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

boom!

Lin Yang's words were like a thunderclap from the heavens, shattering all of Lou Zhenhua's hopes and illusions.

He seemed to see the horrific scene Lin Yang had described: himself being publicly criticized with placards hanging around his neck, his wife shivering in the cold wind, and his daughter Xiao'e being humiliated in the mud...

"Thump!"

Lou Bancheng, who had dominated the business world of Beijing for half his life and was once a big capitalist who was even treated as an honored guest by high-ranking Kuomintang generals, completely collapsed at this moment.

His knees buckled, and he knelt heavily before Lin Yang.

"Secretary Lin! Help! Please, Secretary Lin, have mercy and save the lives of my entire Lou family!"

Lou Zhenhua burst into tears, trembling violently. Only now did he realize that this nineteen-year-old before him possessed not only the iron will of a soldier, but also the terrifying wisdom of a statesman—a visionary and insightful mind!

He saw through the essence of the times, and he also saw through Lou Zhenhua's fatal flaw!

Looking at Lou Zhenhua kneeling at his feet, the coldness in Lin Yang's eyes gradually faded.

He spent so much time and effort tonight, launching a psychological attack, all to completely destroy Lou Zhenhua's capitalist confidence and make him wholeheartedly obey his arrangements.

"Stand up," Lin Yang said calmly.

Lou Zhenhua dared not disobey. Holding onto the sofa armrest, he stood up tremblingly, head down, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Lin Yang walked back to the sofa and sat down, pointing to the seat opposite him: "Sit down and talk."

Lou Zhenhua then dared to sit down, but only on one side of his buttocks, his attitude extremely respectful.

"Director Lou, since I've come to have this meal with you today, I'm willing to point you in the right direction. It all depends on whether you have the courage and decisiveness to do so," Lin Yang said slowly.

Lou Zhenhua nodded repeatedly, as if grasping at a lifeline: "Secretary Lin, please speak! As long as my wife and daughters' lives are saved, and the Lou family line is preserved, I'll do anything you ask! Even if it's sweeping the streets, I'll have no complaints!"

"It's not that serious." Lin Yang waved his hand, his expression becoming solemn.

"First, regarding the shares in Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. Don't give me 20%, don't give me 10%. Don't keep a single share! Tomorrow morning, you will personally draft a statement donating 100% of the Lou family's shares in the steel rolling mill, unconditionally, to the state!"

Although Lou Zhenhua's heart was breaking, he gritted his teeth and agreed without hesitation: "Okay! I'll donate it all!"

"Second." Lin Yang held up two fingers, his eyes fixed intently on Lou Zhenhua.

"Donating factory shares alone is not enough. All the assets you've accumulated over the years—the gold bars, foreign exchange reserves, and other properties besides this mansion—I demand that you donate a large portion of them, in your personal capacity, to the nation's defense and heavy industry development!"

"The country is currently impoverished and surrounded by wolves. If you can provide substantial financial support to the nation at this time, the country will absolutely not fail to reward those who have made contributions!"

Lou Zhenhua gasped. Donate most of his fortune? That's like skinning him alive!

But the image of his daughter Xiao'e's innocent smile immediately flashed into his mind. Money can be earned back, but once life is gone, everything is lost!

"I'll donate! I'll have the finance department take stock of our assets tomorrow and donate 80% of our wealth to support national development!" Lou Zhenhua said resolutely, gritting his teeth.

Seeing Lou Zhenhua's desperate look, Lin Yang finally smiled with satisfaction.

He knew the time was right.

"Director Lou, you have made the wisest choice." Lin Yang raised his teacup, offering a toast to Lou Zhenhua in the form of tea instead of wine.

"You lost your wealth, but what you bought was an indestructible get-out-of-jail-free card!"

Lin Yang's voice grew impassioned: "I will personally report your remarkable achievements to the Central Committee. You must use this enormous wealth to earn a title—'Red Capitalist'!"

"With this title, you will no longer be part of the exploiting class, but a target of our united front work, a national hero! I will recommend you for a position in the municipal CPPCC. As long as you don't betray the country, I, Lin Yang, assure you that no matter how great the storms of the future may be, I will ensure the safety, wealth, and a dignified life of your Lou family for three generations!"

Red capitalist! Member of the CPPCC! Three generations safe and sound!

These words were like a shot of adrenaline, directly hitting Lou Zhenhua's heart.

He was so moved that tears streamed down his face, and his blood was boiling. He knew all too well the significance of those words! In an era where class background determined social status, it was practically like giving their family a golden robe!

"Secretary Lin! I, Lou Zhenhua, could never repay your kindness, even if I were to die a thousand deaths!"

Lou Zhenhua suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Lin Yang again. This time, it was out of heartfelt gratitude and submission.

"Secretary Lin, I have another request." Lou Zhenhua wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and looked at Lin Yang with burning eyes.

"you say."

"My daughter Xiao'e admires you greatly. If you don't mind our humble origins, I'd like Xiao'e to recognize you as her godfather and Mrs. Lin as her godmother. In the future, she can treat you both with the same filial piety she would show to her own parents. I wonder if Secretary Lin would do me the honor?"

Lou Zhenhua is trying to completely bind the Lou family and Lin Yang together. Once Lou Xiao'e becomes Lin Yang's adopted daughter, she will have an unshakeable backer in Beijing!

Looking into Lou Zhenhua's expectant eyes, Lin Yang recalled the kind, innocent little girl who had cried for a warhorse.

In the original timeline, Lou Xiao'e's fate was filled with tragedy: deceived by Xu Damao, schemed against by the beasts in the courtyard, and ultimately forced to leave her hometown. Now that he had come to this world, and since he had already decided to subdue Lou Zhenhua, changing this little girl's fate was merely a convenient matter.

"Okay." Lin Yang nodded, a gentle smile on his face. "Xiao'e is a good girl. I'll accept her as my goddaughter."

Lou Zhenhua was overjoyed, rubbing his hands together excitedly: "That's wonderful! That's wonderful! I'll go downstairs right now to tell my wife and Xiao'e!"

……

In the following days, the entire city of Beijing seemed to have experienced a magnitude 10 earthquake!

The front page of the *Sijiucheng Daily* featured a shocking news story in bold, eye-catching black font:

"Lou Zhenhua, a model of patriotic industrialists and businessmen and former director of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, was a man of great integrity who actively responded to the nation's call. He not only donated all his shares in Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill to the country free of charge, but also sold his personal assets, donating 2,000 taels of gold, 100,000 silver dollars, and more than ten properties to fully support the nation's heavy industry and national defense construction!"

"The higher-level leaders highly praised Comrade Lou Zhenhua's patriotic deeds, calling him an outstanding representative of 'red capitalists,' and specially approved his election as a member of the new CPPCC!"