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

The next day at noon.

A young man dressed in a neat Zhongshan suit walked into Jin Fusheng's courtyard along the frozen village road.

"Is this Kim Bok-sung's house?"

Jin Fusheng was squatting on the threshold, smoking silently. Hearing the sound, he looked up and his heart sank – what was bound to happen had finally arrived.

He quickly stood up, forcing a smile, "Yes, yes, I am Jin Fusheng, and you are?"

"Oh, I'm from the steel rolling mill, my name is Chen Qing. Director Li Jing'an sent me." The young man looked at him with a smile. "As for why I'm here, Director Li said you should know the answer."

He was summoned to Li Jing'an's office yesterday afternoon. Li Jing'an personally instructed him to come and oversee the matter today. He immediately patted his chest—it was his honor to serve Director Li. He took a car over as soon as it was light. Li Jing'an also told him to come without worry, that he would speak to the technical department and ensure his salary would be paid as usual.

"Please sit down, please sit down!" Jin Fusheng said with a beaming smile, hurriedly moving a chair over. He then turned and called into the house, "Wife, quickly get the kettle and pour some water for Cadre Chen! Bring out that packet of 'Gao Mo' from the house!"

Chen Qing watched the family bustling around with a smile, not saying a word, just standing there, her gaze sweeping around the room.

Jin Fusheng bowed, offering the enamel mug with both hands, his face plastered with a fawning smile: "Officer Chen, whatever Director Li needs, just say the word! I'll do whatever I can! I only beg you and Director Li to be magnanimous and forgiving, and let our family off the hook. I'll do anything you ask!"

Chen Qing took the jar, squinting at the old man before him—looking at his utterly humble appearance and listening to his subservient voice. A sudden, indescribable pleasure welled up inside him, a tingling, numbing sensation that shot up his spine.

He picked up the mug, took a sip, spat out the tea leaves, and slowly said, "Director Li didn't give any other instructions, just one sentence: No steel bars. The road needs to be repaired; saplings need to be planted. How it's repaired is up to me."

"Oh, Officer Chen, just give me your orders, I'll do whatever you say!"

Chen Qing took another sip of tea: "I went to the mountain to check it out before I came. The road must be built to a high standard, no perfunctory work. It should be made into stone steps, one step at a time, leading directly to Director Li's woodland. The New Year is just around the corner, so it must be finished before Director Li comes to sweep the tombs for the New Year, so that he can walk up the mountain on the new road."

"Huh?" Jin Fusheng's expression changed. "Cadre Chen, the time is too tight! It's cold, and the snow from a few days ago hasn't melted yet. How can I finish it? Can't we wait until next spring and do it together with planting trees?"

Chen Qing's eyes turned cold, and he slammed his hand on the table—smack! Jin Fusheng jumped in fright.

"Are you trying to negotiate with me?" Chen Qing stood up, looking down at him. "Let me tell you, Director Li's words are orders, political orders, and must be carried out without fail! A bad element like you dares to negotiate? Don't you know what the consequences will be?"

Jin Fusheng, recalling the commune's warning from yesterday, lost all color in his face. He bent over, almost at a ninety-degree angle: "Yes, yes, yes, Cadre Chen, I was wrong, I shouldn't have spoken up! You say when to start construction, how to do it, I'll do whatever you say!"

Chen Qing's smile deepened as he slowly sat back down in his chair. "Then tomorrow. The sooner the better. Once Director Li is satisfied after the New Year, my task will be complete, and your matter will be settled."

"Okay, okay, I'll do whatever you say!" Jin Fusheng nodded repeatedly, bending even lower.

Chen Qing glanced around: "I'm not leaving before the New Year. Director Li told me to stay here and keep watch. Please arrange a place for me to stay."

"You can stay at my place! My house is spacious!"

Chen Qing looked at the furnishings in the room with disgust and frowned: "Forget it, I won't stay at your place. Are there any rooms at the brigade headquarters? I'll stay at the brigade headquarters."

"Yes, yes, yes! Come with me!" Jin Fusheng hurriedly opened the door and led the way, then turned back and shouted into the house, "Old woman, go to the eldest son's house and get the new quilts and mattresses. Have him take them to the brigade headquarters right away!"

After saying that, he bowed and led Chen Qing toward the brigade headquarters.

"Cadre Chen, how is the environment? I'll have my son bring the bedding over in a bit."

