Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Starting with the Korean War, returning home to take charge

The dinner was scheduled at the time-honored "Juxianlou" restaurant in the east of the city.

The private room that Deputy Factory Director Li had booked was the one facing the street, with windows overlooking the road and a view of passersby. When He Yuzhu entered, four neatly arranged cold dishes were already laid out on the table. Deputy Factory Director Li was sitting in the main seat, a cigarette between his fingers, talking to the waiter.

Upon seeing He Yuzhu, he stood up, a smile spreading across his face.

"Director He, come, come, have a seat."

He Yuzhu sat down opposite him and glanced at the dishes on the table. Braised beef, smashed cucumber, peanuts, and a dish of jellyfish head—the presentation was quite exquisite. The sky outside the window had already darkened, the streetlights had come on, and the shadows of pedestrians stretched long.

Deputy Factory Director Li gave the waiter a wink.

"Serve the hot dishes."

The waiter pushed the door open and left.

Deputy Factory Director Li picked up the bottle and poured a glass for He Yuzhu.

"Director He, this meal today is on my own initiative. I just wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with you."

He Yuzhu picked up his glass and smelled it. It was Moutai, genuine, the aroma was irresistible.

"Vice Factory Director Li, you're too kind."

Deputy Factory Director Li smiled and raised his glass.

"Come on, have one first, to warm your stomach."

After three cups of wine, most of the cold dishes were gone. The hot dishes arrived one after another: braised sea cucumber with scallions, braised prawns, steamed sea bass, and braised pork knuckle. Deputy Factory Director Li's face flushed, and he became more talkative. He picked up a piece of pork knuckle, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and began to blow on it.

"Director He, let me tell you, I don't have any other special skills, but I have a good eye and can see far ahead." He tapped the table with his chopsticks. "What can you do with the meager wages at our factory? A few dozen yuan a month, gone in the blink of an eye after a good pack of cigarettes. My meager savings are all from my own hard work."

He Yuzhu listened without replying, and picked up a peanut.

Deputy Factory Director Li put his wine glass on the table, leaned closer, and lowered his voice.

"Director He, I've heard about that internal combustion engine in your lab, 1200 horsepower. If you were to sell that, it wouldn't just be a matter of money."

He Yuzhu looked up at him.

Sell ​​it out? Sell it to whom?

Deputy Factory Director Li's eyes lit up for a moment, then he suppressed them, glancing around, even though it was just the two of them in the private room.

"Hey, I was just using an example. But seriously, Director He, is it worth all that hard work you put into this stuff for such a small salary? Do you even know how much this thing is worth overseas?"

He Yuzhu didn't say anything.

Deputy Factory Director Li poured him another glass of wine.

"Come on, have another one."

He drank three more cups. Deputy Factory Director Li's tongue was a little thick; he unbuttoned two buttons on his collar, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He leaned back, took out a cigarette, handed one to He Yuzhu, and lit it for himself.

"Director He, I have something to tell you." He exhaled a puff of smoke. "I have a friend from Hong Kong, surnamed Chen, Boss Chen. He just came by last month. What kind of car does he drive? A Mercedes! What kind of house does he live in? A villa in Repulse Bay! That's the kind of life a decent person should live."

He leaned forward, his eyes fixed on He Yuzhu.

"Do you know what people say about us? They say, 'You mainlanders have the skills but no market, you have the brains but no connections. You hold onto the good stuff your whole life, and you're still poor your whole life.'"

He Yuzhu picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

"Deputy Factory Director Li, I don't understand what you're saying."

Deputy Factory Director Li waved his hand, and the cigarette ash fell onto the tablecloth.

"Director He, don't play dumb. These days, who doesn't want a better life? Look at us, we only make a few dozen yuan a month, it takes us half a year to save up to buy a bicycle. Over in Hong Kong, how much does an ordinary worker earn a month? Two hundred Hong Kong dollars! That's almost a thousand dollars in our currency! Why? Because they have connections and know how to get things done."

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

"To tell you the truth, that Boss Chen has his eye on your internal combustion engine. He's got money, he knows the technology, and he has connections in Southeast Asia. If you're willing, give him the blueprints, and he'll pay you. How much? By horsepower. 1200 horsepower, it's worth at least that much."

He held up five fingers and waved them in front of He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu looked at the five fingers.

"fifty thousand?"

Deputy Factory Director Li smiled, a smile that held a deeper meaning.

"Director He, your vision is too narrow. Five hundred thousand."

He leaned back, waiting to see He Yuzhu's reaction.

He Yuzhu put down his wine glass.

"Five hundred thousand? Deputy Factory Director Li, your friend is quite generous."

