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

When they encountered Li Zhenhua and his three tough opponents, especially given Li Zhenhua's ruthless and merciless skills, in less than two or three minutes, apart from Wang Haitao kneeling on the ground and the first one who was knocked out by Li Zhenhua with a single punch, the rest of them were all lying on the ground groaning and screaming, having lost their ability to fight.

The battle ended incredibly quickly.

The once noisy restaurant was now filled only with painful groans and heavy breathing.

The place was a mess, with tables and chairs overturned and broken cups, plates, and food spilled everywhere.

Wang Haitao knelt on the ground, his back burning with pain, his face filled with disbelief and humiliation.

He struggled to stand up, but Li Zhenhua stepped on his calf, rendering him unable to move.

"Li Zhenhua! You dare touch me! My dad is Commander Wang! You're finished! Your whole family is finished!"

Wang Haitao roared, his voice filled with bravado but his heart was filled with fear.

Li Zhenhua looked down at him with a cold gaze, as if he were looking at a pile of garbage.

"Wang Haitao, have some decency for your father. With your character, you dare call yourself a soldier's son? You're a disgrace."

Lin Taotao straightened her somewhat disheveled clothes, her chest heaving slightly with anger and agitation.

She walked to the phone and dialed the city's criminal investigation team directly. In a serious tone, she reported the large-scale armed fight, disorderly conduct, and attempted attack on the police that had occurred here, and demanded that someone be sent over immediately to handle the situation.

Da Feng remained vigilantly guarding Lou Xiao'e, her baby face full of excitement, and spat at the groaning guy on the ground.

"Pah! A bunch of useless trash! They're not even enough to warm up for me!"

Lou Xiao'e was still in shock when she saw what was happening before her, but she was even more shocked.

Looking at Li Zhenhua's tall and straight back, at his god-like skills just now, and at his calm and composed demeanor in the face of Wang Haitao's threat, she felt a complex mix of emotions that were hard to describe. There was lingering fear, admiration, and perhaps even a strange feeling.

Soon, the piercing sound of police sirens grew louder as several police cars pulled up in front of the restaurant.

More than a dozen heavily armed police officers rushed in. The team leader was Lin Taotao's colleague, who was also taken aback by the scene.

Lin Taotao identified herself, briefly explained the situation, and emphasized that the other party was armed, had actively provoked, and attempted to attack the police.

When the police saw the spring locks, scrapers, and other weapons on the ground and heard about the attack on the police, their attitude immediately became serious. Without saying a word, they handcuffed Wang Haitao, Gao Peng, and all the other children of the compound who were still able to move, and put them in police cars.

The person who was knocked unconscious was also carried on a stretcher and taken to the hospital, but police officers accompanied and guarded him as well.

Wang Haitao was still shouting as he was being taken away.

"You dare arrest me? Do you know who my father is? Let me go! Li Zhenhua, you just wait!"

Li Zhenhua didn't bother with him at all, and simply nodded to Lin Taotao.

Lin Taotao understood and whispered a few words to her colleague in charge, emphasizing the seriousness of the incident, especially the fact that the other party became even more excited after learning that she was a police officer, which was a serious provocation against the law and the authority of the public security organs.

The police took the criminals away, leaving a few others behind to take statements at the scene.

Li Zhenhua, Lin Taotao, Dafeng, and Lou Xiao'e, as parties involved and witnesses, gave a detailed account of what happened.

The restaurant manager and waiters also testified that it was Wang Haitao and his group who provoked and attacked first.

It was already very late when the statement was taken.

Li Zhenhua offered to compensate for the restaurant's losses, and the manager didn't dare to say anything more, repeatedly saying that it wasn't necessary and that he just hoped nothing would happen.

As the four walked out of the restaurant, Lou Xiao'e felt her legs go weak when the night breeze blew.

She looked at Li Zhenhua and said gratefully.

"Comrade Zhenhua, thank you so much for today, and also Comrade Lin and Comrade Dafeng."

Li Zhenhua waved his hand.

"It's alright now. Just avoid places like this in the future; it's not safe. Let me take you home."

Lin Taotao spoke up.

"No need, Deputy Director Li. Da Feng and I are going the same way. Let's take Comrade Lou home. You've been a bit shaken, so you should go home and rest early."

Her tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air, as she looked at Li Zhenhua with clear eyes.

Li Zhenhua glanced at Lin Taotao, then at the still-shaken Lou Xiao'e, and nodded.

"Alright, then I'll leave it to Captain Laurin. Be careful on the road."

Lin Taotao and Dafeng helped Lou Xiao'e into the car.

Li Zhenhua stood by the roadside, watching the car drive away, his eyes deep in thought.

