Gun! It's gunshots!"

"A war has broken out?!"

"Run! Run!!!"

The crowd exploded like an anthill struck by a boulder! The once orderly banquet instantly descended into unprecedented chaos. People instinctively tried to escape the source of the noise, pushing, shoving, falling, crying out... Tables and chairs were overturned, bowls and plates shattered on the ground, and leftover food mixed with wine was spilled everywhere. The air, which had just been filled with the aroma of meat and wine, was instantly filled with fear and the smell of gunpowder.

However, this was only the beginning of the disaster.

At the very moment the explosions and gunshots rang out and the crowd panicked, the "suspicious guests" who had already been marked by plainclothes guards suddenly bared their deadly fangs like venomous snakes that had received orders to act!

The bespectacled cadre's refined smile vanished instantly, replaced by a cold and precise ruthlessness. The moment Zheng Weiguo lunged for his wrist, he appeared to frantically lean back to dodge, but magically conjured a small, gleaming black Browning M1906 pocket pistol (commonly known as a "palm grenade") in his other hand! The muzzle wasn't pointed at Zheng Weiguo, but rather, using his body as cover, he swiftly raised it and aimed it at Wang Huanbo, who was surrounded by Li Haitao and his two companions!

"Bang!"

The gunshot rang out nearby, not loud, but exceptionally clear and deadly. The bullet grazed Li Haitao's arm and struck a pillar behind him, sending splinters flying!

Almost at the same moment the "glasses-wearing cadre" drew his gun, the "young lad" moved too! Facing Zhou Tiejun's fierce sweeping kick, he didn't take the hit head-on. Instead, with an agility completely different from his previous drunken state, he slid backward, while simultaneously pulling his right hand from his ever-present pocket—a Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun with a long magazine and a menacing muzzle! Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger!

"Da da da da—!!"

A burst of bullets swept towards Zhou Tiejun and the nearby guests! Zhou Tiejun reacted extremely quickly, rolling to the side the instant the other man drew his gun. The bullets grazed his back, sending splinters flying and shattering dishes on the table behind him! But the nearby guests were not so lucky. An old steel mill worker screamed as he was shot in the thigh, blood instantly staining his trousers, and he collapsed to the ground.

The "old lady" also dropped her disguise! She seemingly fell backward in terror, but suddenly flung the pastry box in her hand, smashing it towards Wang Luofei who was lunging at her! The box exploded in mid-air, revealing not pastries, but two smoking American-made Mk2 grenades!

"Watch out for grenades!" Wang Luofei's pupils shrank, and he shouted sharply, his body leaping to the side like a cheetah! The two plainclothes guards beside him also reacted quickly, one tackling a terrified guest next to him, and the other forcefully overturning a heavy solid wood round table in front of him!

"Boom! Boom!"

Two muffled explosions rang out almost simultaneously! Shrapnel and shockwaves swept through the surrounding area! Smoke billowed, and fragments of wood, porcelain, and flesh flew everywhere! Screams and cries instantly reached their peak! The guard who had overturned the table was thrown back by the shockwave, coughing up blood, his fate unknown. Several nearby guests were also hit by shrapnel, lying in pools of blood groaning.

"Protect Engineer Wang!!"

"Enemy attack! Counterattack on the spot!!"

The roars of Zheng Weiguo and Zhou Tiejun drowned out the aftershocks of the explosion. Now, they held nothing back, their Type 54 pistols spitting out angry flames!

"Bang! Bang!" Zheng Weiguo fired two shots in quick succession, accurately hitting the "bespectacled cadre's" wrist and chest. The "bespectacled cadre" groaned as he was shot in the wrist, and the Browning pistol flew out of his hand. However, he was extremely agile and used the force of the shot to roll backward and hide behind the overturned octagonal table.

Zhou Tiejun also opened fire, targeting the "young man" wielding a "Suomi" submachine gun. But the enemy's firepower was fierce, and a long burst of fire suppressed Zhou Tiejun, preventing him from raising his head. The bullets shattered the bricks of the stove where he was hiding, sending up clouds of smoke and dust.

