Courtyard House: Starting as an eighth-grade worker, with too many wives.

The reply was written slowly. Each word was carefully considered.

"...I'm interested. But for now, I'd like to start with what I'm best at. We can communicate by letter. I'll be open about anything that doesn't involve classified information. Let's work together to contribute to the country's scientific and technological development."

He read it twice after finishing it. It was too official. But he didn't know how else to write it.

He folded the letter, didn't put it in the envelope, and just left it beside him.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

Factory Director Yang pushed open the door, carrying large and small bags in his hands, with half of his body obscured by plastic bags.

"You've gone to buy supplies?"

Li Jianguo stood up, took the things from him, and put them on the table with a clatter.

"What goods are you getting?" Factory Manager Yang waved his hand dismissively. "They're from your mother-in-law. She asked me to bring them over on my way."

As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Li Jianguo, his tone laced with sarcasm: "You're lucky, kid. They always think of you when there's something good. Look at this, canned goods, homemade—do you know how much sugar it takes to make canned goods these days? I'm drooling just looking at it."

Li Jianguo didn't reply, but looked down and rummaged through the things. Bottles and jars were wrapped in old cloth, which was faded from washing but clean.

"I'm warning you," Director Yang pointed at him, "You can't do anything to betray Jiang Min. Her parents have treated you like this, if you..."

"How could I dare?"

Li Jianguo chuckled. It wasn't a genuine laugh; it was just a perfunctory one.

He picked out two items from the pile and handed them to Director Yang: "Take these back and eat them. There's so much, I can't possibly finish it all."

"No, no, you keep it for yourself—"

"Take it."

After a couple of pushes, Director Yang accepted it.

The two stood there, silent for a few seconds.

Li Jianguo reached out and handed over the letter he had just received.

"They're from the Northwest. They want me to work on their project."

Factory Director Yang took the letter, glanced at it, and frowned.

"This isn't right," he looked up. "Those people are all top-notch. If they really wanted to do it, what couldn't they do? Why do they have to send you? Are they short-handed?"

Li Jianguo shook his head: "Director Yang, are you belittling me?"

"What do you mean by belittling you? I'm just telling the truth." Director Yang handed the letter back to him. "What they're doing is completely different from what we're doing. We're doing it for the people's livelihood, while they're doing it for the nation's establishment."

Li Jianguo took the letter, held it tightly, and said nothing.

"You want to go?"

Factory Director Yang suddenly asked.

Li Jianguo shook his head, then nodded.

"That place... I really long for it. But I can't abandon what I have now."

Upon hearing this, Director Yang quickly waved his hand, saying, "You mustn't. If you go, you might never come back in this lifetime."

Li Jianguo looked up at him: "I thought you would persuade me to dedicate myself to the country and go quickly."

"Don't flatter me." Factory Director Yang sat down on the sofa. "You know what I mean. Even if you're going, you have to finish your work first. So many people in the factory are counting on you."

Li Jianguo nodded without saying a word.

After a while, he said, "I replied. I won't go for now. But if they really need it over there... we'll see."

He didn't rule out any possibility of definitive conclusions.

Factory Director Yang looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, and then changed the subject.

"Is everything alright in your office? If not, go find Yu Li. Go out for a walk, just to make an appearance."

"Is it absolutely necessary to go?"

"Those bastards are shrewd." Director Yang stood up, patted his trousers, and said, "They definitely know about what happened at the department store yesterday. But they won't believe it so easily. Let's put on an act for a few more days to solidify our belief."

Li Jianguo didn't speak, and his expression wasn't good.

"Alright, stop looking like that," Factory Director Yang said, walking out. "Think about the things you want to buy. Every time I helped you apply for them before, I had to beg and plead. Now that you have the money, buy them yourself, aren't you happy?"

Li Jianguo twitched the corner of his mouth.

"Oh, right," he remembered something and took a few pages of paper out of the drawer, "I've written a paper and published it in an international journal. Could you mail it to me?"

Factory Director Yang took it, glanced at it, rolled it up, and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Okay. The higher-ups need to inspect it, so it might take a while. I'll let you know when I have some news."

The door closed.

Li Jianguo sat in his office for a while longer. He checked his watch; it was still early.

He stood up and started packing his things. He took some more food from his storage space, added it to what his mother-in-law had given him earlier, set aside a portion, and called his assistant to deliver it to Jiang Min at the new factory.

"She's all alone over there, I wonder how she is."

The assistant took it, nodded, and left.

Li Jianguo went out and drove.

Yu Li was already waiting at the alley entrance.

She dressed up carefully today. Her hair was re-braided, with a red ribbon tied at the end. Her clothes were new, blue with white flowers, and the collar was buttoned up neatly.

Upon seeing the car, her eyes lit up, and she jogged over.

When she got on the bus, she straightened her skirt and sat down.

"Director Li."

"Um."

The car drove off.

Yu Li turned her head to look at him. He kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead and didn't turn around.

"Director Li, is this car... really yours?"

"Um."

"That's great."

Yu Li placed her hand on the seat and touched it. It was made of artificial leather and felt a little cool.

"Where do you want to go?"

Li Jianguo asked.

Yu Li blushed slightly: "Does this... count as a date?"

"I guess so. Director Yang asked for it. You decide on the location."

Yu Li smiled, pursed her lips, lowered her head, and then looked up again.

"How about...a movie?"

"OK."

There were quite a few people outside the movie theater. A vendor selling sunflower seeds and soda was pushing his cart and calling out his wares.

Li Jianguo bought two bottles of soda and a bag of sunflower seeds and handed them to Yu Li.

Yu Li took it and held it in her arms.

"Director Li?"

Someone shouted.

Li Jianguo turned around and saw a young man with a woman beside him.

"Director Li, I'm Gangzi from Workshop Two."

Li Jianguo nodded. He looked familiar.

Gangzi glanced at Yu Li beside him, his eyes slightly unfocused.

"Director Li...you're out with friends?"

"Um."

Gangzi was about to say something when the woman next to him pinched him. He grimaced and shut up.

"Well... Director Li, let's go in first."

The woman pulled Gangzi inside. After a few steps, Li Jianguo heard the woman whisper, "What are you standing there for? That's not his girlfriend at all."

"No? I've seen his girlfriend before, she's prettier than this one—"

"Shut up."

Li Jianguo didn't turn around. Yu Li stood beside him, her expression changing slightly before quickly returning to normal.

"Director Li, let's go in too."

The movie is an old one. It's in black and white and it's about war.

Li Jianguo leaned back in his chair, watched for a while, and then closed his eyes.

Yu Li sat beside him, cracking sunflower seeds lightly. She would occasionally turn her head to glance at him.

Li Jianguo woke up halfway through the movie. He didn't know when he had fallen asleep.

Yu Li was still sitting there, having finished eating the sunflower seeds in her hand, holding the empty bag.

"Let's go."

Li Jianguo stood up.

Yu Li followed him outside. It was still daylight when they left the movie theater.

"Director Li," Yu Li quickened her pace to catch up with him, "How about... we take another stroll?"

Li Jianguo glanced at her.

That glance was expressionless.

"Let's go back."

He said.

Yu Li opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.

Once in the car, the journey was quiet. At the alley entrance, Yu Li got out, stood there, and watched the car drive away.

Inside the car, Li Jianguo lit a cigarette. He rolled down the window, and the wind blew in, scattering cigarette ash everywhere.

He thought of Jiang Min. He wondered how she was doing at the new factory. Had the food been delivered yet?