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

After listening to Jia Dongming's account, Deputy Factory Director Gao recalled the image of Zhang Huizi, whom he had only met once, and couldn't help but sigh: "I have a vague impression of Zhang Huizi."

She used to be a nurse at ** Hospital, and later transferred to People's Hospital after following Yang Weimin.

Who would have thought... she was actually sent from the other side.

After Jia Dongming finished speaking, Liu Xiangqian picked up his wine glass and smiled at the people sitting around him: "Alright, let's not talk about this for now."

Come on, everyone, let's have a clinking of glasses!

The meal at the textile factory ended around 1 p.m. – they had to go back to their posts in the afternoon.

Before leaving, Liu Xiangqian took four kraft paper envelopes from Deputy Factory Director Gao and handed them to Zhang Huanchun, Jia Dongming and the others one by one, with a sincere smile on his face: "Team Leader Zhang, Director Jia, and Brigade Leader Lin and Deputy Brigade Leader Zhao, if it weren't for your help this time, the factory would have suffered a great loss."

Please don't refuse this small token of my appreciation.

When Zhang Huanchun saw the bulging envelope, he assumed the factory was offering money and quickly waved his hand, saying, "Director Liu, solving cases is our job."

Taking this money would be against the rules; please take it back.

Liu Xiangqian was taken aback at first, then laughed: "Captain Zhang, you've misunderstood."

How could we, as officials, do something that crosses the line?

He pinched the corner of the envelope and explained, "The factory is about to expand, and this time we're recruiting a total of three hundred apprentices."

The envelope contained a job offer letter.

If someone in your family is looking for work, they can just show this to the factory to report for duty.

Upon hearing that it was a letter of introduction, Zhang Huanchun's heart skipped a beat.

My two younger sisters are still unmarried, so this piece of paper is more reliable than anything else.

But after weighing the amount, he suppressed his thoughts and said tactfully, "Director Liu, this is too precious."

We appreciate your kind offer, but we really cannot accept it.

Lin Minghua and Zhao Baoguo, who were standing nearby, initially thought it was money and instinctively wanted to refuse; but when they heard it was a job opportunity, their eyes changed instantly, and they looked at Zhang Huanchun in unison.

Liu Xiangqian originally thought that Zhang Huanchun would readily accept the contents once he knew them, but seeing that he still insisted on not accepting them, he felt more respect for him and was even more inclined to get to know him.

Seeing Lin Minghua and the other man's expressions, he smiled and advised, "Team Leader Zhang, for this recruitment expansion, the factory will reserve fifty spots for itself, and the rest will be arranged by the street office."

Besides, the expansion of enrollment wouldn't have been approved without your help—if you hadn't cracked the finance department's case in time and exposed the corrupt officials, the report wouldn't have been approved so quickly.

He paused for a moment, his tone becoming serious, "The key point is that you recovered the stolen wages, which is equivalent to saving the political lives of several of us."

These few spots are really nothing compared to this.

Jia Dongming himself didn't need the quota, but he noticed the longing in Lin Minghua's and Zhao Baoguo's eyes.

Seeing that Liu Xiangqian had already said this much, he turned to Zhang Huanchun and said, "Captain Zhang, Director Liu is being very sincere. If we refuse again, it will seem like we're being too distant."

Zhang Huanchun remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded and bowed slightly to Liu Xiangqian: "Director Liu, in that case... thank you very much."

He took the envelopes, distributed them to the people according to the names written on them, then got up to say goodbye, "It's getting late, we have to get back to the branch office."

Liu Xiangqian and the others escorted them all the way to the door.

Watching Zhang Huanchun and Jia Dongming ride away on their bicycles, Lin Minghua clutched the thin envelope in his hand, unable to contain his delight: "Captain Zhang! Deputy Captain Jia! The textile factory is really generous this time, giving away four quotas in one go!"

Jia Dongming pedaled his bike, facing the wind as he replied, "Minghua, didn't Director Liu just say that if the case isn't solved and the money isn't recovered, all of them will be punished?"

This indicator is really nothing compared to their position.

Zhang Huanchun looked at the road ahead, but his expression became serious: "Dongming, that's what you say."

But if we accept it like this, we're still skirting the line.

"This is a one-time thing; there won't be another chance like this!"