The triangular protective formation formed by Li Haitao, Wang Jian, and Deng Huade instantly contracted, tightly protecting Wang Huanbo at the core. Three Type 54 pistols were pointed in three different directions, vigilant against any possible attack. A ricocheting bullet grazed Wang Jian's shoulder, drawing blood, but he didn't even flinch, his eyes still fixed on the front.

The instant the explosion rang out, Lin Zhan shoved Wang Huanbo backward, placing him behind a relatively safe pillar. Simultaneously, he stepped forward, positioning himself between Wang Huanbo and the chaotic battlefield. His Type 54 pistol was steadily pointed at the thickest point of smoke, his eyes as cold as knives.

"Brother Zhu! Take Yu Li and the deaf old lady to the backyard! Quickly!" Wang Huanbo, leaning against a pillar, shouted sharply to Sha Zhu, who was holding Yu Li and protecting the deaf old lady not far away. His voice remained clear amidst the gunshots and explosions, carrying an unquestionable tone of command.

Sha Zhu was stunned by the scene before him. One second it was a joyous banquet with guests and hosts in high spirits, the next it had become a battlefield of flying blood and flesh! The deafening explosions made his ears ring, bullets whizzed past his head and around him, thudding against the walls and pillars, sending debris flying everywhere. Yu Li trembled in his arms, while the deaf old lady was so frightened that her face turned deathly pale, and she could barely stand.

But Wang Huanbo's roar was like a bucket of cold water poured over him, waking him up! He gritted his teeth and his eyes flashed with an unprecedented ferocity! It was the instinct to protect his loved ones! He first pulled the terrified Yu Li behind him, then bent down and, with all his strength, picked up the thin, deaf old lady in his arms! The old lady was as light as a child.

"Lily! Come with me!" Sha Zhu roared, grabbing the deaf old lady and pulling the still-shaken Yu Li along. Crouching low, he used his familiarity with the courtyard's terrain to avoid the central area where bullets were flying, and charged towards the moon gate leading to the backyard! His broad back became the strongest shield for Yu Li and the deaf old lady.

"In-laws! Quick! Follow Zhu Zi! To the backyard!" He Daqing had experienced the chaos of war, and although he hadn't personally witnessed battles for many years, his inherent vigilance and fighting spirit remained. His first reaction wasn't to flee for his own life, but to shove Yu's parents and shout in the direction Sha Zhu had run. Yu's parents were already terrified, and after being shoved by He Daqing, they instinctively followed behind Sha Zhu.

After seeing off his in-laws, He Daqing immediately looked around anxiously for his daughter: "Yushui! Yushui!!" His eyes searched frantically among the chaotic screaming and fleeing crowd.

Finally, under an overturned table, he found He Yushui curled up in a ball, trembling with fear. The little girl was pale, her hands tightly covering her ears, her face covered in tears and snot.

"Rain!" He Daqing's heart skipped a beat. Without the slightest hesitation, he lunged towards his daughter! The table was a little far from the main battlefield, but it was still dangerous with stray bullets flying everywhere.

Just as He Daqing rushed to the table and bent down to pick up his daughter—

"Clang!" A sharp metallic clang rang out from not far away! It was a ricocheting bullet that struck the iron pot on the edge of the stove, changed direction, and with a piercing whistle, shot straight towards He Yushui under the table!

He Daqing caught a glimpse of that deadly, cold light out of the corner of his eye! Time seemed to freeze at that moment. He had no time to think; his reaction was purely driven by paternal instinct!

"Get out of the way!!" He let out a roar that sounded inhuman, and with all his might, he shoved He Yushui aside! At the same time, his own body stood resolutely and completely in front of his daughter and the direction from which the bullets were coming!

"Pfft!"

A dull, teeth-grinding sound of flesh being torn apart rang out.

He Daqing's body jolted violently, his expression freezing instantly, transforming from extreme anxiety and determination into a blank, empty look. A warm liquid with a strong metallic smell suddenly gushed out, splashing He Yushui, who had been pushed to the ground, all over her face and body!

He Yushui froze. She felt a hot, wet, and sticky sensation on her face. Instinctively, she wiped it with her hand, and what came into view was a glaring, viscous, scarlet blood!

