Kill the beasts in the courtyard, I fled to Hong Kong, surrounded by beauties on both sides.

According to the plan, he was to go to the neighborhood committee office and the steel rolling mill today. Although he knew the chances were slim, he still had to go through the necessary procedures. He wanted everyone to know that he was fighting for his rights.

More importantly, he needed to get a clear picture of the situation and prepare for the evening's meeting.

Chen Fei straightened his clothes and went out the door.

The courtyard was deserted; everyone had gone to work or school. Only Jia Zhangshi sat at her doorway, sewing shoe soles. When she saw him come out, she glared at him fiercely.

Chen Fei ignored her and walked straight out.

After leaving the courtyard and walking on the bluestone path of Nanluoguxiang, Chen Fei felt the tightness in his chest dissipate slightly.

In early spring in Longcheng, the locust trees lining the streets were just sprouting tender buds. There weren't many pedestrians on the road, most of them dressed in blue, gray, and black clothes, hurrying along. Occasionally, a bicycle would pass by, its bell jingling.

This was in 1961, an era of scarcity but also of collectivism.

Relying on the original owner's memories, Chen Fei walked towards the neighborhood office.

The subdistrict office is located on Gulou East Street, in an old-style courtyard house that has been converted into an office. A wooden sign hangs at the entrance that reads "Revolutionary Committee of Jiaodaokou Subdistrict, Dongcheng District".

Chen Fei went inside, where several staff members were busy at work. A middle-aged woman wearing glasses looked up: "Comrade, is there something you need?"

"I'm looking for Director Wang," Chen Fei said.

"Director Wang is in the inner room."

Chen Fei walked to the door of the inner room and knocked.

"Come in."

Pushing open the door, I saw a woman in her fifties sitting inside. She had short hair, wore a gray Lenin suit, and looked capable and efficient. This was Director Wang from the neighborhood committee.

"Director Wang, I am Chen Fei from No. 95 Nanluoguxiang." Chen Fei introduced himself.

Director Wang looked up, saw him, paused for a moment, then sighed: "Xiao Chen, sit down."

Chen Fei sat down opposite him.

Director Wang looked at him, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "I've heard about your situation. My condolences."

"Thank you, Director Wang," Chen Fei said. "I came today to ask about my family's property certificate and grain ration book."

Director Wang adjusted his glasses: "The property certificate... it's a public housing unit owned by your father's work unit, the property certificate is with the work unit. As for the grain ration book, Master Yi said he'll keep it for you, and you'll receive your grain rations on time every month."

"Director Wang, I'm nineteen years old, I'm an adult," Chen Fei said. "I can keep it myself."

"Well..." Director Wang hesitated for a moment, "Master Yi is doing this for your own good. You're young, and he's afraid you'll spend money recklessly."

"The same old excuse again." Chen Fei sneered inwardly, but maintained a calm expression: "Director Wang, you know my family's situation. My parents and sister are gone, I'm all alone. If I can't even get my food rations back, how am I supposed to survive?"

He spoke earnestly, his eyes even a little red—half of it was acting, and half was the original owner's emotions.

Director Wang was moved. She actually knew that those people in the hospital had gone too far. But Yi Zhonghai was an eighth-grade worker and had connections in the street office, so she couldn't interfere.

"Xiao Chen," Director Wang said in a low voice, "it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that this is difficult to handle. Master Yi has a high reputation in the hospital, and he said he would keep it for you, so I can't insist on taking it back."

"What if I go to the grain station myself to report the loss?" Chen Fei asked.

"Reporting it lost..." Director Wang thought for a moment, "It's not impossible. But we need your household registration booklet. Who has your household registration booklet?"

Chen Fei was stunned.

Household registration booklet! He actually forgot about that!

In the original owner's memory, the household registration booklet was always in the hands of her father, Chen Jianguo. After her father passed away, the booklet disappeared. Now it seems that it must have been taken by Yi Zhonghai.

Without a household registration booklet, you can't even report it lost.

What a cunning Yi Zhonghai! He's scheming to the core!

"The household registration booklet...it might be at my house. I'll go back and look for it," Chen Fei said.

Director Wang noticed his predicament and sighed, "Xiao Chen, I have a suggestion. Is there a general meeting in the hospital tonight? You can bring it up at the meeting and ask Master Yi to return your things. In front of everyone in the hospital, he won't be able to refuse."

Chen Fei nodded: "Thank you, Director Wang."

He knew that this was all the help Director Wang could offer.

As Chen Fei left the neighborhood office, his mood became even heavier.

With his household registration booklet confiscated, his grain ration booklet "kept safe," and his property ownership certificate held by his work unit, Yi Zhonghai has blocked all avenues for advancement.

Unless he can get his household registration booklet, he won't even have the right to live independently.

"That's ruthless." Chen Fei gritted his teeth.

He continued walking toward the steel rolling mill.

The steel rolling mill was located outside Chaoyangmen, not far from Nanluoguxiang, about a 20-minute walk. Along the way, Chen Fei saw many people who looked like workers, riding bicycles or walking, hurrying towards the factory.

I start work at 8:00 AM, and it's 7:50 AM now—the peak commuting time.

Chen Fei followed the crowd into the factory gate. The gatekeeper recognized him—Chen Jianguo's son, who used to frequently come to the factory to visit his father.

"Xiao Chen? What brings you here?" asked Old Zhang, the gatekeeper.

