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

"Director Li, I know you like furniture. Well, our factory has received some new materials, and I had the master craftsman make two chairs for you. Please don't mind them," Director Du said with a smile.

"What's our relationship? Why are you doing this? Besides, I shouldn't be the one giving you gifts. How can I accept this?" Li Jing'an complained, but his eyes were fixed on two oddly shaped chairs being unloaded from the car—they didn't look like armchairs. "Director Du, what's the story behind these?"

"Hahaha," Director Du laughed, "These two chairs were specially made for you by the master craftsman. They are folding chairs. Have you heard of folding chairs? They are the kind of 'top folding chairs'. I think they suit you perfectly, both in terms of their symbolism and your temperament."

"Haha, very good, very good." Li Jing'an circled the two chairs twice, nodding with satisfaction. "Director Du, I didn't expect you to understand me so well. These two chairs really hit the nail on the head."

"I'm glad you're happy. That's why I came here specifically to thank you. If it weren't for you, I would have been seriously injured or killed for falsely accusing me by that deputy factory director."

"Hey, what are you talking about?" Li Jing'an waved his hand. "Isn't this my business too? What does it have to do with you? You only got into this mess because you were helping me. If anyone should apologize, it should be me who's sorry. And you even sent me things, isn't that just slapping me in the face?"

Li Jing'an liked it more and more as he looked at it, so he sat down and stroked the chair, asking, "Director Du, what material is this made of?"

"Director Li, this is rosewood. There wasn't much in this batch of timber, but I still managed to squeeze out a little for you." Director Du said with a smile, trying to show off his achievement. Suddenly, Li Jing'an asked, "By the way, is there a lot of huanghuali in this new batch of materials?"

Factory Director Du was taken aback, not expecting his thoughts to jump to the topic of rosewood: "Not much. A little was allocated the year before last, but we haven't applied for any more since. We don't need that much, and we don't need it."

"Why wouldn't we need it?" Li Jing'an asked, puzzled.

"Director Li, you may not know this," Director Du explained. He then gave Li Jing'an a brief explanation.

Although huanghuali wood is relatively rare and difficult to obtain now, it's not because it's good, but because the demand is low. Currently, the biggest consumer of huanghuali isn't timber mills or furniture factories, but pharmacies—it's actually used as a medicine. Director Du's words broadened Li Jing'an's horizons, and the price isn't high now, far lower than rosewood or sandalwood.

"Director Du, I'd like to ask you for a favor," Li Jing'an said.

"You can just say so, there's no need for the word 'please'!" Director Du looked flattered.

"I would like to ask you, on behalf of your furniture factory, to request the transfer of a batch of rosewood timber from Hainan, preferably old and large pieces."

"Huh? Director Li, do you want to use that to make a set of furniture?" Director Du asked, puzzled.

"No. I'm not making furniture. Just give me the wood later; I might need it."

Although Director Du didn't understand Li Jing'an's intentions, it wasn't difficult—rosewood wasn't expensive or particularly sought-after timber—so he readily agreed. The two chatted in the office for a while longer before Director Du excused himself, citing work. Li Jing'an escorted him to the entrance of the guesthouse.

"Director Du, why are you in such a hurry? You don't even have time to eat?" Li Jing'an pleaded with him to stay.

"I'm sorry, Director Li, maybe next time. I'm really busy and can't afford to be late," Director Du said with a helpless expression.

"Alright, that's settled then. Next time we eat together, you can't refuse again." Li Jing'an smiled and watched Director Du's car leave, then turned and walked back to the guesthouse. He glanced at the front desk, not seeing the person he was looking for, and frowned, asking, "Where's Jiang Yuebai?"

A receptionist quickly stood up and replied, "Director Li, she must have taken leave. It seems her spouse is sick and hasn't been in for two days..."

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.

