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

The news of Li Zhenhua and Lin Taotao's engagement was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, quickly creating huge waves in Beijing.

This is not only the union of two young people, but also a formal declaration of the deep relationship between the Li and Lin families and a public solidification of their power alliance.

For a time, countless eyes were focused on this place, with envy, speculation, scrutiny, and apprehension intertwined in the air above the capital.

The engagement banquet was not held at the Lin or Li family's residence, but rather at the banquet hall of the Beijing Hotel, a place symbolizing prestige and history.

This in itself sends a clear signal: Lin Jingyue's emphasis on this matter and his expectations for Li Zhenhua's future.

As dusk settles, the banquet hall is ablaze with lights and filled with guests.

The event was attended by a constant stream of heavyweight figures from the political, military, industrial, and economic sectors, making it far more grand than an ordinary engagement banquet.

Needless to say, Director Yang, Liu Dashan, and others were present, but many of the leaders whom Li Zhenhua had only heard of but never met also came in person or sent special people to deliver congratulatory gifts.

Li Yunlong, dressed in his crisp military uniform, his face flushed with excitement and pride, chatted and laughed with his old comrades-in-arms, including Kong Jie, who were also in military uniform and had come to congratulate him. His voice was loud and clear.

Xiuqin and Lin's mother were chatting and laughing with several distinguished ladies.

The real focus, however, is undoubtedly on the two main characters tonight.

Lin Taotao, dressed in a newly made magenta woolen dress and wearing a jade pendant given to her by Li Zhenhua around her neck, stood gracefully beside Li Zhenhua, her face radiant with happiness.

Li Zhenhua, dressed in a well-tailored dark gray Zhongshan suit, stood tall and composed. Despite his young age, his composure and confidence in the face of so many important figures earned him the admiration of many onlookers.

He addressed each guest with precision, his words appropriate, expressing respect for elders without being overly humble, striking the perfect balance. Amidst the clinking of glasses, he had clearly become a rising star in the inner circle.

Just as the banquet was reaching its most lively moment, a slight commotion arose at the entrance. Everyone looked to see a young woman, dressed in a dark green velvet cheongsam and draped with a white fox fur shawl, gracefully enter. Her makeup was exquisite, her features beautiful, and her every step radiant, instantly drawing all eyes to her. It was Bai Manli, the daughter of the president of the Shanxi Merchants Association.

Her arrival momentarily silenced the bustling banquet hall. Many people knew about her recent "friction" with Li Zhenhua, and her presence at this time was ambiguous.

Bai Manli seemed oblivious to the probing gazes, her face bearing an impeccable, polite smile as she walked straight to the main table. She first congratulated Lin Jingyue and his wife, and Li Yunlong and his wife, her words respectful and her manners impeccable, presenting them with a valuable gift—a set of exquisite Jingdezhen porcelain. Only then did her gaze turn to Li Zhenhua and Lin Taotao.

"Deputy Factory Director Li, Miss Lin, congratulations on your marriage!" Bai Manli's voice was clear and melodious, and her smile was bright. "Deputy Factory Director Li is young and promising, and now he has won the favor of the Lin family. It's truly a double blessing, and his future is limitless."

"Miss Bai, you're too kind. Thank you for taking the time to come." Li Zhenhua raised his glass in acknowledgment, his expression calm, but a sharp glint flashed deep in his eyes. Lin Taotao also nodded politely in thanks, but her grip on Li Zhenhua's arm tightened slightly.

"Of course. Although my father was away on business and couldn't attend in person, he specifically instructed me to congratulate him in person." Bai Manli's smile remained unchanged, but she changed the subject slightly, lowering her voice so that only a few of them could hear her, "Deputy Factory Director Li must be riding high these days. It seems that those minor supply issues at the factory have been completely resolved? His methods are truly miraculous, admirable indeed."

These words sound like a compliment, but they actually allude to the previous pressure she exerted but which Li Zhenhua managed to defuse, and subtly point out that his "methods" are extraordinary.

Li Zhenhua smiled faintly, seemingly oblivious to the underlying meaning: "It's all thanks to the support of the organization and the efforts of our comrades that we've solved some practical difficulties in production. It's just our duty. As for Miss Bai and the Chamber of Commerce, their business spans the north and south, and they're well-informed. If they have suitable formal channels, they might as well cooperate more with large state-owned factories like our steel rolling mill for mutual benefit."

He casually attributed the "methods" to organizations and groups, turning the tables on them by implying whether all the channels of the Shanxi Merchants Association were so "formal," and then put forward a proposal that seemed cooperative but was actually tinged with scrutiny.

