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

Zhao Mengyun gently took Liu Guangqi's arm, her face beaming with an irrepressible sweet smile, and followed him step by step.

At the door, the parents-in-law were already waiting. Seeing the young couple so harmonious, the old couple's eyes showed even more satisfaction.

"Dad, Mom, Happy New Year!" Liu Guangqi greeted them with a smile, handing over the gifts he was carrying. "Meng Yun and I have come to wish you both a Happy New Year."

"It's good that you're here, why bring so much stuff?" the mother-in-law said, but her eyes crinkled into a smile—her son-in-law always did things so perfectly that no one could find fault with him. If he had brought some expensive and conspicuous gifts, she would have felt uncomfortable; but these gifts were presentable yet not out of place, showing just the right amount of consideration for social interactions.

Satisfied, she took her daughter's hand and examined her closely. Seeing that her daughter had a rosy complexion and a contented look in her eyes, she knew that her daughter had not suffered any grievances. When she looked at her son-in-law, her eyes softened even more.

The father-in-law didn't say much, but quietly looked Liu Guangqi over. After a while, he nodded steadily, stepped forward, and patted him heavily on the shoulder.

"Let's go inside and talk."

The voice wasn't loud, but the weighty approval was all conveyed in that one beat.

"Why!"

Zhao Mengsheng, who had been unable to contain himself any longer, darted over to Liu Guangqi like a monkey, his eyes fixed on the wooden box.

"Brother-in-law! This...is this for me?"

"What else? It was made especially for you."

Liu Guangqi smiled and handed the box over. Zhao Mengsheng took it, peeked inside through a crack, and immediately gasped, his eyes widening in shock.

"Wow—!" The boy's clear exclamation exploded, filled with uncontrollable elation.

"I knew you'd like this." Liu Guangqi ruffled his hair. "Here, play with it. Happy New Year!"

"Thank you, brother-in-law! You really are my brother-in-law!" Zhao Mengsheng hugged the box tightly and rushed into the house as if afraid someone would snatch it from him.

After they were seated inside, Wu Shuang, the mother-in-law, had the nanny bring out fruit and snacks, then pulled her daughter aside for a private chat. The father-in-law, however, went straight to the chessboard and pressed Liu Guangqi down.

"Guangqi, come on, play a couple of rounds with me. I'm bored during the New Year holiday and my hands are itching to play."

Liu Guangqi understood immediately—his father-in-law was a soldier, and deep down he loved the art of strategic deployment. But soldiers take winning and losing very seriously, and he never took a game of chess lightly.

He sat down with a smile: "Dad, you have to go easy on me. I've been so busy with things at the factory these days that I've gotten rusty with chess."

"Are you still rusty?" The father-in-law's face twitched as he recalled how the boy had utterly defeated him on his first visit with a casual "Not bad." Those dozen or so crushing defeats almost made him doubt whether he had spent half his life playing chess.

...Enough, the past is best left unmentioned.

The chessboard was quickly set up, with the father-in-law taking the red pieces and making the first move. Liu Guangqi didn't hold back—he knew his father-in-law's temperament all too well: if you deliberately let him win, he'd flip the table on the spot. You had to really beat him into submission first before things could get any better.

The game began with a fierce and rapid advance, with rooks, knights, and cannons moving in unison, pressing forward relentlessly. In just over ten minutes, the father-in-law's defenses were torn to shreds. Only a handful of pieces remained that could cross the river, and the old general was trapped in the palace, unable to advance or retreat. The father-in-law stared at the board, his face alternating between pale and flushed.

"Checkmate." Liu Guangqi slammed the chariot to the bottom, delivering a decisive blow.

The father-in-law remained silent for a long time, his face so dark it looked like it could be wrung out. This kid really doesn't give me any face at all.

"Again!" He swept the chess pieces together with a clatter, his voice filled with a fierce determination to win.

In the second round, Liu Guangqi's offensive remained fierce, but he deliberately revealed two openings. As expected, his father-in-law fell for the trap, cleverly defusing it and thinking he had succeeded, but little did he know that he had played right into his opponent's hands—behind that seemingly risky move lay a deeper trap.

If one's father-in-law is someone who thinks three steps ahead for every step he takes, then Liu Guangqi is someone who thinks five steps ahead and has a seventh step in reserve.

Having been immersed in the art of chess in his previous life and having reached the professional level, Liu Guangqi had long since developed the habit of observing ten moves ahead after each move.

