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

"Guangqi and his brother, you're finally back! The courtyard has been missing your festive spirit for the New Year!"

"I'm cooking tonight, we absolutely have to have a couple of drinks!"

In an instant, the atmosphere outside the courtyard gate became completely lively, and the previous dullness was swept away.

Looking at his son and daughter-in-law, who were surrounded by everyone and looked quite presentable, Liu Haizhong unconsciously straightened his back a bit, and the radiance on his face could not be concealed.

He stepped forward and grabbed Liu Guangqi's arm, as if protecting some precious treasure:

"Alright, alright, stop standing at the door. Guangqi, Xiaoyun, come inside. Your mom's been nagging you for ages."

Clearly, Liu Pangpang was overjoyed to have his son bring back such an outstanding wife for the New Year, along with generous New Year's gifts.

Before long, Liu Guangqi and the others entered the courtyard house.

Hearing the commotion, people from all the households in the courtyard peeked out, and whispers began to circulate:

"Hey, Guangqi's back?"

"Did Guangqi go back to the hospital for the Chinese New Year this year?"

"Look at Guangqi, he's really becoming more and more successful!"

"That's because he's talented! He gets honors for his technical work in the ministry, and his wife is so beautiful. You can't even be envious!"

In no time at all, the news that Liu Guangqi had brought Zhao Mengyun back to the courtyard for the New Year spread like wildfire throughout the entire courtyard.

Neighbors came out of their houses one after another and gathered in front of the door to exchange greetings.

Among them, the one who cared the most was probably the third uncle, Yan Bugui.

no way--

It's all because his eldest son, Yan Jiecheng, is stuck at the neighborhood office waiting for job assignments, and he still hasn't found one. Even when times were better, he didn't get a job; now, with these difficult times, positions are even scarcer, so it's probably even harder for him to get one.

From inside the Liu family's house in the backyard, a joyful inquiry came:

"Honey, is it really Guangqi and Xiaoyun who are back?"

A joyful exclamation came from inside the house, and the curtain was immediately lifted, revealing Auntie's figure in a flurry of activity.

She clutched a spatula blackened by smoke in her hand, and a few specks of flour, not yet wiped off, clung to her indigo apron tied around her waist. Clearly, she had been busy at the stove, her hands still damp with soot, before hurrying to the door.

Her gaze immediately fell on Zhao Mengyun, scrutinizing her from head to toe. The dark blue woolen coat Zhao Mengyun wore made her skin appear even fairer, and the calm, scholarly air between her brows and eyes remained undiminished, making one feel comfortable just looking at her.

"Oh, I've been waiting for you all to come back!"

Auntie grabbed Zhao Mengyun's hand, feeling its icy coldness, and immediately felt a pang of heartache: "Quick, come inside! It's freezing outside, but the fire in the stove is burning brightly inside, it's warm!"

"mom."

Zhao Mengyun smiled gently and then handed over the cloth bundle she had been carrying all the way:

"This is a small New Year's gift that Guangqi and I prepared for you and Dad."

My aunt immediately started nagging, "His return is more important than any gift! Why spend all this money? You two have just started a family; you'll have plenty of expenses to cover!"

Even so, she took the package with a very steady hand, and the undisguised joy on her face was already flowing from the fine lines at the corners of her eyes.

"It's good to be back, especially with so much stuff... Your dad was just saying this morning that since you two just got married this year, you might be spending the New Year at your own place..."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze to Liu Guangqi beside her, looked him up and down, and her smile deepened: "You haven't lost weight, but your demeanor is much more composed than before you got married. You look like someone who can handle things!"

Inside the house, the two brothers, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, were already peeking out from the door frame, looking like two fledglings waiting to be fed.

Seeing his elder brother and sister-in-law enter the house, Liu Guangtian was the first to step forward, clutching a rusty, almost worn-out mechanical textbook. He grinned, a little embarrassed.

"Brother, you're finally back."

"Our teacher said that we'll be taking a course on Mechanical Principles next semester. You're a proper engineer, could you perhaps have some time to give me some pointers on the material in the book?"

