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

Zhou Zheng's appearance was like a strong gust of wind, instantly dispelling the dark clouds that had been hanging over the cadres' building.

Those "revolutionary youngsters" who followed Xu Damao were so frightened by the fact that Director Zhou of the Municipal Revolutionary Committee treated He Yuanchao with such politeness and even respect that they wished they could disappear into the ground.

They finally realized that today, it seemed they had... kicked an incredibly hard iron plate!

"Director Zhou, you've misunderstood! We...we're not here to cause trouble! We're here...to exchange ideas with Comrade He Yuanchao!"

Xu Damao's mind raced, and he immediately put on an extremely obsequious smile, bowing and scraping as he stepped forward, trying to argue his way out of trouble.

"Exchange ideas?" Zhou Zheng glanced at him coldly, his gaze as if he were looking at a clown. "To me, it sounds like we're going to denounce him and confiscate his property!"

He turned to a young man beside him, whose face had turned pale with fright, and demanded sharply, "Speak! Who sent you? Who organized this?!"

The young man trembled at Zhou Zheng's imposing presence and instinctively pointed at Xu Damao: "It was...it was Xu Damao! He told us that He Yuanchao was an opportunist, a hidden class enemy, and that we should come and drag him out..."

"You're spouting nonsense!" Xu Damao screamed.

Zhou Zheng ignored his sophistry, waved his hand at the officers behind him, and said in a cold, emotionless voice, "Take this Xu Damao back! Interrogate him thoroughly! I want to see who gave him the audacity to storm the residence of an expert on a key municipal project in broad daylight, and even dare to openly slander a state-protected 'red' professor!"

Two officers immediately stepped forward, one on each side, and like grabbing a chick, lifted Xu Damao, who was still struggling and crying out that he was innocent, and stuffed him into the jeep.

"As for you..." Zhou Zheng's gaze, like a cold blade, slowly swept over the remaining group of young people. "Each of you, instead of focusing on revolution and production in the workshop, you're following these people with ulterior motives and making a mess of things! I think there's something wrong with your thinking! Go back now! Write a 5,000-word self-criticism! Submit it to your respective workshop leaders tomorrow morning! If anyone dares to be perfunctory, or if I see you participating in this kind of incitement to cause trouble again, it won't be as simple as just writing a self-criticism!"

The group of people felt as if they had been granted a pardon, but were also terrified and scattered like birds and beasts, running faster than rabbits.

The once-fierce "criticism" team crumbled in an instant.

Liu Haizhong had already slipped back home amidst the chaos and was now hiding behind the curtains, watching the jeep that had taken Xu Damao away. He was so frightened that he was trembling all over, and cold sweat soaked his back.

He knew that his time as the "second uncle" was coming to an end.

……

The turmoil subsided.

Zhou Zheng shook hands with He Yuanchao again, his tone sincere: "Engineer He, I'm sorry you were frightened. I will personally explain to Elder Shen. Don't worry, with us here, we will never let this kind of messy thing disturb your work again."

"Thank you, Director Zhou." He Yuanchao nodded.

He knew he had made the right move.

By using Xu Damao as a "knife," not only was this potential threat completely eliminated, but more importantly, through Shen Molin, a direct connection was established with the city's true power core.

From now on, anyone in the steel rolling mill who wants to touch He Yuanchao will have to think twice before deciding whether they are powerful enough.

After seeing Zhou Zheng off, He Yuanchao returned upstairs.

Lou Xiao'e immediately rushed over and hugged him tightly, her body still trembling slightly.

"It's alright now," He Yuanchao said, gently patting her back to comfort her.

Outside the window, sunlight streamed in again, illuminating the faces of those who had survived the ordeal and were now silent with fear.

On this day, the world in the courtyard house truly, completely changed.

……

In the days that followed, both the steel mill and the courtyard house entered a new and delicate balance.

Xu Damao was labeled a "counter-revolutionary" for "falsely accusing and framing revolutionary experts and sabotaging revolutionary production" and was sent directly to a labor reform farm. It is said that he was assigned to a brigade with Jia Zhangshi.

These two once influential figures, who once held sway over the courtyard house, have finally reunited in an unexpected way.

Liu Haizhong was also dismissed from his position as "Second Uncle in Charge" by the street office and was required to make a profound public apology at a general meeting of the entire community.

His brief dream of becoming the "top leader" was completely shattered.

He looked even more dejected than Yi Zhonghai.

After returning from the hospital, Yi Zhonghai became a completely taciturn old man. Every day, besides going to work, he would go home and ignore everything else in the hospital.

After experiencing this turmoil, Sha Zhu seemed to have figured something out.

He stopped drinking heavily and stopped having an ambiguous relationship with Qin Huairu.

With the skills and keen eye he learned in the leaders' canteen, he actually found a chopping job at a state-run restaurant.

Although it's hard work, at least I can earn a living with my own hands.

When he saw He Yuanchao, he no longer showed resentment and provocation, but would lower his head and take a detour.

That deep-seated reverence could no longer be concealed.

Qin Huairu, after experiencing all hope and despair, completely resigned herself to her fate.

She works numbly every day, taking care of her family numbly, her eyes no longer holding the brilliance and calculation of the past.

The courtyard house looked as if it had been thoroughly cleaned.

All the troublemakers were eliminated by He Yuanchao in the most direct and effective way.

All that remains is awe and obedience.

He Yuanchao became the true "king" of this courtyard, a position no one dared to challenge.

His life finally found true peace.

At work, the "compressor modification project" was a great success, earning him a huge reputation and status.

In life, he has Lou Xiao'e's gentle companionship and He Yushui's admiration and dependence, making his life warm and comfortable.

He even began to use his spare time to systematically study classical literature and history under Shen Molin's guidance.

His knowledge and vision are expanding at an astonishing rate.

He knew that the current peace was only temporary.

An even bigger storm is yet to come.

But he was no longer afraid.

Because he already possesses enough power to protect everything he wants to protect.

And in this tranquility, the magical fishing system was quietly preparing for his next life-changing surprise.

The road ahead is long and arduous.

But for He Yuanchao, this was just the beginning.

His life was destined to be extraordinary.