Courtyard House: Drunk and barging into the Xu family's house, I woke up numb.

"Miss, it's not that we don't want to give you a room, but I don't want to make things difficult for you so late at night."

"The higher-ups are really cracking down hard right now. It's almost the end of the year, tomorrow is the 29th, which is New Year's Eve."

“If I booked a room for you without seeing the letter of introduction, and that gets found out, I’ll lose my job.”

"As for this comrade's proof, I don't need to listen. No one can stay without a letter of introduction."

Xia Jie sighed upon hearing this. Everyone says good people are rewarded, but why doesn't that apply to her?

Cao Xu stepped forward and asked.

"Master, what is your surname?"

The staff member behind the counter responded.

"Your surname is Shen."

Cao Xu smiled.

"Master Shen, I brought a letter of introduction. I've booked a room. Is it alright for her to stay here?"

"Don't worry, I won't stay here."

Master Shen shook his head.

"Comrade, I understand what you mean and I also understand your desire to stay at the hotel."

“In the past, I would have turned a blind eye, but not now. I can’t even book a hotel room for someone else.”

Seeing Xia Jie's disappointed look, Cao Xu pointed to the phone next to him and asked.

Can you make outside calls from this phone?

Master Shen said.

"You can only call within the capital city area, it costs five cents a minute."

Cao Xu dialed the phone number of the steel rolling mill's guesthouse. After being transferred three times, the call was finally connected.

"Steel rolling mill guesthouse, who is this?"

"This is Cao Xu from the security department. Is your manager, Wei, here?"

"Hello, Section Chief Cao, this is Chen Guangjin. Our manager had to go home early because of some family matters. You can tell me what you need to say."

"It's nothing serious, I just wanted to ask if your guesthouse has any vacancies."

"Yes, we do. How many rooms do you need, and when do you want to use them?"

"One room is fine, it's for one of my friends."

"No problem, Section Chief Cao. You can just have him bring his work ID and letter of introduction. The room rate will be the same as that for our factory employees."

"I have a work ID, but can't I get one without a letter of introduction?"

Chen Guangjin, who was on the other side, was in a dilemma when he heard this.

"Well, Section Chief Cao, we just received a notice yesterday that from today onwards, anyone staying overnight in Beijing must have a letter of introduction."

"No guesthouse shall accept guests without a letter of introduction, and we must strictly investigate any outsiders acting on behalf of guests."

"Section Chief Cao, if it weren't for yesterday's notice, you could have just said hello and I could have checked him in even if he didn't have any documents."

"But now... I'm really sorry, Section Chief Cao, could you think of another way?"

Cao Xu exchanged a few polite words and then hung up the phone.

Xia Jie heard the entire conversation clearly, and she sighed.

"Why am I so unlucky!"

As she spoke, she walked out of the guesthouse and sat down on the steps opposite.

After paying the phone bill, Cao Xu came out.

"Thank you, Cao Xu."

Cao Xu said.

"No need to thank me, I wasn't much of a help."

Xia Jie said.

"No, you helped."

"At least I now know that the guesthouse won't give me a room without a letter of introduction."

"That way, I don't have to try them one by one."

Cao Xu crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Don't you have any relatives or friends in the capital?

Xia Jie shook her head.

"No, my family is from eastern Shandong. I came here after being demobilized and am waiting for job assignment."

At this point, Xia Jie paused and looked at Cao Xu.

"Actually, I also have a friend in Beijing..."

Cao Xu looked into her eyes and smiled.

"You're not talking about me, are you?"

Xia Jie nodded vigorously.

“You’re so smart!”

Cao Xu smiled and didn't continue with that question, but instead asked a different one.

"What did the train station say? When will your luggage be returned?"

Xia Jie said.

"According to them, the luggage was dropped at the previous station, so the person who found it took it back to check and then transported it to the previous train station."

"It was then sent from the previous train station to Beijing Railway Station, and only after Beijing Railway Station reviewed it could it be retrieved."

"During the Spring Festival, there will be a holiday, so it will be as early as the third day of the Lunar New Year, or as late as the fourth day."

Cao Xu said.

"What are you going to do?"

Xia Jie shook her head.

"I don't know either. Even if I go to the military control department for help, I'll have to wait until tomorrow morning."

Cao Xu reminded him.

"Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve, and most workplaces will be closed for the holiday."

In the 1960s, there were two holidays a year: the Spring Festival and the National Day holidays, each lasting three days. The Spring Festival holiday consisted of New Year's Eve, the first day of the Lunar New Year, and the second day of the Lunar New Year.

Xia Jie's eyes darted around.

"Cao Xu, do you live in the capital?"

Cao Xu nodded.

"Yes, I grew up in Beijing."

Xia Jie asked again.

"Is your home far away?"

Cao Xu said.

"It's alright, not too far, not too close."

Xia Jie smiled, revealing her white teeth.

"Then, take me to your place to stay!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Xu was completely stunned.

"Comrade Xia Jie, you are a woman and I am a man. Would you like to come to my house?"

"Let me tell you, I live alone, there's no one else in my family, so aren't you afraid..."

Xia Jie stood up, walked to Cao Xu who was sitting on the steps, and put her arm around Cao Xu's shoulder.

"I believe in you. Someone as righteous and compassionate as you would never take advantage of someone in distress."

"And it's perfect that no one is home, so you don't have to explain to each family member individually, and your family won't misunderstand."

Cao Xu looked at Xia Jie, who was bolder than girls in the 21st century, and walked away without saying a word.

Seeing that Cao Xu didn't speak, Xia Jie hurriedly pressed him for an answer.

"Hey, is it going to work or not?"

Cao Xu replied without turning his head.

"I don't care if I lose them."

Xia Jie's eyes lit up, and she took a step and chased after Cao Xu's back.