"Uncle Zhang, I'm looking for Director Li," Chen Fei said.

Director Li is the head of the personnel department of the steel rolling mill. After his father passed away, he was in charge of matters related to the pension and work positions.

"Director Li is in the office building, you can go there."

Chen Fei nodded and walked towards the office building.

The steel rolling mill was huge, covering hundreds of acres, with workshops standing side by side and chimneys belching black smoke. The roar of the machines was deafening, and the air was filled with the smell of steel and machine oil.

The office building was a three-story red brick building. Chen Fei went up to the second floor and found the personnel department.

He knocked and entered. Director Li was looking at documents. Seeing Chen Fei, he took off his glasses: "Xiao Chen? What brings you here?"

"Director Li, I'd like to ask about my father's workstation." Chen Fei got straight to the point.

Director Li sighed and gestured for him to sit down: "Xiao Chen, this matter... is a bit complicated."

"How is it complicated?" Chen Fei asked. "Before my father passed away, didn't the factory leaders promise to let me fill in for him?"

"I did promise," Director Li said, "but that was based on the fact that you are a direct relative and have basic fitter skills. But you're just an apprentice, working as a level six worker... your skills aren't up to par."

"I can learn!" Chen Fei said. "My dad taught me a lot, so I have a foundation!"

"Learning takes time," Director Li shook his head. "Production is heavy right now, and the workshop needs skilled workers. Your dad's position can't be left vacant."

"So who does the factory plan to give it to?" Chen Fei stared at him.

Director Li avoided his gaze: "This... the factory is still studying it."

"Research?" Chen Fei sneered. "Director Li, did Yi Zhonghai approach you? Did he want Jia Dongxu to take over?"

Director Li's expression changed: "Who told you that?"

"It seems to be true." Chen Fei's heart sank.

"Xiao Chen, don't overthink it," Director Li quickly said. "The factory's arrangements are all based on the actual situation. Jia Dongxu is a level-two worker; he has a foundation and can be trained quickly..."

"His surname is Jia, not Chen!" Chen Fei suddenly stood up. "That's a job my dad risked his life for! Why should it be given to an outsider!"

"Calm down!" Director Li stood up as well. "This is the factory's decision!"

"Was it the factory's decision, or Yi Zhonghai's manipulation?" Chen Fei questioned.

Director Li remained silent.

Chen Fei understood. Yi Zhonghai had worked at the steel rolling mill for thirty years, rising from apprentice to level eight worker. He had extensive connections and a lot of influence. For him, securing a workstation wouldn't be difficult.

Moreover, Chen Fei was just an orphan with no background, while Jia Dongxu was Yi Zhonghai's apprentice.

"Director Li," Chen Fei took a deep breath, "what if I insist on having this workstation?"

"Then you have to prove you're capable," Director Li said. "The factory can give you a chance to be assessed. If you pass the Level 6 worker assessment, you'll get the job."

Level 6 worker assessment?

Chen Fei's heart sank. The original owner of this body was just an apprentice, far from reaching level six. He himself knew absolutely nothing about it.

This is clearly an excuse!

"What if it doesn't pass?" he asked.

"If you don't pass the initial screening, we'll have to assign you to another position," Director Li said. "The canteen, the warehouse, or another workshop—it's up to you."

The canteen? The warehouse? Those places pay low wages, require no skills, and your life will be pretty much the same.

A level 6 fitter is a skilled trade with high wages and promising career prospects.

Yi Zhonghai is trying to cut off his path!

"When is the assessment?" Chen Fei asked.

"Next month," Director Li said. "We'll let you know the exact date later."

Next month… Chen Fei did the math. Next month, he'd already been driven to the brink by those people in the department. Even if he passed the assessment, what good would it do?

"I understand," Chen Fei said. "Thank you, Director Li."

He turned and left.

As he reached the door, Director Li called out to him, "Xiao Chen."

Chen Fei turned around.

Director Li hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "There's a big meeting in the compound tonight, right? Be careful. Master Yi... has connections in the factory and the neighborhood."

The words were spoken in a very subtle way, but Chen Fei understood them.

Yi Zhonghai is very powerful; he's just an orphan and can't defeat him.

"Thank you for the reminder, Director Li." Chen Fei nodded and went out the door.

Walking through the steel rolling mill, Chen Fei felt heavier than ever before.

Neither the neighborhood committee nor the steel mill could do it. All the roads were blocked.

He is now truly alone, with no one to rely on.

That evening, a hospital-wide meeting awaited him. At that time, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, the Jia family… everyone would pressure him.

What should he do?

To resist head-on? We can't hold out. To back down? We're unwilling to accept that.

Chen Fei clenched his fist, his nails digging deep into his palm.

He thought of those who bullied him in modern society. He was never one to suffer in silence; whoever bullied him, he would retaliate tenfold.

But that was modern society, with laws and order. Here, in 1961, was an era where personal feelings outweighed legal principles.

Yi Zhonghai could use the pretext of "for your own good" to take everything away from him. The others in the compound could turn a blind eye, or even aid and abet it.

How can he fight alone?

As Chen Fei walked, he suddenly stopped.

He looked up at the towering chimneys of the steel rolling mill, billowing black smoke straight into the sky.

In the original owner's memories, her father, Chen Jianguo, once said: "A person must have backbone to live. You can't let others shit on your head."

That's what my father said, and that's what he did. He was skilled, honest, and respected in the factory. But what was the result? He died, and his family was destroyed.