Courtyard House: Ten-year-old Master Zhu reorganizes the entire courtyard

In the following days, Deputy Commander Hou became a frequent visitor to the courtyard house.

He no longer used the pretense of "checking household registration" but swaggered in and out.

Sometimes he carries two bottles of wine, sometimes he carries two packs of cigarettes.

These sugar-coated bullets were hit with remarkable precision.

The Intermediate People's Court, the Yi family.

There were two bottles of fine wine and a bag of pastries on the table.

Lieutenant Hou sat opposite Yi Zhonghai, smiling as he looked at him.

"Master Yi, I know you have concerns."

Lieutenant Hou's voice was very seductive.

"But you need to think this through. In this world, the bold get rich, and the timid starve. You're a level eight worker, your skills are unquestionable. But what about the future? You don't have any children, who will you rely on when you're old?"

These words were like a sharp knife, stabbing Yi Zhonghai in his Achilles' heel.

Yi Zhonghai's expression changed, and he gripped the teacup in his hand tightly.

"Commander Hou, what...what do you mean by that?"

"It's very simple," Lieutenant Hou leaned forward. "As long as you're willing to do us a small favor, keep an eye out for those who incite labor unrest and cause sabotage in the factory. Even just providing a clue will earn you a credit."

"This is a great service. Forget about providing for your old age, even getting you an adopted son or a good job would be a piece of cake."

Yi Zhonghai's heart was pounding.

Elderly care.

son.

This is the obsession he has been with all his life.

He stared at the two bottles of wine, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

That's the smell of power, the smell of a secure second half of life.

"I... let me think about it," Yi Zhonghai said in a hoarse voice.

"No rush." ​​Lieutenant Hou stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Master Yi is a smart man. I believe you will make the right choice."

No sooner had Lieutenant Hou left than Li Guihua rushed out from the inner room.

"Old Yi! You've gone mad!"

Li Guihua grabbed the wine on the table and was about to throw it out the door.

"Those are spies! They're ruthless monsters! You dare take their stuff? Do you have a death wish?"

"What do you know!"

Yi Zhonghai snatched the bottle and roared, glaring at everyone.

"We don't have a son! Do you understand what it means to not have a son? When we're old and bedridden, who will take care of us? That He Yuzhu? Or Jia Dongxu? Neither of them can be relied on!"

"I can't be a traitor! I can't be a spy's dog!" Li Guihua cried out. "Old Yi, we've lived our lives with integrity. If you go down this path, you'll be condemned and cursed behind your back forever!"

Yi Zhonghai, clutching a bottle of wine, slumped into a chair.

He looked at his weeping wife, his eyes filled with struggle and pain.

On one hand, there is the bottom line of morality and the unknown risks.

On one hand, there is the guarantee of old-age security and the temptation of power.

The scales of justice swayed violently within him.

The backyard, the Xu family's residence.

Lieutenant Hou was not so polite to Xu Fugui.

He simply tossed out a stack of legal tender.

"This is the deposit," Lieutenant Hou said coldly. "Xu Fugui, I know you're close to that He Yuzhu. From now on, you'll have to report his every move to me."

Xu Fugui's eyes lit up as he looked at the stack of money.

He grabbed the money, stuffed it into his pocket, and plastered a fawning smile on his face.

"Don't worry, sir! I'll let you smell even if that kid farts!"

"Hmph, glib talker." Lieutenant Hou gave him a disdainful look. "Don't try anything funny. If you dare to lie to me, you know the consequences."

"No, no, I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare even if you gave me ten times the courage!"

After Lieutenant Hou left.

Xu Fugui immediately seemed like a different person.

He locked the door from the inside, climbed out through the back window, and slipped into He Yuzhu's room.

"Master Zhu! Money!"

Xu Fugui took out the stack of legal tender and placed it respectfully on the table.

"Fifty thousand in total, that bastard gave it to me."

He Yuzhu didn't even glance at the money.

"Keep it."

"Huh?" Xu Fugui was stunned. "This...this is a spy's money, it's a hot potato."

"Just take it." He Yuzhu was wiping a dagger, the gleam reflecting on his face. "Use it to buy wine and meat. Let him think you're greedy, then he'll feel at ease."

"Okay! Alright!" Xu Fugui happily took the money back.

"How's Yi Zhonghai doing?" He Yuzhu asked.

"He's tempted." Xu Fugui lowered his voice. "I just heard Li Guihua crying in the house, arguing with Yi Zhonghai. From what she said, Hou Liang is trying to seduce him with the promise of retirement."

He Yuzhu stopped what he was doing.

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"Retirement? Yi Zhonghai, Yi Zhonghai, your life has been ruined by these two words."

He stood up and walked to the window.

Through the crack in the window, he saw Yi Zhonghai squatting at his doorway, smoking.

That figure, hunched over, heavy, exuded a desperate greed.

"Master Zhu, should I go...?" Xu Fugui made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Need not."

He Yuzhu shook his head.

"Yi Zhonghai is a talented and good man, but he's stubborn. Killing him now will only throw the compound into chaos and arouse suspicion from the spies."

"What should we do then? What if he really becomes a traitor and sells us all out..."

"He wouldn't dare."

He Yuzhu turned around, his eyes deep.

"He's dancing on the edge of a cliff. Just a slight push or a scare and he'll back down."

"Uncle Xu."

"exist."

"Tomorrow, go and 'casually' reveal some information to Yi Zhonghai."

He Yuzhu beckoned, and Xu Fugui leaned in to listen.

He Yuzhu said a few words in a low voice.

Xu Fugui's eyes widened, and finally he gave a thumbs up.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Master Zhu, you're going to scare Yi Zhonghai half to death!"

"Go."

He Yuzhu waved his hand.

"Remember, you have to give it your all."

Xu Fugui is gone.

He Yuzhu looked at the oil lamp on the table.

The flames flickered, casting a long shadow over him.

This psychological battle has only just begun.

Yi Zhonghai is a piece we cannot afford to discard, nor can we allow him to become a liability.

We need to turn him gray.

Only the gray chess pieces can survive the longest and be the most obedient in this chaotic world.