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

Li Zhenhua suppressed a laugh, responded, and turned to go out to get his things.

He knew that the old man had passed this test, and was probably secretly delighted.

This is his father; his way of caring for his son is always so awkward, yet incredibly genuine.

Watching his son's brisk departure, Li Yunlong picked up his teacup, took another slow sip, and his lips curved upwards almost imperceptibly as he muttered something under his breath.

"You little rascal, you still have some of my old-fashioned cleverness..."

Xiuqin watched as her son took things out of the trunk one by one: pork belly, whole chicken, big carp, and the expensive eggs and canned fruit. Her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

She quickly wiped her hands with her apron, stepped forward to help take it, and kept muttering to herself.

"You silly child, you're back already, why did you buy so much stuff? How much money did this cost... Things are so expensive these days..."

That's what she said, but she couldn't stop smiling, and her eyes were full of relief and affection as she looked at Li Zhenhua.

"Mom, don't worry, your son can earn money now, it's only right that I take care of you and Dad. I'll help with the cooking tonight, you do the cooking, let's have a good meal!"

Li Zhenhua smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and followed his mother into the kitchen.

Li Yunlong remained seated in the living room with a stern face, but his ears were perked up, listening to the sounds of the mother and son bustling about in the kitchen. The clattering of pots and pans, the sizzling of stir-frying, and Xiuqin's occasional instructions to Li Zhenhua to fetch seasonings all intertwined to create a long-lost, warm and cozy atmosphere filled with the sounds of everyday life.

He picked up the newspaper, but couldn't read a single word. His nostrils twitched slightly as he smelled the gradually spreading aroma of meat in the air, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

At dinner time, the small dining table was filled to the brim.

The twice-cooked pork was glistening and fragrant, the chicken soup was milky white and rich, the braised carp was tempting in color, and with the addition of scrambled eggs and some seasonal vegetables, it was simply a luxurious feast in this era of scarcity.

"Come on, eat up! Yunlong, try this meat, it's pork belly Zhenhua bought, the layers are really good!"

Xiuqin kept serving food to her husband and son, and she was even happier watching the two of them eat so heartily than if she were eating herself.

At first, Li Yunlong maintained his composure, sipping his wine slowly. But after a few bites of meat, the familiar home-style flavors completely won over his taste buds. He no longer cared about his image, his chopsticks flying across the table as he ate, sweat beading on his forehead, nodding repeatedly.

"Mmm! Delicious! Xiuqin, your cooking skills have improved again! The meat is stewed until it's tender and flavorful!"

Seeing his father enjoying his meal, Li Zhenhua felt a warm glow in his heart.

He poured his father a full glass of wine, then drank one himself, and asked casually.

"Dad, why did you suddenly come back this time? And on your day off no less. I remember you're quite busy with military affairs there, you usually only come back once every six months or so, right?"

When this was mentioned, Li Yunlong paused in his act of picking up food, the pleasant expression on his face faded, and was replaced by obvious annoyance and confusion.

He slammed down his glass, sighed, and his voice deepened.

"Ugh! Don't even mention it! I rushed back in a real hurry! All because of that stubborn mule, Uncle Zhao!"

"Uncle Zhao?"

Li Zhenhua's heart skipped a beat, but he showed just the right amount of doubt on his face.

"What happened to Uncle Zhao? He was doing well at the General Staff, what went wrong?"

"Trouble? He's just asking for trouble!"

Li Yunlong's tone was somewhat angry.

"Tell me, has Zhao Gang gone crazy from studying too much? He was doing so well in the General Staff, he even had the rank of Major General, his future was bright! But then, for some reason, he suddenly submitted a report, demanding to be transferred to civilian work! Saying he wants to work in a local area and contribute to grassroots development! Isn't that just ridiculous?"

Li Zhenhua was deeply shocked, and his hand holding the chopsticks paused slightly.

He never expected that his cautious and subtle advice in Zhao Gang's office last time would actually take root in Uncle Zhao's heart, and that he would make such a major decision so quickly!

Li Yunlong didn't notice his son's unusual behavior and continued to berate him indignantly.

"I was stunned when I got the letter! I quickly dropped what I was doing and rushed back. This afternoon I went to his house, and I practically wore myself out trying to talk to him! I said, 'Old Zhao, did you suffer some injustice at headquarters? Tell your brothers, I, Old Li, may not be good at much else, but I can at least help you vent your anger!' But what did he do? He's such a taciturn guy, he just said he wasn't wronged, he just felt uncomfortable working in the office and wanted to try a different way of life, to make a real difference. Can you believe it... what kind of situation is this?!'"

Xiuqin chimed in from the side.

"Yes, Zhenhua, your Uncle Zhao is such an upright and capable man, a pillar of the General Staff. It would be such a pity if he really transferred to civilian work! Your father has known him for so many years, how could he not be worried?"

Li Zhenhua took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and tried his best to make his tone sound calm and objective.

"Dad, Mom, don't worry. I think... what Uncle Zhao is doing might not be a bad thing."

"Isn't it a bad thing?"

Li Yunlong's eyes widened.

"What do you know, kid! What kind of place is the General Staff Headquarters? Countless people would kill to get in! And here he is, asking to leave!"

"Dad, please let me finish."

Li Zhenhua poured his father another glass of wine and said slowly.

"You know Uncle Zhao best; he's not someone who acts impulsively. There must be a deeper reason behind his decision. Think about it, Uncle Zhao is straightforward and intolerant of injustice. The General Staff Department has complex interpersonal relationships and many rules. With his temperament, how many people has he offended, openly or covertly, in recent years to uphold his principles?"

These words struck a chord with Li Yunlong. He took a sip of his drink in silence and did not refute them.

He knew Zhao Gang was upright and incorruptible, and therefore he had worried about him quite a bit.

Seeing this, Li Zhenhua pressed his advantage.

"The current situation seems calm on the surface, but who knows what whirlpools are lurking beneath? Uncle Zhao's decision to retire at this crucial moment and move to the local level may seem like a loss of power, but isn't it a wise way to preserve himself? Away from the center of trouble, he can still achieve great things in the local area with his abilities and rank. Moreover, the environment is relatively simple, which suits his personality better. Perhaps this is the best long-term solution."

Li Yunlong held his wine glass, his brows furrowed, lost in thought.

Although he was a rough man, his years of military service and political experience had given him a certain degree of sensitivity.

The son's words make sense.

Zhao Gang's temper does indeed easily get him into trouble at higher levels.

Changing careers...maybe it really is a way out?

Looking at her husband's solemn expression and then at her son's composed analysis, Xiuqin gently patted Li Yunlong's arm.

"Yunlong, I think Zhenhua is right. Old Zhao is a bit stubborn, but he sees things more far ahead than we do. Since he's made up his mind, he must have his reasons. You two are friends who've been through thick and thin together, so at this time, you should support him, help him make the right choice, and find him a good place, instead of just trying to stop him."