Chapter 220

The nests of feudal remnant forces were successively uprooted, the wave of propaganda and education swept through streets and alleys, the three elders in the siheyuan daily drooped their heads to go to the street office to 'study'; on the surface it seemed everything had settled, and that gloomy incense aura was also dispersed by the new era's sunlight disc player.

But in Li Ping'an's office, the atmosphere was even more solemn than before. Wang Dahu's latest interrogation report, like a block of cold ice, sank into his heart that had never relaxed.

"Section Chief, those stubborn elements' mouths have finally been pried open a crack." Wang Dahu's voice was kept very low, with a hint of disbelief: "They confessed that from above… occasionally some 'divine edicts' would be transmitted, instructing them to focus on certain factories, certain technical personnel's situations, and even… hinted at manufacturing minor accidents to disrupt production."

Li Ping'an took the report, his eyes quickly scanning the shocking testimonies. The so-called 'divine edicts' were not ethereal ghostly instructions, but extremely covert operational orders hidden within obscure scriptures and superstitious directives! They ordered them to pay attention to the homes, family situations, and daily routines of several eighth-grade fitters and engineers at the Steel Rolling Mill, and even once explicitly demanded they arrange a 'small fire' near the factory's material warehouse, the reason being 'to dispel bad luck'!

How is this feudal superstition? This is clearly a special agent's order cloaked in the guise of gods and ghosts!

"Indeed… birds of a feather flock together, rats in the same hole!" Li Ping'an slammed the report onto the table, his eyes icy cold. His earlier suspicion was correct; behind this feudal remnant, the shadow of enemy agents indeed swayed! They used the populace's ignorance and fear as cover, turning those brainwashed believers into pawns to be moved at will, even sacrificed, for intelligence gathering and sabotage! Their hearts deserve death!

"Investigate! Follow this lead and dig deep for me!" Li Ping'an's voice was as if chilled with ice: "See which 'immortal' is issuing orders from behind! Focus on probing their channels of contact with the outside world, and how those so-called 'divine edicts' are transmitted in!"

"Yes!" Wang Dahu sensed the gravity of the situation and immediately set off to carry out the order.

Li Ping'an stood alone by the window, anger and chill surging in his chest. The enemy's cunning and lack of scruples once again exceeded his imagination.

From Zhu Yeqing to Lao Mao, and now to these shadows lurking behind the incense burner, they are like bone-eating maggots, constantly changing form, trying to erode the body of the new society. To struggle against these deeply hidden, vile enemies, one must have the patience to unravel silk from cocoons and the force of thunder!

In the siheyuan, the surface seemed to have resumed its usual rhythm, but subtle changes were still occurring.

The three elders went to the street office to study every day, becoming a 'beautiful' sight in the courtyard.

Yi Zhonghai grew ever more silent, as if wanting to shrink himself into his shell.

Liu Haizhong still tried to maintain dignity, but his confidence was insufficient; even when scolding his son he appeared outwardly strong but inwardly weak.

Yan Bu Gui sighed, feeling that his role as one of the three elders was a great loss, calculating whether, after the study ended, he should proactively resign to avoid further trouble.

Having learned from this lesson, Jia Zhangshi, though pained by the loss, no longer dared to openly practice superstition, but in private she would still hold her grandson Bang Geng and mutter, praying to the 'Heavenly Lord' for blessings.

Qin Huairu's milk supply was insufficient, her child cried day and night from hunger, yet Jia Zhangshi clung tightly to the money for nutritional supplements, instead blaming Qin Huairu for being 'incapable', unable even to feed the child. Listening to her son's cries, Qin Huairu's heart felt like being cut by a knife, but she could only silently shed tears.

In the west wing courtyard, however, it was another scene.

Li Ping'le indeed kept his promise; after work he rushed to do chores, taking care of his sister-in-law Lin Xueqing in every detail.

Lin Xueqing's pregnancy reactions gradually subsided, her appetite improved considerably, and her face became more radiant.

Li Ping'an returned home to see his wife's complexion improved, his sister sensible and capable; only then did the chill brought by external turmoil in his heart begin to be slightly dispelled by the family's warmth.

But he did not let down his guard. He instructed Li Ping'le that besides taking care of his sister-in-law in daily life, he should also pay more attention to movements in the courtyard, especially any abnormal words or deeds of certain people.

Li Ping'le, though not fully grasping the deeper meaning, saw his brother's solemn expression and earnestly kept it in mind.

That evening, Yan Bu Gui returned from street-office study with his head down, and while washing his hands at the sink, he couldn't help complaining to the Third Elder (San Dama) who was washing vegetables: '……Studying those rules and regulations every day, what use is it? Can it really stop those who play at spirits and ghosts? I think it's just going through the motions……'

His words were not loud, but they happened to be heard by Li Ping'le, who was passing by the Central Courtyard on his way to fetch water. The little girl recalled her brother's admonition, kept it in mind, and after returning home she related this to Li Ping'an.

Upon hearing this, Li Ping'an's eyes flickered slightly. Yan Bu Gui's words, though seeming like a complaint, also revealed a passive and numb mindset. Such a mindset is precisely the soil most easily exploited by the enemy.

After this blow, the three elders' prestige suffered, management grew lax; this courtyard…… seemed to need a pair of vigilant eyes more than ever before.

He didn't say much to his sister, just patted her head: 'Ping'le did right; from now on, if you hear anything that feels off, you can tell brother.'

A few days later, word came again from Wang Dahu's side.

Through deep investigation into the fund flows of the feudal remnant forces and the social relations of several core members, a faint clue emerged, pointing to an employee working at the Trust Store.

On the surface he had no connection to any faction, but a distant relative of his had once served as a minor official under the old regime, and moreover had extremely secret monetary dealings, conveyed through intermediaries, with the earliest captured 'Lao Mao', the Deaf Old Lady.

'Trust Store…' Li Ping'an's finger lightly tapped the marked point on the map.

There, personnel movement is complex and sources of goods wide; it is indeed an excellent spot for transmitting information and items. That employee is very likely the 'dark line' linking the feudal remnant forces to the enemy agents behind the scenes, responsible for transmitting the 'divine edicts' and operational funds!

'Strictly monitor this person, uncover his upstream and downstream connections, as well as his activity patterns. Without my order, no action is to be taken!' Li Ping'an commanded. What he wanted was not a small fish, but to follow this line and root out the hidden source deep within that emanates the 'divine edicts'!

Night fell again, lights lit up in every household of the siheyuan. The three elders went out to study once more, and the courtyard became noticeably quieter than usual.

Li Ping'an stood by the window of the west wing courtyard, gazing at the hibiscus standing silent in the cold winter. Its branches were bare, yet they harbored the vigor to burst forth next year.

The encrypted telegram code beneath the incense burner has been deciphered, the poisonous snake lurking in the dark has already exposed its trail. He knows the moment to close the net is approaching. This time he will bury completely those monsters hiding behind the gods' masks, together with their vile plots.

The cold wind howled, sweeping up the fallen leaves. A final showdown revolving around faith and betrayal, defense and destruction, has silently drawn its last curtain. And the warrior has already lain with his weapon at dawn, ready.