Courtyard House: I, the eldest son of the Jia family, have returned from the battlefield.

When I handed it over to the branch office, I received information from them—that shop might not be clean; it could very well be a hideout set up by enemy agents.

Li Aijun's eyes suddenly sharpened: "Does the section chief mean we should take over the investigation? But what about the branch office..."

Before he could finish speaking, his question was clearly written all over his face.

"The branch office received a tip from the public and has been secretly monitoring the blacksmith shop for over a month."

Jia Dongming explained calmly, "But we never managed to find any evidence against them."

The cleaner the surface, the more suspicious it may seem.

The connection with the cripple Qian has opened a crack in the road.

I have applied to the branch office for permission to handle the follow-up investigation.

"Please rest assured, Director!"

Li Aijun straightened his back, his voice brimming with burning enthusiasm, "Our Third Brigade guarantees to complete the mission!"

Seeing his eager expression, Jia Dongming slowly shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of warning: "Aijun, don't oversimplify things."

The branch office officers kept watch for more than a month without any results, which in itself shows that the other party was extremely cautious and not someone to be trifled with.

Underestimating your enemy will lead to a great loss.

"No matter how cunning the fox, it cannot escape a good hunter."

Li Aijun remained confident, saying, "As long as we commit enough manpower and keep a close watch on it day and night, I don't believe it won't slip up."

"If surveillance were effective, the branch office would have acted long ago; why wait until today?"

Jia Dongming looked at him with deep eyes, "Team Leader Zhang also shared his views with me before."

"Aijun, if you're going to act so rashly, I'll have to consider transferring this case to the First Brigade."

"No! Section Chief!"

Li Aijun immediately panicked, leaning forward with a pleading look on his face, "I...I understand the gravity of the situation!"

Jia Dongming stared at him for a moment before continuing, his voice even lower: "Since directly monitoring the blacksmith shop is unlikely to yield any results, let's try a different approach."

Based on the assessment, that shop was likely a site for receiving or transmitting intelligence.

So perhaps the key lies not in the shop itself, but in the people who come in and out—especially the customers who go there to buy ironware.

Upon hearing this, Li Aijun was taken aback at first, then his brows furrowed tightly: "Director, I understand this line of thinking."

But... a blacksmith shop probably sees quite a few customers coming and going every day.

With the manpower currently available in our brigade, it would be beyond our capacity to conduct a comprehensive deployment and screening of each individual.

The office fell silent, with only the faint sounds of the city outside the window.

Jia Dongming did not answer immediately, his gaze turning to the window as if he were weighing something.

After a long pause, he turned his gaze back, his eyes revealing a calm resolve.

"I'll figure out how to coordinate the manpower issue."

But the direction must be decided first.

He said slowly, "From today onwards, we will focus on recording the characteristics, entry and exit times, and items purchased by all customers who enter the blacksmith's shop."

Especially those whose behavior is abnormal, whose frequency is unusual, or whose characteristics match the description of the cripple.

We don't seek quick victory, but rather that every step we take is solid and grounded.

Li Aijun took a deep breath, all his impatience vanished, leaving only complete solemnity: "Yes, Director."

I immediately went back to make arrangements and develop a detailed monitoring and recording plan.

"remember,"

Jia Dongming concluded by saying, "Our opponents are cunning, and we must be more patient than them."

It's like playing chess; if you can see one step ahead, you might gain the upper hand.

"Mingbai".

Li Aijun nodded emphatically, then stood up to take his leave.

As he reached the door, he turned back for one last look.

Jia Dongming had picked up the case file again, his profile appearing particularly resolute in the morning light.

Li Aijun said no more, gently closed the door, and his footsteps quickly faded away in the corridor.

After listening to Li Aijun's report, Jia Dongming smiled faintly.

He picked up his teacup and gently blew away the foam: "Right now, during the off-season for farming, there aren't many people going to the blacksmith's shop—and you might not even be able to keep an eye on many of them."

Li Aijun was taken aback, only then realizing that the autumn harvest was over and the demand for ironware in the countryside had indeed decreased.

He immediately straightened his back: "Don't worry, Chief, the Third Brigade will not let you down."

