Courtyard House: I'm an engineer, and a fairy godmother transferred me to a different position.

On weekends, the neighbors in the courtyard don't have to rush to finish their work. Perhaps because they chatted so enthusiastically last night, the whole courtyard seems to be holding back a major event today. Every door is open, and people are moving around in the courtyard, fiddling with odds and ends, but their eyes seem to be hooked, glancing at the Liu family's house in the backyard from time to time.

Clearly, last night's casual conversation was like a pebble dropped into water, the ripples of which have yet to subside.

The Liu family in the backyard is meeting with the girl's parents today to get engaged, which isn't unusual in itself. What's unusual is Liu Haizhong's eldest son, Liu Guangqi, and his fiancée, Zhao Mengyun.

Liu Guangqi needs no introduction; he's the most promising young man in the entire institute, an engineer cadre in the Ministry of Machine Building. The key is his girlfriend—when she last visited the institute, she left an impression on everyone that went beyond just being beautiful. Her figure, her bearing—just standing there, she looked like she stepped out of a painting. Not to mention she works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

These days, what kind of place is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? It's the face of the nation. The girls who work there can't possibly come from ordinary families.

That's why everyone in the courtyard was itching with curiosity: what was the background, how powerful, and how high-ranking was Liu Guangqi's future in-laws?

Even Jia Zhangshi was no exception.

This notorious gossip queen in the courtyard was acting completely out of character today. Instead of her usual sarcastic grumbling, she took the initiative to sweep the yard after Liu Guangqi returned, being unusually diligent for Jia Zhangshi.

To put it bluntly, this was all for Liu Guangqi's benefit. Ever since her son passed the fitter's qualification exam, Jia Zhangshi had finally realized that if she wanted her son to get ahead in the factory, she had to cultivate a good relationship with Liu Guangqi.

For a moment, the courtyard house seemed to be on fast forward.

As dawn broke, Jia Zhangshi had already swept the outer courtyard three times, leaving no stone unturned, not even missing a blade of grass in the corner. Yan Bugui, who lived in the front courtyard, stumbled upon this scene and was so astonished he could hardly close his mouth:

"Oh my! Sister Jia, is the sun rising in the west today?"

Madam Jia didn't even bother to lift her eyelids: "Old Man Yan, how can you talk like that? Today is the day the bride's parents meet, shouldn't our courtyard be tidied up? This is about the face of the whole courtyard, don't you understand? Don't let the bride's parents think that the people in our courtyard have no manners!"

Yan Bugui was taken aback. Good heavens, this was the first time he had ever heard the word "rules" from Jia Zhangshi's mouth.

To be honest, that old hag is quite shrewd; she even takes the initiative to do this little bit of flattery.

Jia Zhangshi didn't care what Yan Bugui thought; her triangular eyes never stopped, staring intently at the alley entrance like searchlights.

Suddenly, the broom in her hand stopped.

A deep engine roar came from afar, a sound completely different from the large trucks and buses commonly seen in the city; it was heavy and exuded a sense of power.

Immediately afterwards, a military green car turned into the alley.

Not one, but two.

A brand new Jeep.

Outside the courtyard gate, Jia Zhangshi and Yan Bugui fell silent instantly.

Not only them, but everyone in the courtyard was immediately drawn to it.

The quiet chatter in the alley suddenly fell silent, and faces froze in astonishment.

What was that sound?

A deep rumble rolled across the ground, shaking the dust that had accumulated under the eaves and causing even the grass stalks in the cracks of the bluestone slabs to tremble slightly.

God!

Where did this Jeep come from?

Not just one—but two whole ones, their bright red five-pointed stars on the front scorching the eyes in the dim light of the alleyway. In this alley, it was considered respectable for any family to own a Forever brand bicycle, let alone such a massive metal behemoth that one had only glimpsed from afar during drills.

Madam Jia was the first to come to her senses. Her perpetually droopy eyelids suddenly snapped open, and her entire body of fat bounced up as if electrified. She shook off Yan Bugui, who was tugging at her sleeve, turned around, and rushed into the courtyard, her short legs making a thud on the ground.

"Second Master Liu... quick! He's here!"

Her hoarse voice echoed from the front yard to the back, startling the sparrows perched in the jujube tree.

Under the eaves in the backyard, Liu Haizhong's enamel mug wobbled, spilling tea onto half of his shirt. He put down the mug and went out to greet them, his brow furrowed: "What's all that howling about? Who's here?"