This kid just barely passed the entrance exam this year and got into the Mechanical Industry Technical School, becoming a vocational school student in this compound. Lately, he's been walking with a bit more upright posture.

Despite his smug demeanor outside, he always showed a youthful admiration for Liu Guangqi. It was as if the more he read, the more he understood the vast difference between his mechanical vocational school and the mechanical manufacturing department of Tsinghua University, where his older brother had studied.

Liu Guangfu, however, had no such reservations. His eyes were already fixed on the package that Liu Guangqi had casually placed on the table. He sidled up to him and asked in a low voice, "Brother, is this... candy?"

Liu Guangqi smiled, grabbed a handful of colorful candies from the paper package, and stuffed them into the boy's palm. After dealing with the boy, he turned to Liu Guangtian, who was looking at him eagerly.

He took the thick textbook and casually flipped through a few pages. The complex diagrams and formulas on it seemed as familiar to him as old friends.

"The basics of mechanical principles are not difficult to grasp."

Liu Guangqi handed the book back, his tone calm, yet exuding a reassuring certainty:

"The key is to thoroughly understand the relationship between the blueprints and the components. I'll draw you a simplified diagram tomorrow, which will be more intuitive than the illustrations in the textbook."

"real?!"

Liu Guangtian seemed to have been struck by something, suddenly grabbing Liu Guangqi's arm, his eyes instantly lighting up: "Brother, then you absolutely have to teach me properly! The school teachers' lectures are like gibberish, I'm completely lost, my head is throbbing!"

"What's the rush?"

Liu Haizhong walked over carrying two steaming cups of tea, placing one next to Liu Guangqi and gently pushing the other towards Zhao Mengyun. As for Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, he didn't even raise his eyelids.

"Let your brother catch his breath first. Is a matter of immense knowledge worth another night? Don't you have any common sense?"

Just then, my second aunt's clear voice came from the kitchen:

"Dinner's ready!"

Before long, a gleaming square table was laden with food, even more lavish than the reunion dinner on New Year's Eve in previous years: a plate of cured pork glistening with amber oil, a stack of freshly cooked, fragrant white flour pancakes, a plate of golden, fluffy scrambled eggs, and two dishes of vibrant green vegetables. Perhaps because it was the daughter-in-law's first time celebrating the New Year at home, a can of luncheon meat, carefully selected from the supply and marketing cooperative, was even opened on the table.

Zhao Mengyun did not rush to pick up her chopsticks. First, she put a piece of cured meat on her second aunt's plate, and then served rice to Liu Guangqi. Her demeanor was naturally elegant and proper.

Liu Haizhong and his second aunt watched with increasing satisfaction, constantly adding food to her bowl. In no time, her bowl was piled high with food, drawing envious glances from Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu beside her.

The eldest sister-in-law is the eldest sister-in-law after all; others can't even envy such considerate treatment.

The second aunt's tone suddenly changed, the corners of her mouth curving into an even wider smile, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes turning into joyful lines. "Xiaoyun, you've come back at just the right time. I just cleaned up Guangqi's room a few days ago. The bedding inside is all freshly fluffed cotton, just aired out in the sun, fluffy and warm, I guarantee you'll sleep soundly."

Liu Haizhong, listening nearby, quickly nodded in agreement: "That's right, it's very warm!"

The elderly couple spoke in a back-and-forth manner, and the meaning behind their words couldn't be clearer.

Liu Guangqi glanced at the harmonious scene at the table, then turned to look at his wife eating quietly beside him, a smile involuntarily appearing on his lips. Wife, children, a warm bed—it seemed this life was only missing the sound of a child's laughter.

After dinner, the family was cleaning up the dishes when there was a knock on the gate.

"Thump...thump thump".

The knocking was neither hurried nor slow, yet it carried a sense of careful consideration.

Liu Haizhong wiped his hands, walked over, and opened the wooden door. Standing outside was indeed his third uncle, Yan Bugui. Surprisingly, he was carrying a bottle of wine, his face full of wrinkles, and he smiled like a chrysanthemum in autumn. "Old Liu, is Guangqi home? I've come over for a visit."

