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

He paused, glanced at the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, and continued, "This time we've really been screwed over by him. When you get back, make sure you all check your own yards to see if there are any troublemakers like him. So that you don't get dragged into this mess again someday."

As soon as he finished speaking, the courtyard became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Then, like cold water poured into a hot oil pan, it exploded with a bang.

"Really? Stupid Zhu is going to be executed for stealing?"

"I knew that kid was a scoundrel! But I never imagined... I never thought it would come to this!"

"Oh no, oh no! Old Zhao's family in our courtyard is close to him. I have to go back and ask them right away!"

"So...you just released them like that? Everything's alright?"

"What did they say? What incredible thing did Sha Zhu steal?"

The topic instantly shifted from complaining to gossip, and the crowd surrounded Xu Damao and his group, making it impossible for them to move.

Someone lowered their voice and asked the question that everyone was curious about.

"What exactly did Shazhu steal? When Bang Geng stole something before, he was only locked up for a few days and then released. These days, you get shot for stealing?"

Xu Damao's smile froze.

He subconsciously glanced at his second uncle beside him, who also looked troubled.

That's a question I can't answer.

Before they left, Director Zhang called them into his office, his face as long as Mount Changbai, and explained everything clearly, word by word.

What Sha Zhu stole, and the details of the matter, must not be revealed to anyone.

Everyone signed a confidentiality agreement and put their fingerprints on it.

Anyone who dares to leak even the slightest word will be immediately arrested and sent back to jail.

What's more... that thing still hasn't been found.

Director Zhang's eyes were always fixed on them.

They didn't say it explicitly, but they all understood what it meant.

So even though they were released, they still felt uneasy, as if a stone was weighing on their hearts.

Xu Damao threw his cigarette butt on the ground, stomped it out, and started shooing people away.

"Alright, alright, everyone, that's enough! We've had a long day, we need to go home and rest!"

"Go, go, go! If you keep asking, we'll arrest you all!"

"This is confidential; is it something you can inquire about?"

Uncle Erda also stepped forward to help, and the two of them pushed and shoved, finally managing to drive the crowd of onlookers out of the courtyard.

The crowd dispersed, and the courtyard fell silent once more.

No one was in the mood to chat anymore; they all lowered their heads and dragged themselves back into their rooms.

During the previous search, every household was ransacked, with boxes upside down, blankets thrown on the ground, and cupboard doors wide open. Now they still have to clean up.

No one dared to complain; they could only keep quiet and do it themselves.

The once bustling courtyard is now eerily quiet, even though everyone is still there.

The air was taut, as if an invisible string was stretched taut. No one dared to speak loudly, and everyone walked on tiptoe.

When Li Jianguo pushed his bicycle into the courtyard, he was struck by this eerie silence.

He raised an eyebrow, but didn't seem awkward at all.

It's rare to find such peace and quiet.

Early the next morning.

As soon as it was dawn, people got up and started working in the courtyard.

People go to work as usual, and those who need to go to school go to school; life goes on as usual.

As usual, Li Jianguo got up, washed up, sat on the edge of the bed, and silently recited a sentence in his mind.

Sign in.

The system interface unfolds before your eyes.

"A pound of sugar, cola, potato chips... I'm lucky, there's also..."

His gaze suddenly froze.

At the very bottom of the screen, a golden-glowing entry lies quietly.

"uncanny workmanship?!"

Li Jianguo was stunned for a moment, then a grin spread across his face.

"Wow, this is incredibly lucky today!"

In a great mood, he simply heated up two steamed buns, ate them with pickled vegetables for breakfast, and then pushed his cart out the door.

Upon arriving at the steel rolling mill, just as we entered the gate, we saw Director Yang standing under the office building, craning his neck to look around.

Upon seeing him, Director Yang's eyes lit up, and he rushed over to greet him, grabbing his arm in one go.

"Director Li! We've been waiting for you! Come on, follow me!"

With barely suppressed excitement on his face, Director Yang practically dragged him into his office.

As soon as the door closed, Director Yang took a letter out of the drawer and handed it over with both hands.

"This was sent by someone from the higher-ups after yesterday's meeting."

He stared into Li Jianguo's eyes, his voice lowered, but he couldn't suppress his excitement.

"The leaders are very concerned about your work. Everyone is eagerly waiting for the new generation engine. We hope you can produce results as soon as possible."

Li Jianguo took the letter and glanced at it.

The letter was politely worded, but the meaning was clear—to urge progress.

He smiled.

The previous engine had already made the factory quite famous, and now that it's been upgraded, factories all over the country are watching it closely.

Moreover, with the country facing a foreign exchange shortage, if this technology can be implemented, domestically produced cars can be exported, and life will be much better.

"rest assured."

Li Jianguo put down the letter, looked at Director Yang, and spoke calmly but firmly.

"The project is progressing smoothly, and we will see results soon."

Upon hearing this, Director Yang narrowed his eyes into slits and patted the back of his hand hard.

"Great! I knew you could do it!"

Meanwhile, in the backyard, at the home of the deaf old woman.

The doors and windows were tightly closed, and the room was filled with smoke.

The entire Jia family, including Yi Zhonghai, were crammed into this small room.

Their faces were covered in bruises, and they were sitting in awkward positions; it was clear they had been beaten.

"This matter absolutely cannot be left like this!"

Yi Zhonghai spoke first, his voice low and his teeth clenched.

As soon as she finished speaking, Jia Zhangshi nodded immediately, her eyes red and her lips trembling.

"Yes! We can't let him get away with this! That bastard Li Jianguo, how dare he bully people like this!"

"We got beaten up like this, and he acts like nothing happened? How dare he?!"

Jia Dongxu lay on the chair next to him, his face ashen, his fists clenched.

"He's an outsider, what gives him the right to act so arrogantly in our compound!"

Speaking of Li Jianguo, the eyes of the people in the room were blazing with anger.

If that person were standing in front of me right now, I'd want to tear him apart.

"Quiet down, everyone."

In the corner, the deaf old woman slowly spoke.

She leaned against the bed, squinting, her cloudy eyes sweeping over the people in the room.

"If you make a move now, Director Zhang's men are watching. If you go in again, it won't just be a beating."

The room fell silent.

The group of people looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Then... what do we do?"

Someone asked a question.

Unbeknownst to them, the deaf old woman became the backbone of this group.

She was silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Shazhu's gone in, surely He Daqing, his father, should be back by now?"

The group of people were taken aback and looked at her.

"My son is dying, and I can't even see him one last time. How can this be?"

The deaf old woman's voice was slow and deliberate, with a sinister undertone.

"No matter what, He Daqing will definitely help with Sha Zhu's matter. Let's call him back first; we can't let that kid Li Jianguo get away with it."

Yi Zhonghai's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh hard.

"Yes! The deaf old woman is right! His son is dying, he can't sit still! I'll go write him a letter right now!"

And that's how it was settled.