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

Chen Qing endured a bumpy journey from Huairou back to Beijing.

In the morning, he finally returned to the steel rolling mill. The factory area was still bustling, machines roaring, people coming and going, a scene of vigorous production. Everything was the same as when he left, unchanged, as if he had never left. But he himself had changed. He had become haggard, thin, and had lost his former refinement and vitality.

Without pausing, he walked straight to the office of the head of the technical department. Head Sun was his superior, had always been relatively kind to him, and was one of the few people who knew his situation and sympathized with his plight. He could only place all his hopes on Head Sun.

In the technical department office, Section Chief Sun was hunched over his desk, carefully examining a complex engineering drawing. His brows were slightly furrowed, and he was focused, occasionally making a few marks on the paper with a pencil in his hand, completely absorbed in his work.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw Chen Qing standing at the door, looking haggard, dressed in worn clothes, and exhausted. He was immediately stunned, his face full of surprise and astonishment: "Chen Qing? Why are you back? Weren't you working in the countryside in Huairou? It's not even holiday time yet, why are you suddenly back in the city?"

Chen Qing walked to the desk, unable to control her emotions any longer. Her eyes reddened, and her voice became hoarse, filled with pleading and despair: "Section Chief Sun, I really can't stay here any longer. I really can't hold on any longer."

Section Chief Sun put down his pencil, sat up straight, his face grave, and said in a serious tone, "What happened? Tell me slowly, don't rush, what's wrong?"

"Section Chief Sun, after I arrived in Huairou, they targeted me and deliberately made things difficult for me, assigning me the heaviest, most tiring, and hardest work every day." Chen Qing's voice choked with sobs, tears welling up in her eyes. "I work from dawn till dusk every day, doing heavy physical labor. My body has long since collapsed. If I continue like this, I will definitely die on the construction site."

He took a deep breath and pleaded earnestly, "Section Chief Sun, I beg you, please talk to the personnel department and the factory for me and ask them to change my assignment to a different rural area. I really can't take it anymore."

Looking at him like this, Section Chief Sun remained silent for a long time, his face slowly revealing a troubled, helpless, and even slightly disappointed expression. He sighed, his voice heavy: "Chen Qing, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that I'm truly powerless, I don't have the authority, and I don't have the ability."

"Why?" Chen Qing's face turned deathly pale, her voice trembling. "Section Chief Sun, you're the head of the technical department. Your words carry weight in the factory. If you just say a word for me, the personnel department will definitely consider it. Please help me!"

"You don't understand the rules here." Section Chief Sun shook his head, his tone extremely serious. "Now, the locations, personnel, and assignments of cadres going to the countryside are all arranged, registered, and managed uniformly. The city, district, and factory all have layers of approval and oversight. It's not something you can just change at will. The personnel department has no right to make adjustments on its own, and as the head of the technical department, I have even less right to interfere with personnel arrangements and rural assignments."

He paused, looking into Chen Qing's hopeful eyes, reluctant yet forced to speak the harsh reality: "Unless the factory's Party Committee and leadership hold a meeting and formally decide to recall you ahead of schedule, no one can change anything. Do you think the factory would make an exception for you alone in this situation?"

Chen Qing was jolted, as if struck by lightning, and froze on the spot. A sliver of hope had been utterly extinguished.

Seeing Chen Qing's expression, Section Chief Sun felt a pang of unease. Initially, he had a good impression of Chen Qing: young, intelligent, eager to learn, and reliable. Although he had made a mistake due to carelessness, he wasn't inherently bad; it was just a momentary lapse. He was a young man who could be redeemed and nurtured. Therefore, when the factory discussed disciplinary action, he had spoken a few good words for Chen Qing, resulting in Chen Qing receiving the lightest possible punishment: being sent to the countryside.

This time, however, Chen Qing only stayed in the countryside for a few days before running back in tears, complaining about the hardship and exhaustion, shirking labor, and showing no fear or reluctance. He couldn't endure any hardship, grievance, or pressure. This inevitably led Section Chief Sun to feel contempt and disappointment. His initial sympathy gradually faded, replaced by a sense of helplessness, as if Chen Qing was "too good to be true."