Liu Haizhong smiled and ushered him into the house. Auntie Er poured a cup of hot water and handed it to him. Yan Bugui took the cup and sipped, but his eyes darted around, his gaze never landing on the water, constantly glancing at Liu Guangqi. His calculations were practically written all over his face.

"Guangqi," Yan Bugui put down his cup, rubbed his hands, and leaned forward slightly, "you've really made something of yourself now, working as a cadre in a ministry, seeing big scenes, and knowing many high-ranking leaders." He paused, lowering his voice slightly, "Jiecheng is at least a junior high school graduate, hardworking and efficient, but he lacks connections. Look at this..."

As he spoke, he gently pushed the bottle of wine he had brought towards the center of the table, a seemingly casual gesture that revealed a deliberate attempt at ingratiation. "My family doesn't have much to offer, this bottle of wine is just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it."

Liu Guangqi's gaze swept over the most ordinary bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), his mind already perfectly clear. His face, however, maintained its gentle and composed smile, leaving no room for criticism. "Third Uncle, you're too kind. We've lived in the same courtyard for so many years; how could I not care about Brother Jiecheng's affairs?"

Yan Bugui was overjoyed upon hearing this, thinking that things were finally looking up.

Unexpectedly, Liu Guangqi subtly changed the subject, continuing, "But given the current situation, it's not that I'm unwilling to help you, it's just that the reality is what it is. In difficult times, let alone ministries, even factories hiring temporary workers are extremely selective, with strict rules and regulations. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't have the authority to make an exception, would I?"

He shrugged, his expression both sincere and helpless.

"Besides, if you're dealing with written documents all day long in a ministry, even a college graduate might not be able to adapt immediately. As for the Red Star Factory... you know, my secondment ended a long time ago. If I go back now, I'll be out of the loop, and my words probably won't carry any weight."

His words were both reasonable and persuasive, saving face for the other party while subtly blocking all avenues of communication.

Yan Bugui's smile froze for a moment, and the burning hope in his heart instantly cooled by half.

Seeing his expression, Liu Guangqi offered a timely word of comfort: "But don't worry too much. I'll keep this in mind. If a suitable opportunity comes along—for example, if the Red Star Factory expands its recruitment someday—I'll be the first to keep an eye out for you. Let Brother Jie Cheng take the exam based on his own abilities. He's only a junior high school graduate, but he has a solid foundation, so he'll have a better chance than others."

These words sounded agreeable, but Yan Bugui knew perfectly well what was going on: Remember? They'd been saying this for two years, and there hadn't been a single peep. This pie-in-the-sky promise was even more convincing than any wish made by school leaders.

But what could he say? Finding a decent job these days is harder than climbing to heaven. A permanent position means a city residency permit and a ration of food coupons. Countless people from the countryside are desperate to get one. Yet, right now, many factories in Beijing are considering downsizing. Jobs aren't so easy to find.

Thinking of this, Yan Bugui's face broke into a smile again, as if he truly believed those words: "That's wonderful! Guangqi, with your words, I can finally rest easy! Thank you, thank you so much!"

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Yan Bugui stood up, intending to take his leave.

"Uncle, please wait a moment."

Liu Guangqi also stood up, his gaze falling on the bottle of wine on the table.

Since the matter wasn't settled, this gift naturally cannot be accepted.

That bottle of wine was never given away.

As Yan Bugui turned around carrying the wine jar, his shoulders slumped, and his shuffling steps blended into the night outside the courtyard gate.

Liu Haizhong watched until his figure completely disappeared before letting out a snort of laughter.

He pulled out a half-smoked cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag; the embers flickered in the dim light.

"See that?" He gestured towards his son, "Old Yan's schemes are so cunning, you can hear them from ten miles away."

His voice was enveloped in the smoke, dissipating into the chilly air.

"These days, how much is a decent job worth? You might not even get a job for four or five hundred yuan."