I feel right at home in the world of the courtyard house.

Downstairs in the family building.

As Mr. Su watched the car disappear into the twilight, his wife and daughter went upstairs to prepare dinner, but he didn't leave immediately. He struck up a conversation with a colleague who was leaving get off work.

"Old Su, who was that just now? Riding in such a high-class car, what level of leader is he?"

"Haha, Minister Li Jing'an of the Ministry of Metallurgy."

"Wow! Old Su, you know such a high-ranking official?"

"How would I know them! My daughter and Minister Li's son, Li Shuo, go to the same school. The two kids had a little disagreement, and Minister Li specially brought his child and gifts to apologize."

"Wow, that's rare! Such a high-ranking leader, making a personal trip for such a small matter?"

"Who says otherwise? Actually, I didn't take it seriously at all. But he's a high-ranking officer, and his magnanimity and character are beyond reproach! He's also a former soldier, which is truly admirable."

"By the way, Lao Su, why didn't you invite them to stay for a meal? I could have kept you company!"

"You're kidding me! That high-ranking official is so busy with official duties, would he eat at our house? Would I dare ask him? That would be overestimating myself!"

---

Li Jing'an pushed open the door to his home.

"You're back?" Wei Jialing was sitting on the living room sofa reading a magazine when she looked up and greeted her.

Li Jing'an simply grunted in response. Li Shuo felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and rushed up the stairs in three steps, wishing he could disappear from his father's sight immediately.

Li Jing'an sat down on the sofa and lit a cigarette. Wei Jialing put down what she was holding and asked, "How did it go? Did you go to their house?"

Li Jing'an nodded but didn't reply.

"I told you you were making a fuss over nothing," Wei Jialing said, pursing her lips. "You actually took it seriously and went to apologize to them in person? What's their rank? You're giving them too much face. A simple phone call would have been enough."

Li Jing'an was too lazy to respond. He had long since given up on Wei Jialing's political acumen, and explaining to her would be a waste of breath.

"Oh, right, Jing'an," Wei Jialing said, as if suddenly remembering something, "You've already gone to their house to apologize, aren't you going to the school to apologize to Li Shuo's teacher too?"

"Apologize to his teacher? Apologize for what?" Li Jing'an frowned.

"What do you think? This all started with the teacher—he notified the parents to come to the school, but I didn't go, so he punished Li Shuo by making him stand. After that, I stopped sending my son to school, which led to this whole series of events," Wei Jialing explained.

Li Jing'an snorted coldly: "Who do they think their teacher is? Should I apologize to him?"

He paused, exhaled a smoke ring, and said slowly, "However... I'll make time to visit the Education Bureau in a few days."

"What are you going to the Education Bureau for?"

"It's a waste of his talent to have him teach at Li Shuo's school. To leave such a brilliant person there, letting him fade into obscurity, is a crime. How can he realize his life's value?" Li Jing'an narrowed his eyes. "I need to find some connections to give him more responsibilities. Isn't our southwestern mountainous region in dire need of passionate and righteous teachers like him? We must let him contribute more to the country's education cause."

Wei Jialing understood the meaning behind his words, pursed her lips, and said nothing more.

After a while, she slapped her forehead: "Oh right, we haven't had dinner yet, let's eat." She gestured to the staff to prepare the meal, and Li Jing'an stood up to walk towards the dining room, but then stopped:

"By the way, Jialing, I'm planning to change Li Shuo's age to be two years older in a couple of days."

"Why?" Wei Jialing suddenly stopped, turned her head and frowned.

"Why do you think that is? This little brat is a troublemaker at school, good-for-nothing. He doesn't study himself, and he won't let others study either. Going to school is just a nuisance to others, and he only causes me trouble. Anyway, he can't really get anything out of school these days. Universities are all based on recommendations, so he'll only get so far." Li Jing'an's tone turned serious. "I'm planning to send him to the countryside."

"What?!" Wei Jialing froze on the spot. "Are you out of your mind? Are you trying to send our son to the countryside? What kind of father are you?"

"What can he do if he doesn't go to the countryside? The school definitely can't let him stay any longer, lest he cause me trouble. We can't just let him stay at home as a vagrant, can we? The country has this movement now, let him go!"

"No! I absolutely disagree!" Wei Jialing waved her hand decisively.

"Wei Jialing, let me tell you—this family name is Li! You can't disagree, so keep it to yourself!" Li Jing'an suddenly raised his voice, his gaze sharp.

Li Jing'an thought to himself that Li Shuo had to go to the countryside. He could stage a self-inflicted injury to salvage his image—to let everyone around him see what kind of person Li Jing'an was, and to let those above him see it too. Li Jing'an was intolerant of injustice and uncompromising on matters of principle; he would even send his own son to the countryside without hesitation if he made a mistake. Only then could people see how strong his party loyalty and principles truly were.

He gave Wei Jialing a cold glance, then turned and walked towards the restaurant.

"No! I said no, and that's final!" Wei Jialing raised her voice behind him, her tone sharp and urgent. "Li Jing'an, you're not sending your son to the countryside, you're pushing him into a fire pit!"

Li Jing'an stopped and turned to stare at her: "Let me tell you, Wei Jialing, other people's children can participate in this sport, so why can't Li Shuo? What makes him inferior to others? If my son, Li Jing'an's son, can't even endure this little bit of hardship, then he's a good-for-nothing! We don't raise good-for-nothings in our family!"

"I won't let him go, no matter what!" Wei Jialing exclaimed, her face flushed red. "If you insist on sending him to the countryside, then I'll send him to my dad's!"

Li Jing'an sneered inwardly—Wei Jialing's father is in dire straits himself, so his words are practically worthless. Does he dare to say no? He'd be reported to the authorities the moment he finished speaking, and once the blame is pinned on him, he'd be the one sent to the countryside before Li Shuo even had a chance.

He didn't say these words aloud, but just snorted coldly: "Your dad? Fine, go call him. Tell your dad what Li Shuo did, and ask him if my decision was right. Go ahead, I'll watch you make the call."

Wei Jialing was speechless because of his posture; she opened her mouth but no sound came out.