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

The days flowed by slowly in an almost luxurious tranquility.

For He Yuanchao, this was the most comfortable and pleasant time he had ever experienced since he traveled through time.

Gone were the petty squabbles of the courtyard house, the endless bickering of the beasts, and the scheming and infighting fueled by jealousy and greed. His life finally returned to the pure and fulfilling trajectory that a senior engineer should have—work, study, and family.

The tremendous success of the "compressor renovation project" was like a boulder thrown into a lake, creating ripples throughout the entire steel rolling mill and even the city's industrial system. He Yuanchao's name was no longer just a symbol within the technical department, but had become a frequently mentioned, legendary figure.

What followed was a rise in status.

He was unanimously approved by the factory leadership and officially appointed as the acting deputy head of the technical department. Although the word "acting" was added before it, for a young man who had only recently joined the company, this was a meteoric promotion, so fast that it made countless veteran technicians who had spent half their lives in the factory extremely envious.

Power comes with responsibility. He began to take charge of more and more core technical research projects, from the wear resistance research of new bearings to the optimization scheme of blast furnace dust removal system. His desk was always piled up with drawings that needed his review and signature, data that needed his repeated calculations, and invitations to various technical seminars.

In the office, the subtle exclusion and disdain that once lingered have vanished without a trace. In their place are the respectful inquiries of junior technicians, the warm smiles of peers, and even when Section Chief Li assigns tasks, he subconsciously asks, "Xiao He, what do you think of this plan?"

Although he was busy every day like a spinning top, the feeling of using his knowledge and abilities to truly propel the gears of an era's industry forward gave him an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. This was far more meaningful than engaging in a battle of wits with a bunch of short-sighted beasts in a courtyard house.

What he cherishes even more than the sense of accomplishment in his career is the warmth of his family.

Every day at the end of the workday, as he pushes his bicycle back to the staff dormitory in the afterglow of the setting sun, he can always see the warm, orange light shining from his own window in the distance.

The light, like a lighthouse guiding him home, could instantly dispel his fatigue from the whole day.

Pushing open the door, Lou Xiao'e's gentle smiling face always greets you immediately. "You're back? Wash your hands quickly, dinner will be ready soon."

On the table, there was always a steaming bowl of delicious, well-balanced meals, with meat and vegetables. Without the constraints of Xu Damao, that mama's boy, and without the worries of mother-in-law conflicts, Lou Xiao'e poured all her wisdom and love for life into this little family. Her culinary skills improved day by day, always managing to satisfy He Yuanchao's palate with a variety of dishes.

After dinner, the two would snuggle together on the sofa to watch the nine-inch black-and-white television. Although there weren't many programs and the signal was sometimes good and sometimes bad, what mattered was who was beside them. Or, He Yuanchao would sit at his desk reading professional books borrowed from the factory library, while Lou Xiao'e would sit on the sofa beside him, quietly knitting a sweater for him by the light of the table lamp.

The only sounds in the room were the rustling of turning pages and the soft clinking of knitting needles. Occasionally, the two would look up unintentionally, their eyes meeting in the air, and then they would smile at each other, all their affection and tacit understanding melting into those gentle glances.

Peaceful times and a stable world—this is the best state of being.

This little home gets even more lively on weekends.

He would patiently teach He Yushui to write, correcting her pen-holding posture. Or, he would take the two girls, one big and one small, to ride bicycles to the park for boating, to have a luxurious Western meal at a Moscow restaurant, to see the latest movie, and to experience the beauty and elegance that ordinary people in this era can hardly reach.

Under his careful guidance and influence, He Yushui grew rapidly, like a seedling receiving ample sunshine and rain. She completely broke free from the shadow of her family of origin, becoming more and more cheerful and confident. Her previously mediocre academic performance improved by leaps and bounds, making her one of the top students in the school.

However, the way this once thin and timid little girl looked at He Yuanchao had subtly changed. In her gaze, besides the initial admiration and dependence, there gradually appeared a hint of a hazy, unspoken feeling unique to young girls, which she herself was unaware of.

Everything was as beautiful as a meticulously crafted, warmly colored oil painting.

However, He Yuanchao, the artist who created this painting, knew better than anyone else that behind this tranquil and beautiful scene lay an increasingly gloomy and oppressive sky.

The storm has never gone away; it is merely lying dormant beneath the sea surface, gathering even more terrifying power to overturn everything.

That afternoon, He Yuanchao had just returned from the factory when he was summoned by the Lou family's butler. Lou Zhenhua, with an unusually solemn expression, called him aside to the study filled with the scent of sandalwood.

"Yuan Chao, please sit."

Lou Zhenhua's voice was no longer as calm and composed as before; it carried a hint of suppressed fatigue and deep worry.

Without any further pleasantries, he took a letter from his desk drawer and handed it to He Yuanchao.

It was a letter from Shanghai. The envelope was already a little wrinkled, showing that it had been handled repeatedly. The letter paper was the very thin kind of Xuan paper, with a faint scent of ink.

The handwriting on the letter was a delicate and elegant style characteristic of old-fashioned literati, yet between the lines it revealed an undisguised urgency and panic.

The signatory was Lou Xiao'e's maternal uncle, Liu Wenqian, a cotton yarn tycoon who once dominated Shanghai before liberation and owned more than a dozen yarn factories.

