Chapter 411: The Space Upgrade

"Auntie, if we make this deal, I guarantee Xu Damao's sentence will not exceed three years. Otherwise, if you come to trouble me every day, how am I supposed to live!" He Yuzhu patted his chest to guarantee it.

"Auntie believes you." The stone in Cui Xiu's heart finally landed, and a smile appeared on her face. "Zhuzi, then tell me, how should we handle this next?"

She had already begun to calculate in her heart that she must quietly purchase a house with this money and not tell Xu Damao yet. When the day comes that he truly cannot go on, she would leave him a way out—she seemed to have seen clearly that this son of hers would likely never settle down in this life.

"Then let's sign a formal contract." He Yuzhu took out a standard contract, and Cui Xiu, without even looking at it, prepared to sign.

"Auntie, wait a moment, I'll take a photo. After all, this jade belongs to Xu Damao; in case he denies it one day, I'll have evidence."

Cui Xiu nodded.

He Yuzhu then placed the jade and the contract together and took a photo at the moment Cui Xiu signed.

He knew that Xu Damao was a petty person; just because he wasn't causing trouble now didn't mean he wouldn't settle scores after the "wind rises" in the future.

The next morning, just as the sky turned white, He Yuzhu rushed to the Public Security Bureau Division One where Tian Dan was located.

He knocked on the door, heard a "come in" from inside, and pushed the door open to enter.

Tian Dan was hunched over her desk writing something; she looked up and was somewhat surprised to see him: "You came to work so early today? Perfect, how about you take over following up on that spy contact case?"

"Sister, I'm here to ask for a favor today." He Yuzhu approached the desk with a cheeky grin.

"For that Xu Damao?" Tian Dan put down her pen and leaned back. "Too bad, the leadership just set the tone for this case: it must be punished severely."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu's head went "buzz."

This was trouble; he had already accepted the item, and if he couldn't get the job done, he would lose a lot of face.

"Sister, you can't do this!" He Yuzhu widened his eyes. "You told me Xu Damao would get three years at most, so I went back and told his mother, and she even brought out a family heirloom..."

"What?" Tian Dan slapped the table. "You, a Cadre, actually dared to accept things from others; that is simply lawless!" Tian Dan glared hard at He Yuzhu.

"Sister, don't wrong me." He Yuzhu took the photo of the contract from his pocket and handed it over. "I bought it fair and square, at market price. I was afraid this wouldn't be clear, so I took a photo to keep as evidence."

Tian Dan took it and looked at it, then snorted: "You kid are truly rich; I couldn't earn this much money in twenty years!"

"Sister, you aren't old, why is your memory getting worse?" He Yuzhu said without changing his expression. "I am collecting items for Liu Rusi; I've told you this more than once, and she gave me plenty of funds."

"You kid have good luck, having someone support you." Tian Dan threw the photo back onto the table and tapped the desktop with her finger. "Fine, I'll go put in a good word for you. But, since the leadership has already decided, you can't expect me to go empty-handed, right?"

"Didn't you just hate bribery? Why the change of heart?" He Yuzhu laughed.

"I'm talking about sponsorship, not me personally asking you for money." Tian Dan picked up a fountain pen and spun it on her fingertip. "Since Liu Rusi is so rich, why not have her sponsor our bureau with a few cars, how about that?"

"I can't get cars from the Northern Automobile Factory." He Yuzhu scratched his head. "However, I do have a way to get some second-hand cars from Hong Kong. This time, it seems Liu Rusi had the Trade Company ship a few over... I'll get you three, is that okay? It would be best if that kid gets sentenced to a year or two; I've already bragged about it..." He walked up to Tian Dan and cupped his hands in a salute.

Tian Dan's eyes rolled, and she suddenly slapped the fountain pen onto the table with a "snap": "Five cars, and he gets sentenced to one year."

He Yuzhu felt a tug in his heart—those cars he brought back from Hong Kong were originally intended for his own collection... but thinking of that jade that could cause a massive system upgrade, he gritted his teeth: "Fine, I agree!"

A flash of cunning amusement crossed Tian Dan's eyes.

In fact, at yesterday's meeting, several leaders had discussed Xu Damao's case. Most believed that although he provided funds to enemy spies, he did not know the other party's identity as enemy spies, was merely greedy for money, and was under eighteen, so they had already intended to sentence him to one year as a warning. They hadn't expected to easily get five cars from He Yuzhu; now the police force's efficiency could be improved quite a bit.

