Courtyard House: The Long-Lost Eldest Son Returns with Military Merit

"You asked about this, do you have any recommendations for candidates?"

Jia Dongming didn't hide anything and explained, "It's like this, yesterday on my way home from get off work I saw two kids picking up recyclables in a garbage dump. Later I heard from my nephew that they live in the same compound as me."

"I felt sorry for the children, so when I got home I asked my mother about it and found out that their parents were killed by gangsters when they went to the outskirts of the city to dig for wild vegetables a couple of years ago, and now they live with their grandmother."

"This 47-year-old grandmother supports her two grandsons by doing odd jobs and collecting recyclables, and her life is really difficult."

We happened to need some help in the cafeteria, so I thought I'd give this family a chance.

After listening to Jia Dongming's explanation, Zhang Guoping understood his intention, but considering the regulations for canteen recruitment, he reminded him: "Director, kitchen helper is a formal position, and this old lady's age is beyond the recruitment scope. Directly assigning her may not be in compliance with regulations."

After thinking for a moment, Jia Dongming said to Zhang Guoping, "Let's do it this way, we'll recruit kitchen helpers through the normal process."

Additionally, we can create a temporary position responsible for cleaning the cafeteria and office building, with a monthly salary of eighteen yuan, and the personnel file will be under the cafeteria's management.

Zhang Guoping had assumed Jia Dongming would forcefully change the regulations, but he hadn't expected Jia to propose this compromise, so he nodded in agreement: "Director, the office building does indeed need someone to clean it, so we won't have to keep reminding everyone to do the cleaning in the future."

Jia Dongming smiled and said, "Then it's settled."

I'll go to the neighborhood office in a bit and ask them to help contact that old lady to see if she'd be willing to come.

"Section Chief, why don't you just go see her directly?"

Zhang Guoping was somewhat puzzled.

Remembering his mother's reminder, Jia Dongming explained, "Although this old lady is struggling financially, she is unwilling to accept help easily."

There are more than a dozen families living in our courtyard. If I were to personally intervene, it might put pressure on her if word got out.

Zhang Guoping then understood Jia Dongming's consideration and said admiringly, "Director, you're doing good deeds quietly."

Jia Dongming waved his hand: "Since we've run into this, let's help within our capabilities, at least so that the two children don't have to rely on scavenging for scraps to fill their stomachs anymore."

Around 9 a.m., Jia Dongming finished his work and rode his bicycle to the street office.

"Comrade, who are you looking for?"

The old man at the gate saw him come in and asked.

Jia Dongming stopped and said politely, "Uncle Zhang, I am Jia Dongming from courtyard number 95. I'm here to talk to Director Wang about something."

The doorman recognized him and greeted him warmly, "Oh, it's Section Chief Jia. Director Wang is in his office. Please go in directly."

After thanking him, Jia Dongming walked to the door of Director Wang's office and knocked: "Good morning, Director Wang."

Director Wang stood up with some surprise when he saw him: "Director Jia, what brings you here today?"

Jia Dongming explained his purpose: "It's for the old lady from the Zhang family in the backyard of our courtyard."

Yesterday I saw two children collecting recyclables outside. After inquiring, I learned that their family consists only of elderly people and children, and life is very difficult for them.

"Our department needs a temporary worker to clean the canteen and office building, with a monthly salary of eighteen yuan."

I'd like to give this opportunity to Old Mrs. Zhang. Could you please help me ask her what she thinks?

Director Wang was very pleased to hear this: "Director Jia, the Zhang family is a poor household that our street has been paying attention to."

If they could have this job, their lives would be greatly improved.

I thank you on their behalf!

Jia Dongming said calmly, "I heard from my family that this old lady has a strong personality and is unwilling to accept help easily."

So I thought of using this method to give her an income without hurting her self-esteem.

"Furthermore, I don't want others to know that I specifically arranged this job for the old lady of the Zhang family."

Please go to our compound on behalf of the subdistrict office, under the guise of organizing a program to care for families in need, and inform her to report to the security department of the steel rolling mill tomorrow morning.

