Courtyard House: I, the eldest son of the Jia family, have returned from the battlefield.

The fake smile on Chen Jianfei's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sinister scrutiny.

He slowly approached, his voice low but each word heavy as a hammer: "Zhang Yi, although the duty log for the incident in Workshop 2 last year is 'clean,' I wasn't the only one who noticed you weren't in a good state at the time."

There are always people in Corey who want to climb the ladder. You know, what if someone used this to curry favor with Jia Dongming…”

This is not a reminder, it's a blatant threat.

Even that last glimmer of hope was extinguished.

Zhang Yi felt a churning in his stomach. He lowered his head, his shoulders trembling almost imperceptibly. When he raised his face again, it was a gloomy look of resignation.

"I...I understand, Brother Chen."

I'm on duty last night, and I'll do it if I have the chance.

Chen Jianfei's tense jawline relaxed, and he even reached out and patted Zhang Yi's shoulder heavily, his voice regaining its feigned warmth: "That's right."

Don't worry, once I'm in that position, the chair for the second brigade commander will be reserved for you.

Zhang Yi forced a smile, trying to make an expression that seemed to be both grateful and hopeful, and said in a dry voice, "Well... I wish you great success, Brother Chen."

He watched Chen Jianfei turn and leave, his back appearing exceptionally tall and cold in the dim light.

The promise still echoes in my ears, yet it's like the lingering hiss of a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

When Chen Jianfei's congratulatory voice reached his ears, Zhang Yi felt two light taps on his shoulder.

He looked up and met the cold glint in Chen Jianfei's eyes, but the smile on his face was very warm: "I will never mistreat those who follow me."

"If you do your best, I will naturally not be stingy with my rewards."

Zhang Yi smiled and replied, "Don't worry, Brother Chen, I'll come again before Mingwan takes over."

Seeing that he had finally relented, Chen Jianfei's smile deepened, a hint of something unsettling in his expression. "No need to come to the factory,"

He lowered his voice, "Ming, wait for me at the entrance of your alley this afternoon."

"Dongxi... I'll give it to you then."

Zhang Yi nodded vaguely, his tone somewhat unsteady: "Okay, Brother Chen, then I'll wait at the alley entrance."

There's a reason why Chen Jianfei chose Zhang Yi.

This person is a loner, usually quiet and reserved, and seems easy to manipulate.

At that moment, he was busy planning Mingwan's arrangements and didn't notice that Zhang Yi's lowered eyelids held a hint of gloom that was different from usual.

The old incident from last year in Workshop 2 came to light just now with a few words of "reminder" from Chen Jianfei.

Suddenly, a cold feeling rose in Zhang Yi's heart.

"It's a deal then. See you at the alley entrance."

Chen Jianfei added with a smile.

Looking at the slick smile on his face, Zhang Yi felt a wave of nausea.

Fearing that he might lose control of his anger if he stayed any longer, he quickly turned his face away and said, "Brother Chen, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

He turned and walked out of the office, his back looking somewhat stiff.

Chen Jianfei stared at the closed door, his previous enthusiasm vanishing instantly, leaving only a gloomy and ruthless expression.

He paced back to the table, muttering to himself with a sarcastic tone: "Everyone says you, Zhang Yi, are a dullard, but I think you're just a bit dim-witted."

However… it suits my needs perfectly.

The corridor outside was dimly lit, but Zhang Yi's steps grew heavier and heavier.

He wasn't talkative, but he wasn't confused.

I never suspected Chen Jianfei before, because of his status as the other party's captain, and also because of the time I was on duty and I dozed off, and Chen Jianfei raised his hand to cover it up.

This "gratitude"

He had kept a very detailed record of it.

But just now in the office, when Chen Jianfei brought up the matter of Jia Dongxu's death from a work injury, the implication in his words was like a cold needle, suddenly piercing through that layer of false sentiment.

The fragmented memories of last year's accident, mixed with the cigarette Chen Jianfei handed him that day that made him drowsy, are now pieced together with unparalleled clarity.

