Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Xu Damao looked Zhang Dabiao up and down with suspicion.

"Otherwise what?" Zhang Dabiao spread his hands out for Xu Damao to see, and he really didn't bring anything.

Zhang Dabiao guessed that there was news about the patent, which was why Lou Bancheng called him over, but he didn't expect to run into Xu Damao proposing marriage.

I never expected Sha Zhu to come too!

This is... a complete mess!

And Lou Xiao'e was just standing there giggling like an idiot...

This stupid woman... Anyway, Zhang Dabiao has no intention of taking her; whoever wants her can have her.

Lou Xiao'e is generous and wealthy as a friend, and has a solid family background and resources as a business partner—both are suitable. But Zhang Dabiao knows he can't handle her family's social standing.

Not to mention her love-struck mind, she was easily fooled by the old deaf man, constantly criticizing her husband Xu Damao, and even had a child with her husband's nemesis...

Calling her an idiot is being too kind.

However, given that Sha-zhu had already saved her parents' lives, sacrificing herself for her wouldn't be out of the question, but...

Zhang Dabiao still thought she was too stupid...

Seeing that Zhang Dabiao really wasn't there for a blind date, Xu Damao turned around and sat down, still sporting the bump on his head from Zhang Dabiao's slap, and started glaring at Shazhu with his bull-like eyes again.

The two had been locked in a fierce battle of wits for who knows how many rounds, neither willing to blink. Whoever blinked and looked away would be the coward!

Zhang Dabiao was speechless.

You two...

Don't your eyes get dry?

Lou Xiao'e and Tan Yali chatted with the group downstairs, while Chen Ma and Sha Zhu went to cook. With the deaf old lady watching over them, Xu Damao couldn't speak ill of Sha Zhu on his own, lest he give his future mother-in-law Tan Yali a bad impression.

The deaf old woman kept praising Sha Zhu, saying how wonderful he was. Tan Yali and Lou Xiao'e felt awkward but couldn't refute her. However, Xu Damao couldn't stand it. He would occasionally reveal a few of the silly things Sha Zhu had done, exposing the deaf old woman's lies, which made Tan Yali and Lou Xiao'e laugh and keep the conversation going.

Lou Bancheng then led Zhang Dabiao into the study.

As soon as he entered, Lou Bancheng handed the file bag to Zhang Dabiao.

"The patent application has been submitted, registered in Hong Kong, and sent to England to apply for a patent. These are backup copies of the procedural documents. Simply put, if you want to develop a product, you can now mark it as 'Patent pending.'"

"We have applied for an invention patent for the disposable lighter, including the design of the gas valve control and the flame adjustment device. We have also applied for a design patent."

"For the mop, we applied for an invention patent for the downward-pressing, linked spin-drying mechanical structure, the spin-drying basket/bucket design, and the water circulation system. We also applied for a design patent for the overall shape."

"The patent protection period is 20 years from the date of application approval. The application, including hiring a lawyer, hiring someone to write the materials, and the cost of registering in England, totaled HK$3, which is relatively cheap."

"However, the patent owner is my eldest son, Lou Yufan."

Just then, Zhang Dabiao saw the signature under the patent application. Because it was an English signature, he hadn't noticed it before.

Then Zhang Dabiao's pupils contracted, and he immediately became furious—[Holy crap? You, Lou Bancheng, aren't even going to put on an act anymore, you've just ripped off my design?!]

Seeing his expression, Lou Bancheng immediately took a step back: "Hey, wait until I finish what I have to say, okay? I wanted to give you a surprise!"

Zhang Dabiao gritted his teeth and sat down, suppressing his anger as he said, word by word, "Fine, then explain yourself to me."

"What the hell is this called, a fucking surprise!"

Lou Bancheng sighed, exasperated, "You just said Xu Damao didn't wait for people to finish speaking, but aren't you the same?"

"Look at you, you're getting impatient, aren't you?"

The veins on Zhang Dabiao's forehead bulged—[How could I not be anxious?]

I'd love to just kill you, take you to my "little den," and dump your body in Hong Kong to cover it up!

I've never suffered such a loss in my entire life!

Lou Bancheng lit a cigarette for himself and handed one to Zhang Dabiao. Then he slowly explained, "Our country has not joined the key treaty, so non-British citizens cannot apply for patents. But my son has the status of a British Dependent Territories citizen, so he can apply."

"So I had him apply for it, and then I drafted a separate contract with you. He's actually acting as the patent agent. All the profits generated from the patent will be split 8/2 between you and him. Don't misunderstand, this is for accounting purposes. We also have to pay management fees every year. You can't expect the Lou family to keep losing money, can you?"

"There are two copies of the contract. You just need to sign them in a moment for it to take effect."

Lou Bancheng's words made sense, but Zhang Dabiao scratched his head—"Didn't the property deed you gave me last time include a Hong Kong identity card? Why don't I use that?"

Lou Bancheng rolled his eyes at him: "I got you a Hong Kong identity card so that I could transfer the property to you; otherwise, I wouldn't be able to do so."

"As long as you and I don't say anything, nobody will know that you, Zhang Dabiao, have an ID card in Hong Kong and a village house, so it's safe. Even if people find out, no one can prove that Zhang Yaoyang in Hong Kong is the same Zhang Dabiao from Nanluoguxiang in Beijing. There are many people in this world who look alike."

"But with patents, the Ministry of Foreign Trade will still look into it after you register, right? Didn't they give you a month? And what about that guy, Tadanosuke, who wants to buy your design? He'll register it using your identity. How are you going to explain that?"

"In order to apply for a patent, you, Zhang Dabiao, quietly had my Lou family register your identity in Hong Kong. A Chinese citizen suddenly became a citizen of a British Dependent Territory?"

"That's blatant treason! And you're still in Beijing while you're committing treason—"

"If you want to die, don't drag me down with you..."

"This contract proves that you appointed my eldest son as your full agent to handle the patent."

"The Lou family naturally considers all aspects when doing things."

After Lou Bancheng's explanation, Zhang Dabiao finally understood and broke out in a cold sweat—[Holy crap? There are so many twists and turns in this?]

Zhang Dabiao was still a little confused: "Then why are you issuing me a Hong Kong ID card...aren't you afraid that if I get caught, it will implicate you?"

Lou Bancheng shrugged: "Who can prove that I arranged it for you?"

"My name isn't on the contract either."

"Even if you get arrested and it gets out that I paid for your registration, gave you a Hong Kong apartment worth tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars, and helped you get your ID card, what would the Lou family gain from that?"

"Even if you betray me, someone has to believe you!"

Zhang Dabiao – [Holy crap?!]

[So they really are capitalists! How are they doing this...?]

Zhang Dabiao couldn't find any adjectives to describe it.

After thinking for a moment, he frowned and asked, "You think this will tie me to your Lou family's ship?"

Lou Bancheng smiled without hiding his true feelings and nodded: "Of course, others may not believe you if you say that my Lou family helped you."

"But I have your power of attorney and a photo of your ID card, which I have already sent to my eldest son."

"If my Lou family takes the initiative to admit it, the effect will be different."

Zhang Dabiao had no choice but to give Lou Bancheng a thumbs-up: "Boss Lou, you're ruthless! I admit defeat."

"Speak, what exactly do you want?"