Liu Haizhong's Malice, An Eye for an Eye

A farce concluded.

Quiet returned to the courtyard, and families were slowly drifting off to dreamland.

But one person was tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

At this moment, in the mind of Second Elder Liu Haizhong.

The scenes of Lin Zhen subduing Silly Zhu and forcing out the Deaf Old Lady replayed over and over.

The two most troublesome people in the courtyard had been dealt with by Lin Zhen with such casualness.

Who in the courtyard would dare to challenge Lin Zhen from now on?

If he were to volunteer to be Second Elder at the courtyard meeting, would he have to step down?

Even if he didn't take a management role in the courtyard, with him around, he would have no say.

Including Old Yi and Old Yan, no one could control him.

This Lin Zhen was truly harder to restrain than Silly Zhu.

Wouldn't his position as Second Elder be just an empty title?

Next year, when Lou Xiao'e went back to work at the neighborhood office, Lin Zhen's next step would surely be to aim for Workshop Director.

At that time, whether at the factory or in the courtyard, he would be completely suppressed.

Old Yi alone had already stripped him of his authority in the courtyard.

To be suppressed by a young man on top of that would truly make him lose face as Second Elder.

No.

He had to find a way to expose him.

Although Lin Zhen's conduct was somewhat arrogant, there were no real faults to pick.

On the matter of his character, he was practically unassailable.

The only point where fault could be found was the background of his wife, Lou Xiao'e.

Even though her parents and sister had gone abroad and cut ties with her.

It was still possible that it was just an act for outsiders.

Could their most beloved youngest daughter really be abandoned so easily?

There must be contact, perhaps she had left Lou Xiao'e some gold and silver.

As long as he could find evidence of this, Lou Xiao'e's return to work at the neighborhood office would be impossible.

Lin Zhen would be disciplined because of his wife's affairs and wouldn't be able to become Workshop Director.

Their family of six would have to live precariously in the courtyard, and their dream of suppressing him, Second Elder Liu Haizhong, would be just that – a dream!

Yes!

That's the plan!

It was difficult to find evidence during the day, so he would search in the dead of night!

Although the Lou family had moved away, they must have left something behind. As long as he found their tracks, this matter would be settled!

When a person is suffering from insomnia, focusing on just one thing can easily lead them down a rabbit hole.

Liu Haizhong had fallen into this very rabbit hole.

He was terrified that Lin Zhen would suppress him both in the courtyard and at the factory.

He immediately put on his clothes, grabbed a flashlight, and went out.

He didn't even consider that the Lou family had moved out so many years ago, and the Lou family's warehouse and house had already been confiscated.

What tracks could he possibly find?

But those who scheme behind people's backs are the most prone to delusion.

He, meanwhile, took advantage of the dark, deserted night and pushed his bicycle out.

As he pushed it to the central courtyard, he was afraid Lin Zhen might hear him, so he picked up the bicycle and walked slowly outward.

Lin Zhen's body technique cultivation had reached the realm of unity between man and nature.

Even if he were truly asleep, he would have 100% awareness of any unusual movements outside.

If it were a normal person going to the public restroom in the middle of the night, passing through the front courtyard would absolutely not wake him.

But Liu Haizhong's commotion immediately pulled Lin Zhen from his sleep.

Lin Zhen frowned.

Heavy steps, slow pace.

Was it Jia Zhangshi or Liu Haizhong?

Why was he walking so slowly? Sleepwalking?

Lin Zhen rolled over, got up, and went to the window, lifting a corner of the curtain to look outside.

Liu Haizhong was actually carrying a bicycle and tiptoeing out.

"It's the middle of the night... are you going out to steal?"

Lin Zhen chuckled, not wanting to get involved.

But he found it too funny and gently woke his wife, Lou Xiao'e.

"Wife, there's a show to watch."

Lou Xiao'e, still groggy, chuckled, "What's gotten into you so late at night?"

"Heh, you're thinking about the wrong thing. Liu Haizhong is sneaking out with his bicycle like a thief."