"Dad... Dad?!" He Yushui's voice trembled and became incoherent. She looked up and saw a hideous blood hole on her father's back, near his right shoulder blade, from which blood was gushing out, quickly staining his half-new blue Zhongshan suit, which he had specially changed into for today.

"Dad! What's wrong with you?! Dad!!" He Yushui cried out in heart-wrenching sobs, struggling to get up.

He Daqing was in excruciating pain, his vision blurring. He could feel his life force rapidly draining away with his blood. But no! He couldn't give up! Yu Shui was still in danger! With his last ounce of willpower, he bit his tongue hard, the sharp pain bringing him some temporary clarity. He reached out his uninjured left hand and grabbed He Yu Shui's arm, his voice hoarse and urgent: "Go... hurry! To the backyard! Find your brother!"

He struggled to stay upright, half-dragging, half-carrying the terrified He Yushui, stumbling towards the moon gate where Sha Zhu and the others had disappeared. Every step aggravated the wound on his back, bringing excruciating pain, leaving shocking bloody footprints on the ground.

Section Two: A Multitude of People in Disarray Flee to the Backyard, Becoming the Only Door to Survival

The gunfight in the central courtyard escalated rapidly, turning into a bloody killing field. Meanwhile, the guests who had arrived at the front courtyard and the east and west wing courtyards for the banquet but had not yet entered the central courtyard were also gripped by immense panic.

They only heard deafening explosions and rapid gunfire coming from the central courtyard, saw thick smoke rising, and heard piercing screams, but they didn't know exactly what had happened. Were they bandits? Enemy agents? Or... had the army invaded? The unknown brought a deeper fear.

"Oh my god! A gun went off!"

"Run! Murder!"

"My child! My child!"

"Don't push! Ah! Someone stepped on me!"

The front yard and the east and west wings were instantly thrown into chaos. People scattered like headless flies, some trying to rush into the central courtyard to see what was happening (mostly concerned for their families there), some trying to escape to the main gate, and others paralyzed with fear, unable to move. The sounds of overturned tables and chairs, shattered dishes, children's cries, women's screams, and men's roars mingled together, creating a scene of apocalyptic chaos.

At the moment the explosion rang out, Yi Zhonghai was also terrified. His first thought was not to save his own life, but to pounce on the old woman (Wang Shufen) next to him, pinning her down, while yelling at the terrified siblings Yi Aiguo and Yi Aijia: "Get down! Don't move!" After the first wave of chaotic gunfire subsided, he saw Sha Zhu carrying the deaf old woman and pulling Yu Li towards the backyard, and heard He Daqing shouting for Yu's parents to follow. He immediately realized that the backyard might be a relatively safe refuge.

"Aiguo! Aijia! Take your mother! Come with me! To the backyard!" Yi Zhonghai, after all, was a seasoned veteran, and at this critical moment, he displayed astonishing decisiveness. With one hand protecting the trembling old woman and the other calling to his nephew and niece, he crouched low and staggered along the wall, but with a clear goal in mind, rushed toward the moon gate.

Liu Haizhong, however, revealed another side beneath his "official-obsessed" exterior—an astonishing survival instinct. At the sound of the gunshot, his obese body erupted with an abnormal speed and agility. Without the slightest hesitation, and without even bothering to pull up the terrified Second Aunt beside him, he first rolled lazily under the nearest eight-immortal table. Only when he heard the shouts and directions of Sha Zhu and the others did he suddenly emerge from under the table. Ignoring the grease and soup stains covering his body, he grabbed the still trembling Second Aunt and yelled at his two equally terrified sons, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, "Guangtian! Guangfu! Don't stand there! Run to the backyard! Quickly!!" After yelling, he dragged Second Aunt along, and with a speed disproportionate to his size, shoved aside several guests blocking his way, and charged headlong towards the backyard. His speed was almost as fast as a young man's.

