Courtyard House: Starting with handing over the keys, the state helps me abuse birds.

"Comrade Duan Chengyi?" Lu Zhaoting showed his identification. "Lu Zhaoting from the Ministry of Industry. There are a few questions I need to verify with you regarding Xie Weihong's manuscript."

Duan Chengyi instantly regained his senses.

He quickly ushered the people into the house. His wife was also awakened by the commotion. Seeing this, she silently went to boil water and make tea.

"Did you get the manuscript from Xie Weihong?" Lu Zhaoting asked bluntly.

"Yes." Duan Chengyi nodded and recounted the events of yesterday in detail. When he mentioned Xie Weihong breaking the iron shears and leaving a fist mark on the wall, the two security personnel exchanged a glance.

"He said that punishing Yi Zhonghai would grant him the technology. What's your opinion on that?" Lu Zhaoting asked.

Duan Chengyi smiled bitterly: "Director Lu, to be honest, I thought at the time that the child was overly traumatized and mentally unstable. Anyone would be..."

"What about the manuscript itself?" Lu Zhaoting interrupted him. "Can you even understand the contents?"

"I don't understand it," Duan Chengyi said honestly, "but Engineer Xu was very excited after reading it and said it was of great value."

Xu Zhanqing then spoke up: "Old Duan, it's not just big, it's enormous. If that manuscript passes verification, it's worthy of the national top prize."

Duan Chengyi opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

After a moment's thought, Lu Zhaoting made a decision: "Comrade Duan Chengyi, please take us to see Xie Weihong now."

"Now?" Duan Chengyi glanced out the window. "It's not even dawn yet..."

"Right now." Lu Zhaoting's tone left no room for argument.

Duan Chengyi had no choice but to get dressed and lead the group downstairs.

The car drove along the quiet street. Duan Chengyi sat in the passenger seat, his heart pounding. He glanced at Lu Zhaoting in the rearview mirror—the director had his eyes closed, his expression calm, but the aura of someone who had long held a high position made even the veteran policeman Duan Chengyi feel pressured.

He suddenly realized that what Xie Weihong said... might not be crazy talk.

At least, that manuscript is genuine.

At 5:30 a.m., the car was parked at the entrance of the alley where the courtyard house was located.

The group got out of the car, and Duan Chengyi went up and knocked on the door. There was a sound coming from inside the courtyard, and Qin Huairu opened the door—she had just returned from her night shift and was startled to see so many people outside.

"Comrade Qin, we're looking for Xie Weihong," Duan Chengyi said.

Qin Huairu didn't dare to ask any more questions and quickly stepped aside.

As the group passed through the courtyard, several households had their curtains slightly drawn back, peering out. Xu Zhanqing noticed that those gazes were filled with curiosity and...fear.

Xie Weihong's door was tightly closed.

Duan Chengyi stepped forward and knocked on the door: "Comrade Xie Weihong, this is Duan Chengyi, please open the door."

A slight noise came from inside the room, and a few seconds later, the door opened.

Xie Weihong stood at the door, his clothes neat and his eyes clear, not at all like someone who had just been woken up. His gaze swept over Duan Chengyi and Xu Zhanqing, finally landing on Lu Zhaoting.

With just one glance, Xie Weihong knew—this person was different.

He was not a policeman, nor an expert, but a person who truly represented the will of the nation.

"Comrade Xie Weihong," Duan Chengyi introduced, "This is Director Lu from the Ministry of Industry. There are some things we need to verify regarding the manuscript you gave me yesterday."

"Please come in." Xie Weihong stepped aside.

The room was small, and it felt crowded with so many people inside. Lu Zhaoting looked around—the house was bare, the only table was missing a leg and propped up with bricks, and the bedding on the bed was covered in patches.

This is indeed the living condition a martyr's orphan should have, but it should never be the actual living condition.

"Comrade Xie Weihong," Lu Zhaoting said bluntly, "Where did you get the manuscript you gave Director Duan yesterday?"

"What came to mind was..." Xie Weihong replied calmly, "after I punished Yi Zhonghai."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Xu Zhanqing couldn't help but ask, "Could you explain in detail how it 'emerged'?"

"It's like suddenly figuring out a math problem," Xie Weihong explained. "All the formulas, data, and processes suddenly became clear. I spent half a day organizing it into text."

Lu Zhaoting stared into Xie Weihong's eyes: "You said that punishing Yi Zhonghai would grant you the technology, so your physical strength has also increased because of this?"

"Yes." Xie Weihong nodded. "The night Yi Zhonghai brought his men to kill me, after I fought back, my strength, speed, and reaction time all improved significantly. Later, I verified that every time I punished Yi Zhonghai, my body would become stronger."

As he spoke, he walked to the table and picked up the pair of scissors that had broken in two.

"I broke these pieces yesterday." Xie Weihong handed the two pieces of scissors to Lu Zhaoting. "You can check the breaks."

Lu Zhaoting took it; it felt heavy in his hand. Although he wasn't a materials expert, he could tell it was genuine iron. The break was jagged, clearly indicating it had been torn apart by immense force.

He handed the scissors to a security officer behind him. After examining them carefully, the officer whispered, "It's cast iron. Even an average adult would have a hard time breaking it with tools."

