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

At Mr. Wang's home, his wife was already home. She teaches children in the factory's childcare program, so she has plenty of time and left work early.

The radio on the table was playing some program. She leaned against the table, propped her chin up with one hand, listening intently, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned to the melody, and her toes lightly tapping the ground to keep time.

There was a knock at the door.

"You're back?" Su Liting glanced at her husband, then quickly looked back at the radio. "Why are you so late today? Oh, right, I dropped our daughter off at your parents' place after get off work."

Engineer Wang walked to the table and sat down. After hesitating for a moment, he rubbed his hands together and said, "Liting, you know about Old Zhang's family across the street, right?"

"I know, so what? What does it have to do with our family?" Su Liting turned her gaze from the radio, her face showing a hint of doubt, but more of an indifference. She shifted to a more comfortable position against the table, thinking: Although Section Chief Zhang across the street and my husband have a good relationship, can we really interfere in other people's business? We can't, and we can't help, so why bother?

"Um... there might be something you don't know." Engineer Wang rubbed his hands together again, lowering his voice, "Sister-in-law Zhang went to the factory's guesthouse to cause trouble today and was arrested by the security department."

"Huh?" Su Liting was taken aback at first, her eyes widening for a moment, then a smirk appeared on her lips, and she couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Haha, serves her right!" She slapped her thigh and sprang up from the back of her chair. "With that walnut-sized brain of hers, did she even consider that her skinny arms couldn't possibly bend a thigh? How about that? Suffering, huh?"

She leaned closer to her husband with a curious look, her eyes even sparkling with excitement.

Looking at his wife's expression, which seemed to enjoy watching the drama unfold, Engineer Wang sighed speechlessly: "Liting, I have serious business to discuss with you."

Su Liting curled her lips, the smile still lingering on her face. "Her? She should have been taught a lesson long ago. She has no sense of hygiene, no manners, just a country woman. She deserved to end up like this." She had an expression that said, "I saw through her long ago."

"Alright, alright, stop gloating." Engineer Wang frowned, his tone becoming harsher. "You have no idea how badly she was beaten by the security guards."

"Really? You really did it?" Su Liting's pretty face immediately lit up with excitement. She grabbed her husband's arm and said, "Come on, tell me quickly! Tell me in detail!" Her eyes were as bright as if they had been lit, and her voice rose a few decibels.

Wang Gong glanced at her helplessly—it was clear that the two had a deep-seated grudge. He briefly explained the whole story, and finally said, "Alright, alright, I didn't mean for you to watch the show. I just wanted you to find some time to go to the guesthouse and ask someone to plead for you."

"Huh? I don't know anyone at the guesthouse. How interesting." Su Liting rolled her eyes, flicked her hand, and shrank back into her chair.

"How come you don't recognize her?" Engineer Wang asked patiently, moving closer. "Zhou Yufei is in the guesthouse. She's the wife of Chen Qing, the guy from the technical department who got into trouble. It was because she took the place of the Zhang family across the street that this whole mess happened."

"Ah? It's her?" Su Liting thought for a moment, her eyes darting around, then she suddenly smiled. "I didn't expect her to be so capable. After all these years, she's become a cadre at the guesthouse." As she spoke, she was secretly wondering—Zhou Yufei? The pretty Zhou Yufei? Chen Qing's wife from the technical department? Tsk tsk, appearances can be deceiving.

"Are you even listening to me?" Engineer Wang asked impatiently, his voice rising several decibels.

"I heard you, I heard you." Su Liting waved her hand, as if shooing away a fly. "I've only met her twice and chatted with her twice, and the conversations went quite well. But why should she give me face?"

"We'll do our best and leave the rest to fate," Wang Gong advised, his tone softening. "Go ask them what their conditions are. See if they can get her people to let this matter rest. The Zhang family has already accepted their fate and isn't fighting for the spot anymore. They just want Zhang's sister-in-law released."

"I'm not going. You've already revealed all about her family's situation. You're embarrassed to go, but I'm comfortable doing the same?"

"Liting! This concerns the entire Zhang family; we can't just stand by and watch them die!"

"Alright, alright, I'll go ask." Su Liting slowly stood up. "But don't count on me for everything, I can't guarantee anything. It's mainly because I'm in a good mood—I'm happy as soon as I hear they can move out." She even snorted after saying that.

The next morning, Su Liting was rummaging through her house, the wardrobe door was wide open, and clothes were scattered all over the bed.

"What are you doing?" Engineer Wang asked, puzzled, as he watched the scene unfold. He stood at the bedroom door, holding a cup of tea, looking completely bewildered.

"I'm looking for one of my old coats. A white one." Su Liting didn't turn her head, but stuck her butt out and rummaged deep into the closet.

"Aren't you afraid people will say you're pretentious, dressed like a lady from the old society, or bourgeois?" Engineer Wang asked tentatively, his tone carrying a hint of warning.

"Hmph, I'm not afraid!" Su Liting suddenly sat up straight, turned her face, tossed her hair, and glared at him with wide eyes. "I haven't worn this for years because I believed what you said!" She got angrier and angrier, her cheeks puffed out. "Why can't we let Zhou Yufei stand up for us? Don't think I don't know how much everyone in your department says how beautiful Zhou Yufei is, huh?" She took two steps forward, her finger almost poking Wang Gong's chest. "If you hadn't been dragging me along all the time—would I have lost to her? No way, even if I go to her for help today, I won't be inferior to her!"

Engineer Wang sighed helplessly, opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed his words. He knew that saying anything at this moment would only add fuel to the fire.

"Hey, I found it!" Su Liting cheered, pulling a white coat from the depths of the closet and holding it up with a smile. She shook off the dust, patted it, and carefully examined it from all angles to make sure it wasn't damaged. Only then did she nod in satisfaction, rub the coat against her face, and her eyes were filled with the joy of a long-awaited reunion.

"Do you really need to do this? It's just to talk to her." Engineer Wang shook his head helplessly.

"What do you mean I don't need to? Let me tell you, of course I have to dress nicely, otherwise how can she respect me? She's a cadre now!" Su Liting rolled her eyes, unfolded her coat and held it up to herself. "If I don't dress up nicely, how can I even speak to her?" She said, looking in the mirror, turning left and right, her face full of seriousness.

Seeing his wife's attitude, Engineer Wang's lips moved, but in the end he said nothing and turned to leave.

Su Liting changed her clothes, looked at herself in the mirror, nodded in satisfaction, applied some face cream, and then went out.