Jia Dongming smirked, looking nonchalant, and waved his hand at the person opposite him, "Team Leader Zhang, you heard it too. Director Liu just said that if we don't take this quota, it will fall into the hands of the street office."

As long as we don't resell them, how can we be breaking the rules?

The four of them rode their bicycles to the intersection. The steel mill and the branch office were not in the same direction, so Jia Dongming stopped his bicycle, waved to Zhang Huanchun and the others, turned the bicycle around, and rode directly towards the factory.

He hadn't ridden halfway when he suddenly remembered the courtyard house on Gulou Street where he had completed the property deed yesterday—a reward from the system that he hadn't even taken a look at yet.

With a change of heart, he changed the direction of the handlebars and pedaled toward Gulou Street.

After passing two alleys, a familiar figure flashed by on the roadside ahead.

Jia Dongming thought to himself, "This is weird. How come I keep running into Yu Li everywhere I go these past few days?"

He had already applied the brakes, and the bicycle slowly pulled up to the side of the road. He called out to the back of the figure carrying a large bundle, "Yu Li! Where are you going? Carrying such a big bag."

Yu Li, who was walking with her head down, planning to stay at her sister's house for a few days, froze when she heard the voice and stopped in her tracks.

Turning around, she saw Jia Dongming straddling his bicycle. A look of surprise flashed in her eyes. She took a few steps closer before asking, "Brother Dongming? What are you doing here?"

Seeing her puzzled expression, Jia Dongming smiled and raised his chin: "I'm here to take care of something."

And you? Looks like you're going on a long trip?

Upon hearing his question, Yu Li's expression suddenly dimmed. She pursed her lips and whispered, "Brother Dongming, Yan Jiecheng and I... have divorced."

My mom is still in the hospital, and I don't want to trouble her any further, so I'm planning to stay with my sister for a while.

When he heard her mention divorce yesterday, Jia Dongming just thought it was something she said in anger—these days, even if a couple can't get along, very few actually end up like that.

Unexpectedly, she actually got divorced.

He paused, then couldn't help but ask, "Really divorced? I thought you were just saying that out of anger yesterday..."

Seeing his incredulous expression, Yu Li recalled Yan Jiecheng's actions and a look of disgust rose between her brows: "People say that a woman marries a man for food and clothing."

I don't want him to be rich and powerful, but at least I should be able to eat and sleep peacefully, right? And what happened? I eat my own food, live in my own house, and when my mother was sick, he wouldn't contribute a single penny.

What's the point of keeping a man like that around?

As Jia Dongming listened, he recalled the farce in the courtyard yesterday and felt sorry for her. He said gently, "Since you're divorced, I won't try to persuade you."

Where do your sisters live? I'll give you a ride.

Perhaps because the two were already acquainted, Yu Li did not refuse and walked to his car, whispering, "It's at the other end of Gulou Street."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming chuckled: "What a coincidence, I was just heading to Gulou Street too."

With that, he pushed off with his foot, and the car glided out effortlessly.

Yu Li sat sideways on the back of the bike, and the two of them walked along the street.

The wind whistled past her ears, and Yu Li gazed at Jia Dongming's broad back, her expression gradually becoming complicated.

She lowered her eyes and sighed silently in her heart: Why didn't I meet such a person sooner?

About fifteen minutes later, the car stopped at the entrance of an alley.

Yu Li jumped out of the car nimbly, turned around and looked at Jia Dongming, her eyes full of gratitude: "Brother Dongming, thank you so much for today."

"That money... I'll pay you back slowly when I have more money in the future."

Jia Dongming waved his hand dismissively: "It's nothing, don't keep thinking about it."

Alright, go ahead and do it.

If you encounter any difficulties in the future, feel free to come to the steel rolling mill to find me.

After watching Yu Li enter the alley, Jia Dongming got back on his bike and soon turned into another quiet alley.

He stopped in front of a courtyard gate made of blue bricks, took out a key from his pocket—actually from his system space—and inserted it into the lock. "Click."

With a thud, the two wooden doors opened.

Pushing the cart into the courtyard, we found ourselves in a well-organized, single-courtyard house.

There are three main rooms in the front, two side rooms each in the east and west, and three rear rooms in the south, totaling about 200 square meters.

The side facing the street is next to the winter wing, and it also has a storefront, which looks like it could be used as a shop.