The Ministry of Metallurgical Industry was extremely dissatisfied with the work of the Municipal Procuratorate and sent a letter directly to the Supreme People's Procuratorate. The letter was strongly worded and demanded that the Municipal Procuratorate be held accountable. The Ministry also hoped that the Supreme People's Procuratorate would learn from this experience, maintain the normal operation of enterprises, and not delay the overall production or undermine national construction.

After two more days of wrangling, the Supreme People's Procuratorate announced the punishment for Xie Hui, the director of the General Investigation Division of the Municipal Procuratorate—a major demerit, followed by other Party disciplinary actions. The Chief Procurator of the Municipal Procuratorate also received a demerit.

After the disciplinary action was announced, a group of people, led by Section Chief Han of the Self-Investigation Section, kept gossiping about Xie Hui behind his back, spreading rumors about him. Xie Hui had also been feeling uneasy these past two days. The case had ended abruptly, leaving him with a lingering resentment. Anyone with eyes could see that something fishy had happened, but it had been firmly suppressed by his superiors, like a dark cloud constantly hanging over his head. He had nowhere to vent his anger, and he was depressed and unable to find a way to relieve it.

This evening after get off work, he had just stopped his bicycle in front of the dormitory building when a woman's voice called out to him from behind: "Are you Xie Hui, Prosecutor Xie?"

Xie Hui turned his head and saw an unusually haggard, pale-faced woman in front of him. He frowned and replied, "Yes, that's me. May I ask who you are?"

"I'm from the guesthouse... I have something I'd like to discuss with you privately." The woman did not give her name.

Xie Hui gave her a deep look and nodded: "Okay, if you don't mind, come to my dorm. My wife is home too."

The woman nodded.

"Come, please sit down." Xie Hui opened the door, his voice startling Li Xin inside. Li Xin came out and saw Xie Hui greeting a strange woman, and asked with some confusion, "Xie Hui, who is this comrade?"

"This comrade wants to tell me something, but it wasn't convenient for her to come outside just now, so I'll invite her to my home," Xie Hui said as he invited the person into his house.

"Alright, alright, please sit down. I'll go pour you some tea," Li Xin greeted warmly, turning to fetch cups and a teapot.

Xie Hui moved a chair for the guests to sit down, and sat down opposite them. Li Xin placed a teacup in front of the two of them and said, "Comrades, just say what you need to say. I have something to do in the inner room, so I won't disturb you." After saying that, she went into the inner room.

The woman glanced at Xie Hui and whispered, "I'm an employee of the No. 1 Guesthouse of the Steel Rolling Mill. My name is Jiang Yuebai."

Xie Hui was taken aback, not expecting it to be someone from the First Guesthouse. He instinctively asked, "Are you trying to talk about the furniture in your guesthouse's conference room?"

"No. I wasn't talking about the furniture; I was talking about the war reserve rations."

"What? Strategic reserve rations?" Xie Hui was shocked by this term. Anything involving "strategic reserve" was always a major incident, even the smallest problem was a huge deal; this was completely unexpected. "Comrade Jiang, are you sure you're not mistaken? It's a problem with the strategic reserve rations? There's a problem with the strategic reserve rations in your unit?"

Jiang Yuebai nodded: "Yes, things might be very serious. But I have a request."

"Comrade Jiang, don't worry, I will keep what you said a secret," Xie Hui immediately assured her.

"That's not what I meant," Jiang Yuebai shook her head. "I hope you can help me transfer jobs."

Xie Hui frowned, not expecting this kind of request: "Comrade Jiang, if you want to use this matter as leverage to get a better position, I'm afraid I can't grant your request, nor do I have the authority to do so."

"You've misunderstood. I'm not trying to gain anything. I'd like to ask you to transfer my work assignment back to my hometown—my hometown in the south."

"You're from the South? You want to transfer back to the South? Have you thought this through?" Xie Hui was somewhat incredulous. Giving up a job in Beijing to return to his hometown was an unusual request. "Comrade Jiang, if I may be so bold as to ask, why?"

"Because... my lover passed away." Jiang Yuebai said, a tear sliding down her cheek. "I want to take my child back to my hometown to live."

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.