"Chen Qing, listen to my advice," Section Chief Sun said calmly, with a hint of admonition. "Go back to the construction site, work diligently, don't overthink, don't run away, and don't complain. This is the current situation; everyone has to endure hardship, everyone has to train. You're not the only one. If you persevere a little longer, in a few months, the policy will change, and you'll be able to return smoothly. Giving up halfway now will only cause you more trouble, understand?"

Chen Qing stood there, motionless, like a soulless statue, unable to utter a single word for a long time. He wanted to say that he wasn't afraid of hardship, but that he was being maliciously targeted, tormented, and suppressed; but even if he did, no one would believe him, no one would understand, and no one would help him.

Section Chief Sun waved his hand, his tone tinged with impatience: "Alright, go back now. Don't waste time here, and stop overthinking. Hurry back to Huairou, work hard, and perform well. That's your only way out."

Chen Qing, utterly dejected, slowly turned around and mechanically walked out of the technical department office, out of the office building, and onto the empty factory roads. The sun shone brightly, but offered no warmth. His heart had grown completely cold.

Around noon, he waited for Zhou Yufei at the factory gate as she finished get off work. Zhou Yufei was stunned the moment she saw her husband. In just a few days, Chen Qing looked several years older—haggard, thin, tired, and listless, with vacant eyes and a deathly pale face. He was a completely different person; she almost didn't recognize him.

"Chen Qing? Why are you back? What happened to you?" Zhou Yufei was shocked and in pain, her voice trembling. "What happened? Did someone bully you?"

Looking at his wife, Chen Qing could no longer control himself. His voice was hoarse and trembling with sobs: "Yufei, I can't stay here any longer. I really can't stay here any longer. Section Chief Sun can't help me either. Nobody in the factory is willing to help me. I'm finished. I'm completely finished."

Zhou Yufei's heart tightened, and she quickly grabbed his hand, gently comforting him, "Don't worry, don't panic, tell me slowly, what happened? Let's think of a solution together, there will always be a way."

The two went into the factory canteen together, bought two simple meals, and sat in a corner, eating silently. Chen Qing couldn't swallow a single bite; despair filled his heart. He remained silent for a long time, then suddenly looked up at Zhou Yufei, his tone firm: "Yufei, I'll go find Director Li again."

Zhou Yufei froze, her face instantly changing color. A sudden, intense unease and fear washed over her. She didn't want to, she refused, she vehemently rejected the idea. She didn't want Chen Qing and Li Jing'an to have any further involvement, she didn't want her husband to beg that man who made her so uncomfortable, who filled her with such suspicion. But what could she say? Could she say that Li Jing'an's gaze was strange? Could she say that she didn't want anything to do with Li Jing'an?

No. Not only would others not believe her, but even Chen Qing would only think she was being unreasonable, delusional, and ungrateful. They've only met a few times and barely exchanged a few serious words. Who would believe her if she told anyone?

Zhou Yufei could only suppress all her unease and resistance, forcing a calm expression on her face, her voice weak: "You...you really want to go find him?"

"He's the only one I can turn to," Chen Qing said with absolute certainty. "Right now, he's the only one in the entire factory who might be able to help me."

Zhou Yufei opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

After finishing their meal, Chen Qing immediately grabbed Zhou Yufei and rushed to the steel mill's guesthouse. He was extremely anxious, desperate to see Li Jing'an as soon as possible and grasp at this last straw. However, when they arrived at the guesthouse, the receptionist told him, "Director Li went out at noon for an important event. We don't know when he'll be back; he might return this afternoon, or he might not come back at all."

Chen Qing felt a chill in her heart. Zhou Yufei secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly advised, "Since you're not here, let's go home first. You must be tired from your journey. Get some rest and come back tomorrow, okay? I have to go to work too."

Chen Qing had no choice but to accept reality. He nodded dejectedly and silently went home.

Unbeknownst to him, Li Jing'an had no important activities planned at the moment. He had already returned to his courtyard, leisurely enjoying tea and a rare moment of peace.

Li Jing'an sat in the courtyard, basking in the sun and sipping hot tea, looking relaxed. He had barely sat down when the courtyard gate was gently pushed open, and a familiar yet somewhat obsequious figure peeked in. It was Xu Damao.