The room was fully equipped with tables, chairs, beds, cabinets, pots, pans, and utensils, all provided by the system.

Jia Dongming walked around inside and out, his lips curving into a wider smile. Finally, he stood in the middle of the courtyard and clicked his tongue to himself, "The Dongxi that the system gave me is indeed not bad."

"This courtyard will probably be worth a fortune in the future."

After Yu Li and Jia Dongming parted ways, she carried her luggage to the gate of a courtyard with blue bricks and gray tiles.

She pushed open the slightly ajar wooden door and called out twice towards the west wing, "Fangfang? Are you home?"

The young woman who was inside gluing matchboxes with her head down looked up when she heard the sound, and hurriedly put down her work to come out and greet her.

Seeing Yu Li standing in the courtyard, she wiped the paste from her fingertips and asked, "Lili, what brings you here? Is your aunt feeling better?"

Yu Li pursed her lips, took out neatly folded banknotes from her pocket and handed them over: "My mother's surgery went smoothly, and she is still recovering in the hospital."

Here's the money back; I'm so grateful for your help the other day.

Fangfang didn't take it, but just wiped her hands on her apron: "What's the rush? It's not too late to talk about it after Auntie is discharged from the hospital."

"I have enough here."

Yu Li insisted on stuffing the money into the other person's pocket, saying, "If I really need money, I'll come back to you."

Fangfang stopped refusing, but saw Yu Li still standing there with her luggage, her cheeks slightly flushed.

She looked at the other person with a start: "You...you're going to stay here?"

Yu Li lowered her eyelashes: "I didn't want my mother to see me and worry, so I thought I'd stay here for a couple of days."

Fangfang looked troubled and glanced at the winter house: "Unfortunately, my uncle just came back from the army a few days ago, and there's really no room left in the house."

Why don't you go ask Xiuqing?

Yu Li immediately understood, picked up her luggage and smiled, "Look how rash I am, I'll go take a look first."

As dusk deepened, Jia Dongming locked the courtyard gate and rode his bicycle out of the alley.

I hadn't ridden far when I saw that familiar figure under the streetlights—Yu Li was still lingering at the alley entrance, carrying a cloth bundle.

He braked the car, stopping beside her with one foot on the ground: "Weren't you going to see your girlfriends? Why are you still wandering around here?"

Yu Li turned around at the sound of her voice, nervously clutching the strap of her bundle: "Fangfang's house is full, I was just about to go ask somewhere else."

Jia Dongming looked at her red, frozen fingertips, then suddenly remembered something and patted the back seat: "Get in, I'll take you somewhere."

Yu Li hesitated for a moment, then sat down sideways.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, passed through several winding alleys, and finally stopped in front of a quiet courtyard.

Jia Dongming took out his key, opened the door, and turned to wave at her.

Yu Li stared blankly at the jingling brass keys, still somewhat dazed as she followed them through the courtyard gate: "Brother Dongming, what is this...?"

"My yard."

Jia Dongming pushed the cart inside, saying, "If you don't mind, you can stay here for now."

"your?"

Yu Li stood there, stunned, her gaze sweeping over the neatly tidied eaves and window frames.

"Yes, it was left behind by a comrade."

Jia Dongming parked his car under a pomegranate tree and said in a calm tone, "After he sacrificed his life, I took care of the old man for him."

The old man passed away a few days ago, and he transferred the courtyard to my name.

He took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket. "The formalities were just completed yesterday. I was planning to come and take a look today, but I just happened to run into you."

Yu Li stared at the property deed stamped with a red seal, then looked up at the rooftop standing silently in the twilight. After a long while, she softly asked, "Is this... appropriate?"

Jia Dongming smiled and pushed open the carved wooden door of the main room.

A dry, woody scent wafted through the air. The tables and chairs inside were polished to a shine, and the mattresses were neatly folded.

"It's just sitting empty anyway."

He said.

"Since you have nowhere to go right now, why don't you stay here for the time being?"

Although Fangfang suggested that Yuli go to Xiuqing's place to ask, Yuli knew in her heart that Xiuqing's house was crowded and might not be able to free up any space.

With nowhere else to turn, she initially clung to a sliver of hope and decided to try her luck.

Unexpectedly, Jia Dongming was willing to take him in.

Yu Li felt a surge of warmth in her heart and quickly said, "Brother Dongming... I really don't know how to thank you."