Chapter 85

The footsteps outside the main gate grew nearer, Zhao Jianguo raised his hand to signal. Sha Zhu immediately shut his mouth, Jia Dongxu also stopped talking, and the three of them stared intently at the old wooden door.

The door was pushed open a crack, revealing half a face— it was He Yushui.

"I thought you were having a meeting," she leaned forward, "but the whole courtyard is as still as statues."

"We've been waiting for you," Zhao Jianguo exhaled, "If you don't come soon, Sha Zhu will get sick from holding it in."

"I ran into Qin Huairu on the way; she insisted on giving us both some steamed buns, saying night patrols are hard." He Yushui took the dry rations from her pocket and placed them on the stone table, "I told her this time we're not wandering aimlessly; we're an organized, equipped regular army."

"Regular troops also eat buns," Sha Zhu snatched one, took a big bite, "It's better than gnawing on cold flatbread."

Zhao Jianguo didn't smile, lowered his head, took several brass pieces from the Cloth Bundle, laid them on the table like chess pieces. "Yesterday the string of bells on the west wall rang oddly; we relied on ears to hear and legs to run, an accident was bound to happen. Starting tonight, we change the rules."

"What new rule?" Jia Dongxu leaned in.

"Install an alarm," Zhao Jianguo pointed at the components on the table, "Run wires to five points; whoever touches one, the light here in the Central Courtyard lights up and the Speaker sounds. No guessing, no shouting, you know exactly where the problem is."

Yanbugui, leaning on a bamboo pole, swayed out of the house, his ears sharp: "What you're doing isn't installing an alarm; you're trying to turn the Siheyuan into an armory?"

"I wouldn't call it an armory," Zhao Jianguo looked up, "but at least we need to let anyone who wants to touch the walls hear whether the electric bell rings or not."

The others gathered around, chattering with many questions. Zhao Jianguo wasn't in a hurry, explaining each point: the copper wire runs along the Wall Base buried in the soil, inconspicuous; the trigger uses a spring leaf with a magnet, so when a door or window opens the circuit breaks and alarms; the main control box is hidden in a secret compartment behind the Main Hall wall, appearing from outside as a loose old brick.

"Then why does your light turn on?" Sha Zhu pointed at the two small bulbs.

"It lights up when powered," Zhao Jianguo twisted it, "I have batteries; if they're insufficient I can salvage one from a radio. The key is the signal must be precise—one flash means the main gate; two flashes, the west wall; three flashes, the back alley. Hear a movement, don't run; first check the light."

"What if the light fails?" He Yushui asked.

"Then we blow the whistle," Zhao Jianguo took a newly made copper whistle from his chest, "two short blasts and one long, the whole courtyard assembles. It's more effective than you shouting."

"Sounds impressive," Yanbugui stroked his chin, "but who can guarantee this thing actually works?"

"We'll know after testing," Zhao Jianguo stood up, "Now we assign tasks. Sha Zhu go to the main gate and East Room to install door magnets; Dong Xu handles the west wall and back alley, laying the main line; He Yushui records data, noting the voltage at each junction and the response speed; Uncle Yan, you watch the Schedule Board, from tomorrow onward, technical defense and human defense go together."

"Then what are you going to do?" Sha Zhu asked, chewing a bun.

"I'll adjust the main control," Zhao Jianguo patted the small wooden box with a light at the table corner, "Who said I'm the only one who can read circuit diagrams?"

"Wow, you've become a technician," Sha Zhu laughed, "From now on we'll call you Zhao Gong."

"Just call me Jianguo," he smiled, "If you want a higher title, you'd have to call me Director."

The group burst into laughter, the tense atmosphere eased a bit. After tasks were assigned, everyone scattered to their duties. Zhao Jianguo didn't hurry away; he crouched by the stone table and drew another sketch, linking the five alarm points into a network, labeling them. After finishing, he slipped it into his pocket, stood up and brushed the dust off his trousers.

The afternoon sun hadn't set yet, and the courtyard was already ringing nonstop. Sha Zhu stood on a stool, attaching copper plates to the door frame, humming a drama tune; Jia Dongxu squatted at the base of the west wall, one hand holding pliers, the other pulling wire, sweat beading on his forehead; He Yushui sat on a small horse stool, notebook spread on her lap, pencil scribbling back and forth, occasionally looking up to ask, "Which number joint is this?"

Zhao Jianguo wandered back and forth, glancing at the wiring, listening for feedback, occasionally squatting to rewrap a piece of tape. Once he reached out to steady a crooked wire stake, accidentally scraping the back of his hand, which burned with a sharp pain. He shook his hand, saying nothing.

As dusk fell, the first round of installation was essentially finished. Zhao Jianguo gathered everyone in the Central Courtyard, carrying an Oil Lamp in his hand.

"Now let's test it once," he said, "I'll personally run the line on the west wall, you all stay in the Central Courtyard and watch the light."

"Should we turn off the light first?" He Yushui asked.

"No need," Zhao Jianguo shook his head, "When a real alarm comes, we can't turn off the light first."

