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

It was 4:30 PM. Li Jing'an was leaving early today. He pushed his bicycle out of the office, a bulging cloth bag hanging from the handlebars.

He glanced at the watch on his wrist and frowned slightly—he had to get back to the courtyard house before dark.

"Director Li, so early today?" Old Zhang, the gatekeeper, poked his head out to greet him.

"Okay, I'm going to my parents' place in Xicheng." Li Jing'an nodded in response, strode into the car, and said, "I need to hurry, it's getting dark quickly."

At his parents' house in Xicheng, Li's mother was surprised to see him: "Xiao An? It's not Sunday today, why are you here at this time?"

"There wasn't much work at work today, so I left a little early," Li Jing'an said as he placed the cloth bag on the table and started taking things out of it. "Mom, this was a gift from someone. I'll keep some for myself, and you can eat the rest."

Looking at the pork, mutton, some apples and pears, and several canned goods on the table, Li's mother waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "Keep these for yourself; your father and I can't eat that much."

"Take these, I have more." Li Jing'an took out only a piece of pork belly and three pears from the bag. "I'll take these with me, I really don't need the rest."

Mr. Li had just returned from get off work: "Jing'an's here? Have you eaten?"

"I can't eat anymore, Dad. I have to rush back to the courtyard house. It's getting dark and the roads are difficult to travel." Li Jing'an looked at the darkening sky outside the window. "Please take care of yourselves, I'll come to see you another day."

After a hurried farewell to his parents, Li Jing'an rode his bicycle towards Nanluoguxiang. As dusk settled, a few lights began to twinkle in the alley. By the time he returned to his courtyard house, only a dark red sunset remained on the horizon.

"Little Li is back!" The old man in the front yard was watering the flowers and looked up to greet him.

"Hey, has Uncle San eaten yet?" Li Jing'an replied, continuing to walk towards the back without stopping.

Push the bicycle into your own yard.

In the east room, he first placed the piece of pork belly on the kitchen cutting board.

The meat was sliced ​​thinly, and the scallions were prepared. The wok was heated, and oil was added. With a sizzling sound, the aroma of the meat slices hitting the wok immediately filled the air. Li Jing'an focused intently on stir-frying, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. Just as he was scooping the stir-fried meat and scallions into a plate, there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Li Jing'an wiped his hands and went to open the door.

Standing outside the door was Xu Damao, carrying two strips of cured meat wrapped in oil paper, his face beaming: "Chief Li, you're home!"

Xu Damao lived in the backyard of the courtyard house. He was a film projectionist at the steel mill, in his twenties, tall and thin, with shrewd eyes that always darted around. Today he was wearing a gray polyester shirt with the collar open, and his hair was slicked back.

"It's Da Mao, come in quickly." Li Jing'an stepped aside.

"I'm out showing movies all day, so it's rare for me to come back early," Xu Damao said, handing over the cured meat. "It was a gift from the commune. I was thinking about how hard Director Li works, so I specially brought you two pieces to try."

Li Jing'an took the cured meat, feeling its weight in his hand, and couldn't help but laugh, "Why are you being so polite? Just call me by my name. I just stir-fried some meat, let's eat together?"

Xu Damao's eyes lit up. This was an opportunity he had been longing for. He quickly replied, "Brother Li, that's great! I'll go home and get a bottle of wine and a plate of ham!" With that, he turned and ran to the backyard, as if afraid that Li Jing'an would change his mind.

Li Jing'an shook his head, went back inside, grabbed a handful of peanuts, and prepared to add another snack to his drinks. Not long after, Xu Damao returned, carrying a bottle of Fenjiu liquor in one hand and a plate of paper-thin slices of ham in the other.

"Where's Lou Xiao'e? Isn't she coming along?" Li Jing'an asked casually as he set out the bowls and chopsticks.

"She went back to her parents' home and isn't here today." Xu Damao put the wine bottle on the table.

The two sat down, and Li Jing'an poured Xu Damao a glass of wine, but only poured half a glass for himself: "I can't hold my liquor, you drink more."

"No way!" Xu Damao raised his glass. "I'm happy today, I'll toast Brother Li three times!" He was about to down his drink in one gulp.

