Siheyuan: At the beginning, I can integrate everything!

The trend has changed.

Those big-character posters that could be seen everywhere on the streets and alleys were like a red rash that appeared overnight.

The air was thick with the restless, gunpowder-like atmosphere.

At the entrance of the Hongxing Courtyard, the bare branches of the old locust tree trembled wildly in the cold wind.

"Keep your spirits up! Keep your eyes peeled once we're inside!"

A loud, hoarse shout broke the silence of the front yard.

With his hands behind his back and his belly protruding from the tight green military uniform, he swaggered over the high threshold.

The bright red "Deputy Captain of the Revolutionary Committee" armband on his left arm stood out starkly against the gray winter sky.

Behind him.

He was followed by four lads, all with crooked hats and a sleazy look.

These guys are notorious hooligans in the nearby alleys, usually loafing around aimlessly.

Now, a person is wearing a red armband and carrying a wooden stick as thick as an arm.

He walks with a swagger, exuding an arrogant air of "I'm number one and I'm number two."

Yan Bugui was sweeping the snow from last night in the front yard with that broken broom.

Hearing the noise, he stopped what he was doing.

The beady green eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses narrowed, meeting the arrogant gaze hidden in the bangs.

"Hey, Lao Liu's off work?"

Yan Bugui habitually forced a smile and greeted him.

But the moment my eyes fell on that red armband, I felt like I'd swallowed a fly, and my heart ached.

That good-for-nothing actually got lucky and managed to get a minor official position!

"Old Yan."

Liu Haizhong stopped and glanced down at Yan Bugui.

He deliberately stretched his left arm forward to make the red armband more noticeable.

"Be mindful of how you address people when you're in the courtyard."

He snorted coldly, a contemptuous sneer playing on his lips. "Don't be so disrespectful. Call me Captain Liu! Or, Deputy Director Liu!"

Yan Bugui's forced smile froze instantly.

He gripped the broom handle tightly, his back teeth itching with anger.

"Captain Liu... Captain Liu, are you leading the patrol team on an inspection tour?" Yan Bugui suppressed his anger and asked with a forced smile.

"Hmph, that's for sure."

Liu Haizhong, adopting a bureaucratic tone, cleared his throat and said, "Instructions from higher up: we must thoroughly investigate the bad elements hiding among us!"

"This courtyard house looks like a den of filth; it needs a thorough cleaning today!"

After saying that, he didn't even give Yan Bugui a second glance, and led the group of thugs, striding towards the central courtyard.

Yan Bugui watched their arrogant backs as they swaggered away, then spat hard into the snow.

"Bah! What a piece of trash! A petty person becomes arrogant when they get ahead!"

Inside the central courtyard.

A loud voice rang out from Liu Haizhong.

"Everyone, come out here! We're having a hospital-wide meeting!"

He stood in the middle of the courtyard, holding a tin megaphone, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Those few henchmen with red armbands, relying on their master's power, went from house to house banging on doors.

"Come out! Come out! Captain Liu spoke, didn't you hear him?!"

"Hurry up! Don't dawdle!"

The loud banging on the door frightened several children in the yard, making them cry.

The neighbors, wrapped in cotton-padded coats, cautiously emerged from their houses.

Yi Zhonghai shrank behind the crowd, looking at the spirited Liu Haizhong with a complicated expression.

He felt a mix of emotions.

Once, it was Yi Zhonghai who stood in the center of this courthouse, issuing orders.

Now, it's the turn of this good-for-nothing he used to look down on.

Qin Huairu also came out, her head down, her eyes flickering, as if she were plotting something.

Looking at the large crowd standing in the courtyard, Liu Haizhong felt incredibly comfortable.

This feeling of being in control of everything and being high above others is even more exhilarating than eating a ginseng fruit!

He cleared his throat and held the metal megaphone to his mouth.

"Neighbors! Comrades!"

Liu Haizhong drew out his words, trying his best to imitate the tone of those high-ranking leaders when they spoke.

"I don't need to explain the current situation, do I?"

"We are ordered to resolutely crack down on all capitalist remnants! We must root out those bloodsuckers hiding among the people!"

His gaze swept across the entire area with a sinister intensity, finally settling fixedly on the front yard.

"Our Hongxing Courtyard usually looks peaceful and harmonious."

"But in reality, a huge malignant tumor lurks within!"

Liu Haizhong became more and more excited as he spoke, his spittle flying everywhere in the cold air.

"Some people, relying on false identities obtained from who-knows-where, ride in military vehicles and eat specially supplied meat every day!"

"Some people occupy two large brick houses by themselves, living a decadent and corrupt life like rich bourgeois young masters!"

"This is an absolute insult to the working class!"

"This is a blatant provocation against the revolutionary cause!"

These words were spoken.

Everyone in the hospital gasped.

Everyone looked at each other, and no one dared to say a word.

Even a fool could tell that Liu Haizhong's words were aimed directly at Zhang Huaimin in the front yard!

That five-year-old prodigy who even received a personal visit from a high-ranking leader and had armed guards standing by his side!

"Has Old Liu gone mad?"

An older woman whispered to her neighbor, "He dares to mess with that little brat?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down!" The neighbor quickly pulled her aside. "These people wearing red armbands these days are ruthless; who dares to mess with them!"

Liu Haizhong couldn't hear the discussions below.

He has now been completely blinded by power.

In his view, although Zhang Huaimin had military vehicles to pick him up and drop him off, in the face of this current frenzied storm, any privilege was just a paper tiger!

As long as he can find out that Zhang Huaimin has contraband hidden in his home, or find evidence of his extravagance and waste.

That would be a great achievement!

Even if the military region personnel arrive, they won't be able to protect a "bad element" who has already been labeled as such!

"today!"

Liu Haizhong threw down the megaphone, waved his hand, and issued the order in a menacing manner.

"Our Revolutionary Committee is about to fire the first shot in eradicating the scourge of the courtyard houses!"

He turned around, his triangular eyes filled with madness and resentment.

He pointed to the front yard, to the tightly closed solid wood door of the east wing.

"go!"

Liu Haizhong roared at the four eager thugs behind him.

"Kick down Zhang Huaimin's door!"

"Search thoroughly!"