Although Jia Dongming claimed that the old lady of the Zhang family was proud and unwilling to accept help from her neighbors, Director Wang knew perfectly well that this was just an excuse.

Jia Dongming didn't want the people in the courtyard to know that he was the one who secured the job for the old lady of the Zhang family.

Having understood this, Director Wang deeply admired Jia Dongming's character and immediately agreed, "Director Jia! Rest assured, I will not reveal a single word of this to anyone else."

Having received the promise, Jia Dongming took out a letter of introduction from his pocket and handed it to Director Wang with a smile: "Director Wang! This is the letter of introduction. I'll have to trouble you with this matter."

Director Wang quickly waved his hand: "Director Jia! You are assisting our street office with its work, how can you say it's a burden?"

Jia Dongming smiled, stood up and said goodbye: "Director Wang! There are still matters to be handled in the department, so I won't bother you any longer."

Director Wang stood up and said, "Director Jia! Let me see you off."

"Director Wang! Please wait a moment."

After politely declining, Jia Dongming turned and left.

After seeing Jia Dongming off, Director Wang did not return to his office, but went straight to the No. 95 compound.

"Director Wang! What brings you here today?"

As soon as I entered the front yard, the three older women who were sewing saw me and immediately greeted me warmly.

Director Wang responded with a smile, "Good morning, Sister-in-law Yan! I need to speak with Old Mrs. Zhang in the backyard. Did she go out this morning?"

The third aunt replied, "She went out early this morning, but she just came back and should be home now."

Let me lead you to the backyard.

"Then it will be hard work."

Director Wang nodded his thanks.

As I walked through the moon gate into the central courtyard, an older woman who was sitting and chatting saw Director Wang and stood up to greet him: "Director Wang! What brings you to the courtyard today?"

Director Wang replied with a smile, "Sister-in-law Yi, I've come to talk to Old Madam Zhang about something."

"She just got back not long ago."

"That's what the older woman said."

The three women led Director Wang to the front of the Zhang family's house in the backyard and called into the house, "Grandma Zhang! Director Wang from the neighborhood committee is here. Please come out for a moment."

A short while later, the door opened.

Grandma Zhang came out of the house and saw Director Wang and the third aunt. She politely asked, "Director Wang, did you need something from me?"

Director Wang said gently, "Sister Zhang, considering your family's actual situation, the neighborhood committee would like to arrange a temporary job for you. Would you be willing?"

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Zhang became immediately excited, her voice trembling slightly: "Director Wang! I'm willing, I'm willing! No matter how hard the work is, as long as it can earn money, I'll do it."

Seeing tears welling up in her eyes, Director Wang continued, "The steel rolling mill needs a temporary worker to be responsible for cleaning the canteen and office building. The monthly salary is eighteen yuan."

If you'd like, you can go to the neighborhood office later, and I'll issue you a letter of introduction.

Grandma Zhang nodded repeatedly: "Okay! Director Wang! I'll pack my things and then go with you to complete the formalities."

Hearing this, the three older women standing nearby felt envious and couldn't help but say, "Director Wang! My sons Jiecheng and Jiefang both graduated from junior high school, but they still haven't found partners."

"Do you think the neighborhood committee could also arrange temporary work positions for them?"

Upon hearing this, Director Wang immediately understood Jia Dongming's deeper concerns—not only about doing good deeds without seeking fame, but also about avoiding comparisons and disputes among neighbors.

Faced with the three women's requests, Director Wang patiently explained, "Sister-in-law Yan, the Zhang family is a registered impoverished family with a lack of stable income. According to the policies of higher authorities, they are priority recipients of assistance."

"Your teacher, Mr. Yan, is a teacher at Hongxing School. Although he supports the whole family on his own, his salary exceeds the minimum standard of five yuan per person in Beijing."

Therefore, if your child needs job placement, you will need to register and wait in line at the local street office.

When the older women and young wives in the courtyard heard that Director Wang had come to see Old Mrs. Zhang, they all gathered in the backyard to find out what was going on.

To everyone's surprise, the neighborhood committee arranged a job for the elderly Mrs. Zhang.