"Cars! Big green cars!" Jia Zhangshi gasped for breath, clinging to the doorframe, her finger trembling as she pointed to the alley entrance, "Two... with five-pointed stars on them!"

These words were like a firecracker thrown into a chicken coop.

Sha Zhu, who was squatting on the doorstep eating a cornbread, let go of it, and the golden-yellow bread rolled into the mud. He hurriedly picked it up, took a couple of haphazard bites, and stretched his neck to push his way out: "Let me see! What kind of official deserves this kind of entourage?"

Xu Damao also strolled out of the west wing, his eyes gleaming with a prying light—just who was this in-law who could ride in this car?

All eyes in the courtyard were now quietly fixed on the figure standing against the door in the backyard.

Liu Guangqi.

"It's a Jeep."

Liu Guangqi closed the book, a faint, expected smile appearing on his lips.

"It must be Xiaoyun's parents."

If it were any other car, he might have needed to think for a moment. But this rumbling green train belonged to only one place in those days. He had anticipated his father-in-law's behavior, but he hadn't expected such a commotion.

Yeah.

The composed demeanor my father used to maintain in the courtyard is probably not what it used to be today.

He straightened his clothes and walked towards the alley entrance.

"Our in-laws...are they really here?"

Liu Haizhong remained frozen in place, his lips moving for a long time before he could finally squeeze out a sound. He tried to straighten his back, but his knees were like limp noodles, impossible to straighten. His usually booming voice, used when reprimanding younger people, was now stuck in his throat, leaving only a hissing sound.

Finally, he wiped his numb face and dragged his weak legs to follow.

At the entrance of the alley, the jeep had already come to a stop.

The red star on the front of the car was dazzlingly bright, and the white-painted serial number of the General Logistics Department was coldly reflected in everyone's pupils. The neighbors, who had been craning their necks, suddenly held their breath, even their coughs were suppressed into muffled groans.

This is no longer about showing off—

It possessed a gleaming, imposing presence, like the sharpest blade.

The guard in the first car jumped out nimbly, turned around and opened the rear door.

Zhao's father stepped out of the carriage.

He wasn't wearing a formal military uniform, only a crisp, grass-green civilian coat, but the rugged aura he exuded, honed over the years, was even more captivating than any shoulder insignia or sash. When his gaze swept over them, the whispers in the alley fell completely silent.

The other car door opened at the same time.

A middle-aged woman dressed in the same color stepped off the car steadily, her brows and eyes displaying a calm composure born of experience. She stopped, her gaze passing over the throng of people, and landing on the young man walking towards the courtyard gate.

A gust of wind swept through the alley, raising a wisp of dust.

Her hair was neatly combed, and she exuded a dashing air. The person who came was none other than Liu Guangqi's shrewd mother-in-law, Wu Shuang.

The car door opened slightly, and Zhao Mengyun and her younger brother Zhao Mengsheng stepped out of Wu Shuang's car one after the other.

Upon seeing Liu Guangqi, Zhao Mengyun's eyes lit up with a smile, and she quickened her pace to greet him. Zhao Mengsheng stood behind his sister, his face also beaming, his gaze eagerly fixed on his soon-to-be brother-in-law. These past few days, he had been longing to see Liu Guangqi again, and secretly hoped to ask him for advice on photography techniques.

In the throes of his emotions, before he could think it through, a shout escaped his lips:

"Brother-in-law!"

The name was clear and crisp, instantly attracting the attention of everyone outside the courtyard gate.

What a nice way to address someone as "brother-in-law"!

It seems that Liu Guangqi's in-laws have truly decided on him.

However, this call made Liu Guangqi pause slightly. Given the current situation, how could he readily agree? He could only offer Zhao Mengsheng a gentle smile before quickly stepping forward and respectfully and calmly greeting Zhao's father and mother-in-law, Wu Shuang: "Uncle, Aunt."

Father Zhao nodded, his expression gentle: "Guangqi, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the neighbors gathered at the door, showing no disdain in his eyes, only a slight nod in greeting.

Everyone in the courtyard was momentarily stunned. Although Zhao's father was not wearing a military uniform and had no insignia on his shoulders, his calm and composed demeanor was extraordinary. Anyone with discerning eyes could tell at a glance that Liu Guangqi's father-in-law and mother-in-law must be influential figures in the military.

