Siheyuan (courtyard house): My father, Li Yunlong!

"Okay! Alright!"

Yan Bugui immediately took out the paper and pen he had prepared beforehand, and moved to a place with light (Shazhu cleverly turned on the light in front of his house) to prepare for registration.

Liu Haizhong stuck out his belly, trying hard to project an air of authority.

"Did you all hear that? Line up! By household! Old Yi, keep an eye on things!"

Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to step forward and silently maintain order.

Soon, a line formed. Although everyone's face showed eagerness, the order was well maintained under Li Zhenhua's cold gaze.

The head of each household stepped forward, paid the money, and Yan Bugui registered and signed the document. Then they went to the cart, where Li Zhenhua personally watched over them. Wang Gensheng had returned quietly at some point and used the large scale he had brought to weigh out 100 jin of grain, which was then poured into the rice bags, basins, and even bed sheets that each household had brought.

The whole process was quiet and efficient, with only the sounds of Yan Bugui announcing his name, the clicking of the scale, and the rustling of grain being poured into the container.

The families who received the grain beamed with joy, clutching it tightly as if it were a lost treasure. They bowed deeply to Li Zhenhua with profuse thanks, then rushed home as if afraid someone would steal it.

Qin Huairu's family was in the middle to lower ranks. When she trembled as she handed over the money she had scraped together, and watched the golden grain being poured into the basin she had brought, tears finally welled up in her eyes. She bowed deeply to Li Zhenhua, her voice choked with emotion.

"Thank you... thank you, Director Li!"

Li Zhenhua simply nodded slightly and didn't say anything more.

When it was Yi Zhonghai's turn, he paid the money and took the grain with a complicated expression. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, it just turned into a barely audible sigh.

Although Xu Damao felt awkward about the Liu Haizhong family and the Yan Bugui family, he obediently paid the money and took the grain.

After the last family had received their grain, there was still a small half-sack left on the cart. Li Zhenhua said to Wang Gensheng.

"Take the rest back."

Then he turned to the entire hospital and raised his voice.

"Everyone has received their food. Remember what I said before. Watch your mouths and live peacefully. Disperse!"

As if they had heard a general amnesty, everyone grabbed their grain and scattered like birds and beasts, returning to their homes in an instant. Only Li Zhenhua, Wang Gensheng, and the empty cart remained in the courtyard.

Soon, suppressed cheers, children's laughter, and the clatter of pots and pans came from behind each window.

This night was destined to be a sleepless one for the Nanluo Courtyard, but not because of hunger and fear, but because of the hope of survival.

Time flew by and it was already the next day.

The neighborhood office had just started work when two anonymous complaint letters were prominently displayed on Director Wang's desk.

The letter paper was rough and the handwriting was crooked, clearly a deliberate disguise, but the content was shocking.

All accusations allege that Li Zhenhua, deputy director of the logistics department of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, abused his power to engage in rampant speculation and profiteering, and last night openly sold a staggering 3,000 jin of grain to residents in the Nanluo Courtyard in Luogu Lane!

After reading the letter, Director Wang's face turned ashen. He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups rattle.

"Outrageous! Utterly outrageous!"

Director Wang's chest heaved violently.

"Three thousand catties of grain! This is blatant defiance of the law! Li Zhenhua... how dare he!"

Speculation and profiteering are serious crimes nowadays, and cases involving such a huge amount of money are even more serious.

Director Wang dared not delay. On the one hand, he immediately made an emergency report to his superiors. On the other hand, he immediately gathered several capable staff members from the subdistrict office and angrily headed straight for the Nanluo Courtyard.

Upon arriving at the courtyard, Director Wang immediately ordered the gates sealed off, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving at will. At the same time, he dispatched people to the steel mill and the workplaces of the residents in the courtyard to notify all relevant personnel to return to the courtyard immediately for investigation.

Special mention goes to Li Zhenhua!

When the news reached the logistics department of the steel rolling mill, Li Zhenhua was reviewing a procurement plan.

Upon hearing the messenger's breathless report that Director Wang of the neighborhood office had led a group to seal off the courtyard house and was investigating his speculation and profiteering activities, the other colleagues in the office turned pale with fright and cast worried or suspicious glances at them.

However, Li Zhenhua simply closed the folder slowly, his face showing no sign of panic or even surprise.

