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

In the courtyard, Yan Jiecheng was still watering the overwintering crops with freezing water and mounding soil to prevent the crops from freezing and the soil from drying out and cracking.

In addition, some plots are winter-cultivated and sun-dried to turn over the compacted soil and use the low temperature to kill insect eggs and weed roots.

He was also surprised to see Zhang Dabiao come out of the wooden house.

"Da Biao, when did you get back?"

"You came back while you were plowing the fields, what business is it of yours when I came back?"

Anyway, their little wooden house was off-limits to everyone. Even Qin Jingru and Mu Wanqing couldn't just enter without Zhang Dabiao letting them get something.

Zhang Dabiao was also a bit annoyed by Yan Bugui and Yan Jiecheng. "Can't you use your shrewdness elsewhere? Why are you always staring at me?"

Ignoring Yan Jiecheng, he prepared to go out and call Mu Wanqing to come over for dinner.

A question suddenly came to mind.

"Jiefang, you've recovered, haven't you? It's been over half a year, why haven't you and Yu Li made any progress?"

Xu Damao had mentioned before that he and Yan Jiecheng had gone for a follow-up examination. Although the number of cells was small, their vitality was still good, and they had basically recovered.

Xu Damao isn't married yet, so there's no rush.

But you, Yan Jiecheng, and Yu Li have been married for more than half a year, why is there still no sign of a baby?

That doesn't make sense!

Yan Jiecheng was stunned for a moment, not expecting that Zhang Dabiao would urge him to have a child.

So he awkwardly scratched his head and explained, "It hasn't been long, has it? The doctor said I still need to rest more. Actually, Yu Li is also lacking in nutrition."

"I've been thinking that the harvest hasn't been very good these past two years, so I'll have to wait another two years. Otherwise, if I really get pregnant and the baby doesn't have enough to eat after birth, wouldn't that be a hardship for the child?"

"Let's wait two years and see how things go."

Zhang Dabiao nodded. Although this was also a calculation, at least it was for the sake of the child.

What if we can't even take care of the child's basic nutrition? Wouldn't that be a terrible thing?

Zhang Dabiao nodded and started walking out of the courtyard, but suddenly stopped, poked his head back, and asked, "So how do you guarantee that she won't get pregnant?"

Zhang Dabiao's real intention was to ask Yan Jiecheng, "Where did you get that childless bag?"

But Yan Jiecheng suddenly seemed to remember something, and his expression turned lewd: "Actually, this matter, well, it's actually possible..."

Seeing his expression, Zhang Dabiao knew he was up to no good, so he immediately covered his ears and went outside.

"I won't listen to your nonsense, I'm still a child—"

Yan Jiecheng looked completely bewildered. "Wasn't this the question you were asking me?"

I was just about to say, "Why are you calling me a bastard?"

This is outrageous!

------------

These past few days have been smooth sailing, or rather, uneventful.

The three assistants came once to report to Zhang Dabiao on the progress of the nail clipper production, and to bring him a reward of 200 yuan from the department and a certificate of merit.

Then, he subtly inquired whether Zhang Dabiao had received any news recently, and why there had been no follow-up regarding the patent licensing fee.

Then Zhang Dabiao betrayed Lou Bancheng, which conveniently allowed the ministry to deal with him.

As a result, Zhang Dabiao and Lou Bancheng were summoned for a talk by the ministry.

Just kidding, a $72 share of the profits, foreign exchange!

Lou Bancheng, you need to explain what's going on!

In the department's meeting room, Zhang Dabiao looked nonchalant, while Lou Bancheng looked completely innocent.

"Dear leaders, I don't know what's going on with this either."

"I just called my eldest son from the ministry and asked him, as you all heard. He was stammering and wouldn't explain the situation."

"I don't know what to do about this either."

Director Zhao stared at Lou Bancheng with a serious expression: "Mr. Lou Zhenhua, this is no small sum of money. Your Lou family needs to give us an explanation, right?"

"As far as we know, the other party has already transferred the money to your eldest son's account, which belongs to the Lou Clan Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. Your Lou family won't deny this, will they?"

Lou Bancheng didn't know how to explain it.

"Director Zhao, the Lou family in Beijing and the Lou Clan Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong are two... how should I put it."

"You could say they are two separate entities, two... different organizations. The chamber of commerce over there isn't solely under my eldest son's control; there are several other shareholders."

"My eldest son moved away from home in the early days of the People's Republic of China."

"I have no idea whether he made a profit or loss in Hong Kong, whether he broke the law and got arrested by the British, or whether something happened to his company. And even if I did know, there's nothing I could do."

"The agency agreement was signed between Zhang Dabiao and Lou Yufan. If something really goes wrong, according to the legal effect of the contract, compensation is definitely due. But this is a debt that Lou Yufan owes."

"If it were just tens of thousands of yuan, and I, as his father, paid it back for him, then that would be fine."

"But that's $720,000, which is more than 1.7 million RMB. Even if you sold me, I still couldn't pay it back."

The subtext is—"I don't know anything, don't bother me."

You, Zhang Dabiao, can sue him. According to Hong Kong law, you have the right and the right to sue him.

Lou Yufan has already separated from the family and moved out. Things are as they are; contacting me won't help.

I can't repay over 1.7 million. Even if I could, I shouldn't and shouldn't have that many assets on the surface.

I can't figure this out; you guys figure it out yourselves.

Zhang Dabiao was speechless. Was this father and son teaming up to scam him?

Are they sure they can take me by surprise?

But upon closer examination, the parties to the agency agreement were indeed Zhang Dabiao and the Lou Clan Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, with Lou Yufan signing as the legal representative.

It was impossible for him to go to Hong Kong to sue the Lou Family Chamber of Commerce and Lou Yufan as Zhang Dabiao. Besides, even if he could go, how could he possibly fight against those lawyers alone?

Using Cheung Yiu-yeung's identity is also impossible, because his name is not on the contract. Even if an agency agreement is signed, it would be illegitimate.

The ministry sent someone to Hong Kong to help me with my lawsuit?

That's even more impossible.

Moreover, from a legal perspective, it really has nothing to do with Lou Bancheng, but—

The debts of the son must be repaid by the father!

You think you can escape?

Director Zhao slammed his fist on the table angrily: "Mr. Lou, this isn't about 1.7 million; this is about foreign exchange!"

Last year, in 1959, the country's foreign exchange reserves were US$1.05 million. This year, affected by economic difficulties and the contraction of foreign trade, they have declined sharply. According to statistics from the beginning of December, the foreign exchange reserves for 1960 were US$45 million.

Zhang Dabiao's money should have been deposited into his account long ago.

What does $72 mean?

This amount represents 1.6 percent of our total foreign exchange reserves for the entire year!

The value created by Zhang Dabiao alone!

And it's registered under the name of our Ministry of Foreign Trade!

This is a political achievement!

You're telling me now that you don't know what to do and can't afford to pay?

Director Zhao even had the urge to pull out his gun and shoot Lou Bancheng dead!

We were planning something big at the end of the year, but what happened?

He's made a huge mess; how is he supposed to report this to his superiors at the end of the year?

As for confiscating Lou Bancheng's property—

The key issue now is foreign exchange!

Only with foreign exchange can we import high-end equipment and grain.

I want your Lou Bancheng's assets, but I can't convert them into foreign exchange!

Director Zhao was practically going crazy; his words unconsciously carried a murderous aura!