Deputy Factory Director Li nodded.

"What's so special about this? They said if we could get one for 1,500, they could add more. This kind of technology is already widespread overseas. We treasure it, they treat it like dirt. We work ourselves to the bone to develop it, and they take it back, improve it, and resell it for millions. Why should we let them make that money?"

He poured himself another glass of wine and downed it in one gulp.

"Director He, I'm a straightforward person, I'll say what I mean. You've seen what's going on here, the factory is like. Funding isn't coming in, the equipment is outdated, we work hard all year, and all we get is an award certificate. What's the use? Can it put food on the table? Over there, money talks, you can eat whatever you want, go wherever you want. I have no hope for that in my life. You're still young, you need to think about yourself."

He Yuzhu looked at him.

"Deputy Factory Director Li, how long have you known this man surnamed Chen?"

Deputy Factory Director Li was taken aback for a moment.

"It's been a few years. What?"

He Yuzhu shook his head.

"Nothing much. Just wondering, is he reliable?"

Deputy Factory Director Li slapped his thigh.

"Of course! They're influential figures in Hong Kong, would they really cheat us out of something so simple? Besides, we're not stupid. It's cash on delivery. Once we get the money, we give them the blueprints, and neither of us owes the other anything."

He poured wine for He Yuzhu again.

"Director He, if you're willing, I'll take you to see him in three days. He's in Tianjin, staying at the Astor Hotel, a long-established hotel, a place for foreigners. We can go and be back the same day, without anyone noticing. If it works out, you get the money, I get a small commission, everyone's happy. And if there's another deal like this in the future, we can continue doing it."

He Yuzhu picked up his wine glass but didn't drink. The streetlights outside the window illuminated the road; there were few pedestrians, and occasionally a bicycle would pass by.

"Three days later?"

Deputy Factory Director Li nodded.

"Yes. In three days. How about it, Director He?"

He Yuzhu raised his glass and clinked it against his.

"Okay. Three days from now then."

Deputy Factory Director Li laughed, his face scrunching up.

"Great! Director He, I knew you were a smart guy! Come on, bottoms up!"

It was almost ten o'clock when I came out after drinking. The autumn wind picked up, and the leaves of the poplar trees by the roadside rustled.

Deputy Factory Director Li's driver helped him into the car, and the black sedan disappeared into the night. He Yuzhu stood at the restaurant entrance and lit a cigarette.

Old Sun emerged from the shadows beside him, his shadow stretching long on the ground.

"You heard everything?"

He Yuzhu nodded and exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Old K is him."

Old Sun lit a cigarette, the flame illuminating his face.

"Three days later, in Tianjin. Could that guy surnamed Chen be Yu Dehai?"

He Yuzhu thought for a moment, the cigarette butt glowing in the darkness.

"Possibly. Yu Dehai has lived in Tianjin before, so he knows the place well. Besides, no one else could afford 500,000 yuan."

Old Sun took a drag of his cigarette.

"Are you planning to go?"

He Yuzhu looked at him, his eyes shining under the streetlight.

"Go. Why not go? They've already prepared the meal; if you don't go and eat, who will you be letting down?"

Old Sun smiled, a very soft smile.

"Alright. I'll arrange for someone to follow them. The Astor Hotel is an old establishment in the concession; they have many connections there."

He Yuzhu stubbed out his cigarette and flicked it into the roadside ditch.

"This time, it's time to close the net."

It was almost midnight when I got back to the lab. The courtyard was quiet, with only the guardhouse light on.

He Yuzhu sat in his office, took the gloves out of his drawer, and put them on. They were made of warm, cozy fabric and quite comfortable. The gloves had a faint soapy scent, a familiar one to him.

Three days later, in Tianjin.

He recalled the look in Zheng Huaiyuan's eyes when he was arrested—a look of hatred, resentment, and relief. He remembered the words Jin Zhong had spoken: technology, country, conscience. The old factory director's hands tapped on the table, one tap after another. He remembered Yu Li crying in the interrogation room that night, her tears washing the ash from her face into two deep lines.

This line is finally coming to an end.

He picked up the phone and dialed Yang Xiaobing's number.

When the call connected, Yang Xiaobing's voice was very low.

"Commander?"

He Yuzhu held the microphone, looking out at the night view.

"Three days later, Tianjin. You'll be coming with me with a few men. They need to be efficient and reliable."

Yang Xiaobing remained silent for two seconds.

"Arrest them?"

He Yuzhu nodded, even though the person on the other end of the phone couldn't see.

"Arrest them."

A breeze picked up outside the window. The poplar leaves rustled softly.