He calmly told the messenger "Understood," then got up, straightened the collar of his Zhongshan suit, gave his deputy a few brief instructions, and then, with a normal expression, pushed open the door and rode his bicycle slowly towards the courtyard house.

A letter of complaint?

He had returned to the warehouse last night to arrange follow-up matters, then quietly went back and personally delivered it to the neighborhood office mailbox late at night.

Yi Zhonghai wanted to use the entire hospital staff to put pressure on him, forcing him to hand over the grain, thus leaving him with leverage.

So he decided to play along and deliberately made the leverage bigger and more public. However, it was no longer up to Yi Zhonghai and his group to decide who the blade would ultimately point at.

He wanted to see how the neighbors who had accepted the grain and put their fingerprints on it, especially the ringleaders like Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong, would conduct themselves when faced with the voluntary purchase agreement signed by everyone in the hospital last night and Director Wang's thunderous rage.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the courtyard was as oppressive as the deathly stillness before a storm.

The gate to the courtyard was guarded by street officials, and the courtyard was packed with residents who had been urgently recalled. Men, women, and children all had fear and unease written on their faces.

In the very center of the courtyard, sacks of grain collected from each household were piled up, with golden corn kernels and reddish-brown sorghum scattered on the ground, looking particularly jarring.

Director Wang stood by the octagonal table with his hands behind his back, his face ashen. Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, and several others stood in front of him with their heads hanging low, their foreheads covered in cold sweat.

Just then, the sound of a bicycle bell and steady footsteps came from the courtyard gate.

Everyone turned to look, and saw Li Zhenhua pushing his bicycle, calmly stepping over the threshold and walking in.

Upon seeing Li Zhenhua, Director Wang's pent-up anger found an outlet. She stepped forward abruptly, pointed at the pile of grain in the center of the yard, and launched a fierce attack.

"Li Zhenhua! You've come at the right time! Explain yourself! What's going on here? Huh? Someone reported you for illegally selling a large amount of grain in the yard last night, a whopping three thousand jin! How dare you! As a state cadre, you're leading the way in speculation and profiteering! Do you have any respect for the law?! Do you have any respect for organizational discipline?"

The voice echoed in the silent courtyard, carrying an undeniable authority and anger; each word struck the heart of everyone present like a heavy hammer.

Almost everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on Li Zhenhua, waiting for his reaction.

A barely perceptible hint of coldness and pleasure flashed beneath Yi Zhonghai's lowered eyelids, his chubby bangs jiggling wildly, a mixture of fear and schadenfreude. Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

Qin Huairu's face was deathly pale. She hugged her three children tightly, her body trembling slightly.

Sha Zhu clenched his fists, stared at Li Zhenhua, then at Director Wang, his face full of anxiety.

Faced with Director Wang's barrage of questions, Li Zhenhua remained completely calm.

He didn't even go to look at the pile of confiscated grain right away. Instead, he slowly propped up his bicycle and then walked over.

He calmly met Director Wang's almost fiery gaze, a faint smile even playing on his lips.

"Director Wang."

Li Zhenhua spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable composure that clearly resonated throughout the courtyard.

"According to regulations, someone of your rank as the director of the subdistrict office doesn't seem to have the authority to directly interrogate an official of my level, especially with accusations involving significant economic issues. Procedurally, shouldn't it first go through my superior unit, or a higher-level disciplinary inspection department?"

His words shocked the entire courtyard!

Director Wang was stunned for a moment, and his face turned from ashen to liver-colored.

Li Zhenhua's words were a blatant slap in the face to her in front of the entire hospital!

It was made clear that she wasn't of a high enough rank to investigate him!

"You... Li Zhenhua! What kind of attitude is this?!"

Director Wang was so angry that his fingers trembled.

"Director Wang, please don't misunderstand."

Li Zhenhua suddenly laughed, his tone sounding very "reasonable".

"I'm just explaining the organizational procedures to you. However, considering the neighbors and your concern for the people, I'm in a good mood today and can make an exception to explain this matter to you and to all the neighbors in the compound."

Before Director Wang could retaliate, he calmly pulled out a stack of papers covered with red handprints from his briefcase, which he carried with him almost never left his side.

It was the agreement that all the homeowners in the courtyard signed and sealed last night.

"Director Wang, neighbors, please see clearly."

Li Zhenhua unfolded the agreement, facing the crowd, and pointed to the key clauses.

