Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

In those days, cars were a rarity, let alone one that could drive into their narrow alley. People in the courtyard all poked their heads out to see what was going on.

A military green GAZ jeep carefully navigated the narrow alleyway before finally coming to a steady stop in front of courtyard number 95.

The car door opened, and three people got out. The one in the lead was a middle-aged cadre wearing a Zhongshan suit and glasses, followed by three young men, each carrying a briefcase and looking serious.

Everyone in the courtyard was stunned. Who were they looking for? Had something happened to someone?

The third uncle, Yan Bugui, was the first to step forward, a professional smile on his face: "Gentlemen, this is...?"

The middle-aged cadre adjusted his glasses, glanced around the courtyard, and asked, "We're looking for Comrade Zhang Dabiao. Is he home?"

Looking for Zhang Dabiao?

A collective gasp filled the courtyard. All eyes turned to Zhang Dabiao, who had just emerged from the east courtyard.

Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong also came out of the house. Liu Haizhong, with his pregnant belly, tried his best to put on the airs of an old man, while Yi Zhonghai looked serious, his mind racing as he considered various possibilities.

"Hey, Director Zhao? What brings you here?" Zhang Dabiao asked, somewhat puzzled.

This is Director Zhao, who is in charge of foreign trade. Zhang Dabiao handles many things through him, especially foreign exchange transactions.

Normally, if there are any issues in the department, three assistants are enough to handle them. Why did Director Zhao come all the way here today?

Zhang Dabiao glanced over and saw that his three assistants, Wang Fushan, Chen Puqing, and Huang Yan, were following behind Director Zhao and were even winking at him.

What's going on? Everyone looks like they're begging for praise?

Director Zhao extended his hand and warmly shook hands with Zhang Dabiao: "Dabiao, I'm here today on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, as well as the Ministry of Light Industry and the Ministry of Food and Hygiene, to commend and reward you for your outstanding contributions to the country recently!"

Commendation? Award?

The entire courtyard instantly erupted in chaos.

Director Zhao didn't keep them in suspense. He took out an official document from his briefcase, cleared his throat, and loudly read it aloud in front of the entire hospital:

"In view of Comrade Zhang Dabiao's outstanding contributions to assisting our ministry in improving the design of foreign trade products, earning a large amount of foreign exchange for the country, and in the research and development of new daily necessities, the Ministry's Party Committee has decided, after deliberation, to award him the following prize..."

Everyone in the courtyard pricked up their ears, not daring to even breathe loudly.

"First, Comrade Zhang Dabiao is awarded a two-bedroom apartment in the newly built cadre building in Xila Hutong!"

"Huh?!"

The crowd erupted in cheers!

An apartment building! And a two-bedroom, one-living-room one at that! What kind of place is that? Those are apartments only allocated to cadres at the division level or above!

Some neighbors knew about the situation there. It was a stone's throw from Wangfujing, a three-story red brick tenement building without a private toilet. But to be able to live in such a house in 62 was already quite respectable.

Yan Bugui almost dropped his teacup, and Yu Li, Qin Huairu, and the others were so envious that their eyes turned red.

Director Zhao's voice continued:

"Secondly, with special approval, Comrade Zhang Dabiao will, starting this month, enjoy the same food rations and various coupons as a national section-level cadre! After graduation, he will directly enter the design institute under our ministry!"

If the building was shocking, then the treatment of these officials was a bombshell!

Before even graduating, he's already secured a stable job in the ministry, not as a cadre, but enjoying cadre benefits! What does that mean? It's like being on a rocket to the top!

There are indeed historical precedents for "arranging jobs for students in advance." In 58-60, 263 cadres were recruited from among the hired and probationary employees. Many of these people may not have had formal academic qualifications, but "job needs" were the top priority.

Da Biao has caught the last train, mainly because his contribution was so huge, and coupled with his status as a vocational school graduate, many things fell into place naturally.

Liu Haizhong's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red. He dreamed of being an official, even a position like a "work-for-a-job" cadre would be great, but right now he was just a nominal "group leader." Now, an eighteen-year-old kid in the courtyard had easily become someone he had to look up to. The fire of jealousy burned so fiercely that it hurt his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.

Although reason told him that Da Biao and Guang Qi had a good relationship, and that Guang Qi had even been promoted two levels at work thanks to him—but…

It's just envy, jealousy, and hatred!

It's just envy, jealousy, and hatred!

There's no way!

Yi Zhonghai's expression was also complicated. He originally thought he understood Zhang Dabiao very well, but now he realized that what he saw was only the tip of the iceberg. This young man had grown to the point that he could no longer control him, and he even needed to curry favor with him.

However, the real shock was yet to come.

Director Zhao paused, then raised his voice, speaking in an almost declarative tone:

"Thirdly, to facilitate Comrade Zhang Dabiao's future work and studies, he is hereby awarded a 'Changjiang 750' sidecar motorcycle!"

After saying that, he waved towards the entrance of the alley.

A deep, powerful "putt-putt-putt" sound grew louder as it approached. A brand-new motorcycle with a sidecar, painted entirely in military green, slowly drove into the outer courtyard. In the sunlight, its metallic body gleamed with a cold and domineering light.

The entire room fell silent.

If houses and official privileges are symbols of status, then this motorcycle is a totem of power!

Ordinary people can't even see this thing, let alone buy it! It's an exclusive vehicle for the military, police, and state guests! Riding it on the street is like having "I have connections" written all over your face!

The driver parked the car, removed the keys, and respectfully handed them to Zhang Dabiao.

Zhang Dabiao weighed the heavy keys in his hand, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew the department would reward him, but he didn't expect the reward to come so quickly, so generously, and so...high-profile.

Housing and official positions were irrelevant to him, but this sidecar motorcycle—

Really fragrant!

It's not that he can't buy a car in Hong Kong, but he can't actually use it!

This sidecar motorcycle is something that even a regular official like him might not be able to get a quota for, but now the ministry has legitimately allocated it to him!

This gift is absolutely perfect!

If bicycles are like BMWs, then what are sidecar motorcycles?

A Rolls-Royce! It was provided by the organization! That's awesome!

Looking at the three assistants following Director Zhao, it became clear what their winks meant: this was a must-treat! A big one!

He flipped himself onto the motorcycle and, amidst the envious, jealous, awe-inspiring, or resentful gazes of the crowd, gently twisted the throttle.

"Boom! Rat-a-tat-tat..."

The engine let out a deep roar, like a steel beast awakened. The sound, one beat after another, struck the hearts of everyone in the yard.

It's troublesome to push the car into the yard, so we test drove it in the outer yard.

Yan Jiecheng, still very obsequious, said that the car was parked in his small courtyard. It belonged to the innermost two rooms of the outer courtyard's back building, and the street office had casually built a fence gate when they were renovating it.

The car is parked in his yard, and he'll take good care of it. Anyone who dares to touch it will have their legs broken! This is a cadre's official car! A departmental car!

With Yan Jiecheng watching over things, everything will be foolproof!