Courtyard House: I fish in the heavens, a professional bird abuser.

The story of Liu Haizhong's humiliation downstairs at the cadre building spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the courtyard and into the ears of every household in just one night.

The spread of rumors is always more dramatic than the facts themselves, with all sorts of versions, each more outrageous than the last.

Some say that He Yuanchao didn't even show up, acting high and mighty, and had Yan Jiecheng upstairs bring down a basin of dirty water—whether for washing feet or face—and splash it all over Liu Haizhong, leaving him completely soaked.

Some say that Liu Haizhong was cornered at the building entrance by He Yuanchao, who pointed at him and cursed him for a full ten minutes, spitting everywhere and cursing him mercilessly, even insulting his ancestors for eighteen generations. In the end, the second uncle covered his face, tears streaming down his face, and ran home crying.

Even more outrageous, some people made it sound like a myth, saying that He Yuanchao didn't even go downstairs. He just leaned out of the second-floor window, sneered, and casually threw down a heavy, large wrench. It slammed down on Liu Haizhong's shiny forehead less than three inches away with a "bang," sending sparks flying. He was so frightened that his legs went weak on the spot, and his crotch felt warm and smelled of stench.

Regardless of how bizarre the versions may be, the core message they convey remains remarkably consistent:

Second Uncle Liu Haizhong, this newly appointed, self-proclaimed, and ambitious "number one," is nothing but a fart in front of He Yuanchao!

His elaborate bureaucratic practices and so-called "institute rules" were utterly a joke in the face of that brand-new, imposing cadre building that symbolized absolute power!

His bangs looked completely lifeless, as if all his energy had been drained away.

He locked himself in his house and didn't dare to show his face for several days. He even chose to go to the toilet late at night when it was quiet, for fear of meeting the mocking, disdainful, or gloating gazes of the people in the yard.

The tattered wooden board he had personally written the "Regulations on the Management of Civilized New Customs in Courtyard Houses (Trial Implementation)" in crooked red paint on, was quietly removed by some "righteous person" on a quiet night and thrown into the deepest latrine of the public toilet with a resolute gesture, to be associated with filth.

The "Hospital Affairs Management Committee," which he had built with his own hands and which carried his dreams of power for the rest of his life, also collapsed with the sinking of that wooden plank, becoming a farce that lasted only a week before becoming a laughing stock of the entire hospital.

The courtyard houses seem to have returned to that chaotic state of having no "authority," with each department acting independently and undercurrents surging.

But everyone knew perfectly well that there was authority in this courtyard.

Rather, it was the true and sole authority that disdained to condescend to "manage" them, this group of beasts who spent their days fussing over trivial matters and engaging in petty squabbles.

He lived high up in the cadre building, breathing air completely different from that filthy courtyard, living a life of luxury that these people couldn't even dream of.

He is like a Damocles' sword hanging over everyone's head, a god who is visible but intangible, yet exudes a powerful sense of oppression at all times...

This "god" is, of course, He Yuanchao.

His status in the hospital had long transcended the realm of the so-called "manager," entering a completely new and incomprehensible dimension.

When his neighbors see him now, it's no longer just simple jealousy or awe; their eyes are filled with a kind of almost worshipful, almost fanatical adoration.

Especially when more rumors about his "miraculous skills" in the factory were embellished and spread back to the compound by "insiders" like Yan Jiecheng and He Yushui who had access to the cadre building, this worship fermented, swelled, and reached its peak.

"You guys don't understand!"

That evening, a gentle breeze was blowing. Yan Jiecheng, contrary to his usual self, did not stay home to read. Instead, he moved a small stool to his doorstep, cracked sunflower seeds, and chatted animatedly with a group of neighbors who had spontaneously gathered around to listen to the gossip. His face was beaming with pride.

"Today, this very afternoon! Something terrible happened in the technical department! You know that high-precision lathe imported from Germany, right? The factory's prized possession, it's broken! The blueprints left by the German experts back then were accidentally burned in a fire a while ago, and now, it's completely turned into a lump of iron!"

He described it vividly, as if he were there himself.

"The factory's top-tier master craftsmen, along with the chief engineer, spent three whole days and nights circling that behemoth, practically scratching their heads off, but they couldn't find a single detail! Factory Director Yang was so anxious he was pounding his chest and stomping his feet!"

He paused deliberately, keeping everyone in suspense, his gaze sweeping over the eager faces, savoring the feeling of being the center of attention, before suddenly slapping his thigh and raising his voice abruptly:

"And then? Brother He! Our Brother He just casually went for a stroll! Guess what he did?"

"Stop being so mysterious, just tell me what happened?" Xu Damao had somehow gotten close, hands in his pockets, and asked in a sour tone. Although he still hated He Yuanchao to the core, he also deeply realized the gap between them, and even holding a grudge seemed so powerless. He could only console himself by listening to some gossip.

"Brother He didn't use any tools. He just gently pressed his ear against the cold machine casing, closed his eyes, and listened for less than a minute! Then, he took a small hammer and, 'clang,' tapped it lightly here, and 'tap, tap' it twice there! Guess what happened?"

