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

"Chief—" Wang Defa said bitterly. Four hundred yuan! Taking that money would practically bankrupt his family. But if he didn't take it, his life would be ruined. He knew in his heart that he had only taken two bars of soap and a sheet, but now he couldn't explain himself. The staff insisted the items didn't match, and even if he denied it to the death, it wouldn't matter. Even if they eventually found out the other items weren't his fault, the evidence of stealing the soap and sheet was irrefutable, and he wouldn't be able to escape.

Between two evils, choose the lesser. Wang Defa lowered his head dejectedly and said to Li Jing'an in a hoarse voice, "Director... I'll compensate you."

Li Jing'an's lips curled slightly as he turned to look at Section Chief Zhang of the Personnel Department: "Old Zhang, when you get back, transfer Wang Defa. Just find some other reason, and don't make a big fuss about it." Section Chief Zhang nodded, indicating that he understood.

After everyone left, only the lingering smell of cigarette smoke remained in the office. Li Jing'an kept Section Chief Song Yun behind.

He slowly puffed on his cigarette, his gaze landing on Song Yun standing in the center of the office. He began to speak slowly, "Song Yun, the Wang Defa matter is now behind us, but we should talk about your problems. You're in charge of the entire guest room department, and such a huge blunder has occurred. Don't you have anything to say to me?"

The smile that had been on Song Yun's face instantly froze. He quickly stepped forward and hurriedly explained, "Chief, this has nothing to do with me! You entrusted him with the linen room and cleaning/laundry room, and I was just following your instructions. I really didn't know he'd done this!"

"You think you can just ignore it because you don't know?" Li Jing'an flicked his cigarette ash, his tone suddenly turning cold. "I think you're trying to shirk responsibility! Is this the kind of work style a party cadre should have? Trying to push problems away? Let me tell you, you can't escape this. If anything happens in the housekeeping department, you, as the person primarily responsible, will bear the brunt of it! I entrusted you with our guesthouse's largest and most important housekeeping department because I trusted you! And now you've caused this mess, and you still want to shirk all responsibility? You've really disappointed me."

Song Yun's face stiffened, and she hurriedly said, "Chief, I apologize. It's because I didn't do my job well that this happened. I'm sorry, Chief."

"This isn't something that can be resolved with just an apology. Here's what we'll do: go back and write a self-criticism. Come see me tomorrow morning when you come to work. I need to see how profound your self-criticism is. If it's comprehensive, profound, and thorough, we'll resolve this internally. If it's inadequate and you're shirking responsibility, then we'll do what needs to be done. I'll notify the personnel department, and they'll handle it accordingly."

Song Yun wanted to say something more, but Li Jing'an waved her hand to stop her, so she had no choice but to leave dejectedly.

After Song Yun left, Li Jing'an picked up the phone and dialed a number: "Hello, is this the kitchen? Have the head chef come over; I need to speak with him."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Little Ma, someone's looking for you!"

At the sound of a shout from the factory grounds, a young man slowly emerged from a toilet in the steel rolling mill. He was wearing a mask and looked dejected. Upon seeing the person standing outside, he immediately removed his mask and hurried forward, his voice a mixture of surprise and delight: "Master, what brings you here?"

The visitor was the head chef of the guesthouse. Looking at his apprentice's current disheveled state, he sighed deeply, his tone full of reproach: "You, you're really useless. You didn't treat life well, and now you've fallen to the point of cleaning toilets. Do you even look like yourself?"

After being scolded by his master, Xiao Ma lowered his head, clutching the hem of his clothes, and dared not speak for a long time, his face full of guilt and regret.

The head chef looked around and, seeing the crowd of people coming and going, beckoned to Xiao Ma and said, "Come on, let's go over there. I need to tell you something."

The two walked one after the other to the factory's bicycle shed, a quiet spot where no one would disturb them. The head chef took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, offered one to Xiao Ma, and then took one out and put it in his own mouth. Seeing this, Xiao Ma quickly took out a match, respectfully lit his master's cigarette, and then lit his own before asking, "Master, what's the matter? You can just tell me directly, or if you really can't, you can come to my house. This place is dirty and messy, it would be too much trouble for you to make the trip."

"Now you know you're dirty? Why didn't you think about that when you were going astray? You deserve it!" The head chef snapped at him, but seeing his apprentice bowing his head in remorse, his heart softened. He exhaled a puff of smoke, snorted, and leaned closer to Xiao Ma, lowering his voice to say, "Come here, I have something important to tell you. There's something I need you to do. Director Li from the guesthouse said that if you handle this well, he'll transfer you to a different position. Even though you made a mistake and can't go back to work at the guesthouse, Director Li promised to transfer you to the steel mill's canteen. You can still cook there, which is better than you cleaning toilets here."

Upon hearing the head chef's words, Xiao Ma's previously dim eyes instantly lit up. He leaned forward and eagerly asked, "Really, Master? Please tell me! As long as it's within my power, I'll do my best. Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it!"

"Come closer, come closer. I'm telling you quietly, but no one else can hear this." The head chef beckoned, lowered his voice, and whispered something in his apprentice's ear for a long time.

Xiao Ma nodded repeatedly, then patted his chest and assured him firmly, "Master, don't worry, I'll handle this perfectly for you, without the slightest mistake!"

"This isn't for me, it's for you. Only if you succeed can you be transferred. Otherwise, you'll stay here cleaning toilets forever!" The head chef rolled his eyes at him and couldn't help but mutter, "I must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to have taken on an apprentice like you. I have to worry about you every day and never have a moment's peace."

"Master, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I've caused you so much trouble." Xiao Ma's guilt deepened, and he lowered his head to apologize softly.

"Go away, go back now. Look at yourself, you stink. Stay away from me." The head chef pretended to be disgusted and waved his hand to shoo him away.