Yan Fugui's performance was the most appalling. When the explosion rang out, he was happily munching on a piece of braised pork, calculating how much money he could "save" on gifts and how much good food he could pack up. The instant the explosion struck, his chopsticks clattered to the ground, the greasy braised pork rolling into the dust. He felt as if his bones had been removed; his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud, his face ashen, his lips trembling but unable to utter a sound. A dark stain quickly seeped into his crotch, releasing a foul stench—he had lost control of his bladder from fright.

"Husband! Husband! Get up! Run!" Although the third aunt was also terrified, seeing her husband in this state, she still suppressed her fear and rushed forward to try to pull him up. Yan Jiefang, Yan Jiekuang, and Yan Jiecheng, the three children, also cried and surrounded their father, trying to pull him up.

"Run...run..." Yan Fugui's eyes were unfocused, and he unconsciously repeated the word, but his legs felt like lead, and he couldn't stand up. In the end, it was the three aunts and three children who dragged and pulled him up from the ground. He cried and screamed, stumbling and falling as he ran towards the backyard with the dispersing crowd. Yan Fugui's crotch was soaked, and he looked very disheveled as he ran, but he didn't care about that at the moment. The instinct for survival overwhelmed all calculations and pride.

Xu Damao wasn't much better off. He had been watching with envy as Sha Zhu triumphantly toasted the guests, scheming how his own wedding would outshine his. The explosion was like a blow to the head, plunging him back to harsh reality from his envious fantasies. He felt a sudden heat in his crotch, a warm current gushing out uncontrollably—he had urinated. The pungent smell instantly sobered him, followed by boundless terror. He scrambled off his chair, crawling on all fours towards his west wing, whimpering incoherently. But after a few steps, seeing the smoke rising from the central courtyard and hearing the increasingly intense gunfire, he abruptly changed direction, joining most of the panicked guests in a hasty retreat towards the backyard. Forget about saving face, forget about scheming; in the face of death, everything became a joke.

The backyard, a relatively enclosed space connected to the central courtyard only by a moon gate, inadvertently became the only safe haven in the minds of most guests amidst extreme chaos and fear. People surged towards the narrow moon gate like a tidal wave, crying, pushing, and trampling. People fell and were constantly trampled by those behind them, emitting piercing screams, but no one stopped. The will to survive overwhelmed everything.

Section 3: Beset by Internal and External Troubles, Wang Gong Resolutely Defends His Love Nest

The battle at the Intermediate Court has reached a fever pitch.

Following the initial raid, the enemy agents displayed astonishing combat skills and ruthlessness. They were clearly well-prepared and had a clear division of labor.

Despite his wrist injury, "Glasses Officer" (codename "Viper") remained ruthless. Hiding behind an overturned table, he pulled a dagger from his boot with his left hand, cut off a piece of his sleeve to hastily bandage his wound, and simultaneously hooked a fallen Browning pistol with his foot, replacing the magazine with a new one. His eyes swept across the battlefield with a sinister gaze, searching for Wang Huanbo's whereabouts.

The young man wielding the "Suomi" submachine gun (codenamed "Viper") was the main source of firepower. With his fierce firepower, he initially suppressed Zheng Weiguo and Zhou Tiejun, while constantly changing positions, attempting to find angles to attack the heavily guarded Wang Huanbo. His marksmanship was extremely accurate, and the spray of bullets posed a significant threat and pressure to the guards.

The enemy agent disguised as the "old lady" (codename "Bamboo Green") was even more cunning and ruthless. After throwing the grenade, she didn't seek cover and exchange fire like the other two. Instead, she moved swiftly towards the moon gate leading to the backyard, using the smoke and chaos of the crowd as cover, like a ghost! Her target didn't seem to be Wang Huanbo, but rather she wanted to take advantage of the chaos to rush into the backyard, create even more chaos, or... take a hostage? In her hand, a small but deadly palm grenade had appeared at some point.

After dodging the grenade explosion, Wang Luofei sprang to his feet like a cheetah, instantly locking onto the direction "Bamboo Viper" was moving. Without hesitation, he fired two shots! "Bang! Bang!" The bullets struck the ground where "Bamboo Viper" had just stood, sparks flying. "Bamboo Viper" twisted his body unpredictably, dodging the bullets at an incredible angle, while simultaneously firing another shot at Wang Luofei, forcing him to dodge again.

