Courtyard House: Ten-year-old Master Zhu reorganizes the entire courtyard

night.

The central courtyard of a traditional courtyard house.

An eight-immortal table and a few benches.

Without any lights on, the moonlight shone down, casting flickering light and shadow on people's faces.

He Yuzhu sat in the main seat.

To his left was the deaf old lady, and to his right was Yi Zhonghai.

Xu Fugui stood behind Yi Zhonghai, so nervous that he didn't know where to put his hands.

Two tenant representatives from the courtyard were also sitting at the table. They were long-time residents who had lived there for decades and carried weight in the neighborhood.

This is a "wartime meeting" held in a traditional courtyard house.

"Uncle Xu has already explained the seriousness of the matter. I won't repeat it," He Yuzhu said, his voice calm yet commanding the atmosphere.

"Commissioner Li has drawn a line for us: either get out or die. We have no choice."

He took a stack of papers out of his pocket and placed them on the table.

"These are some things I got through someone."

Yi Zhonghai leaned closer and, taking a look by the moonlight, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Those were lists.

Some are records of the resale of military supplies, while others are transaction vouchers for black market gold.

Each document bears the signature of Commissioner Li's secretary and even Commissioner Li's own fingerprint.

"This...this is..." Yi Zhonghai's voice changed.

He never dreamed that this ten-year-old child could produce something so deadly.

This is no longer a minor incident.

This is irrefutable evidence enough to rip a hole in the sky.

When he looked at He Yuzhu again, his eyes no longer held just awe, but fear.

"This is only part of it," He Yuzhu said calmly. "Commissioner Li's incriminating evidence is far more extensive than this."

"Zhu Zi, what... what do you want to do?" Yi Zhonghai lowered his voice, using a tone of negotiation for the first time.

"It's a three-step process," He Yuzhu said, holding up three fingers.

"First, a joint petition. Uncle Yi, this matter needs your intervention. You're a respected elder in our compound and an eighth-grade fitter at the steel mill; your words carry weight. You should contact the residents of the compound and all the neighbors in the alley who are facing the same threat. We need to write a joint petition. The more people, the better; the more fingerprints, the more impressive."

Yi Zhonghai nodded emphatically without hesitation. "Alright! Leave this to me! I'll risk my reputation to get everyone together for you!"

This was to protect the hospital, and even more so, to protect himself. He had no choice but to take responsibility.

"Second, we need to build momentum, Grandma." He Yuzhu turned to the deaf old lady, "This matter requires your name."

The deaf old woman kept her eyes closed and tapped her cane. "Speak."

"You are a family member of a martyr of the Tongmenghui. This identity is our greatest protection. You need to write a letter, which I will have someone write on your behalf. Clearly state that your husband sacrificed his life for the country and the origins of our compound. This letter needs to be in triplicate. One copy to the City Council. One copy to the City Government. And the last copy..."

He Yuzhu's eyes turned cold.

"Give it to the newspaper."

"Tell the newspaper?" Xu Fugui exclaimed. "Wouldn't that make things much bigger?"

"We're going to make a big scene!" He Yuzhu declared resolutely. "The bigger the commotion, the less likely Commissioner Li will dare to act rashly! He's afraid of public opinion, and even more afraid that his rivals in Nanjing will use this to their advantage!"

The deaf old woman opened her eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing within them. "Alright. That's how it'll be. This old woman will sacrifice her dignity today."

"The third step is the most crucial." He Yuzhu looked at the stack of evidence on the table.

"To cut off the fuel supply from under the cauldron."

"These things will be delivered to where they're supposed to be. At that time, we won't even need to lift a finger; someone will naturally skin Commissioner Li alive."

End of the meeting.

The entire courtyard, like a rusty machine, began to rumble and churn under He Yuzhu's control.

Yi Zhonghai unleashed the full potential of an old man.

He knocked on doors one by one and spoke with each person individually.

Some tenants were afraid and dared not sign.

Yi Zhonghai sprayed spittle directly onto the other person's face.

"Are you even a man?! I've got a knife to your throat, and you're worried about a little cut? If you don't sign, your whole family can expect to be kicked out and sleeping on the streets!"

Through a combination of persuasion and coercion, a petition bearing the signatures of hundreds of red handprints was completed within two days.

Meanwhile, the deaf old lady's letter was also written by Xu Zhao on her behalf.

The old lady dictated her story, each word spoken with force and conviction. From the Xinhai Revolution to the War of Resistance against Japan, and now to the chaos under the Kuomintang's control, she vehemently condemned everything.

Xu Fugui, using his connections in delivering film copies, secretly delivered the letter and petition to the desks of several key figures.

……

The Jia family.

Madam Jia was restless.

A demon was roaring inside her.

Inform!

Go and inform on Commissioner Li's people!

Spread the word about He Yuzhu and his group's conspiracy!

This is a tremendous achievement! Perhaps Commissioner Li will be so pleased that he will bestow the main house of the He family upon her!

Her eyes grew brighter and brighter, greed overpowering fear.

She tiptoed out the door, trying to sneak out.

A rough, large hand gripped her arm like an iron clamp.

It's Jia Laonian.

He came back from doing odd jobs outside and happened to see this scene.

"What...what are you doing!" Jia Zhangshi tried to break free.

"Snapped!"

A resounding slap.

Jia Zhangshi was stunned by the beating.

She covered her face, staring at her man in disbelief.

This spineless coward, who can't even fart when hit, actually dared to hit her?

"You're insane!"

Jia Laonian's eyes were red, like a wild beast driven to the brink of despair.

He had never been this angry in his life.

"Am I crazy? I think you're the one who's fucking crazy!" He said in a low voice, but his voice was like thunder.

"You want to snitch? You stupid woman! Is your brain filled with shit?!"

He shoved Jia Zhangshi against the wall and held her down tightly.

"This is a matter of life and death for the entire hospital! If we lose the house, you! Me! Dongxu! The three of us will all have to beg for food!"

"By reporting us now, you're trying to get everyone in the hospital killed! You're also trying to push our own family down a path to ruin!"

"I'm telling you, Zhang Cuihua!" Jia Laonian called her by her full name for the first time, "If you dare step out of this door, I... I'll break your legs first! Then I'll go tell He Yuzhu! Let's see how he deals with you!"

The name He Yuzhu was like a bucket of ice water, dousing Jia Zhangshi from head to toe.

She shivered.

She remembered Xu Fugui's fate.

She was afraid.

I'm genuinely scared.

Seeing his frightened wife, Jia Laonian released his grip.

He leaned against the door, as if all his strength had been drained away.

Looking at his home, for the first time, he felt like a man.

……

A storm is brewing.

The Beiping District Court, the Nanjing Supervisory Department, and the editorial offices of several major newspapers.

Almost simultaneously, they received a neatly bound package of anonymous materials.

The materials contained all the evidence against Commissioner Li, from a gold bar to a ship full of penicillin, and now to this real estate conspiracy.

An invisible net has been quietly tightened.

Commissioner Li was still in his mansion, dreaming of making a final fortune.

he does not know.

His end has come.