Courtyard House: I'm an engineer, and a fairy godmother transferred me to a different position.

They decided to raise Liu Guangqi's banner even higher.

"And speaking of our Red Star Factory, it was Guangqi who single-handedly helped us get started!"

"Now that he's joined the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, he'll definitely be researching more sophisticated machine tools in the future, and the factory will need to continue merging and expanding. His future is very bright!"

The way he called out "Guangqi" was so natural, as if the two were really close friends.

I heard that name again.

A hint of admiration flashed in Yu Li's eyes, but being a clever girl, she didn't press Liu Guangqi for details—that would have made her seem ulterior motives. She simply listened quietly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Seeing that the time was right, Yan Bugui brought his teacup closer and added some hot water for Yu Li.

"Xiao Yu, Jie Cheng may not talk much, but he's incredibly reliable and dependable when it comes to getting things done!"

"Unlike that idiot Zhu from the Intermediate Court, who spends all his time fooling around and never does anything worthwhile."

These words were loaded with hidden meaning, subtly and overtly taking a jab at their neighbor.

in fact.

Yu Li had indeed inquired about it before coming.

Siheyuan is a large courtyard where people live together. When choosing a spouse, one should not only look at the person, but also at the atmosphere of the courtyard.

Nobody wants to jump into a filthy, chaotic place and never have peace for the next few decades.

Let alone large, complex compounds like those in Beijing, even in rural villages, it's always easier to find a wife in a village with a good reputation.

Those with bad reputations tend to be mostly single.

no doubt.

The rumors surrounding No. 95 Nanluoguxiang are also polarized.

The good can be praised to the heavens, the bad can be trampled into the mud.

There's a man named Liu Guangqi in the courtyard who has now become a legend in the Nanluoguxiang area and is considered a very respectable role model by many young people.

The same applies.

There was also a guy in the courtyard nicknamed "Silly Pillar," whose nickname was more famous than his real name, and he was a well-known negative example.

The fact that a single courtyard can nurture two such drastically different types of people speaks volumes about the unusual nature of this place.

In comparison, the two are...

Although Yan Jiecheng was not as outstanding as Liu Guangqi, his reputation was much better than that of Shazhu.

therefore.

Unconsciously, his importance in Yu Li's heart increased even more.

At least, it's not the best, but it's better than the worst.

The matchmaker, Wang, with her sharp eyes, had already noticed the subtle attraction between the two men.

She immediately seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire, clapping her hands with a smile.

"I knew Jiecheng was a reliable kid! He's hardworking, down-to-earth, and honest."

She then turned to Yu Li, her tone friendly:

"Xiaoyu, if you feel comfortable with this, come to the courtyard often in the future, talk to each other, and visit each other more often."

Yu Li's cheeks suddenly burned.

The heat spread from her neck to her ears, and she lowered her head shyly, letting out a soft "Mmm".

The voice was soft, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

This is tacit consent.

Yan Bugui and his wife exchanged a glance, their eyes almost brimming with joy.

It became.

I'm already 70-80% sure about this!

As Yan Jiecheng gazed at Yu Li's quiet and elegant profile as she lowered her head to drink water, his heart felt like it was being warmed by a stove, and his whole heart was pounding with excitement.

He seemed to already see himself leading his wife into a prosperous life.

The life of having a wife, kids, and a warm bed—isn't that right before my eyes?

The atmosphere inside was warm.

Two clear car horns suddenly sounded outside the courtyard.

Everyone in the courtyard recognizes that voice.

The sound of its horn was exactly the same as the one on Liu Guangqi's Volga.

As the head steward of the front yard, Yan Bugui felt he should go and take a look. He quickly got up, walked to the door, and peeked out—

Good guy!

Next to Liu Guangqi's gleaming black Volga, another equally impressive black sedan had appeared.

The car door opened, and a cadre wearing a Zhongshan suit stepped out.

The man stopped in the yard and called out towards the backyard, "Excuse me, sir, is Comrade Liu Guangqi home today?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it conveyed a dignified politeness.

