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

The following morning, the torrential rain that seemed to have washed over the entire city finally subsided. The air was filled with the earthy smell and the chill unique to late autumn, and the puddles on the road reflected the gray sky.

Jiang Chen got up very early, his crisp cadre uniform perfectly pressed together without a single wrinkle. He straightened his top button in front of the mirror, his eyes as calm as a deep well. Last night he watched Xu Damao's "one-man show," and today it was his turn to go on stage and set up the final stage.

Upon arriving at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, rousing announcements were already ringing out throughout the factory area, and workers were forming a gray-blue torrent that surged towards the workshops. Jiang Chen didn't go to the security department, but instead headed straight for the second floor of the administration building, which was Deputy Factory Director Li's territory.

"Knock knock knock".

The knocking was steady, neither too loud nor too soft.

"Come in!" Deputy Factory Director Li's voice carried a hint of languor from someone just starting work, along with an air of condescending authority.

Jiang Chen pushed the door open and entered, then gently closed it behind him and locked it with a hidden lock.

Hearing the lock click shut, Deputy Factory Director Li, who was reading the newspaper, raised an eyebrow. Looking up and seeing Jiang Chen, his signature smooth smile immediately spread across his face, but a hint of wariness flashed in his eyes: "Oh, it's Brother Jiang. Locking the door so early in the morning, is there some confidential matter you want to report to your brother?"

Deputy Factory Director Li was a clever man, but also a greedy one. At this turbulent juncture, the security chief's visit usually meant two things: either trouble or profit.

Jiang Chen didn't beat around the bush; he went straight to Deputy Factory Director Li's desk, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

"Factory manager, I do have a personal matter I'd like to ask for your help with."

Jiang Chen spoke in a low voice, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a heavy cloth bag. He then slowly pushed it across the smooth, lacquered wooden tabletop in front of Deputy Factory Director Li.

The sound of the cloth bag sliding was very soft, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet office, like a hook that instantly captivated Deputy Factory Director Li's soul.

Deputy Factory Director Li's gaze lingered on the cloth bundle for a second, but he didn't rush to open it. Instead, he looked at Jiang Chen meaningfully and said, "Brother, let's not stand on ceremony between brothers. But... what's this?"

"A little local specialty." Jiang Chen said calmly, as if he were only pushing over a bag of sunflower seeds. "It's Lou Bancheng's stock."

Upon hearing the name "Lou Bancheng," Deputy Factory Director Li's pupils contracted sharply. He was well aware of the recent rumors circulating in the factory; Xu Damao, that mad dog, was attacking people everywhere, relentlessly targeting the Lou family. He hadn't expected Jiang Chen to have gotten involved as well.

He stretched out his chubby hand and lifted a corner of the cloth bag.

A dazzling golden yellow light instantly stung his eyes.

That was a "large yellow croaker".

The ten-tael gold bar from the Republic of China era gleamed with a breathtakingly alluring luster in the morning light streaming through the window. In today's market, this was a highly sought-after but virtually unavailable form of hard currency, enough to exchange for thousands of kilograms of grain on the black market, or even to buy the lives of two workers.

Deputy Factory Director Li's Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably; his initial wariness was instantly consumed by greed. He swiftly covered the gold bars with his hand, his movements astonishingly fast, then nonchalantly swept the cloth bag into the drawer, his smile becoming ten times more genuine.

"Brother Jiang, you're too kind! Tell me, what is it? As long as it's within my power, I'll do it without hesitation!"

"He who takes money must do the work." This was Deputy Factory Director Li's motto, and the cornerstone of his "power-for-money" dealings with Jiang Chen.

"Tonight, the security department has a batch of 'special combat readiness supplies' that needs to be urgently transferred. It involves factory secrets, so it's inconvenient to follow the regular procedures." Jiang Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his tone serious and formal. "I need a truck, three 'special passes' stamped with the factory's official seal, and a 'nighttime combat readiness transport' approval slip."

Deputy Factory Director Li understood immediately upon hearing this.

What war supplies? That's just a fig leaf. Jiang Chen is clearly trying to help the Lou family transfer assets or people.

If anyone else had made this request, Deputy Factory Director Li would have definitely refused with bureaucratic jargon, or even reported them. But this was Jiang Chen, the "living devil" of the security department, and the god of wealth who had just given him a big reward. Moreover, since Jiang Chen dared to do this, he must have already cleaned up the mess.

Only a fool wouldn't do a deal where you can make money without taking too much risk.

"I thought it was something serious."

Deputy Factory Director Li laughed heartily, took out a stack of blank passes and letters of introduction from his drawer, picked up a pen on the table, signed his name smoothly, and then stamped it heavily with the bright red deputy factory director's seal.

"I have always had complete confidence in Brother Jiang's work. Since this batch of supplies is urgently needed for 'war preparedness,' it will naturally be given the green light all the way."

He pushed the stamped document to Jiang Chen, and even thoughtfully gave him an extra blank pass. "The truck is in the logistics team. It's a newly serviced Jiefang brand truck with a full tank of gas. Go pick it up yourself, and just say I gave it special permission."

Thanks.

Jiang Chen put away the documents, stood up, and his cold, hard features seemed to soften at this moment, a tacit understanding after achieving a win-win situation.

"Brother, keep it down tonight," Deputy Factory Director Li reminded him with a half-smile before he left. "It's been windy lately, don't catch a chill."

"No matter how strong the wind is, it won't reach us." Jiang Chen said casually without turning his head, then opened the door and walked out.

Watching Jiang Chen's departing figure, Deputy Factory Director Li opened a drawer, took out the cold, heavy gold bar again, put it to his lips, and took a big bite. Looking at the clear teeth marks on it, a look of ecstasy appeared on his face.

"He's someone who's destined for great things..."

……

As evening fell and night descended.

A dark green Jiefang brand truck stopped in the shadows not far from the back gate of the courtyard house.

Jiang Chen sat in the driver's seat, toying with the several bright red passes in his hand. In this era, these pieces of paper were talismans, tickets to freedom. With them, and this military-grade truck, they could pass through even the strictest checkpoints with impunity.

He turned his head and glanced at the passenger seat. There lay a gleaming Type 54 pistol, its magazine fully loaded, the dark muzzle radiating a chilling killing intent.

The back of the car was already empty. All of the Lou family's belongings were in his system space, and the Lou family members were making final preparations.

The final move has been made.

All the legal risks, official interception, and transportation difficulties were easily resolved under the gleam of that gold bar. This is the taste of power; this is the loophole in the rules.

Jiang Chen took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, took a deep drag, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. Through the windshield, he looked at the small Western-style house that appeared somewhat lonely in the night, then glanced in the direction of Xu Damao's courtyard house, a cold smile curving his lips.

"Xu Damao, I've already set up the stage for you. It's covered in flowers, but underneath it's a mountain of knives."

"Please begin your performance."