Sha Zhu stared blankly, speechless for a long time; Xu Damao, however, instantly became excited, unconsciously straightening his back and plastering what he thought was the most appropriate smile on his face, gazing expectantly at Zhao's father, hoping for a chance to exchange glances. As soon as Zhao's father's gaze fell upon him, he was ready to step forward immediately and introduce himself as Guang Qi's childhood friend.

Unfortunately, Zhao's father's gaze merely swept over him calmly, without lingering at all.

The rest of the people in the courtyard held their breath, unconsciously taking a half-step back. Ordinary people naturally have a sense of awe towards power, and with such a figure suddenly appearing in the courtyard, it's inevitable that they would feel a bit intimidated. Even the usually muddle-headed Jia Zhangshi was much more restrained at this moment. Although she didn't understand much, she could tell that Liu Guangqi's in-laws had an extraordinary air about them and were by no means insignificant. For now, she could only secretly hope that Old Liu would remember the little bit of hard work she had done that day, sweeping the courtyard and keeping an eye out for the messenger.

Unbeknownst to her, Liu Haizhong, following behind his son, was already filled with trepidation. He felt that the scene before him was even more unsettling than the factory leaders' inspection. As a result, he, as the father, was not as composed and at ease as his son, Liu Guangqi.

Liu Haizhong tried several times to speak, wanting to follow his son's example and step forward to exchange pleasantries, but his throat was dry and tight, and he couldn't squeeze out a single word. He could only watch helplessly as Liu Guangqi and Zhao's father chatted naturally, while he stood silently in the back like a stiff wooden stake.

Just as they were at a loss, Liu Guangqi's voice suddenly rang out:

"Uncle, this is my father, Liu Haizhong."

Upon hearing this, Zhao's father looked past Liu Guangqi's shoulder and down at Liu Haizhong. His gaze was gentle and calm, without any pressure, yet it sent a chill down Liu Haizhong's spine.

"Oh, it's Lao Liu. Hello. I'm Zhao Jianjun, Xiaoyun's father." Zhao's father extended his hand with a smile.

Liu Haizhong swallowed hard, hurriedly wiping the sweat from his palms on his clothes before shakily extending his hand, his words stammering: "Hello, leader! I am Guangqi's father... Please, please come in, tea is prepared inside."

Hands clasped together.

Zhao Jianjun's palm was broad and steady, not at all distant as one might imagine.

"Old Liu, there's no need to be so polite. We're both parents, just call me Old Zhao."

Zhao's father spoke in a calm and peaceful tone, with a reassuring strength, without the slightest hint of arrogance.

This easygoing nature instantly eased most of the tension in Liu Haizhong's heart.

His legs, which had been trembling uncontrollably, finally stopped shaking slightly.

Mr. Zhao turned to the side and introduced her with a smile: "This is my wife, Xiaoyun's mother, surnamed Wu."

"Old Liu, our two families have finally met today."

Before Liu Haizhong could speak, his mother-in-law, Wu Shuang, had already subtly raised the corners of her lips and naturally continued the conversation. This dignified woman's gaze fell on Liu Haizhong, her eyes filled with a gentle warmth born of admiration for her son-in-law, and she said softly:

"Don't be shy."

"You, as parents, deserve the most credit for raising such a talented and responsible child as Guangqi."

These words were like a spring breeze, blowing straight into the most comfortable place in Liu Hai's heart. The greatest joy in his life was having Liu Guangqi as his son.

Wu Shuang's praise was more comforting to him than any words of consolation.

"Please come in, let's talk inside!"

At this moment, Liu Haizhong finally regained some of the demeanor of a family head and led everyone towards the backyard.

The two families exchanged pleasantries as they walked inside, and the onlookers quietly made way for them. Countless gazes followed them, a mixture of emotions—envy, bittersweetness, awe—swirling within them.

Yan Bugui tiptoed closer to Yi Zhonghai's ear, his voice low but unable to hide his excitement: "Old Yi, did you see that? Guangqi's father-in-law, wow, what an air he has! He even has bodyguards with him when he goes out. Just how high a status does he have?"

Yi Zhonghai stood with his hands behind his back, smiled but didn't reply.

But his deep gaze never left Zhao's father and Wu Shuang.

He knew perfectly well that these two men were far beyond what ordinary official positions could measure. The aura they possessed, cultivated over years of holding high posts, was a level of experience that these old workers, who had toiled half their lives in the steel mill, could never even imagine.

……

The backyard of a traditional courtyard house, in Liu Haizhong's home.