Outside the courtyard, the gunfire and explosions intensified. It was clear that enemy agents had also deployed significant forces outside, even using grenades! Explosions continued one after another, and flashes of light through the courtyard walls illuminated the sky. The mobile unit led by Deputy Director Li Hong was clearly encountering heavy firepower and was finding it difficult to quickly break through and provide support. The dense barrage of submachine gun fire mingled with the returning fire of Type 54 pistols and Type 81 automatic rifles, making the battle exceptionally fierce.

"Engineer Wang! It's too dangerous here! Retreat to the backyard with Factory Director Li! We'll cover their retreat!" Lin Hongjie shouted anxiously to Wang Huanbo behind a pillar while returning fire with his pistol at the approaching "Viper" team. He had already covered Deputy Factory Director Li Huaide, who was also pale but relatively calm, as they retreated to a position near the moon gate. Although Li Huaide was a production manager, he had served in the military and had seen his share of battles. Although tense, he remained calm and shouted loudly to Wang Huanbo, "Engineer Wang! We must survive! Retreat first! Hold out in the backyard and await reinforcements!"

Wang Huanbo leaned against the cold pillars, the whistling of bullets filling his ears, the thick smell of gunpowder and blood in his nostrils. He could hear Li Huaide's shouts and sense the anxiety of Lin Hongjie and the others. But his gaze passed over the chaotic battlefield and landed on the tightly closed door of the west courtyard.

In the west courtyard, there was his wife, Lou Xiao'e, who was six months pregnant!

He was the enemy's target. If they couldn't break into the central courtyard, or if they couldn't succeed there, then the west courtyard, which was only one gate away from the central courtyard and had relatively weak defenses, would undoubtedly become their best point of attack! Lin Wei and Wang Chunhua were only two people, facing vicious enemy agents who might attack from multiple directions, and also protecting the disabled Lou Xiao'e... The consequences would be unimaginable!

If he retreated to the backyard at this moment, he would be relatively safe, but he would undoubtedly expose the west wing and his wife and children inside to danger! How could he possibly do that?

"No!" Wang Huanbo's voice was resolute and exceptionally clear amidst the hail of bullets. "I can't leave! Xiao'e is in the west wing! Minister Lin, you cover Director Li and the crowd to the backyard! Leave this to us!"

"Engineer Wang!!" Lin Hongjie's eyes reddened with anxiety. Wang Huanbo's importance was self-evident; if anything happened to him, the consequences would be unimaginable!

"Execute orders!" Wang Huanbo's tone left no room for argument, carrying the authority unique to someone long accustomed to a position of power. "Guard the moon gate and prevent enemy agents from storming the backyard and harming the civilians! My guards and I can handle things here!"

As he spoke, he turned slightly from behind the pillar, pointed his M1911A1 pistol at "Bamboo Leaf Green," who was moving towards the Moon Gate and trying to intercept the fleeing crowd, and fired a shot!

"Bang!"

The shot was swift and accurate, demonstrating that Wang Huanbo was no weak scholar. Caught off guard, "Bamboo Leaf Green" suffered a burst of blood on his shoulder, let out a muffled groan, and froze in mid-air.

"Engineer Wang!" Li Haitao and the others were both shocked and anxious, and tried to dissuade him.

"Stop talking nonsense! Concentrate firepower and suppress the one with the submachine gun! Zheng Weiguo, Zhou Tiejun, take care of the one with glasses! Comrade Wang Luofei, that female spy is yours!" Wang Huanbo issued orders at lightning speed, his calm demeanor more like directing an experiment in a laboratory than being in the midst of gunfire. He knew that hesitation now meant death; he had to eliminate the enemy's manpower as quickly as possible, especially the most heavily armed "Viper"!

Seeing that Wang Huanbo was determined and knew he couldn't be persuaded, Li Haitao and his two companions immediately changed their strategy. Instead of simply defending, they used their precise marksmanship and excellent teamwork to actively suppress "Viper's" position with fire. Although they were using pistols, which had less range and firepower than submachine guns, their crossfire was extremely accurate, immediately pinning "Viper" down and preventing him from firing indiscriminately.

