Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

On a summer afternoon, sunlight streamed through the spacious glass windows of the "Red Star Service Center" office building, casting bright geometric patterns of light onto the polished terrazzo floor. He Damin stood by the window of his office, arms crossed, calmly gazing down at the orderly yet bustling park below.

Inside the showroom, the last few Jeeps and trucks used as demo units were spotless, reflecting a cold, hard luster under the spotlights. Occasionally, a few customers would come in, accompanied by salespeople, to look at the cars and inquire about prices, but most were asking when their new cars would arrive. From the direction of the repair shop, the sounds of wrenches clanging, power tools humming, and mechanics calling out to each other could be faintly heard. Several trucks and Jeeps brought in for repairs were on lifts, their complex chassis exposed. On the balconies of the staff dormitory, uniform blue work clothes hung to dry, swaying gently in the breeze. Wisps of smoke rose from the canteen chimney, foreshadowing the aroma of evening meals. In the distance, on a reserved plot of land, building materials were already piled up; his planned assembly workshop was about to break ground.

Everything was running smoothly, even better than he had anticipated. Employees, incentivized by high salaries, were highly motivated; the initial management system was beginning to take effect; and preliminary negotiations with Lou Zhenhua regarding parts cooperation and "automotive steel" technology were progressing well. Business was booming, funds were plentiful, and the future looked promising.

Logically, he should have felt satisfied, even excited. But He Damin's mood at this moment was somewhat subtle... bored.

Yes, it's boring. This daily routine of operations management, routine decision-making, and interpersonal interactions feels more like a step-by-step procedure to him. The initial planning and breakthroughs had their challenging fun. But once the system was established and entered a stable operating period, the sense of urgency requiring his constant attention and hands-on involvement disappeared. His brain was accustomed to handling higher-dimensional, more uncertain problems, such as breakthroughs in spiritual cultivation, time travel, and even planning for future industrial ecosystems. These daily tasks, while important, no longer completely occupied his mind.

His gaze involuntarily drifted towards Zhengyang Gate. Xue Ru Silk Shop. Was that bright, capable, and ambitious woman now standing behind her antique counter, fiddling with her abacus, dealing with discerning customers, managing her few employees, and busily tending to her own little world?

A single thought, like a pebble thrown into a still lake, created clear ripples in his heart.

The silk shop business was stable, but its structure was already set, and for Chen Xueru, it might have reached a bottleneck. Her strong will and shrewdness were more than enough to manage the silk shop, but what about the newly established "Red Star" business, full of unlimited potential? Was she willing to accept a greater challenge? Could she handle the management of the automotive industry, which was far more complex than managing a few bolts of silk?

He, on the other hand, can step back and focus on things that are more critical and in line with his interests and abilities: to acquire more vehicles (whether through special channels or by promoting self-manufacturing), to solve the most difficult maintenance technical problems, to plan a longer-term industrial layout, and even... to handle some "special matters" that only he can handle.

"Perhaps, we should let Xue Ru give it a try." He Damin made up his mind. As husband and wife, he trusted her abilities. Her joining would not only liberate him, but also allow her to find a bigger stage and truly participate in this shared cause.

The wall clock rang, indicating five o'clock in the afternoon. It was time to leave work.

He Damin collected his thoughts, closed the office door, and strolled downstairs. He didn't go to the parking lot to get the Jeep, but went straight to the cafeteria kitchen.

In the canteen, dinner preparations had already begun, filling the air with enticing aromas. He Damin found He Yuzhu, who was at the stove instructing his apprentice on the final touches. Yuzhu was wearing a white apron, his forehead glistening with fine beads of sweat, but his eyes were bright and his movements swift. Months of honing his skills at Hongbinlou and practicing here had shed much of his naiveté, giving him the composed demeanor of a seasoned chef.

"Zhu Zi, pack up, it's time to go home," He Damin said.

Upon seeing that it was his uncle, He Yuzhu quickly responded, gave a few instructions, took off his apron, washed his hands, and jogged out after him.

The two walked to the parking lot, and He Damin opened the door of the military green Jeep and got into the driver's seat. He Yuzhu sat somewhat awkwardly in the passenger seat, touched the leather seat, and then looked curiously at the dashboard. The Jeep smoothly drove out of the service center compound and merged into a relatively empty road on the outskirts of the city.

The car window was open, letting in a warm summer breeze. He Damin gripped the steering wheel, his gaze fixed ahead, and suddenly asked, "Zhuzi, besides learning to cook at Hongbinlou, what else did you learn?"

