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

He dared not think.

Moreover, there's no telling whether Li Jianguo will continue to sabotage him.

That kid is ruthless.

Yi Zhonghai remained silent for a long time.

So long that the deaf old woman thought he was asleep.

He finally let out a heavy sigh.

That sigh was deep and long, as if he wanted to vomit out his internal organs.

He reached out and picked up the note from the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

I unfolded it carefully and looked at it again.

Then fold it up and tuck it into a pocket close to your body.

He even pressed it with his finger.

"This matter..."

His voice was deep, carrying a ruthless determination.

"Success is the only option; failure is not an option."

The deaf old woman smiled slightly.

Finally, a glimmer of satisfaction appeared in his cloudy eyes.

If she weren't currently unable to move and even getting out of bed was difficult, she wouldn't have chosen Yi Zhonghai as her partner.

"That's right."

Her voice was light and airy, like she was coaxing a child.

"Li Jianguo is going to die sooner or later. He must die."

Yi Zhonghai looked up and stared at her.

His eyes held scrutiny, and a final trace of uncertainty.

"This is our last chance. Deaf old lady, this is the last time I'll believe you."

His voice was extremely low, each word sounding as if it were being squeezed out from between his teeth.

Gritting his teeth.

The ruthlessness in his eyes was almost overflowing.

The deaf old woman met his gaze and nodded.

"What you're worried about is exactly what I'm worried about."

Her voice also lowered.

"I don't want anyone else to know about this. I hope you keep this person's identity and background a secret for the rest of your life."

Yi Zhonghai nodded very seriously.

These are enemy agents.

He wished that once this matter was over, he would have nothing to do with those people for the rest of his life.

Of course he wouldn't go out and spread rumors.

He had even decided that he would never mention a word about his own wife.

I'd rather die than tell.

The matter of going to find enemy agents was settled.

Strangely, after taking this step, Yi Zhonghai felt much more relaxed.

The heavy weight on my heart seems to have lightened a bit.

He composed himself, took a deep breath, and brought up another matter.

"However, our top priority right now is to get Sha Zhu out."

He carefully put away the note, and his expression became particularly solemn when he spoke of it.

Sha Zhu was extremely important to both of their families.

Especially now.

The deaf elderly woman is so badly injured that she needs someone to take care of her.

In this compound, besides Sha Zhu, who else can we turn to?

Qin Huairu?

That woman couldn't even take care of herself.

Jia Zhangshi?

That's a good-for-nothing who's more trouble than he's worth.

When the name Sha Zhu was mentioned, the deaf old woman fell silent for a moment, a rare occurrence for her.

She gazed at the pitch-black night outside the window, her eyes somewhat dazed.

Sha Zhu may seem unremarkable, but he is the most useful to both families.

This person is easy to fool.

They are also very concerned about saving face.

For the sake of saving face, he was willing to force himself to become a "good person".

This kind of person is the easiest to control.

Those two old foxes can easily outmaneuver Sha Zhu.

"We definitely need to find a way to get him out of here as soon as possible."

The deaf old woman came to her senses and nodded.

She pondered for a moment, then asked, "How's Qin Huairu doing?"

Yi Zhonghai then shared the information he had gathered.

"I asked someone at the police station. She was a co-conspirator who was tricked, and she'll be released after fifteen days of detention. It won't be long."

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"It's nothing serious for her. It's just that the police station wanted to show off in front of Li Jianguo, so they did it on purpose."

Upon hearing the result, the deaf old woman breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good."

She hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Shazhu received a heavy sentence. Besides the failed attempt to frame Li Jianguo, he also faces the charge of instigation. When Qin Huairu gets out, have her write a letter of forgiveness, and then pull some strings. Shazhu shouldn't get a long sentence."

Yi Zhonghai's eyes lit up.

The deaf old woman's time in the detention center was worthwhile.

She kept everything she needed to learn and understand in her heart.

The current laws are not that strict.

A letter of understanding can play a significant role in the judgment.

Besides, this matter hasn't caused any serious consequences. If we put in a little effort, we should be able to succeed.

Don't worry.

Yi Zhonghai nodded, his tone carrying a hint of confidence.

"I will personally arrange this matter once Qin Huairu is released."

He paused, then started counting on his fingers.

"I've seen a pattern in the verdicts of other cases. Sha Zhu... should be out in about a year. A year isn't long, we'll definitely live that long."

He looked at the deaf old woman, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"By then, the person who will take care of you in your old age will still be there."

The deaf old woman didn't speak.

Yi Zhonghai continued, seemingly oblivious to his own words, "He was the one chosen back then. Now I still have to work hard for him. It's just fate."

"He's a good man, he'll definitely take care of you two in your old age and see you off when you die."

The deaf old woman finally spoke, her voice carrying a hint of relief.

"Grandma, you are a blessed person."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

That smile carried calculation, expectation, and an inexplicable tacit understanding.

What they're doing all this for is to have someone to rely on in their old age, right?

Having someone to rely on in old age.

At least... there needs to be someone to collect the body.

Yi Zhonghai stood up, already feeling restless.

He wanted to see Li Jianguo die as soon as possible.

One day earlier, he could live one more day.

"Grandma, please take good care of yourself. I'll bring you food again tomorrow. If you need anything, just let me know."

He packed up his lunchbox, gave a few instructions, and left the house.

