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

The appearance of the system store was like a lightning bolt that ripped through the dark sky, instantly illuminating He Yuanchao's thoughts.

This light not only brought hope, but also a revolutionary possibility. It pried open a crack in the seemingly hopeless chessboard of the "Golden Transfer" mission that had been swirling in his mind, a mission that had almost no basis in reality, giving him a glimmer of hope for breaking the deadlock.

The initial outline of the plan was rapidly constructed in the blink of an eye. Every step and every detail revolved around this newly emerged major variable.

"Uncle Lou, I need a letter of introduction to go to Shanghai." He Yuanchao's voice was calm and clear, every word carrying an unquestionable decisiveness. "Also, I need an official letter in the name of the steel rolling mill, authorizing me to go to the Shanghai steel plant for 'learning and exchange'."

His brain was like a high-speed, sophisticated computer, quickly calculating all the necessary disguises and preparations.

"The date is set for next week."

Lou Zhenhua was currently preoccupied with the audacious, almost insane, idea of ​​"gold transfer" proposed by He Yuanchao. However, upon hearing these specific requirements, he found his anchor. Action is always more reassuring than mere daydreaming.

"No problem." He nodded immediately without hesitation. "The official letter and letter of introduction are ready. I'll have someone change the heading and the reason for the letter, and it can be done today. I also have the authority to use the factory's official seal, so it's absolutely foolproof."

"In addition," He Yuan-chao lowered his gaze slightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the table. After a moment, he paused, raised his eyelids, and a hint of unfathomable meaning appeared in his eyes, "This time when I go to Shanghai, I want to bring someone with me."

"Who?" Lou Zhenhua asked. He instinctively felt that for such a highly confidential matter, the more people involved, the greater the risk.

He Yuanchao slowly uttered three words: "He Yuzhu".

"It's him again?" Lou Zhenhua's brows furrowed instantly, forming a deep frown.

His impression of He Yuzhu was far from good. A cook, impulsive, easily angered, and not very bright, what use was he except for bullying others in the courtyard with his brute force? It was simply inconceivable to let such a person participate in matters concerning the life and death of the Lou family.

"Uncle Lou, you have to believe me." He Yuanchao met Lou Zhenhua's puzzled gaze, and the curve of his lips became more and more meaningful.

He stood up, paced a few steps, and spoke with a calm understanding of human nature:

"The people we'll be meeting and the environment we'll be facing in this trip to Shanghai are all fraught with unknowns and dangers. If I go alone, I'll be too small a target and easily attract the attention of those with ulterior motives. We need a target, a moving target that can draw the attention of the vast majority of people."

He paused, then continued, "You know He Yuzhu. He's simple-minded, ambitious, loves to show off, and makes a big fuss over the smallest things. Bringing him along is perfectly reasonable. Externally, we're just engineering and technical personnel and logistics staff sent by the factory for learning and exchange. Internally, he's the 'visible sentinel' at the forefront."

"With him making a racket and shouting in front of us, it makes others think that our trip is nothing special, just an ordinary business trip. And I," a sharp glint flashed in He Yuanchao's eyes, "can hide behind the smokescreen he creates and do the things that are truly important, and that truly require quiet and secrecy."

Lou Zhenhua pondered He Yuanchao's words, his tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxing. He had to admit that he had never considered this perspective before. Using someone's weakness as a cover for a plan—that skill, that cunning… He looked at the young man before him, feeling both admiration and a chill run down his spine.

……

A few days later, a green train, trailing a long plume of white smoke, slowly pulled away from the Beijing station with a deep, powerful roar.

He Yuanchao and Sha Zhu boarded the train heading south to Shanghai.

Even after the train's clattering rhythm became steady, Sha Zhu remained in a highly unreal, dreamlike state of floating.

He sat on the creaking hard seat, his bottom resting on rough green leather, the air thick with the smells of sweat, tobacco, and instant noodles. All of this reminded him that it was real.

But he just couldn't understand it.

He Yuanchao, the quiet but always remarkable engineer in the compound, the one even the factory director treated with deference—why would he suddenly find me? And offer me such a huge benefit—a business trip!

These days, the phrase "on official business" is almost synonymous with perk and honor. Not only do you not have to work, but you also receive subsidies and get to broaden your horizons in the wider world. Such a good thing is something that even outstanding workers in the factory would have to wait in line for, let alone a cook like him.