The best in the amateur circle, and an average good player in the professional system—

In essence, they were never playing a game of chess in the same arena.

"Lost again..."

Zhao's father stared at the old general who was once again being held accountable, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, his tone revealing anxiety.

"Good lad! Again!"

Hearing the commotion, Wu Shuang, the mother-in-law, came out with a smile and served tea to the two of them, and then poured hot soup for them.

"Old Zhao," she gently reminded him, "playing chess during the New Year is just for fun, don't take it too seriously, or your blood pressure will spike again."

Mr. Zhao retorted, his neck stiff: "Why should I argue with him? I'm just giving him pointers!"

Liu Guangqi smiled inwardly.

Knowing that the time was right, he decided to give way in the third round.

The game began with fierce competition, the pieces clashing crisply as they fell to the board, the two sides locked in a tight and evenly matched struggle.

The back-and-forth battle raged on, with players vying for control of the game. After more than ten minutes, the game remained tense and undecided.

Zhao's father's interest was completely ignited; his eyes shone brightly, and his mind was completely focused on the details.

At that very moment—

After exchanging pieces, Liu Guangqi seemingly casually leaped forward on his horse, subtly revealing a weakness.

This flaw was cleverly exploited: it was neither overly deliberate nor unreasonable, and it was enough that even someone with Zhao's skill level would not notice anything unusual after careful examination.

really!

Zhao's father's gaze swept across the Chu River and Han Border twice before suddenly fixing on one side.

His eyes suddenly lit up, and his breathing became heavier: "Ha, let's see where you can hide now!"

After saying that, he quickly advanced a piece, decisively captured Liu Guangqi's cannon.

The tide of battle turned in an instant!

Taking advantage of the situation, Zhao's father pressed forward step by step, his murderous aura palpable.

Liu Guangqi was struggling to cope with the situation, and his retreat gradually became increasingly frantic.

"General!"

In the end, Zhao's father led his troops straight into the Nine Palaces and made the final decision.

"We won!" He slapped his thigh, leaned back against the sofa, and a broad, triumphant smile spread across his face, every wrinkle radiating smugness.

"I told you, you're still too green! Experienced people are always the best!"

Liu Guangqi calmly and smilingly conceded defeat: "Dad's chess skills are becoming more and more superb. I am completely convinced."

He understood all too well that his father-in-law never wanted an easy victory.

Rather, it is the exhilarating feeling of turning the tide and regaining victory through one's own strength after a series of defeats.

This was far more exhilarating for him than simply winning the game.

Meanwhile, the perceptive mother-in-law had already seen everything.

She gave Zhao Mengyun a knowing look, and the corners of her lips curved into a smile—

This son-in-law is not only capable and reliable, but also knows how to handle interpersonal relationships, and he has managed to win over his father-in-law's heart.

At noon, the housekeeper laid out a table full of delicious dishes.

The craftsmanship was indeed outstanding: the braised pork was glossy and tender, the four-happiness meatballs were plump, a braised carp lay on a blue and white porcelain plate, and the aroma of the slow-cooked chicken soup wafted out.

Mr. Zhao took out his treasured Moutai and poured Liu Guangqi a full glass: "Come on, have a couple of drinks with Dad."

After several rounds of drinks, Zhao's father patted his son-in-law on the shoulder, his words filled with undisguised praise:

"Guangqi, I've heard about your achievements in the ministry last year. You helped the country generate foreign exchange and reduce debt; those are solid contributions."

"You're great!"

Zhao's father, who came from a military background, never liked beating around the bush.

The people he admired most in his life were these quiet, unassuming young people who were willing to share the nation's burdens.

As his son-in-law, Liu Guangqi's achievements brought him pride even in front of his old comrades-in-arms.

The more I looked at it, the more satisfied I became.

"Dad, this is all my duty."

Liu Guangqi raised his glass in a toast, his posture neither humble nor arrogant, showing no sign of taking credit.

"We are fortunate to have been born in peaceful times. If we have the opportunity to do our part, it is only right that we do so."

He effortlessly incorporated trendy phrases into his speech, making them sound natural and fitting.

"Well said!"

Mr. Zhao's face was flushed, whether from the alcohol or from the comforting words, it was hard to tell.

In short, the smile reached all the way to the corners of his eyes.

Looking at his son-in-law, Mr. Zhao felt incredibly comfortable; he was even more compatible than his own son. Seeing that the two were getting along so well and their conversation was about to delve deeper into the subject, his mother-in-law, Wu Shuang, sitting beside them, interrupted them with a smile.

"Guangqi," she said gently, "you and Xiaoyun have just gotten married, and you're both busy with work, so it's rare for you to have some free time. Since you've finally come home, stay a couple more days and keep us company. Your father and I will be going back to the military base soon, and it won't be easy to see each other again."

Zhao Mengsheng immediately chimed in, "Brother-in-law, please stay! I have many things I'd like to ask you!"

Before Liu Guangqi could speak, his wife Zhao Mengyun replied with a smile, "Mom, Guangqi told me a long time ago that he came here specifically to spend the New Year with you and Dad."

After his wife finished speaking, Liu Guangqi followed up with a respectful yet affectionate tone: "As long as Mom and Dad don't mind us causing trouble here, that's fine."

"What trouble are you causing!" Zhao's father laughed even harder upon hearing this, waving his hand, "Now that you've married Xiaoyun, this is your home! Stay as long as you like! We'll play a couple more games of chess later."

Liu Guangqi simply smiled and nodded.

***

The news that Liu Guangqi had paid New Year's visits to the General Logistics Department compound and was warmly invited to stay by his in-laws spread throughout the compound in less than half a day. This was naturally thanks to Zhao Mengsheng—he had only wanted to show off the new toy model his brother-in-law had given him, but after talking too much, he unknowingly "sold out" his brother-in-law.

"Your brother-in-law? He really came to your house for the New Year?"

"Of course! Look at this model, it's a New Year's gift from my brother-in-law! He's having tea inside right now!"

These words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake. As one of the four major military compounds in the western suburbs, the General Logistics Department compound was home to many proud and ambitious young men. They walked with an air of superiority, relying on their fathers' past glories, and none of them easily submitted to anyone else. But many people viewed Liu Guangqi differently—many young people who moved around various ministries had witnessed or even experienced Liu Guangqi's abilities firsthand, and genuinely admired him; their arrogance vanished in his presence.

So, on the afternoon of the second day of the Lunar New Year, many young people from the Zhao family compound arrived one after another. The men gathered together, chatting and laughing, creating a lively and vibrant scene.

"Brother Guangqi, we heard you were here, so we came to wish you a Happy New Year!"

"Brother Guangqi, I'm interning at the Second Ministry of Machine Building, and I've been wanting to get to know you for a long time."

"Brother Guangqi, my dad often praises you as a role model for us young people, and tells me to learn more from you."

Before long, Zhao Mengsheng was squeezed into a corner. He wasn't annoyed at all; on the contrary, he watched with great interest—seeing these usually arrogant friends now surrounding his brother-in-law, asking him all sorts of questions, their eyes filled with affection and admiration, he felt incredibly proud.

Look, this is my brother-in-law, Zhao Mengsheng.

***

On the early morning of the third day of the Lunar New Year, Zhao Mengsheng clung to Liu Guangqi's arm like a leech, insisting on dragging him to participate in the Spring Festival city-wide race. This is an old tradition in Beijing, held annually, somewhat similar to the later marathon.

"Brother-in-law, my dear brother-in-law, please go!" Zhao Mengsheng's face was contorted with worry, like a tightly squeezed bun. "Everyone in the courtyard has signed up, specifically asking to compete against you. You can't let me lose face!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the other children from the compound gathered around and started chattering amongst themselves.

"Yeah, Guangqi-ge!"

"It's the Lunar New Year, a perfect time to stretch your muscles! Let us see if you're as good as you are on the sports field!"

The calls of "Brother Guangqi" were affectionate, but there was a hint of competitive spirit hidden in their words. It was just like the temperament of these young people—admiring him in their hearts, they always wanted to find a chance to win, only then would they feel truly satisfied.

Liu Guangqi was somewhat helpless. He hadn't wanted to stand out in this kind of situation, but these young people were persistent and he was afraid he wouldn't have peace and quiet if he didn't agree. Zhao Mengyun smiled slightly, handed him a glass of warm water, and gently nudged his arm: "Go ahead, it doesn't matter how fast or slow you run, just think of it as playing along with them. I'll go cheer you on."

Since his wife had spoken, Liu Guangqi had no choice but to nod in agreement.

***

The square was teeming with people, and red flags fluttered in the wind. The crisp air was filled with the white mist exhaled by the crowd and the boisterous chatter, and the dark mass of people stretched to the horizon.