After packing up, Mrs. Zhang left with Director Wang, her heart filled with joy.

Amidst envious glances from onlookers, the two walked towards the neighborhood office.

Auntie Er watched as Director Wang led Old Lady Zhang away, and recalling how the neighborhood committee had helped Old Lady Zhang find work, she felt uneasy. She muttered to herself, "What incredible luck did Old Lady Zhang have? The neighborhood committee actually managed to get her a job?"

Hearing this, the three older women were also full of sour grapes, and chimed in, "That's right! Our Jie Cheng graduated from junior high school so long ago, and the neighborhood committee has never mentioned arranging a job for him. Instead, they're prioritizing Old Lady Zhang. Tell me, is that reasonable?"

Seeing the two getting more and more agitated, the older woman smiled and advised, "Second Auntie, Third Auntie, who in our neighborhood doesn't know the Zhang family's situation? The neighborhood committee is just being considerate of families in need, that's why they're taking special care of them."

Listening to the chatter of the older women, and seeing the undisguised envy on the faces of the other women in the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi suddenly remembered what Jia Dongming had said at home yesterday.

A thought struck her: she vaguely felt that the fact that the old lady of the Zhang family suddenly had a job was probably related to her eldest son.

Director Wang led the elderly Mrs. Zhang into his office, closed the door, and then took out the letter of introduction that Jia Dongming had given him from the drawer. He frankly said to the still excited old lady, "Elder sister Zhang, there were too many people talking in the courtyard just now, so I didn't tell you the whole truth."

Now that there are no outsiders here, I'll be frank: This job was arranged for you by Director Jia Dongming of your institute, who saw that your family was struggling financially.

"What? Director Wang, you're saying... this job was arranged by the eldest son of the Jia family? Really?"

When Mrs. Zhang heard this, her eyes widened in disbelief. She immediately asked Director Wang for confirmation.

Seeing her shocked expression, Director Wang nodded affirmatively and replied gently, "Elder sister Zhang, you three have truly met a benefactor this time."

"Yesterday, when Director Jia came home from get off work, he saw your two children picking up recyclables by the garbage pile at the entrance of the alley."

He asked about your situation and learned about your family's difficulties, so he found you a temporary job at the steel rolling mill's security department.

The daily cleaning duties in the canteen and security office building earn a monthly salary of eighteen yuan.

"You heard what Old Yan's wife said when I was talking in the yard just now."

Director Jia specifically transferred this task to you through our subdistrict office because he was afraid of people being jealous and gossiping.

Since the tragic deaths of his son and daughter-in-law, Yi Zhonghai, an elderly man in the courtyard, had called on everyone to donate money to the Zhang family.

But Old Mrs. Zhang knew in her heart that Yi Zhonghai did this mainly to help the Jia family, and only incidentally pointed to their Zhang family.

That's why she has consistently declined the hospital's offers of assistance.

But to her utter surprise, after learning the truth about her family, the eldest son of the Jia family quietly found her a job.

Mrs. Zhang felt both warm and sad, and quickly thanked Director Wang, saying, "Director Wang, thank you for telling me the truth."

When I get back to the courtyard, I must thank the eldest son of the Jia family properly.

Upon hearing this, Director Wang quickly waved his hand to dissuade her: "Sister Zhang, you absolutely mustn't do that! If you really go to thank him, you won't be thanking him; you'll be harming him instead."

Grandma Zhang was taken aback at first, but then she remembered the sour words from the third aunt earlier and immediately understood Director Wang's concerns.

She patted her chest in relief and whispered, "Director Wang, thank you for reminding me! Otherwise, I would have been really confused and almost repaid kindness with enmity, harming the eldest son of the Jia family."

Seeing that she understood, Director Wang was relieved and handed her the letter of introduction with a smile: "Sister Zhang, take this, and you can report to the security department of the steel rolling mill tomorrow."

With this job, the three of you, grandmother and grandson, will finally have something to live the rest of your lives.

As the old lady of the Zhang family accepted the letter of introduction, a hopeful smile appeared on her face as she thought about how with a stable income, her two grandsons would not only be able to eat their fill but also go to school like other children.