He knew that this matter would not end easily tonight.

The parents of Wang Haitao and his ilk have probably already started making moves.

Sure enough, that very night, a certain circle in Beijing was in an uproar.

The phones rang incessantly at the homes of Commander Wang, Deputy Director Gao, and several other children of those arrested.

Hearing that their children had been arrested for gang fights, assaulting people with weapons, or even attacking police officers, these usually powerful parents panicked. While furious at their children's lack of respect, they frantically used all their connections to inquire about the situation and try to get them released.

But when they learned that the matter involved Li Zhenhua, especially Li Yunlong's only son, and that the other party was in the right, they all felt it was a difficult situation. Li Yunlong was known for his fiercely protective and unreasonable nature, especially since Wang Haitao and his group were in the wrong this time.

Trying to suppress it by force would likely cause even bigger trouble.

As for taking action against a lowly policeman, these big shots consider it no big deal.

For many, this night was destined to be a sleepless one.

the next day.

Qin Huairu got up very early and tidied herself up more carefully than usual.

She changed into a faded dark blue work uniform, the one she had rummaged through her closets to find that best resembled a worker's attire.

Her hair was neatly combed and tied into a sleek bun at the back of her head.

Looking at herself in the mirror, still haggard but with a hint of hope in her eyes, she took a deep breath and clenched her fists.

Today marks the beginning of her new life.

After settling the three children in, Qin Huairu made a special trip to Yi Zhonghai's house to greet an older woman and ask her to look after Xiaodang and Huaihua. With a mix of trepidation and excitement, she left the courtyard and headed towards the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

Throughout the journey, she kept replaying Li Zhenhua's instructions in her mind.

"Speak less, observe more, be diligent, keep clear accounts, don't take what you shouldn't take, and don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

She knew that this job was hard-won; it was a way out that Li Zhenhua had given her, but it was also a knife hanging over her head.

If things go well, they might be able to live a peaceful life; if they mess it up, or cause trouble for Li Zhenhua, the consequences could be unimaginable.

When she arrived at the gate of the steel rolling mill, looking at the imposing gate and the workers in uniform coming and going, Qin Huairu felt a little timid. But she still mustered up her courage and went to the guardhouse. She explained her purpose, saying that she had been sent by Deputy Director Li of the Logistics Department to report to Director Wang of the warehouse.

The security guard had obviously been notified in advance. He glanced at her, asked no questions, and pointed her in the direction of the logistics department's warehouse.

The logistics department's warehouse area is located in a relatively remote corner of the factory area, consisting of several rows of tall brick and tile buildings.

The air was thick with the distinctive smell of engine oil, rubber, and paper. Qin Huairu found the warehouse office and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in."

A slightly hoarse voice came from behind.

Qin Huairu pushed open the door and went in. She saw an old man in his fifties with gray hair and wearing reading glasses sitting at the table, calculating with an abacus next to him.

This is Director Wang, Wang Shoucheng.

"Director Wang, hello, I am Qin Huairu. Deputy Director Li asked me to come and report to you."

Qin Huairu tried her best to make her voice sound calm and respectful.

Wang Shoucheng looked up and examined her over his reading glasses, his face expressionless, and simply nodded.

"Oh, Comrade Qin, right? Director Li already spoke to me. Please have a seat."

Qin Huairu carefully sat down on the wooden stool next to her, leaving half of her bottom on the ground.

Wang Shoucheng put down the abacus, picked up a notebook from the table, and opened it.

"Our warehouse mainly manages the warehousing, storage, and distribution of labor protection supplies, office supplies, some low-value consumables, and recycled waste materials. The work isn't strenuous, but it's tedious and requires meticulous attention to detail; the accounts and physical inventory must match. Old Zhang, who used to manage labor protection supplies and general merchandise, retired and went back to his hometown, so this position became vacant. Director Li recommended you, saying you're reliable and hardworking."

He paused, looking at Qin Huairu.

"Let's be clear from the start: this job is temporary, the pay is low, only 27.5 yuan a month, and there are no food ration coupons. If you do well, there might be a chance to become a permanent employee in the collective later. If you don't do well, or if you make a mistake, you may be fired at any time. Understand?"

"Understood, understood! Director Wang, rest assured, I will definitely do my job well and live up to the trust of Director Li and you!"

Qin Huairu quickly assured her.

"Um."

Wang Shoucheng closed his notebook.

"Let's go, I'll show you around the warehouse and the procedures."

The following morning, Wang Shoucheng showed Qin Huairu the location of each warehouse, the classification and arrangement of materials, as well as the methods for filling out inbound and outbound documents and registering ledgers.

Qin Huairu listened very attentively, afraid of missing a single word.

