Courtyard House: Starting as an eighth-grade worker, with too many wives.

For a moment, the cafeteria was almost silent.

Everyone was engrossed in eating, their mouths greasy with food, completely satisfied, so much so that they didn't even have time to talk.

Sha Zhu sat in the corner, but his chopsticks never stopped.

He was unhappy, feeling like he had a lump of cotton stuck in his throat, but his mouth didn't stop moving at all. He ate more than half of a bowl of braised pork, then picked up two pieces of fish, his cheeks bulging out, not even bothering to wipe the oil dripping down his chin.

Yi Zhonghai ate slowly, holding his chopsticks in his hand and putting each bite into his mouth, but his eyes would occasionally glance towards the main table.

Li Jianguo was surrounded by several people offering him toasts, but he maintained a polite smile and handled the situation with ease. Someone patted him on the shoulder, someone clinked glasses with him, and someone whispered in his ear; he responded to each one perfectly.

More than half an hour later, most of the dishes on the table had been eaten, and everyone gradually slowed down.

Some people started talking, some lit cigarettes, and some leaned back in their chairs with satisfied expressions. The atmosphere relaxed, like a taut string finally being released.

Factory Director Yang really invested heavily today.

Several bottles of Erguotou were placed on the main table. Although they weren't famous liquors, in these days, being able to drink alcohol was a rare treat. The bottles had simple labels, and as soon as the caps were unscrewed, the pungent smell of alcohol wafted out.

An elderly expert walked up to Li Jianguo with a wine glass in his hand.

His hair was gray, his face was crisscrossed with wrinkles, and his eyes were deep-set, but his eyes were very bright.

"Director Li, this glass of wine is for you."

His voice was a little hoarse, but his hand holding the wine glass was steady and firm.

"We have come this far thanks to your blueprints, and we will always remember this kindness."

Li Jianguo stood up, raised his wine glass and clinked it against his; the glasses struck together with a crisp sound.

"You flatter me. Even without me, given enough time, you could definitely have accomplished it. I just brought forward the timeline a little."

"Director Li, you can't say that."

The old expert shook his head, his expression somewhat complicated, his eyes holding something indescribable.

"What we lack most right now is time."

He paused, his voice lowering as if he were talking about a secret he didn't want to mention.

"The international community has imposed a severe blockade on us, refusing to share any technology. If we want to catch up, we can only rely on our own hard work. But sometimes, hard work alone isn't enough; we need someone to guide us."

Upon hearing this, the faces of the surrounding experts all darkened.

They were all people who had lived through the war years, and they understood better than anyone the weight of the saying "If you are backward, you will be bullied." That weight was etched into their bones, flowed in their blood, and was bought with countless lives.

Foreign technologies are advancing rapidly, and they are trying their best to catch up, but some gaps cannot be bridged by hard work alone.

That sense of urgency, that sense of powerlessness, is like a thorn stuck in everyone's heart.

Looking at their expressions, Li Jianguo suddenly understood.

What does it mean that I came here?

Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai, sitting in the corner, saw a completely different scene.

Li Jianguo was surrounded by a group of people toasting him, exchanging drinks and enjoying the limelight. They fawned over him, showering him with compliments.

"Look at the show he's been making today."

Sha Zhu gritted his teeth, his voice squeezed out from between them, his eyes burning with jealousy.

Yi Zhonghai didn't reply, but simply picked up his enamel mug and took a sip, his eyes so gloomy they looked like they were about to drip water.

"I wonder if those people are blind."

Sha Zhu continued muttering, his voice growing softer yet more menacing.

"He's so young, how much ability could he possibly have? I think those experts are just playing games with him."

As he spoke, his voice grew softer and softer, but the jealousy in his eyes grew stronger.

After swallowing the last piece of braised pork, he stared at Li Jianguo's back, his fingers clenching the chopsticks so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

You wait.

He silently recited it in his heart.

Wait a minute, you'll be sorry.

By the time the celebration banquet was drawing to a close, it was completely dark.

The windowpane only reflected the lights inside and the shadowy figures of people moving about; the night outside was so thick it was impossible to see through.

Everyone has to go to work tomorrow, and everyone has families to support, so they can't go home too late. People gradually got up, packed their things, and prepared to leave. Some were burping, some were picking their teeth, some were rubbing their stomachs, all with satisfied smiles on their faces.

With tacit approval, Director Yang distributed the remaining food among those whose families were not well-off. Several people gathered around with their lunchboxes, carefully adding food to the containers, their faces showing embarrassed smiles.

The cafeteria gradually quieted down, leaving only a few people helping with the cleaning. The sounds of clattering bowls and chopsticks, running water, and brooms scraping the floor blended together, creating a monotonous and dull atmosphere.

Li Jianguo and several key experts stayed behind to chat with Director Yang for a while about the follow-up work arrangements. Director Yang asked detailed questions, Li Jianguo answered steadily, and the experts occasionally added a few words of advice.

By the time they left the cafeteria, it was already very late at night.

When Sha Zhu returned to the compound, it was quiet.

The moonlight shone on the ground, a pale, white light, as if covered with a layer of frost. The windows of every house were dark, with only a few letting out a dim, yellowish light.

He didn't go back to his own room, but went straight into the central courtyard.

The windows of Qin Huairu's house were still lit with a dim yellow light, which seeped through the window paper and cast a small patch of hazy yellow light on the ground.

He walked over and knocked on the door.

The door opened a crack, revealing half of Qin Huairu's face. Her eyes flickered erratically in the dim light, filled with wariness and scrutiny.

What are you doing here?

She asked in a low voice, the sound as if it were being squeezed out of her throat.

Sha Zhu didn't answer, but pushed the door open and went inside.

