Courtyard House: In times of famine, my hamster became a spirit.

"Splash—"

Two strong security officers stepped forward instantly, their long, spear-like batons crossed, blocking the path of Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai.

"What are you doing? What are you doing!" Sha Zhu's face changed, and he instinctively wanted to lash out. "Are you treating me like a thief? Do you know who I am?"

"stop!"

With a shout, Yi Zhonghai stepped in front of Sha Zhu.

He straightened his collar, adopting the dignified air of an old man from a courtyard house, stared directly at Wang Zhenggang, and spoke in a loud voice with a hint of accusation:

"Section Chief Wang, what does this mean? The workers have worked hard all day and are eager to go home and rest. Isn't it a bit excessive for your security department to intercept them in such a high-profile manner? Don't we workers even have the right to go home?"

This is a masterful application of moral blackmail; it's a perfect example of such a tactic.

The workers around, who were already confused, stopped in their tracks and began to whisper among themselves.

"Yeah, what are they investigating?"

"Aren't those Master Yi and Master He? Why are they being stopped too?"

"Are the security department just bored and deliberately causing trouble?"

Public opinion has shifted somewhat.

Seeing this, Yi Zhonghai straightened his back even more and pointed at Zhou Jianguo, saying, "Section Chief Wang, I know Comrade Zhou Jianguo has some personal grudges with Zhuzi today. But our security department is the factory's law enforcement agency, and we can't become a tool for some people to settle personal scores! Aren't you afraid of alienating everyone by targeting a veteran cook who has served the factory for many years?"

When Sha Zhu saw that Yi Zhonghai had calmed the situation down with just a few words, his previously flustered heart immediately settled down.

That arrogant streak came back.

He held the net high in his hand and shook it in full view of everyone, the sound of soup sloshing inside could be heard.

"Did you see that? Did you hear that?" Sha Zhu yelled at the top of his lungs, "This is just some unwanted swill soup! Rotten cabbage stalks! I only brought it home because I thought it was a waste! What, you're checking even this leftover soup? Don't you have any dignity? This is an insult to me!"

That shout was extremely provocative.

These days, everyone is struggling financially, so who wouldn't want to bring something home with them?

Sha Zhu's words resonated with many people.

"Exactly! They won't even let us bring leftover soup, that's outrageous!"

"Alright, everyone, let's disperse and not keep everyone from getting home!"

The crowd began to stir, and some even started pushing and shoving.

Wang Zhenggang frowned, his face looking rather grim.

If a forced search is conducted and all that's found are rotten vegetable leaves, then the security department's credibility will be completely destroyed today.

He looked at Zhou Jianguo with a questioning look in his eyes.

Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, and Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu were already showing signs of victory, a sneer pierced through the noisy crowd.

"Oh."

Zhou Jianguo took a step forward, completely ignoring Yi Zhonghai who was blocking his way, and walked to a place less than a meter away from Sha Zhu.

"An insult to one's character?"

Zhou Jianguo's voice wasn't loud: "He Yuzhu, do you dare swear in front of thousands of workers in the factory? If this really is leftover soup and rotten cabbage, I, Zhou Jianguo, will kneel down and kowtow three times to you right now, and apologize on the factory's public address system for a whole month!"

The entire room fell silent.

This is a huge bet!

Sha Zhu's hand trembled, and his eyes began to dart around: "Are you... are you sick? Why should I gamble with you?"

Zhou Jianguo gave him no chance to catch his breath, his speech suddenly accelerating:

"What? You don't dare? Then let me speak for you! If this didn't contain leftovers, but rather half a juicy chicken stewed with mushrooms, and a whole pound of perfectly marbled braised pork! What would you, He Yuzhu, do then?!"

boom--!

These words were like a bomb, exploding directly in the crowd.

"Chicken stew with mushrooms? Braised pork belly?"

"My God, who can afford to eat this these days?"

"Zhou Jianguo's story sounds so plausible, could it be true?"

Sha Zhu's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

How did he know?

How could he possibly know so much?

They even recited the names of the dishes word for word!

Did he plant eyes in the kitchen?

Fear instantly engulfed Shazhu.

His calves started to cramp, his lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Yi Zhonghai panicked too. Seeing Sha Zhu's reaction, he knew things were going to get bad. He was about to reach out and pull Sha Zhu away when he said, "Ignore this madman, let's go..."

"Trying to leave? Too late!"

Zhou Jianguo made a move.

Lightning fast!

Before anyone could react, Zhou Jianguo reached out and grabbed the net.

Sha Zhu instinctively wanted to take it back, but in his extreme panic, his strength was no match for Zhou Jianguo, who was prepared in advance.

"Since you call this an insult, then I'll show you what a real insult is!"

"Sizzle—"

Zhou Jianguo ripped off the net bag and, in front of thousands of eyes, unhesitatingly opened the lids of the two aluminum lunch boxes!

There are no miracles.

After those few rotten cabbage leaves, which were used as disguise, slipped away—

A rich aroma of meat wafted through the evening breeze, reaching everyone present.

That's the real, pure aroma of meat!

In the afterglow of the setting sun, half a whole stewed chicken had golden-yellow skin, and dozens of pieces of bright red braised pork were crammed tremblingly in the lunchbox, still steaming hot.

At that moment, the air seemed to freeze.

Everyone instinctively looked at the box of meat, swallowing hard.

Then they remembered the two rotten vegetable leaves in Zhou Jianguo's lunchbox at the cafeteria window at noon.

Then I looked at my empty lunchbox and the sour taste in my stomach.

The crowd began to riot.

"This is leftovers?!" An old worker pointed at the box of meat, his voice hoarse. "This is leftovers?! We ate pig swill for lunch, and He Yuzhu stole the company's chickens to eat?!"

"Damn it! That's my meat! That's our workers' profit!"

"Kill this giant rat!"

"Yi Zhonghai! Didn't you just say this was leftover soup? Are you blind?!"

The angry shouts nearly overturned the factory gate.

Countless bloodshot eyes stared intently at Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai, their gazes filled with a desire to tear a piece of flesh from their bodies.

Yi Zhonghai's face turned ashen, his legs gave way, and he stumbled backward, trying to shrink into the shadows: "I...I don't know...I was deceived..."

But his feeble explanation was drowned out by angry shouts.

Sha Zhu was completely paralyzed. The lunchbox in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter, and several pieces of braised pork rolled into the dust, looking particularly glaring.

"Caught red-handed!"

Wang Zhenggang, who had been tense all along, finally exploded. He waved his hand and roared, "Take him down!"

The security officers, who had been holding back their anger for a long time, pounced on them like wolves.

Before Sha Zhu could even utter a word of "Master," two officers kicked him in the back of the knees, sending him sprawling to his knees.

Immediately afterwards, a rope was tied around his wrists.

Sha Zhu's face was pressed against the rough cement floor, and he was still mumbling incoherently, "I'm the chef... the factory manager... an old man, save me..."

Zhou Jianguo slowly walked forward, looking down at Sha Zhu who was lying on the ground.

He gently placed one foot next to the piece of braised pork that had just rolled down.

"He Yuzhu".

Zhou Jianguo's voice pierced through the noise and clearly entered Sha Zhu's ears.

"Do you remember what I said? I hope you can still be this tough while you're in the security department."

After saying that, he looked up at Yi Zhonghai, who was trembling not far away, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

This is just the beginning.