Why did He Yuanchao want to take me along? Did he have a change of heart and realize the importance of neighbors helping each other? Or... did he need something from me?

Sha Zhu thought and thought, turning his little skills upside down, and couldn't think of anything else that He Yuanchao would want besides fighting and cooking.

"He... Engineer He," the train swayed rhythmically. Sha Zhu hesitated for a long time, looking at He Yuanchao opposite him with his eyes closed, seemingly in deep meditation. Finally, unable to contain his immense confusion, he leaned forward slightly and cautiously asked, "What... what exactly are we going to Shanghai for this time?"

His voice was soft, carrying a hint of ingratiation and probing.

He Yuanchao didn't even lift his eyelids. He parted his thin lips slightly and uttered two words: "Study."

The voice was so flat it was as if he were saying the weather was nice today.

"Learn...learn what?" Sha Zhu was even more confused. What could a cook who only had a few years of primary school education possibly learn? Did the steel mills in Shanghai really need him to learn how to make steel?

This time, He Yuanchao finally opened his eyes.

His eyes were bright, like two cold stars in the dimly lit carriage. He just stared at Sha Zhu silently, making Sha Zhu feel uneasy, before slowly saying:

"We should learn from the Shanghai Steel Plant and see how they make braised pork that tastes better than what we make in our factory canteen."

"puff……"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a man in a cadre uniform sitting by the aisle, who was drinking water, couldn't hold back any longer and spat out a mouthful of water, splashing it everywhere. He frantically wiped his clothes while looking at He Yuanchao and Shazhu with the eyes of someone looking at monsters, his face flushed red from trying not to laugh.

Upon hearing this, several passengers around also cast curious and teasing glances, and a low chuckle that could not be suppressed rose in the carriage.

Sha Zhu's face instantly turned a deep liver color.

Blood rushed to his head, and he felt as if every pore on his body was bursting with shame and indignation.

This is a run on the bank! This is blatant humiliation in front of so many people!

He knew He Yuanchao was deliberately making fun of him, implying he was criticizing his cooking skills. This hurt him more than being verbally abused or even punched. He Yuzhu, in the steel mill's kitchen, was the undisputed boss; who dared question his culinary abilities?

A surge of anger rose within him, and he almost slammed his fist on the table, pointing at He Yuanchao's nose and cursing him.

But when his gaze met He Yuanchao's calm and unwavering eyes, his raging anger was instantly extinguished, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head.

There was no mockery, no ridicule in his eyes, only a pure, condescending indifference. It was as if, in his eyes, Sha Zhu was merely an object to be manipulated at will, not even deserving of anger.

Sha Zhu clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. In the end, he chose to back down in humiliation. He dared not lash out, nor did he dare to ask any more questions. He could only turn his head sharply to the window, his back to He Yuanchao, muttering unintelligible profanities.

The train headed south.

The scenery outside the window also underwent a wondrous transformation as the car wheels rolled. The bleakness and ruggedness of the northern winter, the bare tree trunks and endless gray fields, were gradually replaced by patches of tenacious green. The beauty and gentleness of the south, like an unfolding ink painting, slowly permeated the entire field of vision.

The noise in the carriage and Sha Zhu's stuffiness could not affect He Yuanchao in the slightest.

His consciousness had already sunk into that mysterious system space that belonged only to him.

"System, open the store."

As he uttered his thought, a command echoed clearly in his mind.

[Ding! Basic access to the system shop has been unlocked.]

A technologically advanced, deep blue interface, resembling a virtual screen, silently unfolded in He Yuanchao's mind.

The interface was simple and clear, listing only a handful of items. However, any one of these few items was enough to make He Yuanchao's heart race.

[Storage Space (1 cubic meter)]: Can store any non-living object; accessible by thought; absolutely safe. Price: 1000 Fishing Points. (Note: Fishing Points can be obtained by completing system tasks or dismantling fishing items.)

【Disguise Mask (Disposable)】: Perfectly disguises you as another person, including their appearance and voice, for 24 hours. Price: 200 Fishing Points.

[Master Key]: Can open 99% of ordinary physical locks in the real world. Price: 100 Fishing Points.

