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

As night deepened, the jeep drove into the heavily guarded compound. All around was quiet, with only the soft rustling of wheels on the road and the faint commands of sentries changing shifts in the distance.

Lin Taotao seemed to sense something unusual beneath Li Zhenhua's calm exterior. She gently squeezed his hand and whispered.

"If my dad asks anything that's hard to answer, just dodge it, and I'll smooth things over for you."

Li Zhenhua felt a warmth in his heart, took her slightly cool fingers in his hand, and nodded.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. It's mainly some macro-level issues that I'd like to hear Uncle Lin's insights on."

The car stopped in front of the Lin family's small building.

This is a detached two-story house with a simple exterior, but its location and surrounding security measures clearly indicate the owner's status.

Lin Taotao took out her key and opened the door. Only one wall lamp was lit in the living room, casting a soft light.

"Mom, we're back."

Lin Taotao called softly.

Lin's mother came out from the inner room, saw Li Zhenhua, and a kind smile appeared on her face.

"Zhenhua's here, please have a seat. Old Lin is in the study; he just said he had a headache from looking at all the documents today."

"Hello, Auntie."

Li Zhenhua greeted him respectfully.

"I'm so sorry to bother you so late."

"It's alright, it's alright. You young people should focus on your important business."

Lin's mother looked Li Zhenhua up and down, becoming more and more satisfied with him.

"Tao Tao, go pour Zhenhua a cup of tea. The tea leaves in Old Lin's study are almost gone, so please add some fresh ones while you're at it."

Lin Taotao responded and skillfully went to brew tea.

Li Zhenhua followed Lin's mother's directions and headed towards the study.

After knocking and receiving permission, he pushed the door open and entered.

The study is very large, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on all four walls, filled with all kinds of books.

The air was filled with the distinctive smells of tobacco and old books.

Lin Jingyue was sitting behind a large desk, wearing reading glasses, reviewing a document.

He was wearing a slightly worn gray Zhongshan suit, with the collar unbuttoned, looking somewhat casual, but the imposing aura between his brows made no one dare to underestimate him.

"Uncle Lin."

Li Zhenhua stopped and respectfully greeted him.

Lin Jingyue looked up, took off his reading glasses, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Zhenhua is here, please have a seat."

He pointed to the chair opposite the desk.

"Tao Tao said you have work-related issues you want to discuss with me?"

"Yes, I have some questions about the current allocation of resources and the future industrial layout, and I would like to ask Uncle Lin for advice."

Li Zhenhua sat down as instructed, his back ramrod straight.

At this moment, Lin Taotao came in with a tea tray, placed two cups of hot tea in front of her father and Li Zhenhua respectively, and then quietly gave Li Zhenhua an encouraging look before quietly leaving and closing the door behind her.

Lin Jingyue picked up the cigarette pack on the table, took out a "Chunghwa" cigarette, but did not light it immediately. Instead, he habitually paused on the table, and then, to Li Zhenhua's surprise, handed the cigarette over.

"Want one?"

Li Zhenhua does smoke occasionally, especially when under pressure or needing to think, but he always maintains the restraint of a junior in front of Lin Jingyue.

When Lin Jingyue offered him a cigarette, he was slightly surprised, and then felt flattered.

This seemingly casual gesture actually conveys a sense of recognition and closeness, signaling that he is considered "one of our own" with whom we can have an equal dialogue.

"Thank you, Uncle Lin."

Li Zhenhua accepted the cigarettes with both hands without hesitation, his movements slightly restrained but not inappropriate.

Lin Jingyue took out a match for himself, and Li Zhenhua, seeing this, quickly picked up a match from the table, struck it with a "snap," lit it for Lin Jingyue first, and then lit it for himself.

He smoked very steadily, not rushing to inhale or exhale, but letting the smoke linger in his mouth for a moment before slowly exhaling, showing great restraint.

Lin Jingyue took a drag of his cigarette, looking at Li Zhenhua through the wisps of smoke with a deep gaze.

"You've been making quite a stir lately."

Li Zhenhua's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the main topic was about to be discussed, and he humbly replied.

"These are all part of my job duties; my main goal is to solve some practical difficulties for the factory and its employees."

"Job duties?"

Lin Jingyue gave a soft hum, his tone neither praising nor criticizing.

"Your 'assigned task' has solved the urgent problems of many people. Thousands of tons of grain were produced on demand, and they were all high-quality grain. There were also special steels, precision parts... Even those old guys in the Ministry of Industry are praising you to the skies."

Li Zhenhua remained silent and listened quietly.

He knew that Lin Jingyue hadn't finished speaking.

"Your methods for doing things through the Lou family are relatively clean."