A chilling suspicion suddenly gripped him—the things Chen Jianfei had asked him to do that night, and Chen Jianfei himself, were probably far more complex than they appeared.

Once suspicion takes hold, it spreads wildly.

Zhang Yi's first thought was to immediately go find the other two captains.

You can stop by stepping.

How deep have Chen Jianfei's roots run in the security department after all these years? Does he still have ears in this compound? Zhang Yi clenched his fists and forcefully suppressed the thought.

I can't say, at least not now.

As the sun began to set, it was nearly five o'clock when Jia Dongming finally closed the last document.

He said goodbye to his colleagues in the same department, then took out his bicycle and pedaled slowly toward the steel mill's residential compound.

Just as the car wheels rolled over the stone slabs at the entrance of Nanluoguxiang, a boy suddenly darted out from the side, spreading his arms to block the car.

"uncle!"

The child looked up, his voice clear and bright, "An uncle asked me to pass on a message. He says he's your colleague and has something extremely important that he has to tell you in person."

Jia Dongming gripped the brakes, looking at the unfamiliar child in surprise. "A colleague?"

He bent down, his tone gentle, "Little friend, what else did that uncle say? What did he say to you?"

"He said your surname is Jia and you are the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill."

The child replied as if reciting a memorized text, "What he's about to say is extremely important; it concerns you."

Jia Dongming's expression hardened.

To be able to identify him so accurately, and then to use a child to relay the message in such a roundabout way… the smile on his face gradually faded, and he asked seriously, “Where is he? Did he say where he was waiting for me?”

"I said it!"

The child nodded vigorously. "He told me to tell you to meet at 'Liu's Tavern' on Qianmen Street at 7 p.m. tonight."

He said, "You'll recognize him when you see him."

Qianmen Street, Liu's Tavern... Jia Dongming silently repeated the name to himself, vaguely feeling that it sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before, but he couldn't quite place it.

He suppressed his doubts, smiled at the child again, and took out two fruit candies from his pocket and handed them to him: "Good boy, thank you for making this trip."

I will definitely convey his message; I will see him on time tonight.

Jia Dongming didn't know who in the security department was who had asked the child to deliver the message, but this secretive invitation made him feel a strange sense of unease.

He pedaled the old bicycle, its axles creaking, all the way toward No. 95 Nanluoguxiang.

As soon as I entered the front yard, I saw Yan Bugui hunched over, slowly watering the newly turned soil with a tin can.

Yan Bugui glanced up and saw him, his face immediately lighting up with a smile. He called out, "Dongming's back? Not busy at the factory today?"

Jia Dongming parked the car, glanced at the vegetable patch with tender sprouts, and smiled: "Third Uncle is really quick. The soil was only turned a few days ago, and the seedlings are already planted."

From now on, your dining table will have more touches of greenery.

Yan Bugui put down the kettle, rubbed the mud off his hands, and sighed, "With this little salary, how can I feed six mouths? If I don't try to save money, how will I survive? Growing some vegetables can at least offset some of the expenses."

Jia Dongming nodded and was about to leave with his cart when Yan Bugui hurriedly called out to him, "Dongming, wait a moment—there's something I want to ask you."

Jia Dongming turned around and saw Yan Bugui rubbing his hands together, looking somewhat flustered. He asked, "What is it?"

Yan Bugui took half a step forward and lowered his voice: "I heard... Qin Huairu was transferred to logistics, and she even got an extra eight yuan a month. Is that true?"

Jia Dongming's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he still had a faint smile on his face: "Yes, the work in the workshop is heavy, and she can't keep up physically."

I spoke with my supervisor, and they transferred me to an easier position.

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui's eyes lit up, and his tone became urgent: "Dongming, since you can speak for me... my Jiecheng has been doing odd jobs outside since graduating from junior high school, without any proper employment."

"Do you think we could find him a job at the steel rolling mill?"

Jia Dongming chuckled inwardly, but showed no sign of it on his face. He simply asked leisurely, "Uncle, the current market price for a temporary worker at the steel rolling mill is at least three hundred yuan."