[Beginner Combat Mastery]: Instantly master basic grappling, fighting, and counter-surveillance techniques, significantly improving reaction speed and strength. Price: 500 Fishing Points.

……

He Yuanchao's gaze was fixed on the first item.

Storage space (1 cubic meter)!

His heart began to pound uncontrollably, and his blood seemed to be rushing forward at that moment!

Artifact!

This is simply a god-tier artifact tailor-made for his "Golden Transfer" mission!

How big is one cubic meter of space? The density of gold is 19.32 grams per cubic centimeter. The volume of a large yellow croaker (ten taels, about 312.5 grams) is only about 16 cubic centimeters. Two hundred of them would only amount to a little over three thousand cubic centimeters, which is less than a fraction of one cubic meter.

With this, let alone two hundred large yellow croakers, even two thousand or twenty thousand, he could smuggle them back to the capital as easily as pulling a piece of candy from his pocket! Inspections and body searches would become a joke!

However, when he saw the glaring price, a huge sense of powerlessness welled up inside him.

Price: 1000 fishing spots.

He immediately brought up his attribute panel, and at the bottom, the number was cold and cruel.

Fishing spot: 0.

"System, how do I obtain fishing spots?" he asked in a deep voice using his consciousness.

[Answer to the host: Fishing spots are mainly obtained in two ways. First, by completing tasks issued by the system and obtaining task rewards. Second, by dismantling items obtained through fishing. Currently, no items have been detected that the host can dismantle.]

He Yuanchao's brows furrowed instantly.

It seems that his only hope lies in the five fishing opportunities he received as a reward from the previous mission. These five opportunities are his only asset.

He must, and can only, catch something of sufficient value from these five fishing trips, break it down, exchange it for 1000 points, and buy storage space. This is almost the only way to break the deadlock.

He took a deep breath, cleared his mind of all distractions, and focused all his attention on it.

"System, begin fishing!"

[Ding! Fishing begins...]

In the ocean of consciousness, that familiar, mirror-like lake reappeared. The phantom representing himself stood by the lake, holding a fishing rod of indistinct material.

As the command was given, the phantom arm swung up, and the fishing line, with its invisible hook, drew a graceful arc before silently disappearing into the lake.

The action was repeated five times in a row.

Five ripples spread across the lake, followed by a series of rapid system notifications that rang in his mind!

[Ding! Fishing successful! Obtained: 3 "Power Pills"!]

(Item description: Single-use consumable. After consumption, strength is increased to three times that of an average person for one hour.)

[Ding! Fishing successful! Obtained: 'Photographic Memory' skill book (trial version)!]

(Item description: After use, you will gain the ability to remember everything you see and hear for 72 hours. You will remember everything you see and hear clearly and without any error.)

[Ding! Fishing successful! You have won: 1000 yuan in cash!]

(Item description: Legitimate currency from the future, with an untraceable origin, has been stored in the system inventory.)

[Ding! Fishing successful! Gained: Mastery of Antiques and Calligraphy Appraisal!]

(Skill Description: After use, you will permanently master the knowledge and skills of authenticating antique calligraphy and paintings, reaching an expert level.)

[Ding! Fishing successful! Obtained: Special item 'Lucky Coin' x1!]

(Item description: One-time consumable. After throwing, regardless of heads or tails, it will slightly improve your personal luck for the next hour.)

Looking at the diverse and fantastical harvest, He Yuanchao was first stunned. Then, his brain began to work at a faster pace than ever before.

break down?

No.

If you break these items down, will they be enough to reach 1000 points? The Power Pills and cash are definitely not very valuable, and the skill books and lucky coins are trial versions and one-time use, so their value is also limited. Perhaps the permanently mastered skill is quite valuable, but whether all of them together will be enough for 1000 points is uncertain.

Placing your hopes on the unknown value of the decomposition is too risky.

What if we don't break it down?

The 1000 yuan in cash and the "power pills" were not of much use in the core task of transferring the gold.

The lucky coin has a mysterious effect; it might come in handy at a crucial moment and must be kept as a trump card.

The remaining two items—the temporary skill of "photographic memory" and the permanent skill of "proficiency in appraising antiques and calligraphy"...

When He Yuanchao's consciousness connected these two things, a dazzling and unusual light flashed in his eyes!

