Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

The autumn sun lazily shone on courtyard number 95, but couldn't penetrate the tightly closed door of the Yi family's house in the middle courtyard. Ever since the old woman's poisoning incident, Yi Zhonghai had become completely listless. He took a long sick leave and stayed home all day, never venturing out, afraid of encountering the neighbors' sympathetic, mocking, or simply gossipy glances. Although the old woman's life was no longer in danger after emergency treatment, she was severely weakened and spent her days listlessly leaning against the kang (a heated brick bed), her eyes vacant. The couple remained silent, the house deathly still. Yi Zhonghai's dream of a comfortable retirement, along with that bowl of "fertility remedy" of dubious origin, had been completely shattered, along with his confidence as an "eighth-grade worker" and "old man."

In stark contrast to the gloomy atmosphere in the Yi family's home was Xu Damao's increasingly restless and active heart in the front yard.

Xu Damao was one of the few "smart people" in the compound. He had long seen through Yi Zhonghai's tricks of "moral blackmail" and "providing for the elderly." Before, Yi Zhonghai was powerful and adept at winning over that dim-witted fool, Sha Zhu. Although Xu Damao was unhappy, he could only occasionally use his cleverness to trip him up, not daring to confront him directly. But now? The situation had changed drastically!

With Jia Dongxu crippled, Yi Zhonghai's "number one caregiver" was rendered useless. Although Sha Zhu still frequently helped the Jia family (mostly out of respect for Qin Huairu), he had clearly distanced himself from Yi Zhonghai, especially after following Wang Huanbo. He became more shrewd and less easily fooled. As for Yi Zhonghai himself, his eagerness to have a child led him to force his wife to drink folk remedies, resulting in a poisoning scandal that humiliated him and made him a pariah in the neighborhood.

"Heh heh, Yi Zhonghai, you've finally met your match!" Xu Damao was overjoyed, more so than if a new movie had just started playing. He felt his chance to rise to the top had arrived! And the key to that chance was Wang Huanbo!

Xu Damao saw it clearly: the future of this compound, no, of the entire city of Beijing, depended on Chief Engineer Wang of the West Wing! He had the technology, the connections (though Wang Huanbo never mentioned it, Xu Damao was certain he was no ordinary person), and the methods (look how brilliantly he handled the Liu Haizhong and Jia Dongxu affair!). Even the factory leaders treated him with utmost respect. If he could latch onto this powerful figure, wouldn't he be living a life of luxury from now on?

How to win him over? Offer cigarettes and alcohol directly? Too tacky! Chief Engineer Wang doesn't need that. Flatter him? He doesn't buy that. Xu Damao pondered and pondered, and decided he had to "make a contribution"! A great contribution that would impress Chief Engineer Wang and make him, Xu Damao, seem "useful"!

What can be considered a great achievement? Right now, there's one ready-made—completely discredit Yi Zhonghai!

Yi Zhonghai had caused Wang Huanbo no small amount of trouble in the past! When he first arrived, he tried to ostracize him and had done dirty tricks both openly and secretly in the factory. Although Chief Engineer Wang hadn't held a grudge against him, how could he not harbor resentment? If he could find a way to completely crush Yi Zhonghai, wouldn't that be venting Chief Engineer Wang's anger and also cleaning up the "cancer" in the factory?

The key question is, how can this be done in a way that achieves the goal without making oneself appear "despicable," ideally "eliminating harm for the people" and "upholding justice"?

Xu Damao's eyes lit up, and an idea struck him! He thought of the neighborhood women's federation! Yi Zhonghai forced his wife to drink medicine, causing her poisoning—this was a perfect example of "persecution of women"! Moreover, Yi Zhonghai's blame for his wife's inability to survive was a prime example of "feudal remnants" and "male chauvinism"! Those old women at the women's federation hated this the most! If he reported this to the women's federation and added fuel to the fire… hehe!

No sooner said than done! That afternoon, Xu Damao specially changed into a clean Zhongshan suit, slicked his hair back, tucked two packs of good cigarettes into his pocket, and strolled over to the street office. He didn't go directly to Director Wang (who had just been humiliated in the Liu Haizhong incident and was probably still fuming), but instead went to Director Li of the Women's Federation, who was in charge of women's affairs. This Director Li was in her fifties, principled, hot-tempered, and couldn't stand any mistreatment of women.

Xu Damao put on a pained and indignant expression and knocked on the door of Director Li's office.

"Director Li! Hello! I'm Xu Damao, a projectionist from Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. I have something important to report to you!" Xu Damao respectfully offered him a cigarette.

Director Li didn't take the cigarette, frowning, "What is it? Speak."

"It's like this, Director Li, there's an old man in our compound named Yi Zhonghai, he... he's simply inhuman!" Xu Damao began his performance, vividly and in detail describing how Yi Zhonghai blamed an old woman for his infertility, how he forced her to drink various folk remedies, which ultimately led to severe poisoning and loss of fertility. He especially highlighted Yi Zhonghai's "ignorance," "selfishness," and "mental abuse of his wife."

"Director Li! Tell me, this is a new society! There are still such remnants of feudal thinking! What a good person that old lady was, she worked hard for most of her life, carried the blame for more than 20 years, and was almost killed by him in the end! Now there are rumors in the hospital, saying that it was the old lady's fault, where can she go to seek justice for her grievances!" Xu Damao beat his chest and stamped his feet, as if he felt the pain himself.

As expected, Director Li was enraged and slammed her hand on the table: "Outrageous! This Yi Zhonghai! He's an enemy of women! Our Women's Federation cannot stand idly by! He must be dealt with seriously! Criticized! Paraded through the streets!"

Xu Damao was secretly delighted, but on the surface he quickly stopped him: "Director Li! Please calm down! Public criticism and parading are necessary! But we must be mindful of the method! We must let the facts speak for themselves and convince Yi Zhonghai! I have a suggestion..."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Tomorrow is Sunday, everyone in the compound will be here. You can take your men directly to our compound, drag Yi Zhonghai out in front of everyone, take him to the hospital, and give him and that old lady a full checkup in front of the doctor! Use scientific evidence to expose his lies! Clear that old lady's name! That way, it will be more educational! It will also serve as a warning to those with similar ideas!"

Director Li's eyes lit up: "Great! Comrade Xu, that's a good suggestion! Scientific evidence is the most convincing! Let's do it that way! I'll take people there first thing tomorrow morning!"

Xu Damao was overjoyed, but his face wore an air of righteous indignation, as if he were speaking up for the people: "Director Li is wise! On behalf of the oppressed women comrades in our hospital, I thank you!"

As Xu Damao left the neighborhood office, he felt his steps become much lighter. He could almost see Yi Zhonghai being dragged out of the yard like a dead dog, see Wang Huanbo's approving gaze, and see his own bright future as he was about to step into the "inner circle."

"Yi Zhonghai, don't blame me, blame yourself for blocking my path to promotion and wealth!" Xu Damao hummed a little tune smugly.