Siheyuan (courtyard house): My father, Li Yunlong!

His words were impeccable, explaining the difficulties, highlighting his continuous efforts and achievements, and emphasizing the principle of prioritizing key areas, leaving no room for criticism.

This contrasted sharply with Li Huaide's helplessness.

Li Huaide listened, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He knew that Li Zhenhua's "brother unit and cooperation channels" were probably due to Li Yunlong's old connections in the army, or other unknown secret channels.

This made him both jealous and resentful, yet he was helpless.

The last anonymous letter scandal, which led to the downfall of Wang Dashan, Gao Jianshe, and others, made him fully realize the unfathomable depth of Li Zhenhua's background and the ruthlessness of his methods, so he dared not provoke him again.

But right now the pressure at the factory is too great. If he, as the department head, can't solve the problem completely, he might not be able to keep his position.

After the meeting, Li Huaide, steeling himself, caught up with Li Zhenhua, who was about to leave the meeting room.

"Comrade Zhenhua, wait a moment, shall we chat for a bit?"

Li Huaide forced a smile.

Li Zhenhua stopped in his tracks, his expression calm.

"Director Li, what's the matter?"

Li Huaide pulled Li Zhenhua to a corner of the corridor, lowered his voice, and spoke with unprecedented earnestness, even a hint of pleading.

"Zhenhua, I know there were some misunderstandings at work before. I might be a bit... well, let bygones be bygones. Right now, the factory is facing a difficult situation, and we need to work together to get through it. You have connections and strong relationships, could you... could you lend me a hand? Helping the factory is helping everyone, could you get some more food? Just let me know if you need any support!"

This was the first time Li Huaide had humbled himself in front of Li Zhenhua, almost surrendering.

He thought that even if Li Zhenhua didn't care about their colleague relationship, he should at least consider the overall situation.

However, Li Zhenhua merely glanced at him indifferently, his eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.

"Director Li, you flatter me. Procurement is my duty, and I will do my best. However, as you know, grain is a strategic resource and is subject to extremely strict control. My limited channels are just a drop in the ocean, and they carry significant policy risks. As for anything else, there's nothing I can do. As the head of this department, you should report the difficulties to the higher authorities and seek their support."

These words, polite yet distant, directly rejected Li Huaide's request and conveniently passed the buck back to him, the division chief.

Li Huaide's face flushed red and then turned pale, realizing that Li Zhenhua had no intention of helping him at all and wouldn't even give him the slightest bit of face.

He gave an awkward laugh, unable to say anything more. Watching Li Zhenhua's tall, retreating figure, a feeling of utter powerlessness and icy chill welled up inside him.

He understood that he had been left far behind by this young man in the logistics department, and even in the entire steel rolling mill, and was almost no longer qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

The factory's predicament quickly spread to the residential area.

Life in the courtyard house was even more unbearable.

The grain rations supplied by the grain depots were reduced again, and most of the grains were old, coarse, and harsh grains; fine grains became a luxury.

Meat, eggs, and oil have almost completely disappeared.

The chimneys of every household were emitting smoke for shorter periods of time, and the colors on the dining tables were pitifully monotonous.

The adults looked pale and sickly, the children were crying loudly from hunger, and the whole courtyard was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.

At Yi Zhonghai's home, dinner consisted of a small pot of thin porridge with so few grains of rice that you could count them, served with a small dish of pickled vegetables.

An older woman looked at the bland, watery food on the table and sighed.

"How are we going to live like this...sigh!"

She glanced at Yi Zhonghai halfway through her sentence and didn't continue.

Since being removed from his post, Yi Zhonghai has become even more taciturn, and his eyes have become much more gloomy.

Yi Zhonghai kept his head down, drinking his porridge, as if he hadn't heard anything.

But the way he gripped the chopsticks tightly betrayed his inner turmoil.

He knew that the way people in the courtyard looked at him now, besides the less awe they used to have, was more like they were laughing at him.

All of this is thanks to Li Zhenhua.

Liu Haizhong's family wasn't much better off. Second Uncle (though he was practically dead, that's what the people in the courtyard still called him in private) watched the boys wolfing down their porridge and felt worried.

"You little brat, you've eaten your father out of house and home. How can this little bit of food be enough?"

His protruding belly seemed to have shrunk a bit.

Yan Bugui took scheming to the extreme, distributing grain with a small scale every day, wishing he could split every grain in half to eat. But even the most skillful cook can't cook without rice; no matter how shrewd he was, it was all for naught if no grain came in.