He walked alone toward the west wall, his silhouette stretched thin by the streetlamp. Reaching the base of a locust tree, he reached out and tugged the loop concealed among the vines—

Snap!

The light on the Central Courtyard table flashed twice sharply, then three short "beep-beep-beep" sounds rang out from the wooden box, crisp and clean.

"Got it!" Sha Zhu slapped his thigh.

"The light lit quickly, and the sound was clear," He Yushui lowered her head to note the time, "Response: thirteen seconds."

"Seven seconds faster than the last time I ran there," Jia Dongxu grinned, "This time I can get there without falling."

Zhao Jianguo walked back, a smile finally appearing on his face, "Not perfect, but sufficient. Next we practice coordination—when the alarm sounds, who investigates, who blocks, who reports, everyone must be as fluent as flipping a wok."

"Then I'll guard the main gate," Sha Zhu volunteered, "Anyone who wants to slip through the entrance must first ask me for permission."

"The back alley is mine," Jia Dongxu said, "It's dark there, easy to hide people."

"I'll stay in the Central Courtyard watching the light," He Yushui pointed at the main control box, "If I see it lit, I'll shout for people."

"Alright," Zhao Jianguo nodded, "Tonight at nine, we'll conduct a formal drill once."

After the Meal Ticket break, a short rest, just past eight-thirty, everyone was in position. Zhao Jianguo personally took his place in the Central Courtyard, gripping the record board, eyes fixed on the light.

At exactly nine o'clock, he quietly left his post, slipped to the back alley corner, gave the line a gentle tug—

The light flashed three times, the buzzer shrieked.

In less than twenty seconds, Jia Dongxu brandished his staff and rushed to the back alley entrance, Sha Zhu cut a shortcut through the Kitchen to block the retreat, Yanbugui stood at the doorway blowing the assembly whistle, and He Yushui ran in with the light on, reporting the time.

"Fifteen seconds," she recited, "faster than before."

"Dong Xu's route was correct, but the turn was too sharp; you almost hit the wall," Zhao Jianguo commented, "Next time stick to the edge, don't rush."

"Understood," Jia Dongxu panted, nodding.

"Also," Zhao Jianguo turned to Sha Zhu, "Coming out of the Kitchen was right, but the pile of cabbage in front of the stove needs to be moved; it's blocking the way."

"I'll move it first thing tomorrow morning," Sha Zhu scratched his head, "But if you say a thief really comes, we also need to consider the route?"

"Thieves don't care about details, but we must," Zhao Jianguo said seriously, "They rely on surprise attacks; we rely on preparation. Whoever prepares more will win."

After one round ended, the group was still eager. Zhao Jianguo didn't let them disperse; he organized a second round, this time directing remotely, simulating multiple simultaneous alarms.

"Suppose the west wall and back alley alarm together, what do we do?" he asked.

"We can't split forces," Yanbugui replied immediately, "First hold one point, and send someone to watch the other."

"Right," Zhao Jianguo nodded, "Priorities set—west wall is the breakthrough, must have personnel there immediately; back alley is a dead end, we can set traps to delay."

He Yushui suddenly raised her hand, "How about we scatter some crushed coal slag on the back alley floor? Footsteps would make noise when stepped on."

"Good idea," Zhao Jianguo noted, "Add it in tomorrow."

After three consecutive drills, response time dropped from fifteen seconds to under ten, and the procedure became smoother. When the final test ended, it was already past eleven at night.

Zhao Jianguo told everyone to go rest, staying himself in the Central Courtyard to re‑inspect the main control box. The batteries were fully charged, the wiring had no slack, and the five small lights lay quietly, like five cats with eyes open.

He sat on a small stool, took a brass plate from his pocket, engraved with "Number One". He had forged it overnight, intending to give it tomorrow to the first on‑duty technician.

The wind swept over the wall top, rustling the paper windows. He looked up at the night sky, the moon hidden behind clouds, the courtyard silent.

But this time, he no longer felt that this silence was empty.

Now it is full.

Someone watches, there is a net guard, and a light is on.

He placed the copper badge into the bottom layer of the main control box, closed the lid, and casually tightened the fixing screw.

Footsteps came from outside the door.

He looked up.

It was Sha Zhu, wearing a thick coat, holding a warm water kettle.

"I poured you some hot water," he said, "It's cool at night, don't let your brain freeze."

"You aren't sleeping?"

"I'm sleeping," Sha Zhu grinned, "But when I wake up and see the light still on, I know you're definitely here."

Zhao Jianguo took the kettle, unscrewed it and took a sip.

The heat flowed down his throat.

"Starting tomorrow," he said, "Shift work adds one rule—whoever is on night duty must carry a whistle, wear a copper badge, and sign in."

"Then I'll be the first to sign," Sha Zhu pulled out a pencil, "What name should I write?"

"Writing 'Engineer Zhao' works," Zhao Jianguo smiled, "Just don't write it wrong."

Sha Zhu squatted down and wrote the name stroke by stroke in the duty log.

Zhao Jianguo stared at that line of characters and said nothing more.

In the distance, a train whistle blew, low and lingering.

He reached out and touched the side of the main control box, where a tiny "86" was engraved.