Qin Huairu was startled and subconsciously took a step back, bumping her back against the door frame.

Sha Zhu slammed the door shut behind him, stood in front of her, and stared straight at her.

"I need to talk to you."

His voice was low, yet it carried an indescribable fervor.

"Don't you want Li Jianguo to be kicked out of this compound and ruined?"

Qin Huairu pursed her lips, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly nodded.

"think."

Her voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of being overheard, but each word carried real weight.

"But he's the director, and Director Yang values ​​him so much, what can we do?"

"Then just leave it alone."

Sha Zhu took a step forward, so close that he could smell the soap on her.

"I have a way. Give me a set of your underwear."

Qin Huairu was stunned.

"What?"

"underwear."

Sha Zhu repeated it, emphasizing each word.

"Your underwear, hurry up."

A faint blush rose to Qin Huairu's face, spreading from her cheeks to her ears. Her eyes flickered uncertainly, and her eyelashes trembled violently.

"What...what do you need that for?"

"Never mind what it's for, are you going to give it to me or not?"

Qin Huairu hesitated, her fingers twisting together until her knuckles turned white.

Sha Zhu stared at her, then suddenly let out a cold laugh, a laugh tinged with smugness.

"Don't think I don't know, you wrote that letter."

Qin Huairu froze, as if struck by lightning.

"Do you really think I'm stupid?"

Sha Zhu lowered his voice, his tone tinged with smugness, and a smile played on his lips.

"That handwriting is yours. Looking back on all that mess, it's clear you were trying to get Li Jianguo, but you got the wrong person."

Having said all that, Qin Huairu knew she couldn't hide it any longer.

She bit her lower lip until it turned white, then turned and went into the inner room.

After a while, she came out carrying a set of bright red underwear.

Brand new, neatly folded, the fabric gleamed faintly under the dim light.

She handed the underwear to Sha Zhu, turning her face to the side, revealing only her burning red earlobes.

Sha Zhu took it, clutching it in his hand. The soft touch added a touch of ambiguity to his smile. He held the underwear up to his eyes, then brought it to his nose to smell it.

"What's there to be ashamed of?"

His gaze swept over Qin Huairu, from top to bottom and then from bottom to top.

"With a man like that, how about you stay with me?"

Under the dim light, he seemed much bolder, his desire undisguised.

Qin Huairu didn't reply, but simply pushed him. The force wasn't strong, but it carried a clear sense of rejection.

"You should hurry up and take care of your business; someone should be arriving soon."

Sha Zhu was pushed out the door by her, clutching the red ball in his hand, and he hurriedly disappeared into the night.

Qin Huairu closed the door, leaned against it, her chest heaving.

Her man is useless.

Am I destined to live the rest of my life as a widow?

She didn't say anything, but a seed had already been planted in her heart.

When Sha Zhu reached the door of Li Jianguo's room, his heart was pounding.

He looked around; the moonlight shone on the ground, which was empty and deserted. He listened carefully and heard only the distant barking of dogs.

After confirming that no one was around, he took out half a piece of wire from his pocket.

Having grown up with Jia Dongxu since childhood, he had learned a little bit about picking locks and sneaking out to play. Back then, he only used it to sneak out to play, never expecting it would come in handy today.

The old-fashioned lock on Li Jianguo's door wouldn't last long in his hands.

He inserted the wire into the keyhole, his fingers trembling slightly as he listened intently to what was happening inside. A soft click, almost imperceptible, rang out as the latch sprang open.

Sha Zhu quickly pushed the door open and slipped inside, then closed it behind him.

The room was pitch black, with only a sliver of moonlight filtering in from the window, casting blurry shadows on the floor.

He didn't dare turn on the light. He reached for the bedside, bent down, and stuffed the underwear he was holding under the bed. The red blobs flashed in the darkness before he shoved them into the innermost corner.

Just then, footsteps could be heard outside.

Sha Zhu felt a sudden tightness in his chest, his blood rushed to his head, and his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of his throat.

He hurriedly pushed his underwear further in, then turned and walked out.

I pushed open the door and took just one step out when I bumped into someone.

Lou Xiao'e stood at the door, staring blankly at him.

The moonlight shone on her face, making her eyes wide open and her mouth slightly agape.

Sha Zhu felt a jolt in his head, his blood rushing to his head, and he felt as if he were nailed to the ground.

"Silly Pillar?"

Lou Xiao'e frowned, her gaze sweeping across his face.

"What are you doing here?"

"I...I..."

Sha Zhu stammered twice, his mind racing, but he couldn't come up with a decent excuse.

"You came out of Director Li's office?"

Lou Xiao'e took a step forward, her gaze sweeping across his face as if trying to see right through him.

"What were you doing inside?"

"No... I didn't do anything!"

Sha Zhu instinctively stepped back, stumbled, and almost fell.

Lou Xiao'e grabbed his sleeve, the force wasn't strong, but it made him unable to move.

"Why are you panicking if you didn't do anything?"

Sha Zhu's heart was pounding in his throat, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead, glistening in the moonlight.

He reached into his pocket and rummaged around for a bit, then pulled out a crumpled banknote and shoved it into Lou Xiao'e's hand.

"Five dollars! Take it! Just pretend... just pretend you didn't see me!"

After saying that, he broke free from Lou Xiao'e's hand and ran away without looking back.

The footsteps were hurried and frantic, and soon disappeared into the night.

Lou Xiao'e stood there, looking at the five yuan in her hand, then at Li Jianguo's tightly closed door.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, lost in thought.

The moonlight shone on her face, and her gaze held scrutiny, contemplation, and a hint of an indescribable smile.

This kid is definitely up to no good.