"alright!"

Yan Jiecheng practically roared out those two words, their dramatic impact startling everyone around him.

"That German machine, worth tens of thousands of yuan, just when everyone was in despair, suddenly 'whoosh,' and it started running on its own! The sound was even smoother than when it was brand new! It stunned those master craftsmen and Factory Director Yang! Their mouths were agape, and they surrounded Brother He, their eyes practically begging him to become their apprentice! Factory Director Yang, realizing what was happening, immediately approved it! Bonus! Another two hundred yuan for Brother He!"

"hiss--"

A chorus of gasps, one after another, filled the courtyard, as if the air itself had been sucked out.

"Locating sounds by ear? My goodness, isn't that some kind of magical skill that storytellers make up? Is it really true?"

"A two-hundred-dollar bonus?! My God, that's more than I earn in a whole year of hard work!"

"Master He... is truly a divine being!"

He Yushui listened from the side, her little face full of pride and admiration, her back ramrod straight.

In her heart, He Yuanchao was no longer just "Brother Yuanchao"; he was omnipotent, a towering and reliable mountain that could shield her from all storms.

This "myth" not only circulated in the courtyard houses, but also became a consensus among all the technicians and engineers in the core department of the steel rolling mill—the technical department.

He Yuanchao was the only "god" in the technical department.

He always manages to solve the most complex and challenging technical problems using the simplest, most unbelievable, and even somewhat illogical methods.

His mind seemed to contain the crystallization of an entire era's industrial wisdom, unfathomable and inexhaustible.

His sketches, drawn casually, were so precise that every line and parameter was as if they came from the most advanced instruments. They were full of rigorous industrial aesthetics, making even veteran engineers who had spent their lives drawing blueprints feel ashamed and wishing they could tear up their own work.

With his amazing memory, he could even completely reproduce the design blueprints of several old Soviet equipment without any reference materials. Based on this, he could also put forward several more optimized modification plans, which would improve the performance of the entire equipment.

Gradually, an unwritten rule formed within the technical department that everyone tacitly agreed upon:

If you encounter a problem that you can't solve no matter how hard you try, don't bother with those mountains of documents or the busy chief engineer; go directly to Engineer He.

As long as Engineer He is willing to take a look, listen to a word, or offer a few pointers, he guarantees a cure that will be immediate and effective.

He Yuanchao's spacious and bright office in the technical department has become a "sacred place" in the hearts of all the technical staff.

Every day, all sorts of people come to him under the guise of "asking for advice," offering him a cigarette or a glass of water with utmost respect, hoping to glean a few words of wisdom from this "god" that will enlighten them.

He Yuanchao did not keep this to himself.

He would patiently guide those veteran technicians who were truly eager to learn and hardworking, explaining their advanced theories and knowledge—which were ahead of their time—in language they could understand, breaking them down and explaining them to them bit by bit.

His generosity and selflessness earned him the heartfelt respect and love of the entire technical department.

He is not only a "god" in terms of technology, but also, in an invisible way, a "mentor" for many people.

Lou Zhenhua saw all of this and was delighted, always smiling.

He knew how groundbreaking and correct the move he made under pressure back then was.

He Yuanchao's current value has far exceeded his initial expectations.

He is not only the protector of the Lou family, but also an invaluable asset to the entire steel rolling mill and even to the future of China's industrial sector!

"This kid is a true dragon trapped in shallow waters! Now, it's time to take flight!"

Lou Zhenhua has said this to his wife more than once in the quiet of the night, his tone filled with relief and expectation.

After completely conquering the factory, this "real dragon" began to subtly and irreversibly change the entire ecosystem of the courtyard house.

He is no longer as keen as before to use drastic methods to "slap those beasts in the face".

Because there is absolutely no need for it anymore.

His very existence, his social status, and his lifestyle are the greatest, most sustained, and most painful dimensional reduction attack on all those in the courtyard who harbor ulterior motives.

After he was assigned to the cadre housing, he was not completely isolated from this dirty courtyard.

He tacitly allowed He Yushui and the Yan brothers to come to his house anytime to watch TV, do their homework, and even stay for meals.

This seemingly insignificant act became a supreme "privilege" in the courtyard house, a symbol of status and honor.

Every night, while the others in the compound were still eating cornbread under the dim light, Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang would escort their "princess" He Yushui, one on each side, like two most loyal guards, walking proudly through the central courtyard towards the cadre building that shone brightly even in the night, like a temple.

That undisguised pride and self-satisfaction were palpable, like sharp steel needles piercing the eyes of everyone else in the courtyard, especially Xu Damao and others, causing them pain.

Sometimes, He Yuanchao would bring back some "perks" from the factory that he didn't need but were incredibly valuable in those days, such as a few feet of brand-new cloth coupons or half a pound of rare sugar coupons. He would casually hand them to He Yushui and tell her to "handle" them.

He Yushui has now become He Yuanchao's "housekeeper" and spokesperson in this courtyard.

She would set aside a small portion of these precious items and give them to the neighbors who had shown her kindness or genuinely wanted to improve relations with He Yuanchao's family.