Sha Zhu works in the cafeteria, which gives him an advantage. He can occasionally bring back some leftovers, but only for himself and He Yushui. At most, he can secretly help Qin Huairu's family.

Faced with the entire hospital's food crisis, his meager earnings were but a drop in the ocean.

Qin Huairu was even more anxious.

She had just established herself at the factory and dared not touch her pension, relying on her salary and the meager food rations from the factory to support her three children.

Food is scarce right now, and the young children, Banggeng and Huaihua, are growing rapidly. Xiaodang and Huaihua are constantly complaining of hunger, which breaks her heart.

She secretly went to see Li Zhenhua once. Li Zhenhua just told her to focus on her work and that the factory would try its best to ensure the basic living needs of its employees, but he didn't give any clear promises.

She dared not ask any more questions and could only place her hopes on this unfathomable man.

Xu Damao frantically tried to smuggle some grain from the movie theaters in the countryside, but this year the countryside was even more difficult than the city. He made several trips, but returned empty-handed and even lost money on his travel expenses, which made him so distressed that he cursed.

With food supplies running out, a sense of panic spread through the courtyard.

That evening, after dinner, without anyone calling them, a large number of people gathered at the Intermediate People's Court.

Everyone spontaneously gathered together, and they were all discussing the same topic—food.

"This can't go on. The adults can manage, but what about the children?"

"Yeah, what can the grain station possibly do with that little bit of grain? What's the price on the black market now? Maybe... we should go take a look?"

"The black market? I went there the day before yesterday, and it was ridiculously expensive! Plus, there wasn't much food for sale at all! You couldn't buy any even if you had the money!"

"Alas, in these days, having ration coupons without food, or food without coupons, is all for naught!"

A cacophony of voices filled the air, and a pall of gloom hung in the sky.

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui were also in the crowd, but no one regarded them as the backbone anymore.

Yi Zhonghai remained silent with a gloomy face. Liu Haizhong wanted to show off his official authority, but seeing everyone's hungry eyes, he swallowed his words.

Yan Bugui, on the other hand, weighed the risks and benefits of going to the black market and ultimately decided it wasn't worth it.

At this moment, someone turned their gaze toward the moon gate in the backyard and whispered something.

"Speaking of grain...don't we have a capable person in our compound?"

One sentence, like a drop of water falling into a scalding oil pan, instantly silenced the noisy discussion.

All eyes turned in the same direction—to Li Zhenhua's house.

Yes!

How could I forget him!

Li Zhenhua!

Deputy Director of the Logistics Department of the Steel Rolling Mill!

Even the factory could get its own supplies and food; for him, it was a piece of cake.

Once this idea takes hold, it grows wildly in everyone's heart like weeds.

A complex light flashed in Yi Zhonghai's cloudy eyes. He cleared his throat and finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Zhenhua...it's true he's a deputy director, but grain is a state-controlled commodity. Even if he has a way, it's for the factory, it's public property. It's not appropriate to bother him with our department's affairs, is it? Besides, there's no grain on the black market, where is he supposed to get it?"

His words, seemingly out of consideration for Li Zhenhua, were actually a way to provoke conflict, implying that Li Zhenhua had a solution but might be unwilling to help.

Liu Haizhong immediately chimed in.

"Old Yi, what's wrong with what you're saying? He's a cadre, and aren't cadres supposed to serve the people? Our neighbors in the compound are starving to death, can Li Zhenhua just stand by and watch them die? I think he'll be the one to do it!"

Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses and said slowly.

"That's true, but the grain... has to be from a legitimate source. We don't want our good intentions to backfire and implicate Zhenhua."

His words, seemingly expressing concern, actually raised the issue of the "source" of the grain, implying that Li Zhenhua might be trying to obtain the grain through irregular channels.

Sha Zhu couldn't hold it in any longer and shouted.

"What's the point of you all making wild guesses? When Zhenhua gets back, we can just ask him directly, right? I believe Zhenhua isn't the kind of person who would stand by and watch his neighbors go hungry!"

He now feels both fear and respect for Li Zhenhua, but he is even more worried about Qin Huairu's family going hungry.

Xu Damao said in a sarcastic tone.

"Hey, you silly Zhu, you're speaking up for Li Zhenhua now? Don't forget, he's a high-ranking official now. Whether he still cares about us old neighbors is another matter!"

Qin Huairu lowered her head, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her heart filled with conflicting emotions.

She hoped that Li Zhenhua would be able to help everyone, but she was also afraid that this matter would cause trouble for Li Zhenhua, and even more afraid that if Li Zhenhua refused, it would be even more difficult for her to be treated in the hospital.

