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

The logistics warehouse office was filled with the smell of old paper and rust. A middle-aged woman with a genuine smile on her face leaned closer to Qin Huairu, who was sorting through documents, and said in a low voice that couldn't hide her joy: "Huairu, did you hear that? Your uncle, Director Jia—he's a deputy director now! From now on, his salary will be paid at the fourteenth-level leverage."

The words slipped out through the dusty window cracks and drifted into the noisy heat of the forging workshop.

As Liu Haizhong wiped his sweat, the broadcast script and the faint whispers drifted into his ears, making the large wrench in his hand seem to grow heavier.

He clicked his tongue and exclaimed to the young coworker next to him who was quenching a workpiece, "Incredible, truly incredible."

Section Chief Jia…hey, look at my mouth, Section Chief Jia! It's only been a few days!”

The young worker lifted his eyelids, splashing a few drops of cooling water: "Master Liu, do you know this new department head?"

Liu Haizhong's back straightened unconsciously, and the envy on his face quickly fermented into an expression mixed with restraint and smugness. "More than just recognizing them?"

He raised his voice a little, making sure the busy figures nearby could hear him clearly, "We live in the same compound! I'm the second oldest in the compound, and when he sees me, he always greets me politely."

Just last week, we had drinks together twice and talked about some things at the factory.

He paused, enjoying the sudden increase in surprise in his coworkers' eyes, as if their gazes had warmth that could soothe a hidden corner of his heart.

The young coworker was indeed intimidated. He leaned closer and asked in a flattering tone, "Master Liu, you really are something else... Who doesn't know who has the most influence in the factory right now? Even the factory manager's matter... cough."

With your connections, the department head could easily give you a word, and with your abilities, becoming a leader would be a piece of cake. Don't forget about your old buddies then!

These words were like a spoonful of boiling oil poured onto the sizzling fire in the center of Liu Hai's hair.

He could almost see himself sitting behind a shiny desk, nodding demurely.

He patted his young coworker's shoulder forcefully, so hard that the man staggered: "Xiao Wang, don't worry! If that day ever comes, you'll definitely be treated well!"

This week, the air in the security office wasn't filled with the usual smell of smoke and sweat, but rather a faint aroma of meat, and a real, tangible sense of security from the rubbing of banknotes.

The bonus of seventy yuan per person is an amount that was unimaginable in the past.

The name Jia Dongming carried a heavy weight in the silent contemplation and occasional laughter of the team members.

As the sun rose higher, the personnel from the General Administration of Personnel stepped into the gate of the steel rolling mill.

Before long, Jia Dongming left with them.

In the courtyard of the Dongcheng branch, Director Li Xidong quickly stepped forward and warmly shook hands with Director Zhou, who was leading the team. "Director Zhou, you're a rare guest! Are you here to guide our work?"

Director Zhou laughed and stepped aside to let Jia Dongming, who was following behind, pass: "Old Li, I'm here today to deliver some talented generals to you."

This is Comrade Jia Dongming, from now on he will be one of your key lieutenants.

Jia Dongming straightened his heels, saluted with clean and crisp movements, his face displaying a formulaic seriousness: "Director Li, I look forward to working under you from now on, please give me your guidance."

Li Xidong returned the greeting with a much more genuine smile: "Director Jia, we've been looking forward to seeing you for quite some time now."

Come on, let me introduce you to everyone.

After an introduction and some pleasantries, Jia Dongming stepped into the branch office.

Lunch was eaten at the branch office canteen; it was simple yet satisfying.

After lunch, the afternoon seemed rather long.

Jia Dongming sat in the makeshift office, his fingers unconsciously tracing patterns on the smooth desktop.

Qian the Cripple's face, contorted with pain and fear, and the address he muttered, suddenly came to mind clearly.

A professional intuition, like a subtle electric current, coursed through his nerves.

He got up, went back to the steel rolling mill, took off his crisp uniform, changed into ordinary blue work clothes, and pushed out his worn-out bicycle.

The wheels rolled over the road, heading towards some inconspicuous corner of the city.

After riding for about twenty minutes, the noisy chatter gradually gave way to rhythmic "ding-dong-ding-dong".

