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

The winter wind, carrying remnants of snow, swept through the alleyways of Dongcheng District, Beijing. At the entrance of the Public Security Bureau's residential compound.

Li Jing'an pushed his old-fashioned bicycle and slowly walked out of the gate, a hint of smug satisfaction on his face.

These past few days, he's been going all out to get here. Cigarettes, alcohol, snacks, polite words, favors, and just the right amount of help—he's laid the groundwork layer by layer, and finally, after this family dinner at noon today, he's firmly brought Meng Xiangbin, the director of the Dongcheng branch, into his network of relationships.

From then on, Li Jing'an's path in the capital city became much wider.

A faint smile played on Li Jing'an's lips as he strode onto his bicycle. The wheels rolled over the thin layer of snow, and he rode steadily toward his family's courtyard house. He was in a good mood; even the cold wind blowing in his face seemed much more pleasant.

Back to the courtyard house.

Li Jing'an paused slightly as soon as he pushed open the courtyard gate.

In the courtyard, Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao stood in the center, rubbing their hands together, their faces plastered with ingratiating smiles, eagerly waiting for him.

Upon seeing Li Jing'an return, the two immediately came to greet him.

"Chief Li! You're finally back!"

"Brother Li, look!"

Li Jing'an looked up and his gaze fell on the west side of the courtyard—what was originally a complete blue brick wall had now been smashed open to create a square doorway. A brand-new solid wood door was firmly embedded in the wall, with smooth hinges, a glossy finish, and a perfect fit, looking both grand and convenient.

He understood.

A few days ago, during a casual chat, he mentioned that many people come and go in this courtyard, often entertaining factory leaders and various relatives. They always enter and exit through the main gate of the courtyard, which attracts a lot of attention and gossip, creating a bad impression. He was thinking of opening a separate small door on the west wall, leading directly to the back street, which would be both respectable and quiet.

He only mentioned it once, but the two people in front of him remembered it firmly.

"Not bad." Li Jing'an put down his bicycle, walked to the new door, and pushed it. The door was sturdy and opened and closed smoothly. He nodded in satisfaction, his gaze sweeping over the two men. "Well done, very thoughtful."

A single compliment made Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao beam with joy, as if they had received a tremendous reward.

"Hey! It's all part of our job! You asked, so how could we dare to slack off!" Liu Haizhong puffed out his chest, eager to take credit. "I took care of the wall-breaking work! I had my two lads come over early this morning to help out, and they were hammering away with the rams all morning without delaying the work at all!"

Xu Damao quickly followed suit, afraid of falling behind: "I found a carpenter I know, I supervised the making of the door, the dimensions are perfect, and I even paid for it upfront! Brother Jing'an, rest assured, I'll handle everything perfectly for you!"

The two were eager to make a good impression on Li Jing'an.

In their eyes, Li Jing'an was their protector, their lucky star, and their ladder to advancement. Only by clinging to this powerful figure could they secure their positions in the factory and have any hope of advancement.

Li Jing'an saw this and sneered inwardly, but on the surface he was gentle and polite: "You two have worked hard, and I'm sorry to have troubled you both with your efforts and money. How about this, I'll treat you to a meal here today to properly thank you."

Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao's eyes lit up, and they quickly nodded in agreement.

But Li Jing'an suddenly frowned, a troubled look on his face, and sighed, "It's just unfortunate... it's been cold these past few days, and I haven't had time to buy anything. All we have left are some cabbage and radishes, not a single piece of meat. How about... we postpone this meal until next time?"

His tone was sincere, and his expression was just right, making him look genuinely embarrassed.

But how could Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao possibly give up this opportunity?

"No, no, no! What are you saying!" Liu Haizhong immediately waved his hands, patted his chest, and shouted, "It doesn't matter if it's meat or not! I still have a laying hen at home, I'll go back and slaughter it and stew it!"

Xu Damao quickly followed, saying, "I still have a piece of homemade sausage at home, a gift from the rural commune, and two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor). I'll go back and get them right now! I guarantee it'll be enough for me to eat and drink!"

Fearing that Li Jing'an might change his mind, the two turned and ran out before they finished speaking.

Liu Haizhong jogged back to his house and went straight to the chicken coop as soon as he entered. A plump hen was clucking inside. He reached out, grabbed the hen by the neck, lifted it up, and headed towards the kitchen.

When the second aunt came out of the house and saw this, her face immediately fell.

"Catching chickens again? Catching chickens again!" the second aunt complained in a low voice. "This is the third one! We've only had them for a few days."

Liu Haizhong's hands continued working, sharpening the knife with a menacing air. He glared impatiently at his wife and said, "That's just a woman's opinion! What do you know!"

"If I didn't rely on Li Jing'an, could I have become a team leader? Could I speak with my head held high in the factory?" His voice was low but filled with unwavering certainty. "I want to climb higher! To advance, you have to be willing to invest! What's a chicken? As long as I can build a good relationship with Li Jing'an, what can't I achieve in the future?"

The second aunt was rendered speechless by his scolding and could only stand aside and sigh. No matter how much she felt sorry for him, she dared not refute him.

