Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

The argument between the Yan father and son about "goodwill" ultimately ended in a complete victory for Yan Bugui. As evening fell and darkness descended, wisps of smoke rose from the courtyard, carrying the aroma of stewed meat—the factory had distributed welfare benefits, and some nimble families were already improving their meals. Yan Bugui carefully wrapped the precious packet of tea dust in old newspaper, then reluctantly pulled out a few small bills from deep within the cupboard, counting them repeatedly before finally deciding to go to the cooperative and buy two ounces of the crispiest-looking peach shortbread. He tied it carefully with string, carried it in his hand, and felt that this "goodwill" finally looked presentable.

"Jie Cheng! Let's go!" Yan Bugui shouted into the house.

Yan Jiecheng dawdled out, looking reluctant: "Dad, are we really going? It'll be so embarrassing..."

"What's so embarrassing? It's the thought that counts! Engineer Wang has seen the world, would he laugh at something like this? That's the attitude we need! Let's go!" Without another word, Yan Bugui grabbed his son's arm and dragged him toward the front yard. Yan Jiecheng couldn't break free and could only follow along, feeling ashamed and embarrassed, as if the neighbors' gazes were needles pricking his back.

At the entrance of the west courtyard, Yan Bugui straightened the collar of his faded Zhongshan suit, put on a humble yet warm smile, and gently knocked on the courtyard gate that looked particularly grand in the twilight.

"Engineer Wang! Is Engineer Wang home?" His voice was low, with just the right amount of respect.

A moment later, the door creaked open. Wang Huanbo stood in the doorway, the light shining from behind him outlining his tall figure. He saw that it was Yan Bugui and his son, especially Yan Jiecheng, who looked like he wanted to disappear into the ground. He already knew what was going on.

"Teacher Yan? It's so late, is something the matter?" Wang Huanbo asked calmly.

"Oh, Engineer Wang!" Yan Bugui quickly stepped forward, handing over the things in his hands, his face beaming with joy. "I heard you were on holiday, and Jiecheng has been thinking about it! He insisted that he had received a lot of help from you at the factory and had to drag me here to express his gratitude! Here, I have some tea leaves from home and some peach shortbread that my wife insisted on buying. It's just a small token of my appreciation, please don't mind! It's just a little something!" As he spoke, he subtly nudged Yan Jiecheng behind him with his elbow.

Yan Jiecheng's face flushed crimson, his head drooped even lower, and he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet, wishing he could disappear on the spot. He felt that his father's words were hypocritical and embarrassing; what did those tea leaves and peach crisps mean to Engineer Wang?

Wang Huanbo was a man of great stature; he saw through Yan Bugui's scheming and Yan Jiecheng's predicament perfectly. He didn't like this kind of blatant flattery, but he also didn't want to embarrass the young Yan Jiecheng too much. His gaze swept over Yan Jiecheng, seeing the humiliation and helplessness in the young man's eyes, and he sighed inwardly. So, he reached out and accepted the package of "goodwill," a faint, perfectly timed smile on his face: "Teacher Yan, you're too kind. I've met Jiecheng at the factory; he's hardworking and reliable, a promising talent. With skills, as long as you're willing to delve into them, there's always a chance to succeed. I appreciate your kindness, and I'll accept the gift. Thank you. Encouraging Jiecheng to work hard in the future is the best way to thank me."

This statement both accepted the gift and saved face for the other party, while also subtly pointing out Yan Jiecheng's shortcomings and bringing the focus back to the right track.

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui was overjoyed. Not only had Engineer Wang accepted the gift, but he had also praised his son! He hurriedly nodded and bowed, "Oh! Certainly! Engineer Wang, don't worry, I will definitely urge him to do a good job and live up to your expectations! Well... you're busy, you're busy! We won't disturb your rest any longer!" After saying this, he pulled the overjoyed Yan Jiecheng away, thanking him profusely.

On the way back, Yan Jiecheng shook off his father's hand and complained, "Dad! Did you see that? Engineer Wang didn't care about that little thing at all! You insisted I go, it was so embarrassing!"

