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

Zhang Dabiao genuinely had no idea why Yu Haitang had come to see him. He continued drawing the outline of gear teeth on the paper without stopping his paintbrush.

"I overheard some aunties outside saying you were painting, so I couldn't resist coming to see. I've loved art since I was a child."

She craned her neck to look at Zhang Dabiao's sketchbook, her head tilting forward in a somewhat ambiguous manner.

Zhang Dabiao scoffed at this—"If you're so capable, why don't you push the granary up here? What's the point of just leaning your head over like that?"

Are you using steamed buns to test your cadres?

No, her granary is even more barren than He Yushui's. If we marry her, our children will really never have enough to eat.

"Da Biao, what did you draw? The lines are so smooth, it looks very profound."

Zhang Dabiao slammed his sketchbook shut and tossed it onto the coffee table with a "thud".

"A cross-sectional view of the gearbox gears in a tractor engine. What can you glean from it?"

Zhang Dabiao was truly impressed by this girl. "I drew a gear and you think I have depth?"

You can easily flatter me and lie through your teeth, but I feel guilty!

Come on, come on, explain to me what the meaning of "ta ma" is.

Yu Haitang choked for a moment.

His face froze for a moment, but he quickly regained his worshipful (fawning) smile, even deliberately blinking his eyelashes.

"Da Biao, you're really good at joking."

She bit her lip, feigning a pitiful look, and lowered her voice, sounding somewhat aggrieved.

"Actually, I came here today because I have a personal matter I'd like to ask for your help with. I graduated from high school a year and a half ago, and I still haven't found a suitable job."

"Da Biao, you know so many high-ranking leaders, and you're an official in the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Could you put in a good word for me with the factory or the newspaper? As long as I can get in, I'll definitely work hard and won't let you down."

After she finished speaking, she raised her eyes and looked at Zhang Dabiao with watery eyes.

Zhang Dabiao picked up his teacup and took a sip. The tea was a bit too strong, and the bitterness made him frown. He slowly put down the cup and looked at her.

"You graduated from high school?"

"Mmm." Yu Haitang nodded quickly, her eyes lighting up.

What skills have you learned?

"what?"

"Can you draw? Are you skilled in metalworking? Or can you repair machines?"

Yu Haitang was stunned and opened her mouth.

"I...I don't know any of these. But I have a nice voice. I was the station manager of the school's broadcasting station. I can work as an announcer in a factory."

Zhang Dabiao chuckled.

He put the teacup on the table, leaned back in the recliner, crossed his legs, and gave an expression that screamed, "Are you still half asleep, kid?"

"Is your voice pleasant?"

"There are plenty of people with nice voices. Even the candied hawthorn vendor on Qianmen Street has a nice voice. Could you give him a proper job?"

He glanced at Yu Haitang with disdain, paused, and then added a sentence.

"Let me tell you, when it comes to finding a job, it depends on your skills. If you have no skills, no connections, and no background, and you just want to be a manager at a big company—do you think I own that company?"

Yu Haitang's face flushed bright red instantly, from the base of her neck all the way to the tips of her ears.

She suddenly stood up, causing the small round stool to tilt backward and almost tip over.

"Zhang Dabiao! How dare you talk to me like that! If you don't want to help, fine, but why are you insulting me!"

Zhang Dabiao picked at his ear and blew on his little finger.

"How did I insult you? I'm just stating the facts. You want to be a broadcaster right off the bat? Okay, let's say you, Yu Haitang, might be able to become a broadcaster in the future, but I can't do that. I don't have that ability."

"You should find someone else; go find whoever you like."

Yu Haitang was so angry that she trembled all over, her eyes were red, and her lips trembled so much that she couldn't speak.

Just then, Yu Li rushed in from outside, grabbed Yu Haitang's arm, and pulled her so hard that she stumbled.

"Haitang! Why are you running around like that! Didn't I tell you to wait for me in the front yard?"

Yu Li turned to Zhang Dabiao with a forced smile, her expression a mixture of embarrassment and nervousness.

"Da Biao, don't take it to heart. This girl is spoiled by her family and doesn't know any manners. I'll take her away now, you go about your business."

As he spoke, he dragged Yu Haitang out of the east courtyard.

Yu Haitang wanted to say something, but Yu Li glared at her and shut her up. The two disappeared outside the wooden gate of the side room.

The two sisters started arguing before they had gone more than a few steps.

Zhang Dabiao shook his head helplessly. Oh well, he wouldn't stoop to their level.

------------

Late November.

The cold wind felt like knives, stinging my face.

But the hearts of the people in Beijing were burning with fervor.

News that shocked the world came from India—our border troops swept through the land, reaching a point only 300 kilometers from the Indian capital. On a map, that's about a hand's length away.

Just one more push forward and we'd be at their lair.

The common people were discussing it heatedly in private. Some said they should just take it all in one go and flatten it, while others said they should teach them a lesson.

The outcome was right at this critical juncture—

We unilaterally announced a ceasefire and withdrew 20 kilometers.

When this news came out, not only were the Indians stunned, but the whole world was stunned.

I've never seen this kind of fighting before: they pinned you to the ground, beat you black and blue, then dusted themselves off and left, even retreating twenty kilometers away.

What's this called?

This is called the demeanor of a great power.

It is also called killing someone by destroying their spirit.

What does it mean to kill someone by destroying their spirit? It means that even if I beat you up, you still have to thank me for not killing you.

The courtyard at No. 95 was in complete uproar.

Everyone now admires Zhang Dabiao immensely—what did Zhang Dabiao say before? "Crush everything in its path, and we'll reach the outskirts of the capital." And it all came true! Although they didn't completely raze the city, the effect was even more shocking than if they had actually razed it.

Xu Damao told everyone he met, "Did you hear that? Da Biao said we'd take their capital! Even if we didn't make it, we don't care!"

Sha Zhu, tossing a ladle in the kitchen, couldn't help but mutter, "Is Zhang Dabiao's mouth blessed?"

After Liu Guangqi and others got off work, they surrounded Zhang Dabiao and asked him to explain why our country doesn't just attack the capital.

Liu Guangqi mentioned it, and then the whole courtyard was in an uproar. Sha Zhu stopped cooking!

As soon as the fire in the stove was extinguished, everyone rushed out, and the courtyard was soon surrounded, just like a regular meeting.

When Zhang Dabiao saw this, he couldn't even walk straight. Even Qin Jingru, Mu Wanqing, and He Yushui gathered around him.

have to……

Then start spouting nonsense.

"Hey, I told you long ago, you have to see beyond the surface to the essence of international affairs."

Zhang Dabiao stuck his cigarette butt into the ground, crossed his legs, and put on his "I've seen through this all along" attitude again.

Sha Zhu quickly served tea, Liu Guangqi offered cigarettes, Yan Jiecheng lit cigarettes, and Xu Damao brought out some snacks—each person served them with practiced skill.

Zhang Dabiao took a sip of tea, cleared his throat, and said, "Do you all think that we've already fought our way to within 300 kilometers of the Indian capital, and that we can just step on the gas and be in New Delhi eating curry? Why don't we go in? Are you stupid?"

He glanced at the crowd gathered in the courtyard: Xu Damao, Shazhu, Liu Guangqi, Yan Jiecheng, and even He Yushui, who usually didn't like to join in the fun, were all listening intently.

"Come on, let me explain. There are plenty of reasons not to fight. I'll pick a few that you can understand."

Zhang Dabiao held up three fingers.

Article 1: Logistics is no joke; we really can't afford to provide it anymore.