The Courtyard House: The story begins with He Yuzhu beating up the White Widow.

Yan Jiefang said, "Brother, something's not right about what you just said! It's completely different from what you used to say."

Yan Jiecheng said, "Liberation! Our family's class background has already determined our future. To put it bluntly, even if we work hard and are better than others, good things will never come our way. Rather than working hard for nothing, we might as well just drift along. We didn't have the right skills when we were born, and we can't blame anyone else but ourselves." After saying that, Yan Jiecheng left.

Yan Jiefang watched Yan Jiecheng's retreating figure, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Inside the room, Yan Bugui had heard every word Yan Jie had just said, down to the last detail. At this moment, it was impossible for Yan Bugui not to regret it. But there's no medicine for regret in this world. However, even if there were, Yan Bugui might not be willing to take it.

On Monday morning, He Daqing brought his wife to the factory. After dropping her off at the warehouse, He Daqing parked his bicycle and went straight to the canteen kitchen.

"Master He, you're here really early!" Master Guo Dongjiang handed a cigarette to He Daqing.

He Daqing took the cigarette and said, "Old Guo, judging by your expression, what's up?!"

Guo Dongjiang said, "Master He, you really have a keen eye! My eldest son has been staying at home since graduating from junior high school. I want him to learn a trade."

He Daqing said, "Learning a skill is good! Although our trade no longer emphasizes three years of apprenticeship and two years of service like before, some rules cannot be broken. Learning to cook starts with learning to be a good person. I understand what you mean. If you really want your son to learn from me, then bring him here, and I'll take a look. If we're meant to be, I'll take him on. If not, then forget it, and you can find him another teacher."

Guo Dongjiang was overjoyed after hearing He Daqing's words and said, "Master He, I'm relieved to hear that!"

He Daqing said, "Old Guo, take my advice. If you have the chance, send your son to work in the factory. The wages are higher there, and it's respectable."

Guo Dongjiang said, "The wages in the workshop are high and respectable. But even a cook won't starve in a famine. We all came from the old society. We've all tasted the bitterness of hunger. Although life is pretty good now, what if we encounter a disaster year?! Can those iron machines in the workshop fill our stomachs?!"

He Daqing smiled, said nothing more, and prepared to go to the back to change his clothes. Just then, the cafeteria manager, Hong Defu, rushed in from outside, and seeing He Daqing, he exclaimed excitedly, "Old He!" as if seeing his own father.

He Daqing stopped and asked, "Director, what's the matter?!"

Hong Defu asked, "Master He, I heard your son can get his hands on fresh vegetables?!"

He Daqing asked, "Director, where did you hear that from?!"

Hong Defu said, "My brother-in-law works in the joint defense team in your area. I heard it from him. It's almost the end of the year, and the factory has a lot of banquets planned. We can't just let the guests eat cabbage, potatoes, and radishes, can we?! There should be some green things on the table, no matter what!"

He Daqing said, "My son did set up a small greenhouse in the military control commission specifically for growing vegetables. But these vegetables are all for their own consumption; they're not sold outside!"

Hong Defu said, "Master He, I won't beat around the bush. I made sure to inquire before coming to you. Could you ask your son to help us figure out a way to allocate some resources to us this year? There's a vacant lot behind our canteen. It's not a big piece of land, and we can't build a house there. I was thinking of having your son build a greenhouse for us next year. As for the cost of building the greenhouse, I've discussed it with the factory leaders and will give him a job opening."

He Daqing said, "Old Hong, you've got a clever plan. But unfortunately, you've completely miscalculated. My son doesn't lack work. Besides, building a greenhouse requires a kind of plastic film. My son accidentally got hold of a large roll of it. Apart from building a greenhouse at the Military Control Commission, the rest were all taken away by the higher-ups. You can't cook without rice; even if my son wanted to come, it wouldn't make a difference."

Hong Defu was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Old He, is there really no other way?!"

He Daqing said, "Old Hong, we've known each other for quite a while. Don't you know what kind of person I am?! Would I refuse to do something I can do?!"

Hong Defu immediately showed a regretful expression and said, "Then I'll think of another way."

"Okay!" He Daqing responded, watching Hong Defu leave before heading to the back changing room. Just moments ago, He Daqing had really wanted to agree to supply vegetables to the canteen, but remembering He Yuzhu's earlier reminder, he decided it was better to avoid trouble. After all, as long as his family had enough to eat, that was fine.

At the same time, Jia Dongxu walked to his workstation, ready to start working. Niu Sanduo, who worked at the next workstation, walked up to Jia Dongxu with a cigarette dangling from his lips and asked, "Little Jia, did you see your master yesterday?!"

Jia Dongxu squinted at Niu Sanduo and said, "Old Niu, now I know why your parents named you Niu Sanduo!"

Niu Sanduo said dismissively, "I really don't know what you're thinking. You actually recognize a thief as your father."

Jia Dongxu said, "Regardless of whether I've recognized a thief as my father, at least I still have a father. What do you have?!"

Everyone in the workshop knew about Niu Sanduo's situation. Niu Sanduo's mother used to work in a brothel. Later, as she got older and her beauty faded, she quit. The day after she left the brothel, while out buying things, she found a baby in the snow. That baby was Niu Sanduo.

"Jia Dongxu! You're asking for it!" No sooner had Jia Dongxu finished speaking than Niu Sanduo yelled and swung his fist at him. Jia Dongxu instinctively dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding Niu Sanduo's punch. Jia Dongxu wasn't one to back down easily. Without a word, he started fighting with Niu Sanduo.

"What are you doing?! What are you doing?!" Halfway through their fight, Jia Dongxu and Niu Sanduo were confronted by workshop foreman Ma Tenghua. Bystanders, seeing the foreman arrive, immediately pulled the two apart. Ma Tenghua looked at Jia Dongxu, then at Niu Sanduo, and demanded, "Are you two too idle?! Fighting in the factory so early in the morning?!"

Jia Dongxu quickly defended himself, saying, "Director, it wasn't me who wanted to fight Niu Sanduo. Niu Sanduo brought it on himself!" Then Jia Dongxu recounted what had just happened.

After listening to Jia Dongxu's account, Ma Tenghua looked at Niu Sanduo and asked, "Is it the same as what Jia Dongxu said?!"

Although Niu Sanduo was unwilling, he still nodded and admitted that Jia Dongxu was right.

Ma Tenghua said, "According to the rules, it wouldn't be unreasonable to deduct your wages and give you a major demerit for what you just did. But since this is your first offense, I'll give you a chance to reform. Today, the entire workshop's work of moving rough ingots will be your responsibility." With that, Ma Tenghua turned and left.