Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

After saying that, he hurriedly picked up the briefcase containing the black box and rushed to his office to report this great news.

After more than half a month of intense travel and being in dangerous situations, I am finally back in a safe and familiar environment. A strong sense of exhaustion washes over me.

Liu Jianguo nodded to Tang Jingxian, who was standing beside him, and said, "Jingxian, I'm going back now."

Tang Jingxian smiled, but her eyes held a complex expression, as if she wanted to say something. In the end, she simply said:

"Brother Jianguo, you should get some rest. Tomorrow... I'll come visit you."

After saying that, she turned around and left quickly without waiting for Liu Jianguo's response, her back view carrying a hint of girlish shyness and stubbornness.

The municipal bureau's car took Liu Jianguo to the entrance of Nanluoguxiang.

He carried his simple luggage into courtyard number 95. It was during working hours, and the courtyard was quiet, with only a few old ladies picking vegetables and chatting in front of their houses.

As soon as I entered the front yard, I saw Xu Damao pushing a bicycle with projection equipment strapped to the back rack, heading out.

Liu Jianguo casually asked, "Da Mao, not at work yet at this hour?"

Xu Damao looked up at the sound and saw Liu Jianguo. His face immediately lit up with a fawning smile.

"Oh, Director Liu, you're back! I didn't see you earlier. I'm off to work; it's my turn to show a movie to the commune in the countryside today, so I have to go now."

Remembering what had happened before, Liu Jianguo asked another question:

"While I was away on a business trip, did He Yuzhu take care of the matter of compensating you and making you write a self-criticism?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao immediately perked up, his face beaming as if he had won the lottery:

"It's done! Director Liu, you're a true sage. You didn't see it, did you? That bastard Sha Zhu obediently paid me a month's salary. He even read a whole page of self-criticism at the hospital-wide meeting. Hahaha, you didn't see his face, it looked like his father had died. This time I finally got my revenge, thank you so much, Director Liu."

"Okay, as long as you're satisfied."

Liu Jianguo gave a nonchalant reply, not caring about such a trivial matter. He ignored Xu Damao, who was still excitedly chattering, picked up his luggage, and walked straight through the front yard towards his own east wing in the backyard.

The warm sunshine felt on my skin, and the familiar, bustling atmosphere of the courtyard house was overwhelming, creating a stark contrast to the bloody, chaotic, and oppressive environment of Kowloon Walled City.

He has finally returned, returned to his home in this era.

As evening approached, the courtyard gradually came alive as people returned home from get off work and school.

Qin Huairu walked absentmindedly towards the east courtyard, when she saw that familiar tall figure.

"Jianguo! You're back!" Qin Huairu didn't care that someone in the yard might see her, and rushed into Liu Jianguo's arms, her voice choked with sobs and uncontrollable joy.

Liu Jianguo was knocked back a step, feeling the slight trembling of the body in his arms and the deep dependence on it. The fatigue and tension of the past few days seemed to dissipate a little.

He patted her on the back and said softly, "Yes, you're back. Come on, let's go inside and talk."

As he spoke, he put his arm around her and led her into the east wing room, which belonged to the two of them and had its own private courtyard.

That night, the lights in the courtyard were turned off early, but if you listened closely, the faint chirping continued until the middle of the night.

Although the next day was a factory holiday, Liu Jianguo and Qin Huairu got up early because of their biological clocks.

Qin Huairu quickly prepared a simple breakfast: cornmeal porridge, steamed buns, and a small dish of pickled vegetables.

The two were eating at a small table inside the house when they heard a clear female voice and a slightly surprised response from Uncle Yan Bugui in the front yard.

It was Tang Jingxian who arrived.

She had specially changed into a crisp police uniform today, which made her look even more upright and spirited. As she walked to the gate of the courtyard house, she ran into Yan Bugui, who was tending to flowerpots at the entrance.

Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses, sized up the unfamiliar yet beautiful policewoman, and asked疑惑地问道, "Comrade, who are you looking for?"

Tang Jingxian smiled gracefully, her voice clear and crisp: "Hello, I'm looking for Liu Jianguo, Director Liu. Does he live in this compound?"

When Yan Bugui heard that it was Liu Jianguo again, and that it was a female police officer in uniform with a pretty face, his eyes immediately became somewhat subtle and inquisitive.

He knew all about Qin Huairu's ambiguous relationship with Liu Jianguo, and now that a female police officer had arrived, a strange "I understand" smile spread across his face as he nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, yes! Director Liu lives here. Please walk in; it's the east wing at the very back!"

He thought to himself: This Director Liu is quite capable. He's got connections at the steel mill, and now he's got connections from the public security system.

Tang Jingxian thanked him and followed his instructions to enter the courtyard. She passed through the front and middle courtyards and arrived at the secluded east wing.

The courtyard gate was ajar. She gently pushed it open and immediately saw Liu Jianguo sitting at the table inside eating.

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating him and making Tang Jingxian's heart skip a beat. She smiled broadly, her voice brimming with excitement, "Brother Jianguo! I'm here! I've come to play with you!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Tang Jingxian saw Qin Huairu carrying a bowl of porridge out of the kitchen. Her smile froze instantly, her gaze quickly shifting between Qin Huairu and Liu Jianguo before finally settling on Liu Jianguo with a clear question in her eyes, as if to ask, "Who is she? What's she doing in your house?"

Liu Jianguo sighed inwardly, "What I feared most has come to pass."

He had previously kept Tang Jingxian at arm's length, partly because he sensed that the girl had feelings for him, and given the complicated situation around him, he didn't want to get entangled in such a romantic relationship, especially since she was Director Tang's daughter.

Liu Jianguo remained expressionless and introduced the situation in a calm tone:

"Jingxian is here. This is Comrade Qin Huairu from the Publicity Department of our steel rolling mill. She lives in the central courtyard. My place is usually a mess because no one cleans it. Huairu is kind-hearted and occasionally comes over to help me tidy up and cook."

Tang Jingxian listened to this obviously perfunctory introduction, her face clearly showing disbelief. A young woman came out of the kitchen of her single male boss's house early in the morning.

However, she still maintained basic manners, nodding to Qin Huairu, but her tone carried a subtle distance and emphasis: "Hello, Sister Qin. I am Tang Jingxian, the captain of the Criminal Investigation Brigade of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, at the level of a section chief."

She deliberately emphasized the words "section chief level," as if to subtly draw a line and highlight her identity and status.

Qin Huairu was extremely shrewd and immediately sensed the other party's subtle hostility and sense of superiority.

But there was no sign of anger on her face. Instead, she appeared docile, even somewhat timid, and bowed slightly: "Hello, Section Chief Tang."

She knew perfectly well that she, coming from a rural background, was of a vastly different social standing from Liu Jianguo, and that there was no possibility of a future together. Being able to rely on him was already the best outcome she could hope for.

Therefore, her strategy is to adopt a humble attitude, not to compete or fight, and to use gentleness to overcome strength.