He Yuzhu paused for a moment, then scratched his head: "It's mainly about learning the skills, like cutting and preparing ingredients, wok tossing, controlling the heat, seasoning, and recognizing all kinds of ingredients. Master Li is strict and has many rules."

"Have you thought about learning something else?" He Damin continued, "Like, driving."

"Drive?" He Yuzhu's eyes widened instantly, then he showed an excited and incredulous expression. "Uncle, you mean... learn to drive a car? Like you?" Driving! That's an incredible skill! A driver is one of the "Eight Great Officials," respected wherever they go, lucrative, and well-informed! He never dared to dream of such a thing before.

"Hmm." He Damin nodded. "Our service center will need cars a lot in the future. Salespeople will need to take customers for test drives, repairmen will need to do road tests, and we'll need them for roadside assistance, purchasing, and communication. We can't handle it all by myself. You're young, quick-witted, and have good hand-eye coordination, so learning to drive is perfect for you."

He paused, recalling the bizarre regulations for getting a driver's license these days, and added, "But now, getting a driver's license isn't just about driving; you also have to be tested on basic vehicle principles and troubleshooting. To put it bluntly, you need to know a little about car repair. Don't worry, start by learning to drive. As for repairs, there are experienced mechanics at the service center. You can watch them and learn slowly, asking questions whenever you don't understand. After you finish your culinary training at Hongbinlou, come over whenever you have time, and I or a senior mechanic will teach you the basics first."

"I'm willing to learn, Uncle! I'll definitely learn diligently! I won't let you down!" He Yuzhu's face flushed with excitement, rubbing his hands together, wishing he could immediately reach for the steering wheel. Driving! This was such a wonderful thing! His uncle really thought of him in every way!

He Damin smiled slightly as he watched his nephew's excited expression. He had arranged for Zhuzi to learn to drive, partly out of practical necessity, but also out of a desire to nurture and care for him. But seeing Zhuzi's joyful face now, the subtle feeling in his heart that "it's a bit unfair for the boss to make his cook nephew a driver" vanished. There's no need for such calculations among family members.

The car first turned at Zhengyangmen and stopped in front of Xue Ru Silk Shop. Chen Xue Ru seemed to have been paying attention all along. As soon as the car stopped, she stepped out with a smile, carrying a small bag. Today she was wearing a pale yellow short-sleeved cheongsam, which made her skin look as white as snow and her hair as black as clouds. When she saw He Damin and Zhu Zi, her smile widened.

"Have you been waiting long? It'll be ready soon." She turned around and said a few words to an older female shop assistant before gracefully getting into the back seat.

"Aunt Xue Ru!" Zhu Zi turned around and greeted her.

"Hey, Zhuzi, are you coming back together today too?" Chen Xueru replied with a smile, then looked at He Damin naturally, "Going straight home? Or...?"

"Go pick up Yushui from school," He Damin said, starting the car again.

The car became even more lively when they picked up Xiaoyushui, who was walking out of the school gate hand in hand with her classmates, carrying her little schoolbag. Xiaoyushui chattered on and on about school, and Chen Xueru listened gently, occasionally handing her a piece of fruit candy she had prepared beforehand. He Yuzhu, on the other hand, was still immersed in the excitement of learning to drive, occasionally chiming in with a comment. He Damin focused on driving, occasionally glancing at his smiling wife and daughter in the back seat through the rearview mirror, listening to his nephew's excited chatter. A simple yet genuine warmth flowed quietly through the car.

Back at the east courtyard of No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, dusk had fallen. He Daqing and Qin Huairu had already returned and were busy preparing dinner in the small kitchen. He Damin parked the car, and the family quickly washed up before sitting down to eat in the dining room of their new home. The food was Qin Huairu's home-style cooking; although not as refined as Zhuzi's, it was still delicious. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious as they chatted and laughed.

After dinner, He Yuzhu helped clean up, while He Daqing and Qin Huairu went back to their own rooms. Xiaoyushui played for a while before Chen Xueru coaxed her to wash up and go to bed.

As night deepened, the east courtyard quieted down. The red candles had long been replaced by bright electric lights (He Damin had managed to get electricity), illuminating the elegantly decorated new house with warmth and brightness.

Chen Xueru sat at the dressing table, slowly combing her long hair. Looking in the mirror at He Damin, who was leaning against the headboard reading a book (a foreign language book on mechanical principles), she said softly, "Brother He, when you picked us up today, you seemed to be thinking about something?"