For example, there was the third aunt who always secretly slipped her a cornbread, and a few aunties who weren't gossipy but were fairly decent people.

Although the gifts were few and far between, this "blessing" from the "cloud" was like pebbles precisely thrown into a pond, changing the direction and allegiance of people's hearts in the courtyard with great efficiency.

The pro-He faction has quietly expanded and become increasingly consolidated without anyone noticing.

As for those beasts who had offended him, He Yuanchao showed a different kind of "deep" "concern".

For example, Qin Huairu.

Since Jia Dongxu was dismissed, her family has completely lost its main source of income, and they are struggling to make ends meet, with their lives becoming increasingly difficult.

Although the factory still kept a basic salary for her, it was far from enough to cover the expenses of her large family and the bottomless pit of subsequent treatment costs for Bang Geng.

Just when she was almost in despair and preparing to use her "blood-sucking magic" again, Director Wang from the neighborhood office suddenly found her and assigned her a "job"—to clean the stinking public toilet in the courtyard and the garbage pile in the corner.

This job is dirty and tiring, a real humiliation killer, but you get a three-dollar "hardship allowance" every month.

For Qin Huairu now, those three dirty and smelly yuan are a lifesaver.

She accepted the task with tears of gratitude, unaware that this "job" was something He Yuanchao had casually suggested while holding a teacup during a "work report" to the staff building and "casually seeking his opinion."

His reasons were perfectly plausible: "Comrade Qin Huairu's family is in difficulty, and we should help her. But she is still young, and we can't just rely on organizational relief. We need to help her realize her own value through labor, transform her thinking, and temper her character through work."

So every day, under the complex and amused gazes of everyone in the hospital, Qin Huairu had to hold her nose and clean the dirtiest and filthiest corners.

Every time she bent over, every time she endured the stench, it was as if she was making a long and silent atonement for her past "green tea" behavior and endless "scheming".

Take, for example, Sha Zhu and He Yuzhu.

Although he made some money as a private chef by relying on his culinary skills, without the iron rice bowl of the steel mill, he was ultimately an unregistered "illegal resident" without a formal position. He was always uneasy and dreamed of being arrested as a "speculator".

Through Lou Zhenhua's connections, He Yuanchao casually secured him a "temporary worker" position in the factory's transportation team, where he did the hardest and most tiring loading and unloading work.

The salary was low, and he was exhausted like a dog, but at least he was back in the "organization's" embrace and became a "working class" member again.

Sha Zhu was deeply grateful for this hard-won job, and his respect for He Yuanchao was ingrained in his very bones.

Now, whenever he sees He Yuanchao in the courtyard from afar, he immediately stops and bows respectfully, calling out "Engineer He" from a distance, no longer daring to show the slightest disrespect or complaint.

In this way, He Yuanchao, with an almost "God's-eye view" of detachment, quietly planned and controlled the "fate" of everyone in the courtyard.

He gives you a piece of candy, then whips you.

He showed those who were wavering the benefits of attaching themselves to him, thus making them more determined to align themselves with him.

It also made those former enemies feel the fear of being dominated by him in their despair, and... that humiliating yet irresistible "favor".

He became a "god" in the technical department, solving top-level problems that ordinary people could not achieve, and was admired by thousands.

He also became the "father" of the courtyard house, educating these ignorant "children" in the coldest and most realistic way.

He no longer needed to personally confront those beasts, because his status, strength, and vision allowed him to easily crush them with overwhelming force from the level of rules.

This sense of control, which is "killing without bloodshed," is far more sophisticated and more... intoxicating than simple physical fights or verbal battles!

Under this calm control, He Yuanchao's system fell silent for a long time once again.

It seems that this "beginner village" in the courtyard, this small map, no longer has many "storylines" worth triggering by the system.

That evening, he returned from Professor Shen Molin's house, his mind filled with deep thoughts.

Seeing that he had recently encountered a bottleneck in a certain automation technology, Professor Shen specially gifted him several rare original English books on "cybernetics" and "systems engineering" that he had treasured for many years and brought back from abroad.

He Yuanchao was overjoyed and studied it diligently under the lamp all night.

When he, relying on his time-traveling knowledge, perfectly connected an extremely complex control model in the book with the technical problem he was tackling in his mind, a flash of wisdom pierced through the fog of thought, bringing him sudden enlightenment—

[Ding! Detected that the host has accessed higher-dimensional technological knowledge through self-learning, breaking through the current technological barriers of the world!]

[System upgrade in progress... Upgrade progress 10%... 50%... 100%!]

[Ding! System 2.0 upgrade complete! The 'Fishing Through the Heavens' system has been officially renamed the 'Cybernetics of All Realms' system!]

[New Feature Launched: Karma Point Mall!]

[New Mission Mode Launched: Era Node Missions!]

[New Player Gift Pack (Version 2.0) Released: Proficiency in a universal language! +10 Free Attribute Points! +1000 Causality Points!]

As He Yuanchao stared at the lines of golden prompts flooding his screen, his heart, which had been pounding wildly with the discovery of the puzzle, and his breath, suddenly stopped!