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

"You have good mental fortitude."

His tone was indifferent.

"I suddenly feel that you are the mastermind behind these people."

These words were spoken.

It felt like a bolt of lightning struck Director Zhang's mind.

It cleaved through chaos and brought forth clarity.

"yes!"

He slapped his thigh.

The sound was as loud as a cannon.

"That's fucking reasonable!"

He became so excited that he started speaking quickly.

"Those idiots, Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu, wouldn't dare steal classified documents—they'd be beheaded! But you—"

He stared intently at the deaf old woman.

The light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

It's like discovering a new continent.

"You're different. At your age, you've lived through those chaotic times of war. What haven't you seen? What haven't you experienced? If you're going to say you're a hidden spy, a mastermind behind everything—"

He paused, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"It really does look like it, fucking!"

Director Zhang became more and more excited as he spoke.

My blood started to boil.

He hasn't performed any major feats in a very, very long time.

So long that I almost forgot what it felt like to make a contribution.

If only I could uncover a hidden spy myself—

That was no simple commendation.

That was an incredible achievement that would allow him to take another step forward!

Promotion!

A raise!

Bring glory to your ancestors!

Thinking of this, all his exhaustion vanished.

"explain!"

He was like a wild beast that had been completely enraged.

He lunged at the deaf old woman again.

In the interrogation room.

Screams.

A plea for mercy.

Cries and screams.

The sound rang out again.

The voice was so shrill it didn't sound human.

It sounded like the wailing of ghosts and howls coming from the deepest part of hell.

There are several walls separating them.

At the end of the corridor.

The neighbors who had been temporarily released turned pale with fright upon hearing this sound.

Like a blank sheet of paper.

Like lime.

His whole body was shaking uncontrollably, like a sieve.

Only Li Jianguo.

He remained calm.

It was as if the sound was just the wind passing by the window, an insignificant background noise.

He even slowly pulled a bottle of wine from his pocket.

Maotai.

In front of those who remained silent, he slowly and deliberately unscrewed the bottle cap.

Find the three cups.

Pour it for yourself.

He poured another glass for both Director Yang and Director Zhang.

The aroma of wine instantly filled the air.

Rich and intense.

Like invisible threads, they seep into everyone's nose.

Factory Director Yang took it and sipped it.

His eyes lit up immediately.

"Huh? Moutai!"

He smacked his lips.

Just drinking it like this feels like something's missing.

He beckoned to one of his trusted confidants.

He whispered a few instructions.

The man nodded and dashed out.

A short while later, he returned carrying several oil paper packages—a few snacks he had just bought from the state-run restaurant to go with his drinks.

Braised beef.

Braised pig ears.

Fried peanuts.

The three of them sat there.

He was slowly sipping his Moutai.

While watching the "performance" in the interrogation room through the window.

Screams.

Cries and screams.

The crack of the whip.

The sounds mingled together, rising and falling, and were even more appetizing than the braised beef on the table.

Director Zhang, exhausted from the beating, walked over, panting.

He plopped down on his bottom.

He raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"happy!"

He wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Sweat mixed with heat was splashed on the ground.

Li Jianguo slowly put down his wine glass.

His gaze swept over the group of disheveled people again.

Like sweeping over a herd of pigs and sheep waiting to be slaughtered.

"I will repeat what I just said."

He spoke.

The sound wasn't loud.

But as if by magic, it instantly silenced the entire interrogation room.

It was so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat.

"The documents that were lost this time involve state secrets."

He spoke slowly and deliberately.

Every word was like a heavy hammer, striking those people's hearts hard.

They were utterly terrified.

"Once leaked, it constitutes a serious crime of espionage, causing irreparable and enormous damage to the country."

He paused for a moment.

"I advise you, if you know who did it, you'd better confess immediately. Tell me honestly where the documents are now. Speaking out might save your life. If you stubbornly refuse to talk—"

He paused.

He looked at Director Zhang.

"Then you are all enemy agents."

Director Zhang immediately responded.

The sound was as loud as a bell.

"What would you do if it were an enemy spy?"

"Of course, the most severe sanctions!"

His gaze was sharp as a knife, sweeping over everyone.

"None of them, as enemy agents, ever walk out of the prison alive!"

Li Jianguo nodded in satisfaction.

A faint smile played on her lips.

That smile, in their eyes, was more terrifying than the sneer of a demon.

It's also gloomy.

"How is it?"

His voice was so gentle, as if he were having a casual chat.

"Did you all hear what Director Zhang just said?"

He paused for a moment.

"To deny it is to face certain death."

He smiled.

They were saying the cruelest things in the world.

The faces of those people instantly turned ashen, like those of the dead.

It was ashen and faded as a corpse that had just crawled out of its grave.

"Think about it carefully."

Li Jianguo's voice echoed softly in the empty interrogation room.

Like the sound of a temple bell.

Each strike hits a nerve.

"Is it a dead end, or a chance to fight for survival?"

The entire interrogation room.

Silence reigned.

All that remained was the sound of heavy, disordered breathing.

One after another.

Like a group of fish thrown ashore, making their last struggle.

Even the deaf old woman and Sha Zhu, who were just groaning in pain, seemed to have their throats choked.

It could no longer make a sound.

"I've had enough rest."

Li Jianguo put down his wine glass.

"Then continue. Keep beating them until they admit it and reveal the whereabouts of the documents."

The voice just fell.

Director Zhang downed the last drop of wine in his glass in one gulp.

He slammed the cup onto the table with a loud bang.

The bottom of the cup collided with the table, making a dull thud.

"This wine is good!"

He stood up.

I stretched my muscles a bit.

The bones were cracking.

Like frying beans.

"I'll play one more round! We'll switch players later!"

He strode forward again toward the group of trembling people.

Yi Zhonghai's screams rang out again.

Heartbreaking.

He was in so much pain that tears streamed down his face.

Tears and snot covered his face.

His eyes were fixed on Li Jianguo, who stood with his hands behind his back not far away.

He roared at the top of his lungs.

"Li Jianguo! This is just you using your position to settle personal scores! You'll die a horrible death!"

"Still yelling!"

"Snapped!"

Another lash.

I slapped him hard on the back.

Yi Zhonghai bounced violently, like a fish thrown ashore.

Then it let out a howl that had gone off-key.

That voice no longer sounded like a human voice.

"It wasn't me...it really wasn't me...I didn't take it..."

"Will you tell me or not!"

Director Zhang is like a tireless wild beast.

He brandished the whip menacingly.

The monotonous questioning sounds become tiring to listen to after a while.

Like cutting meat with a dull knife.

One moment, one moment.

Director Zhang felt it wasn't enough.

His eyes darted around and landed on Jia Dongxu, who was huddled in a corner.

"From the Jia family?"

He sneered.

"Then don't even think about running away!"

He grabbed Jia Dongxu by the collar.

They lifted him out of the corner like a chick.

"Speak! Did you order your son to do it?"

"It wasn't me! It really wasn't me!"

Jia Dongxu was terrified.

Tears and snot covered his face.

"I just got home from the hospital, I have no idea what happened at home!"

He cried out in pain.

I was so regretful, I felt like I was going to die from it all.

Why did you have such a sharp tongue back then?

Why teach your son lock-picking skills?

it's good now.

Even if you jumped into the Yellow River, you couldn't clear your name!

"Isn't it you, fucking?"

Director Zhang sneered.

"Your son is so young, didn't you teach him how to pick locks? I bet you can pick locks too, you bastard!"

"I...I did teach him...but I really didn't let him get any documents! I've never even seen what those things look like!"

Jia Dongxu tried desperately to defend himself.