She stood up, patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder, and said: "Don't give me that mournful face; I have some good news to tell you. Due to my repeated requests, this time it counts as you having performed a great service. The leaders have discussed it and specially appointed you as an Anti-Espionage Senior Consultant, Administrative Level 13, with Deputy Bureau Level benefits, and you get a salary. Your rank is even higher than mine, are you satisfied?"

He Yuzhu shook his head: "But I'm still working at the Automobile Factory, what about that?"

Tian Dan kicked him lightly: "Ungrateful! It's a Consultant position; no one is asking you to come sit in the office every day."

"That works, thank you, Sister." He Yuzhu chuckled. "Actually, I can lend you the Bentley that Liu Rusi gave me."

"Don't corrupt me; even if you gave it to me, I wouldn't dare sit in it. You keep it!" Tian Dan laughed and scolded.

"Then I'm off!" He Yuzhu turned around and slipped out with light steps.

Tian Dan sat back in her chair, looking at his retreating back, and couldn't help but laugh: "Truly a child who never grows up!"

He Yuzhu returned to the Siheyuan and went straight to find Cui Xiu.

"Auntie, about that Xu Damao matter..." He had just started when Cui Xiu grew anxious and interrupted him: "Is it not going to work?"

He Yuzhu shook his head and sighed: "I really lost out this time. Look at this—" He took out a donation statement and handed it over. "Originally they were going to sentence him to over twenty years; I had no choice but to have my sister donate five cars, worth one billion, before they agreed to a lighter sentence. Because of this, I even got scolded!"

Cui Xiu took the donation certificate and looked at it, instantly stunned, her lips trembling: "How about, how about I take the money back for you..."

"Forget it." He Yuzhu waved his hand. "My sister has money, so let her donate it; who told her to like that jade."

Cui Xiu stood there blankly, unable to say a word for a long time.

After a while, she bowed deeply and solemnly toward He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu returned home, closed the door, and couldn't wait to take out the Jade Dragon Head, holding it in his hands: "System, upgrade immediately, be quick!"

Before the words had even faded, the Jade Dragon Head went "whoosh" and vanished from his palm into thin air.

Immediately after, the system's originally mechanical voice changed, turning into a gentle and clear female voice: "Host, system upgrading, please wait..."

The waiting time felt exceptionally long. After about an hour, that gentle prompt sounded again: "System upgrade complete, please check, Host."

He Yuzhu's mind stirred, and he entered the space.

Upon entering, the overall space seemed more expansive than before, though the changes were not obvious; only the Planting Area had expanded quite a bit, stretching as far as the eye could see. The small lake in the center had also increased in size, its clear waves rippling slightly.

The Time Cabin built on the water had expanded more than tenfold; one could even drive a car inside.

"System, this upgrade, it feels like the changes aren't that big?" He Yuzhu looked around, his tone carrying a hint of undisguised disappointment.

"Host, please look at the panel." The gentle female voice fell, and the screen slowly unfolded before his eyes:

【Space State】

Total Area: 27 square kilometers

Planting Area: 1000 mu

【Physical Function】

Strength: 3 to 5 times that of an ordinary person (has reached human physiological limit)

Speed: 3 to 5 times that of an ordinary person (has reached human physiological limit)

【Space Ability】

Item Collection Distance: 10 meters

Collection Weight Limit: 100 tons

Environmental detection range: 200 meters

Marking Function - can mark and track specific targets

【Space Rules】

Planting area time flow rate: 6 times the outside world

Time Cabin time flow rate: 1/10 of the outside world

……

He Yuzhu read through it carefully and shook his head lightly.

The earth-shattering changes he had originally expected did not occur, but he was satisfied nonetheless; after all, the cost this time was not significant.

He Yuzhu had just withdrawn from the space when he suddenly heard a knocking sound from outside the door.

He opened the door and saw Yan Bugui standing outside, with a refined-looking young man following behind him.

He Yuzhu found the man unfamiliar, so he remained silent.

The man, however, took the initiative to speak: "My surname is Lin; we have met before."

He Yuzhu's thoughts shifted, and he guessed the visitor's identity.

A smile immediately bloomed on his face, and he said loudly: "So it is Brother Lin!" As he spoke, he conveniently pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and stuffed it into Yan Bugui's hand, "Many thanks to Third Master for bringing my brother in!"

Yan Bugui beamed with joy as he took the cigarettes and turned to leave.

He Yuzhu closed the door, and the smile on his face faded away completely in an instant.

He said in a deep voice: "Lin Wanning, what act are you trying to pull now? My sister recognizes you."