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

The dull thud of the car door closing made her heart skip a beat.

"Director Li, what's the matter?" Su Liting sat in the cramped space, alone with a man, feeling extremely uncomfortable. Her hands rested on her knees, but no matter how she positioned them, she felt uneasy. Her heart was racing, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.

Li Jing'an glanced at her sideways, his lips seemingly twitching slightly, but he quickly suppressed it, his expression gradually becoming serious.

"Comrade Su, I don't even know how to tell you this." He sighed. "It's like this, yesterday you asked me to plead with the factory leaders—this matter is very troublesome."

Su Liting's heart tightened, and she stared at him with wide eyes.

"Normally, this kind of thing could just be talked about. Who knew that Section Chief Zhang and the other two would turn against us now, insisting that Engineer Wang instigated it and that Engineer Wang is the mastermind. So... this matter is complicated." After Li Jing'an finished speaking, he sighed heavily again.

"Huh?" Su Liting's voice changed. "Director Li, they're just talking nonsense and trying to frame us! My husband only agreed to help because of our years of neighborly relations, but who knew he'd get into this mess! He was taken in for questioning by the security department today, but nothing happened. There were plenty of people who were willing to testify for my husband..." She became more and more agitated as she spoke, and her eyes began to redden.

"Comrade Su, don't you understand?" Li Jing'an waved his hand, his tone heavy. "It's about Engineer Wang's matter. There might not be any clear evidence, and someone has testified on his behalf. But the factory has already decided to use this as a case study. Now it's not his problem—it's our problem. You asked me to plead for leniency and pull strings, but the factory caught you doing it and said they'd punish both of us."

"Ah? How could this happen?" Upon hearing this, Su Liting's face turned pale, and her hands unconsciously twisted together until her knuckles turned blue.

She never imagined that this matter would involve her.

"Sigh, this is just bad luck, it happened at this particular time." Li Jing'an sighed again, slowing his speech. "The factory said I've lost my principles, sabotaged the Third Front construction, protected bad elements, and violated organizational discipline... Although it's a bit harsh, I'm still a model worker in our metallurgical system, so they won't do anything to me. At most, I'll admit my mistake, accept the punishment, and write a self-criticism. Comrade Su, you're different."

As Li Jing'an spoke, he looked at Su Liting meaningfully.

Su Liting was terrified by his words, her voice trembling: "Director Li, I... what will happen to me?"

"Someone has already suggested how to handle you," Li Jing'an said, emphasizing each word. "You've used connections, you're individualistic, and you're corrupting the cadres. You're also accused of protecting bad elements and disrupting production. They say there will be a factory-wide criticism meeting, you'll have to write big-character posters, and you'll have to make self-criticisms. In the end, your salary will be reduced. Also—because you're a teacher in the 'Red Education Class,' it might affect your job. They say you'll have to go to a study class for a few months before being transferred from that position. They say you'll mislead the students, harm and poison their minds..."

After Li Jing'an finished speaking, he let out a long sigh, as if expressing regret.

Su Liting froze, her lips trembling, tears welling up in her eyes. "Director Li, I...I...I didn't want to go, but my husband insisted...It really wasn't my intention! Those Zhang couple are so mean!"

As she spoke, she could no longer hold back, covered her face with her hands, and began to sob.

Seeing this, Li Jing'an quickly moved closer to her, placed a hand on Su Liting's back, and gently patted her, as if to comfort her.

Su Liting was terrified and didn't even notice his actions; she just kept crying.

"Comrade Su," Li Jing'an's voice softened, tinged with concern, "it's not that I'm stirring up trouble. Engineer Wang has really pushed us both into a fire pit. I'm a grown man, I don't care... but I despise people like that, pushing their own women to the front. It's utterly despicable!"

"Waaaaah... I told him I didn't want to go, but he insisted I go!" Su Liting buried her face in her hands and cried even harder.

Taking the opportunity, Li Jing'an moved closer to her, his hand moving from her back to her shoulder, and gently squeezed it.

"Hey, Liting." His voice suddenly lowered, as if he were naturally changing how he addressed her, "Is it okay for me to call you that?"

Before Su Liting could reply, he continued, "Liting, it's not that I'm stirring up trouble. He's doing fine, trying to absolve himself of responsibility. He doesn't care if someone testifies for him. But who's going to testify for you? Won't all the consequences fall on you? I'll tell you a secret, actually, some people have suggested sending you to the countryside for re-education."

Su Liting suddenly raised her face, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, her eyes wide open, her lips trembling violently.

"This Engineer Wang, I'm not trying to cause trouble," Li Jing'an said, withdrawing his hand and sitting up straight, his tone tinged with disdain. "I don't know what he's thinking. These intellectuals probably learned from the dregs of the past, like women are like clothes. You probably don't even value his friendship with Section Chief Zhang as much as he does."

"Director Li, I... what should I do?" Su Liting choked back tears as she raised her tear-streaked face, her eyes filled with panic and helplessness.

"Liting, I'm just worried about you." Li Jing'an looked into her eyes, his tone sincere and gentle. "If you don't mind, you can call me Brother Li from now on. I'm not trying to cause trouble—how could your man be so heartless as to push you out into the storm? I just can't stand to see that. Don't worry, I'll find a way to help you, okay? Don't cry."

As he spoke, he took out a neatly folded handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away Su Liting's tears.

Su Liting didn't instinctively flinch; she just sniffed and looked at him with red eyes.

"Yes, don't cry." Li Jing'an put away the handkerchief, a slight smile playing on his lips. "From now on, Brother Li will protect you from the wind and rain. The most important thing for us right now is to ask some people at the steel mill to find out the situation and then figure out how to operate in the future."

"Ah, Brother Li... what should I do?" Hearing him say this, Su Liting felt like she had grasped a lifeline. She quickly cheered herself up, wiped away her tears, and sat up straight.

"How about this, I'll invite a few colleagues from the steel rolling mill to dinner at the guesthouse tomorrow. You can come too, so we can get to know them first... Later, I'll subtly try to see if there's any room for negotiation on this matter."

"Then... Brother Li, how much money should I bring?" Su Liting asked cautiously.

"What money should I bring?" Li Jing'an waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of magnanimity. "Since your brother Li has taken this on, right? If I let a woman like you spend money, how am I supposed to make a living?" He paused, his gaze lingering on Su Liting's face for a moment. "Women should be pampered by men."

Hearing these words, Su Liting felt as if something had struck her heart hard. The look in her eyes as she looked at Li Jing'an subtly changed—a complex, indescribable feeling appeared in them now.

She suddenly realized that this was what a man should be like.

"Of course," Li Jing'an changed the subject, "If you want to show your appreciation, that's fine too. Go buy a few cartons of cigarettes and come find me at the guesthouse tomorrow morning."

"Huh?" Su Liting was taken aback. "Then... how many cartons should we buy? What kind of cigarettes?"

"I'm planning to invite three or four people tomorrow. Let's say three people. Give each person two packs of cigarettes, not much—just buy six packs. They don't need anything too fancy, like Zhonghua or anything like that, they won't understand them. Just buy Peony, they prefer that."

Su Liting didn't know how much six cartons of Peony cigarettes cost. She bit her lip, nodded, and could only agree for now: "Okay... Brother Li, I'll listen to you."

Li Jing'an nodded in satisfaction, reached out and patted her shoulder, his hand lingering for a second or two longer than necessary.

"Okay, it's settled then. You go back now and don't overthink it."