Courtyard House: Starting by inheriting the tradition and suppressing the barbarians.

1976 was destined to be an extraordinary year.

The sky over Beijing was still overcast.

But those with keen senses have already sensed the restless atmosphere in the air, a sense that a major change is about to occur.

however.

For Xu Damao, deputy director of the Revolutionary Committee of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

He turned a deaf ear to the changes in the outside world.

His world had long since collapsed into ruins, leaving only a mad obsession—

Make money! Go to Hong Kong! Find my son!

......

Late at night, in the logistics warehouse of a steel rolling mill.

The beams of searchlights swayed wildly in the night sky, and several large trucks were parked at the warehouse entrance.

The engine roared, spewing out acrid black smoke.

Xu Damao was wearing a somewhat dirty military overcoat, his hair was messy, and his eyes were sunken.

His eyes were bloodshot, like those of a gambler who hadn't slept for days and nights.

"Hurry up! Haven't you all eaten yet? Get the hell out of here!"

Xu Damao waved a flashlight and roared at his trusted subordinates who were moving steel.

"If you don't finish moving this by dawn, I'll kill you all!"

Ever since Qin Jingru absconded with all his gold bars and cash, Xu Damao has gone completely insane.

He became paranoid and even hid a knife under his pillow while sleeping.

He no longer cared about official positions or future prospects.

All he can think about now is how to get the money he lost back.

Then, with the money, he smuggled himself to Hong Kong to find Lou Xiao'e!

Go find the biological son he's seen in photos countless times—Lou Xiao!

No, in his opinion, it should be called Xu Xiao!

That was his only bloodline, and his only motivation to live!

"Director Xu, isn't this...isn't this too much of a commotion?"

One of his men, wiping away cold sweat, approached and said in a trembling voice.

"We hauled away five truckloads of special steel tonight. If the higher-ups find out..."

"Snapped!"

Xu Damao slapped his subordinate across the face, causing blood to flow from the corner of his mouth.

"Investigate? Who dares to investigate me?"

Xu Damao grinned maliciously, his horse-like face twisted and deformed by extreme greed and fear.

"I'm the vice chairman of the Revolutionary Committee!"

"Every blade of grass and every tree in this factory belongs to me!"

"If I say it's scrap metal, then it's scrap metal!"

"I said take them away and deal with them, who dares to utter a sound?"

At this point, a crazed glint flashed in Xu Damao's eyes as he thought, "By the time they find out..."

"I've already taken my money and flown to Hong Kong to enjoy life!"

"Let them search the air then!"

At this point, Xu Damao's methods had become extremely clumsy.

It could even be described as disregarding the consequences.

In the past, when he embezzled money, he would falsify accounts and find scapegoats.

Now?

He blatantly robbed us!

He abused his power to seize scarce materials in the factory—steel, copper wire, and even imported equipment!

They were all treated as scrap and illegally sold to black market dealers.

He was like a mouse that knew the ship was going to sink.

In the final moments, it frantically gnawed at the ship's planks, wanting only to fill its stomach.

"Load it! Fill it up!"

After watching truckloads of steel being hauled away.

Xu Damao pulled out the photo of his son, which he had touched until it was white, from his pocket and stared at it intently.

"Son...wait for Dad!"

"Daddy will have money soon... Daddy will go to Hong Kong to buy you delicious food and the best toys..."

He was laughing and drooling at the same time.

......

And on the top floor of an office building not far away.

Behind a dark window stood a figure.

Li Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the busy scene in the warehouse.

His eyes were calm as still water, as if he were watching a farce with a predetermined ending.

"Dr. Li, this Xu Damao is simply insane."

Standing behind Li Xuan was none other than Factory Director Yang!

At this moment, the old factory director was so angry that he was trembling all over, and his fists were clenched so tightly that they cracked.

"That's state property! That's the blood and sweat of our factory workers!"

"Are we just going to let him take it away so blatantly?"

"Director Yang, please calm down."

Li Xuan smiled faintly, turned around and poured a cup of tea for Director Yang, "If you want to destroy someone, you must first make them go mad."

"Xu Damao is like a grasshopper in autumn; he won't be able to jump around for many more days."

"But..."

"Let him move it."

Li Xuan's voice carried an air of absolute confidence, "If he doesn't move, how can we convict him?"

"How can we eradicate this cancer if he doesn't move?"

"If he doesn't move, how can we make him return everything he's taken and eaten over the years, with interest?"

Li Xuan walked to the table and picked up a thick file folder.

This contains evidence of all the goods Xu Damao has resold over the past few months.

This includes transaction records, buyer testimonies, and even the destination of each truckload of goods.

Xu Damao thought he had done everything perfectly, but in reality, his every move was flawless.

Even the location of every penny of his illicit money was right under Li Xuan's nose.

"This rat has fattened itself up quite a bit."

Li Xuan handed the file bag to Director Yang, saying, "Tomorrow will be a good day to close the net."

"good!"

Factory Director Yang took the evidence, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"Tomorrow, I'll show him what the iron fist of the people is!"

......

As dawn approached, the last truck drove away from the steel rolling mill.

Xu Damao was carrying a heavy black leather suitcase.

That was a deposit that the black market dealer had just given him, a full 20,000 yuan in cash!

He retreated into his office, locked the door, and drew the curtains.

"Splash!"

He poured the money from the box onto his desk; the pile of banknotes, like a small mountain, exuded a captivating scent of ink.

"Money...it's all money..."

Xu Damao pounced on the pile of money, sniffing it greedily like a dog.

He grabbed a handful of banknotes and threw them into the air, then frantically gathered them back into his arms.

"That's enough... Just a few more pulls and we'll have enough for the trip to Hong Kong!"

Xu Damao had completely lost his mind at this point.

"Just you wait!"

"When I, Xu Damao, return, I will make you all kneel at my feet!"

Little did they know, it was right outside the door of this office.

A tight net targeting him has been quietly cast.

......