Lu Zhaoting looked at Xie Weihong: "Could you demonstrate it again?"

Xie Weihong nodded and took out a spare door bolt from under the bed—also a piece of hardwood as thick as an arm.

He held both ends with his hands, his arm muscles slightly tense.

"Snap!"

The stick snapped in two, and all the wood fibers at the break point shattered.

Everyone in the room—including Duan Chengyi, whom they had met once before—had their pupils contract.

This can no longer be explained by "great strength".

"And this too." Xie Weihong walked to the wall and pointed to the shallow fist mark. "This is what I left yesterday."

Xu Zhanqing stepped forward, touched the fist mark, and looked at Xie Weihong's fist, his face filled with disbelief.

Lu Zhaoting was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Regarding the technology in the manuscript, can you explain a few key points?"

This is a test.

If the manuscript was indeed written by Xie Weihong, he would certainly be able to explain the technical details clearly.

Xie Weihong nodded: "Okay."

Lu Zhaoting asked a core question about the settings for bottom-blowing oxygen parameters in a converter. Xie Weihong gave a concise answer and then added several key technical points.

After listening, Xu Zhanqing excitedly grabbed Chen Qiming's arm: "He's absolutely right! And even more insightful than what's written in the manuscript!"

Chen Qiming was also so shocked that he couldn't speak.

This cannot be explained by simply "accidentally obtaining technical information." Without a solid theoretical foundation, it would be impossible to explain the technical principles so clearly and thoroughly.

Lu Zhaoting looked at Xie Weihong with deep eyes.

He had seen many geniuses, but someone like Xie Weihong... he had never seen one before.

"Comrade Xie Weihong," Lu Zhaoting said slowly, "You said before that you had other technologies in your mind?"

"Yes," Xie Weihong nodded. "Precision machine tools, high-efficiency fertilizers, basic antibiotics, solar cells... but it's not complete yet. We need... we need more 'inspiration'."

He deliberately emphasized the word "inspiration".

Lu Zhaoting understood.

Yi Zhonghai needs to be punished further, or rather, he needs to be punished even more severely.

"What are the expected results if that steelmaking manuscript is implemented?" Lu Zhaoting asked.

"Within three years, my country's crude steel production can double," Xie Weihong stated, giving an astonishing figure. "Energy consumption per ton of steel will be reduced by 40%, and the quality of steel will reach international advanced levels. If supporting technologies keep up, we can achieve a turnaround in some special steel sectors within five years."

The room was completely silent.

Everyone was awestruck by this prospect.

Lu Zhaoting closed his eyes, opened them a few seconds later, and his eyes were filled with determination.

"Comrade Xie Weihong," his tone became serious, "it's good that you're willing to contribute to the country. But the mechanism you described for 'punishing Yi Zhonghai to obtain technology' is too unusual. We need to verify it further."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I can grant your request to allow Yi Zhonghai to stay in the hospital temporarily, but there are a few conditions."

Xie Weihong's eyes lit up: "Please tell me."

"First, you must be under close 24-hour surveillance to ensure your absolute safety."

"Secondly, we will arrange for a team of experts to conduct a comprehensive physical and mental assessment of you."

"Third, you need to cooperate with us to verify the causal relationship between 'punishing Yi Zhonghai' and 'acquiring technology'."

"Fourth, any technology you acquire during the verification period must be handed over to the state immediately."

Xie Weihong replied without hesitation: "I agree."

"Okay." Lu Zhaoting looked at Duan Chengyi. "Director Duan, starting today, you will be temporarily transferred from the police station to be solely responsible for Comrade Xie Weihong's personal security. This is an important task assigned to you by the organization."

Duan Chengyi was taken aback at first, then straightened his back: "Yes! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

Lu Zhaoting then looked at Xu Zhanqing: "Engineer Xu, you are responsible for forming a technical verification team and producing a small-scale test plan for the steelmaking manuscript within three days."

Finally, he looked at Xie Weihong again: "Comrade Xie Weihong, from today onwards, you will be included in the list of key national protected personnel. Your safety, your capabilities, and the technology you provide will all receive the highest level of attention from the state. Comrade Duan Chengyi will be by your side 24 hours a day, both for protection and as a necessary observation and record-keeping measure."

Xie Weihong took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Director Lu, my parents were martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country. Now that I have this ability, I will definitely do my best to contribute to the country."

Lu Zhaoting nodded and extended his hand: "On behalf of the country, I thank you."

The two hands are clasped together.

Duan Chengyi watched this scene as if in a dream.

Twenty-four hours earlier, he still thought Xie Weihong was a pitiful child who had been overstimulated.

Now, this child has reached the center of the nation's attention, and I will become his most direct witness and protector.

The sky outside the window gradually brightened.

The morning light streamed through the window, illuminating Xie Weihong's resolute face and the manuscript on the table that had changed everything.

After Lu Zhaoting and his group left, Duan Chengyi remained in the room. He looked at Xie Weihong with a complex expression: "Comrade Xie Weihong, please guide me in the future..."

"Director Duan, you're too kind," Xie Weihong said. "I should be thanking you."

"Don't call me Director anymore," Duan Chengyi said with a wry smile. "I'm your bodyguard now. Just call me Lao Duan."