"You don't know anything!" Yan Bugui glared at him, but his face was full of smugness. "What hasn't Engineer Wang seen? Does he care about the product? He cares about our attitude! When the courtesy is there, the sentiment is there! This is called 'investing in relationships'! In the future, when will Engineer Wang not think of us when there are any good things in the factory? When will you finally see the light in the sky!" He walked with his hands behind his back, taking light steps, as if he could already see his son's bright future.

Looking at his father's calculating back, Yan Jiecheng felt a sense of powerlessness and increasingly felt that this family was suffocating.

Meanwhile, at Liu Haizhong's home in the Intermediate People's Court, the scene was quite different. The atmosphere at the dinner table was oppressively tense. On the table sat a plate of stir-fried cabbage, a dish of pickled vegetables, and several cornbread buns mixed with cornmeal. Liu Haizhong, his face grim, ate a few bites of food, growing angrier with each passing thought. The aroma of meat wafting from the courtyard, the faint sounds of laughter and conversation coming from next door (he always felt it was the west wing mocking him), and especially the scene of the factory distributing exorbitant benefits and the workers shouting "Long live Engineer Wang!" earlier that day, gnawed at his heart like venomous snakes.

He slammed his chopsticks on the table with a "bang," startling Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu.

Liu Guangqi ate silently, not daring to speak. Liu Haizhong grew angrier and angrier, and then vented his anger on Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, complaining that they smacked their lips while eating and were unruly. He almost started to hit them again, but his second aunt stopped him.

Liu Guangqi watched this scene, his heart turning to ice. He hurriedly finished his meal, retreated to the small room he shared with his underlings, and pulled out the photo of his female classmate from under his pillow, his eyes resolute. He had to get married as soon as possible and leave this house! He even began to plan where to put the tin box that held the money in the house, in case… A dangerous thought began to sprout in his mind.

The thought sprouted wildly like weeds. He had recently become close to this female classmate; although she was of average appearance, her father was a minor official in the district, and her family was well-off. This might be his only chance to escape this quagmire. A dangerous plan took shape in his mind: the tin box containing money and important documents was on the top shelf of the wardrobe in his parents' room… When the time came… A struggle flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly overwhelmed by a strong will to survive and a desire to escape.

In the backyard, after helping the deaf old woman to bed, the woman quietly closed the door and returned to her quiet little room. The lights were off; only the cold moonlight streamed in through the window, casting dappled shadows on the floor. She groped her way to sit on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), gazed at the dark night sky outside, and sighed softly.

After Yi Zhonghai's accident, she became even more invisible in the compound. Although Wang Huanbo, out of old affection, often looked after her, and the deaf old lady relied on her, in the quiet of the night, a wave of loneliness washed over her. She subconsciously touched her flat stomach, where a faint hope had once lingered, but it had been completely destroyed by her husband, who was obsessed with finding someone to care for him in his old age and ultimately went mad, robbing her of her right to be a mother. After they moved into separate rooms, they became like strangers. Now, caring for the old lady was her only solace, but even this solace couldn't fill the enormous emptiness in her heart. Listening to the faint noises coming from the middle courtyard, she felt utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally. Life in this compound was like this dark night—long and cold.

In the west courtyard, Wang Huanbo stood at the gate, not immediately returning. His hearing was far superior to that of ordinary people; the sounds of Liu Haizhong's beatings, curses, and cries from the central courtyard, though some distance away, reached him clearly. He frowned slightly, disgusted by Liu Haizhong's behavior and feeling a touch of sympathy for the Liu brothers' plight, but he knew that even an upright official couldn't settle family disputes, especially in such a large, crowded courtyard; rashly intervening would not be wise. He watched the backs of Yan Bugui and his son disappear through the passageway and shook his head. Old Yan's shrewd calculations, Liu Haizhong's impotent rage, the old woman's forbearance and loneliness, Liu Guangqi's suppressed rebellion… this small courtyard house encapsulated the myriad aspects of life.

He looked up at the deep night sky, dotted with stars. The unusual radio signal Pangu had reported earlier lingered in his mind like a dark cloud. His vacation wouldn't remain peaceful forever. Enemies lurking in the shadows, the trivial matters in the courtyard, technical challenges, future obstacles… a thousand things required his calm attention. He took a deep breath of the crisp air, his gaze regaining its usual composure and depth. He turned and gently closed the courtyard gate, temporarily shutting out the turmoil outside. His battle had never ceased, only taken a different form.