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

"Comrade, you're really taking this way too seriously!"

Sha Zhu was speechless after the carpenter's words. His face turned bright red, and he stubbornly argued, "I was just chatting idly with the neighbors. How did that get involved in 'contradiction' or 'opposition'?"

"I'm a legitimate cook at the Third Steel Rolling Mill! A true member of the working class with impeccable credentials! My class background is top-notch! Even if there's a conflict, it's the person with the conflict with me who has a problem with their thinking!"

"Fine, I can't explain this to you guys! I'm going to cook!"

He realized that Zhou Feng was alright, but the carpenter at the housing management office was really shady!

All he talks about is the neighborhood director and the local police officer; it's so boring to argue with him.

Sha Zhu didn't understand the logic. The carpenter was doing public work, and you were trying to kick down the door and increase his workload for no reason. Of course, he wouldn't give you a friendly look!

What does it matter to him whether he's a chef or a working-class person?

Making a few sarcastic remarks at you is the least of your worries!

Watching Sha Zhu's dejected figure, the carpenter curled his lip in disdain.

He had worked in Beiping for so many years and had seen all kinds of scoundrels, but someone like Sha Zhu was nothing compared to him.

If this kid hadn't threatened to kick down the door in front of him, he wouldn't have bothered with this mess in the yard.

Sha Zhu returned to the central courtyard cursing, and Qin Huairu immediately came to greet him, taking the lunchbox from his hand in one smooth motion.

"Zhu Zi, who are you angry with?"

"Sister Qin, didn't you see? That bastard Zhou Feng is back! He's getting someone to install a door!"

Sha Zhu replied irritably.

Qin Huairu was taken aback.

She got home early from get off work and was busy at home, so she didn't run into Zhou Feng.

Thinking of this, her face darkened.

When she went to work today, the security guards didn't give her a friendly look, just because they went to Zhou Feng's house yesterday but found nothing there!

When someone hates another person, even the other person's breathing is wrong. Qin Huairu is in that state right now.

My mind is filled with disgust for Zhou Feng!

Why did he take all those things away and deliberately keep it from Bang Geng? He must have been trying to trick her!

Despite his young age, he has a truly wicked heart!

"Zhu Zi," Madam Jia interjected, her eyes gleaming, "you still need to keep a close eye on that kid. We reported him, and he's definitely holding a grudge. Only by finding something on him can we bring him down in one fell swoop!"

"Wait! No, Aunt Jia, I already said I was the one who led the men to tear down the door. Why is he watching you?"

Sha Zhu looked at Jia Zhangshi with a puzzled expression, while the latter rolled her eyes in exasperation at the simpleton and let out a long sigh.

Well, there are advantages to not being smart, otherwise how could I let him bring food home every day?

"With so many people in the courtyard yesterday, can you guarantee that no one whispered anything to Zhou Feng? Not to mention, can you keep those two bastards, Xu Damao and Yan Bugui, quiet?"

"Ouch!"

Sha Zhu suddenly snapped out of his daze, slapped his thigh, and a flash of shame and indignation crossed his face. "I knew it! I saw Old Man Yan and Zhou Feng talking at the door this morning!"

Thinking back to his foolish "I'll do it, what can you do about it?" attitude this morning and just now, Zhou Feng probably thought he was no different from a monkey show performer!

The thought was like a fishbone stuck in his throat, making Sha Zhu feel extremely uncomfortable.

He had no appetite at all, and Sha Zhu turned and walked outside.

As a stubborn and impulsive man, Sha Zhu is really going head-to-head with Zhou Feng this time!

When ordinary people encounter such a deadly situation, they either avoid it and never see it again, or they try to find a way to break the other party.

Clearly, Sha Zhu chose the latter.

Zhou Feng didn't plan to retaliate against them right now.

After seeing off the carpenter who had come to take measurements, he strolled leisurely toward the front door.

This time my phone is fully charged, so I can finally explore this authentic "old" Beiping!

But he didn't notice that a crouching figure was sneaking around behind him.

Despite his usual reckless and stubborn nature, Sha Zhu was surprisingly adept at tracking people, and his movements were quite nimble, managing to keep Zhou Feng from noticing him.

After all, Zhou Feng's attention was completely drawn to the surrounding buildings and scenery, so how could he have imagined that he was being followed by a simpleton?

The city of Beiping in this era lacked the skyscrapers of later times, but it exuded an unadorned, rustic charm.

Those early black-and-white photos are naturally incomparable to the tens of millions of pixels in his camera.

The mottled brick walls, the distinctive gate tower, and the long alleyways were all captured on Zhou Feng's camera.

Although many buildings in later generations were deliberately constructed in this style, there is a fundamental difference between deliberately aged buildings and bricks and tiles that bear the marks of the times.

If Sha Zhu's previous harassment of Zhou Feng was somewhat motivated by standing up for Qin Huairu, now he genuinely believes that Zhou Feng's background is problematic!

He just hid in the corner and watched as Zhou Feng struck all sorts of strange poses.

Sometimes sideways, sometimes squatting, sometimes on tiptoe...

This is not something an ordinary person would do.

Thinking of this, Sha Zhu became even more excited, and his steps as he followed Zhou Feng became much lighter...

Whether or not he retaliates is another matter; he might actually make a great contribution this time!

As Zhou Feng wandered through the alleyways, he paid no attention to what was behind him, continuing to wander deeper into the area, knowing that he would never see this place again.

Just as Sha Zhu was staring intently at Zhou Feng, he suddenly felt someone pat him on the back.

"Comrade, what are you doing here?"

???

Sha Zhu turned around somewhat blankly and saw two uncles in hats standing behind him, looking at him with serious expressions.

"Huh? I...I...I was just looking around here..."

Facing Uncle Hat, Sha Zhu was clearly flustered and started to stammer.

"Look? We received a tip from the public that you were acting suspiciously and your behavior was highly questionable. We've even followed you. Come with us to the police station!"

Seeing that the hat-wearing uncle was really going to take him away, Sha Zhu was completely dumbfounded.

No, I'm tracking suspicious individuals!

Why are you arresting me?

But noticing that the man in the hat standing behind him had already put his hand on his waist, Sha Zhu decisively backed down and followed the two men in hats to the police station.

Even he himself found the whole thing absurd—he was being followed by bad guys and then arrested by Uncle Hat.

Who would believe that?!

Once at the police station, Sha Zhu had no reason to hide anything anymore and reported all his suspicions to Uncle Hat.

"You're saying there might be enemy agents in your compound? And a large amount of supplies of unknown origin, suggesting collusion with remnants of the old society?"

The police officer in the hat sitting opposite, who was in charge of taking notes, frowned and stared intently at Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu nodded vigorously and introduced himself as quickly as possible: "I am He Yuzhu, the head chef of the canteen at the Third Steel Rolling Mill, and I live at No. 95, Nanluoguxiang! Our uncle is Yi Zhonghai, also an eighth-grade fitter at the Third Steel Rolling Mill. You can investigate and collect evidence!"

Uncle Hat nodded noncommittally. There had indeed been a policy of having three old men in the yard supervise the process, so what Sha Zhu said wasn't a problem.

After confirming Sha Zhu's identity with the steel rolling mill, the police station took his report seriously and immediately reported the matter to their superiors.

In this era, we must not make any rash moves against enemy agents who can still roam around Beiping, lest we alert them.

The fact that the other party was able to hide in Nanluoguxiang despite their years of meticulous investigations suggests that there must be a larger organization or conspiracy behind them!

We must play the long game and catch the big fish, and try to wipe these guys out in one fell swoop!