"It's written in black and white, clearly stating: Each household in the courtyard, due to financial difficulties, voluntarily purchases 100 jin of coarse grains through my personal channels, at a market price 30% lower than the black market price. Payment is settled immediately, and all possible risks are voluntarily assumed. This has nothing to do with my work unit or any organization. The signatures and fingerprints of each household head are all complete on this document."

His gaze swept over Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and the others, who immediately lowered their heads guiltily.

"As for the source of food."

Li Zhenhua put away the agreement, his tone turning serious.

"I can responsibly tell everyone, and I assure you, Director Wang, that this batch of grain was obtained entirely through my personal, legal procurement channels. The paperwork may be incomplete, but it is absolutely not speculation! If Director Wang has any objections and believes that I have violated policy, he can and should follow organizational procedures to report to my superior unit, Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, or to the relevant departments in the district or city, and request a formal investigation. I, Li Zhenhua, will actively cooperate without hesitation!"

His words were reasonable, well-founded, and balanced in their approach.

First, it points out that Director Wang's procedures were improper, then it presents the "voluntary agreement" to absolve itself of primary responsibility, and finally it passes the buck back to "organizational procedures," implying that Director Wang's actions at this moment are overstepping his authority and acting recklessly.

Director Wang was rendered speechless by the rebuttal, his chest heaving violently.

Li Zhenhua's words, "Not high enough level," were like a poisonous thorn, deeply embedded in her heart, making her feel unprecedentedly humiliated.

Especially in front of the entire hospital, her authority was openly challenged!

"Fine! Fine, Li Zhenhua!"

Director Wang laughed in anger, pointing his finger at Li Zhenhua's nose.

"Sharp tongue and quick wit! Procedures, you think? Reporting? Fine! I'll proceed according to procedure right now! This grain, as part of the case, is all seized and taken away! I will immediately report to my superiors and request the establishment of a joint investigation team to thoroughly investigate your problems, Li Zhenhua! I refuse to believe that there is no law in this world!"

She was completely desperate. If she couldn't control Li Zhenhua today, she wouldn't be able to stand firm in Luogu Lane as the director of the subdistrict office!

"Someone come here! Load all the grain onto the trucks and transport it back to the subdistrict office for storage!"

Director Wang gave a stern order.

When the people from the neighborhood committee were about to start moving the grain, the people in the courtyard immediately erupted in chaos.

That was life-saving food they had paid money for and signed indentured servitude with!

"We can't move it! Director Wang! That's our food rations!"

"Yeah! What will we eat if they move away!"

"Director Li, please say something!"

The crowd stirred, especially those whose families had run out of food; their eyes turned red, and they instinctively surged forward.

"You've gone too far!"

Seeing this, Director Wang became even more furious. She suddenly pulled out a Type 54 pistol from her waist. Although she didn't point it at the crowd, the "click" of the bullet being chambered sounded particularly jarring in the quiet courtyard!

The other street officers also drew their service pistols, not pointing them at any specific person, but their presence was very intimidating!

"Anyone who obstructs the execution of official duties is defying the government! They will be treated as dissidents!"

Director Wang roared sternly.

The cold muzzle of the gun was like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing the impulse that had just ignited in everyone.

Everyone froze in place, their faces filled with fear, no one daring to take another step forward.

In this day and age, this charge is enough to crush any family.

Finally, under the desperate, angry, and helpless gazes of everyone in the courtyard, Director Wang, along with the people from the street office, loaded the confiscated grain, bag by bag, onto a cart and pulled it out of the courtyard gate.

The gate was closed again, and the courtyard was deathly silent.

A moment later, someone burst into tears, followed by sobs from women, sighs from men, and cries of fear from children. A sense of utter despair, as if all hope had been extinguished, enveloped the entire courtyard.

Soon, everyone's attention was once again focused on Li Zhenhua, who remained expressionless.

"Director Li... what... what should we do now?"

Yan Bugui asked with a mournful face.

"Yes, Zhenhua, the grain has been taken away, and the money has been spent. How are we going to survive?"

Liu Haizhong also stepped forward, his tone filled with complaint and anxiety.

Yi Zhonghai, with a gloomy face, watched coldly from the side.

Li Zhenhua ignored the cacophony of voices. His gaze turned icy as he slowly swept over every face in the room. Finally, he raised his voice abruptly, like a thunderclap echoing through the courtyard:

"What should we do? I want to know what to do too!"