How much have you prepared?

Yan Bugui was taken aback and blurted out, "You're the head of the security department now, and you have to pay money to arrange someone?"

Jia Dongming chuckled and shook his head: "The factory belongs to the government, and so do the rules."

Although I have a position, I cannot conjure up a new job out of thin air.

If you really want to do this, prepare the money, and I'll ask around for you out of consideration for our neighborly relationship.

"Just talking without any real substance won't do."

A look of pain flashed across Yan Bugui's face as he stammered, "My whole family depends on that meager salary... Dongming, could you please help out your third uncle and make an exception?"

Jia Dongming stopped talking, picked up his bicycle, and walked straight towards the Intermediate People's Court.

Yan Bugui took two steps after him and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Dongming! Let's discuss it again? The price... the price is negotiable!"

Jia Dongming seemed not to hear, his figure passing through the moon gate and disappearing on the other side of the courtyard wall.

Inside the house, Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li heard the conversation outside the door clearly.

Unable to contain himself any longer, Yan Jiecheng flung open the door and rushed out, complaining to his father, "Dad! They're nobody's family or relatives, why should we do their favors for free? Your calculations are... way too shrewd!"

Yan Bugui opened his mouth, looked at his son's flushed face, but ultimately didn't say anything. He just bent down, picked up the watering can, and watered the vegetable patch again.

The sound of water pattering down added to the tranquility of the courtyard.

The tap in the yard was running, and Qin Huairu was bending over, scrubbing clothes.

As Jia Dongming pushed his bicycle into the yard, she raised her wet hands and called out with a smile, "Uncle's back!"

Jia Dongming stopped and watched her busy herself in the twilight, then casually asked, "How was your first day at the warehouse?"

Qin Huairu slowed down her movements.

She recalled the office in the logistics department, which was always filled with the aroma of tea—five women guarding a few registers, only starting to write when someone came to collect something, spending the rest of their time knitting sweaters, eating melon seeds, and chatting about each other's troubles.

So, Sha Zhu's earlier statement, "That's for people with connections," turns out to be true.

So that's what it means.

She wrung out the blue cloth shirt in her hands, her voice filled with gratitude: "The older sisters have all taken good care of me."

It's just... so much less stressful than the workshop, which makes me feel uneasy.

Remembering Li Huaide's advice from a few days ago, Jia Dongming added, "Those people are all family members of the factory's leaders, so you should pay more attention to how you get along with them."

If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to come to the security office to find me.

Qin Huairu nodded.

She only learned from a casual conversation today that Mingbai said the gray building of the security department, although located in the steel rolling mill, had its own history.

The older women sipped their tea and smiled, saying, "Even our factory manager has to be very polite to the people inside."

Just then, Jia Zhangshi strolled back from outside, carrying a cloth bag.

Seeing her daughter-in-law still by the sink, she immediately raised her voice: "You've been dawdling over washing just two pieces of clothing! Dongming's already back, and the stove's still cold!"

Qin Huairu quickly picked up the wooden basin: "Mom, that's good."

"I'll hang these two things up to dry before I go cook."

Madam Jia did not respond, but stared at her son: "Just now I heard the Yan family father and son arguing in the front yard, saying something about 'Why should we be assigned a job if we have no relatives or friends?'"

Could it be that Old Yan is asking you for a favor?

A mocking smile appeared on Jia Dongming's lips: "He heard that Huairu was transferred, so he wanted me to give his eldest son a job for free."

"Pooh!"

Madam Jia's face darkened. "That old schemer, trying to get something for nothing! Does he think his own son is made of gold?"

Jia Dongming let her curse.

He knew his neighbors in the courtyard all too well—if there was even a small incentive, ten mouths would flock to him.

Once his mother calmed down a bit, he slowly said, "Mom, even if we are relatives, there is no reason for us to help others for nothing."

I refused on the spot.

Madam Jia was still worried and tugged at her son's sleeve: "Remember this well, you must not get involved in the Yan family's affairs."