Sound replaces.

The sound came from a dark-skinned shop by the roadside. The light from the open door shone through the stove, illuminating the shadowy figures moving inside and the sparks flying everywhere.

Jia Dongming didn't slow down or even turn his head. Like an ordinary worker being driven by life, he let his bicycle slide past the edge of that clattering heatwave.

He didn't stop until he had ridden quite a distance and turned a street corner, then he put one foot on the ground and looked back.

The blacksmith shop had shrunk to a blurry box emitting wisps of smoke at the edge of the field of vision.

He squinted, a sharp glint seemingly flashing deep within his pupils, piercing through the low brick wall, through the cluttered backyard, and locking onto a certain spot underground—where a quiet radio and a silent wooden box lay side by side, the cold outline of metal beneath the lid.

"really……"

He muttered something to himself in a very low voice, the sound dissipating in the wind.

Those absurd yet repeatedly fulfilling "stories" from another dimension.

The fragment resurfaced in my mind once again.

Not only here, but it is said that an even greater secret is hidden in the silent mountains outside the city.

He needs patience, he needs time, like a spider waiting for the tremors of its web.

His heart pounded powerfully in his chest, the excitement of a hunter spotting a trail.

But he showed no expression on his face. He simply turned the bicycle around, pushed off with his foot, and the bicycle headed towards the familiar direction of the trust store.

He parked his car in front of the store, patted off non-existent dust from his trousers, and pushed open the ever-creaking glass door.

The shop assistant immediately greeted him with a smile: "Sir, what would you like to order?"

Jia Dongming took out a pack of Peony cigarettes from his pocket, offered one to the other man, and then asked, "Comrade, do you sell wooden doors in your shop?"

When the waiter saw that it was a Peony cigarette, his eyes lit up. He quickly took it with both hands, thanked him, tucked the cigarette behind his ear, and replied, "Yes, yes, there are several kinds of wooden doors."

Comrade, do you want to install it outside in the yard or inside the house?

Jia Dongming then explained, "I want to open a gate in the courtyard wall so that it will be more convenient for people to come and go."

Do you have any suitable recommendations?

The shop assistant rubbed his hands together with a smile: "If it's a door that's going to be exposed to the wind and sun all year round, I think an oak or mahogany top would be suitable."

These two types of wood are not afraid of moisture and can withstand corrosion, making them the most suitable for leaving outdoors.

"There are a few left in the warehouse, let me show you."

He greeted another employee next to him, took a set of keys from a drawer in the counter, and led Jia Dongming toward the back warehouse.

Before long, the two arrived at a warehouse filled with wooden tools.

Looking around, Jia Dongming saw various pieces of furniture sitting quietly. Although he couldn't identify the specific wood, he knew that in the coming decades, pieces made of woods like Phoebe zhennan, rosewood, and huanghuali would be priceless treasures.

If we can save some now, it might fetch an astronomical price in the future.

"Comrade, look, these doors are all suitable for installation outdoors."

These two doors are made of mahogany, and those three are made of oak.

The shop assistant led him to the wooden door and pointed out each item one by one.

Jia Dongming looked a little embarrassed: "To be honest, I'm not very knowledgeable about timber, so I'll have to trouble you to help me make a decision."

Perhaps it was because of the cigarette we shared earlier, but the waiter explained in extra detail: "Oak wood is hard and sturdy, strong, water-resistant, and corrosion-resistant, making it perfect for doors that get rained on frequently."

"Redwood is also a good material for making solid wood doors. It is not afraid of moisture, is not easy to deform, and is hard. Ordinary bumps and knocks will not leave marks."

In my opinion, if you're on a tighter budget, choose oak doors; if you have more money, mahogany doors are a more reliable choice.

After hearing this, Jia Dongming understood the price. Pointing to a dark wooden door in front of him, he asked with a smile, "Comrade, how much does this mahogany door cost?"

The shop assistant looked in the direction he was pointing, his smile widening: "This door has been specially treated for moisture protection, so it's a bit more expensive."

The door, including the frame, consists of thirty-seven pieces.

