Courtyard House: Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) Traded for an Aircraft Carrier, the Whole Count

The gas dissipated extremely quickly, and apart from Jiang Chen, no one noticed anything unusual.

This is a diluted version of truth serum. It's not very effective, and its effects only last a few minutes. It can only induce people to express their strongest desire to hide something at that moment, but that's enough.

Jiang Chen looked at Bang Geng, whose eyes had suddenly become somewhat vacant, and suddenly shouted sharply, "Bang Geng! Where did you go after school yesterday afternoon?"

This sudden shout startled everyone around.

Banggeng shuddered, his eyes widened, and his mouth involuntarily opened: "Oh my god... he went to the third workshop of the steel rolling mill..."

Qin Huairu's expression changed drastically, and she reached out to cover Bang Geng's mouth: "Bang Geng! Don't talk nonsense! You were just picking up coal cinders..."

"I didn't pick up coal cinders!" Bang Geng shoved Qin Huairu away, his voice sharp and excited, as if he wanted to spill all his secrets. "I went to steal scrap metal to exchange for candy! I saw that shiny copper ingot and just grabbed it!"

boom!

The whole hospital was in an uproar.

The third uncle, Yan Bugui, nearly dropped his glasses: "This...isn't this an inside traitor?"

Second Uncle Liu Haizhong stood up excitedly: "Good! So it was you, kid!"

Yi Zhonghai's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. He never expected that Bang Geng, who was usually the most tight-lipped, would suddenly confess like this. Was he possessed?

"Shut up, you idiot!" Madam Jia was so anxious that she jumped up and down, rushing forward to hit her grandson.

But the medicine was taking effect and he couldn't stop. Pointing at Jiang Chen, he shouted, "Everything was fine before! It's all Jiang Chen's fault for seeing it! My mom said... as long as I put something in Jiang Chen's house, I'd be fine! Grandma put the copper in the stove while he wasn't home! It was Grandma who did it!"

The entire room fell silent.

The truth came out.

Moreover, the truck exploded in front of the head of the security department and Deputy Factory Director Li.

Deputy Factory Director Li's face was extremely grim. He had mobilized a large force to arrest someone, only to find out it was a child, and it even involved the egregious act of framing someone.

"Fine, very well indeed." Deputy Factory Director Li gritted his teeth, pointing at Qin Huairu's family, "These are the promising talents you've cultivated? Stealing public property and framing coworkers! Take them away! Take them all to the security department!"

"Factory manager! I'm innocent! The child is young and doesn't understand..." Qin Huairu knelt down with a thud, crying her eyes out. This time, she was truly desperate.

But Deputy Factory Director Li was in a fit of anger and wouldn't listen to reason. He waved his hand and ordered the security personnel to go and arrest the person.

Just then, Xiao Zhang ran over, looking puzzled. "Factory manager, something's not right. Bang Geng said the stuff was stuffed in the furnace, but we only found coal blocks earlier! Where did the copper go?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned again.

Yes, Bang Geng admitted to stealing and framing someone, but the stolen goods are gone?

Without physical evidence, although this is disgusting, it's really hard to convict someone of the death penalty under the law; at most, it would be considered attempted theft or disorderly conduct.

Yi Zhonghai seemed to have grasped at a straw: "Yes, yes, yes! No physical evidence! The child might just be talking nonsense out of fear! How can you arrest someone without physical evidence?"

Jiang Chen watched coldly from the sidelines.

He knew it was time for him to close the net.

The copper ingot has already been traded, and he no longer has any copper. However, he has the system.

"System, the 'Veritaserum' item in the previous transaction was worth less than 'Special Refined Copper.' How will the price difference be settled?"

"Ding! The price difference has been settled as universal trading points. The host can use these trading points to purchase legal and compliant material certificates in this plane, or to exchange for physical goods."

Jiang Chen's heart skipped a beat: "Could I exchange this for... a procurement order for supplies? Or an IOU?"