Yan Bugui squinted and looked closely, then suddenly froze, his mouth slightly agape.

This...this isn't...

"Director Li... Director Li? You're Li Huaide, the deputy director of the steel rolling mill?"

Yan Bugui's voice trembled slightly.

These words were like adding fuel to a blazing stove.

Just moments ago, everyone was praising Liu Guangqi's abilities, but in the blink of an eye, even the factory's deputy director came to visit him personally.

What does it mean to be decent?

That's what you call being decent.

Yu Li stared at the doorway, her gaze fixed, and the last bit of hesitation in her heart vanished completely.

She suddenly realized that what she had inquired about before was still too superficial.

Comrade Liu Guangqi in the institute has even wider connections than she imagined.

If I really marry into this family in the future, maybe I'll be able to benefit from it someday.

Yan Bugui naturally recognized Li Huaide.

It wasn't that he, as a primary school teacher, had a wide network of connections—it was just that some time ago, when Jia Dongxu had his accident, he, along with Liu Haizhong, Yi Zhonghai, and several other senior students from the management department, went to the steel rolling mill to try and secure compensation for Qin Huairu and her orphan mother. During that time, they exchanged a few words in Li Huaide's office.

To him, this was a very important figure in the factory.

Yan Bugui quickly weighed the situation in his mind, then his face immediately broke into a smile. He strode forward, raising his voice:

"Oh my! Deputy Factory Director Li! What brings you to our little courtyard?"

That shout was like a stone thrown into a calm pond.

The front yard of the courtyard house originally housed many steel mill workers. They had to smile obsequiously at the workshop director on weekdays. Now that they heard the deputy factory director had come in person, how could they sit still?

"Deputy Factory Director Li?"

"Which Deputy Factory Director Li?"

"Who else could it be? Our factory's deputy director, Li Huaide!"

"Quick, go out and see!"

For a moment, the curtains of each house were swaying wildly, and several steel mill workers hurriedly crawled out of their houses, their faces showing a mixture of respect and trepidation, and gathered around.

"Hello, Factory Manager Li!"

"Director Li, are you here to give us some guidance?"

This is a high-ranking leader who is usually hard to get close to, but today he is standing right in his own yard. Who wouldn't want to get closer and see if he recognizes him?

Li Huaide was startled by the sudden surge of the crowd. He had come to find Liu Guangqi, but he hadn't expected such a commotion.

His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Yan Bugui, who had spoken first, his eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny:

"You are...?"

"Deputy Factory Director Li, you're very busy, you must have forgotten!"

Yan Bugui seemed flattered and bowed slightly, hurriedly introducing himself:

"I'm Yan Bugui, the caretaker of this compound. We met once in your office last time regarding the funeral arrangements for Jia Dongxu's accidental death!"

He emphasized the phrase "met once," as if afraid that people around him wouldn't know that he had interacted with the deputy factory director.

"oh--"

Li Huaide raised his hand and patted his forehead, as if he had finally remembered, and a habitual polite smile appeared on his face:

"Yes, yes, that's true."

He clearly didn't want to talk about that anymore, and quickly changed the subject, returning to the main topic:

"Teacher Yan, is Comrade Liu Guangqi in the courtyard now?"

Yan Bugui quickly replied, "Yes, yes, his house is in the backyard. Shall I show you the way?"

"No need to trouble yourself, I can go by myself."

Li Huaide waved his hand, ignoring Yan Bugui's solicitousness, and strode straight through the crowd towards the backyard.

He left behind a courtyard full of dumbfounded neighbors.

After the person had walked away, Yu Li gently nudged Yan Jiecheng and whispered:

"Do your institute often receive such high-ranking leaders?"

"Huh? Yes, yes!"

Yan Jiecheng nodded quickly.

Li Huaide's arrival undoubtedly alarmed all the steel mill workers in the courtyard.

"Oh, isn't that Deputy Factory Director Li?"

"What a rare sight to see him here!"

Amid the murmurs, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, pushed through the crowd one after the other.

