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

He looked up at his father, Yan Bugui, whose shrewd but dejected appearance betrayed his poverty. He also remembered that the grain he had just received during the day had vanished and the supply channels had been cut off. A surge of anger rose in his heart.

He could no longer contain himself and slammed the small piece of cornbread he was holding onto the kang table with a loud thud, breaking the suffocating silence.

"Dad! I just don't understand!"

Yan Jiecheng's voice was hoarse from excitement and hunger.

"What were you thinking back then? Why did you write that whistleblower letter? Huh?"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the small room!

The three women suddenly looked up, staring in horror at their son, then at their husband.

The other children were so frightened they dared not move.

Yan Bugui's hand, which was cutting the steamed buns, froze in mid-air. His face turned deathly pale. He looked up sharply and shouted.

"What nonsense are you talking about! Who...who wrote the whistleblower letter? Stop spouting nonsense!"

"Am I talking nonsense?"

Yan Jiecheng was going all out, his neck stiff and his eyes bloodshot.

"Dad! Don't hide it from me! I got up that night and saw you writing something at the table. After you finished, you secretly slipped it into your pocket and went out! What else could it be but a letter of denunciation? There were only two letters of denunciation in the compound. The other one must have been written by Yi Zhonghai or Liu Haizhong! And the other one was written by you!"

When his son exposed him on the spot, Yan Bugui's face turned red and white, his lips trembled, and he wanted to defend himself, but couldn't find the words to say.

The three women stood to the side, their voices trembling with tears.

"Old Yan, you...you really wrote it? How could you be so foolish!"

"Am I confused?"

Seeing that he could no longer hide it, Yan Bugui decided to go all out, lowering his voice but conveying a sense of extreme frustration and resentment.

"Was I confused? I was doing it for the family! I was calculating!"

He was breathing heavily, and his cloudy eyes gleamed in the light with a shrewdness mixed with stupidity, a peculiar quality characteristic of a loser.

"Think about it! What makes Li Zhenhua so special? He became a deputy director at such a young age, and he's the only one who can do what he says in the department. Isn't it all because of his father? He got so much grain; who knows what crooked methods he used! I thought to myself, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

Yan Bugui became more and more agitated as he spoke, as if he were defending his "far-sighted planning".

"Once the whistleblower report is submitted and his charges of speculation and profiteering are confirmed, Li Zhenhua will definitely fall from grace! He won't be able to keep his position as deputy director of the steel rolling mill, and he might even have to spend a few years in jail! What will happen to all the things in his backyard then? What will happen to their family's wealth?"

A greedy glint appeared in his eyes, which was then overwhelmed by even greater regret.

"I had planned that once he was taken away and the investigation team arrived, the courtyard would be in chaos. Our family lives in the front yard, so we had the advantage! I took Jie Cheng and rushed into those two rooms in his backyard immediately! Think about it, Li Zhenhua is a logistics officer, how could his family not have some good stuff? Cash, ration coupons, those rare items that you can't find on the market... just grabbing a few of those things is a hundred times better than a hundred pounds of grain? Enough for our family to eat and live on for years!"

Yan Jiecheng was dumbfounded when he heard his father's "grand speech". He never expected that his father was actually planning to "confiscate the house" behind the letter of denunciation!

This is such a vicious and audacious idea!

"But...but didn't you consider what if it didn't succeed?"

Yan Jiecheng murmured.

"What if? There aren't that many 'what ifs'!"

Yan Bugui beat his chest and stamped his feet, heartbroken and indignant.

"How many years have I been scheming? I've always been absolutely certain of success! Who...who the hell could have imagined that Li Zhenhua's connections were so strong! So strong that even the district government couldn't touch him! And Director Wang was the one who fell! I...I've tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead! No, I've lost the livelihood of my whole family!"

By the end, Yan Bugui's voice was choked with sobs. He seemed to have lost his spine, collapsing onto the kang (a heated brick bed), clutching his head and repeatedly banging his forehead against his knees.

"It's over...it's all over...the food is gone, the supply lines are gone, and we've completely offended Li Zhenhua...how can our family hold our heads high in this courtyard anymore? How are we going to survive..."

Seeing his father's distraught and remorseful state, Yan Jiecheng's anger was instantly replaced by a chilling fear and lingering dread.

He had initially only complained about the lack of food, but now he realized that the Yan family might be doomed because of his father's foolish and malicious plan.

If... if Li Zhenhua finds out that one of the whistleblower letters was written by his father...

Yan Jiecheng dared not think any further and shivered.

