Chapter 694: Nine Gates Commandant

Zhou Zhengyang Gate

Cao Cao Weiguo stood at the alley entrance with the Industrial Correction Team. Li Dong ran over hurriedly: "Leader! We can move now!"

"Then move! Charge!"

Cao Cao Weiguo raised his right hand and waved it, and the team members, who had been waiting in battle array, quickly rushed into the Sihe Academy.

"Bang!"

"Ah!"

"Don't move!"

"Don't move!"

"What are you doing?"

"Don't move!"

"We won't move! We won't move!"

Suddenly, there was a commotion inside the Sihe Academy. Old Master Guan, who had been lying on a rattan chair sunning himself, was shocked, and his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter were so frightened they huddled into a ball.

Li Dong walked up to Old Master Guan with a cold sneer: "Old Master Guan, I've long heard of your great name. Seeing you today, you certainly have a lot of airs. I heard you have a title, 'Nine Gates Commandant'? I want to ask you, the Great Qing is gone, which nine gates are you in charge of, old man?"

Looking at the sarcastic Li Dong and the aggressive Industrial Correction Team members, Old Master Guan's heart sank, but he stood up calmly: "Little comrade, 'Nine Gates Commandant' is just a joke the neighbors play with me. I am just an ordinary, common citizen."

Li Dong pointed into the house and sneered: "You are no common citizen, old man. Can a common citizen have so many antiques and curios in their home?"

Old Master Guan's heart skipped a beat; he knew trouble had arrived.

However, being an old hand in the world, even with disaster looming, he remained composed: "Little comrade, these things of mine are all heirlooms left by my ancestors. I know these things are feudal dross, and I have long wanted to throw them away or smash them. But whenever I think of them as keepsakes from my ancestors, I can't bring myself to do it. Now it's good that you have come; you can help this old man out. Please, work hard and throw all this feudal dross away. I can finally make a clean break with the old society!"

"Clap, clap, clap! Good! Old Master Guan has good awareness! Since you say so, we will help you with this favor! Comrades! Help the old master clear out the feudal dross!"

Li Dong smiled and clapped. At his shout, the team members rushed into the house like wolves and tigers. Whatever they could see—bottles, jars, tables, or chairs—was all carried away.

Old Master Guan's expression was indifferent, strangely calm.

His son and daughter-in-law huddled against the wall, trembling.

"What are you doing! These are my family's things! Put them down!"

Guan Guan Xiaoguan, who was still in elementary school, rushed out and grabbed a grand armchair, refusing to let go.

Old Master Guan walked over and pulled Guan Guan Xiaoguan away: "Guan Xiaoguan, let go!"

Guan Guan Xiaoguan said angrily: "Grandpa! These are our family's things."

Old Master Guan: "These are all old things, broken and in the way. These comrades are helping us clean up the trash. Don't disturb them; go stay with your parents."

"Guan Xiaoguan, come here!"

Old Master Guan's daughter-in-law called Guan Guan Xiaoguan to her side, grabbing her arm tightly: "You are too bold. You are not allowed to move or speak nonsense anymore."

One by one, the old items were carried out of the Sihe Academy and piled onto flatbed tricycles. Such a commotion drew the neighbors out to watch.

Han Chunming asked in surprise: "Mom! What's going on? Why are these people moving Old Master Guan's things away!"

Mother Han warned in a low voice: "Don't talk nonsense, go back inside."

Mother Su shook her head: "I said long ago that those old items in Old Master Guan's house were a root of disaster. They couldn't be kept; sooner or later, something would happen."

Cao Cao Weiguo stood beside the flatbed cart, his eyes brightening as he looked at the bottles and jars: "Handle with care, cover them with a tarp once full."

Liu Liu Limin nodded: "Understood, Master."

Cao Cao Weiguo said to Ma Liang: "Go and call Old Master Guan over."

"I'm going right now."

Ma Liang responded and turned to walk quickly into the Sihe Academy.

In a moment, Old Master Guan arrived at Cao Cao Weiguo's side.

Cao Cao Weiguo toyed with a purple clay teapot: "Old Master Guan, I know your house has hidden treasures. Given your advanced age, I will leave you some face. Tonight, I will send people to take away and destroy the things you have privately hidden. Of course, you can also refuse my kindness."

Hearing this, Old Master Guan's heart jumped to his throat. He subconsciously clenched his fists, feeling both panic and anger.

After a few breaths, Old Master Guan pulled a long face and said calmly: "I am the fish on the chopping block; how would I dare refuse your kindness?"

Cao Cao Weiguo smiled: "Worthy of the Nine Gates Commandant, you understand the big picture and have awareness. Thank you, old comrade, for supporting our work."

Old Master Guan pulled a long face: "Eliminating feudal dross is what I should do. I should be the one thanking you for leaving me some face. Dare I ask, comrade, what is your name? I will come to thank you in person later."

Cao Cao Weiguo smiled: "Old Master Guan is too polite. My name is Cao Cao Weiguo, currently the Deputy Director of the Red Star Rolling Mill Committee. There is no need for thanks; this is just my duty. I hope you won't hold a grudge against me."

Ever since he accidentally heard the name of the Nine Gates Commandant, Cao Cao Weiguo had been thinking about it.

The antiques and cultural relics collected by Old Master Guan were all rare treasures.

With fat meat placed right by his mouth, how could he not eat it?

As for whether this was moral or not?

Who cares?

How much is morality worth per catty?

He wasn't just going to eat this piece of fat meat, the Nine Gates Commandant; another big collector, Broken-Down Hou, wouldn't be able to escape either.

After working for over half an hour, Old Master Guan's house was stripped bare, leaving only four walls and the earthen kang.

Cao Cao Weiguo turned his head and instructed Ma Liang: "Put the things in the warehouse, lock it up, and no one is allowed in without my permission."

Ma Liang said solemnly: "Yes!"

Cao Cao Weiguo turned to Li Dong: "Next target, double-time march!"

"Yes!"

"Follow me!"

Li Dong signaled his team members, and they ran toward Broken-Down Hou's residence.

Seeing Cao Cao Weiguo and his group leave, Old Master Guan's expression became incomparably gloomy.

His daughter-in-law rushed to his side and complained: "Dad! I told you long ago these things were a disaster. I told you to hide them well, but you wouldn't listen. Now look, they've come to raid the house. It's lucky they didn't arrest anyone, otherwise, tell me, what would happen to our family?"

Old Master Guan turned to his daughter-in-law: "Shut your mouth! When is it your turn to gossip in this house!"

He was an old acquaintance of the neighborhood office director, but he hadn't received any news until these people broke into his home, which showed this matter wasn't simple.

With a long face, Old Master Guan left his home and found the neighborhood office director.

The neighborhood office director sighed: "Old Guan, I can only say one thing: cooperate well with the work."

With these words, Old Master Guan's heart went cold.

Before he could return home, news that Broken-Down Hou's house had been emptied also spread.

This made his heart even heavier.

That night, a small jeep drove to the entrance of the Sihe Academy.

Cao Cao Weiguo, with Li Dong and Liu Liu Limin, swaggered into the Guan residence.

In a short while, the jeep was packed full.

Watching helplessly as his treasured items were taken away, the famous Nine Gates Commandant didn't even dare to let out a fart.

The trend is irreversible!