Lin Jingyue flicked his cigarette ash, his tone calm, yet it sent a chill down Li Zhenhua's spine. Sure enough, nothing could escape this man's eyes.

"Lou Bancheng is a smart man; he knows who to rely on now. Using him is making the best use of his talents. However, you must be careful not to overstep the mark. You can use that connection, but you can't depend on it, and you certainly can't let it turn against you."

"Yes, Uncle Lin, I understand. The Lou family is just one of the channels, and it's completely within our control."

Li Zhenhua quickly expressed his opinion.

Lin Jingyue nodded, seemingly satisfied with his answer, and then changed the subject.

"What you've done has been noticed by the higher-ups. The country is facing difficulties right now, and all industries need to be rebuilt. The supplies you provided, especially the food, have stabilized the situation in key departments and regions. This is a great achievement. A few days ago, at a small meeting, the top leader specifically mentioned your name, saying, 'There's a young man named Li Zhenhua at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. He's very capable and a real talent.'"

Although Li Zhenhua was mentally prepared, knowing that his recent actions would inevitably attract the attention of the higher-ups, his heart still couldn't help but skip a few beats when he heard that the "big boss" knew about him, and a surge of heat ran through his body.

This is not just praise, but also an invisible "protective charm" and huge political capital.

He forcefully suppressed his excitement and spoke in an even more humble tone.

"This... I really don't deserve it. I only did a little bit of work, and it was all thanks to the support of the superiors and the hard work of my colleagues."

"No need to be overly modest."

Lin Jingyue waved his hand.

"A merit is a merit. It's good that you can remain calm and composed at such a young age. However, the taller the tree, the more the wind will blow against it. Now that you're in the spotlight, you need to be even more careful with your words and actions, and take every step with caution. Many people are watching you; some admire you, and naturally, some are envious."

"Thank you for your guidance, Uncle Lin. I will keep it in mind."

Li Zhenhua solemnly replied.

He knew that Lin Jingyue was giving him pointers, and it was also a sign of concern from his future father-in-law.

There was a moment of silence in the study, broken only by the faint hissing of burning cigarettes.

Li Zhenhua knew that the time was almost right.

He took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and spoke.

"Uncle Lin, actually, besides asking for advice on work, I also have a personal matter I'd like to ask you about today."

"Oh? A personal matter?"

Lin Jingyue raised his eyelids, seemingly somewhat surprised.

"Tell me about it."

Li Zhenhua organized his thoughts, trying to make his tone sound like a junior asking an elder about an old friend, rather than an inquiry with a specific purpose.

"He's an old comrade-in-arms of my father, and also an elder of mine, named Ding Wei. We lost contact with him not long ago. My father and Uncle Kong Jie have been very worried about him, but they haven't been able to find out anything definite. They only know that he might... might have made a mistake on some issues. I wonder if you... have heard anything about him, Uncle Lin?"

When Li Zhenhua uttered the name "Ding Wei," Lin Jingyue's fingers, which were holding a cigarette, paused almost imperceptibly.

He gave Li Zhenhua a deep look, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, as if trying to pierce through his heart.

Li Zhenhua met his gaze calmly, his eyes clear, carrying just the right amount of worry and expectation.

After a long while, Lin Jingyue slowly stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and let out a barely audible sigh.

"Ding Wei... I know this guy. He's a great fighter, just like your father and Kong Erlengzi, all of them were tough guys from the army. It's a pity, though, that he's too straightforward, too stubborn, and inflexible. He doesn't know how to be tactful or read people's expressions."

He paused, as if recalling something, or perhaps carefully choosing his words.

"He... made some inappropriate remarks on some key issues, and his tough stance offended quite a few people. The specifics are complicated and involve internal review. Later... he was sent for 'learning and training'."

Li Zhenhua's heart skipped a beat, and he asked cautiously.

"So what about him now...?"

Lin Jingyue pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.

"The person is still alive. Currently, they are on a farm deep in the Dabie Mountains. It's nominally a 'sent-down for training,' but in reality... they're just farming. The conditions are quite harsh, but their personal safety is not in immediate danger."

Although Li Zhenhua had already guessed, based on his vague memories of his previous life and the current situation, that Ding Wei's situation was not good and that he was likely to be sent to a labor camp, hearing it confirmed by Lin Jingyue himself, especially the words "deep in the Dabie Mountains," "farming," and "harsh conditions," still made him feel a little heavy-hearted.

He could imagine how agonizing this life of "facing the loess soil and turning his back to the sky" must have been for a proud and ambitious general like Ding Wei, who had once fought on the battlefield.

However, the words "his personal safety is not in danger" brought him a slight sense of relief. As long as he was alive, there was hope.

