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

"The fact that they're coming at this time means they've figured out there aren't many people in the factory, so they won't have to worry about leaving after get off work and will be less likely to encounter any emergencies. So we have to hold on no matter what." Director Fei made a tough decision and gave a direct order to Committee Member He next to him, "Go to the gate and all the fortifications around the mine, and encourage them. Make sure they hold their ground! At the very least, we have to hold them off until tomorrow when they start work."

Committee Member He gave a wry smile, knowing that there was little point in him going. It would take all night; he'd be lucky to last two minutes. But he couldn't refuse, and could only leave dejectedly.

"Old Zhang," Director Fei called out again.

Committee Member Zhang approached and awaited instructions.

"We can't hold out." Suddenly, Director Fei muttered this under his breath.

Committee Member Zhang was taken aback: "Director, then you..."

Before Committee Member Zhang could finish speaking, Director Fei interrupted him: "Our only hope now is to rely on the mine workers and their families to create a stir and make the other side think twice. Otherwise, we won't get through this."

Director Fei turned to Committee Member Zhang with a grim face and said in a low voice, "Old Zhang, take two men and sneak over the wall to the family quarters to tell the activists among the employees about the situation. Then have them incite others. I want to mobilize everyone in the entire family quarters and get things going! Understand? This is our only way out."

Director Fei stared at Committee Member Zhang's departing figure, his expression shifting slightly. He knew in his heart that there couldn't possibly be no one from the other side in the family quarters. But he was unwilling to give up; he had to try.

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.

"Fellow miners, I am Li Jing'an, Minister of Metallurgy! I am deeply saddened by what has happened in the mining area and how things have escalated to this point. I know you are innocent; you have been coerced by this small group of conspirators without your knowledge! I am here with instructions from our superiors, hoping that those miners who are still holding out in the mining area will lay down their weapons and come out to assemble. I guarantee that ordinary workers who participated in this movement will be forgiven. But if anyone remains obstinate and willingly becomes a henchman of these conspirators, then your fate will be one of utter ruin! I urge certain individuals to abandon their illusions and give up resistance!..."

Two large loudspeakers were mounted on the roof of a car outside, bombarding the factory area with a barrage of pre-recorded speeches by Li Jing'an.

The rain intensified, the earlier raindrops now forming continuous lines. The two main forces remained locked in a standoff at the mine entrance.

A rain shelter had been erected where Li Jing'an and his men were standing. Li Jing'an and his comrades were still peering inside through binoculars. Li Jing'an was the first to put down his binoculars and said, "I think these are some die-hards; they won't give up easily. I think we should just launch a direct assault."

"Minister Li, perhaps we should wait a bit longer," the military district commander said hesitantly. "After all, they're just ordinary workers; a direct assault would inevitably result in casualties. I just saw that the enemy is already panicking; I think it won't be long before they start to break down."

After all, the other side were just ordinary people, not serious military personnel. A direct assault would inevitably result in casualties, so he did have some reservations. He had never pointed a gun at his own people before.

Li Jing'an glanced at it, wanted to say something, but suddenly gave up.

"Alright, Commander, you're the professional. I'll listen to you. But I don't want this drag on forever. If something unexpected happens, I hope you can adapt to the situation. I'm returning command to you; the decision of whether to fight or make peace is yours. But the deadline is midnight. We need to resolve this completely by tomorrow morning so that the mine can officially resume normal production."

After Li Jing'an finished speaking, he walked outside. Old Hu quickly grabbed an umbrella from the side and chased after him, holding it over Li Jing'an's head.

The rain poured down harder and harder, accompanied by thunder. Li Jing'an walked to a jeep, and Lao Hu opened the door first, allowing Li Jing'an to get in immediately.

Old Hu was still standing outside, his body completely soaked, looking like a drowned rat.

"Old Hu, come here." Old Hu stuck his head into the car.

Li Jing'an whispered a few words in his ear, then waved for him to close the door.

"Bang!" The car door slammed shut. Old Hu stood outside, holding an umbrella, looking troubled. After thinking it over and over, he hesitated outside the car, but finally turned and went in another direction.

The atmosphere inside and outside the mine gates grew increasingly tense. As the situation became more strained, time ticked by. Both sides were soaked by the rain. The soldiers from the military district outside squinted, trying to keep the rain out of their eyes.

Just then, the tense atmosphere was suddenly broken.

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

Several gunshots shattered the tranquility of the rainy night. The gunshots, seemingly coming from nowhere, instantly escalated the situation.

Then, as if receiving some order, the troops outside the mine suddenly opened fire in unison. The rain that was falling from the sky now seemed to turn into a horizontal rain, with the dense barrage even drowning out the rain from above.

Inside the fortifications at the mine entrance, a security officer was burying his head behind sandbags, roaring, "Who fired the shot? Who the hell was it?!"

However, his roar was quickly drowned out by the increasingly intense gunfire outside.

Inside the office building, Director Fei and several committee members were watching the situation unfold with bated breath.

Suddenly, deafening gunfire erupted outside, startling everyone so much that they jumped up from the sofa.

Director Fei was struck dumb, rushing to the window, his face ashen as he stared at the raging fire outside. He inwardly wailed: "It's over, it's over! Why are they launching a full-scale attack now? Aren't they going to go through the proper procedures? A final round of negotiations?"

At this moment, he felt utterly hopeless. He knew all too well what kind of people his security guards were; they couldn't withstand the onslaught of a regular army. A wave of panic washed over him, leaving him completely bewildered, his mind blank, utterly at a loss for what to do.

He stared intently at the main entrance, when suddenly he caught a glimpse of something unusual in his vision.

Inside the fortifications at the entrance, a figure, taking advantage of the darkness, stealthily stood up from behind the sandbags, retreated timidly, and then turned and ran wildly into the factory area.

Then came two, three, four...

more and more.

The previously held defensive line collapsed instantly, and the fleeing crowd surged forward like a flood breaking through a dam.

The situation changed drastically the next second.

Several well-trained tactical squads quickly appeared at the main gate, working in groups of three or five, and skillfully took over the fortifications at the mine entrance. Then, like ghosts, these figures, under the cover of night and rain, slowly made their way towards the office building, guns at the ready.