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

Lieutenant Hou is an impatient person.

He spent a lot of effort on Yi Zhonghai, but Yi Zhonghai was like a silent gourd, only taking benefits without doing anything, and always making excuses.

"That old bastard, he won't listen to reason, so he'll have to suffer the consequences."

Lieutenant Hou cursed in his office.

"Go, spread some rumors at the steel mill," he ordered his tall subordinate. "Tell them that Yi Zhonghai embezzled military copper when he worked for the Japanese. Now he's trying to play both sides and negotiate with our government."

"yes!"

the next day.

The rumors spread like wildfire throughout the steel mill.

"Have you heard? Master Yi used to be quite dirty!"

"Really? He's an eighth-grade technician!"

"So what if he's an eighth-grade worker? The Japanese treated him so well back then, there must have been something fishy going on."

The workers were pointing and whispering behind their backs.

As Yi Zhonghai walked through the workshop, he felt as if every gaze was pricking him like a needle.

He tried to explain, but the more he tried to explain, the worse it got.

At lunchtime, several of his apprentices, who usually had a good relationship with him, all carried their lunchboxes and stayed far away.

Yi Zhonghai sat alone in the corner, chewing on a steamed bun that tasted like wax, his heart filled with coldness.

This is a coup d'état.

It's a blatant threat.

If they don't agree to Lieutenant Hou's demands, these rumors will become "evidence" and send him to jail.

Go home after get off work.

Yi Zhonghai walked to the door, looking dejected.

An envelope was found tucked under the door.

There was no stamp, and no signature.

He opened it with trembling hands.

There was only a note inside with a line written on it:

"Master Yi, I am sincere and hope you will reconsider. Otherwise, those rumors may reach the district office."

The envelope in Yi Zhonghai's hand fell to the ground.

He leaned against the door frame, panting heavily.

Cold sweat streamed down my forehead and into my eyes, stinging painfully.

It’s over.

They were driven to a dead end.

Either become a dog or go to jail.

Just then, Xu Fugui hummed a little tune, carrying a bottle of wine, and swayed over.

Seeing Yi Zhonghai's appearance, Xu Fugui feigned surprise.

"Hey old man, what's wrong? Have you got heatstroke?"

Yi Zhonghai didn't say anything, he just waved his hand.

Xu Fugui leaned closer, looked around mysteriously, and lowered his voice to say:

"Uncle, let me give you a heads-up. You'd better stay away from that Lieutenant Hou lately."

Yi Zhonghai suddenly looked up: "What do you mean?"

"I heard from my friends in the underworld," Xu Fugui said with a serious expression, "that Hou Liang, although he has connections in high places, has offended even more people! I heard he embezzled public funds in Nanjing and is being investigated! Now he's desperate and wants to find a few scapegoats in Beiping to redeem himself."

"A scapegoat?" Yi Zhonghai's pupils contracted sharply.

"Exactly!" Xu Fugui slapped his thigh. "Think about it, if we really get involved with him, when he falls from power, won't all of us who have ties to him be doomed? We might even be executed as accomplices!"

After Xu Fugui finished speaking, he shook his head, sighed, and left.

"These days, when gods fight, mortals suffer..."

Yi Zhonghai stood there, as if struck by lightning.

Xu Fugui's words were like a bucket of ice water, completely extinguishing the flame of greed in his heart.

It turned out he was a dying man!

Turns out he was a mad dog trying to drag others down with him!

Although Yi Zhonghai wanted to retire and had his son, he wanted to live even more!

To associate with a spy chief who's about to go under is practically suicide.

Moreover, once labeled as an "accomplice of spies," forget about retirement; they might even have their ancestral graves dug up.

Once he understood this, Yi Zhonghai's expression changed.

They became resolute, even resolute.

Two days later.

Lieutenant Hou visited again.

This time, his face showed no smile, only gloom.

"Master Yi, what's your decision? My patience is limited."

Yi Zhonghai sat at the table, neither pouring tea nor offering a seat.

He raised his head and looked directly into Deputy Commander Hou's triangular eyes.

"Commander Hou, I've thought it through."

"Oh?" Lieutenant Hou's lips curled into a cold smile. "Those who know when to yield are the wise ones."

"I'm just a deadbeat."

Yi Zhonghai's voice was not loud, but every word was firm and resounding.

"I don't understand politics or intelligence. All I know is how to work with a hammer and earn a living. I can't do anything else, and I don't dare to do anything else."

"If you think I'm ungrateful and want to arrest me or sentence me, go ahead."

"But I, Yi Zhonghai, only believe in one principle in my life: If you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear!"

The air freezes.

Lieutenant Hou stared intently at Yi Zhonghai, his hand slowly moving towards his waist.

Although Yi Zhonghai's legs were trembling under the table, his upper body remained straight, and he did not retreat an inch.

a long time.

Lieutenant Hou released his grip and let out a piercing, cold laugh.

"Good. Well said, 'I don't want to do anything wrong'."

He stood up and kicked over the stool next to him.

"Master Yi, you've got guts. We'll see what happens!"

After saying that, he slammed the door and left.

Yi Zhonghai stared at the still-shaking door, feeling utterly exhausted, and slumped into his chair.

My clothes were soaked with cold sweat.

But he felt a sense of relief he had never felt before.

Even if he gets arrested tomorrow, even if he loses his job, at least he held onto his principles.

At least, he doesn't have to wake up in the middle of the night, afraid of being gossiped about.

outside the window.

He Yuzhu stood in the shadows, watching this scene unfold.

The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"Well done, old man."

He said softly.

Yi Zhonghai made his choice, and in doing so, he completely offended Deputy Commander Hou.

But that's exactly what He Yuzhu wanted.

Yi Zhonghai, who was resented by secret agents, had no choice but to unite more closely within the courtyard community in order to protect himself.

That is, to unite around He Yuzhu.

"Next."

He Yuzhu turned around and looked in the direction where Deputy Commander Hou had left, his eyes turning icy cold.

"It's my turn to take action and pull out the fangs of this venomous snake."

A crisp system notification sounded.

Side quest completed: Yi Zhonghai's Choice.

[Reward: Yi Zhonghai's loyalty is greatly increased, and he gains the trait "Shared Hatred".]

[Next phase of the mission begins: The prelude to the counterattack.]