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

The Party Secretary and the factory director in the private room were completely stunned. They opened their mouths, but couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

They wanted to stop them, but they couldn't.

They wanted to take it back to their parents as a token of filial piety, and they said it so nicely. If they were to stop them, wouldn't they seem stingy, mean, and unfilial?

Moreover, they still needed Li Jing'an's help, so even if they felt resentful, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and accept it.

The two looked at each other, both seeing a mixture of amusement and exasperation in each other's eyes, but could only force a smile and remain silent.

Li Jing'an seemed oblivious to their stiff expressions. He picked up his chopsticks again, drank two more glasses of wine with them, chatted for a few moments, and then stood up, saying, "It's getting late, I'll head home now. My family is waiting for me."

"Alright, Director Li, take care!"

The three of them walked out of the private room and into the restaurant lobby.

The young waiter was already well-prepared, carrying a wooden carrying pole on his shoulder with a large red lacquered food box hanging from each end. The food boxes were bulging and heavy, and the copper pot, charcoal fire, plates and bowls were all wrapped tightly, showing that he had prepared everything very thoroughly.

Li Jing'an stepped forward and asked, "Is everything prepared?"

The young man patted his chest confidently, saying, "Don't worry, sir! Everything's packed, nothing's missing, just waiting for you to set off!"

Li Jing'an nodded, then asked again, "Is there enough to eat?"

"Absolutely enough!" the young man said confidently. "Don't worry!"

Li Jing'an gave a satisfied "hmm".

He reached into all his pockets and searched them thoroughly, his movements serious. After searching for a while, a slightly embarrassed and awkward expression appeared on his face. He turned to look at the Party Secretary and the Factory Director, who were standing to the side, watching awkwardly the whole time.

"Look at my memory..." Li Jing'an gave a wry smile, his tone apologetic. "When I heard that you two were looking for me today, I didn't dare to be negligent. I rushed out the door and forgot to bring my wallet and change."

He paused, then said earnestly, "Could I borrow the 50 cents for the delivery fee from you two? I'll pay you back later."

The smiles on the faces of the Party Secretary and the Factory Director froze completely, looking more like they were crying.

The factory manager hesitated for a few seconds, then quickly pulled a crumpled fifty cents from his pocket and handed it to the young man, forcing a polite remark: "Hey! It's no big deal! Why borrow fifty cents? No need to pay it back! No need to pay it back!"

"Thank you so much." Li Jing'an smiled frankly and waved to the two of them. "I'll keep your matter in mind. Go back and wait for news."

After saying that, he pushed his bicycle, which was parked at the door, and steadily mounted it.

The young man carried the heavy food boxes and followed behind, his steps light and quick.

One on horseback and one on a shoulder pole, one in front and one behind, they slowly disappeared into the end of the alley, stepping on the thin layer of first snow.

The Party Secretary and the Factory Director stood at the restaurant entrance, watching the two figures disappear into the distance. They exchanged a glance and both let out a helpless and bitter smile.

The secretary sighed, consoling himself, "Never mind, as long as the matter can be resolved, this little bit of money is nothing. Let's settle the bill."

The factory manager could only nod, forcing himself to remain calm: "Okay, settle the bill."

The two turned around and went back to the counter.

The factory manager took out some loose change from his pocket, clutched it in his hand, and asked the cashier, "Comrade, how much is it?"

The cashier looked up, her tone calm and expressionless:

"Sixty-five pieces in total."

"How many?!"

The factory director and the party secretary shouted almost in unison, their eyes wide open, their mouths agape as if they could fit an egg in them, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

"Six...sixty-five yuan?!" The factory manager's voice trembled. "We only eat this much, how could it be so expensive?!"

The cashier remained expressionless, clicking away on her abacus, and coldly explained:

"You ate in the store, it cost fifteen yuan."

The whole pot of meat, vegetables, seasonings, and sesame seed cakes I took away cost fifty yuan.

The factory manager panicked and quickly pressed, "Why is it so expensive to take it away?!"

"It includes a 20-yuan deposit for the pot, copper pot, charcoal, plates, and bowls—all of which require a deposit." The cashier raised an eyelid.

