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

The following day was Sunday.

The morning light slanted in through the windowpane, falling on the cement floor and casting a warm, bright spot. Li Jing'an opened his eyes, stared blankly at the somewhat unfamiliar beams for a few seconds, and then slowly came to his senses.

This isn't the world he's familiar with anymore. It still feels a bit unreal.

He sat up and rubbed his temples.

Remembering that it's Sunday and my sister will be home to help with tidying up, I've decided to go to his parents' house today.

When his soul transmigrated, he not only inherited the original owner's memories but also his feelings for his parents and relatives.

He felt that he was more like a fusion of two people, but led by Li Jing'an from the later generations.

He wasn't bothered by this, after all, he was an orphan in his previous life and had been all alone for more than 30 years before his soul transmigrated.

After getting dressed, he walked to the dark brown wardrobe in the bedroom.

The cabinet is quite old, with clear wood grain and a faint camphor scent.

Opening the closet door, the clothes hanging on the top shelf were neatly arranged: several crisp Zhongshan suits, shirts that were washed to a pale but still stiff at the collar, summer undershirts, and two sets of military uniforms—those were brought back when he was demobilized.

At the very back, hung a heavy woolen military overcoat. His gaze fell on the overcoat, and he unconsciously reached out to touch the thick woolen material and the smooth brass buttons.

This was his prized possession, a Type 55 officer's woolen overcoat. It was more than just a garment for keeping warm; it was a mark of history and a symbol of status.

It silently tells us that before 1960, he was already a colonel-level officer. Founding Major—these four words carry the weight of unparalleled glory bestowed upon him by that era. His fingertips lingered on the epaulettes for a moment before reluctantly looking away.

On the lower shelf of the cabinet, there were several bottles of wine and several packs of cigarettes.

He bent down and picked out four bottles of liquor—two bottles of Xifeng and two bottles of Fenjiu—and also took out three packs of cigarettes: one pack of Yunyan and two packs of Mudan.

The cool glass of the wine bottle and the crisp paper of the cigarette pack are truly good things in this day and age.

Then, he walked to the bedside table, opened the drawer, took out a bulging envelope, and stuffed it into his pocket.

With everything ready, he found a slightly worn canvas tote bag, military green, sturdy and durable. He packed the cigarettes and alcohol inside, and the bag immediately felt heavy.

He picked it up, slung it over his shoulder, and prepared to leave. He inserted the key into the lock, about to turn it, when suddenly he remembered something, turned back inside, and took yesterday's envelope from the briefcase on the wall. He tucked this envelope into his pocket, finally feeling at ease.

The door clicked shut. In the courtyard, the morning air was cool and refreshing.

He hung his briefcase on the handlebars of his bicycle, pushed it out of his courtyard, and carefully locked the gate behind him. The wheels rolled softly over the blue brick pavement.

Just as he pushed the cart to the entrance of the Jia family's house in the Intermediate People's Court, a voice called out to him.

"Little Li, you're heading out already?"

Li Jing'an stopped and saw Jia Zhangshi come out of the house by lifting the curtain. Her face was covered with a warm but slightly deliberate smile, as if she had come specifically to wait for him.

"Good morning, Aunt Jia." Li Jing'an's face also showed his usual, flawless smile.

"It's been a long time, I've been thinking about that." Madam Jia took a half step forward, lowered her voice, and said with gratitude, "Huai Ru came back yesterday and told me that you promised to help us ask about that matter... Oh my, really, I don't know how to thank you enough! In our courtyard, you are the most capable, you know so many people and have so many connections."

"Look at you, you're being too polite. We're all old neighbors, it's only right that we lend a hand to each other." Li Jing'an's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile.

Then, turning to Jia Zhangshi, he said, "I'm willing to help, but it depends on their attitude. If they don't have any intention of helping at all, even if I'm full of energy, I won't be able to use it effectively. Don't you agree, Aunt Jia?"

As he spoke, his gaze seemed to drift towards the eaves of the Jia family's house—Qin Huairu was squatting in front of a small coal stove with her back to them, using fire tongs to ignite the stove and prepare breakfast.

She was wearing old blue overalls, her back looked slender, and her movements seemed to pause slightly when she heard the conversation.

"Yes, yes, that makes sense," Madam Jia nodded repeatedly. "But we ordinary folks are completely clueless. We don't even know which way the government office doors face, let alone how to find connections or ask for favors. Your willingness to help inquire is already a tremendous favor!"

After saying that, she turned her head and raised her voice slightly towards Qin Huairu, "Huairu! You child, didn't you see your brother Li is here? Why didn't you even say hello?"

Qin Huairu's back stiffened noticeably. She slowly stood up, turned around, still clutching the dark fire tongs in her hand.

She didn't dare look Li Jing'an in the eye, her gaze lowered to the ground in front of her feet, her voice low and almost inaudible: "Brother Li."

Seeing her meek and submissive demeanor, Li Jing'an simply nodded slightly in response.

Then he said to Jia Zhangshi in a serious tone, "Auntie, don't worry. Since I promised, I will definitely keep it in mind. If it doesn't work out, you can't blame me."

Hearing this, Madam Jia was overjoyed, and the wrinkles on her face smoothed out: "Oh, just hearing your words is enough. Whether it works out or not is up to fate. You've helped us so much, how can we ever repay you? We're poor and don't have anything decent to offer..."

Her eyes darted around, as if she'd suddenly come up with a brilliant idea. "You're a grown man, it's inconvenient for you to do laundry, cook, sew, and mend things all by yourself. From now on, if there's anything that needs washing or tidying up, just let me know, and Huairu will help you! Don't be shy!"

"That won't do, absolutely not." Li Jing'an quickly waved his hand, his attitude polite but firm. "The matter hasn't been settled yet, how can I trouble you first? If I happen to be able to help you in the future, and then need something else, I might really have to shamelessly come to Auntie and Comrade Huairu for help."

He looked up at the sky and said, "It's getting late, I have to get to my parents' house. I'll be going now."

"Oh, you haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Why don't you just eat something at home, like cornbread or porridge, to tide you over before you go?" Jia Zhangshi warmly invited her to stay.

"No need, Auntie. I can just buy something on the way. It's no trouble at all," Li Jing'an said with a smile, politely declining as he pushed his bicycle out of the yard.

Madam Jia stood at the doorway, watching his retreating figure until it disappeared behind the screen wall, before finally turning away. Her smile faded, and she turned back to the eaves, speaking with a hint of reproach to Qin Huairu, who was still fiddling with the coal stove.

"Look at you, what's wrong with you today? You're so absent-minded! You don't even know how to be proactive or friendly when you see people! This morning you even made me wait for him... We need your help right now, if you don't build a good relationship with him, how can you expect him to genuinely support us?"

Qin Huairu remained silent, only poking at the coal in the stove with the fire tongs, occasionally sending up a spark that quickly went out. She pursed her lips, her gaze unfocused, seemingly lost in her own thoughts, oblivious to her mother-in-law's words.

In the courtyard, only the faint crackling of coal and the gradually spreading, cool morning air remained.