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

No. 7, Jia, Lingjing Hutong became an absolutely secret fulcrum in Li Zhenhua's life.

Time seems to flow slowly and viscous here, filled with the refinement and decadence left over from the old era, completely different from the courtyard house in Nanluoguxiang, which was full of struggle and calculation.

In the first few days after settling in, Li Zhenhua did not visit frequently, but maintained a cautious distance.

Each visit felt like a special favor, carrying a clear sense of control.

Lou Xiao'e, Xiao Ju, and Xiao Mei—these three women were "tribute" and "hostages" offered up by the Lou family.

Li Zhenhua needs to observe and confirm whether this "nest" is absolutely safe, and also needs to eliminate any remaining unstable factors in them.

Lou Xiao'e's changes were the most significant.

That once proud woman, with the airs of a capitalist's daughter, is now like a cat whose claws and teeth have been pulled out, left only with docile, fearful obedience.

Every time Li Zhenhua appeared, she would lead Xiaoju and Xiaomei to greet him at the courtyard gate, bow slightly, and softly call out, "Master is back."

She learned to read Li Zhenhua's eyes and figure out what he was thinking.

If Li Zhenhua remained silent, she dared not say anything more.

She would only answer cautiously and carefully if Li Zhenhua asked about trivial matters in the courtyard, afraid that she might offend him with any words.

Xiaoju and Xiaomei, these two maids, were carefully selected by Lou Bancheng.

Despite his young age, he was exceptionally sensible, quick-witted, and perceptive.

Xiaoju was more composed and was in charge of managing the hospital's daily expenses and food, keeping clear accounts.

Xiao Mei was even more skillful. She had a set of comfortable techniques for making tea, making the bed, tidying the study, and even massaging Li Zhenhua's shoulders and legs.

They were well aware of their identities and responsibilities, maintaining a superficial respect for Lou Xiao'e, but they understood even more clearly who the real master of this courtyard was. When serving Li Zhenhua, they were even more devoted, with an almost instinctive sense of awe.

Life in the courtyard was extremely secluded.

Apart from a mute old servant who regularly delivers fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, and eggs, they are almost completely isolated from the outside world.

Lou Xiao'e, Xiao Ju, and Xiao Mei's activities were limited to the courtyard. Without Li Zhenhua's permission, they were not allowed to step out of the courtyard.

This place is like an exquisite cage, and Li Zhenhua is the only one who can unlock the cage door.

Gradually, Li Zhenhua came more often and stayed longer.

This place became Li Zhenhua's secret study where he could handle matters that were inconvenient to do in the factory or Nanluoguxiang, and also a haven where he could relax and relieve stress.

The furnishings in the study were slightly rearranged by Li Zhenhua to better suit his usage habits.

Some of the more conspicuous antiques in the display case were removed and replaced with books and documents.

At night, Li Zhenhua often reads internal reference materials obtained through special channels here, or thinks about the next steps in his plans.

Lou Xiao'e would sit quietly on a stool not far away, doing needlework or reading leisurely books by the light of the lamp.

She dared not disturb Li Zhenhua, but he had to stay within her sight; this was a silent declaration and a form of control.

Occasionally, Li Zhenhua would look up and ask her a few questions about her views on the current situation. She was always cautious in her wording, often quoting clichés from the newspapers, and dared not offer any personal opinions.

Li Zhenhua didn't delve into the matter; all he wanted was absolute obedience and the creation of that atmosphere.

Xiaoju and Xiaomei waited outside for orders.

When Li Zhenhua had been reading for a long time, Xiaomei would quietly come in and refill his hot tea, her movements light and nimble, without making a sound.

If Li Zhenhua rubs his temples with a slightly tired expression, Xiaoju will step forward at the right time and massage his temples and shoulders with just the right amount of pressure.

Their presence is like the most exquisite furniture in this courtyard—quiet, practical, and entirely belonging to Li Zhenhua.

Xiaoju put a lot of thought into the diet.

Despite the scarcity of resources, she always managed to use the limited ingredients to create a variety of delicious meals.

Knowing that Li Zhenhua preferred strong flavors and liked salty and savory, she put extra effort into the seasoning.

Sometimes, Li Zhenhua would obtain rare ingredients through the "system," such as some ham or a few cans of food. Xiaoju would then treat them as treasures, cooking them with great care, allowing Li Zhenhua to experience a level of enjoyment that transcended the times.

During meals, Lou Xiao'e would sit beside her, carefully serving the food, but dared not say much.

