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

At six o'clock in the morning, the meeting room on the third floor of the Ministry of Industry was brightly lit.

Lu Zhaoting, Xu Zhanqing, and two heads of the security department sat around the conference table, on which lay a copy of Xie Weihong's manuscript and a newly compiled "Special Ability Verification Plan".

"According to Xie Weihong's description, his ability is directly related to 'punishing Yi Zhonghai'." Lu Zhaoting tapped his fingers on the table. "We need to verify this mechanism as soon as possible. If it's true, then Yi Zhonghai will no longer be just a simple murderer, but a crucial factor in the country's technological development."

The head of the security department, surnamed Zhou, frowned: "Director Lu, do you mean we need to keep Yi Zhonghai in a state of...permissibility for punishment indefinitely?"

"Under the premise of legality and compliance," Lu Zhaoting emphasized, "Yi Zhonghai committed a capital crime, but before the formal trial, he needs to undergo reform and education. The technological benefits generated during the reform process will be an important gain for the country."

Xu Zhanqing pushed up his glasses: "Director Lu, I still find this too incredible."

"That's why we need to verify it." Lu Zhaoting looked at him. "Engineer Xu, how long will it take for the small-scale test plan of the steelmaking manuscript to be completed?"

"As fast as five days."

"It's too slow." Lu Zhaoting shook his head. "I need a faster way to verify it—to verify the capability mechanism before verifying the technology."

He turned to his colleagues from the security department: "Are Yi Zhonghai and the other five people in the hospital now?"

"Yes, they're both at the First People's Hospital. Yi Zhonghai and He Yuzhu are more seriously injured."

"Discharge them all this morning," Lu Zhaoting ordered. "But be careful not to let them know that the murder has been exposed after they return to the courtyard. Comrade Xie Weihong specifically reminded them that if Yi Zhonghai knows too early that he is doomed, he may have an emotional breakdown, which will affect the sustainability of the operation."

The person in charge, surnamed Zhou, seemed to be deep in thought: "You mean, we need to keep them hopeful so that the punishment process can continue to be effective?"

"That's right." Lu Zhaoting nodded. "Let them think they're only suspected of ordinary crimes like 'intentional assault,' which is still within the realm of possibility. This way, they'll continue to struggle and make mistakes, while Comrade Xie Weihong can continue to receive 'punishment' opportunities."

He paused, then added, "Replace the hospital's medical staff with our own. The discharge process should be 'gentle' but firm."

Eight o'clock in the morning, orthopedic ward of the First People's Hospital.

Yi Zhonghai lay on the hospital bed, his face ashen. Thick bandages were wrapped around his chest, and each breath was painful. He stared at the ceiling, his eyes filled with a sinister light.

"Old Yi, what do you think about this time..." Liu Haizhong, who was in the next bed, lowered his voice. His left leg was in a cast.

"We've been caught this time," Yi Zhonghai said hoarsely. "But it's not over yet. Once we're discharged from the hospital, we'll go to the police station to report it. Xie Weihong intentionally caused serious injury; he deserves ten years in prison!"

Yan Bugui was curled up on another bed, his right arm in a sling: "That kid is weird... really weird."

"Even the most wicked person is still human," Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth. "Once we report it to the police and they arrive, let's see how long he can remain arrogant!"

Sitting on a stool by the window, her face still swollen, Jia Zhangshi was viciously biting into an apple: "Yes! He must go to jail! Once he's in there, those two rooms..."

Before he could finish speaking, the ward door was pushed open.

Three doctors in white coats walked in. The one in the lead was a middle-aged doctor in his forties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and his name tag on his chest read "Chief Physician Zhao Mingyuan".

"Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, and Jia Zhangshi." Dr. Zhao held up the medical records, his tone formulaic, "Based on the evaluation, you can be discharged."

The ward fell silent instantly.

"Discharged?" Yi Zhonghai was stunned. "Dr. Zhao, my ribs..."

"The wound has been stabilized; you can rest at home," Dr. Zhao interrupted him. "Hospital beds are scarce; you must be discharged today."

Liu Haizhong panicked: "My leg is still in a cast!"

"You can use crutches." Dr. Zhao said expressionlessly. "The four of you can go and complete the discharge procedures now. He Yuzhu and Xu Damao are in the next room and will also be discharged at the same time."

Jia Zhangshi jumped up: "What kind of hospital is this? You're kicking patients out before their injuries have even healed?"

Dr. Zhao gave her a cold look: "This is the hospital's decision. You have one hour to pack your things, and you must leave the ward before nine o'clock."

After saying that, the three doctors turned and left.

After the door closed, Yi Zhonghai frowned: "Something's not right... those three doctors were unfamiliar faces. Where's Dr. Wang who did rounds the day before yesterday?"

Liu Haizhong also realized, "Yes, the nurses have all been changed these past few days."

Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses: "Old Yi, do you think... could it be Xie Weihong's doing? Does he have someone backing him?"

"Impossible," Yi Zhonghai denied. "He's just an orphan, what kind of background could he possibly have?"

Despite saying that, he was starting to feel uneasy.

Just then, the ward door was pushed open again. Two caregivers pushed in a wheelchair and said expressionlessly, "Yi Zhonghai, right? Come on up, we'll take you to complete the formalities."

"I won't come out..." Yi Zhonghai still tried to struggle.

