Courtyard House: From Deputy Division Commander to Civilian, Progressing All the Way

Lou Zhenhua personally walked to the tea tray, skillfully scalding the cups with boiling water, rinsing the tea, and brewing the tea. His movements were fluid and graceful, clearly demonstrating his expertise in this art.

"Secretary Lin, this is genuine Wuyi Mountain mother tree Da Hong Pao tea. It only produces a few ounces a year. Please have a taste." Lou Zhenhua presented a cup of amber-colored tea to Lin Yang with both hands.

Lin Yang picked up his teacup, gently inhaled the rich orchid fragrance, took a small sip, and nodded approvingly: "Excellent tea. The liquor is clear and bright, with an endless aftertaste. Director Lou is a man who understands life."

Lou Zhenhua sat down on the sofa opposite Lin Yang, crossed his hands on his knees, and leaned forward slightly.

The atmosphere in the study subtly shifted at that moment. It was no longer the harmonious atmosphere of the dining room, but rather carried the solemnity and probing of a business negotiation.

"Secretary Lin." Lou Zhenhua took a deep breath and broke the silence first.

"I've been thinking a lot about the future development of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill these past few days at home. The country is now advocating for joint public-private ownership, and I, Lou, wholeheartedly support it! This is an inevitable trend and the only way for us national industrialists and businessmen to serve our country."

Lou Zhenhua's tone sounded very sincere and righteous.

"However..." He changed the subject, his gaze fixed on the subtle expressions on Lin Yang's face, trying to catch any signal.

"Secretary Lin, as you know, this steel rolling mill was founded by my father's generation, and it represents the hard work of two generations of the Lou family. We have extensive experience in management and technology. In order to ensure a smooth transition for the factory after the joint venture, and to prevent management gaps from affecting the country's production tasks..."

Lou Zhenhua swallowed hard and finally revealed his ultimate goal for the evening.

"I hope that in the shareholding distribution of the public-private partnership, the Lou family can retain 30%, no, 20%, of the shares. Of course, I can allocate half of the dividends from this share to the factory's workers' welfare fund. You see, this ensures both absolute state control and allows the Lou family to fully utilize their management initiative—isn't that a win-win situation?"

After saying this, Lou Zhenhua felt that his back was completely soaked with sweat.

He had spent decades navigating the business world, negotiating with countless people from all walks of life, from high-ranking officials to ordinary citizens, but he had never felt so nervous as he did today. Because he was facing a young secretary who wielded absolute military and political power and whose influence was unfathomable.

Lin Yang did not answer immediately.

He still held the cup of Da Hong Pao tea, his gaze calmly fixed on the upright tea leaves inside.

The study was deathly silent.

Only the ticking of the grandfather clock, like a small hammer, struck Lou Zhenhua's heart again and again.

A minute passed.

Two minutes passed.

Lin Yang remained silent. His face showed no anger, surprise, or agreement, like an emotionless statue.

This suffocating silence is the most sophisticated form of psychological warfare. It's like an invisible net, tightly enveloping Lou Zhenhua, making him feel increasingly terrified the more he struggles.

Finally, Lou Zhenhua couldn't sit still any longer. He forced a smile and added in a dry voice, "If Secretary Lin thinks 20% is too much... 15%, or even 10%, is negotiable..."

"when!"

Lin Yang suddenly slammed the purple clay teacup in his hand heavily onto the mahogany tea table.

The crisp sound of the collision was like a thunderclap in the quiet study!

Lou Zhenhua shuddered, nearly jumping off the sofa in fright.

Lin Yang slowly raised his head, and his once gentle eyes now resembled unsheathed blades, radiating a chilling sharpness.

"Director Lou," Lin Yang's voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth, "you're a smart man, but today you said something incredibly foolish. You still haven't grasped the current situation."

Lou Zhenhua's face was deathly pale, and his lips trembled slightly: "Secretary Lin, I... I don't quite understand what you mean."

Lin Yang stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window in the study. Outside the window was the late autumn night of Beijing, with the bright lights of Tiananmen Square faintly visible in the distance.

"Do you think this is still the Republic of China? Do you think the state apparatus is still composed of warlords and bureaucrats who will let you haggle as you please as long as you give them enough benefits?"

Lin Yang suddenly turned around and looked down at Lou Zhenhua.

"Let me tell you! Today's China is a China under the dictatorship of the proletariat! It is a country won with the blood of millions of martyrs like Black Lightning!"

"The working class is the true master of this country! You capitalists are merely a transitional product of history at a specific stage. Your wealth, in the final analysis, is built on the exploitation of the surplus value of the workers!"

Lin Yang's words were like a hammer blow to Lou Zhenhua's chest, each one piercing his heart.

"You want to retain 20% of the shares? You want to use those 20% to continue sucking the blood and sweat of the workers, to continue your luxurious lifestyle in this mansion? And you even have the audacity to say it's to encourage proactive management?"

Lin Yang let out a cold sneer.

"Lou Zhenhua, do you realize you're playing with fire! You're pushing your entire family to their doom!"

Lou Zhenhua was terrified by Lin Yang's resounding words. He stood up abruptly, but his legs were so weak that he almost fell over.

"Secretary Lin! I...I absolutely did not mean that! I sincerely support the Party's policies!" Lou Zhenhua argued vehemently.

"Truly support?" Lin Yang pressed closer, standing in front of Lou Zhenhua, his eyes revealing a profound insight that seemed to see into the future of history.

"Do you think the joint public-private ownership is a business negotiation involving dinner and drinks? Let me tell you, this is a bloodless revolution! It's a complete class transformation!"

"You think keeping those shares is your family's lifeline? Wrong! It's your family's death warrant! It's a guillotine hanging over your entire family's necks!"

Lin Yang lowered his voice, his tone carrying a chilling warning.

"Believe it or not, if you dare to hold onto that 20% stake today, within three years, when the tension of class struggle escalates, you, Lou Zhenhua, will become a sitting duck for the working class to criticize! At that time, not only will your factory be confiscated, but your mansion, the gold bars hidden in your basement, and all your antique paintings and calligraphy will vanish into thin air!"

"And your wife, and your lively and lovely daughter Xiao'e, will be labeled as one of the 'Five Black Categories,' forced to clean toilets on the streets, scorned by countless people, and never have a chance to turn their lives around!"

"This is the irresistible tide of history! Those who go with it prosper, those who go against it perish! If you try to stop an avalanche with a gold brick, the only result will be that you are crushed to pieces by the avalanche!"