"remember,"

Jia Dongming put down his teacup, his expression turning serious. "Focus on those who keep coming in and out of the shop."

Find out their origins and addresses, leaving no stone unturned.

"yes!"

Just as Li Aijun was about to turn around, the office door was suddenly pushed open.

Guo Jianguo strode in, his face showing Mingxian's resentment: "Director! Why didn't you give the First Brigade a mission first? We have plenty of manpower, how are we inferior to the Third Brigade?"

Jia Dongming looked up and said slowly, "I originally had a task I wanted to give you."

Since you think I'm being biased—why don't we just have the Third Brigade handle them all at once?

"What mission?"

Li Aijun's eyes lit up, and he spoke before Guo Jianguo could, "The Third Brigade guarantees completion!"

Guo Jianguo immediately became anxious: "Li Aijun! Your team's shift schedule is already tight, where are you going to find someone to do two things at the same time?"

Seeing that he was serious, Li Aijun became playful and deliberately raised his voice: "Those on their days off can work overtime! We guarantee it won't delay the tasks assigned by the section chief!"

"you--"

Guo Jianguo turned anxiously to Jia Dongming, "Director, don't believe him! The Third Brigade can only spare thirteen or fourteen people at most, which is definitely not enough to handle two tasks!"

Seeing the sweat beading on Guo Jianguo's forehead, Jia Dongming couldn't help but laugh. He waved to Li Aijun and said, "Alright, you go take care of the blacksmith's business first."

Li Aijun gave a crisp salute, then turned and left.

As soon as the door closed, Jia Dongming got up, took a white porcelain cup from the coffee table, picked up a pinch of tea leaves, poured in hot water, and pushed it in front of Guo Jianguo: "He was just teasing you on purpose. Are you really upset? Have some water and calm down."

Guo Jianguo was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening.

But disregarding his embarrassment, he hurriedly asked, "Director, what exactly is the task you mentioned earlier?"

Jia Dongming sat back in his chair, tapping his fingertip on the armrest. "A few days ago, I overheard some rumors at that little tavern on Qianmen Street."

He spoke slowly, "In the backyard of Xue Ru Silk Shop lives a middle-aged man who lives alone."

He lives a secluded life, never interacting with his neighbors… I suspect he was sent from over there.”

Guo Jianguo's expression hardened: "Enemy agent?"

"Your team's mission is to keep a close watch on him."

I need to know who he met, where he went, and even what he bought.

Jia Dongming stared at him. "Remember, the other party is trained. There must be at least two people taking turns to keep watch. Their clothes must be changed frequently so that he can't notice."

"Mingbai!"

Guo Jianguo solemnly replied, "The First Brigade guarantees to complete the mission and will not alert the enemy."

Jia Dongming nodded: "Go ahead."

If there's any movement, report it to me immediately.

Guo Jianguo nodded heavily, turned around and walked away quickly.

The sun gradually climbed to the center of the sky, and it was already past eleven o'clock.

Qin Huairu was worried that the repairman was waiting for her to eat at home, so she got her food from the canteen early, picked up her lunchbox, hopped on her brand-new bicycle, and rode back in the direction of Luogu Lane.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, and soon we were back in front of that familiar courtyard house.

As soon as she pushed the cart into the yard, she saw Yan Bugui standing guard at the gate, his eyes fixed on her gleaming cart frame, his face showing undisguised surprise. "Huai Ru!"

He hurried forward, his voice tinged with surprise, "This car... is it newly purchased?"

Qin Huairu stopped and saw Yan Bugui's surprised and envious look. A sense of pride rose in her heart, and she smiled: "Third Uncle, it's like this - this morning, the First Uncle gave me a few words of advice, saying that my uncle drives me to work every day, and after a while, it will inevitably attract gossip."

Although everyone in the factory knows we are relatives, they still have to consider the impact on us.

My uncle thought it made sense, so he gave me a train ticket and added two hundred yuan to let me buy a train myself.

It will be cheaper to pick up and drop off Bang Geng at school from now on.

Yan Bugui felt a pang of jealousy as he listened.

Jia Dongming has only been back for a few days? First, he bought a car for himself, then he renovated his house, and now he's even bought another one for Qin Huairu.

