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

Li Jing'an picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, this is Vice Minister Gao from the Ministry of Metallurgy... It's me, Jing'an."

He paused, a hint of helplessness in his voice: "Yes. That's right, I didn't want this to happen, and I'm very angry right now. The person has turned himself in, and the rest of the investigation is still ongoing."

After hearing what was said on the other end of the phone, Li Jing'an quickly replied, "Yes, I called you to ask if you have any connections to get in touch with people at the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. No, why would I plead with them? I actually hope they will deal with these bad elements severely, quickly, and strictly. Yes, I'm not pleading."

"I just wanted to talk to the comrades from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. You see, since the suspect has already turned himself in, let's see if we can handle this matter discreetly. I'll take full responsibility for everything I'm responsible for, and I just want to minimize the impact of this matter. After all, you've noticed that the recent atmosphere isn't right, and I'm afraid it might cause further complications. Yes, yes, please inquire about it for me. Thank you, okay?"

Li Jing'an hung up the phone. He hoped to get some useful information and see if he could get in touch with any leader in the Supervisory Commission to suppress the matter and stop the investigation.

But he was disappointed.

Not long after, Vice Minister Gao called back. He didn't bring him any useful information. Vice Minister Gao had also asked around and made contact with leaders of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, but whenever it came to cases, the people at the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection were very wary and only gave perfunctory answers, not wanting to discuss such matters further.

Failed.

Li Jing'an reluctantly put down the phone, then picked it up again and dialed the Public Security Bureau.

"Hello, Director Meng. Do you know what happened in the interrogation room? What are the details? Ah, okay, I understand. Please keep a close eye on things and let me know as soon as possible if anything happens. Okay, thank you."

What would Zhou Yufei say? Could she hold on? He had no idea. He desperately wanted to find out, but to his disappointment, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection had intervened, and all the police personnel had been excluded. Even Deputy Director Meng of the Public Security Bureau was completely clueless about the situation inside.

All Li Jing'an can do now is pray. Pray that Zhou Yufei can hold on and pull through.

"Brother Li!"

Xu Damao burst in from outside, panting, with sweat still on his face.

Li Jing'an frowned and asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"

"Brother Li, we just got word from the steel mill that Xie Hui has taken some men to the farm!"

Li Jing'an slammed his fist on the table, cursing Xie Hui inwardly: This guy is a real bastard, relentlessly pursuing me! Did I dig up your ancestral grave or steal your wife? Why the hell are you targeting me?!

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said in a deep voice, "Okay, I understand. You go and keep an eye on Xie Hui. Once they leave the farm, go directly to the farm and find out what happened. Find out what they said, what they did, who they asked, and the specifics of the situation."

"Okay," Xu Damao agreed and quickly left.

Li Jing'an thought for a moment in his office, made a phone call to prepare the car, and then got up and walked outside.

I got into the car and drove towards the Municipal Party Committee.

Dang dang dang.

"Leader Wei, Jing'an is here." Secretary Han pushed open the door to Secretary Wei's office and announced to Leader Wei, who was reviewing materials.

"Why is he here? Let him come over." Leader Wei put down what he was holding and took off his glasses, placing them on the table.

"Dad." Li Jing'an walked in from outside.

"Jing'an, what brings you here? Is there something you need?" Leader Wei asked.

"I have something I'd like to discuss with you," Li Jing'an said.

Leader Wei glanced at Li Jing'an, then gestured for Secretary Han to leave. The office door closed.

"Jing'an, what is it? Just say it."

"Dad, here's what happened. One of our staff members at the guesthouse improperly handled a batch of moldy grain. That staff member has now turned himself in. An investigation team from higher authorities has also been stationed at our guesthouse."

"What's wrong? What does this have to do with you? Just explain the situation clearly, and that's it. Since he turned himself in, it's a matter for the Grain Bureau and the Public Security Bureau."

"Dad, it's not that simple. Because that batch of grain is reserve grain for war and famine preparedness."

"What? Reserve grain?" Leader Wei's expression changed upon hearing this term.

"Yes, Dad, it's reserve food. Actually, even if it's reserve food, now that the person has turned himself in, it should be handled as it should be. Who knew the investigation team would be so persistent, trying to pin this on me." Li Jing'an was furious, his face full of resentment.

"What reason would they have to implicate you? At most, you're accused of inadequate oversight, but that won't amount to much. Which department formed the investigation team?" Director Wei asked, puzzled.

"Dad, it's from the Central Supervisory Commission and the Municipal Procuratorate. You're quite familiar with the head of the Procuratorate, it's Xie Hui."

"What exactly happened? Is it related to you? Why are they relentlessly pursuing you?" Secretary Wei's expression grew even more grave upon hearing about the Central Supervisory Commission. If it were just a small amount of grain, even if it were reserve grain, it wouldn't warrant such a fuss. "How much grain exactly?"

"Dad, the most important thing isn't the food issue, it's that someone's trying to take advantage of this to get me, to drag me down! This Xie Hui already investigated me once before for something else, but the final result had nothing to do with me. Now that this has happened, he's desperately trying to pin it on me. He's just retaliating because he lost face last time!" Li Jing'an became increasingly agitated. "Dad, you have to do something about this! Last time Xie Hui framed me, I didn't pursue it because I thought his father and you had a good relationship. This time he's gone even further, teaming up with the Central Supervisory Commission to get me, to pin this on me! Dad, if you don't do anything, and I let him succeed, won't I be finished?"

"So what do you want me to do? What should I do?"

"Dad, you have a wide network of connections and you're in this position, who wouldn't give you face? Just call the Central Supervisory Commission and explain the situation. Once the Central Supervisory Commission gives the green light, the Municipal Procuratorate has no reason to keep pursuing it." After Li Jing'an finished speaking, he looked at Leader Wei with an expectant expression.

"Really, it has nothing to do with you?"

"Really, Dad, why don't you believe me? When have I ever bothered you? It really has nothing to do with me! Besides, the other person has already turned themselves in and admitted to everything, yet you insist on pinning it on me!"

"Okay, I'll call and ask what's going on."

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.

Li Jing'an came out of the municipal party committee building, looked back at the buildings behind him, spat, and said angrily, "That old bastard. He made a phone call but didn't say anything, just asked about the situation, and then gave me the runaround, telling me to wait for the investigation results. All that talk about trusting the investigation team, that as long as we did the right thing, nothing would happen—a bunch of empty platitudes, completely useless!"

Li Jing'an's face was grim. He got into the car, closed his eyes, and lay down in the back seat without saying a word. After a long while, he suddenly seemed to have made up his mind and said directly to the driver, "Let's go to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse."