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

This situation was like a raging storm in Sha Zhu's eyes. He was at a loss, his chopsticks twirling between his fingers, almost falling. "Hey, Sister Qin! What are you talking about... I... I just wanted to invite you for a drink, that's all! Guang Qi is watching here, what can I do?" He was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead, and his words became incoherent.

Qin Huairu ignored his panic, only lowering her head, making her tearful voice even softer and thinner, like an invisible thread winding around him. "At the factory, I'm clumsy. That file felt heavier than a mountain in my hand. The work men do, when I do it, blisters break layer after layer, and the parts are still in bad shape... Master Yi is kind and often gives me pointers, but my brain can't keep up. Last month, during the assessment, I almost lost even my meager salary." She paused, wiping her eyes with her fingertips, and steered the conversation toward a heavier reality, "Bang Geng needs to go to school, and there's still no money for tuition. The next two are always asking for food. And Grandma can't do without her medicine... Eighteen yuan and fifty cents a month, even if you break it into eight pieces, isn't enough to fill this hole."

Every word she uttered, seemingly directed at Sha Zhu, was actually aimed precisely at Liu Guangqi, every bit of hardship and sorrow. She wanted him to hear it, to feel that this was a desperate act by someone at their wit's end, not a deliberate attempt to achieve something.

Unfortunately, Liu Guangqi simply sipped his wine slowly, as if those words were just a breeze passing by his ear.

Sha Zhu's heart softened at the sound of her voice; the shrewdness he'd honed in the streets had long since vanished. He felt the woman before him was like a reed in the wind, ready to snap at any moment. "Sister Qin, everyone in the compound knows your difficulties. I... I've been getting food from the canteen every day... cough!" He changed the subject, his tone now tinged with a simple, honest boldness, "How about this, I have some left here, you can take it for a while? We can't let the child go hungry!"

As Liu Guangqi listened, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered across his lips. A loan? He smiled silently to himself. Some people extend their hands, and what they receive is never returned. That kindness, given without question, became a guarantee in her pocket that would never be overdrawn. This wasn't charity; it was clearly offering bait, respectfully and humbly, to the fishing hook.

She stood there, her eyes reddening, sighing repeatedly, her words filled with memories of the past. Her posture was perfectly staged, yet so natural, as if she had acted it out a thousand times before.

Anyone with eyes could see that she had gone through all this roundabout talk simply to solidify the favor and then find a pretext to ask this capable man for some benefits.

That's not surprising.

Later, that silly Zhu Zi was harassed and drained of his life by the Qin family for so many years, yet he still willingly served them like a beast of burden. There was a reason for that.

With such skill and cunning, he deserved his fate.

Liu Guangqi shook his head gently, having lost the will to listen any further.

To be honest, the taste of this wine has changed by this point.

He then calmly stood up and said, "Brother Zhu, you should comfort Sister-in-law Jia. I'm going back now."

"Okay, okay!"

When Sha Zhu saw that he had given him the chance to be alone with Sister Qin, his face lit up with joy, and he secretly praised him for being so loyal.

But Qin Huairu had spent so much time building up the scene; was she really just there to hear a few meaningless words of comfort?

Seeing that Liu Guangqi was about to leave, she became anxious.

Her plans, from beginning to end, all revolved around the Red Star Factory.

Although this woman hadn't received much formal education and her work skills were average, she had a rather discerning eye. After all, it was a major factory that generated foreign exchange, and its benefits were among the best in the entire city of Beijing.

Putting everything else aside, she had already subtly inquired about Yan Jiecheng's situation. The wages of a first-class worker at the Hongxing Factory were almost comparable to those of a second-class worker at the steel rolling mill.

Meeting orders is hard work, but the money, tickets, and various benefits are all worthwhile.

More importantly, she was just a woman, and she simply couldn't bear the thought of handling those lumps of iron in the steel rolling mill. She didn't want to do any more work in the workshop.

I specifically sought out Liu Guangqi tonight because I knew he used to be the chief technical engineer at the Hongxing Factory, and that he was the one who arranged Guangtian's job.

Since Liu Guangqi was able to get Liu Guangtian into the Red Star Factory, he figured he should have some hope for his own situation as well.

And so, tonight's scene unfolded—a dramatic act of delivering groceries to someone's door while pouring out her heart in a pitiful manner.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Qin Huairu stopped beating around the bush. She raised her misty eyes and looked directly at Liu Guangqi, her voice trembling slightly:

"Brother Guangqi, look..."

"My sister-in-law knows this is a difficult matter, but I really have no other choice."

"Could you... please pass on a message for me?"

She hurriedly raised her hand, as if to swear an oath.

"I promise! Once I get there, I'll work my ass off and never let you down or cause you any trouble!"

Having said all that, Liu Guangqi finally understood the last bit of uncertainty in his mind.

Delivering vegetables and complaining were just preludes. The ultimate goal was to get him to help relocate the factory.

That's a really clever and shrewd plan.

Liu Guangqi didn't reply immediately, his gaze returning to the plate of cold dishes on the table. The aroma of sesame oil still lingered, but the calculating aura beneath was even more pungent.

Sha Zhu, standing to the side, only half understood what was being said, but seeing Qin Huairu's tearful eyes, his mind immediately started working again, and he interjected:

"Guangqi! Sister Qin has really had a tough time. You're a leader now, so getting her transferred to the Red Star Factory is just a matter of a word from you, isn't it?"

Liu Guangqi glanced at Sha Zhu and found it somewhat amusing.

This person will be led by the nose by Qin Huairu from now on, and it's no wonder he's being manipulated.

He ignored Sha Zhu, looked back at Qin Huairu, and shook his head. His tone was as calm as a deep pool, yet carried an unyielding weight.

"Sister-in-law Jia".

"It's not that I'm unwilling to help, it's just that this matter doesn't follow the rules."

Liu Guangqi didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "The steel rolling mill and the Hongxing factory are both department-level units directly under the ministry. They're like radishes with their own slots, and you should know how tightly the quotas are controlled."

"You're currently holding Dongxu's position, and your employment is permanently tied to the steel rolling mill. If you want to leave, the first step is for the mill's personnel department to approve your release. Do you think the mill will allow that?"

Qin Huairu's face paled slightly.

Liu Guangqi didn't give her time to think further and continued:

"Okay, even if the steel mill is willing to let you go, you still need to get a acceptance certificate from the Hongxing Factory. Only after both sides complete the transfer procedures can the position be considered truly transferred."

He paused slightly, looking at Qin Huairu's increasingly pale face, and then spoke more bluntly:

"It's true that I used to work at the Hongxing Factory. But that's all in the past. If I were to interfere in the personnel arrangements of another company now, it would be against the rules."

"Besides, you're currently only an apprentice fitter at the steel rolling mill."

"As for the assembly workers at the Red Star Factory, even the basic technicians, although they are not required to grind parts by hand, they must at least be able to read simple blueprints and be familiar with basic operating procedures."

"You've never been trained in these skills, even if I had extraordinary abilities to transfer you there—"

"What if you are unable to perform your duties?"

"Machines are not like pots and pans at home; a slight mistake can lead to disaster."

The words faded away.

Liu Guangqi's voice was deep, and his gaze was as still as a deep pool.

He looked directly at Qin Huairu:

"Sister-in-law Jia, if I agree to your request and something unexpected happens in the future, wouldn't that be harming you?"

"Have you forgotten what caused Dongxu's accident back then?"

have to say.

This final rhetorical question was a fatal blow.

His words progressed step by step, taking into account both reason and emotion, and clearly distinguishing between rules and regulations, completely extinguishing any remaining thoughts Qin Huairu might have.

Yet, one cannot find the slightest fault in it.

Don't mention Qin Huairu.

Even Sha Zhu, who had initially wanted to lend a hand, was now completely deflated, like an autumn eggplant struck by frost.

He moved his lips a few times.

My mind was completely blank. I tried to squeeze out a few words, but I couldn't utter a single one.

He never imagined—

There are so many intricacies behind the job transfer.

Qin Huairu was completely stunned.

She had prepared a whole speech, and even wanted to cite the precedents of Yan Jiecheng and Liu Guangtian to plead with Liu Guangqi.

But at this moment.

All the words stuck in his throat.

The last sentence, about Jia Dongxu's past, left her speechless.

after all.

Jia Dongxu died due to a mistake while operating a machine tool.

Now that Liu Guangqi has pointed it out.

How else could she possibly argue?

As expected, Qin Huairu remained silent for a long time.

In the end, he could only manage a weak smile: "I was thinking too shallowly... I'll look for another way. I won't disturb your drinking any longer."

……

Sha Zhu watched Qin Huairu's departing figure.

Feeling a mix of emotions, he couldn't help but scratch the back of his head: "Guangqi, weren't your words just now... a bit too harsh?"

He took a half step closer and lowered his voice:

"Sister Qin is, after all, a woman; life isn't easy for her..."

Liu Guangqi listened.

He simply smiled faintly and said nothing more.

To be fair...

The matter of Qin Huairu's job transfer was far less complicated than Liu Guangqi had described.

He simply didn't want to get involved.

I also don't want to cause any more trouble.

Qin Huairu is the kind of person who will help once and then again, and Liu Guangqi has no intention of getting involved in such trivial entanglements.

Besides, if we make an exception for her today...

What will he do when others come to the courtyard tomorrow after hearing the news?

thus.

The wisest choice is to stay away from this murky water from the very beginning.

One must speak tactfully and resolve matters cleanly, so that the other party will back down on their own, and both sides can save face.

This is what is called being worldly-wise and adept at interpersonal relationships.

If one were to spend all day scheming and fighting with the people in the courtyard, it would only be a waste of time and energy.

Wouldn't it be more worthwhile to use this free time to think about work progress and spend more time with your wife and children?

These days.

Who doesn't have their own agenda?

As long as they don't try anything with Liu Guangqi, they can do whatever they want.

As the old saying goes—

Everyone has their own strategies; as long as they don't directly affect one's own interests, there's no need to worry about them.

As for those undercurrents of thought.

Let them drift away with the wind.

after all.

Under the towering trees, birds inevitably chirp and sing.

And what the big tree seeks—

It is never about competing with birds for superiority, but about growing higher and reaching for brighter sunlight.

……

Then.

Liu Guangqi clearly had no intention of arguing with Sha Zhu about whether Qin Huairu was in a difficult situation.

People like Sha Zhu.

All he could see was the plight of Qin Huairu's family; no amount of reasoning would change that.

Just then.

A clear, cheerful laugh accompanied by light footsteps approached from afar.

"dad!"

"dad!"

Xiao Ruixue and Xiao Fengnian ran over from the backyard, each hugging one of Liu Guangqi's legs and tilting their rosy little faces up.

Xiao Ruixue reported in a soft, gentle voice:

"Dad, Mom said the luggage is all packed, and asked when we're going home?"

Little Fengnian blinked his curious eyes and asked, "Dad, will we come back here again in the future?"

The arrival of two little ones.

In an instant, the subtle silence in the courtyard was dispelled.

Sha Zhu was stunned for a moment, his attention completely drawn to it.

"Go home? Go home which home?"

His gaze shifted back and forth between the child and Liu Guangqi, his voice hesitant: "Guangqi, you mean... let the child live in the ministry compound?" His words were like a pebble thrown into still water, creating ripples in the narrow space of the courtyard. Several neighbors who had been doing their work slowed down simultaneously, their attention quietly turning towards them. Qin Huairu's earlier visit had caused quite a stir; within these walls, no secret could be kept hidden, and even the smallest thing could spread to every corner in the blink of an eye.

"Of course we'll come back; this is home after all." Liu Guangqi said, bending down to pull the two children to his side. He looked up at Sha Zhu and explained, "The children are already three years old. There's a nursery in the ministry compound, and I was thinking of letting them go there to learn something, which would also ease my parents' burden." This matter didn't need to be hidden, nor could it be hidden anyway.