A barely perceptible glint of coldness flashed in Bai Manli's eyes, but her smile remained perfect: "Vice Factory Director Li is right. State-owned factories have deep roots, and our Chamber of Commerce naturally hopes to contribute more to national development. It's just that sometimes, too many rules and long procedures can't compare to... more flexible and adaptable channels that are more effective. What do you think, Vice Factory Director Li?" She deliberately emphasized the words "flexible and adaptable," looking directly at Li Zhenhua with a probing gaze.

This is a more direct probe, pointing to the mysterious origins of Li Zhenhua's supplies.

Li Zhenhua met her gaze, his expression unwavering, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty: "Building a nation requires not only efficiency but also adherence to rules and principles. 'Fast' that doesn't follow the rules is like a building without a foundation; it may look impressive, but it could collapse in a gust of wind. The development of our steel mill relies on the leadership of the Party and the hard work of our workers. Every step we take must withstand the test of history and the people. Miss Bai is a reasonable person and must understand this principle well."

These words were forceful and resounding, reiterating principles while also subtly warning against Bai Manli's probing, and even implicitly pointing out the risks of certain Shanxi merchants engaging in gray-area behavior.

Bai Manli's smile faded slightly. She gave Li Zhenhua a deep look, seemingly reassessing her opponent. After a moment, she smiled again, raised her glass, and said, "Vice Factory Director Li, your insights are profound. I've learned a lot. I wish you both a long and happy marriage, and I also wish Vice Factory Director Li... continued success. I won't bother you any longer." With that, she elegantly took a sip of wine, nodded to Lin Jingyue and the others, and turned to leave gracefully, leaving behind a faint fragrance.

This brief exchange was silent yet fraught with undercurrents. Those watching closely were secretly astonished by Li Zhenhua's handling of the situation. This young man not only had a powerful background, but his shrewdness and skill were also truly remarkable; he managed to hold his own against a formidable figure like Bai Manli.

In stark contrast to Li Zhenhua's glamorous and composed demeanor was Ding Wei, sitting in a corner of the banquet.

He was still wearing his worn-out military uniform, standing out starkly against the well-dressed guests around him. Li Yunlong had intended to seat him near the main table, but Ding Wei insisted on finding a quiet corner. He barely touched the sumptuous dishes and fine wine on the table, simply drinking one glass after another in silence, his eyes cloudy, carrying an inescapable sense of alienation and melancholy.

He watched Li Zhenhua move effortlessly among various figures, laughing and joking, accepting congratulations and compliments; he watched Li Yunlong beam with pride, basking in his son's glory; he looked at this bustling, vibrant world, so different from the life he had lived for the past decade. A profound sense of abandonment and self-doubt overwhelmed him.

Everything here—power, relationships, scheming, glamour—suffocated and disgusted him.

He even felt that the more Li Zhenhua thrived, the more it proved that the world had become completely different from the era he had upheld, an era of "real fighting and unity between officers and soldiers."

As for myself, I was like an outdated, superfluous decoration, picked up by my old comrade out of friendship, but I didn't belong here at all.

The whispered words, the teacher's stern face, the cold words in the brown paper bag… all churned in his mind again. If Li Zhenhua really had something going on, was all this current success built on shady ground? Did Old Li know? If he didn't, how would Old Li face the consequences when the truth came out? Should he pretend not to see the suspicious points just to repay a debt of gratitude?

But if Li Zhenhua is innocent, wouldn't my suspicions and potential "reports" be an act of repaying kindness with enmity and a despicable behavior?

Two conflicting thoughts clashed fiercely, almost tearing him apart. Instead of numbing his senses, the alcohol only intensified the pain.

He could only drink more heavily, trying to use the numbness in his body to fight against the torment in his heart.

Halfway through the banquet, Ding Wei was already slightly tipsy. He got up, wanting to go outside for some fresh air and escape the suffocating hustle and bustle. Just as he reached the corner of the corridor leading to the terrace, a man who looked like an ordinary waiter gently nudged him, his voice barely audible: "Comrade Ding Wei, the old commander is concerned about your recent situation. Tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock, the usual place, someone will pick you up."

After saying that, the man walked away with the tray as if nothing had happened.

Ding Wei froze, his drunkenness instantly sobering him up, and cold sweat soaked his underwear.

The pressure felt like a massive boulder crashing down on his heart. The teachers didn't relax; instead, their attention and pressure intensified because of Li Zhenhua's engagement and increased status. They wanted to know more, to get more concrete "observations" from him.

