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

Wang Xia asked, "Zhu Zi, I'd like to entrust this matter to you. I wonder if you'd be willing to take it on?"

He Yuzhu shook his head heavily and said, "Aunt Wang, I can't do this. You should find someone else! But if you want me to come up with an idea, that's fine."

Wang Xia laughed and said, "I've figured it out. You're just lazy."

He Yuzhu said, "Aunt Wang, I'm not lazy, but I know exactly what I need, and what I can and cannot do."

Wang Xia laughed and said, "You're lazy, and you still won't admit it?! Better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond. Anyone else would have found a way to leave the Military Control Commission long ago. But you, I gave you the chance, and you still refused."

He Yuzhu said, "Aunt Wang, that's what they call having different ambitions."

"Oh, right!" Wang Xia changed the subject, saying, "The logistics department of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill contacted us, wanting to purchase a batch of vegetables from us."

He Yuzhu said, "Aunt Wang, the vegetables in the greenhouse are only enough for our own consumption. How can we possibly sell any more to Hongxing Steel Mill?! Besides, the vegetables in our greenhouse wouldn't even be enough to fill a gap in their teeth."

Wang Xia said, "That's what I told them too. But the steel rolling mill is about to be expanded. They are willing to give our military control committee some permanent positions."

He Yuzhu said, "Aunt Wang, will the quotas they've given us be enough to solve the problems of all the families of martyrs and soldiers in our jurisdiction?!"

Wang Xia exclaimed, "How is that possible?!"

He Yuzhu said slyly, "I heard that Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill is going to expand into a large factory with 6,000 employees. That's double the number."

Wang Xia said, "It sounds like we're recruiting a lot of people. But if we give all the positions the steel mill gave us to families of martyrs and soldiers, what will happen to all the unemployed people in our area who have reached the required age?!"

He Yuzhu said, "They can't expect our military control commission to do everything, can they?! If they want work, they should apply for jobs themselves. Our location is close to the steel mill, so our living quarters have a natural advantage. Besides, most of the people living in this area are steel mill workers. We all know each other. Our chances of getting hired are much higher than people from other places. And the most important point is accommodation. You should know how many houses the steel mill has. Don't we have many houses here that need repair but don't have the money to do so?! We can take this opportunity to have the steel mill provide the money and materials, and we can organize the manpower to repair these houses. Then we can rent them back to the steel mill, helping them solve their workers' housing problem. We can also have some extra income. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?!"

Wang Xia laughed and joked, "They say you learn the same things as the monks you associate with. You used to be such a good kid! But after living in the same courtyard as Yan Bugui for so long, you've learned to be calculating."

He Yuzhu said, "Aunt Wang, you're mistaken. Yan Bugui only schemes for petty gains and trivial matters. I, on the other hand, offer advice and strategies. In essence, we are completely different."

Wang Xia laughed and said, "You! Your fallacies are truly endless! I'm not talking to you anymore! You should go back now!"

"Okay! I'm leaving now!" He Yuzhu said, standing up and preparing to walk out of the office.

"Wait!" Just as He Yuzhu was about to leave Wang Xia's office, Wang Xia called out to him.

He Yuzhu asked, "Aunt Wang, is there anything else?!"

Wang Xia said, "Zhu Zi, take some time to go hunting again and bring back some meat."

"Okay! I understand! I'll make a trip there when I have time." With that, He Yuzhu left Wang Xia's office.

"Knock! Knock! Knock!" No sooner had He Yuzhu left than Wu Jiangyong knocked on the door of Wang Xia's office.

Wang Xia called out, "Come in!"

After receiving permission, Wu Jiangyong pushed open the door and entered Wang Xia's office. Closing the door, Wu Jiangyong sat down opposite Wang Xia and said, "Old Wang, my new appointment will be issued before the New Year. After the New Year, I won't be coming anymore. This place will be in your hands from now on."

Wang Xia asked, "Old Wu, where are you being transferred to this time?!"

Wu Jiangyong said, "I'll be working with your husband, Lao Hu."

Wang Xia said, "Do you think I don't know what's going on with my husband?! Your partnership with him is probably only temporary."

Wu Jiangyong said, "Whether it's temporary or not, if you work a day, you have to shoulder the responsibility for that day." Then, changing the subject, he continued, "Old Wang, Zhuzi is a good kid. If you train him well, he can take over your job in the future."

Wang Xia said, "Old Wu, don't you know what kind of temper Zhu Zi has?! He's like a donkey, you can't lead him, you can't push him away. If he doesn't want to do something, you can hold a gun to his head and it won't work. I reckon it has something to do with his lack of education. In the future, if there's a chance, I'll definitely make him read more books. Maybe that will change things."

Meanwhile, He Yuzhu pushed his bicycle out of the military control office and continued his street-sweeping work. As He Yuzhu turned into Dashilan, Lou Xiao'e's voice rang out behind him: "He Yuzhu!"

Hearing the shout, He Yuzhu stopped and turned around to see Lou Xiao'e running towards him. He Yuzhu asked, "What are you doing here?!"

Lou Xiao'e retorted, "Where else could I be if not here?!"

He Yuzhu asked, "Didn't you study with your tutor today?!"

Lou Xiao'e replied, "I went to the school I'm affiliated with for an exam today. Once it's over, everything will be fine."

It must be said that Lou Zhenhua protected Lou Xiao'e very well. Fearing for her safety, he found her a tutor to teach her at home and even enrolled her in a school. She didn't need to attend classes each semester, only taking exams at the end. Judging by the timeline, Lou Xiao'e should be in sixth grade now. Thinking about this, He Yuzhu suddenly felt a sense of guilt.

Seeing He Yuzhu's reaction, Lou Xiao'e continued, "You still haven't told me what you're doing here?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "I'm off work now. Anyway, it's still early before I have to pick up my sister from school, so I'm just strolling around." Then he asked, "Why didn't you go home after your exam?!"

Lou Xiao'e replied, "Same as you, just wandering around aimlessly." Then she asked, "Why didn't you come with my dad when he came to cook last time?!"

He Yuzhu said, "My dad has his job, and I have mine. Besides, he wouldn't tell me if he went to your house."

"That's true!" Lou Xiao'e agreed, saying, "Since you're free anyway, why don't you show me around?"

"Okay!" He Yuzhu readily agreed to Lou Xiao'e's request. He Yuzhu got off the car and pushed his bicycle, walking side by side with Lou Xiao'e.