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

(It's not finished yet. If this kind of ending is the same as a bad ending, what's the difference?)

"Brother Li, Brother Li! Tell me, where have you been working these past few years?" Xu Damao asked Li Jing'an, who was in the center of the crowd, with a warm smile on his face.

The front courtyard of the siheyuan was already in an uproar. Yan Bugui's shout had attracted everyone in the courtyard, young and old. Sha Zhu, Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi, and Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong, who were discussing the rebar trade at Second Uncle's house, all gathered around Li Jing'an and his elegant female companion, watching the spectacle from three layers deep.

"Haha, a few years ago, I traveled all over our beautiful country. Later, I felt that I had served the people in China for half my life, so I wanted to see how other people live. So I went abroad for a while." Li Jing'an said to Xu Damao with a smile. He was obviously speaking to everyone as well. "Now that our country is developing so fast, I can't stay idle. I had an opportunity, so I wanted to come back and make some more contributions to the people of our country."

"No wonder he was able to become a minister before, his awareness is just different!" A few middle-aged women huddled together and couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

Seeing this, Xu Damao eagerly took out cigarettes, first offering one to Li Jing'an, and then handing one out to the surrounding neighbors. After Li Jing'an lit the cigarette, took a deep drag and exhaled, he sighed, "Ah, cigarettes from our country are still the best! I can't get used to foreign cigarettes; they always have a strange taste."

"That can't be right, can it? People always say that foreign things are better, that everything is better than what we have here," someone in the crowd asked, puzzled.

"Hey, don't listen to their nonsense! You'll only realize how good it is back home once you actually go there. Whether it's food or accommodation, it's all the same over there." Li Jing'an frowned and said with a look of disgust, "Just look at the streets there, there are tons of homeless people, so many people are homeless, and people are starving or freezing to death every day."

"Really? People in foreign countries are said to be so wealthy, how come there are still homeless people there?" someone else questioned.

"Hey, do you think those capitalists are so easy to talk to? Take America for example, they're all about money. What don't they charge? They even have to pay taxes on their own houses every year." Li Jing'an shook his head.

"Isn't that the same as us? We live in public housing, and we also pay a fee every month, don't we?"

"Hey, how can that be the same? That's their own house, and they still have to pay money. That doesn't make sense."

"Oh dear, all that propaganda about how miserable life is abroad, it's all true!"

"So, let's just stay home and not go anywhere. There's nothing better than home! I'm back now, aren't I? Haha." Li Jing'an laughed heartily. "I came back to see my house. I haven't lived here for so many years. My sister has been taking care of it. I wonder how it is now."

"Jing'an, don't worry, the house is in great condition! Even if we're not here, we'll take care of it for you, after all, we're old neighbors." Yan Bugui said, trying to show off his skills.

"Haha, thanks everyone," Li Jing'an said casually.

Just then, Yan Jiecheng, accompanied by his wife Yu Li and carrying briefcases, walked over from the hanging flower gate and shouted into the courtyard, "Hey, there's a Mercedes with black license plates parked outside!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze immediately turned to Li Jing'an. After all, in this courtyard, only he had such an imposing presence and the ability to do so.

Li Jing'an smiled slightly and said, "That should be my car. Now that I'm back, there are no government vehicles available, so I have to get my own car."

Upon hearing the words "black plate car," Sha Zhu, standing nearby, widened his eyes in surprise: "Brother Jing'an, a black plate car? Your car has a black plate? Aren't those only used by foreign companies? You... own a company?"

"Oh, it's just a small company, doing some small business," Li Jing'an said modestly, waving his hand.

"You're too modest! Are you a small business owner?" Xu Damao's eyes lit up, and he immediately flattered him.

Looking at Li Jing'an's demeanor, he glanced at the stylish and beautiful female companion standing beside him and wondered to himself: What is the relationship between this woman and Li Jing'an? Did she divorce after going abroad and marry a younger woman, or what? But he didn't dare to ask any further questions.

"Hey, let's talk business. We can exchange ideas later!" Uncle Liu Haizhong chimed in, eager to join the conversation. After all, Li Jing'an used to be someone he looked up to, but now that he had resigned and gone into business, he felt the gap between them had finally narrowed, and he could finally speak to Li Jing'an on the same level. Although the other man had a car now, he was confident that once his business took off, the money would flow in like water. He figured he'd need a car too, a suit, and ideally, a beautiful woman like Li Jing'an. As he thought this, he couldn't help but glance at the wavy-haired beauty next to him, who was looking around impatiently, her gaze lingering particularly on her long, black-stockinged legs.

"Really? Then let's exchange ideas more often. Damao, what kind of business are you and Master Liu planning to get into?" Li Jing'an smiled and glanced at Liu Haizhong before asking Xu Damao.

"Ah, we're still in the preparation stage, and we don't have any strong connections. We just want to make a name for ourselves at the steel rolling mill..." Xu Damao replied vaguely.

But a different thought stirred within him. He looked at Li Jing'an, wondering if it was time to abandon his plan to team up with Liu Haizhong to deal in rebar. Li Jing'an had been a minister before; his business was undoubtedly substantial. If he followed Liu Haizhong, the latter, relying on his position as the branch factory director's mentor, would inevitably take the lead, leaving him feeling stifled. Even dealing in permits was better with Li Jing'an than with his second uncle! Even running errands for Li Jing'an was better than serving his second uncle. His second uncle might only know a branch factory director, while Li Jing'an's former superior was now the Minister of Metallurgy! If Li Jing'an also planned to obtain permits within the metallurgical system, wouldn't working for him be far better than working for his second uncle? Even a small leak from Li Jing'an would be enough to make him rich! And it wasn't limited to a specific region; he could get his hands on any factory within the metallurgical system!

Xu Damao was startled by his own extension; factories across the national metallurgical system—what a huge market that must be!

"Brother Jing'an, what kind of business are you planning to start after you come back? Have you made any progress?" Xu Damao quickly inquired.