Zheng Weiguo and Zhou Tiejun, having received their orders, were immediately invigorated. Having worked together for a long time, they understood each other's intentions with just a glance. Using the stove and the wreckage of tables and chairs as cover, Zheng Weiguo quickly maneuvered to the flank of the octagonal table where "Viper" (the bespectacled cadre) was positioned. Zhou Tiejun, meanwhile, drew fire from the front, continuously firing to suppress the enemy.

When Wang Luofei saw that Wang Huanbo had actually fired a shot and wounded "Bamboo Leaf Green," a strange light flashed in his eyes, but his actions were decisive. He pursued "Bamboo Leaf Green" relentlessly, firing his pistol repeatedly, forcing the wounded "Bamboo Leaf Green" to dodge in a sorry state, preventing him from getting close to the Moon Gate to create chaos.

Lin Zhan remained steadfastly by Wang Huanbo's side, his Type 54 pistol like a viper's tongue, each shot threatening and suppressing several enemy agents who had previously blended in with the guests but were now exposed, as they attempted to flank from the side.

Wang Huanbo used the pillars and ruins as cover, calmly observing the battlefield. His marksmanship was unexpectedly good; although he was using a Colt M1911A1 pistol, every shot accurately hit the edge of the enemy's hiding place or blocked their movement route, creating opportunities for Li Haitao and his men to suppress the enemy and for Zheng Weiguo and his men to launch an assault. His mind was racing, calculating the enemy's positions, firing points, and possible intentions.

Section 4: A Terror in the Backyard, Anxi Temporarily Secures a Bailout Awaiting Reinforcements

Meanwhile, the backyard was in complete chaos.

Sha Zhu, carrying the deaf old lady and dragging Yu Li, was the first to rush into the backyard. Immediately afterward, Yu's parents, He Daqing (half-dragging He Yushui), the Yi Zhonghai family, the Liu Haizhong family, the Yan Fugui family (stumbling and crawling), and numerous other shaken guests poured in like a flood. The once spacious backyard was instantly packed with people. Cries, groans, urging, and curses filled the air.

"Close the door! Close the moon gate now!" Sha Zhu carefully placed the deaf old lady in a relatively safe corner and shouted at the crowded people. Yu Li held the pale-faced, panting deaf old lady tightly, trembling all over herself, but bit her lip to hold back her tears.

Several of the bolder male guests reacted quickly and worked together to push open the heavy wooden moon gate. The hinges creaked and groaned as they slowly closed.

"Dad! Dad, what's wrong?!" He Yushui finally came to her senses from the extreme fear and shock. Looking at the wound on her father's back that was constantly bleeding, tears welled up in her eyes. She frantically tried to cover it with her hands, but she couldn't.

He Daqing slid down against the wall, his face ashen from blood loss, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. The excruciating pain nearly made him faint, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to utter a sound. He grasped He Yushui's trembling hand, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace: "It's...it's alright...Yushui...don't be afraid...your brother...your brother will come..." Before he could finish, another violent cough erupted, the phlegm streaked with blood.

"Zhu Zi! Zhu Zi! Look at your dad!" Yu Li was terrified when she saw He Daqing's appearance and hurriedly called out to Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu had just managed to close the moon gate and bolt it shut (in reality, this kind of old-fashioned wooden door might not be able to stop bullets, but it could at least give people some psychological comfort) when he heard the shouts and rushed over. When he saw the gruesome bloody hole in his father's back and the large pool of blood on the ground, Sha Zhu's eyes instantly turned red.

"Dad!!" He rushed to He Daqing's side, wanting to touch him but not daring to. "Hold on! Hold on! I..." He was so anxious that he was pacing around in circles, trying to find something to bandage him, but where in the backyard were there any first aid supplies?

Yi Zhonghai squeezed over and gasped when he saw He Daqing's injuries: "This...this is a gunshot wound! We need to stop the bleeding immediately!" He quickly tore off his coat, trying to tear it into strips, but the fabric was too sturdy to tear easily.