Seeing Liu Haizhong about to leave with the cleaned chicken, she quickly followed and said, "Well...didn't those two boys put in some effort today? They were sweating buckets from breaking down the wall, and they're still in bed. Should we invite them to dinner tonight?"

Liu Haizhong didn't even turn his head: "What are you yelling about! We were talking to Li Jing'an about important factory matters. What are you kids doing getting involved? Don't cause trouble!"

After saying that, he picked up the chicken and strode straight to Li Jing'an's courtyard.

On the other side, Xu Damao also rummaged through the cabinet at home and found sausages hidden at the back, and took out two bottles of liquor. He wrapped them in cloth and rushed over excitedly.

Today, Sha Zhu happened to be out of the house. Li Jing'an stood at the door and called out, and Qin Huairu immediately responded obediently.

Since the weather turned cold, Li Jing'an has moved from the main house to the east house.

The house was small but warm, with a stove connected to the kang (heated brick bed). When cooking was done outside, the kang inside would become warm and cozy, a comfortable and secluded place.

At this moment, the kang table has been set up.

Li Jing'an sat cross-legged in the center of the kang (a heated brick bed), his posture casual yet exuding an aura of authority. Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao sat respectfully on either side, their backs slightly straight, not daring to be the slightest bit presumptuous, their faces bearing respectful smiles throughout.

"Director Li, this kang (heated brick bed) is so comfortable!" Liu Haizhong reached out and touched the scorching hot surface of the kang, sighing with envy.

"That's right, who is Brother Jing'an? His vision and demeanor are top-notch!" Xu Damao immediately followed up with one compliment after another, which sounded natural and pleasing to the ear.

The two of them chatted back and forth, making Li Jing'an feel very comfortable.

Outside, Qin Huairu, wearing an apron, deftly boiled water, stewed chicken, sliced ​​sausages, and stir-fried vegetables. The pots and pans clattered and clattered, and soon the aroma filled the entire courtyard.

Dishes were served one by one.

The stewed chicken is golden and glistening, the sausages are red and tempting, and when paired with two refreshing side dishes, the kang table suddenly looks very sumptuous.

Li Jing'an gestured for the two to start eating, saying casually, "Don't be shy, eat."

The three raised their glasses and clinked them together. A sip of hot wine warmed them from head to toe.

Just as the banquet began, Li Jing'an called out towards the outside, "Qin Huairu."

Qin Huairu immediately wiped her hands, lifted the curtain and entered the room. She stood by the kang (a heated brick bed) with her head down, obediently saying, "Brother Li."

Li Jing'an glanced at the dishes on the table and casually instructed, "Serve yourself a bowl of food and take it back. There are children and elderly people at home; don't let them go hungry."

She replied softly, "Okay, thank you, Brother Li."

As she spoke, she picked up a clean, rough porcelain bowl from the table, carefully picked out a few pieces of chicken and a few slices of sausage, then filled it with some vegetables and broth, filling the bowl to the brim with a fragrant aroma.

As she picked up her bowl, she quickly added, her tone respectful and considerate: "Please take your time eating, no need to rush. I'll come back to clear the dishes and clean the house after you've finished."

Li Jing'an waved his hand: "Go ahead."

Liu Haizhong saw it clearly and immediately smiled and flattered, "Director Li is just kind-hearted."

Xu Damao quickly nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, working with Brother Jing'an makes me feel at ease!"

Li Jing'an smiled, picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and remained noncommittal.

Li Jing'an raised his hand to indicate, "Sit down, eat, don't be shy."

The three raised their glasses and clinked them together, draining them in one gulp.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao, their cheeks flushed, became more talkative, their words filled with flattery. Throughout the entire conversation, Li Jing'an never mentioned the door-making fee, and Xu Damao, being a shrewd man, didn't utter a single word about paying out of pocket.

They drank until dusk before the two of them, tipsy, got up to say goodbye, thanking each other profusely, and left the courtyard satisfied.

As soon as the person left, the courtyard immediately returned to quiet.

Qin Huairu brought in a basin of water to clear the dishes, moving quietly and not daring to make a sound. She quickly wiped the kang table clean, stacked the dishes, and prepared to take them away to wash.

Li Jing'an lay down in the center of the heated kang, his arm behind his head, and glanced at her indifferently.

"Come up."

Qin Huairu stiffened, hesitated for a moment, then slowly took off her shoes, carefully climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and sat down properly in the corner.

This house was separated from the Jia family's house by only two thin walls.

The sounds of the mother-in-law coughing, the child's murmurs, and voices could be faintly heard.

Qin Huairu's voice was soft and pleading: "...No, not here...My house is right next door, my mother-in-law and child are here...Please be quiet, please don't make a sound...Please..."

Looking at her fearful and trembling appearance, Li Jing'an suddenly smiled with satisfaction.

He enjoyed seeing her forced to comply.

"What are you afraid of?" Li Jing'an's voice was deep, carrying a mocking pressure. "What does it have to do with me?"

Qin Huairu could only bite her lip tightly, keeping all her voice stuck in her throat.

The more she tried to control him, the more excited Li Jing'an became.