Xiaoju and Xiaomei stood by, ready to add rice and soup as needed.

Li Zhenhua remained silent, and the only sounds on the table were the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks. The atmosphere was subtle and oppressive, yet it also conveyed a distorted sense of "harmony."

Li Zhenhua is not always cold and aloof.

Sometimes, when he was in a good mood, Li Zhenhua would tease the two maids.

Test Xiaoju's arithmetic skills, or have Xiaomei sing a little tune.

Xiaoju would often blush and rack her brains to calculate; Xiaomei, on the other hand, had a clear voice and sang popular revolutionary songs. Although she dared not sing those "decadent" songs, they had a unique flavor to Li Zhenhua's ears.

At times like these, Lou Xiao'e would force a smile, but her eyes would inevitably reveal a complex sense of loneliness.

Li Zhenhua saw all of this but didn't expose it.

What Li Zhenhua wanted was this delicate balance, so that they could maintain a facade of harmony while secretly comparing themselves to each other, thus making them more dependent on Li Zhenhua's favor.

One night, Li Zhenhua finished working on an important document in his study and felt somewhat tired.

Xiao Mei brought him hot water to soak his feet, her touch gentle.

Li Zhenhua closed his eyes to rest, but suddenly asked Lou Xiao'e, who was serving him, a question.

"Xiao'e, tell me, what is the point of all this fighting and struggling in life?"

Lou Xiao'e was startled, not expecting Li Zhenhua to ask such a profound and private question.

She hesitated for a moment, then whispered.

"I...I don't know what others are after. I used to think it was wealth and comfort, but now...now I just feel that being able to live a peaceful and stable life is a blessing."

These words were half a genuine expression of emotion, and half a probing attempt to please.

Li Zhenhua opened his eyes and gave her a sharp look, which made Lou Xiao'e's heart tighten.

Then, Li Zhenhua laughed, a laugh tinged with mockery and knowing understanding.

"Stability? Yes, stability is a blessing. But stability never falls from the sky."

Li Zhenhua didn't say anything more, but Lou Xiao'e and Xiao Mei both understood the meaning behind his words.

Their "stability" was bestowed upon them by Li Zhenhua, and could be taken back at any time.

Under this absolute control, Lou Xiao'e and her two maids became increasingly dependent on Li Zhenhua.

Their daily necessities, food, clothing, and even their emotional support all depend on Li Zhenhua.

The occasional new piece of fabric or a box of face cream that Li Zhenhua brought could bring them joy for a long time.

Li Zhenhua's affirmation and gentle demeanor were a great reward to them.

Li Zhenhua's silence or displeasure would make them uneasy all day.

This exquisite cage was both a place of imprisonment and their only refuge during turbulent times.

Li Zhenhua, on the other hand, was the sole master of this cage, enjoying the submissive services, physical comfort, and the absolute sense of power that he held firmly in the hands of others.

Everything here operates according to Li Zhenhua's will, secretly and systematically.

Just as Li Zhenhua was enjoying his "secret life" at No. 7, Jia, Lingjing Hutong, Lou Bancheng finally made a move.

A thick document, sealed in a kraft paper bag, was delivered to Li Zhenhua's desk through a clandestine channel.

Upon opening it, one finds a detailed report submitted by Lou Bancheng regarding the Lou family's overseas assets and network of relationships.

The report was extremely detailed, listing information on bank accounts in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and even Europe and America, the hidden shares of several trading companies, and the backgrounds and contact information of several key contacts.

Li Zhenhua spent an entire night carefully studying the report.

Based on his information advantage from his previous life and his knowledge in this life, Li Zhenhua made a preliminary assessment that although most of the Lou family's overseas assets were frozen or semi-frozen due to the current situation and the Lou family's own predicament, their potential value was still astonishing.

In particular, those seemingly insignificant trading companies with hidden shares, as well as several secret trade routes to Southeast Asia and Europe, have immeasurable strategic value in breaking blockades and exchanging certain special goods.

However, the risks are equally enormous.

These assets and networks were mostly established through complex means in the old era, involving a wide range of interests and complicated backgrounds.

Improper handling can easily lead to disaster.

More importantly, the authenticity of this report and Lou Bancheng's loyalty both need to be rigorously verified.

Li Zhenhua decided to conduct a "loyalty test".

He selected a relatively safe overseas channel from the report that was related to a certain precision machine tool part urgently needed in China.

This channel is said to have been able to obtain these scarce supplies from Switzerland through a puppet company in Hong Kong.