Without much hesitation, Jia Dongming nodded immediately: "I'll take this one."

Also, if you have any other good furniture here, please show it to me.

The waiter immediately understood and asked knowingly, "So, sir, what price range are you planning to spend?"

Jia Dongming shoved the whole pack of Peony cigarettes he had just opened into the other man's palm and said with a smile, "Just pick the ones I like, price doesn't matter."

The shop assistant, clutching the pack of cigarettes, smiled even more broadly: "Alright, let's go to the counter and settle the bill for the door first. I'll have someone move the door out, and then I'll take you to see the furniture."

Jia Dongming followed him to the counter to pay, and then they went into another warehouse.

As soon as the shopkeeper opened the storeroom door, a delicate woody fragrance wafted out.

Once the lights were turned on, Jia Dongming could see the various pieces of furniture neatly arranged inside, their colors glowing warmly in the dim light.

"These are all old workers from the Mingqing era."

The set in front of you is made of rosewood; the canopy bed, chairs, stools, and table are all part of a set.

That set over there is…

The waiter introduced them as if they were his own treasures.

As Jia Dongming walked and listened, he felt an itch to take everything back with him.

But thinking of the storm that would soon follow, he suppressed his thoughts and only chose a set of rosewood furniture that didn't look particularly eye-catching—even so, it still cost him more than two hundred yuan.

After paying, Jia Dongming asked the trust shop's owner to hire several carts. After giving the drivers his home address, he rode his bicycle back to Luogu Lane ahead of everyone else.

"Dongming! It's all over the place saying you got a second-class merit and received a 300 yuan bonus. Is that true?"

As soon as Jia Dongming pushed the cart into the front yard, the third auntie came up to him, her eyes shining. She had been thinking about the matter that had been discussed in the yard at noon.

Seeing her envious look, Jia Dongming smiled and nodded: "Third Auntie, she was just lucky. She caught a few enemy agents and the organization awarded her a second-class merit."

"Dongming! Where's the medal? Quickly, take it out and let Mom see it!"

Hearing the commotion in the middle courtyard, Jia Zhangshi rushed to the front courtyard in a few steps, her voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Several women who had heard the commotion followed her.

Once Jia Dongming and the others had gathered, he reached into his pocket, took out the wooden box from his spatial storage, and handed it to his mother: "Mom, this is the second-class merit medal awarded by the bureau."

Jia Zhangshi took the box and carefully opened the lid.

The bronze medal lay quietly on the red velvet cloth. She stared at it for several seconds, then her voice trembled: "Ancestors of the Jia family, have you all seen this? This is Dongming's second-class merit... You must bless our family with peace and safety from below."

"Aunt Zhang, this is wonderful news!"

An older woman leaned closer for a look and congratulated him with a face full of envy.

"Aunt Zhang, I heard from my husband that Section Chief Jia has been promoted to division chief, and his monthly salary is 170 yuan! You can expect to enjoy a life of luxury from now on!"

Another woman took over the conversation, her tone ingratiating.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up immediately, and she quickly turned to her son: "Dongming, is what your Aunt Wang said true? You really earn over 170 yuan a month now?"

"Oh, Aunt Zhang, my husband said that Director Jia's words carry the most weight in the steel rolling mill these days. Even the factory director... if Director Jia wants to investigate, he can do it anytime!"

Not to be outdone, the second aunt also brought up the information that Liu Haizhong had revealed during lunch at home.

Jia Zhangshi, flattered by the group's words, blushed and swelled with vanity, her lips curling into a wide smile: "My son is the head of security; investigating anyone would be a piece of cake!"

Just then, a middle-aged man's voice came from outside the courtyard gate: "Excuse me, does Comrade Jia Dongming live here?"

Jia Dongming knew immediately that the furniture delivery had arrived, and called out, "Here they are! Come this way, sir!"

Under his guidance, several movers carried the newly purchased furniture and a wooden door into the side yard one by one.

Looking at the nearly new cabinets, tables, and chairs, Madam Jia asked in bewilderment, "Dongming, aren't all the existing furniture still usable? Why spend money on these new ones?"