One of the caregivers stepped forward and skillfully lifted him from the hospital bed—seemingly gently, but with surprisingly strong force. Yi Zhonghai felt a pain under his ribs as he was being lifted into a wheelchair.

"Be gentle!" He was sweating profusely from the pain.

"It's hospital policy, please cooperate." The caregiver's voice was mechanical and indifferent.

Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, and Jia Zhangshi were treated the same way. The four were wheeled out of the ward, and in the corridor, they saw He Yuzhu and Xu Damao being wheeled out of the next ward as well.

He Yuzhu sat in a wheelchair, his right leg in a cast, his face deathly pale. Xu Damao, his arm in a sling, muttered curses, "Why are you kicking us out? I'm going to file a complaint!"

Nobody paid him any attention.

Yi Zhonghai noticed several people in hospital gowns walking along the corridor, but their steps were too steady and their eyes too sharp; they didn't look like patients at all. Cold sweat began to break out on his back.

The process was ridiculously fast. What would normally require queuing for stamps, payment, and medication pickup was completed in less than twenty minutes. A nurse handed Jia Zhangshi a plastic bag containing several boxes of painkillers: "Discharge instructions: take your medication on time."

"That's it?" Jia Zhangshi's eyes widened.

The nurse didn't say anything, and turned and left.

At 9:10 a.m., the six people were brought to the hospital entrance.

Two gray vans were already waiting there. The doors opened, and four young men in gray Zhongshan suits stepped out; they were all quite fit.

"Get in the car," the leader said succinctly.

"Who are you?" Yi Zhonghai asked warily.

"I'll take you home," the man replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.

He Yuzhu struggled to stand up, but two young men stepped forward and shoved him into the first van. Their movements were clean and efficient, clearly indicating they had received professional training.

Yi Zhonghai and the others exchanged glances, all seeing unease in each other's eyes, but at this moment they had no choice.

The six people were crammed into two vans. The moment the doors closed, Yi Zhonghai noticed that the windows were tinted, making it impossible to see inside from the outside.

The car started and drove away from the hospital.

The carriage was quiet. Yi Zhonghai tentatively asked, "Comrade, which unit are you from?"

"You'll know when we get there," the young man in the passenger seat said without turning his head.

Twenty minutes later, the bread truck stopped at the entrance of the alley.

The car door opened, and the young man got out first: "We're here, get off."

The four were helped out of the car. A group of neighbors had already gathered at the entrance of the alley, and seeing Yi Zhonghai and the others in such a disheveled state, they pointed and whispered among themselves.

"Hey, isn't this old man? Why are you back in a wheelchair?"

"I heard he got beaten up..."

Amidst the murmurs, Duan Chengyi emerged from the courtyard. He was wearing a police uniform, followed by two young policemen.

"Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, Jia Zhangshi, He Yuzhu, Xu Damao," Duan Chengyi's voice boomed, "According to the decision of the higher authorities, the six of you have been approved for 'residential surveillance.' From now on, you are not allowed to leave the courtyard without permission. Every morning from nine to ten o'clock, you will go to the central courtyard to receive ideological education."

"Household surveillance?" Liu Haizhong exclaimed, "Director Duan, we are the victims! It was Xie Weihong who beat us up like this!"

"We are still investigating Comrade Xie Weihong's actions," Duan Chengyi said expressionlessly. "But the facts are clear that you are suspected of gathering a crowd to trespass on private property and causing trouble. During the investigation, you will be placed under residential surveillance."

He immediately put on a wronged expression: "Chief Duan, we just went to talk to that kid, who knew he would go crazy and hit people..."

"We will investigate the specifics," Duan Chengyi interrupted him. "Now, go back to your room."

Under the complex gazes of their neighbors, the six people struggled to move into the yard.

As she walked, Jia Zhangshi cried, "Why is my life so miserable..."

He Yuzhu leaned on his crutches, his knees throbbing with pain with every step. Xu Damao, his arm in a sling, glared at him with venom.

The six people struggled to move back to their own houses.

As soon as the door closed, Yi Zhonghai slumped into a chair, his chest throbbing with pain. He took a few breaths, his eyes turning sinister again.

Xie Weihong stood in the central courtyard, looking at the six tightly closed doors, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Xie Weihong was certain.

Fertilizer technology... one of the most urgently needed technologies of this era.

To obtain this technology, Yi Zhonghai and his associates need to be continuously punished without their knowledge.

We must neither let them despair and break down, nor allow them to make mistakes and be punished repeatedly.

This balance needs to be carefully managed.

Duan Chengyi whispered to Wei Hong, "Director Lu instructed that during the verification process, if you need any 'cooperation,' you can tell me directly. We will arrange it within the bounds of legality and compliance."

Xie Weihong nodded: "Thank you, Uncle Duan. Tomorrow... let's start with the ideological education class."

"it is good."

The two turned and went back into the house.

Sunlight streamed onto the green tiles of the courtyard house, but at this moment, the central courtyard was shrouded in an invisible chill.

Yi Zhonghai leaned back in his chair, pondering how to overturn the verdict.

Little did he know that from this day forward, the courtyard where he once ran rampant would become an inescapable prison.

The key to the cage is in the hands of the boy he once bullied at will.

The punishment has only just begun.

But this time, it will last a long time.