Xu Damao had been busy showing movies in the countryside these past few days, traveling around, and only returned to Beijing yesterday. As soon as he got back, he heard all the news about Li Jing'an—recognition, medals, honors, People's Congress representative, system model, promising future, and boundless glory.

He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, restless day and night, desperately wanting to get back on Li Jing'an's good side, to repair the relationship, to curry favor, to find a patron, and to find a way out for himself. Yesterday, Li Jing'an held a grand banquet at his home, inviting all the middle and senior leaders of the factory. The scene was lavish and the atmosphere was incredibly impressive.

Xu Damao wanted to go, but he was not qualified, had no face, and no courage. He could only watch from afar, his heart filled with insane jealousy. Especially when he saw his second uncle, Liu Haizhong, busy inside, enjoying all the glory, he was so angry that he gritted his teeth in hatred.

He knew that if he didn't take the initiative, didn't put in the effort, and didn't seize the opportunity, he would never get ahead. So, he gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and went to his parents' house early in the morning. He begged and pleaded until he got some money.

He shamelessly went to his father-in-law's house and pestered him relentlessly until he finally managed to get a bicycle ticket.

Carrying money and a train ticket, and with a mix of trepidation, nervousness, respect, and obsequiousness, he cautiously approached Li Jing'an's courtyard.

"Brother Jing'an, busy?" Xu Damao strode into the courtyard, a forced and ingratiating smile on his face. He bent slightly at the waist and spoke respectfully and solicitously, "I've been showing movies in the countryside these past few days, running around every day. I just got back yesterday. As soon as I got back, I heard that I had made a great contribution, received a high commendation, and become a representative and a role model. That's really amazing."

Li Jing'an sat in the chair, glanced at him indifferently, his face expressionless, and his tone calm and natural, neither warm nor cold: "You're back? You must be tired. It's nothing, not worth making a fuss about."

Xu Damao chuckled, quickly walked up to Li Jing'an, looked around to make sure no one was watching, then carefully pulled out a neatly bundled stack of money from his pocket, along with a brand-new, flat bicycle ticket still smelling of ink. He held it with both hands, respectfully offering it to Li Jing'an, his posture humble and his tone extremely sincere: "Brother Jing'an, I know your status is different now, you don't lack anything, and everyone has given you quite a few gifts. I've been thinking and thinking, but I don't know what to give you. Giving you ordinary things seems too vulgar, and it's the same as everyone else's, lacking originality and sincerity."

He paused, then spoke with even greater respect: "I noticed that the bicycle you usually ride is quite old. Now that you're a representative of the city, a model worker in the factory, and an advanced member of the system, you need a decent new bike to make an impression when you go out on business or receive guests, otherwise it would be too undignified. Consider this a small token of my appreciation and congratulations."

Li Jing'an looked down at the money and train ticket in his hand. His originally calm face instantly broke into a clear smile, his eyes softened, and his tone became much more friendly.

"Da Mao, you're too kind." Li Jing'an's tone became more friendly, and after a slight refusal, he readily accepted the money and notes. He held the stack of money and notes in his hand, seemingly weighing them casually, and smiled, "We're neighbors, no need to go to such lengths. I'll accept the gifts; I'll remember this token of my appreciation."

Seeing that Li Jing'an accepted the gift, Xu Damao immediately breathed a sigh of relief, his smile becoming even more ingratiating, and he bowed even lower: "Brother Jing'an, your willingness to accept it is a huge favor to me! From now on, if there's anything you need, just let me know, and I, Xu Damao, will have no objections!"

Li Jing'an nodded slightly, his words carrying weight: "Don't worry, there will always be times when we need your help. You're well-informed and resourceful, so do a good job. With me here, you won't be treated unfairly."

The short promise reassured Xu Damao, who nodded excitedly and said many flattering words before respectfully taking his leave.

Watching Xu Damao's departing figure, Li Jing'an's gaze returned to the bicycle ticket in his hand. He had only recently bought the bicycle, and his father also had his own bike, so this ticket wasn't something he urgently needed.

After a moment's thought, he made a plan: he would leave the ticket for his sister so she could buy a women's bicycle, which would be perfect. As for the wad of cash... he calmly put it into his pocket.