Although she was not highly educated, she had a good memory and was quick-witted. She could basically remember the gist of what Wang Shoucheng said after he explained it once.

There were several other employees in the warehouse, mostly older workers or female employees. They were indifferent to Qin Huairu's arrival, neither particularly enthusiastic nor obviously difficult.

After all, she was someone Deputy Director Li arranged to come in, and everyone knew that. As long as she didn't cause trouble, no one would go out of their way to offend her.

Occasionally, someone would cast a curious or scrutinizing glance, to which Qin Huairu would respond with a humble smile.

At lunchtime, the cafeteria bell rang. Wang Shoucheng said to Qin Huairu.

"Xiao Qin, let's go eat first. The cafeteria is in that row of red brick buildings on the east side. We can continue getting familiar with it this afternoon. You can buy your meal tickets at the cafeteria entrance."

"Oh, thank you, Director Wang."

Qin Huairu responded and followed the other employees toward the cafeteria.

The steel rolling mill's canteen was large and bustling with noise, filled with the aroma of food and the smell of workers' sweat.

Qin Huairu looked at the long queue in front of the window, feeling somewhat lost.

She touched the few cents she had in her pocket, hesitating whether to buy a meal ticket or simply go hungry.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out behind her.

"Sister Qin? It really is you!"

Qin Huairu turned around and saw Sha Zhu and He Yuzhu getting food.

He was wearing a white cook's uniform and a white hat, his face was shiny with oil, but he was full of energy.

"Pillar?"

Qin Huairu was also somewhat surprised.

"Sister Qin, what brings you to the factory? Did you come to see me?"

Sha Zhu's face was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Qin Huairu blushed and whispered.

"No, I... I started working at the factory. I'm a temporary warehouse keeper."

"Back to work? That's great!"

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu was overjoyed, and his voice unconsciously rose eight octaves.

"That's great news! Now we can see each other every day! Come on! Let me get you some food; our cafeteria has meat dishes today!"

Without saying another word, he picked up a large spoon and shoveled a generous spoonful of oily braised pork into Qin Huairu's lunchbox, then added a generous amount of shredded potatoes and cabbage with glass noodles, and finally added two large steamed buns.

"Sister Qin, here, eat it while it's hot!"

Sha Zhu stuffed the overflowing lunchboxes into Qin Huairu's hands.

Qin Huairu looked at the heavy lunchbox in her hand, smelled the long-lost aroma of meat, and her throat moved involuntarily.

"Zhu Zi, this...this is too much, I can't eat it all, I still have to pay you..."

Qin Huairu declined.

"Oh, Sister Qin, don't be so polite with me!"

Sha Zhu waved his hand.

"It's just a few cents! You've just started at the factory, you'll need money for a lot of things! Eat up! By the way, what time do you get off work this afternoon? I know the warehouse area well, how about I show you around and let you get familiar with the factory?"

Seeing Sha Zhu's eager eyes, Qin Huairu couldn't refuse directly, so she could only say something vague.

"I still need to get to know Director Wang better this afternoon, I don't know when I'll be done. Zhu Zi, you go ahead and do your work, don't let it interfere with the work."

"It's okay! There's not much work in the cafeteria this afternoon! It's settled then, I'll come find you at the warehouse after get off work!"

Sha Zhu didn't give Qin Huairu a chance to refuse. He directly handed the spoon to his own landman Ma Hua, while he happily took his lunchbox, found an empty seat, and kept beckoning Qin Huairu over.

Helpless, Qin Huairu had no choice but to sit opposite Sha Zhu with her lunchbox in hand.

Many of the workers around knew Sha Zhu, and seeing him being so attentive to a strange woman, they all cast curious and ambiguous glances at him, and some even whispered among themselves.

Qin Huairu felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. She lowered her head and ate her food in small bites, feeling her face burning.

Sha Zhu, however, was completely oblivious, or rather, he didn't care at all. He shoveled rice into his mouth while excitedly planning his future.

"Sister Qin, from now on, come find me for lunch, and I'll make sure you eat well! I know the factory well; if anyone dares to bully you, just tell me, and I'll take care of them! When I get paid, I'll buy you and the children some fabric to make new clothes..."

As Qin Huairu listened to Sha Zhu's rambling, her mind was preoccupied with her afternoon work, Li Zhenhua's warning, and the difficult days to come.

This sumptuous lunch, however, left a bitter and heavy taste in my mouth.

She knew that life in the factory was no simpler than in the courtyard house, and might even be more complicated. She had to proceed cautiously and prudently to gain a foothold in this new environment and earn a chance for herself and her children.

All of this is predicated on not losing Li Zhenhua as a powerful backer.