The crowd chimed in, and although there was no one to lead them, their opinions gradually converged: no matter what, they had to ask Li Zhenhua to help them get grain! This was the only way for everyone in the hospital to survive!

An invisible pressure gathered in the courtyard as night fell, its target fixed on Li Zhenhua, who had not yet returned home.

Everyone tacitly agreed to wait for him to return at the Intermediate People's Court tonight.

It was past 8 p.m. when Li Zhenhua pushed his bicycle through the gate of the courtyard house.

After processing some backlogged documents at the factory, he went to the warehouse area to check on the status of the newly arrived batch of labor protection supplies before leaving get off work.

The summer nights were still sweltering, but compared to the scorching heat of the day, there was at least a touch of coolness.

However, as soon as he stepped into the front yard, he sensed an unusual atmosphere.

The courtyard was quiet, but it wasn't the usual tranquility before bedtime; rather, it was a repressive silence, filled with anticipation and anxiety.

When the courtyard came into view, Li Zhenhua understood.

Under the moonlight and the faint light shining from the windows of each house, a dark mass of people gathered in the open space of the central courtyard.

Almost every household in the compound had someone present, men, women, young and old, standing, sitting, or leaning against the door frame. All eyes were focused on him like searchlights.

No one spoke, but that silent gaze was more oppressive than any commotion.

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, and other older generation members stood at the front, their expressions complex.

Sha Zhu stood with his neck stiff, his eyes filled with pleading and a hint of defiance.

Xu Damao hid behind someone, his eyes darting around.

Qin Huairu held onto the stick, head down, not daring to look at him.

The children stared with bewildered and hungry eyes at "Uncle Li," who usually frightened them.

Li Zhenhua paused, but his face showed no surprise.

He had long anticipated this day would come.

With the food crisis worsening and the people in the courtyard having nowhere else to turn, they would inevitably see him as their last lifeline.

He pushed his bike slowly to the moon gate, propped it up, and then turned around, his gaze calmly sweeping over the entire area.

"Neighbors, what brings you all here so late?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the courtyard, carrying an undeniable calmness.

The crowd stirred slightly, exchanging glances. Finally, Liu Haizhong couldn't resist any longer. He puffed out his belly, forced a fawning smile, and stepped forward.

"Well... Zhenhua, you're back. Everyone... everyone's been waiting for you for ages."

"wait for me?"

Li Zhenhua raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Master Liu, is something the matter?"

Yi Zhonghai sighed, then took over the conversation, his tone deliberately heavy and carrying the implication of "speaking out for the people."

"Zhenhua, it's not that we want to bother you. It's just...we have no other choice. As you've seen, this year's harvest...every family is almost starving. The adults can manage, but the children...sigh!" He pointed to the emaciated children, "If this continues, people will die!"

His words immediately resonated with many.

The women began to sob softly, and the men sighed.

"Yes, Director Li, please have mercy and help everyone!"

"You're a high-ranking official, you have ways of handling things. A little leakage between your fingers is enough to save our lives!"

"We kowtow to you!"

The crowd became agitated, pleading in unison, with some even making a move to kneel down.

"Quiet down, everyone!"

Li Zhenhua suddenly raised his voice, which, though not loud, carried a cold, authoritative tone that instantly silenced all the noise. He looked sharply at the few people who wanted to kneel.

"This is a new society, we don't do that anymore! If you have something to say, stand up and say it!"

When his gaze swept over them, their legs went weak, and instead of kneeling down, they stood up straight, looking embarrassed.

Li Zhenhua looked around at everyone, his tone softening slightly, but still carrying a sense of detachment.

"I understand your difficulties. The factory is also facing difficulties right now. Grain is a state-purchased and state-distributed commodity, subject to strict planning and discipline. I am not the director of the grain bureau, nor am I a god; I cannot conjure grain."

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads. Disappointment and despair immediately appeared on their faces.

Yi Zhonghai hurriedly said.

"Zhenhua, we know you're in trouble. But... but you're not an ordinary person! The factory is so difficult, yet you still managed to get things. These few people in the yard... it's definitely not a problem for you! Please have some mercy and show everyone a way to survive!" His words seemed to be praising Li Zhenhua, but in reality, they were a form of moral blackmail.

Li Zhenhua sneered inwardly; he saw right through Yi Zhonghai's tricks.

He did not answer immediately, but remained silent, his gaze slowly sweeping over each face filled with longing and anxiety.

He was waiting, waiting for this feeling of despair to ferment to its peak.