Lou Xiao'e sounded disappointed, "Oh, that? What's so interesting about that."

She rolled over to go back to sleep, then suddenly remembered something from the morning.

"Hey? Zhen, there's something I forgot to tell you. I don't know if it has anything to do with Second Elder going out in the middle of the night."

"What is it?"

"This morning, Aunt Liu came to talk to me about working at the neighborhood office. Second Aunt happened to overhear. She gave me a suspicious look. I didn't talk to her, but am I being too suspicious by suspecting Second Elder because of this?"

Lin Zhen understood 80% of it instantly.

"My dear wife, there's no one good in this courtyard. It's right to be suspicious of them. Liu Haizhong is probably planning something bad. I need to follow him and see."

"Huh? Is he really going to do something bad?"

"Hmph, when I taught Silly Zhu a lesson and forced the Deaf Old Lady out last night, he was on the sidelines, his face pale. This guy is no good. You go to sleep, I'll go take a look."

"Be careful on your way!"

"Don't worry, mwah!"

Lin Zhen changed into some light clothing, put on a hat and a mask.

He gently opened the door and ran out like a gust of wind.

Lou Xiao'e was amazed. Her husband ran through the night without making a sound.

Wasn't this the kind of skill only martial arts heroes had in the storybooks?

Is my husband a martial arts hero?

Oh my god! I'm so lucky!

Lou Xiao'e drifted off to sleep, dreaming sweetly.

Lin Zhen was already half a li behind. He ran like a swallow dipping into water, easily keeping pace with Liu Haizhong's bicycle.

In this era, there were very few militia patrols at night.

So the streets were very quiet.

Lin Zhen could follow Liu Haizhong closely just by listening to the sound of his bicycle.

But Liu Haizhong couldn't tell he was being followed.

After many twists and turns, Liu Haizhong arrived at the Lou family's former residence.

It had already been converted into an office for some unit.

Liu Haizhong slapped his forehead, finally realizing he had the wrong place.

After thinking carefully, he remembered that the Lou family's former servant was still in the city. He might as well go check there.

He'd consider tonight a reconnaissance mission. If there was another chance later, he'd investigate further.

If all else failed, he'd find clues directly from Lou Xiao'e.

With that thought, Liu Haizhong immediately rode his bicycle to the Lou family's servant's house.

He was determined to get to the bottom of things tonight. He had to find Lou Xiao'e's weakness.

From a distance, Lin Zhen had already jumped into a tree and seen everything clearly.

Good for you, Liu Haizhong.

Who would come here when everyone in the courtyard was fine?

It was obvious he was trying to dig up old dirt on my wife, Lou Xiao'e.

Of the three elders, Yi Zhonghai is a hypocrite, Yan Bugui is stingy, but if you want to talk about a real villain, you're number one.

It's a good thing my wife said that extra sentence today, otherwise I wouldn't have known you were plotting behind my back.

Seeing Liu Haizhong's direction of travel, Lin Zhen recognized the route to Lou Xiao'e's servant's house.

It's confirmed, Liu Haizhong is here to dredge up the past.

I'll let you dredge it up!

Lin Zhen leaped down from the tree, pulled a wooden stick from the green belt, and wanted to chase after him and hit him with it.

But then he thought better of it. Solving it with one blow was not as good as letting him suffer the consequences slowly.

Anyway, your three sons are unfilial, and their suffering is yet to come!

Since you're playing dirty behind my back, I'll return the favor and teach you a lesson behind your back too.

With that thought, Lin Zhen sped up, bypassed several intersections, and waited at the intersection ahead of Liu Haizhong.

A minute later, Liu Haizhong rode his bicycle over, and he wasn't going slow.

Lin Zhen's lips curled into a smirk. Spotting his chance, he quickly threw a wooden stick.

Crack! The wooden stick went straight into the front wheel of the bicycle.

Clang!

"Ouch!"

The bicycle was thrown off course by the stick, and Liu Haizhong flew out more than two meters, landing face-first.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhen had already left the scene in a good mood.

Whether Liu Haizhong lived or died was up to his own luck.