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

The night was as dark as ink, and a fierce wind howled. Tonight, Beijing seemed to be shrouded in a restless atmosphere, with a gunpowder-like smell permeating the air.

Today, Xu Damao specially changed into an old green military uniform, which he had found at a flea market. He also had a bright red armband with the word "Military Inspector" on it. This outfit made him feel more upright than ever before, as if the projectionist Xu Damao was dead, and in his place was "Captain Xu," who held the power of life and death.

"Get your act together! Tonight is our disciplinary team's first battle; success is the only option, failure is not an option!"

Xu Damao stood in the center of the courtyard, addressing more than twenty young men, all wearing red armbands. Most of these men were idle loafers in the factory, whom Xu Damao had gathered together with cigarettes, alcohol, and promises of a bright future.

Liu Haizhong stood next to Xu Damao, holding a wooden stick in his hand. His fat face was flushed with excitement, like an old wolf that had smelled blood: "Damao is right! We're responding to the call to overthrow the capitalists! Anyone who dares to obstruct us is a counter-revolutionary!"

"Set off!"

With a wave of Xu Damao's hand, this hastily assembled "confiscating army" surged out of the courtyard and headed straight for the Lou family's small villa.

Hearing the commotion, neighbors along the way peeked out. Some, timid and afraid, quickly closed their doors, while others, eager for a spectacle, hid far behind. In no time, the area around the Lou family's villa was completely surrounded.

The Lou family's gate was tightly shut. The vermilion gate, which once symbolized wealth and status, now appeared particularly fragile under the flickering torches and flashlights.

"Lou Bancheng! Get out here!"

Xu Damao rushed to the door, didn't even ring the doorbell, and directly raised his foot and kicked the door hard with a loud "bang".

This kick unleashed his long-suppressed inferiority complex and shattered the last vestiges of dignity in the Lou family.

"Bang! Bang!"

Several strong and burly police officers rushed forward, the violent sounds of impact echoing through the night. Finally, with a sharp "crack," the lock snapped, and the door burst open.

"Charge in! Grab those two old bastards!" Xu Damao took the lead, waving his belt and rushing into the living room like a madman.

Down with the capitalists!

"Hand over the gold bars!"

The shouts of battle were deafening.

However, when they rushed into what should have been a magnificent living room, all the noise suddenly paused eerily.

There were no panicked screams, no kneeling and begging for mercy.

The spacious living room was brightly lit.

Lou Bancheng was dressed in a neat Zhongshan suit, Lou's mother in a plain cheongsam, and Lou Xiao'e in a smart Lenin suit. The three of them sat upright in three chairs in the center of the living room, their expressions frighteningly calm.

In front of them were several large, open boxes—empty.

The entire living room was eerily clean, except for the three chairs and a few empty boxes. The valuable paintings and calligraphy that used to hang on the wall were gone, the antiques on the display shelves were gone, and even the imported genuine leather sofa had disappeared without a trace.

Even the carpet on the floor was rolled up, leaving only bare cement floor.

This scene stunned Xu Damao, who had stormed in with a menacing air. All the imposing lines he had prepared were now stuck in his throat.

What... what's going on?

Lou Xiao'e raised her head, her gaze passing over the fierce-looking police officers and landing on Xu Damao's astonished face. Her eyes held no fear, only a deep, undisguised contempt, as if she were looking at a clown.

"Xu Damao, did you bring so many people here to clean our house?" Lou Xiao'e said coldly, her clear voice echoing in the deathly silent living room. "Too bad, this place is too clean; we don't need you."

These words were like a slap in the face, landing hard on Xu Damao's cheek.

Humiliation! Utter humiliation!

Xu Damao's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, the anger of being slighted instantly burning away his reason.

"Stop talking nonsense! Stop playing tricks!" Xu Damao roared hysterically, his eyes bloodshot. "Where's the stuff? Where did you hide it?! Search it! Dig three feet into the ground and find the gold bars! I don't believe they can empty the house!"

"Search! Search quickly!" Liu Haizhong was also anxious. If they couldn't find anything, his great mission would be ruined.

The twenty-odd people immediately scattered like a swarm of locusts, rushing up and down the stairs and into every room.

The sound of rummaging through things filled the air.

However, as time went on, the reports were like buckets of ice water, extinguishing the fervor on Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong's heads.

"Captain! The bedroom is empty! Even the sheets are gone!"

"Captain! The study is empty too! There's not even a scrap of paper on the bookshelves!"

"Even the pots and pans in the kitchen have been taken away!"

"This...this is too clean! Even the mouse holes are empty!"

With each report, Xu Damao's heart sank a little further. His face went from flushed to deathly pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

How could the Lou family's vast fortune and wealth vanish overnight?

"The basement! Yes! The basement!" Xu Damao suddenly remembered something, like a drowning man grasping at a last straw. "They must have hidden it in the basement! Come with me!"

He rushed frantically toward the hidden door leading to the basement, kicked it open, and dashed downstairs with a flashlight in hand.

Liu Haizhong followed closely behind.

However, the moment the flashlight beam illuminated the basement, Xu Damao froze.

air.

Utter emptiness.

The secret room, which should have been filled with gold bars and antiques, now resembled an unfinished house. There wasn't a single nail left, let alone any gold bars.

Jiang Chen not only emptied the house of valuables, but also chopped up the wooden shelves in the basement used to store boxes and took them away as firewood, just to disgust Xu Damao.

"It's gone...it's all gone..."

The flashlight in Xu Damao's hand fell to the ground with a "thud," its beam swaying wildly. He staggered a couple of steps, then grabbed the cold wall for support, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

His dream of becoming the deputy director, his prestige as the captain of the disciplinary squad, and his dream of dividing up the property were all shattered into dust in this empty basement.

The immense psychological gap nearly made him vomit blood.

"Xu Damao".

Lou Xiao'e appeared at the basement door at some point, looking down at Xu Damao, who was slumped on the ground, a vengeful smile playing on her lips.

"What are you looking for? Your non-existent dream of becoming a deputy director? Or are you searching for your pathetic sense of self-esteem?"

Her voice was icy cold, each word piercing to the heart.

Xu Damao suddenly looked up, his face contorted with rage, about to unleash his fury.

Just then, a piercing police siren suddenly sounded outside the villa, followed by the sound of orderly footsteps and the crisp sound of bullets being chambered.

A majestic and familiar voice, like thunder, pierced the night sky and boomed in everyone's ears:

"Security department on official duty! Everyone, immediately cover your heads and squat down! Anyone who dares to move will be killed on sight!"

It was Jiang Chen.

The murderous intent in that voice made the air in the basement freeze instantly.