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

As the crisp notification sound in his mind faded, Su Zheng didn't rush to explore what other mysteries the so-called "Eye of Truth" held. Instead, he turned around and deftly locked the door.

Not only that, he also specially moved a heavy elm chair and braced it against the door.

In this courtyard filled with "beasts," there was no privacy whatsoever. That thief Banggeng might visit at any moment, and that old hag Jia Zhangshi might come to eavesdrop.

After doing all this, Su Zheng made sure the curtains were drawn tightly before letting out a long sigh of relief and sitting down at the slightly shaky square table.

"system."

Su was silently reciting it in his heart.

The next second, the scene before my eyes distorted, and the dilapidated walls and dim lights around me vanished instantly.

Instead, there is a spacious, bright, futuristic, silver-white space.

This is... a hyperspace laboratory!

Su Zheng stared wide-eyed, looking around.

The space was about two hundred square meters in size, with walls made of an unidentified silvery-white metal that emitted a soft yet cool luster. A faint smell of ozone permeated the air, the distinctive odor of precision machinery in operation.

"Is this my cheat code?"

Su Zheng suppressed his excitement and began to inspect his secret base.

Although the laboratory is large, only a few basic areas are currently open to the public.

The first thing that catches the eye is a row of neatly arranged [supply storage cabinets] on the left wall.

A stream of dark blue data flows across the surface of the cabinet, with each compartment labeled with a category.

Su Zheng tentatively reached out and pointed to the "food section".

[Ding! New player bonus issued. Current inventory: 10kg premium Wagyu beef steak, 5kg French President brand butter, 2kg Italian espresso beans, 50kg refined rice and flour, 1 ton of smokeless and odorless high-energy coal.]

Looking at the long list of mouthwatering supplies, Su Zheng's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

In this era when you need coupons to buy meat, ration coupons to buy grain, and even eating dumplings feels like celebrating the New Year, this cabinet full of supplies is more precious than mountains of gold and silver!

This is not just food, but also the capital he has to establish himself in this world and to infuriate those beasts in this compound!

Next is the [Tool Wall] on the right.

This is practically every mechanic's dream destination.

From the most basic screwdrivers, wrenches, and calipers, to laser cutters, molecular-level welding guns, and micron-level 3D printing nozzles that Su Zheng had only seen in science fiction movies... the variety was dazzling and all-encompassing.

However, most of the high-tech tools are currently in a grayed-out "unlocked" state, with only the top-of-the-line German-made manual fitter's toolbox gleaming usably.

"Even with just this set of tools, I can walk around the steel rolling mill with my head held high." Su Zheng picked up a vernier caliper, feeling its cool and heavy texture, a confident glint in his eyes.

Further inside is the core area of ​​the laboratory – the [All-Round Precision Workbench].

This machine, like a sleeping steel behemoth, occupies the center of the laboratory. The control panel on the workbench is complex and sophisticated, along with a huge transparent processing chamber.

According to the system description, as long as the drawings and materials are provided, this workbench can automatically process parts with nanometer-level precision!

However, currently limited by Su Zheng's level and energy points, it can only perform basic metal processing and repair work.

Finally, there's the [testing and analysis station] in the corner.

This tool allows you to perform component analysis and structural scanning on any item and generate a detailed test report.

"With this place, I possess the ability to subvert dimensionality and strike at others in this world."

Su Zheng took a deep breath to calm his excited emotions.

But he was not blinded by joy.

Although the system is powerful, in this special era, being too extraordinary is not a good thing.

The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

If he were to produce a miniature nuclear reactor tomorrow, he would probably be dissected and studied the day after, or killed as an enemy agent.

Therefore, stability is essential.

We need to take it one step at a time and build our own "moat".

"Let's see if we can get the things out of here first."

With a thought, Su Zheng suddenly produced a beautifully packaged piece of butter and a bag of coffee beans in his hand.

Consciousness returns to reality.

The heavy feeling in his hand told him that it was all real!

