I, Yan Jiefang, will live to 2025 in this courtyard house.

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

A gentle breeze rippled across the lake in the afternoon, making the surface shimmer.

The area was quiet with few pedestrians around, making it the perfect time to practice martial arts.

Yan Jiefang, dressed in a clean short shirt, practiced Tai Chi with a relaxed and unhurried posture.

Every move was fluid and graceful, his advances and retreats were steady and composed, and his breathing was long and even, perfectly embodying the state of health cultivation and spiritual practice.

Having weathered several storms in the hospital, he became increasingly indifferent, not concerned with worldly troubles, but simply living a peaceful life at his own pace.

At this moment, two slightly hesitant figures cautiously circled around from the lakeside path.

It was the brothers Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu.

Unexpectedly, even after he changed locations, the two of them still managed to find him.

He guessed that nothing good would come of it this time.

Ever since the neighborhood committee ruled to separate the family, the Liu family's situation has completely changed.

After being dismissed from his position as the second uncle, Liu Haizhong learned his lesson and, with Liu Guangqi's guidance, became much more low-key.

Liu Guangtian has received the full 200 yuan settlement awarded by the court and has retained his right to reside in the original house. (This matter was handled by the court, which is why it is legally binding.)

Only nine-year-old Liu Guangfu, due to his young age, still has his household registration and custody under Liu Haizhong, making it impossible to completely separate his household registration.

Fortunately, Liu Haizhong lost all his prestige after this incident, and the neighborhood committee and the court strictly prohibited corporal punishment. The two brothers finally escaped the nightmare of being beaten every day and lived a peaceful life.

Life became more stable, but new problems soon followed.

Nineteen-year-old Liu Guangtian was already tired of the hard labor of carrying heavy bags at the train station.

They toiled all day carrying heavy loads, exposed to wind and sun, until their backs ached and they were exhausted. It was extremely hard work, and there was no future in sight.

He longed to find a proper, stable, and permanent job so he wouldn't have to rely on manual labor to make a living anymore.

For more than a week, he went out every day to inquire about job opportunities, trying every possible one, but he was rejected every time.

State-owned factories strictly control recruitment based on seniority, education, and quotas. Even ordinary day laborers are fiercely competing for these positions, only to end up empty-handed after much effort.

When he was desperate, the first person he thought of was Yan Jiefang.

If it weren't for Yan Jiefang's secret guidance last time, the two brothers would never have escaped Liu Haizhong's brutal beating, let alone successfully separated the family property and received resettlement compensation.

After this incident, Yan Jiefang became unfathomable in the eyes of his brothers.

This time, Liu Guangtian did not have any illusions about arriving empty-handed when he came to ask for help.

This experience has matured him considerably.

This time, he didn't come empty-handed; he even brought a small bag of pig's head meat and a bottle of Erguotou liquor!

In the 1960s, when resources were extremely scarce, these two items were by no means ordinary gifts.

Braised pig's head meat costs 1.3 yuan per jin (500g), and it must be purchased with meat coupons. It is rarely available in the market, and ordinary families may not be able to afford a bite during festivals.

Erguotou is a highly sought-after commodity, with limited sales only during holidays. Each bottle costs 1.3 yuan plus a corresponding grade of liquor coupon.

Liu Guangtian was able to gather this bag of pig's head meat and a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) most likely through black market channels, at a high price, showing his sincerity.

The two brothers stood quietly not far away, not daring to make a sound to disturb him, and waited quietly for Yan Jiefang to finish his attack.

Liu Guangfu was young and couldn't help but secretly swallow his saliva, his eyes fixed on the oil paper package, but he dared not move an inch.

Only after Yan Jiefang finished his set of boxing techniques, slowly ending his movements and calming his breathing, did Liu Guangcai quickly step forward, a smile spreading across his face, and speak in a low voice:

"Liberation, busy, huh?"

Yan Jiefang looked up at the two men, his gaze sweeping lightly over the objects in their hands. A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed in his eyes before returning to calm, and he nodded slightly.

"What's up?"

His tone was calm, revealing no emotion, and his demeanor remained relaxed and composed.

Liu Guangtian felt a little awkward under his calm gaze. He scratched his head and quickly handed over the small oil paper packet and Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), his ears slightly red, and his tone sincere:

"Jiefang, thanks to your guidance last time, my brother and I were able to separate our households and live our own lives without getting beaten up again. I will always remember this kindness."

"I know you are very capable and have a broad perspective. I've come here today to ask you for another favor."

He handed the item forward, his attitude humble yet solemn, mimicking a storyteller he'd heard somewhere before:

"This is just a small gift, please accept it."

Yan Jiefang glanced down at the bulging oil paper package and the brand-new wine bottle, and his mind was already clear.

He knew all too well the value of these materials in this era.

Two hundred dollars as a family division fee may seem like a lot, but it can be used to buy meat and alcohol coupons on the black market, and then to purchase tobacco, alcohol, and meat, resulting in huge expenses.

The fact that Liu Guangtian could offer such a generous gift is enough to demonstrate his determination to seek help, and is by no means a perfunctory attempt to test him.

Sincerity and courtesy are enough to warrant some guidance.

Yan Jiefang neither immediately accepted the gift nor directly refused it; he simply spoke calmly:

"Tell me about your situation first."

Seeing that he didn't directly refuse, Liu Guangtian felt relieved and quickly explained his purpose, his tone full of helplessness:

"After liberation, I really couldn't do the job of carrying heavy bags at the train station anymore. It was too tiring, too exhausting, and there was no future in it."

I've been looking for work everywhere this week. I've asked around at factories and street jobs, but either there are no openings or the requirements are too high, so I can't get in at all.

I had absolutely no other choice, so I'm bothering you again.

His eyes were earnest, with a hint of expectation:

"You're quick-witted and have a long-term vision. Could you point me in the right direction for a living? I'm not afraid of hard work or suffering. As long as it's a decent and stable job, I can do it."

Yan Jiefang listened quietly, gently stroking his fingertips, and pondered for a moment.

After observing for so long, he has a clear understanding of the current employment situation.

In state-owned factories and government agencies, legitimate positions have long been blocked by connections, seniority, and family background, leaving ordinary people with no chance to get in.

Liu Guangtian has no education, no skills, and no connections, so he has virtually no chance of getting a decent regular job.

A moment later, he looked up and stared directly at Liu Guangtian, his tone resolute:

"You basically have no chance at regular jobs right now."

Liu Guangtian's face darkened instantly, the light in his eyes vanished, and his lips drooped slightly, unable to hide his disappointment.

Yan Jiefang ignored Liu Guangtian's expression and continued:

"Besides waiting for a regular job opportunity that is almost impossible to come by, or buying a job, you have two other ways to change your current situation, but neither of these methods is a good way out."

He paused for a moment, then continued:

"Forget it, in these times, the first option isn't a good way out; it's easy to starve to death, so I won't talk about it."

The second option, while not ideal either, would at least preserve the 49 city residency permit, and the salary wouldn't be low.

Upon hearing the second solution, Liu Guangtian's eyes immediately lit up.