Courtyard House: A Major Power's Heavy Industry, Hand-Crafted Nuclear Fusion

The next day, just as dawn was breaking.

Instead of going straight to work as usual, Su Zheng started working inside the house first.

The materials I brought back from Pigeon City last night are now scattered on the ground.

The items included high-manganese steel track pins, tungsten alloy fragments, and some unidentified electronic components.

"System, retrieve the design diagram for the [Micro-current Pressure-Sensitive Anti-theft Net]."

Su was issuing instructions in his mind.

[Ding! The blueprint has been generated.]

[Key parameters: Trigger voltage 36V (non-lethal but with intense pain), current 5mA (within safe range), response time 0.01 seconds.]

[Special features: pressure-sensitive triggering, automatic alarm, and "one-way conduction" (to prevent damage from external short circuits).]

This is no ordinary security window.

In those days, most people's security measures consisted of just a few wooden strips or wires. But what Su Zheng was going to do was create a "beast trap".

He not only needs to prevent theft, but also to "fish" for victims.

Since Jia Dongxu and Banggeng have already seen him as easy prey, then he shouldn't blame them for treating him as prey.

Su Zheng picked up the tools and moved quickly.

Using the processing capabilities of the Hyperspace Laboratory (although he could only rub the material by hand in the outside world, the Eye of Truth allowed him to precisely control every cut), he cut and polished those high-hardness track pins, turning them into exquisite window frame frames.

What appears to be an ordinary iron bar is actually hollow inside, with extremely fine wires running through it.

If anyone tries to cut or bend these iron bars, the wires will instantly connect to the high-voltage transformer (using dry cell batteries to boost the voltage), releasing an electric current that will be unforgettable for a lifetime.

"Sizzle..."

Su Zheng tried to turn on the power by touching it with a wooden stick.

A blue arc of electricity flashed by, accompanied by a crisp popping sound.

"Perfect."

Su Zheng nodded in satisfaction.

This current won't kill anyone; after all, causing someone's death is a huge problem these days. But if this thing hits someone, the excruciating pain that penetrates to the bone and the instantaneous muscle spasms will definitely incapacitate the thief and make them scream like a pig being slaughtered.

That's exactly the effect we wanted—"screams" are the best evidence.

After completing the frame, Su Zheng began to reinforce the door lock.

He removed the old padlock from the original body and replaced it with a "cross lock" that he had modified himself.

The lock cylinder has an extremely complex internal structure. Even the best locksmith in Pigeon City would have to wait at least an hour to open it.

Moreover, he added a special "ingredient" to the keyhole—a specially made dyeing powder. As long as it's not the original key, any foreign object inserted will spray out a stream of indelible red dye.

This is what we call "marking".

After finishing all this, Su Zheng deliberately left a "flaw" under the window.

It was a window latch; it looked like it was in place, but it was actually loose and could be opened with a little push.

On the windowsill, he placed a piece of buttered bread that he hadn't finished eating the night before.

After fermenting overnight, the aroma of milk mixed with the scent of wheat drifted out gently through the deliberately left "flaw" gap.

……

The Intermediate People's Court, the Jia family.

Banggeng was huddled in the corner, his thieving eyes fixed on Su Zhengjia's movements through the hole in the window paper.

"Grandma! Su Zheng seems to be fixing the window!" Bang Geng said in a low voice.

Madam Jia Zhang was sitting cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed) sewing shoe soles when she heard this. She curled her lip and said, "Repair the window? What kind of fancy things can that childless man repair? It'll probably just be a few broken wooden planks nailed together."

"No..." Banggeng sniffed, drool instantly dripping down his face. "Grandma, it smells so good! Su Zheng's family must have made something delicious again! It smells like... bread! And it tastes like butter!"

When Jia Zhangshi heard the word "food," her eyes lit up.

She put down her shoe sole, leaned close to the window, and sniffed: "That bastard! Making me hungry so early in the morning! Hey, watch closely, when is he leaving?"

"He's packing his things, looks like he's going to work," Banggeng said excitedly. "Grandma, I just saw it, his window doesn't seem to be closed properly! There's a crack!"

"Not properly closed?" Jia Zhangshi's eyes darted around, a greedy glint in them. "Great! Even God is on our side! Banggeng, listen to me carefully. Once that childless one leaves, you'll... hehe."

"I know!" Banggeng nodded vigorously, his eyes full of eagerness. "I'll go get that bicycle ticket! And that bread!"

"Be careful, don't let anyone see us," Qin Huairu said worriedly from the side. "Mom, what if we get caught..."

"What are you afraid of!" Madam Jia glared fiercely at Qin Huairu. "What can a little kid do even if he gets caught? Just say he was visiting! Besides, Su Zheng is childless, what can he do to Bang Geng? If he dares to lay a finger on Bang Geng, I'll report him to the factory for child abuse! I'll make sure his job as an eighth-grade worker is ruined!"

Qin Huairu opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't dare to object. The family's food supplies were indeed running low; if only they could get that ration coupon…

Just then, Su Zheng pushed open the door and came out.

He was wearing clean work clothes, carrying a canvas bag, and holding a document folder in his hand.

He glanced back at his window seemingly casually, a barely perceptible sneer playing on his lips.

"The bait is in place."

"Next, it's time to report it."

Su Zheng strode out of the courtyard without even glancing back at the Jia family's window, which was full of prying eyes.

As soon as Banggeng watched Su Zheng walk away, he jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed) and excitedly said to Jia Zhangshi:

"Grandma! He's gone! He went to the factory! He definitely won't be back by now! He definitely won't be here at noon either!"

Jia Zhangshi narrowed her triangular eyes, revealing a sinister smile:

"Good grandson, let's do it when there are fewer people in the yard!"