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

It was a little past three in the afternoon when He Yuzhu arrived at the gate of the compound on his three-wheeled motorcycle with Song Ran in tow. Song Ran asked, "Aren't we going in for a bit?"

He Yuzhu replied, "I won't go in today. I plan to go hunting tomorrow. This time I'm going quite far, and I estimate it will take two or three days to get back."

Song Ran cautioned, "Be careful when you go hunting! Don't be reckless!"

"Don't worry! I know what I'm doing. I guarantee I'll come back safe and sound." With that, He Yuzhu took a brocade box from his pocket and handed it to Song Ran, saying, "Check it when you get back!"

"Okay! I'll go in first then!" With that, Song Ran reluctantly walked into the courtyard gate.

He Yuzhu watched Song Ran's figure gradually disappear into the distance before driving away on his three-wheeled motorcycle.

Back at the station, He Yuzhu parked the tricycle and carefully inspected it. After confirming that there were no problems with the vehicle, He Yuzhu filled up the gas tank, humming a tune as he walked to Ye Guoliang's office door and knocked.

Hearing the knock, Ye Guoliang called out, "Come in!"

He Yuzhu pushed open the office door and walked in, calling out, "Uncle Ye!"

Ye Guoliang asked, "Why didn't you come here with your wife?!"

He Yuzhu said, "I took her home. I came to let you know that I'm planning to go hunting tomorrow. I want to go a bit further this time, so I came to get a letter of introduction from you."

Ye Guoliang asked, "Going far away, where do you want to go?!" Before He Yuzhu could answer, Ye Guoliang continued, "You're not thinking of going to the Northeast, are you?!"

He Yuzhu said, "I have this idea. But I'm afraid you won't agree."

"Go to the Northeast?! Are you out of your mind?! Just stay in Beijing and hunt around there! Don't go too far." With that, Ye Guoliang wrote a letter of introduction for He Yuzhu and added, "Whatever you do, don't go too far!"

"Understood!" He Yuzhu replied helplessly, put away the letter of introduction, and said, "Then I'll head back now."

"Okay!" Ye Guoliang responded and continued with his work.

"Knock! Knock! Knock!" After a while, there was another knock on the door of Ye Guoliang's office.

Ye Guoliang called out, "Come in!"

Yao Qi pushed open the door and walked into Ye Guoliang's office, saying, "Old Ye, this is a notice from the bureau. Please take a look!"

Ye Guoliang took the report, quickly glanced at its contents, and said, "This is incredibly stingy! Such a small reward for capturing two wanted criminals?!"

"Who told them to deliver themselves like this?! Even with these rewards, some people in the other departments think it's too much." After saying this, Yao Qi pulled out a chair and sat down, continuing, "I went to a meeting today, you didn't see it. Especially Han Tietou from Dongsi, he used to be so brave in battle. Now that fighting spirit is gone. But he's certainly developed a knack for making sarcastic remarks."

Ye Guoliang said with a smile, "It's all because of envy."

"You're absolutely right!" Yao Qi chimed in, saying, "Han Tietou's year-end bonus this year is only five yuan per person. Nothing else."

Ye Guoliang asked, "What are their logistics staff doing?! Even if they're not as capable as our Zhuzi, they should at least be able to procure some things, right?!"

Yao Qi laughed and said, "Don't you know what kind of person Han Tietou is?! He expects the horse to run, but he won't feed it." Then she asked, "Do you know where Bai Songwei and Bai Jingshan were before they were arrested?!"

Ye Guoliang replied, "It's not in Dongsi, is it?!"

Yao Qi nodded and said, "And it's not far from where they are."

"Oh?! The blind spot is right under your nose?! These two are really cunning." Ye Guoliang muttered, then asked, "Did you find out anything during today's meeting?! What other things were distributed?!"

Yao Qi replied, "Most of the time, we get two jin of meat and two jin of flour. It's within the five-yuan standard." After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Qi asked, "Old Ye, won't the other staff gossip about us giving out so much stuff?!"

Ye Guoliang said, "Let's rely on our own abilities, why are you gossiping?!"

"That's true!" Zhao Qi agreed, then reminded her, "Don't forget to go to the branch office tomorrow to collect your reward." With that, Yao Qi left Ye Guoliang's office.

"Brother, you're back?!" A little after 4:30 PM, He Yuzhu returned home. He Yushui, who was playing jump rope with Xu Xiaoling in the courtyard, immediately stopped when she saw He Yuzhu return, ran to his side, looked behind him, and asked, "Brother, where's sister-in-law?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "I sent your sister-in-law back."

He Yushui pouted and complained, "I thought you were going to bring your sister-in-law back?!"

He Yuzhu said, "After the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, you'll see your sister-in-law every day." He then took two chocolates from his bag and handed them to He Yushui, saying, "You and Xiaoling can share them! I'll go to the kitchen to prepare dinner!"

Meanwhile, in the compound, at Song Ran's home.

When Xu Wenya got home from get off work, she saw Song Ran inside and asked with a smile, "Ran, why are you home so early today?!"

Song Ran said, "It's because I'm afraid some people in the compound will gossip."

Xu Wenya comforted her, "Let them say what they want! Besides, it's not like it'll hurt you!"

Song Ran said, "Mom, it's not about losing weight. People's words are a fearsome thing! I don't want our family to be ruined because of some gossip. Besides, there are only a few days left until the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. Once the wedding procedures are completed, they won't have anything to say anymore."

Xu Wenya continued, "In the blink of an eye, you and your third brother are both married. Now that you're married, your father and I are relieved. After your wedding is over, your father plans to apply for a transfer out of Beijing. He'll come back after he retires."

Song Ran nestled into Xu Wenya's arms and asked, "Mom, are you going to leave with Dad?!"

Xu Wenya gently patted Song Ran's back and said, "I'll follow you wherever you go, whether you're a chicken or a dog, I'll follow you wherever your father goes. After your father and I are gone, you two siblings need to take care of each other."

Song Ran asked, "Mom, has Dad decided where to go?"

Xu Wenya replied, "It's not even close to happening yet! Don't be in such a hurry." Then she asked, "Did you see your third brother today?!"

Song Ran replied, "I saw him at the entrance of the neighborhood office this morning." Then she asked, "What happened?!"

Xu Wenya replied, "I was just asking casually." Then she asked, "What do you want to eat tonight?! Mom will make it for you!"