Kill the beasts in the courtyard, I fled to Hong Kong, surrounded by beauties on both sides.

As soon as it was light, Xu Damao went out with two cold cornbread buns in his pocket.

He hadn't slept well all night; dark circles under his eyes, stubble on his beard, and he looked haggard and gloomy. As he walked to the central courtyard, he ran into Sha Zhu, who was also leaving—Sha Zhu was on the early shift today and had to go to the canteen early to prepare breakfast.

The two exchanged glances, neither speaking, their eyes meeting with coldness.

Xu Damao suddenly stopped and turned around to call out to Shazhu: "Shazhu, wait a minute."

Sha Zhu frowned and turned around: "What's up?"

Xu Damao walked up to him and lowered his voice: "Yi Zhonghai came to me last night, saying that my pen and aphrodisiac were found in Bang Geng's schoolbag. Did you know about this?"

Sha Zhu's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive: "I've heard. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Xu Damao sneered. "Someone framed me. I lost the pen, and the aphrodisiac... I bought it for my own use; I don't know how it ended up with Bang Geng. And that note—'The things are hidden, don't look for me anymore'—I didn't write it at all!"

Sha Zhu looked at him and asked, "Then who do you think did it?"

"What do you think?" Xu Damao stared at him. "Who in the compound hates me the most? Who's most likely to resort to such underhanded tactics?"

Sha Zhu fell silent.

"It was you!" Xu Damao suddenly raised his voice, "Shazhu, you've always disliked me and wanted to mess with me for a long time! Those things in Banggeng's backpack, you were the one who put them there! Didn't you?"

Sha Zhu's face darkened: "Xu Damao, you're talking nonsense!"

"What nonsense?" Xu Damao retorted, "You dare say you haven't touched my things? Did you steal that bottle of wine from my closet last month? And that new shirt from two years ago..."

"That's what you owe me!" Sha Zhu roared. "You fucking talked about me behind my back, do you think I didn't know?"

The two argued louder and louder, alarming everyone in the courtyard.

Yi Zhonghai burst out of the door, his face ashen: "What's all the noise about! Is this any way to behave so early in the morning?"

Xu Damao turned to Yi Zhonghai: "Uncle, you've come at the right time. Sha Zhu framed me, are you going to do anything about it?"

"How did I frame you?" Sha Zhu stared wide-eyed.

"Those things in Bang Geng's backpack, you're the one who put them there!" Xu Damao insisted. "You're trying to frame me, trying to make me take the blame!"

Yi Zhonghai frowned: "Da Mao, you can't just say things like that. Do you have any evidence?"

"What other evidence do you need?" Xu Damao said. "Who in the compound doesn't know that Sha Zhu and I have a grudge? Besides him, who else?"

Sha Zhu was so angry he wanted to fight, but Yi Zhonghai stopped him: "Alright! Enough of that! The police will investigate this; you don't need to argue here!"

Xu Damao wanted to say something more, but was glared at by Yi Zhonghai and had no choice but to shut up.

But he was seething with anger inside.

He knew he had been framed, but he didn't know who. It could be Sha Zhu, it could be Yi Zhonghai, or even... Chen Fei.

He recalled how Chen Fei had confronted him yesterday; that usually timid boy had suddenly become sharp-tongued, every word piercing his heart.

Could it be him?

Xu Damao looked coldly in the direction of Chen Fei's house.

Morning: Qin Huairu's Struggle

Qin Huairu hesitated all morning.

The note felt like a burning ember, making her restless. To go, or not to go?

Twenty yuan can buy a lot of food and meat coupons. If they can, Xiao Dang and Huaihua won't go hungry this month.

But the risk is too great. If you get caught, it's considered speculation and profiteering, and you'll go to jail.

Furthermore, who wrote the note? Is it reliable?

Qin Huairu's mind was in complete turmoil.

She walked to the water vat, intending to scoop water to wash her face and clear her head, only to find that the vat was empty again.

Since Banggeng and Jia Zhangshi died, no one in the courtyard helps her fetch water anymore. Shazhu used to help her, but now he's distanced himself.

She has to choose for herself.

Qin Huairu picked up the bucket and walked towards the pool. As she passed the Intermediate People's Court, she saw Yi Zhonghai talking to Liu Haizhong, and both of them looked rather unwell.

She hurried past with her head down, overhearing Yi Zhonghai say, "...Old Liu, I went to plead with Deputy Factory Director Li. But this matter has had too much of a negative impact, I'm afraid..."

I couldn't hear what was said after that.

Qin Huairu's heart sank. Even someone like Liu Haizhong, a powerful figure, was struggling to survive; who could she, a widow, rely on?

After fetching water, she returned to the house and looked at the empty space; tears welled up in her eyes again.

