I feel right at home in the world of the courtyard house.

In Yi Zhonghai's home in a courtyard house.

Yan Bugui grabbed Yi Zhonghai's arm: "Old Yi, you have to help me! No matter what, let's go talk to Li Jing'an together."

Looking at his panicked and disoriented state, Yi Zhonghai sighed heavily, his tone full of disappointment: "Old Yan, I usually see you as a shrewd strategist, calculating everything clearly. How come you make such a blunder in something like this?"

"I...I just forgot for a moment, didn't I?" Yan Bugui lowered his head, his voice barely audible, and dared not look directly into Yi Zhonghai's eyes.

"Whether you truly forgot or are pretending to be ignorant, only you know the truth in your heart." Yi Zhonghai's words exposed his pretense without sparing him any mercy.

Yan Bugui stiffened, almost bursting into tears, and clung tightly to Yi Zhonghai, pleading, "Old Yi, I know I was wrong, please help me! In this whole compound, you're the only one who still has influence! If we can't get Jie Cheng's file out, forget about finding a job, even getting married and starting a family will be affected. How is he supposed to live?!"

"You, you're so shrewd when it comes to small things, but clueless when it comes to big things!" Yi Zhonghai pointed at his forehead, heartbroken. "It's one thing for others, but who is Li Jing'an? He's a cadre, and I'm just an ordinary worker. What face do I have in front of him?"

"You're not just an ordinary worker!" Yan Bugui quickly raised his voice to correct him, "You're a top-notch, grade eight worker in the factory! Whether in the yard or the workshop, everyone gives you some respect!"

Yi Zhonghai softened his tone, carefully explaining each word: "Old Yan, you need to understand the principle—the people are the people, and officials are officials. Li Jing'an might be polite to me out of consideration for his position, but can you really take that courtesy seriously? Can you use it to handle something this important?"

After saying that, Yi Zhonghai looked directly at him and said, "Speak, how exactly do you want to resolve this? Let me make it clear beforehand, I don't have that much influence."

Yan Bugui rubbed his hands together and hesitated for a long time. He gritted his teeth and tentatively said, "How about... I buy him a carton of cigarettes? As an apology."

Yi Zhonghai didn't speak, but stared at him intently.

Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Yan Bugui gritted his teeth and pressed the issue further: "Two...two! Is that alright now?"

Silence fell over the room. After a long while, Yan Bugui, completely at a loss, blurted out in a desperate attempt, "Old Yi, don't just stay silent! Tell me, what should I do to resolve this?"

"Hey, Lao Yan." Yi Zhonghai finally relented. "Alright, I'll go with you. Remember, when we get there, don't mention giving him a single word about gifts. Just say you're thanking him for helping Jie Cheng find a job, and that you'd like to invite him to dinner to sound him out. We'll figure out the rest later."

"Yes, yes, yes! I'll do whatever you say!" Yan Bugui nodded repeatedly, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, and his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was finally half relieved.

The two got up and went out. Just as they reached the center of the courtyard, they saw Qin Huairu washing clothes by the pool, her hands red with cold.

Yi Zhonghai stepped forward and politely asked, "Qin Huairu, has Director Li Jing'an returned?"

Qin Huairu immediately stopped what she was doing, stood up and replied with a smile, "Uncle, Uncle, Brother Jing'an is back. I just heard some noise in his yard."

"Okay, thank you." Yi Zhonghai nodded.

"Hey, don't be so polite with me!" Qin Huairu leaned forward warmly. "If there's anything I can help you with, just let me know!"

"No need, no need, we can go by ourselves, you go ahead with your work." Yi Zhonghai waved his hand and led Yan Bugui straight towards Li Jing'an's residence.

Upon reaching the door, Yi Zhonghai raised his hand and gently knocked: "Ding ding dong."

A moment later, the door opened, and Li Jing'an greeted them with a smile, humbly inviting the two into the house without any airs of a cadre.

He already knew their intentions, but he didn't say anything and still greeted them warmly: "Please have a seat, gentlemen."

After the two men sat down, Li Jing'an poured them each a cup of hot water before slowly asking, "What brings you two gentlemen to see me today?"

Yan Bugui looked nervously at Yi Zhonghai beside him, speechless. Helpless, Yi Zhonghai could only frown and speak for him: "Director Li, it's like this, Old Yan said that thanks to you for your help with Jie Cheng's work, he feels really bad and wants to treat you to a meal to properly thank you."

"What are you saying?" Li Jing'an smiled slightly, his tone polite yet distant. "We're all neighbors in the same courtyard, we see each other all the time, it's only right that we help each other out, there's no need to be so polite."