Li Zhenhua asked Lou Bancheng to arrange a small-scale transaction, not large in quantity, but crucial enough, to "test the waters".

Li Zhenhua did not simply tell Lou Bancheng about the needs and channels and leave it at that.

Li Zhenhua set up multiple obstacles during the transaction: requiring the use of specific, difficult-to-trace methods of fund transfer.

The delivery location was chosen at a seemingly ordinary but actually strictly monitored port in a small coastal town.

The acceptance standards are extremely stringent.

Furthermore, Li Zhenhua did not provide any official endorsement, allowing Lou Bancheng to operate entirely under the guise of "private business activities."

This was both a test of the Lou family's capabilities and sincerity, and a way to minimize the risks so that they could be quickly cut ties should anything go wrong.

Lou Bancheng knew that this mission was a life-or-death test.

He used his most secret connections and resources, and carefully orchestrated the operation.

The process was full of twists and turns, but thanks to his shrewd experience in the underworld and the remaining influence of the Lou family, he actually managed to push things forward to the delivery stage.

However, an accident occurred on the eve of the cargo's arrival at the designated dock.

Based on his own information channels, Li Zhenhua concluded that this transaction might have been targeted.

Those eyeing this shipment may not only be the coastal anti-smuggling departments, but also seemingly forces with deeper backgrounds and more ruthless methods. They could be hostile undercover intelligence organizations or gangster forces looking to double-cross each other.

They clearly recognized the value of these precision parts.

When the news reached Li Zhenhua, there were less than twelve hours left before the scheduled delivery time.

Canceling the transaction at this point would be safe, but it would mean the test had failed, greatly diminishing Lou Bancheng's value and potentially alerting the enemy.

If the transaction continues, the Lou family is likely to lose both the goods and the people, and may even bring trouble upon themselves.

Li Zhenhua made a quick decision.

He needed to help the Lou family get through this crisis and ensure the test could be completed, while also using this opportunity to once again intimidate Lou Bancheng, and at the same time, clear himself of any wrongdoing.

Li Zhenhua used a highly secretive connection within his father Li Yunlong's network of relationships.

A former subordinate of Li Yunlong who held an important position in a coastal military region in the south and had been saved by Li Yunlong.

An encrypted call was made directly to the old subordinate's office.

Li Zhenhua did not mention any specific goods or the Lou family. Instead, he requested that the other party conduct a high-intensity, public military exercise or inspection operation in the relevant sea area and port area at a critical moment, under the pretext that the transportation of important materials might be damaged. He gave a precise range of time and location.

The other party understood immediately, asked no further questions, and made arrangements right away.

The next day, as the smuggling ship carrying the parts quietly approached the designated dock, several patrol boats belonging to the coastal defense suddenly appeared, their sirens blaring and their searchlights illuminating the sea. They announced a "nighttime anti-espionage joint exercise" and began inspecting all vessels in the area.

Almost simultaneously, several unidentified groups that had been lurking near the dock scattered like birds and beasts upon seeing this.

The people sent by the Lou family to pick up the goods quickly completed the handover in the chaos, following the backup plan instructed by Li Zhenhua, and then disappeared into the night amidst the confusion.

The goods arrived safely, and the test was successful.

A few days later, the critical precision parts, after changing hands several times, were safely delivered to the location designated by Li Zhenhua.

Lou Bancheng only learned of the harrowing nature of the entire process afterward.

When he learned that it was a military region-level force that "happened" to interfere, which allowed the transaction to be completed smoothly, he broke out in a cold sweat.

He immediately realized that this was no coincidence, but rather that Li Zhenhua had used extraordinary means to protect him, and at the last moment, he had resolved the crisis in a way that was almost like a "dimensional reduction attack".

Lou Bancheng's awe of Li Zhenhua reached an unparalleled level.

He personally went to No. 7, Jia, Lingjing Hutong to request an audience. When he met Li Zhenhua, his attitude became even more humble, and he even showed fear.

"Director Li... thank you so much this time..."

Lou Bancheng's voice trembled with lingering fear.

Li Zhenhua was admiring a newly acquired piece of porcelain in his study. Without even looking up, he spoke casually.

"Director Lou, it seems the channel you chose isn't entirely clean. You got lucky this time, but you might not be so lucky next time."

Lou Bancheng was sweating profusely and said repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, it was my negligence, my incompetence! I almost ruined your important matter! I will definitely be more careful in the future and always choose safe and reliable channels!"