Little Dang walked over timidly: "Mommy, I'm hungry."

Qin Huairu hugged her daughter, her voice choked with emotion: "Sweetie, just bear with it a little longer. Mommy... Mommy will make you something to eat tonight."

She made her decision.

go with!

Noon: Chen Fei's Observations

At noon, Chen Fei went out to fetch water, looking "weak".

He walked very slowly, unsteady on his feet, as if he might collapse at any moment. As he passed the courtyard, he saw Xu Damao squatting in front of his house, smoking, his eyes coldly fixed on the direction of Shazhu's house.

Sha Zhu didn't come back at noon—the canteen was busy, so he had to eat at the factory.

Yi Zhonghai was also not there; he probably went to the factory to deal with Liu Haizhong's matter.

The courtyard was quiet, with only a few elderly people sitting at the doorway basking in the sun.

After fetching water, Chen Fei ran into Qin Huairu, who was returning from the neighborhood office, on his way back.

Qin Huairu was pale, her eyes were red and swollen, and she held a piece of paper in her hand—a death certificate. Jia Zhangshi's body had been cremated yesterday, and the neighborhood committee had notified her to pick up the certificate today.

"Sister Qin," Chen Fei greeted her in a low voice, "Please accept my condolences."

Qin Huairu glanced at him, nodded, and said nothing.

Chen Fei noticed that she was clutching the paper in her hand very tightly, and her knuckles were white.

It seems she has reached a dead end.

well.

Chen Fei returned to the room and closed the door. He didn't lie down immediately, but instead went to the window and peered outside through the crack.

Qin Huairu returned to the Jia family home and closed the door. After a while, suppressed sobs could be heard coming from inside.

Chen Fei remained completely unmoved.

In the original owner's memories, Qin Huairu wasn't a good person either. After Chen's mother passed away, she came to "comfort" her immediately, but in reality, she was inquiring about how much wealth the Chen family still had. When Chen Xiaoyu had an accident, she said "pitiful," but then turned around and discussed with Jia Zhangshi how to get the Chen family's house.

Crying now? Too late.

Afternoon: The harvest of space

In the afternoon, Chen Fei entered the planting space.

The scene inside the space surprised him.

The wheat has already headed, its ears full and heavy, a golden expanse. The corn has grown tall, with tassels at the top and lush green leaves. The potato leaves are starting to turn yellow—a sign of ripeness. The cabbage has grown into a mature plant, its leaves thick and vibrant green.

You can accept it now.

Chen Fei harvested the wheat first. With a thought, ten acres of wheat fell down in unison, the ears of wheat automatically falling and piling up into a small mountain. Then the wheat stalks automatically bundled together and piled up to the side.

Next, the corn is harvested. The corn cobs are automatically husked and fall off, piling up into another small mountain. The corn stalks are also automatically bundled together.

Potatoes and cabbages are even simpler; with a thought, potatoes can be turned out of the soil and cabbages can be uprooted.

In less than half an hour, all ten acres of land were harvested.

Looking at the mountain of grain, Chen Fei felt a surge of satisfaction.

This grain is enough for him to eat for several years.

But he didn't plan to keep it all. He wanted to take some out and exchange it for money and tickets on the black market.

With money and votes, he could better implement his plan.

Chen Fei sorted and stored the grains: wheat and corn were threshed and packed into burlap sacks—there were ready-made burlap sacks in the space, which had been prepared beforehand. Potatoes and cabbage were also packed.

Then he replanted.

This time, he expanded the planting area: five mu of wheat, three mu of corn, one mu of potatoes, and one mu of cabbage. He also left one mu of land uncultivated, intending to plant something else—such as medicinal herbs or fruit.

After doing all this, he exited the space and returned to the house.

It was getting dark outside.

Evening: Sha Zhu's Doubt

In the evening, Sha Zhu returned carrying a lunchbox.

He didn't go to get food today; the cafeteria was serving cornbread and cabbage, which wasn't very oily. He brought some pickled vegetables with him, intending to make do with that.

When he arrived at the Intermediate People's Court, he saw Qin Huairu standing at her own door, staring blankly into the distance.

"Sister Qin," Sha Zhu walked over, "Have you eaten?"

Qin Huairu snapped out of her reverie and shook her head: "Not yet."

Sha Zhu hesitated for a moment, then handed over the lunchbox: "I have some pickled vegetables here, if you don't mind..."

"No need," Qin Huairu said. "Zhuzi, you eat it yourself."

Her attitude was cold, unlike before.

Sha Zhu felt uneasy. He knew Qin Huairu was blaming him—blaming him for asking those questions yesterday, blaming him for doubting her.

"Sister Qin," he said softly, "don't take what I said yesterday to heart. I was just... just worried about you."