Chen Qing walked around the brigade headquarters room, looking at the wooden bed, the three-drawer table, and the chair. The room was fairly clean; although some of the whitewash on the walls was peeling, it was much better than Jin Fusheng's house. He nodded casually, "It's alright, I can manage."

Jin Fusheng bowed and smiled apologetically, "Come to my house for lunch. I'll have my wife kill a chicken; it's just that you'll have to go through that."

"Okay, I'll go to your house today. But not again, it won't look good if someone sees us." Chen Qing sat down in the chair. "I'll fire alone at the brigade headquarters."

"Huh?" Jin Fusheng was taken aback. "You're going to cook it yourself? How could I let you do it! I'll cook it at home and deliver it to you!"

Chen Qing waved his hand: "No need. Go to the village and find someone to cook for me." He paused, then looked at Jin Fusheng with a smile, "Remember, don't find someone old, find someone young. Understand?"

That smile was meaningful.

Jin Fusheng froze, opened his mouth, and stammered, "Ah? This...this..."

Chen Qing's face immediately darkened, and his smile vanished without a trace: "What? You can't even handle such a small matter? Fine, then you don't need to fix the road. I'll go back this afternoon. As for the consequences, think it over yourself."

Jin Fusheng's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down: "No, no, no! Leader Chen, Cadre Chen, I'll take care of it right away! Don't worry, someone will definitely come to cook for you tonight!"

Looking at his panicked appearance, Chen Qing slowly raised the corners of her mouth, and the smile spread across her face like a pebble thrown into stagnant water.

Jin Fusheng came out of the brigade headquarters, his legs feeling like lead, and he shuffled along the village road step by step.

He stopped in front of a house and raised his hand to knock on the door.

The person who opened the door was a young woman, wearing a faded cloth jacket, with her hair neatly combed and a sharp, capable look in her eyes.

"Secretary? What brings you here?" The woman asked, somewhat surprised.

Jin Fusheng looked at her, his words circling on his lips before he finally spoke: "Yufeng, go to the brigade headquarters tonight and cook for Cadre Chen who's coming from the city."

"Sure, Secretary. You didn't have to come all this way for such a small matter. Just have someone tell me." Yu Feng readily agreed.

Jin Fusheng looked at her, his heart feeling heavy, and his voice deepened: "Yufeng, I know you've had a tough time. Your husband passed away early, you raised the children alone, and you also had to take care of your in-laws. The whole family depends on you."

"I'll have my eldest son bring you some grain in a bit, and the village will also give you full work points from now on."

"Huh?" Yu Feng was taken aback. "Secretary, there's no need for that. It's just cooking a meal, isn't it?"

"Sigh—" Jin Fusheng sighed, "It's not a matter of one meal. Our village has a construction project starting tomorrow, which will keep us busy until the end of the year. Cadre Chen will be staying at the brigade headquarters, so I'll trouble you to go over there every day to cook for him and clean up."

"Oh, I thought it was something important." Yu Feng smiled. "Thank you, Secretary. This is a great job. Thank you for remembering me!"

Seeing the smile on Yu Feng's face, Jin Fusheng felt as if he were being pricked by needles. Some words were on the tip of his tongue, but he just couldn't say them.

Seeing that he seemed hesitant to speak, Yu Feng felt a little uneasy: "Is there anything else? Just say it."

Jin Fusheng lowered his head and remained silent for a long time. The withered gourd vines in the courtyard rustled in the wind.

He finally spoke, his voice dry and hoarse, as if he'd chewed on dirt: "Sigh... I don't even know how to bring this up... Never mind, I'll just say it straight. Yu Feng, if... if that cadre Chen asks you to do something, could you... agree to it?"

"what?"

Yu Feng suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked at him in disbelief.

Jin Fusheng's face flushed red with shame, his eyes darting away, unable to meet her gaze. Yu Feng's expression gradually darkened; her lips moved, but no words came out.

Jin Fusheng stepped forward, his voice trembling with tears: "Yufeng, I'm begging you! This concerns whether anyone in our village will die next year, whether we can survive! If this project isn't done well, and Cadre Chen isn't satisfied, the commune and county will give us extra grain next year! Then—then who knows how many more graves will be in the village!"

As he spoke, he bent his knees and was about to kneel on the ground.

Yu Feng grabbed him and steadied him, her hands gripping his arms tightly. Her face was pale, her lips trembling, and after a long pause, she managed to utter, "Please don't...please don't...what am I supposed to do..."