The Party Secretary panicked and quickly asked, "Then...how do we get our deposit back?"

The cashier looked at them like they were idiots, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone:

"Of course, you can only get a refund if you return the item intact."

The two were instantly dumbfounded, staring at each other, unable to utter a single word.

They knew better than anyone else—

Since Li Jing'an took the pot away, how could he possibly return it on the same day?

Whether it's delivered tonight, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, it all depends on his word.

They can't just stay at the restaurant forever, can they?

This 20 yuan deposit is clearly a one-way street.

The factory manager looked down at the few coins in his hand, then looked up at the Party Secretary, and asked in a low voice with a bitter face, "How much do you have on you? This... definitely isn't enough."

The secretary also took out all the money from his pocket, and the two of them counted it together, finding that they were still short by a large margin.

The factory manager had no choice but to bite the bullet and cautiously look at the cashier, forcing a smile: "Comrade... we don't have enough money on us, could we... pay for it first thing tomorrow morning?"

The cashier glanced at him sideways, a smirk playing on her lips, her tone dripping with undisguised sarcasm:

What do you think?

The factory manager blushed, awkwardly shut his mouth, and dared not say another word.

The two stood in front of the counter, looking worried, and discussed in hushed tones.

Finally, the Party Secretary gritted his teeth and said, "I have an old friend around here who lives in the next alley. You wait here and don't wander off. I'll go borrow some money from him and be right back!"

"Okay, okay! Go and come back quickly!" The factory manager nodded hurriedly.

The Party Secretary hurriedly pushed open the door and rushed into the snowstorm.

The factory manager was left alone in the restaurant. He found a chair in a corner and sat down. Just as he was about to raise his hand to call the waiter for a cup of tea, he turned his head and met the cashier at the counter staring at him with extremely unfriendly eyes.

The factory manager shrank back, swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, obediently shut his mouth, and sat obediently, not daring to move an inch.

On the other side, on a snowy path.

Li Jing'an rode his bicycle slowly, pedaling along, while the young man followed behind carrying a food box.

The road was quiet. Li Jing'an casually asked, "How much meat did you give me? Is it enough?"

The young man immediately replied, "Don't worry, sir! I've brought you fourteen plates of meat! Cabbage, tofu, and glass noodles are all piled high, and there are two sesame seed cakes for each person—enough to eat as much as you want! Absolutely nothing will be lacking!"

Li Jing'an nodded and then asked, "How much is a plate of meat?"

"One yuan and fifty cents," the young man said.

Li Jing'an raised an eyebrow slightly: "Why is it so expensive?"

"No need for a ticket, of course it'll be more expensive." The young man chuckled.

Li Jing'an understood and said calmly, "That's true."

They arrived home in silence.

Li Jing'an opened the door and had the young man arrange the copper pot, charcoal fire, whole plate of mutton, vegetables, seasonings, and sesame seed cakes neatly on the table inside.

After everything was tidied up, Li Jing'an took out two cents from his pocket and handed them over.

The young man was taken aback, somewhat puzzled: "Boss, wasn't it already given?"

Li Jing'an smiled and said calmly, "These two cents are for tomorrow's errand fee. Please come back tomorrow afternoon and take the pots, plates, and bowls back."

Upon hearing this, the young man immediately beamed and nodded repeatedly, "No problem, boss! Don't worry! I'll definitely come tomorrow! Thank you, boss! Thank you, boss!"

He left, expressing his deepest gratitude.

Li's mother came out of the house, looking at the table full of mutton, vegetables, and a copper pot, and asked in bewilderment, "Jing'an, what... what's going on here? Where did all this food come from?"

Li Jing'an took off his coat and hung it on the wall, speaking in a relaxed and casual tone:

"Tomorrow is my day off. My sister is coming over to help with the tidying up, right? Someone treated me to hot pot today, so I just brought a pot back with me. You guys can have a nice meal at home tomorrow at noon."

He paused, then added:

"I have something to do tomorrow, so I won't be coming back. Don't forget to return the 20 yuan deposit."