Yi Zhonghai was still clutching two black coal briquettes in his hand. It looked like he had just changed into his old work clothes and hadn't even had time to roll up his sleeves.

When coal dust got on his hands, he instinctively hid it behind his back.

The afternoon sun slanted across the courtyard, and Yi Zhonghai's usual aloofness crumbled. The smile on his face was like a crumpled piece of paper, and the surprise in his eyes was impossible to hide.

"Deputy Factory Director Li! What brings you to our little courtyard today?"

He had spent most of his life in the steel rolling mill and had seen many factory leaders, but this was the first time someone of the deputy factory director's rank had stepped into this courtyard. Even his voice softened unconsciously, revealing a hint of hesitation.

Nonsense, with such a huge Buddha statue standing right in front of them, which worker wouldn't feel uneasy?

The man with bangs next to him reacted even more directly. Upon seeing Li Huaide, his back instinctively wanted to hunch, but he immediately remembered his son's instructions and straightened up, his face beaming with a smile: "Director Li! Welcome to the factory! Would you like to come in and rest for a while, have some tea?"

It was the same familiar tone, smooth and slick as if it had been smeared with oil.

Although his son Liu Guangqi repeatedly told him to keep his distance from this Deputy Factory Director Li, a higher rank can have an advantage. Once they met, how could he dare to show the slightest disrespect?

These days, workers are the masters of their own destiny. If a factory manager wants to fire an ordinary worker, the procedures are complicated, and he has to submit a report to his superiors. But if he wants to control a junior manager under him, there are countless ways. Simply changing his position can send him plummeting from grace, not to mention the overt and covert harassment that will make every step of his life difficult.

So in the factory, there were headstrong young workers who acted arrogantly, but few junior managers who weren't afraid of the factory manager.

Liu Haizhong was no exception. He hadn't even warmed his seat as director yet, how could he dare offend Deputy Factory Director Li in front of him?

However, what happened next stunned Liu Haizhong and all the neighbors in the courtyard who were watching the commotion.

With a gentle smile on his face, Li Huaide bypassed the more prominent Yi Zhonghai and walked straight toward Liu Haizhong.

"Director Liu, please don't be so formal."

He reached out and gently patted Liu Haizhong's shoulder.

His tone was intimate, almost like a casual conversation: "I'm not here today to check on work, I'm just dropping by."

Liu Haizhong was completely stunned.

Old Liu? Just dropping by?

What kind of show is this?

He could feel the gazes of his neighbors all around him, like needles piercing his skin. Envy, jealousy, confusion... and an indescribable mix of emotions. Even Yi Zhonghai, standing beside him, twitched slightly on his deeply lined old face, his eyes darkening.

Liu Hai was extremely nervous. He had thought he would have to rack his brains to flatter and fawn over the other party, but to his surprise, the other party was even more polite than him.

This doesn't make sense!

Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious; there's no smoke without fire. What exactly is this deputy factory director up to?

Just as I was racking my brains trying to figure it out, a thought suddenly popped into my head—

Could it be... because of his son?

really!

Unsurprisingly.

Li Huaide's next words landed squarely on Liu Guangqi's head:

"If Comrade Guangqi knew that I came to bother him on the weekend, he'd probably think I, the factory director, didn't know how to behave!"

"Then that would truly be my fault!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the courtyard became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Liu Haizhong's mind went blank. So they were after his son?

Why didn't you tell me sooner that you were looking for my son!

That overly businesslike demeanor just now almost scared his old heart to death.

As the initial shock subsided, a surge of smugness and pride welled up inside him. He felt his spine harden instantly, and the wrinkles on his face blossomed into a smile.

"Oh dear, what are you saying!"

"Director Li, it's truly... truly... an honor to have you visit our courtyard!"

After struggling for a while, Liu Haizhong managed to scrape together a decent word from his head, which barely knew any characters.

"Guangqi is inside right now. Would you like to sit down for a bit and have some water?"

"Then I'll have to trouble Director Liu."

Li Huaide readily agreed, and the smile on his face became more genuine.