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

Wang Manqi dragged her tired body home. When she opened the door, she saw her mother carrying a plate of food from the kitchen to the living room.

As soon as her mother saw her, her face lit up with a smile, and she kept calling out, "Manqi, Manqi, you're back just in time! Quickly put down your bag, wash your hands, and come eat right away!"

Wang Manqi glanced at her mother, her lips moved, and she only let out a low "oh," her voice muffled as if squeezed from her throat. Her mother didn't notice and turned back to the kitchen.

At the dinner table, Wang Manqi held her bowl, shoveling rice into her mouth one bite at a time and nibbling on her steamed bun in small bites. Her eyes were fixed on the rim of the bowl, and her chopsticks moved back and forth on the side of the dish, but she didn't move.

The mother noticed something was wrong, picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and placed it next to her bowl, asking suspiciously, "Manqi, what's wrong? You're only eating steamed buns and not vegetables. Is it because I didn't cook it well?"

Wang Manqi suddenly came to her senses and hurriedly shook her head: "No, no, I'm eating." As she spoke, she picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. After chewing it a couple of times, her eyes reddened.

The father and mother exchanged a glance, both realizing that something was on their daughter's mind.

The father put down his chopsticks, leaned forward, and said in a soft, gentle voice, "Manqi, is something wrong? Don't keep it to yourself, tell your parents, and we'll figure something out together."

Wang Manqi bit her lip, rubbing her fingers together with the chopsticks. After a long silence, she finally recounted her experiences at the factory that day. As she spoke, tears streamed down her face and fell into her bowl. Her voice grew softer and softer until only sobs remained.

After hearing this, her parents felt both pained and anxious. Her mother gently patted her back, repeatedly comforting her, "Don't take it too hard. Focus on your work, reflect on your actions, and your colleagues and supervisors at the factory will understand... It will all pass."

But Wang Manqi couldn't stop her tears; the grievances were stuck in her chest, and only she knew how heavy they were.

Seeing his daughter still crying, Wang's father frowned more and more, tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice, and thought to himself: just persuading her probably won't work, I have to think of another way.

---

Is Comrade Li Hongying home?

There was a knock on the door, followed by someone pushing it open from the outside. Li Hongying was sitting in the main room eating sunflower seeds when she heard the noise. She looked up and stared in confusion at the three people standing in the doorway.

The man leading the group was a middle-aged man in his thirties with a round face and broad forehead. He wore faded work clothes and smiled as he bent over: "Excuse me, are you Comrade Li?"

Li Hongying looked her up and down, put the sunflower seeds she was holding on the table, and then slowly said, "Yes, that's me. Where are you from? What do you do?"

The man hurriedly smiled and said, "I am the captain of our street's propaganda team. I was sent by the street's revolutionary committee to find out what happened and also to apologize to you. What happened yesterday was due to our negligence, which caused you to suffer." As he spoke, he took two bags from the two people behind him—a bag of snacks and a bag of apples—and handed them to Li Hongying with a smile.

Li Hongying's eyes darted around, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly before she suppressed it. She knew perfectly well that Jing'an must have spoken to some leader, because the people in the neighborhood immediately backed down. But despite her smugness, she wasn't willing to let it go so easily.

Yesterday, in front of so many neighbors, she was so embarrassed by that young man pointing his finger at her that she couldn't save face. If she doesn't show the neighbors what she's capable of today, how will she ever be able to hold her head high on the street again?

Thinking of this, she jumped up, shoved away the things offered to her, and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Apologize? I don't even know you! Where's that brat who said he'd drag me into the street yesterday? Let him come! I haven't left the house all day; I've been waiting for him here!"

The captain's smile froze for a moment, then returned, and he bowed even lower: "Comrade Li, I'm so sorry! That staff member from yesterday has been suspended and is reflecting deeply at home. He couldn't come in person today, so I apologize on his behalf. I hope you can understand."

He kept smiling and saying all sorts of nice things, bowing with a beaming smile. You can't hit a smiling person, so he managed to keep Li Hongying from saying anything for a while.

The two started shouting, and neighbors all peeked out—from their backyards and across the street—to watch the commotion. Several women huddled in a corner, whispering amongst themselves.

"Hey, Auntie, what's going on? Is it the same thing as yesterday? Is the neighborhood committee really going to take that guy surnamed Li away?"

"Tch, what are you thinking? The neighborhood committee dares to pull her over? You know her brother's an official! Look, the neighborhood revolutionary committee came specifically to apologize today!"

"Really? The streets are controlled by the rebels. Do you think they're afraid of officials? Didn't they seize power from the officials themselves?"

"Who knows! It seems Li Hongying's brother holds a high-ranking position."

"Oh dear, God is blind! Why didn't He deal with her brother too? Judging by her character, her brother isn't any better."

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Don't you want to live like this anymore? Didn't you see even the rebels had to bring gifts and apologize? Do you think you'll get away with this if he hears you?"

"I'm just nagging you, what are you going to do about it? Report me for it!"

"That's not possible."

As Li Hongying watched the neighbors whispering amongst themselves in the distance, her smugness finally subsided, and she patted her clothes, raised her chin, and ushered the people from the street into her house.

What she didn't know was that the young man who threatened her yesterday was currently at a university. He was a graduate this year and had been notified this morning to apologize to Li Hongying, which made him furious.

He was completely unconvinced; he was a rebel from a university and wouldn't listen to such nonsense. The street revolutionary committee was already divided into two factions, constantly engaged in open and covert struggles. Seeing his tough attitude, the leaders immediately announced his suspension from his post.

He's young and impetuous right now, and he's not going to swallow this bitter pill.

He wants to go back to the school to recruit people and cause a big scene in the neighborhood.

---

Over here, the leader of the workers' propaganda team came out of Li Hongying's house with a big smile on his face. As he backed away, he bowed and said, "Comrade Li, please wait. I will definitely convey your request. I believe that family knows you are in a housing shortage and will definitely voluntarily exchange rooms with you."

Li Hongying leaned against the door frame, her chin slightly raised, her arms crossed over her chest, and nodded with satisfaction: "Thank you, Captain. I'll wait for your good news."

"No, no, no, it's our duty. Isn't that what we do to serve the people?" The team leader bowed, rubbed his hands together, hesitated for a moment, then took a half step closer and lowered his voice, "Um... Comrade Li, if you're satisfied with the work of our street revolutionary committee, could you... say a few good words for us to your brother?"

His eyes flickered as he spoke, revealing an undisguised probing and ingratiating intent. Although he couldn't find out much about Li Hongying's brother, only that he was a cadre at the steel rolling mill who had been promoted after the political movement, the fact that a private matter could alarm the district revolutionary committee and even subtly affect the municipal revolutionary committee indicated that his influence was considerable. He didn't expect to climb the social ladder; he would be content just to leave his name in their ears.

He was lost in thought.

"Captain...Captain!"