The deaf old woman stared at his retreating figure.

I watched him disappear through the doorway.

I watched as the curtain fell, swayed, and then remained still.

A mocking smile appeared on her lips.

"Coward."

She murmured to herself, her voice so low that only she could hear it.

"So many years have passed, and I've been utterly useless. I've lived this long in vain, and in the end, I'm just a good-for-nothing."

She increasingly looked down on Yi Zhonghai.

But now, her body is ruined, and she even has difficulty getting out of bed.

There's only one person I can rely on.

"Hopefully, there won't be any unexpected complications this time. Let's get rid of that little bastard Li Jianguo quickly..."

She sat on the bed, muttering to herself.

Gazing at the moonlight outside the window, my eyes became unfocused.

It seems like I've remembered something from the past.

Those events, decades later, are now hazy and indistinct.

Yet it seems so close at hand.

-

The night was darker.

In the other courtyard, Li Jianguo's room was still lit.

He sat down at the table and spread out the newspaper in his hand.

Take out a letter from inside.

A letter without a sender's signature.

This is what Director Yang gave him today.

When he wrote the letter to him, Director Yang's eyes held a meaningful look.

"Li Jianguo, if you have any grievances at the factory, be sure to tell me. Don't bother others with small things; I'll definitely take good care of you..."

Recalling what Director Yang had said, Li Jianguo couldn't help but laugh.

The look in his eyes, the tone of his voice—it was clear he knew something.

He already knew who had sent the letter.

Open the envelope.

Take out the letter paper.

The signature prominently displayed two words: Old Zhou.

Li Jianguo's gaze softened.

He began to read the letter.

"Li Jianguo, I have witnessed your contributions. You have done an excellent job in national development. You have dedicated your knowledge to the cause of science and technology without reservation. On behalf of the people of the whole country, I thank you for your efforts in this regard..."

It begins with an encouragement from an elder.

With a touch of formulaic solemnity.

But Li Jianguo could read the old man's deep affection for him between the lines.

That concern, that expectation, could be felt even through the letter.

He continued reading.

Towards the end of the letter, the tone shifted from solemn to a touch of humor characteristic of elders.

"You're not getting any younger; it's the age to settle down and start a family. Settle down first, then build your career. With the security of a family, you'll have more courage to charge into battle."

"I heard you're still single, with no one to care for you. Are you too busy with work to meet new people?"

"I can introduce you to some excellent women. I'm sure you'll meet someone who shares your values ​​and with whom you can spend your life."

When Li Jianguo saw the letter saying that they would introduce him to a potential partner, he was both amused and exasperated.

"This Mr. Zhou..."

He shook his head helplessly and placed the letter on the table.

"You're really causing me trouble."

Now is definitely not the time to be dating.

He has always been selective about his partners, preferring to have none rather than settle for less.

If, like most people in this era, he were to be introduced to someone and hastily marry after only two meetings—without even knowing what kind of personality the other person has or what their family situation is—that would be worse than death for him.

Isn't this just living with a stranger and slowly getting to know each other?

Moreover, he harbors too many secrets.

If you have someone you're not so familiar with by your side, and you spend every day together...

His secret could not be kept hidden.

In that case, it might cause other troubles.

"No. We need to find a way to cancel this."

He was worried, so he continued reading.

But then he saw Old Zhou say he wanted to come and see him.

"Oh My God……"

Li Jianguo rubbed his forehead.

"This is really causing me trouble."

Old Zhou was his benefactor.

His parents almost got into trouble in Northwest China back then, but it was Old Zhou who stepped in and saved not only his parents but also him.

Later, during his studies, Mr. Zhou also provided a great deal of help.

It can be said that his current success, his ability to independently manage projects, and his contributions to the country are all thanks to the help he received from Mr. Zhou back then.

Faced with his great benefactor, Li Jianguo was at a loss for words.

He hesitated for a long time.

He picked up the pen, then put it down again.

He picked it up again.

Finally, after careful consideration, he began to write a reply.

The pen tip scratched across the paper.

"...Thank you, Mr. Zhou, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to think about my personal matters. However, with the country in dire need of rebuilding, I don't have many thoughts about personal relationships for the time being. I hope to find a woman who shares my ideals and can advance alongside me in our careers. I believe that through my own efforts, I will definitely find her."

First, politely decline the blind date offer.

Seeing this reply, Old Zhou probably won't keep trying to introduce him to girlfriends.

In this day and age, although there are many ambitious lesbians, they want to find someone who can "go up on equal footing" with them...

Basically impossible.

But he didn't intend to remain single forever.

He also hopes to find a partner he can completely trust and rely on.

Even if the process is long, he wants to find it himself.

After writing this, Li Jianguo changed the subject and continued writing:

"Today, the nation is rebuilding from scratch, and everything is getting back on track. Countless people with lofty ideals have sacrificed their lives for this cause. I am just one of them. The rise of our motherland is just around the corner. I am full of confidence in this."

"I hope that one day I can stand on the international stage and tell everyone—we are the standard."

These words stirred even Li Jianguo's own emotions.

The blood seems to be flowing faster.

But he knew that what he wrote was the truth.

The gap between us and other countries, which is nearly a century old, does not need to be closed in a century.

There are so many of them.

So many people are willing to fight for their country.

With these people catching up, it won't be long before we can catch up with foreign countries.

Just like in a past life.