He was always quick to predict the future, and at that moment, a surge of envy welled up inside him. He blurted out, "Huai Ru, your family is really having a string of happy events—buying a car, repairing a house, and now another car! According to tradition, shouldn't we throw a feast and invite everyone in the yard to share in the joy?"

Qin Huairu knew immediately that this old habit had resurfaced. Her smile remained unchanged, but she responded lightly, "Third Uncle, the government is currently advocating frugality."

My uncle holds a position at the factory; how could he be the one to break this precedent? Don't you think so?

Yan Bugui was taken aback, then came to his senses and gave an awkward dry laugh: "Yes, yes... you're right, we should be frugal, we should be frugal."

Qin Huairu pushed the cart inside.

In the yard, Banggeng was playing with his younger sister, Xiaodang. Turning his head, he saw his mother pushing a brand-new bicycle in. He immediately ran over, looking up and asking, "Mom! Whose bicycle is this?"

"It was your uncle who bought it for Mom."

Qin Huairu bent down and patted the two children's heads, "Now Mommy can ride her bike to take you to school too."

"Great! We have a new car again!"

Bang Geng was so happy that he clapped his hands and jumped up.

Hearing the commotion, Jia Zhangshi, who was inside, lifted the curtain and came out. She immediately spotted the bicycle leaning against the wall. "Where did this bicycle come from?"

She frowned slightly and asked.

Qin Huairu hurriedly stepped forward to explain: "Mom, when I went to work this morning, Yi Zhonghai mentioned that Brother Dongming drives me around every day, and some people at the factory are already gossiping about it behind my back."

Dongming, wanting to avoid suspicion, told me to buy my own car.

Madam Jia's face darkened, and she cursed, "This Yi Zhonghai, I'm afraid he has ill intentions!"

"mom,"

Qin Huairu lowered her voice, "No matter what the old man thinks, what he said makes sense."

"Dongming's status is different now. Even if I'm his sister-in-law, I still need to avoid any impropriety."

Upon hearing this, Madam Jia, remembering her son's current position, calmed down a bit and nodded, saying, "Dongming is the most promising among the generations of our Jia family. We can't let those gossips ruin his future."

Qin Huairu responded and picked up the lunchbox she had brought back from the cafeteria: "Mom, I'll go get food for Master Lei and the others first."

If you and the children are hungry, the food in the box is still warm; have some to tide you over.

After lunch, Jia Dongming ate at the security department's small canteen. Seeing that he had nothing to do in the afternoon, he told his office and rode his bicycle out of the steel rolling mill gate.

He had visited the blacksmith's shop yesterday.

With those sharp eyes, he saw that there was a secret room hidden under the shop, inside which was a high-powered radio.

This alone is enough to determine that this shop is not simple.

When I spoke with Zhang Huanchun the day before, he mentioned that the branch office had been secretly investigating the blacksmith shop for more than a month, but had found nothing.

After much deliberation, Jia Dongming decided to go again to see if he could find any clues.

The wheels rolled through the dust, and after about twenty minutes, we arrived near the blacksmith's shop.

He could see from afar several subordinates from the security department scattered in inconspicuous corners, quietly watching the activity inside the shop.

As if he had never seen his subordinate before, Jia Dongming rode his old bicycle slowly around the blacksmith shop, finally stopping in front of the teahouse diagonally opposite the shop.

As soon as he parked his bike and stepped across the threshold, a waiter in a white apron approached him warmly: "Sir, we have top-quality Biluochun tea, Mingqian Longjing tea, aged Pu'er tea, and fragrant Gaomo tea. What would you like?"

Jia Dongming chose a square table by the window and sat down, nodding slightly to the waiter: "Excuse me, a pot of tea and a plate of melon seeds."

"Alright! Tea is 85 cents, melon seeds are 5 cents, that's 90 cents in total."

The waiter quickly reported the number.

Jia Dongming pulled a crumpled banknote from his pocket and handed it over, then sat down on the creaking wooden chair, his gaze fixed on the bustling streets outside the window.

In a short while, the waiter came over carrying a black-glazed teapot and a coarse porcelain plate.

He arranged the items on the table, then took out a coin and gently placed it on the edge of the table: "Comrade, please enjoy, this is your change."