He nodded, a look of solemnity and regret appearing on his face at the opportune moment.

"So that's how it is... The Dabie Mountains... are indeed harsh. My father and Uncle Kong would be even more worried if they knew."

He did not make any requests immediately, but only expressed concern for the elders' situation.

This restraint and "sensibleness" actually made Lin Jingyue think more highly of him.

Silence fell in the study once more. Lin Jingyue's fingers tapped unconsciously on the table, making a rhythmic, soft sound.

Who is he? It is no coincidence that Li Zhenhua suddenly visited tonight and "coincidentally" asked about Ding Wei.

It's true that Li Yunlong and Kong Jie care about their old comrade-in-arms, but the fact that they sent Li Zhenhua to inquire suggests a deeper consideration behind it, likely an attempt to test the waters for any possibility of a reversal.

Li Zhenhua's composure in not directly asking for help demonstrates his maturity.

Looking at the young man in front of him, Lin Jingyue admired Li Zhenhua's abilities and skills, and valued his relationship with his daughter even more.

Li Zhenhua is now the undisputed son-in-law of the Lin family and a rising star in his political camp.

Both for his own sake and for his own personal reasons, he could not completely ignore this young man's "personal matter," which was the first time he had asked for a favor.

Moreover, the supplies Li Zhenhua provided recently have indeed been a great help to his system, and it is only right and proper that he should be given something in return.

After a moment of contemplation, Lin Jingyue seemed to have made up his mind. He picked up a cigarette again, but did not light it. He just held it in his hand and played with it before speaking.

"Ding Wei's problem is a legacy issue, and it's not a minor one. However, quite a long time has passed, and he himself has been punished. Now, the situation in all aspects is improving, and some issues can be addressed a bit more."

Li Zhenhua's heart raced slightly, knowing the crucial words were about to come. He held his breath and listened intently.

"How about this?"

Lin Jingyue looked at him, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable power.

"Considering the deep bond between you and your son, and the fact that you recently resolved a major problem, I can look into it. Try to arrange for him to retire on medical grounds that he is no longer fit to engage in heavy physical labor. That way, he can leave the farm and return to his hometown or stay with relatives and friends."

Recover from illness! Back to the city!

A huge weight was lifted off Li Zhenhua's shoulders!

This is even better than the best outcome he had anticipated!

He originally only hoped to improve Ding Wei's treatment at the farm, or to give Li Yunlong and Kong Jie a chance to visit him, but Lin Jingyue directly offered the "retirement due to illness and return to the city" solution!

This is an incredible honor!

He immediately stood up, bowed deeply to Lin Jingyue, and spoke with sincere gratitude.

"Uncle Lin! Thank you so much! This...this has truly resolved the biggest worry for my father and Uncle Kong! I thank you on their behalf!"

Lin Jingyue waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down.

"Don't thank me yet. This matter will take time to process and must follow proper procedures to avoid giving anyone a handle against us. I will have my subordinates handle it, but you must tell your father and Kong Jie to remain calm, not to make a fuss about it, and especially not to contact Ding Wei without authorization, so as not to cause any unforeseen complications. Once everything is arranged, someone will naturally notify him to complete the formalities."

"Yes! Yes! I understand! I will definitely pass on the message!"

Li Zhenhua quickly assured him, his excitement evident in his words.

He knew that since Lin Jingyue had spoken, the matter was basically a sure thing.

Given Lin Jingyue's status and influence, accomplishing this task wouldn't be too difficult, but the favor he received was genuine.

"Alright, let's leave it at that."

Lin Jingyue lit a cigarette and changed the subject.

"When are you and Tao Tao planning to get married? What are your parents' thoughts?"

Li Zhenhua knew that his future father-in-law was concerned about his daughter's marriage and was trying to steer the conversation back to a relaxed atmosphere.

He answered respectfully.

"My parents love Tao Tao very much. It all depends on Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin, as well as Tao Tao's wishes. As long as you agree, we can prepare at any time."

Lin Jingyue nodded in satisfaction.

"Okay, let's find some time to meet with your parents and set a date. It shouldn't be too extravagant, but it should be proper."

"Yes, I'll do whatever Uncle Lin says."

After chatting for a few more minutes, Li Zhenhua noticed it was getting late and took his leave.

Lin Jingyue didn't linger, only telling him to be careful on the road.

Stepping out of the study, Lin Taotao and her mother were still waiting in the living room. Lin Taotao looked at him with concern, and Li Zhenhua gave her a reassuring smile and nodded slightly.

Lin Taotao immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and a bright smile bloomed on her face.

After leaving the Lin family and getting back into his car, Li Zhenhua leaned back in his seat and let out a long sigh of relief.