Looking at the golden butter in his hand, Su Zheng's stomach growled involuntarily.

The original owner of this body was such an unlucky guy. In order to save money, he lent it to the Jia family, and he had been eating cornbread and pickled vegetables for several days. His stomach was already completely empty.

"No rush, good things come to those who wait."

Su Zheng temporarily put the butter and coffee beans back into his personal storage space (a small storage compartment provided by the laboratory for easy access).

The most pressing issue right now is not food, but safety.

Although he had temporarily intimidated those beasts in the courtyard, he knew all too well the character of Yi Zhonghai and Jia Zhangshi.

Yi Zhonghai is a hypocrite, a master of scheming behind people's backs. Having suffered a loss today, he will definitely try to get revenge.

Jia Zhangshi is a true villain; she throws tantrums, steals chickens, and does all sorts of evil things.

And that "Stealing the Holy Stick" meme...

Thinking of this, Su Zheng's eyes narrowed, and he activated the [Eye of Truth].

hum-

That strange vision reappeared.

He looked at his room door.

In the vision of the Eye of Truth, this seemingly solid wooden door instantly transformed into a semi-transparent model composed of lines and data.

[Item: An old elm wood door]

Structural strength: Low (multiple insect infestations, loose mortise and tenon joints)

[Weakness Analysis: The latch is severely worn and can be pried open in 3 seconds with just a wire; the lower left corner of the door frame is rotten and can be easily detached with a strong impact.]

[Reinforcement solutions: We recommend replacing the lock cylinder with an alloy one, installing an anti-pry steel plate, or... using existing materials to create a simple high-strength bolt and alarm device.]

"Ha, so this is what they call 'bare walls'?"

Su Zheng sneered.

This shabby door is only good for keeping honest people out, not scoundrels. If that kid Banggeng wanted to get in, it would be easier for him than getting into his own house.

There are also windows.

Su Zheng turned to look out the window.

The paper window frames rattled loudly in the wind. The wooden window frames were even more fragile.

[Item: Broken window]

[Safety Factor: Extremely Low]

[Hazard: The window latch is broken, and the window is only kept closed by friction; the window paper not only leaks air, but is also very easy to puncture with a finger.]

"It seems that before I can make a name for myself at the steel mill, I need to first transform my 'doghouse' into an impregnable fortress."

Su Zheng had a plan in mind.

"System, what is our current task?"

[Ding! Main quest issued: Survival Isolation.]

[Mission Description: In this courtyard house teeming with beasts, safety and privacy are the foundation of dignity. The host is tasked with completing a comprehensive security overhaul of the residence within three days, eliminating any unauthorized spying or intrusion.]

[Mission Reward: Unlocks the "Craftsmanship Analysis" branch (allows you to analyze and optimize industrial blueprints for the current era).]

"Process analysis?"

Su Zheng's eyes lit up.

For a fitter, blueprints are his lifeline.

If he can optimize the blueprints, his technical assessments at the steel rolling mill, and even his future technological innovations, will be like having a cheat code!

This task must be completed!

And it has to be done beautifully!

Su Zheng stood up, walked to the corner of the wall, and rummaged through the old box where the original owner had stored miscellaneous items.

There were some scrap iron bars and wires inside, as well as a few pieces of unused wood.

"The materials are a bit subpar, but given the lab's processing capabilities, they should be sufficient."

Su Zheng picked up a rusty iron bar, a cold smile curving his lips.

"Jia Zhangshi, Banggeng... Don't you like stealing? Don't you like eavesdropping?"

"Tomorrow, I'll prepare a big gift for you."

"But before that..."

Su Zheng rubbed his rumbling stomach and his gaze fell on the top-grade Presidential Butter and Snowflake Steak.

"Fill your stomach first, then you'll have the strength to fight beasts."

"Moreover, sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone."

"Since you've made me unhappy, I won't let you sleep peacefully either."

Su Zheng walked to the stove and took out the bag of [smokeless and odorless high-energy coal] from the system space.

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.