Liu Haizhong hid behind a large water vat, his obese body trembling, oblivious to everyone else. Yan Fugui slumped in the arms of the three old women, his eyes glazed over, the wet patch and stench from his crotch drawing disdainful yet pitying glances from passersby. Xu Damao huddled in the farthest corner, clutching his head, muttering repeatedly, "Don't kill me, don't kill me," his pants similarly soaked.

The chaos in the front yard spread to the backyard, but compared to the middle yard, it temporarily became a relatively safe (at least psychologically) island. People huddled together, still shaken, listening to the increasingly intense gunfire and explosions coming from the direction of the middle yard, their faces filled with fear and despair. Women sobbed softly, children cried loudly, and men clenched their fists, some bewildered, some angry, some praying.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the west courtyard was equally tense.

Lou Xiao'e, who was pregnant and prone to sleepiness, was suddenly awakened by the earth-shattering explosion and the subsequent barrage of gunfire. Her heart pounded in fear, and she instinctively protected her stomach, sitting up with all the color draining from her face.

"Don't be afraid, Madam, we're here." Wang Chunhua was already standing guard by the bedside with a gun. She looked slender, but her hand holding the gun was as steady as a rock, and her sharp eyes scanned the doors and windows. She deliberately kept her voice calm, trying to soothe Lou Xiao'e's emotions, "Engineer Wang is outside, and Lin Wei is in the yard. We are safe."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Wei's deep and resolute voice rang out from the courtyard: "Madam, please stay inside. Do not come out under any circumstances!" Through the window, Lin Wei's figure could be seen standing in the center of the courtyard like a javelin. The weapon in his hand was none other than a Type 81 automatic rifle equipped with a rail and holographic sight! The muzzle was steadily pointed at the tightly closed courtyard gate and the surrounding walls, his gaze sweeping across every possible corner for breach like a hawk's. Unlike the Type 54 pistols used by the guards in the central courtyard, the Type 81 automatic rifle's firepower and range were sufficient to handle a more severe challenge. Clearly, Wang Huanbo's security detail was equipped with superior weaponry.

Lou Xiao'e gripped the corner of the blanket tightly, her fingertips turning white from the force. She could hear the intense gunfire coming from the middle courtyard, and the cries and chaos from the backyard. She didn't know exactly what was happening outside, but she knew her husband was out there, in danger. A tremendous fear and worry clenched her heart, but looking at the composed Wang Chunhua before her, and listening to Lin Wei's steady voice from the courtyard, she forced herself to remain calm. She couldn't panic, she couldn't cause trouble for her husband, and most importantly, she couldn't harm the baby in her womb.

She took a deep breath, stroked her slightly protruding belly, and murmured to herself, as if to Wang Chunhua, "Huanbo... he'll be alright... we'll all be alright..."

Wang Chunhua glanced back at her, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes. This Madam Wang, despite being pregnant and facing such a dangerous situation, was able to quickly control her emotions, which was truly remarkable.

The gunfire from the central courtyard grew increasingly intense, and the shouts of enemy agents and the angry roars of Wang Huanbo's guards could be faintly heard. Lin Wei's ears twitched slightly as he intently listened for any sounds outside the wall. He knew the enemy might resort to desperate measures, attempting to find a breakthrough through the relatively weaker west wing. And he was the first and last line of defense guarding this place. His finger lightly rested on the trigger guard of the Type 81 rifle.

The backyard, with its tightly closed moon gate, became a refuge for the still-shaken people; in the west wing, a pregnant woman and two elite guards stood silently guarding the place; while the central courtyard had become a blood-soaked inferno of flying bullets and life-or-death struggles. The festive red silks had not yet been removed, but the smoke and blood had already soaked this land that should have been filled with blessings.

Wang Huanbo's choice placed him at the most dangerous center of the storm. Could he and his guards withstand the enemy's frenzied attacks and hold out until reinforcements broke through? Would the unarmed civilians in the backyard remain safe? In the west wing, would Lou Xiao'e and her unborn child be unharmed? All the answers depended on the outcome of this fierce battle in the central courtyard.

Gunfire continued to echo.