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

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The atmosphere at the Hongxing Courtyard was somewhat subtle over the past three days.

Although the scene of military vehicles picking up Su Zheng that day shocked everyone, as Su Zheng went out early and returned late for several days in a row, and even stayed out all night, this sense of awe was somewhat diluted in the trivialities of daily life.

On Friday evening, a cold wind howled.

As Su Zheng pushed his bicycle into the courtyard, Qin Huairu, who was washing clothes by the sink, immediately noticed his eyes light up.

She deliberately wore a faded but figure-hugging floral cotton-padded jacket, rubbing the clothes in her hands, but her eyes had already drifted to Su Zheng.

"Su Zheng, you're back?"

Qin Huairu's voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of flattery and expectation: "I haven't seen you these past few days. The factory must be very busy, right? Haven't you eaten yet? Maybe..."

She had intended to say, "Come to my house for dinner," but the thought of the bland cornmeal porridge she had at home made her swallow the words back. Instead, she said, "How about I make you a bowl of noodles and bring it over?"

"Thanks, but no need."

Faced with Qin Huairu's enthusiasm, Su Zheng didn't even stop walking.

He merely nodded in response, not even glancing at her properly, and pushed the cart directly towards the backyard.

That indifference was like an invisible wall, directly turning Qin Huairu's warm face into a cold backside.

Qin Huairu stood frozen in place, looking at Su Zheng's tall and straight back, feeling as if her heart was being pricked by needles.

She went back into the house with red eyes.

Madam Jia Zhang was sewing shoe soles when she glanced at her and said sarcastically, "What? Going to fawn over someone who doesn't appreciate you again? I told you, she's a phoenix on a high branch now, she wouldn't even look at us poor neighbors."

"Mom, please say less. Didn't you tell me before that I should get closer to him?!"

Qin Huairu was already feeling wronged, and her mother-in-law's words only fueled her resentment.

She gritted her teeth, looked out the window towards the backyard, and that fighting spirit within her surged again.

"No, I have to go check it out."

Qin Huairu stood up, tidied her hair in front of the mirror, and pulled her collar down a bit. "I've noticed his walking posture has been a little stiff these past few days; he's probably tired. I'll go ask if he needs a massage to relax. Didn't I always give Dongxu a massage when he was tired?"

Madam Jia rolled her eyes, but didn't stop her.

After all, if they could really get in touch with Su Zheng, wouldn't the Jia family get a share of the spoils?

A few minutes later, in the backyard.

"Knock knock knock".

Su Zheng had just changed his clothes when there was a knock on the door.

"Who?"

"Su Zheng, it's Sister Qin."

Qin Huairu's voice rang out from outside the door, carrying a hint of seductive charm, "I've noticed you've been working quite hard these past few days. I've learned a couple of massage techniques, so I came especially to give you a massage..."

There was a few seconds of silence in the room.

Immediately afterwards, Su Zheng's icy voice rang out:

"No need. I need to rest, don't bother me."

"Hey, open the door! I'm already at the door..."

Undeterred, Qin Huairu reached out and pushed the door, only to find it locked from the inside.

"roll."

This isn't just indifference; it's blatant disgust.

This single word was like a slap in the face, landing hard on Qin Huairu's cheek.

Qin Huairu stood at the door, her face flushing red and then turning pale. She could sense that someone in Xu Damao's house next door seemed to be secretly laughing.

Shame, resentment, anger... a mix of emotions welled up inside me.

Qin Huairu couldn't stay any longer and ran back to the Central Courtyard, covering her face.

She didn't go back to the Jia family, but went straight to Sha Zhu's house.

At this moment, Sha Zhu was drinking alone in the house.

A few days ago, the factory canteen underwent reforms and introduced an automatic vegetable cutter designed by Su Zheng. His proud knife skills became worthless, and he was even scolded in public by Director Yang, who told him that "if he shakes his ladle again, he'll have to feed the pigs."

He now feels both wary and resentful towards Su Zheng.

"Pillar……"

As soon as Qin Huairu entered the door, tears began to fall.

When Sha Zhu saw his "goddess" crying, he sobered up halfway and quickly stood up: "Hey, Sister Qin, what happened? Who bullied you? Was it that grandson of Xu Damao?"

"no……"

Qin Huairu sat on the stool and recounted what had just happened, her voice trembling with sobs.

Of course, in her words, she became a kind older sister who cared about her neighbors, while Su Zheng became a rude bully who didn't know what was good for him and humiliated the orphan and widow.

"...I just saw he was tired and wanted to help him. He wouldn't open the door, and then he told me to get out..."

Qin Huairu cried, tears streaming down her face. "Zhu Zi, why is my life so miserable? Now even Su Zheng can step on my back..."

"Snapped!"

Sha Zhu slammed his hand on the table, making the peanuts jump around.

"This is outrageous!"

Sha Zhu's reckless spirit kicked in, and fueled by alcohol, he temporarily forgot his fear of Su Zheng:

"That bastard! Just because he's a consultant doesn't mean he knows who he is! How dare he bully you like this!"

"Sister Qin, don't cry! I'll avenge you!"

Qin Huairu grabbed him, feigning concern, and said, "Zhuzi, don't... His status is different now; even the factory director protects him. We can't afford to offend him..."

"Pah!"

Sha Zhu stiffened his neck, his eyes red, and roared, "In this courtyard, dragons must coil up, and tigers must lie low! No matter how high his status, he's still a junior here! Bullying the neighbors is unacceptable!"

"Besides, I'm not going to fight. I'm going to teach him a lesson! I don't believe he can do anything to me!"

Although Sha Zhu spoke toughly, he was actually quite nervous inside.

But when he saw Qin Huairu's adoring yet aggrieved eyes, his vanity swelled to its peak.

