Siheyuan: I just came across and wanted to chase me away

Zhang San shrank back after being slapped, but still wore a grin on his face. He quickly begged for forgiveness: "Brother Li, I know I was wrong. I was just saying it offhand." He rubbed his hands together and glanced at the teahouse across the street. The figure in the red cotton-padded jacket was still sitting by the window, like a flower blooming in the gray street scene.

"Stop talking nonsense." Li Jianjun glared at him, but his tone was no longer angry. "Remember, don't make too much of a fuss. Just do as I say, keep an eye on her whereabouts, and make your move when she meets Gu Nan."

"Don't worry, Brother Li, you don't trust me to handle things?" Zhang San patted his chest to assure him, then quickly glanced around the teahouse, mentally reviewing Lili's clothes and seating arrangement before hunching over and slipping into the alley next door. A pile of miscellaneous items at the alley entrance provided cover, and he stood in the shadows, his eyes fixed on the teahouse entrance like a wildcat waiting for its prey.

Li Jianjun stood there, watching Zhang San's figure disappear into the depths of the alley, then turned and glanced at Lili in the teahouse. Through the street and glass window, he couldn't see her expression, only that she occasionally picked up her teacup and took a sip, her finger lightly tracing circles on the rim. A sinister smile curled at the corner of his lips, a smile that concealed calculation and a ruthless edge—Gu Nan, Lili, what you owe me, it's time to pay it back together.

The wind picked up again, swirling the fallen leaves on the ground. Li Jianjun tightened his collar and turned to walk home. His footsteps rustled on the leaves, like accompaniment to an impending drama.

Old Wang from the security department squatted on the bluestone steps at the factory gate, his cigarette burning down to a butt between his fingers. He took a deep drag, and the smoke rings he exhaled slowly dissipated in the morning light. His voice was so loud it could be heard halfway down the street: "You guys don't know, even though Li Jianjun has been released, he's completely cut off from our steel rolling mill! His file was moved out of the personnel department a long time ago and thrown into the corner of the archives to collect dust. From now on, he's just an ordinary citizen, with absolutely no connection to the factory."

Xiao Li next to him laughed, stubbed out his cigarette on the ground, and crushed it with his foot: "That's right, they were so powerful back then, with people following them wherever they went. They hadn't even warmed their seats as deputy factory director before it was all over. Now, all their efforts have been in vain, and they even have to watch their step when they enter the factory."

These words, as if they had sprouted wings, quickly spread throughout the workshop. Beside the lathes and along the assembly lines, many employees, while their hands continued working, listened intently, secretly chuckling as they overheard. Li Jianjun, previously abusing his position as deputy factory director, had frequently withheld benefits and made things difficult for his subordinates—giving the best safety shoes to his cronies and awarding honors to his relatives during performance reviews—earning him widespread resentment. Now that he had fallen from grace, everyone felt a sense of satisfaction, but due to factory rules, they dared not openly applaud, only exchanging knowing glances as they shared their relief.

Yi Zhonghai happened to be on his way to the warehouse to collect materials when he heard this at the factory gate. He stopped abruptly, the material list in his hand nearly falling to the ground with a clatter. He never expected that although Li Jianjun had been released, he couldn't even keep his position as deputy factory director and had become a complete outsider. This was it. He had relied on Li Jianjun's connections, getting all the good things in the workshop, and even his son's job was arranged through Li Jianjun. Now that the tree had fallen, the monkeys had scattered. Gu Nan had never gotten along with him and had often criticized him technically before. He would definitely pick a fight with him next, and his days at the factory would probably be difficult from now on. Thinking of this, his face fell, his steps became heavy as lead, and the walk to the warehouse felt exceptionally long.

Not only Yi Zhonghai, but He Yuzhu in the kitchen also heard the commotion. His hand, busy chopping vegetables, paused. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his face. Thankfully, his wife, Lu Jia, was observant and had repeatedly warned him the other day: "Don't get too close to Li Jianjun. Director Gu doesn't tolerate any injustices. Don't get implicated." In the past, he probably would have already been boasting about his close relationship with "Deputy Director Li." If that had happened, wouldn't Gu Nan have dealt with him too if Li Jianjun fell? Luckily, Gu Nan had no idea about his past connection with Li Jianjun, which saved him from being implicated and keeping his job in the kitchen.

As He Yuzhu wiped the greasy stove, he pondered: Although he hadn't been reinstated as head chef yet and could only do odd jobs like washing and chopping vegetables, at least he still had a secure job at the steel mill. As long as he worked diligently, avoided getting involved in the gossip in the factory and the courtyard, and gradually improved his relationship with Gu Nan, he would eventually have a chance to turn things around.

Qin Huairu heard the news at the sewing table in the corner of the workshop, her heart skipped a beat, and the needle and thread in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud." If Li Jianjun was no longer the deputy factory director, then the matter of sending the goat to the countryside was completely beyond saving, with no hope left. Asking Gu Nan for help? She didn't even dare to think about it—the Gu family and the Jia family had never been on good terms, and a couple of years ago they had even had a falling out because the goat had stolen a chicken from the Gu family; why would they bother with their business?

She paced anxiously for a moment, her cloth shoes scraping against the cement floor. Suddenly, she remembered He Yuzhu. Although He Yuzhu and Gu Nan had a past conflict, he had many acquaintances at the factory—the head chef in the kitchen, Old Wang in the purchasing department—who wouldn't give him some face? Perhaps she could pull some strings. After much thought, she decided to try her luck in the kitchen, even if there was only a sliver of hope.

At this moment, He Yuzhu was extremely busy in the kitchen. He had just finished wiping the greasy stove with alkaline water and now had to wash the mountain of vegetable basins. Although Gu Nan had stopped targeting him, the workshop director Zhong Yi still disliked him. It was probably because he thought he had been too flamboyant in the past, and he would find some excuse to make things difficult for him from time to time—either complaining that he hadn't cut the radishes evenly or that his vegetable basins weren't shiny enough. He could only endure it, burying his head in his work, hoping that Zhong Yi would calm down soon.

"Zhu Zi, busy?" Qin Huairu leaned in halfway, her blue headscarf damp with cotton, her face beaming with a smile three times warmer than usual, her tone sickeningly sweet.

He Yuzhu looked up and saw it was her. He clicked his tongue inwardly, and his brows furrowed involuntarily. Li Jianjun had already fallen from power, so why was she still coming to him? Could it be that she wanted to borrow grain coupons or cloth coupons again? He just wanted to work quietly and mend his relationship with Gu Nan. He didn't want to get entangled in the troubles of this courtyard, especially the Jia family's affairs, which were hard to shake off once you got involved.

But he didn't show it on his face. He just picked up a rag, wiped his hands, and replied indifferently, "Sister Qin, is there something you need?"