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

Third floor of the guesthouse

Qin Huairu stood in front of the office on the third floor of the guesthouse, took a deep breath, and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in." Li Jing'an's familiar voice came from inside.

Pushing open the door, Li Jing'an was sitting behind his desk, flipping through documents. Looking up and seeing her, a smile appeared on his lips: "Huairu, what's up?"

Qin Huairu closed the door behind her, but didn't lock it. She walked to the desk and said, "Brother Li, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Li Jing'an put down the documents, leaned back in his chair, and looked Qin Huairu up and down. She was wearing a light blue polyester shirt today; although the style was simple, it couldn't hide her voluptuous figure. He patted his thigh: "Come sit down and let's talk."

Qin Huairu hesitated for a moment, glancing towards the door.

"What are you afraid of? There's no one on this floor right now," Li Jing'an said with a smile, his voice carrying an air of unyielding authority.

Qin Huairu pursed her lips, turned and walked to the door, this time locking it with a "click". She walked around the desk and sat sideways on Li Jing'an's lap. Li Jing'an naturally put his arm around her waist, his other hand already expertly slipping under her shirt hem.

"Tell me, what's wrong?" Li Jing'an's hand caressed her waist, his voice low. "Are you missing me again? It's only been two days and you already want it again?"

Qin Huairu's body stiffened slightly, then began to soften under Li Jing'an's caresses. She could feel her cheeks burning and her breathing becoming rapid. She bit her lower lip, suppressing her body's reaction, her voice trembling slightly: "No, no... I wanted to tell you something."

Li Jing'an's hand moved upwards, grasping her soft breasts and squeezing them lightly. Qin Huairu couldn't help herself and leaned back into his arms.

"What is it? Tell me." Li Jing'an leaned close to her ear, his breath brushing against her neck.

Qin Huairu suppressed the pounding in her body and tried hard to organize her thoughts: "Brother Li, I was thinking... could you perhaps hand over the collected meal money and food coupons to the canteen the next day?"

Li Jing'an paused, his brow furrowing slightly: "Why?"

The pause made Qin Huairu's heart tighten, but she knew she had already spoken, so she could only continue: "I've discovered... many of the workers' families and branch factory employees who come from other places to stay use national grain coupons."

She paused, feeling Li Jing'an's hand begin to move again, then composed herself and continued explaining, "I want to collect them and... exchange the national grain coupons for local grain coupons. You know, national grain coupons are worth more on the black market than local ones, so I can make a profit..."

Li Jing'an was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing, tightening his grip: "I didn't expect that, Huairu, you even thought of this trick." His laughter carried a hint of mockery, "Widows are clever, they know how to make a living."

Qin Huairu winced in pain and asked cautiously, "Brother Li, do you think... this is alright?"

"Why can't I just have you collect the money and tickets directly?" Li Jing'an's hand continued to dart around. "Why go through all this trouble?"

Qin Huairu's face turned even redder, and her voice was barely audible: "I...I can't read."

Li Jing'an was taken aback; he really didn't know that.

Qin Huairu looked at Li Jing'an with anticipation.

Li Jing'an leaned back in his chair thoughtfully, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

"This matter," Li Jing'an said slowly, "can't be kept secret for long."

Qin Huairu's heart sank.

"If you can think of it, others can too," Li Jing'an continued, his fingers unconsciously stroking Qin Huairu's waist. "This is just the beginning; others haven't realized it yet. Once they do, they'll switch it themselves when they collect the money."

He paused, looking at Qin Huairu's disappointed expression, "Besides, the meal fees and tickets are no longer collected at fixed locations or by designated individuals. There's a notice posted at the duty room window about meal delivery services, and guests pay for their meals from the start. So this won't last long, and it won't have a good impact."

Qin Huairu deflated instantly, her shoulders slumped, and her disappointment was almost palpable. This was a method she had painstakingly come up with to earn some extra money, and it had been rejected just like that.

Seeing her dejected look, Li Jing'an hesitated for a moment before saying, "However..."

Qin Huairu suddenly looked up, hope rekindling in her eyes.

"This matter needs to be handled by your entire class, we'll split it together." Li Jing'an's fingers started tapping on the table again. "Here's what we'll do, I'll make you the class monitor for the afternoon shift, and you and Wang Caixia will each manage a group. Once you receive the tickets, you can convert them for your own groups."

Qin Huairu's eyes lit up, and a look of surprise appeared on her face. Becoming a squad leader! This meant she would no longer have to do the dirtiest and most tiring work; she could direct others and have a much easier time. She recalled Wang Caixia as a squad leader, sitting in the duty room all day drinking tea and giving orders, and a surge of excitement welled up inside her.

"However," Li Jing'an changed the subject, "you were just transferred from the workshop and even got promoted. If we make you a foreman now, people will definitely gossip." He stared into Qin Huairu's eyes, "so we can't increase your foreman's allowance now. I'll work on it for you around the New Year."

Although there was no stipend, Qin Huairu was already very satisfied to be the class monitor. She nodded quickly, "Thank you, Brother Li! Thank you, Brother Li! I will definitely do my best!"

Li Jing'an smiled. He tightened his grip on her waist again: "Words alone aren't enough."

Qin Huairu understood immediately.

Li Jing'an leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Half an hour later.

Li Jing'an lit a cigarette and said to Qin Huairu, who was tidying her clothes, "Go and call Wang Caixia over."

Qin Huairu turned and walked towards the door. Before opening it, she glanced back at Li Jing'an, who waved her over, signaling her to hurry up.

Upon reaching the second floor, Qin Huairu paused at the glass window at the corner of the stairs, adjusting her hair and collar. The woman in the mirror had a flushed face and somewhat unfocused eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to appear normal, before continuing downstairs.

Wang Caixia was keeping accounts in the duty room on the first floor when she saw Qin Huairu come in. She looked up and smiled, "Sister Qin, is something the matter?"

"Director Li wants you to go to his office." Qin Huairu tried her best to make her voice sound calm.

Wang Caixia's eyes flashed as she looked Qin Huairu up and down, her gaze lingering on Qin Huairu's lips for a moment before she smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go right away."

The two women exchanged a knowing glance. Wang Caixia put down her pen, straightened her clothes, and followed Qin Huairu outside. As they reached the stairwell, Wang Caixia suddenly asked, "Sister Qin, what did Director Li want to see me about?"

Qin Huairu paused, turning her head to look at her: "Brother Li didn't say, you'll find out when you get there."

Wang Caixia nodded and didn't ask any more questions, but she already had a guess in her heart. Her relationship with Li Jing'an was not simple either, so she naturally knew about the matter between Qin Huairu and Li Jing'an.

The two walked up to the third floor one after the other. Qin Huairu knocked on the door, and Li Jing'an's voice came from inside: "Come in."

Wang Caixia pushed open the door and immediately saw Li Jing'an leaning back in his chair smoking, along with the lingering ambiguous atmosphere in the office. Looking at Qin Huairu's slightly flushed face and somewhat disheveled hair, she knew perfectly well—the two of them had definitely been up to no good.