He Damin put down his book and looked up at his wife in the mirror. In the candlelight (although they used electricity, Chen Xueru liked to light a small incense candle), the lines of her profile were soft and beautiful.

"I was thinking about something," He Damin said frankly, "about 'Red Star,' and also about you."

"About me?" Chen Xueru turned around, somewhat curious.

"Hmm." He Damin sat up straight and patted the edge of the bed beside him. Chen Xueru walked over and sat down next to him.

"Xueru, you're managing the silk shop business very well now, but you've reached a bottleneck. It's all about the same old customers, the same fabrics, and the same styles." He Damin held her hand; her hand was soft but not delicate, bearing the subtle marks of years of handling silk and manipulating abacuses. "As for 'Red Star,' you've seen it too. It's just starting out, expanding rapidly, and it will grow even bigger in the future. Just building the assembly workshop alone will require a large number of management personnel. Sales, repairs, parts, logistics, and even the training school later on... it's a whole lot of work."

He looked into Chen Xueru's eyes and said earnestly, "I'm alone, and my energy is limited. The daily operations and management are too much of a drain on my time. What I'm better at is getting cars, fixing the most difficult ones, and planning our next steps."

Chen Xueru's heart beat slightly faster, as if she had a premonition of something, and she stared at him with her beautiful eyes unblinking.

"I think we should find a reliable store manager to help you manage the daily operations of the silk shop. You just need to focus on the overall direction and accounts," He Damin slowly explained his plan. "Then, you can come to 'Red Star' and help me—no, help us manage this whole operation. From administration, human resources, and finance, to sales, customer service, and even future logistics and procurement, you can gradually take over. You are meticulous, decisive, and have good interpersonal skills. You have experience managing people and understand business. I think you can do it."

Chen Xueru felt a surge of heat well up from the bottom of her heart, instantly coursing through her entire body. Take over the management of "Red Star"?! That was a business many times larger and more complex than the silk shop! It was the foundation her husband had built with his life's blood! He actually trusted her so much, willing to entrust her with such an important responsibility?

Surprise, excitement, and emotion, mixed with a touch of trepidation at facing unknown challenges, mingled in her heart. She had considered participating in her husband's business, but always felt it was a man's domain, and that managing the household, taking care of the rain, and running the silk shop from the rear was the greatest support she could offer. Unexpectedly, her husband had given her the opportunity to step into the limelight and fight alongside him!

"Brother He... I... can I do it? I don't know anything about cars..." Chen Xueru's voice trembled slightly with excitement.

"Management, in many cases, has little to do with whether you understand specific technologies," He Damin patted her hand reassuringly. "The important thing is to know your people well and assign them appropriate roles, have clear systems in place, and be well-informed. Technically, you have engineers and experienced craftsmen; in sales, you have professional salespeople; and in maintenance, you have technicians. What you need to do is ensure that everyone performs their duties effectively, coordinates operations, controls costs, and improves efficiency. You've already done a great job of this at the silk shop; it's just a matter of scaling up. If you don't understand something, you can learn, you can ask me, or you can ask the knowledgeable people below you."

Seeing the light gradually ignite in his wife's eyes, he knew she was tempted, and continued, "Besides, I might... need to go away for a while frequently."

"Going out?" Chen Xueru was taken aback.

"Yes." He Damin nodded. "The cars in the showroom are almost sold out, and I need to find ways to 'get' new cars. There are also some special parts and equipment that I need to contact. We can't just sit around and do nothing. When I'm not around, this big operation of 'Red Star' needs someone who is absolutely trustworthy and can keep things in order. Xue Ru, you are the person I trust the most."

These words struck a chord deep within Chen Xueru's heart. Trust, entrustment, standing shoulder to shoulder... these words moved her more and made her feel a greater sense of responsibility than any sweet talk.

She took a deep breath, grasped He Damin's hand in return, and her eyes became firm and bright: "Brother He, I...I'm willing to try! I'll arrange things at the silk shop as soon as possible. As for 'Red Star,' I'll do whatever you need me to do! If I don't understand something, I'll learn! I'll definitely help you...help us, to protect and manage this business well!"

He Damin looked at the fighting spirit and tenderness shining in her eyes and felt gratified. This woman had never disappointed him.

"Okay." He pulled her into his arms. "No rush, take your time. First, familiarize yourself with the environment and understand how each department operates. We'll discuss the specific handover and arrangements later."

Outside the window, the moonlight, as clear as water, peacefully enveloped the newly renovated east courtyard.