"Wait, wait!" Li Jing'an quickly reached out and pressed down on his wine glass, thinking: Good heavens, you only brought one bottle of wine, and after three glasses, half of it is gone. There's not enough left, and I'll have to get another bottle. How can that be? But he smiled and said, "Wine should be savored slowly. What's the rush? Let's eat first."

Xu Damao wasn't embarrassed by being stopped. He put down his wine glass, picked up a slice of meat, put it in his mouth, chewed a few times, and then gave a thumbs up: "Brother Li's cooking is excellent! This meat is stir-fried to perfection, just right!"

"Just some home-cooked food." Li Jing'an smiled faintly, but inwardly he was quite pleased. Who doesn't like to hear compliments?

After a few drinks, Xu Damao started talking: "Brother Li, I'm not bragging, but last week I went to Hongxing Commune to show a movie, and the scene was absolutely packed! The commune secretary personally received me and insisted I stay for dinner..."

Li Jing listened quietly, nodding occasionally. He knew Xu Damao was a braggart; aside from his conflict with Sha Zhu, he was always friendly with everyone else.

This guy's motto is "I won't offend you unless you offend me." As for what happened with his father-in-law's family later, I think it's just that things got tense and he wanted to protect himself.

"If I had to pick someone from this compound, the person I admire the most is you, Brother Li."

Xu Damao abruptly changed the subject, beginning to flatter, "So young and already the director. Who wouldn't give you a thumbs up? Even the steel mill leaders treat you with utmost respect..."

"Alright, alright, let's drink." Li Jing'an interrupted him, raising his glass. Who doesn't like flattery? A sense of pleasure welled up inside him.

After a few rounds of drinks, a bottle of Fenjiu was empty. Xu Damao's face flushed, and he became even more talkative: "Brother Li, if there's anything the factory needs in the future, you'll have to look after me. Being a projectionist looks glamorous, but I'm really just a gofer..."

"You've done a good job; the bosses have noticed," Li Jing'an said dismissively, glancing at the wine Xu Damao had brought on the table, which he had also finished. "That's enough; I have to go to work tomorrow."

Xu Damao, being quite sensible, stood up unsteadily: "Well... I'll head back now. Thank you for your hospitality, Brother Li!"

After seeing Xu Damao off, Li Jing'an began clearing away the dishes. The moonlight was perfect outside the window, and the courtyard was quiet.

In the backyard, Xu Damao was humming a little tune as he walked back when he ran into his second uncle, Liu Haizhong, who was strolling around in the yard. Liu Haizhong was a level seven fitter at the steel rolling mill, with a round, slightly chubby face, his hands behind his back, exuding the air of an old cadre.

"Da Mao, why are you so happy? Where have you been?" Liu Haizhong had seen Xu Da Mao carrying things towards the Central Courtyard long ago and had been thinking about it.

Xu Damao, feeling the effects of the alcohol, said smugly, "Second Uncle, you don't know, Brother Li, it's Li Jing'an, insisted on inviting me to dinner, and I couldn't refuse! I just came back after drinking."

Liu Haizhong narrowed his eyes, clearly disbelieving: "Director Li invited you to dinner?"

"Of course!" Xu Damao straightened his back. "We've been buddies for a long time, isn't this perfectly normal?"

Liu Haizhong pursed his lips, said nothing more, and turned to go back to his house. As soon as he entered, he said to his wife, who was sewing shoe soles, "Tomorrow, go buy two cartons of good cigarettes and get two decent bottles of wine."

Aunt Er looked up: "What's up? It's not a holiday."

"What do you know?" Liu Haizhong sat down in a chair, took out his pipe, and said, "That kid Xu Damao is already currying favor with Li Jing'an. Can we fall behind? Director Li is a cadre; he can talk to the factory leaders. If I can make a good impression on the leaders through him, maybe..."

"Maybe what? You're this old, how can you possibly get promoted?" Auntie Er pouted.

"That's a woman's perspective!" Liu Haizhong tapped the table. "Even if I don't get promoted, having a good relationship with the boss will make things easier for me in the future. Didn't you see how smug Xu Damao looked?"

Aunt Er shook her head: "Alright, alright, I'll go buy it tomorrow. But I'm telling you, this is the only time, and our family isn't well-off."

Liu Haizhong didn't respond, continuing to smoke, his mind racing with ideas on how to strike up a conversation with Li Jing'an. If he could get Li Jing'an to put in a good word for him with the factory leaders, maybe he really would have a chance...