He leaned against the cold wall, watching the dazzling lights and moving figures in the banquet hall not far away. Li Zhenhua was talking with a leader from the Ministry of Industry, his profile tall and confident. Ding Wei's fists clenched tightly, his nails digging into his palms. On one side was gratitude and morality, on the other was discipline, an instinctive vigilance against "problems," and a yearning for a clean past... What should he do?

At this moment, unnoticed in a corner, the cracks in Ding Wei's heart were silently widening. His silence was no longer simply a matter of dullness and maladjustment, but began to be mixed with a more complex struggle and the pain of making an impending choice. The lights of this grand feast could not illuminate the ever-deepening shadows in his heart. And this shadow might become a crucial variable in the storms to come, one that no one could predict.

The banquet ended, and the guests and hosts seemed to be enjoying themselves (at least on the surface). Li Zhenhua carefully helped the slightly tipsy Lin Taotao into her car and instructed the driver to take her home safely. He stood at the entrance of the Beijing Hotel, the night breeze slightly dispelling the effects of the alcohol.

Gazing at the neon-lit nightscape of Beijing, he knew that from tonight onward, he had officially stepped into the very center of the city's stage, shining brightly, but this also meant greater scrutiny and more hidden dangers to guard against. Bai Manli wouldn't give up, Ding Wei's condition was worrying, and there were those forces lurking deeper, potentially threatening him because of his rise and the Lin-Li marriage alliance…

After the hustle and bustle of the engagement party, life seemed to return to a superficial calm.

Li Zhenhua's position at the steel rolling mill became more secure, and preparations for his wedding with Lin Taotao were proceeding smoothly.

In the courtyard, Sha Zhu's relentless "food offensive" towards Yu Li seemed to be starting to bear fruit. Although Yu Li hadn't explicitly stated her opinion, she was at least no longer giving him the cold shoulder. Yi Zhonghai, on the other hand, became increasingly reclusive, his former authority as an "old man" completely vanished, and he could only sigh and lament in his own house. The courtyard in Lingjing Hutong remained secluded, a haven for Li Zhenhua to vent his stress and enjoy absolute control, but he was becoming increasingly cautious in his actions.

However, the real waves often brew in the deepest waters.

A few days later, one evening, Li Zhenhua received a call from Lin Jingyue's secretary, inviting him to Lin's study for a chat, saying that "President Lin wants to have a casual chat with you."

Li Zhenhua knew that this was by no means a simple "everyday occurrence".

Stepping into the study, a room he was already familiar with but which always filled him with an invisible pressure, Lin Jingyue was sitting behind a large desk reading documents. Seeing him enter, he took off his reading glasses and pointed to the sofa opposite him: "Zhenhua is here, have a seat."

The secretary quietly left and closed the door. Only the father-in-law and son-in-law remained in the study. The air was filled with the fragrance of fine tea, but the atmosphere was formal and solemn.

"The engagement party went well; the feedback from all sides was very positive," Lin Jingyue said bluntly and calmly. "You've also officially entered the public eye. How does it feel?"

Li Zhenhua sat upright and answered cautiously, "Thank you very much, Uncle Lin, for your thoughtful arrangements. The event was grand, and I met many senior leaders. I learned a lot and also felt a greater sense of responsibility."

Lin Jingyue nodded, looking at him intently: "It's a good thing to have more responsibility; it means you can handle it. However, Zhenhua, the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. You should understand this principle."

Li Zhenhua's heart skipped a beat, knowing the real topic was coming: "Yes, Uncle Lin. I always remind myself to act cautiously and keep a low profile."

"Sometimes, simply being low-key isn't enough."

Lin Jingyue slowly picked up the teacup and blew on the floating leaves.

"You are now the deputy director of the steel rolling mill, in charge of logistics, handling a huge amount of materials and funds. You are young, promoted quickly, and have me and Li Yunlong backing you. Now, you've even become my son-in-law, Lin Jingyue's son-in-law."

He paused, his gaze sharp as he looked directly at Li Zhenhua:

"In Beijing, in the eyes of many, you are now a shining target. There are people who like you and want to get close to you, but there are even more people who are jealous of you, want to see you fall, and even want to use you to attack our two families. Bai Manli and the Shanxi Merchants Association behind her are just the ones who have jumped out on the surface. Those who haven't jumped out and are hiding in the shadows are even more dangerous."

Li Zhenhua straightened his back slightly, knowing that everything Lin Jingyue said was true.

He could sense Bai Manli's probing and pressure, the possible "attention" behind Ding Wei, and the subtle glances and rumors inside and outside the factory.