The room fell into an even deeper silence, broken only by the occasional crackling of the kerosene lamp wick and Yan Bugui's suppressed, desperate sobs.

The carefully divided cornbread lay forlornly in the center of the kang table, no longer appealing to anyone.

The Yan family had been scheming their whole lives, but this time, they completely miscalculated and made a mistake. The price they paid might be unbearable.

The district discipline inspection commission's investigation was like a summer thunderstorm, coming swiftly and leaving abruptly, leaving behind a mess and endless suspicions inside and outside the courtyard.

For most people, the incident ended with Director Wang being suspended from his post and Li Zhenhua remaining unscathed, but the undercurrents and deals behind it were known only to a very few.

The evening after the district announced the results of its investigation, Li Zhenhua did not return to the noisy and oppressive courtyard house, but instead went to the secret warehouse on the outskirts of the city again.

Unlike the tense atmosphere of transporting grain late at night last time, he was calm this time, even with a hint of anticipation.

Inside the warehouse, Wang Gensheng had been waiting for a long time, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement and awe.

"Brother Hua, everything is prepared as you instructed! 100,000 catties of cornmeal and sorghum have been properly packaged; they are all top-quality grains, not a single grain is spoiled!"

Wang Gensheng pointed to the mountains of sacks piled up deep inside the warehouse, his voice trembling with excitement.

Even though this wasn't the first time I'd witnessed Li Zhenhua's extraordinary abilities, producing 100,000 jin of grain at once during those famine years was nothing short of a miracle, like turning stone into gold.

Li Zhenhua nodded slightly, stepped forward, and casually opened a burlap sack. Golden corn kernels flowed out, shimmering with a rich luster under the dim light.

He nodded in satisfaction.

"Gensheng, thank you for your hard work. Is the car arranged?"

"It's all arranged! As you said, we've found five Jiefang trucks with tarpaulins. The drivers are all trustworthy old comrades-in-arms, they keep their mouths shut, they only know that it's a special transport mission, nothing else."

Wang Gensheng replied in a low voice.

"very good."

Li Zhenhua glanced at his watch.

"It's almost time, let's load the truck. Make sure it's covered up properly and avoid main roads."

"clear!"

Wang Gensheng immediately instructed several capable young men waiting nearby to start loading the truck.

The entire process was quiet and efficient, demonstrating a high degree of organization.

A few hours later, five trucks fully loaded with grain and completely covered up, led by Li Zhenhua, quietly drove away from the warehouse and disappeared into the deep night of the outskirts of Beijing.

Instead of heading into the city, they drove northwest along a secluded road.

The destination was a heavily guarded supply depot located at the foot of Xishan Mountain.

This place belongs to a higher-level unit, and ordinary people have no way to get close.

After undergoing strict inspections outside the storage depot gate, the convoy was allowed to enter.

The warehouse manager, a middle-aged military officer with a serious expression and shoulder insignia indicating a high rank, who had been notified in advance, was already waiting in the unloading area with his men.

Upon seeing Li Zhenhua get out of the jeep, the officer quickly stepped forward, saluted, and although his eyes showed surprise, his tone was very respectful.

"Comrade Li Zhenhua? I am Zhao Weiguo, the director of this warehouse. I am here to receive the goods on orders from the commander."

"Director Zhao, thank you for your hard work. The grain is all here, 100,000 jin. Please inspect it."

Li Zhenhua returned the greeting calmly.

With a wave of his hand, Zhao Weiguo immediately dispatched logistics personnel who skillfully sampled, inspected, and weighed the samples. The entire process lasted for about an hour. During this time, Zhao Weiguo and Li Zhenhua did not exchange many words, but Li Zhenhua could sense the scrutinizing gaze from the other man, filled with inquiry and curiosity.

The inspection was completed, and the quantity and quality were found to be correct.

A relieved smile appeared on Zhao Weiguo's face as he stepped forward to shake hands with Li Zhenhua.

"Comrade Li Zhenhua, thank you so much! This batch of grain has truly solved our urgent problem! On behalf of all the officers and soldiers in the reservoir area, thank you!"

"It's nothing to do, Director Zhao, please don't be so polite."

Li Zhenhua smiled calmly. The handover procedures were completed quickly.

Li Zhenhua did not linger and immediately led the empty convoy back.

He knew the real highlight was yet to come.

The next morning, Li Zhenhua received a phone call from his maternal uncle, Liu Dashan, whose tone was unusually gentle and...with a hint of barely perceptible excitement.

"Zhenhua, I received the items. They're very good, excellent!"

Liu Dashan's voice came through the microphone, carrying a sense of relief and satisfaction.

