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

Li Jing'an took a couple of sips of tea, then, as if suddenly remembering something, lowered his voice slightly: "By the way, sister, after that commotion the other day, how did things end? This house—it should be a private residence, right? How did you manage to get it transferred?"

Upon hearing this, Li Hongying immediately perked up, leaning forward and lowering her voice: "You don't know, after you left, I led that family straight to the Revolutionary Committee. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw several people lying side by side on the ground—upon closer inspection, they were all dead! Among them was the one surnamed Cui who had stood up for that family that day!"

As she said this, she shrank back slightly, patting her chest with lingering fear: "To be honest, Jing'an, I was also startled at the time. I've never seen so many dead bodies up close before, just a row of them right in front of me..."

"Sister, please continue." Li Jing'an frowned slightly, tapping his fingers lightly on his knee.

"Oh, well, later on, it was the head of the workers' propaganda team who took care of it. It was so simple; they just read the documents and announced the policies to that family. The family was so scared they collapsed on the spot, and in the end, they 'voluntarily' donated their house." Li Hongying said, a hint of pride appearing on her face. "Donating it makes it public housing, right? Then I applied to the neighborhood committee for a replacement, and before I knew it, it was legitimately transferred!"

"Where does that family live now? In the houses you used to live in?" Li Jing'an pressed.

"How could that be!" Li Hongying waved her hand and scoffed, "My rooms were added later, and the space is quite large. There are plenty of envious people! As soon as I moved out, a neighbor in our courtyard got into a fight over it, and in the end, one neighbor took over, and then they had a dispute with the neighborhood committee. In the end, that family had no choice but to move into the two dilapidated rooms of our neighbor in the courtyard."

After hearing this, Li Jing'an remained silent for a long time before finally clicking his tongue and saying, "You can even do it like that..."

"Oh, right, Jing'an," Li Hongying remembered something else, "that guy surnamed Cui and his group were paraded through the streets for two days! If they weren't afraid of the stench, they would have continued parading them!" She pursed her lips, "Later, I don't know which night, their family secretly carried the body away, without even daring to show their faces."

Li Jing'an was silent for a moment, then stubbed out his cigarette: "Sister, since the leader of the Workers' Propaganda Team helped you so much, you should go and thank him."

"Your brother-in-law went there yesterday, bringing gifts to visit, but they absolutely refused to accept them," Li Hongying sighed. "That person is impeccable in both words and deeds; he's down-to-earth, wouldn't accept the gifts, and even took your brother-in-law out for a drink."

"Oh?" Li Jing'an raised an eyebrow. "Looks like a social climber."

"Hey, isn't it because of you that they're giving him a second glance?" Li Hongying glanced at Wang Wenbin. "Otherwise, with your brother-in-law's character, would they even give him a second look?"

Wang Wenbin choked and coughed, then picked up his teacup and took a big gulp.

Li Hongying's eyes lit up, and she came up with another idea: "Jing'an, those bottles of wine you brought today, I'll have your brother-in-law deliver them to someone in a couple of days, just say it's from you, what do you think?"

Li Jing'an laughed: "Sure, it's a gift for you anyway, you can give it to whoever you want. Is that enough? If not, go to the guesthouse tomorrow to get some furniture, and have Lao Huang bring a few more bottles."

"No need, no need," Li Hongying waved her hand and laughed, "Don't you know your sister works at a grocery store? How could she be short of alcohol?"

She paused, her smile slowly fading. She rubbed her knees with both hands, and hesitated for a long time before speaking: "Jing'an... there's something else I want to tell you."

"you say."

"Your niece is in the second year of junior high this year. School's not in session anymore; she's always out there organizing 'revolutionaries,' running around like a Red Guard." Li Hongying's brows furrowed, her voice filled with worry. "If I say one thing to her, she'll have ten things to say back. I'm really afraid she'll go astray—does your factory hire apprentices? Why don't you send her in to learn a trade? It's better than her running around like a madwoman outside, right?"

Li Jing'an put down his teacup and shook his head: "Sister, she's only thirteen. An apprentice has to be at least sixteen. Besides, she's too young to be entering society yet."

"I know, I know," Li Hongying sighed, her eyes drooping, "but the classes aren't going anywhere, and it's noisy all the time. I'm so worried..."

Li Jing'an didn't reply, but his mind was racing: He wondered how many more years it would be before the Workers', Peasants', and Soldiers' University started enrolling students. He could get a recommendation for his niece to go to university then; she'd graduate with a cadre position and wouldn't even need to take an exam—the recommendation power was in his hands, and he could decide who went. It was a pity his own child was too young; he probably wouldn't be able to catch up… With that kid's mischievous nature, his studies would definitely be unreliable, and he'd have to worry about him then.

He became increasingly lost in thought, his fingers tapping unconsciously on his knees, and his brows slowly furrowing.

"Let's wait and see how the situation changes, then I'll think of something."

Li Hongying didn't press the matter further. She stood up, dusted off her apron, and said, "Jing'an, you and your brother-in-law can stay here and smoke. I'll go cook. Tonight, your brother-in-law will keep you company for a couple of drinks."

"No, no, sis, I have something to do tonight." Li Jing'an quickly took the cigarette he had just lit from his mouth and waved his hands repeatedly. "I have plans with some friends tonight, I really can't get away."

"Oh dear, this is your first time back, you should at least eat something before you leave, right?" Li Hongying frowned, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"Yes, Jing'an, it's your first time here, how can you not even have a meal?" Wang Wenbin also stood up to persuade him, a cigarette between his fingers, his face full of sincerity, "Sit down for a while, let your sister cook a couple of dishes, and we brothers can have a couple of drinks."

"Next time, brother-in-law, come to my place next time." Li Jing'an declined with a smile, his tone apologetic. "I really can't today. It was arranged a long time ago, and the person is waiting over there. I can't stand them up."

Li Hongying and Wang Wenbin chatted for a few more minutes, but seeing that he was determined to leave, they gave up. Li Hongying sighed, her gaze lingering on her brother's face—she knew in her heart that now that Jing'an held a higher position, he would naturally have more social engagements. He was going home less and less, and it was rare for him to see his parents. She heard that he spent most of his time staying at the factory's guesthouse, so busy that he barely had time to rest.

It seems Jing'an has been working really hard lately!