"Come on! Follow me to the backyard! If he doesn't apologize to you today, I'll smash his junk car!"

Sha Zhu flung Qin Huairu aside, and fueled by seven parts drunkenness and three parts anger, he charged out with brute force.

Qin Huairu followed behind, a barely perceptible smile curving her lips.

……

At this moment, Su Zheng was preparing to read a book.

"Bang!"

A loud crash came from the yard, as if someone had kicked over something.

Immediately afterward, Sha Zhu's signature loud voice rang out: "Su Zheng! You ungrateful wretch! Get out here right now!"

Su Zheng frowned and closed the book.

He pushed open the door and walked down to the porch.

Sha Zhu stood in the middle of the courtyard, reeking of alcohol, pointing at Su Zheng's nose and cursing:

"Don't think you're so great just because you're an official! Sister Qin was kindly trying to help you, and who the hell are you yelling at to get lost? Huh?"

Hearing the commotion, the neighbors all poked their heads out. Yi Zhonghai also came out, wearing a coat, and looked at the scene with a flickering gaze, remaining silent.

Su Zheng stood on the steps, looking down at Sha Zhu with a calm expression like a stagnant pool.

"He Yuzhu, have you had too much to drink?"

"Drunk? Grandpa's perfectly sober!"

Fueled by alcohol, Sha Zhu took two steps forward: "Su Zheng, don't play dumb with me! If you don't apologize to Sister Qin today and learn the proper etiquette, I'll show you who's in charge here in this courtyard!"

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular physique.

Although he was wary of Su Zheng's status, he figured this was a courtyard house, and Su Zheng wouldn't dare to really use his factory connections to intimidate people, much less resort to violence. After all, it was wrong for a cadre to hit someone.

Su Zheng sighed.

"He Yuzhu, haven't you learned your lesson from the cafeteria last time?"

Mentioning the canteen made Sha Zhu's face turn even redder, a mixture of embarrassment and anger: "Stop talking nonsense! That's the factory! In this compound, might makes right!"

Having said that, Sha Zhu, already impatient, emboldened by the alcohol, swung his fist and charged at Su Zheng, yelling, "Go to hell!"

That punch, accompanied by the sound of wind, would surely break the bridge of the nose if it landed.

Qin Huairu covered her mouth from behind, but a hint of pleasure flashed in her eyes.

however.

Su Zheng did not dodge.

Faced with the charging Sha Zhu, he calmly raised his right hand, the movement as unhurried as if he were brushing off the dust on his body.

"Splash—"

He lifted the hem of the heavy work jacket.

A cold, metallic sheen, under the dim streetlights, instantly stung everyone's eyes.

That was a gun.

A Type 54 pistol, holstered in a leather quick-draw holster, with the safety off, ready to fire at any moment!

That dark gun handle was like an eye from hell, staring intently at Sha Zhu's fist.

"squeak--"

It was as if time had been paused.

Sha Zhu's fist froze at a distance of less than ten centimeters from Su Zheng's nose.

In that instant, all the passion and courage brought by the alcohol turned into a chilling bucket of ice water the moment he saw the gun handle, pouring over him from head to toe.

That's a gun!

The real deal!

Although Sha Zhu is a scoundrel, he's not stupid.

He had heard about Su Zheng making guns while he was at the factory.

He never dreamed that Su Zheng would be carrying a gun with him!

Who the hell would believe this?!

"What? You're not playing anymore?"

Su Zheng's hand did not touch the gun; it was casually resting on his belt, only a finger's width away from the gun handle.

He looked at Sha Zhu, whose face was deathly pale and body stiff, and a mocking sneer curled at the corner of his mouth:

"He Yuzhu, what did you just say? Grandpa? Are you lecturing me?"

"I……"

Sha Zhu's Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty, and his calves began to cramp wildly.

Hitting someone is considered fighting; at most, you'll pay compensation and be locked up for a few days.

Shoot down armed people? That's suicide!

"Misunderstanding... misunderstanding..."

Sha Zhu's mouth, which was usually crooked, was trembling so much that he could barely speak: "Su... Engineer Su... I... I was just joking... I was drunk... I didn't recognize your greatness..."

"joke?"

Su Zheng took a step forward, his aura pressing down like a mountain.

"Snapped!"

Sha Zhu was so frightened that his legs went weak and he sat down on the ground with a thud, raising dust and looking utterly disheveled.

"No...don't shoot! I was wrong! I was really wrong!"

Sha Zhu covered his head, curled up like a frightened quail, and was no longer the imposing figure he once was as the "God of War".

The courtyard was deathly silent.

Yi Zhonghai shrank back into the shadows, not daring to breathe.

Qin Huairu covered her mouth, looking in horror at the man standing under the streetlight with a cold expression.

Su Zheng looked down at Sha Zhu on the ground as if he were looking at a pile of garbage.

He slowly lowered the hem of his clothes, covering the gun.

"This gun is a self-defense weapon specially approved by the military region leaders. The leaders said that if anyone dares to threaten my personal safety, I have the right to act first and report later."

Su Zheng spoke those last four words very softly, but to everyone's ears, they sounded like thunder.

"roll."

Su Zheng uttered a single word to Sha Zhu.

"Hey! Hey! I'm leaving! I'm leaving right now!"

Sha Zhu felt as if he had been granted a pardon and fled back to the central courtyard in a panic, not daring to even glance at Qin Huairu.

Su Zheng turned his head and his gaze fell on Qin Huairu, who was trembling in the corner.

"Don't try these tricks anymore in the future."

Su Zheng left a sentence, turned around and went back into the house, slamming the door shut.

Throughout the entire process, he didn't even glance at Qin Huairu.