Qin Huairu glanced at him but didn't say anything.

"I know it's tough for you," Sha Zhu continued, "but some things can't be done. Speculation is illegal, and if you get caught..."

"I didn't do it!" Qin Huairu suddenly interrupted him, her voice shrill. "Zhu Zi, don't even you believe me?"

Sha Zhu was stunned.

He didn't expect Qin Huairu to react so strongly.

"I..." He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Qin Huairu turned around and went back into the house, slamming the door shut.

Sha Zhu stood outside the door, looking at the tightly closed door, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Late at night: Eyes outside the woodshed

It was 7:30 p.m., and it was completely dark.

Qin Huairu quietly left home with twenty yuan in her pocket—all her savings.

She walked very quietly, trying not to make a sound. The courtyard was quiet; most people were already asleep, with only a few windows still lit.

She went around to the backyard, where the woodshed was located—a dilapidated little hut, usually used to store firewood and miscellaneous items, and rarely visited.

The door to the woodshed was ajar, and it was pitch black inside.

Qin Huairu stood outside the door, her heart pounding. She took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and went inside.

The room was pitch black; nothing could be seen. Only the moonlight filtering through the broken window cast dappled shadows on the floor.

"Is anyone there?" she asked softly.

No one answered.

Qin Huairu waited for a while, her anxiety growing. She turned to leave, when she suddenly heard footsteps outside.

She quickly hid behind the woodpile.

The door opened, and a figure walked in.

It wasn't one person, it was two people.

"Where is he?" a voice asked—it was Yi Zhonghai.

"I don't know, they might not have arrived yet." Another voice—it was Liu Haizhong.

Qin Huairu's heart sank.

Uncle One and Uncle Two? What are they doing here?

Could it be... that they wrote that note? Were they testing her?

Qin Huairu covered her mouth, not daring to make a sound.

Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong searched the room but found no one.

"It seems he didn't come," Yi Zhonghai said. "Maybe it was a prank."

"A prank?" Liu Haizhong frowned. "Who's so bored?"

"Who knows?" Yi Zhonghai said. "A lot of strange things have been happening in the compound lately. Old Liu, how's it going on your end?"

"What else can I do?" Liu Haizhong sighed. "Deputy Factory Director Li scolded me, saying I didn't know what was good for me. My chances of getting the deputy workshop director position are completely over."

"You're just too impatient," Yi Zhonghai said. "Being an official takes time."

The two talked as they walked out of the woodshed.

Qin Huairu hid behind the woodpile, her whole body ice-cold.

She understood. The note wasn't for selling tickets; it was a setup. The purpose was to lure her here so that Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong could catch her in the act.

Who is so cruel?

Several figures flashed through Qin Huairu's mind: Xu Damao, Sha Zhu, Chen Fei...

It's all possible.

She bit her lip, tears streaming silently down her face.

Only after Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong had walked far away did she emerge from behind the woodpile and quietly slip back into the house.

Late at night: Chen Fei's eavesdropping

Chen Fei lay on the bed, listening to the sounds coming from the courtyard.

He "heard" Qin Huairu's panic.

He also "heard" the conversation between Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong.

Everything is going according to plan.

But not enough.

Qin Huairu was only frightened; she was not in dire straits yet.

Sha Zhu was only suspicious; he wasn't completely disappointed yet.

Yi Zhonghai's trip was in vain; he didn't even manage to find any evidence against him.

We need to add more fuel to the fire.

Chen Fei took out two grain coupons and one meat coupon from the system space—these were "taken" from Jia Zhangshi and hadn't been processed yet.

He wrote a note with his left hand:

"Twenty catties of grain coupons and five catties of meat coupons are ready. Tomorrow night at eight o'clock, same place. Bring thirty yuan."

Then, he used his mind to place the note and the ticket together under Qin Huairu's pillow.

After doing all that, he wrote another note:

"Qin Huairu will be making a transaction with someone tomorrow night at 8 PM; the evidence is conclusive."

He placed the note under Sha Zhu's pillow.

Finally, he wrote a note:

"Tomorrow night at 8 PM, in the woodshed in the backyard, the transaction site for Qin Huairu. Please be sure to attend."

He placed the note on Yi Zhonghai's desk.

Same time, same place.

But this time, he will make the "deal" actually happen.

Chen Fei lay down and closed his eyes.

The resentment in my chest dissipated somewhat.

He seemed to hear his father Chen Jianguo's voice: "Well done... but you can't stop..."

Chen Fei responded in his heart, "Dad, I know. I will send them down one by one to keep you company."

Outside the window, the moonlight was pale.

The courtyard was immersed in a deathly silence.

But everyone knows that beneath this silence, undercurrents are surging.

There will be an even bigger storm tomorrow night.