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

When Qin Huairu returned to the courtyard with two bags of vegetables, rice, and noodles, it was already dusk.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw two or three strange men standing at the entrance of Li Jing'an's small courtyard, carrying cloth bags in their hands. One of them was knocking on the door, while the other looked around suspiciously.

Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately understood—this must be someone who couldn't find Li Jing'an at the guesthouse during the day, so they came directly to her home.

She lowered her head, walked quickly through the central courtyard, and entered the Jia family's residence.

"You're back?" Madam Jia was sitting on the kang (heated brick bed) sewing shoe soles when she saw Qin Huairu carrying things in. Her eyes lit up. "Oh, so much stuff! Where did you get it?"

Qin Huairu placed the items on the table: "These were given to Li Jing'an by someone else, but Li Jing'an didn't want them and told us to divide them up."

Madam Jia rolled off the kang (a heated brick bed) and walked to the table, examining the millet: "Goodness, this millet is really good, the grains are plump. This cabbage is fresh too. Li Jing'an is so generous."

"Mom, you didn't see it," Qin Huairu said in a low voice, "So many people went to the guesthouse today to give gifts to Li Jing'an, but he's all gone into hiding. That's why some people couldn't find him and came straight to the courtyard house."

Jia Zhangshi peeked out the window and asked, "Are those people still there?"

"I'm here, waiting in front of Li Jing'an's house."

Jia Zhangshi pursed her lips: "These people, really... But it's no wonder, Li Jing'an is a big shot now, who wouldn't want to curry favor with him?"

In the front yard, there lived the third uncle, Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui was sitting at the table keeping accounts, while Aunt San was mending clothes.

"I heard that quite a few people gave gifts to Li Jing'an today?" Auntie San asked.

Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses: "That's right. When I came back this afternoon, I saw several people carrying things into the yard. But Li Jing'an didn't seem to be home, so those people left after waiting for a while."

"What did you send?"

"What else could it be? It's just the same old stuff." Yan Bugui sighed. "It's good to be a cadre; people are eager to give you gifts."

The old woman stopped what she was doing: "Do you think Li Jing'an would accept it?"

"Whether I accept it or not, I've already done the favor." Yan Bugui closed the ledger. "These days, connections make things easier."

The atmosphere at Uncle Liu Haizhong's house was somewhat different.

Liu Haizhong sat in the chair, his face looking rather unwell. His second aunt advised him, "Don't rush, take your time."

"How can I not be anxious?" Liu Haizhong slammed his hand on the table. "Look at Li Jing'an, he's only been the director for a short time, and people are already lining up to give him gifts. And me? I've been working in the factory for over ten years, and I'm still just an ordinary worker!"

"That means there's no chance..."

"Opportunities are earned!" Liu Haizhong stood up and paced around the room. "I've decided. Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, I need to ask Li Jing'an to give our workshop director a gift. As long as he puts in a good word for me, becoming a team leader won't be a problem. This is the first step in my career, and I must take it well!"

Aunt Erda said worriedly, "But what should we send? Can Li Jing'an help?"

"We'll decide what to send later; the key is finding the right person." Liu Haizhong stopped in his tracks. "Li Jing'an knows a lot of people and has wide connections. If he's willing to help, the matter is almost certain to succeed."

The backyard, Xu Damao's house.

Xu Damao was having dinner with Lou Xiao'e. There were two dishes on the table: one was stir-fried cabbage, and the other was pickled vegetables.

"It's all over the factory today," Xu Damao said, picking up a piece of cabbage with his chopsticks. "They're saying there's a long line of people going to the guesthouse to give gifts to Li Jing'an. That kid's really something."

Lou Xiao'e glanced at him: "It's not like it's being delivered to you, what are you so excited about?"

"I underestimated him a bit before." Xu Damao put down his chopsticks. "Let me tell you, Li Jing'an is definitely going to amount to something. I need to get on his good side; I might need him in the future."

"How do I build a good relationship? Should I then give them a gift?"

"Giving gifts is a must, but we have to give the right things." Xu Damao thought for a moment, "Xiao'e, next time you go back to your parents' home, see if there's anything special there, and bring it back for me to give to Li Jing'an."

Lou Xiao'e sighed helplessly, "What rare things do we have left in our family now..."

"Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Your Lou family used to be a wealthy and powerful family." Xu Damao leaned closer. "Look carefully, there's definitely something there."

Lou Xiao'e didn't say anything, she just lowered her head and ate.

In the courtyard, Li Jing'an finally returned.

He saw the three people at his doorstep and his heart sank, but he still gritted his teeth and walked over.

"Comrades, is there something you need from me?" Li Jing'an asked after parking his bicycle.

The three men immediately surrounded him: "Director Li, we've been waiting for you! We're from a machinery factory in Hebei, and we'd like to ask you for a favor..."

Li Jing'an quickly waved his hand: "It really doesn't work. I've explained it eight hundred times today, but I still can't get in touch with him."

"Chief Li, since we're already here, we'll only take a few minutes of your time..."

"It really won't work." Li Jing'an's attitude was firm. "Please leave, and take your belongings with you."

After much back and forth, the three men dropped off their things and left. Li Jing'an couldn't stop them.

Li Jing'an watched them walk away, filled with helplessness. He picked up one of the cloth bags, feeling its weight. He opened it and found a bag of apples, bright red and quite large.

"Sigh..." Li Jing'an shook his head and carried a few bags into the courtyard.

Qin Huairu arrived just as I entered the house.

"Brother Li, you're back." Qin Huairu stood at the door. "Do you need me to help you tidy up?"

Li Jing'an placed the items on the table: "Just put this rice, noodles, and vegetables in the east room. I'm tired after a long day and don't want to move."

Qin Huairu quickly and efficiently put everything away.

Back in the living room, I poured a glass of water for Li Jing'an, who was resting on the sofa.

Li Jing'an patted Qin Huairu's butt.

"You don't need to wait on me today, go get some rest," Li Jing'an said, handing her the bag of apples. "Take these back for the children."

Qin Huairu took the apple and said happily, "Thank you, Brother Li."

"Go."

Qin Huairu returned to the Jia family with apples in her arms, and the three children immediately surrounded her.

"Mom, what's this?" Xiao Dang asked.

"Apples." Qin Huairu opened the bag, revealing bright red apples, and the children cheered.

Madam Jia Zhang also chimed in, "Wow, so many apples! Li Jing'an is so generous."

Qin Huairu gave one apple each to her mother-in-law and three children, and then took out four apples from the bag: "I'll put these in the cupboard and eat them slowly. I'll give these four to Shazhu."

Jia Zhangshi nodded: "It's only right, Sha Zhu has helped us a lot."

Qin Huairu brought four apples to Sha Zhu's house. Sha Zhu was cooking; cabbage and potatoes were boiling in the pot.

"Sister Qin, what brings you here?" Sha Zhu wiped his hands.

"Here are some apples for you." Qin Huairu handed over the apples. "Someone gave them to Li Jing'an, and Li Jing'an gave me some. I brought them for you and Yushui to try."

Sha Zhu took the apple, his eyes lighting up. "Wow, these apples are great, big and red." He picked one up and took a bite. "So sweet! Thank you, Sister Qin!"

"You're welcome. You've helped us a lot before." Qin Huairu smiled. "Then I'll go back now. You go ahead with your work."

"Okay, Sister Qin, take care."

After Qin Huairu left, Sha Zhu looked at the apples in his hand, thought for a moment, and carefully put the remaining three into the cupboard: "Keep them for Yushui, she loves apples the most."