Yi Zhonghai subtly kicked Yan Bugui's shoe, waking Yan Bugui from his reverie. He quickly put on a fawning smile and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing! Director Li, we feel really bad for troubling you with this matter. When are you free? Tomorrow is Sunday, so if it's convenient, you can have a simple meal at my house."

Li Jing'an looked troubled and gently shook his head to decline, "Let's forget it. After all, I'm a cadre. If word gets out that I'm having this meal with you alone, it will cause gossip in the institute, which will have a bad influence and is not in accordance with the rules."

Yan Bugui's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly waved his hands to explain, "Director Li, you've misunderstood! It's absolutely not what you think! It's just a simple expression of gratitude between neighbors, nothing more! We'll eat at my house, a simple meal, just the three of us, and I promise no one will know!"

Li Jing'an pondered for a moment, then slowly suggested, "How about this, let's invite Second Uncle, Xu Damao from the backyard, and Qin Huairu too. Shazhu can cook; he's a good cook. It's almost New Year's, so let's have a small gathering of neighbors in our courtyard. What do you think, Third Uncle?"

Yan Bugui's face instantly turned as long as a bitter gourd. His mind raced, calculating the costs. The thought of spending money on meals for so many more people made his heart ache. Seeing his reluctance to pay, Yi Zhonghai, fearing he might back out, quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Sure, sure, we'll do it your way!" With that, he grabbed the still-agonizing Yan Bugui and pulled him outside without another word.

Li Jing'an politely tried to persuade them to stay a few more times, but ultimately saw them to the door.

As soon as they stepped out of the hospital, Yan Bugui's face fell. He lowered his voice and grabbed Yi Zhonghai, saying, "Old Yi, tell me, how much does this meal cost? My family can't afford to spend like this!"

Yi Zhonghai glared at him with exasperation, his tone stern: "It has to be done no matter the cost! Even if you don't think about yourself, you should at least think about your son Jiecheng! You should have learned your lesson long ago and changed your money-grubbing ways!"

After saying that, Yi Zhonghai ignored him and turned to go home. Yan Bugui stood there alone, his face contorted with grief, muttering to himself as he made his way home, his heart aching so much that he was almost in tears.

the other side

Inside another room in Beijing.

"Chen Qing, you've really helped me a lot this time. I don't know how to thank you enough." The man was full of gratitude, holding Chen Qing's hand tightly.

"Uncle, you're being too polite." Chen Qing waved his hand with a smile. "You and my dad have been friends for decades. Your business is our business. There's no need to be so formal."

"Well, that's true, but I feel bad about it." The man said, pulling two thick envelopes from his pocket and stuffing them into Chen Qing's hands without saying a word. "Take these and go buy some food and clothes."

Chen Qing quickly pushed it back, saying, "Uncle, what are you doing! Take it back quickly, I can't accept it!"

"Chen Qing, listen to me, this isn't the same thing." The man pressed her hand down and first stuffed the rather thick envelope into her arms. "This one is for the leader. It's something I promised before, and not a penny less."

Then, he picked up the thinner envelope and said earnestly, "This one is for you two. Take it and buy some new clothes for the New Year. If you don't accept it, how will I face you again if I ever have any trouble?"

"Uncle, you've already put it this way, it would be impolite of me to refuse." Chen Qing stopped refusing and steadily accepted the two envelopes.

Chen Qing and Zhou Yufei saw the man out the door and returned to the house. In front of Zhou Yufei, Chen Qing took all the money out of the thin envelope and put it into the thick envelope.

Zhou Yufei was completely confused and couldn't help but ask, "Huh? Li Jing'an isn't getting any of the money?"

"Give all of these to him," Chen Qing said calmly as she tidied up.

"Why? Then all our work will have been for nothing?" Zhou Yufei asked, looking puzzled.

Chen Qing raised his eyes, his expression quite natural: "I've just been transferred back and haven't had a formal visit to Li Jing'an yet. It's only right that I take this opportunity to personally thank him."

"Huh? You're going there in person?" Zhou Yufei's face immediately showed reluctance, her tone awkward. She felt from the bottom of her heart that it would be too awkward for Chen Qing to see Li Jing'an at this time, and she was also afraid that Chen Qing would feel uncomfortable and something unexpected might happen.

Chen Qing looked at her calmly, understanding her concerns—she was afraid of embarrassing herself and being unable to save face.

His thoughts drifted away, and Chen Qing recalled his days in Huairou. During those years when he was constantly targeted and harassed, his dignity was gradually crushed and scattered among the dust and pebbles amidst the curses, scorn, ridicule, and jeers of others.

It was that humiliating experience that made him fully understand a principle:

In this life, one must either hold power to establish oneself or rely on power to protect oneself; otherwise, one can only be slaughtered by others without any power to fight back.