"You've really done a great job this time! I never expected it to be so quick and so successful!"

"Uncle, you flatter me. I'm glad I could be of any help."

Li Zhenhua said modestly.

"Help? You've done me a huge favor!"

Liu Dashan emphasized his words.

"100,000 jin of grain, of superior quality. Do you know what that means? It means that at this critical juncture, our system can guarantee the basic livelihood of many more key personnel, and stabilize morale! This is not just grain; it's reassurance, it's timely help!"

He paused, lowered his voice, and spoke with a sense of sincerity.

"Zhenhua, to be honest, because of this batch of grain, I felt much more confident speaking at the meeting! Those old guys were arguing heatedly about resource allocation before, but now... hehe. Don't worry, your uncle knows the credit, and the higher-ups... will remember it too."

Li Zhenhua understood perfectly well that this "investment" had yielded returns far exceeding expectations.

He reiterated his stance at the opportune moment.

"Uncle, I only did what I could. If there is any need in the future, as long as the channels allow, I will definitely do my part."

"Good! Good! Good!"

Liu Dashan said "good" three times in a row, clearly in a very good mood.

"Zhenhua, I was right about you! You're capable, responsible, and, more importantly, you know when to advance and when to retreat, and you understand boundaries! You're much better than your father, with his fiery temper!"

He changed the subject, his tone becoming solemn and powerful.

"After this incident, your uncle has finally seen through you. You're a truly capable young man! From now on, if you encounter any difficulties in the system, or if you run into any ignorant people who try to trip you up, don't hold back. Just come to your uncle! As long as we're in the right, this old man of yours can still stand up for you! I don't believe anyone would dare to mess with my nephew, Liu Dashan!"

These words were almost like a protective charm, carrying far greater weight than the 100,000 jin of grain.

This means that Li Zhenhua has an extremely powerful and reliable ally on his future path.

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Li Zhenhua's words of thanks this time carried a touch of sincerity.

"We're family, no need for formalities."

Liu Dashan laughed heartily, then gave further instructions.

"However, Zhenhua, the bigger the tree, the more the wind will blow against it. The abilities you demonstrated this time are certainly a good thing, but they will inevitably attract more attention. You must be more cautious in your future actions. As for that channel... security must remain the top priority."

"I understand, Uncle, don't worry."

Li Zhenhua naturally understood the principle of "the tree stands out in the forest".

"Hmm, not bad. I trust you to handle things."

Liu Dashan concluded.

"Keep up the good work! I believe in you! Who knows, maybe in the future, we, uncle and nephew, will be fighting side by side on an even higher level! Haha!"

After hanging up the phone, Li Zhenhua let out a long sigh of relief, a slight smile curving his lips.

His uncle's explicit support cleared away the last trace of gloom brought about by the previous investigation and paved the way for his next plan.

Now, it's time to look back and clear away the obstacles around us.

The first target was Li Huaide, the logistics director who had been secretly watching him and trying to trip him up time and time again.

With the strong support of his maternal uncle Liu Dashan, Li Zhenhua was more confident and composed when dealing with the affairs of the steel rolling mill and the courtyard house.

In the courtyard, after being hit by both the "grain crisis" and the "whistleblower letter" incidents, the atmosphere inside the courtyard has undergone a fundamental change.

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui lost all prestige and could hardly hold their heads up in the courtyard, no longer able to form an effective united force.

Sha Zhu both respected and feared Li Zhenhua. Although he still cared about Qin Huairu, he dared not be as presumptuous as before.

Xu Damao completely lost his temper and avoided Li Zhenhua whenever he saw him.

Ordinary residents had mixed feelings toward Li Zhenhua, including resentment due to the food shortage, but more so a deep fear.

They feared his unpredictable methods and unfathomable background.

The entire courtyard entered a state of apparent calm, but in reality, an undercurrent of stagnation, with no one daring to easily challenge Li Zhenhua's authority for the time being.

Li Zhenhua was happy to have some peace and quiet, and he focused his energy back on his work at the steel rolling mill.

The logistics department's daily operations had long been on track. Wang Shoucheng's warehouse was well-organized, and Qin Huairu was more cautious and diligent in her work after the turmoil.

After the unsuccessful lubricant incident and anonymous letter controversy, Li Huaide appeared to have calmed down considerably. He would even manage an awkward smile when he saw Li Zhenhua. However, Li Zhenhua knew that this venomous snake was only lying dormant for the time being, and would surely bare its fangs again given the opportunity.

"If you don't kill the snake, you'll only get hurt by it."

Li Zhenhua understood this principle well.