Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

"You...you said the people who arrested Da Mao, which department were they from? Special...Special Operations Unit?"

Lou Zhenhua's voice was hoarse, as if he had been frightened.

"When I went to the steel rolling mill, the deputy director Li seemed to say something like that, and that it was some kind of special department that they had no right to interfere."

Lou Xiao'e wiped away her tears: "Dad, you knew so many people before, could you ask someone to find out where Da Mao is being held? We don't need to know anything about him, just sending some things in would be fine!"

"Nonsense! You...you're insane?"

With a loud bang, Lou Zhenhua slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and stared intently at his daughter, his body swaying slightly from excitement.

"That's the Special Operations Division! Do you think you can just ask about that? Do you think we have any connection to that?"

He had previously thought that Xu Damao had offended some powerful person, and that they were just teaching him a lesson.

But now it's the Special Operations Division that's making the move!

That department has absolutely nothing to do with the word "private"!

His reaction startled Lou Xiao'e, who even forgot to cry.

In her memory, her father was always a refined and courteous man, and he never lost his composure, even when he donated his family's factory and property!

"Dad...Dad, what exactly is that department? Why are you so upset?"

"Is it really necessary to go this far?"

Lou Zhenhua sat back down in his chair, glancing at Lou Xiao'e with lingering fear before bending down to pick up the enamel mug and letting out a long sigh.

"Do you know what that department is? It's the very organ that reports directly to the highest levels, specializing in handling the most sensitive, serious, and shady matters! Catching enemy spies, investigating internal traitors, purging internal ranks..."

"That Uncle Qian you met before, he's even wealthier than our family. He was invited by this department to 'assist in an investigation,' and we haven't heard from him since!"

"They disappeared without a trace, neither alive nor dead! When their family inquired, the answer was always, 'Under investigation, no comment!' Their house and factory were later confiscated, and their family members were subsequently sent to the countryside..."

"E'zi, tell me yourself, is it really that serious?"

Lou Xiao'e felt a chill run through her body, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

She truly hadn't expected that Xu Damao could be associated with such a department!

"But...but all Da Mao did was report a neighbor, how could it involve such a department?"

"Report a neighbor?"

Lou Zhenhua's face showed a hint of disdain: "He's had another falling out with someone, so he resorted to underhanded tactics!"

With all his years of experience, how could he not know what kind of person Xu Damao was?

However, in order for her daughter to have a good social standing, she had no choice but to let this guy have it.

Who would have thought that a mere projectionist at a steel mill could cause such a huge incident!

"Uh... Da Mao and Zhou Feng do not get along very well, but Zhou Feng is also a young man. At most, he has a good relationship with a leader in the Municipal Bureau, but that is only because they live in the same compound."

Lou Xiao'e looked embarrassed. In fact, she felt the same way. Many of the things Xu Damao said when he got home sounded unreliable.

What? Zhou Feng ruined his relationship with Deputy Factory Director Li? And Zhou Feng was the one who stripped him and Sha Zhu naked…

"The city bureau leaders live in the same compound as you? When did that leader move in? Before or after Zhou Feng? Which room did he live in?"

"It was a few days after Zhou Feng moved in, right? He lived in the back building of the outer courtyard..."

Her voice trailed off as she began to form her own suspicions, while Lou Zhenhua gave a definitive, cold laugh.

"A leader from the municipal bureau coming to stay in the back room of your compound—if it weren't for Zhou Feng, who else could it be for?"

"You say they're just young people, but they have people from the Municipal Bureau protecting them. Xiao'e, Xiao'e, use your brain! Do you think we can afford to mess with people like that?"

"That bastard Xu Damao, he brought this on himself and almost dragged our whole family down with him!"

Lou Zhenhua became increasingly frightened as he spoke, his chest heaving violently: "He even reported that someone was an enemy agent. I think he's lost his mind. Now they've got him arrested."

"If you go into a place like that, you'll be lucky to escape with your life! And this isn't over yet! Now that the Special Operations Unit has arrested him, they won't just investigate his whistleblowing!"

"We'll investigate his entire family history and social connections thoroughly! You're my daughter, I'm his father-in-law, and our Lou family... our entire Lou family might be implicated!"

Thinking about the possible investigations and raids that might follow, Lou Zhenhua felt a chill run down his spine.

He suddenly looked at his daughter, his eyes filled with determination: "E'zi, listen to me now. Go back first, and tomorrow go to the neighborhood committee office to sever all ties with Xu Damao!"

"dad?"

Lou Xiao'e stared wide-eyed and looked up in astonishment.

"Write a statement, to the neighborhood committee and the steel mill, announcing that your relationship with Xu Damao has broken down, you've decided to divorce, and you're severing all ties!"

Ignoring his daughter's expression and attitude, Lou Zhenhua said with a grim face, "Only in this way can you protect yourself and our family to the greatest extent possible!"

"Whether Xu Damao lives or dies is up to fate; we can't and shouldn't interfere! If we get involved with him again, our whole family will be ruined!"

He came from a dark period; in departments like this, even if you don't have any dirt on you or have done anything wrong, you'll still suffer greatly if you get caught.

They're both so old, they can't bear this kind of hardship.

Xu Damao caused this mess himself, so let him bear the consequences.

"No...I can't! Dad, Da Mao was just arrested, how can I do this!"

Lou Xiao'e was in tears.

She definitely harbored resentment towards Xu Damao, but even a day as husband and wife is a hundred days of kindness. Under these circumstances, how could she possibly bring herself to kick Xu Damao when he was down, or even divorce him?

"You can't? You want to go in with Xu Damao? You want your mother, and me, to go in with you both?"

Lou Zhenhua looked sternly at his daughter: "Now is the time to stand firm. Are you going to let our whole family suffer just because you say no?"

"I'll go find some paper and pen right now. You can write here. I'll go with you to the neighborhood committee to complete the paperwork tomorrow. This isn't something I'm discussing with you!"

Seeing her father's stern expression, which she had never seen before, Lou Xiao'e was completely stunned. She slumped into a chair, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

But Zhou Feng was stunned when he saw his double-door opening.

What's going on?

Did Xu Damao have someone tortured?

The emotional value is just too strong!

It's almost at 100%!