Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

After a brief chat, the dishes were quickly served, and the first main dish immediately commanded attention: a large enamel basin filled with large chunks of lamb, cooked until tender and fragrant, with bones still attached.

Shen Daikui personally introduced the dish, his voice booming: "Director Liu, brothers, this is the most hearty dish for entertaining guests in Inner Mongolia—hand-pulled mutton."

We select plump, tender grassland lambs, cook them in a large pot of water with only a handful of salt, preserving their original flavor. This dish represents the sincere welcome we, the people of Baogang, have to our brother units—we give our all, without holding back a single ingredient.

This bold and unrestrained way of hospitality instantly shortened the distance between the two parties.

Following that, dishes such as braised Yellow River carp, scrambled eggs, and potato noodles were served one after another, which was already a very high standard in this wasteland in the early stages of construction.

Finally, two strong young men carried up a wooden box. When they opened it, they were surprised to find a whole box of "Mendao Lv" liquor with a red label and extremely high alcohol content.

The moment the wine was served, the boisterous atmosphere of the welcoming banquet reached its peak.

Shen Daikui gestured to his secretary to fill everyone's glass with strong liquor. He was the first to pick up his large, rough porcelain bowl, stood up, looked around at everyone, and said emotionally:

"Brothers! I, Lao Shen, am a former soldier, a roughneck, and not good with fancy words. But I know you've had a tough journey of thousands of miles, braving gunfire and bullets. This first bowl of wine, on behalf of Baogang Infrastructure Department, is a toast to you. Thank you for your hard work."

After saying that, he tilted his head back and gulped down most of the bowl of strong liquor, revealing the bottom of the bowl.

This generosity and sincerity touched everyone present.

Liu Jianguo also stood up, picked up his bowl, and said loudly, "Director Shen is a man of strong character. To be honest, I also transferred from the military. I'll drink this with you."

After saying that, they downed the strong liquor in their bowls without hesitation. A burning sensation ran from their throats to their stomachs. The two officers, both former soldiers, exchanged a knowing smile, everything understood without a word.

The welcoming banquet officially began in a warm and candid atmosphere.

The pungent aroma of donkey liquor and the savory scent of mutton lingered in the air.

Liu Jianguo's cheeks glowed with the redness of alcohol, but his eyes were clear as cold stars, without the slightest hint of confusion.

He leaned slightly towards Shen Daikui, whose face was flushed, and spoke in a low voice, just loud enough for the people at the main table to hear, with just the right amount of familiarity and probing:

"Director Shen, this welcome banquet is too lavish. We brothers are all very touched and deeply grateful."

He changed the subject, his tone casual yet purposeful, "Speaking of which, since we've all come all this way to the grasslands, everyone wants to bring back some genuine local specialties to our homes, something to remember us by. Do you think there's any way around here... to find some real local products?"

He deliberately used words like "exchange" and "path" that had a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) feel while still maintaining a sense of propriety. This not only made his intentions clear but also cleverly passed the buck to the landlord.

Upon hearing this, Shen Daikui's weathered face broke into a knowing smile. He waved his hand and spoke in a booming voice:

"Since Director Liu has spoken, I'll take care of this little matter."

He then turned and called out towards the door, "San De! Er Ga! Come in!"

Before he finished speaking, two dark-skinned young men with shrewd eyes, typical of people from the grasslands, trotted in and stood with their hands at their sides, looking somewhat reserved.

"This is Qin Sande, and that's his brother. They're all factory workers, and their homes are in the nearby pasture. They know each other very well."

Shen Daikui pointed at them and said to Liu Jianguo with an unquestionable tone, "Tomorrow, let the two of them accompany Director Liu and the brothers around. If they need anything, just tell them, and I guarantee the brothers will be satisfied."

These words, though seemingly generous and open, actually defined the scope—my people would accompany them, moving around the area as both guides and informants. After all, there were more than twenty people openly carrying guns, so it was always wise to be cautious.

"Oh, thank you so much, Director Shen. You've been a great help, and we're sorry to have troubled you guys."

Liu Jianguo immediately put on a warm smile, cupped his hands in thanks, and made perfect polite remarks.

As the banquet ended, the cold wind from beyond the Great Wall instantly dispelled the warmth inside the house.

Liu Jianguo led Qin Sande and the other man back to the simple dormitory arranged by Baogang. As soon as they entered, the polite smile on his face disappeared, replaced by a calm scrutiny and a hint of expectation.

The core personnel had all gathered in the somewhat crowded dormitory. Liu Jianguo's gaze slowly swept over each face—the driver, the security officer, and Wang Ming, the logistics officer.

His voice, though not loud, carried an undeniable authority, breaking the silence in the room:

"Director Shen from Baogang is a good man; he sent two local guys to accompany us on our mission tomorrow."

He paused briefly, his tone calm yet sharp, "The rules, everyone knows them. When you're out on the road, especially on long-distance trips, it's an unspoken understanding to pick up some local specialties to supplement your income or to smooth things over. This time, I, Liu Jianguo, won't block my brothers' path to wealth."

His tone suddenly shifted, his gaze sharp as a knife as he slowly swept over everyone, but the words "measure" were etched into my mind.

"If anyone is greedy, dishonest, causes trouble, ruins the steel mill's reputation, and reports it to higher-ups... don't blame me. At that point, forget about saving face; they might even lose their jobs."

"Now divide into groups."

Liu Jianguo spoke faster, revealing the competence and decisiveness of a soldier: "Wang Ming, you lead the driver team, plus five brothers from the security department, and follow another junior colleague."

He pointed to the slightly younger tour guide and said, "You can buy more of the more visible items, like milk tofu and dried meat. You can decide the quantity yourself, but make sure others see what they should see."

After Liu Jianguo finished speaking, he looked at Li Cheng and said in a serious tone, "Li Cheng, pick five brothers who are absolutely reliable, skilled, and discreet to come with me tomorrow, along with this brother Qin Sande. We have other arrangements."

This is a covert operation; the real target is those living creatures.

Li Cheng calmly agreed, and their eyes met, everything was understood without words.

"Listen carefully, safety first, you must be back before dark."

Liu Jianguo gave the final order, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Immediately, the cold expression on his face melted away, and he turned to Qin Sande, revealing a friendly, even slightly curious, smile:

"Come on, young man, let's walk and talk."

Stepping out of the dormitory area and onto the dirt road at the edge of the wasteland, Liu Jianguo asked, seemingly casually:

"I was so happy that I didn't even know how to address you, brother."

The young man named Qin Sande rubbed his hands nervously, then smiled憨厚ly, revealing his white teeth:

"Reporting to the commander, my name is Qin Sande."

His smile carried the simplicity of the grassland people, but his eyes occasionally flashed with a shrewdness that was beyond his years.

"Sande, a good name, truly fitting."