A brand new plan, more secure, more discreet, and more "reasonable" than simply using storage space for violent transfer, instantly took shape in his mind!

This plan can even maximize the role of Sha Zhu as a "moving target"!

……

Two days later, the train finally came to a slow stop in Shanghai, the largest metropolis in the Far East at that time, amidst a tremendous roar and the hissing of steam.

The platform was crowded with people, and the air was filled with the soft Wu dialect and the smell of coal smoke.

He Yuanchao did not linger at the station. With Sha Zhu, who looked both curious and somewhat timid, he followed the address provided in Lou Zhenhua's letter and, after many twists and turns, found an old villa located in the heart of the former French Concession.

This is a three-story detached house with a small garden. Even though it looks a bit mottled from the erosion of time, its exquisite architectural style and accumulated heritage still silently tell of its former glory.

He Yuanchao stepped forward and gently knocked on the heavy wooden door in the agreed-upon rhythm.

After a long while, the door opened a crack.

A haggard but still shrewd and alert old man's face appeared behind the door; it was Lou Xiao'e's maternal uncle, Lin Dechang.

He eyed He Yuanchao and Sha Zhu warily, his gaze sharp as a knife, filled with distrust. Until He Yuanchao calmly uttered the agreed-upon code—"Fish from the North Sea are not used to the waters of the South."

Lin Dechang's tense body suddenly relaxed, and the wariness in his eyes turned into a huge sense of relief. He let out a long sigh of relief, quickly opened the door, let the two of them in, and immediately locked the door from the inside.

"Everything is ready."

The door closed, and the whole world seemed to fall silent. Lin Dechang didn't exchange any pleasantries; his voice was hoarse, carrying the weariness of long-term anxiety and insomnia. He led He Yuanchao straight into a secluded room, pointing to several heavy wooden boxes wrapped tightly in thick oilcloth in the corner.

"Two hundred and sixteen large yellow croakers, along with some loose gold bars and jewelry, are all inside." He pointed to the box, turned around, and looked at He Yuanchao, a man even younger than his grandson-in-law, his eyes filled with pleading and entrustment.

"Xiao He... my nephew-in-law said it all in his letter. I'm entrusting my old life and the future of my whole family to you."

As he spoke, the elderly man, who had once been a respectable figure in Shanghai, bowed deeply to He Yuanchao.

He Yuanchao quickly stepped forward, helped him up with both hands, his eyes calm and firm, carrying a convincing strength: "Don't worry, Mr. Lin, now that I'm here, I will definitely bring the things back safely."

However, at that very moment, a discordant, heavy breathing sounded particularly jarring in the quiet, enclosed room.

As He Yuanchao spoke, in order to confirm the goods, he casually lifted the tarpaulin on the nearest box and opened the buckles of the wooden box.

In an instant, a dazzling golden light burst forth from the box, instantly illuminating the eyes of Shazhu, who was following behind him!

Inside the box, rows of heavy, large yellow croakers were neatly arranged, like golden bricks, exuding a deadly, soul-chilling allure in the dim light!

Sha Zhu's eyes widened instantly!

The moment his pupils saw that golden light, they suddenly shrank to a point, then widened again, filled with bloodshot veins and an almost frantic desire.

"Gulp!"

He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing violently, and his breathing became incredibly heavy, like a broken bellows.

Gold...gold!

So much gold!

They were packed tightly together, in one box, no, in several boxes!

He had never even dreamed of such immense wealth in his life, let alone seen it! How much money was that? Ten thousand? One hundred thousand? One million? His mind had completely lost its ability to calculate; all that remained was that dazzling gold.

A huge and primal greed, like a venomous snake that had been lurking for a long time, suddenly sprang out from the darkest corner of his heart, instantly coiling around his heart with its cold body and licking his reason with its tongue!

With this money...

Does that woman Qin Huairu really need my daily financial support? I could just throw money at her and make her my maid!

Xu Damao wouldn't dare to fart in front of me, would he?

Even the factory manager had to bow and scrape before him!

I'll never have to put up with anyone's opinions again in my life!

He Yuanchao took in every subtle change in Sha Zhu's expression in that instant, and the entire process of his eyes going from shock to greed to madness.

A cold, ambiguous smile slowly curved the corners of his mouth.

The fish has taken the bait.