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

"Comrade Xu, go fill the kettle with water and sweep the floor."

It was Wang Defa who spoke. Ever since he learned that Xu Damao was not a cadre but just an ordinary worker, his attitude immediately changed. He spoke in a bossy manner and showed no politeness whatsoever.

Xu Damao, who had just returned from Li Jing'an's office, was taken aback upon hearing this. His expression was somewhat amused, but he repeatedly agreed, "Okay, okay, Officer Wang, I'll go right away." After saying that, he picked up the water bottle and walked out. Wang Defa had clearly already treated him as a subordinate he could order around at will.

After Xu Damao finished getting the water, he poured a cup for Wang Defa before picking up a broom to clean.

Wang Defa sat to the side, legs crossed, muttering, "Why is there nothing for us in the external liaison department to do? What's the point of being idle all day? This job is too easy."

Xu Damao quickly replied, "There can't be work every day. We all wait for instructions from above. If the Ministry of Metallurgy or the steel rolling mill has tasks, they will call to arrange them. We just need to wait."

Wang Defa had hoped to make some achievements as soon as he took office, but now he was too idle to sit still. He instructed Xu Damao to stay behind while he went to the guesthouse to familiarize himself with the situation and make a name for himself.

Watching his departing figure, Xu Damao revealed a sinister smile. He stopped sweeping and stood by the window, watching Wang Defa walk away before leisurely continuing his work.

When Wang Defa returned from his stroll and opened the door, Xu Damao immediately went up to him: "Officer Wang, the steel mill called while you were out."

"What is it?" Wang Defa plopped down at the table, picked up his water glass, took a sip, and asked casually.

"The steel rolling mill has an urgent reception task; an inspection team is coming tomorrow."

Wang Defa's eyes lit up, and his spirits lifted instantly—wasn't this a perfect opportunity to shine? He quickly put down his water glass and gestured for Xu Damao to continue.

"A 50-person expedition team will be arriving tomorrow. They'll be staying at our guesthouse. The mission is urgent, so we'll have to pick up the reception form tomorrow morning."

Wang Defa, unfamiliar with the procedure, frowned and hurriedly asked what to do. Xu Damao casually replied, "Just go talk to Director Li Jing'an, he'll arrange it."

Wang Defa nodded in satisfaction, thinking to himself that Xu Damao was quite sensible, not going directly to the director without going through him, a college student cadre, and that he understood his place and knew who was in charge of external liaison.

He immediately went to find Li Jing'an, and as soon as he entered, he raised his voice and said, "Director, the steel rolling mill just called the external relations department to say that an inspection team is coming tomorrow..."

Li Jing'an was about to leave when he reached out to interrupt him: "De Fa, just go talk to the accountant about this. I have other things to do, but I'm sure you can handle it."

"Okay! Okay! I'll go find the accountant right away!"

Feeling smug and self-satisfied at being trusted so much by the director, Wang Defa walked with an air of superiority.

He turned to Lin Xiaomei, the new accountant who had come with him, and told her about the inspection team. He asked her to issue an invoice and instructed the kitchen to prepare the ingredients and expenses for tomorrow. He then returned to the external relations office, leaned back in his chair, and thought to himself: This job isn't that difficult. It's just passing on a message. It's a waste of my talents as a college graduate to do this.

Upon seeing him return, Xu Damao immediately approached and asked respectfully, "Officer Wang, should we go to the steel mill to pick up the reception form tomorrow, or should I go?"

Wang Defa became interested: "Which leader did you go to hand over the reins to?"

"Just an ordinary staff member in the factory office."

Upon hearing that he wasn't a leader, Wang Defa immediately felt a pang of regret, missing the opportunity to interact with the factory's higher-ups, and his enthusiasm instantly waned. Hearing that it was just a matter of picking up a form, signing it, and coming back, he became even less motivated, feeling that such errand-running work was beneath his status.

"Then go ahead and bring it back to me."

"Yes, Officer Wang." Xu Damao readily agreed, then added, "However, the reception form needs to be signed. There are only two of us in the external liaison department, and you are a new cadre, so it's only proper for you to sign it. Otherwise, the factory office might think it's against the rules."

As he spoke, he took a blank form from the drawer and handed it over, pointing to the bottom: "Why don't you sign your name first, and I'll take the rest to the steel mill's office tomorrow and have them fill it out and stamp it."

Wang Defa didn't understand the intricacies of the matter, but he thought it made perfect sense, so he nodded, picked up a pen, and signed his name on the blank invitation form in a flamboyant manner before handing it to Xu Damao.

Xu Damao quickly took the paper with both hands, stared at the signature on it, and smiled to himself.

……

West City.

"Going out? Hey, isn't that Jing'an's car at the alley entrance? Coming to pick you up again to go to the guesthouse?"

Li's mother greeted the neighbors at the door with a smile, her voice three points louder than usual.

"Oh my, you are so lucky! Jing'an is so filial."

"That's right, I heard Jing'an got promoted again? He's now a division-level cadre..."

"Oh... isn't that the same level as the factory manager at my child's father's factory?"

Several women huddled together, chattering amongst themselves, their eyes filled with envy.

"Hey, what promotion? It's just one rank, nothing to brag about," Mother Li said politely and modestly, waving her hand. "Still at the guesthouse, just a bit bigger than before, nothing special."

But the smile she couldn't hide on her face had already revealed all her smugness, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were all squeezed into a flower shape.

Mr. Li, unable to bear watching any longer, urged, "Let's go, don't delay, don't keep the child waiting for so long."

Only then did Li's mother reluctantly say goodbye to the neighbors, turning back every few steps as she followed Li's father toward the alley entrance.

The guesthouse car was already waiting at the intersection. Li Jing'an saw his parents come out of the car and quickly got out to greet them, opening the door: "Why were you so slow? We've been waiting for quite a while."

"Hey, if I hadn't been urging your mother, she wouldn't be out by now," Mr. Li said with a hint of disdain, glancing sideways at his wife.

"Tch, that's not how it is. I just exchanged a few words with the neighbor," Li's mother retorted, bending down to get into the car.

After the two got into the car and sat down, Li Jing'an started the car and said with a smile, "Then let's set off. First, we'll pick up Jialing, and then go back to the guesthouse. You two can rest for the next two days, so stay at the guesthouse for two nights. I've asked the kitchen to prepare some of your favorite dishes."

He specifically brought his parents over because the guesthouse was nice, with a private bathroom—clean and convenient. He planned to have them stay for two days each week to change their environment and relax. After all, the guesthouse offered showers and haircuts; it would be a shame not to take advantage of his position to enjoy such conveniences.

As the car slowly drove out of the alley, Li's mother looked out the window at the neighbors receding into the distance, her face beaming with an undisguised smile.