The letter wasn't long, but every word seemed to be written in blood and tears, a truly shocking sight.

"Brother-in-law, this letter is as if we are meeting in person. However, the situation in Shanghai has changed drastically; it is no longer the world it once was..."

The letter stated that the intensity of the movement in Shanghai was far more savage than in Beijing. The once bustling metropolis was now a place where everyone lived in fear.

ransacking homes, public criticism sessions, parading people through the streets wearing dunce caps... these were only sporadic incidents in Beijing, but in Shanghai, they were commonplace, happening every day.

Some of his old friends and business partners, who had been drinking tea and discussing the current situation one day, received devastating news the next: their families had been destroyed and their lives ruined overnight. Some, unable to bear the humiliation, took their wives and children and jumped into the Huangpu River; others were beaten to death in their own living rooms, their vast fortunes reduced to ashes.

The words are filled with the fear of impending doom.

He sensed that his hidden identity was about to be exposed, and the sword hanging over his head could fall at any moment. He was about to reach his limit.

At the end of the letter, Liu Wenqian's tone shifted from a statement to an almost tearful plea. He implored Lou Zhenhua to find a way, no matter what, to secretly transport a batch of "things" he had quietly accumulated over the years from Shanghai to Beijing and hand them over to Lou Zhenhua for safekeeping.

The letter did not explicitly state what the "things" were, but it used a weighty term—"lifeline".

He Yuanchao put down the letter, his heart heavy. He looked at Lou Zhenhua, who was staring at him with bloodshot eyes.

"It's gold."

Lou Zhenhua's voice was low and heavy, like a stone pressing on his throat, each word uttered with immense difficulty.

"Your uncle didn't dare to go into details in his letter, but he later asked an absolutely reliable person to pass on a message to me. That batch of things probably included... more than two hundred large yellow croakers, some treasured jewelry, and a small amount of US dollars."

"More than two hundred?!"

Even though He Yuanchao had lived two lives and was determined, his heart still skipped a beat when he heard the number.

One large yellow croaker weighs ten taels, or 312.5 grams. More than two hundred of them would be over sixty kilograms of gold!

In this special era, this is no longer just a piece of wealth.

This is simply a giant bomb capable of destroying the entire Lou family, and even everyone involved!

If it is discovered during transport, even if only a small part is exposed, the consequences will be devastating and unimaginable!

"Uncle Lou, what do you mean?" He Yuanchao's expression also became extremely solemn. He instantly understood why Lou Zhenhua had called him here.

I want you to go to Shanghai.

Lou Zhenhua looked at He Yuanchao, his once shrewd and sharp eyes now filled with trust, expectation, and deep entrustment.

"Bring this batch of goods back safely."

This is a task that sounds almost impossible to accomplish.

In these tense times, checkpoints are set up at all major transportation routes, including train stations, docks, and highways. The officers in red armbands, like hunting dogs, scrutinize every passing traveler with suspicion, turning everyone's luggage inside out.

Under such a comprehensive and thorough investigation, transporting such a large quantity of extremely sensitive gold from Shanghai, more than a thousand kilometers away, to Beijing without anyone noticing was harder than climbing to heaven; it was an utter fantasy.

Seeing the solemnity on He Yuanchao's face, Lou Zhenhua sighed softly, his voice trembling slightly.

"I know this is a very difficult and dangerous task. The slightest mistake could lead to utter ruin. It is my selfishness as an elder to entrust this responsibility to you."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gray sky outside.

"But besides you, I really can't think of anyone else who could accomplish this. The older folks in the family are too rigid in their thinking to handle the current situation. But you... you're different."

Lou Zhenhua turned around and stared intently at He Yuanchao: "You're quick-witted, you have methods and courage that most people don't have, and more importantly, you're trustworthy."

He paused, his tone suddenly taking on a resolute and sorrowful quality.

"This batch of things is not only your uncle's lifeline, but also our Lou family's last resort for ourselves."

"If... if it really comes to that, and we can't stay in Beijing anymore, with these things, at least you, Xiao'e, and Yushui will have a chance to find a way to go to Hong Kong Island or overseas, and live a peaceful life for the rest of your days."

He Yuanchao remained silent.

Lou Zhenhua's words struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

He knew he couldn't refuse, and he had no reason to refuse.

This is not only to repay Lou Zhenhua's kindness and to protect the Lou family, but also for Lou Xiao'e, for He Yushui, for the two people he cherishes most in this world, and for their shared future and safety.

[Ding! Host is facing a critical decision, triggering a special mission: Gold Transfer!]

[Mission Requirements: Safely transfer the designated items from Shanghai to Beijing within one month.]

[Mission Rewards: +5 Consciousness Fishing Attempts! And unlock basic access to the System Shop!]

System Shop!

He Yuanchao's eyes lit up instantly, like a flash of lightning in the night!

This is the first time the system has mentioned the concept of "shopping mall"!

All previous rewards were fixed and passive. But the word "Mall" signifies active choice! It signifies limitless possibilities!

My heavy heart was instantly replaced by a strong sense of anticipation and excitement.

"good!"

He Yuanchao suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with an astonishing light. All his previous solemnity and hesitation vanished, replaced by powerful confidence and decisiveness.

"Uncle Lou, leave this matter to me. However, I need to make some preparations."