"Yes. The system can generate a perfectly aged 'materials requisition form' with Deputy Factory Director Li's handwriting (imitated) or the official seal of a higher-level unit."

Jiang Chen's lips curled slightly. No, there was no need to forge official documents; that would be suicidal. He only needed a plausible "destination."

"Exchange for a special receipt from the scrap metal recycling station. The receipt states: 'Yesterday I helped the factory dispose of a batch of scrap, which included that piece of copper. It has been submitted to the relevant department as an experimental sample.'"

"Ding! Generating... 10 transaction points deducted. The document has appeared in the host's pocket."

Jiang Chen's move was very risky, but in this chaotic situation, the more outrageous it is, the more people will believe it.

"Wait!" Jiang Chen called out to the security department, who was about to arrest someone. "Director Li, actually, I originally wanted to report this to you privately."

Everyone looked at him.

Jiang Chen slowly pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket: "I did see Bang Geng take the copper yesterday. But I thought, the child is young, I can't ruin his life. So I quietly took it back."

"You got it back? Where is that thing?" Deputy Factory Director Li asked anxiously.

"That piece of copper was actually substandard." Jiang Chen handed over the note. "I delivered it to the city's materials research institute last night—I have a comrade who works as a security guard there, and I asked him to pull some strings. They tested it and said the copper had too many impurities and was substandard. Here's the receipt."

Deputy Factory Director Li took the slip of paper, which was stamped with a red seal and read, "Received one copper sample from Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill for testing. Please keep it for now."

Of course, this is actually the "real thing" that the system just generated. As for the research institute? The system even thoughtfully "corrected" a temporary record at the big data level.

This completely changed the nature of the situation.

Jiang Chen transformed from a "thief" into a noble young man who "saved collective property and cared for the neighborhood children."

The Jia family, who were once "victims," ​​have now become ungrateful ingrates.

"I was thinking of helping Bang Geng settle this matter, but I never expected..." Jiang Chen sighed, looking at Qin Huairu with pity in his eyes, "Sister Qin, I have been more than kind to your family, but you want to kill me."

That was a really harsh blow.

The way the neighbors looked at Qin Huairu changed completely, filled with contempt and disgust.

"Take her away!" This time, Deputy Factory Director Li had no more reservations. "Attempted theft, plus false accusation! Jia Zhangshi, you won't escape either! Instigating a child to commit a crime!"

The farce ended amidst Jia Zhangshi's wailing and Bang Geng's screams.

……

Late at night, the courtyard finally quieted down.

Jiang Chen lay on his hard wooden bed, listening to the howling north wind outside.

The crisis was averted. Not only was he cleared of suspicion, but the Jia family was also sent to the security department (although they were only detained for a few days, the grudge was now firmly established). More importantly, he gained recognition from the factory leaders and earned merit.

He opened the system interface.

That move just now not only didn't result in a loss, but actually made a fortune.

Although the copper was given to the magical dimension, the "truth serum" it received in return was only worth one-tenth of its value. With the remaining difference, plus the reward from the "Newbie Quest: Desperate Counterattack," he now has a considerable amount of start-up capital in his account.

"Ding! The system shop has been refreshed."

Today's Special Offer:

1. **One pack of cold capsules from 2025** (Price: 0.1 Trade Points). In the 1s, this was a lifesaver.

2. **Mutant sweet potato variety from the post-apocalyptic world x1** (Price: 5 trade points). Yields ten times that of ordinary sweet potatoes, and is cold- and drought-resistant.

3. **1 bolt of royal fabric from an ancient dimension** (Price: 2 trading points).

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes as he looked at the "mutated sweet potato variety".

What is most lacking in this era?

food!

The steel mill is currently struggling with its food supply, and Deputy Director Li's hair has turned white from worry over this short-term political achievement. If only he could get his hands on a batch of high-yield materials…

This interdimensional trade of resources has only just begun.

As for those beasts in the yard, he'll chop off the claws of anyone who dares to reach out again.