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

Upon hearing Master Hong's words, Zhang Guoping glanced at the busy figures in the kitchen and then raised his voice, saying, "Comrades, please stop what you are doing for a moment. Let me introduce a new member to you."

This is Comrade Chen Yuzhen. From now on, she will be responsible for cleaning duties in the Security Department, mainly handling the cleaning of the office building and canteen areas.

At this point, Zhang Guoping smiled and turned to Chef Hong, saying, "Chef Hong, Comrade Chen's personnel file will be temporarily held by the canteen. His salary and benefits will be based on the standard for canteen kitchen helpers. He can eat twice a day for free in the canteen and has the right to purchase an additional meal at cost price."

Upon hearing this, Master Hong immediately smiled and greeted Old Mrs. Zhang, saying, "Sister Chen, welcome to our group."

When the elderly Mrs. Zhang arrived, she looked a little flustered. Faced with Master Hong's welcome, she quickly and politely replied, "Master Hong, I hope you will give me more guidance and take care of me in the future."

After Mrs. Zhang exchanged brief greetings with everyone in the kitchen, Zhang Guoping instructed her, "Comrade Chen, from now on, you will be responsible for cleaning the office building in the morning, assisting with the work in the canteen in the afternoon, and cleaning up the canteen before leaving get off work in the evening, then you can finish your work for the day and go home."

Grandma Zhang nodded and replied, "Director Zhang, I'll go get the tools and start cleaning the office building right away."

Before long, Mrs. Zhang took out a broom and dustpan from the cleaning room next door and began her first cleaning job since joining the security department.

"Ring ring! Ring ring! Ring ring!"

Not long after Jia Dongming entered the office, the phone on his desk rang.

He picked up the receiver and politely asked, "Hello, this is Jia Dongming. May I ask who this is?"

"Good morning, Comrade Dongming! I am Zhang Huanchun."

Zhang Huanchun's greetings came immediately from the other end of the phone.

A hint of surprise flashed across Jia Dongming's face, then he asked, "Captain Zhang, good morning! Is there something you need so early in the morning?"

Yesterday, Jia Dongming solved a case at the machine repair shop in less than half a day, which made Zhang Huanchun witness his case-handling ability once again, and he had the idea of ​​transferring him to the branch office.

However, before he could take action, Lin Minghua came yesterday afternoon to propose that Jia Dongming take the lead in handling long-standing old cases.

Lin Minghua's suggestion greatly appealed to Zhang Huanchun, but reopening investigations of old cases was often seen as a laborious and ineffective endeavor, so he had to consider it carefully.

After a night of deliberation, Zhang Huanchun finally decided to adopt the proposal. So, as soon as he arrived at work early in the morning, he contacted Jia Dongming to discuss the matter.

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's inquiry, Zhang Huanchun smiled and explained the reason: "Deputy Captain Jia, I'm bothering you this morning because I wanted to discuss a work arrangement with you."

Jia Dongming sensed the deliberation in the other party's tone and couldn't help but feel curious: "Captain Zhang, please speak frankly. As long as it's within my capabilities, I will do my best to assist you."

Zhang Huanchun, realizing his misunderstanding, quickly explained, "Deputy Chief Jia, it's like this: there are still some unsolved cases in the branch. Considering your workload in the steel mill's security department isn't too heavy, I wanted to ask if you would be willing to take on these cases and see if there's any possibility of solving them?"

Jia Dongming originally thought that Zhang Huanchun had a private matter to ask him, but he did not expect that it involved a long-standing case in the branch office.

He knew that these kinds of cases were quite difficult to investigate, and he understood why the other party had called in a consultative tone.

Although reopening old cases is indeed a difficult task to accomplish, Jia Dongming's daily routine in the security department was relatively leisurely.

Instead of wasting time in the office, you might as well go through old case files; you might find something useful.

Thinking of this, Jia Dongming readily replied, "Chief Zhang, there isn't much work to do in the security section, so I can use this opportunity to pass the time by studying old cases."

Please send someone to bring the relevant case files. I will try to review them all within two or three days to see if I can find any valuable clues.

Seeing that Jia Dongming readily accepted, Zhang Huanchun was very pleased and immediately said, "Deputy Captain Jia, I will arrange for someone to send the case files of the unsolved cases that have lasted for nearly three years to the security department of the steel rolling mill later."

Jia Dongming responded decisively: "Chief Zhang, I won't go out this morning. I'll just wait in my office for the case files to be delivered."

Zhang Huanchun understood and smiled, "Okay, I'll arrange for someone to send it over right away."

Grandma Zhang, holding a broom, carefully swept the inside and outside of the security building.

She passed by Jia Dongming's office twice during that time, intending to go in and express her gratitude, but she did not have the opportunity because there were always people inside.

As noon approached, seeing that there were no more visitors in Jia Dongming's office, Old Mrs. Zhang gently knocked on the door and greeted him softly, "Director Jia, are you busy?"

Hearing the sound, Jia Dongming looked up and saw the old lady of the Zhang family standing by the door in her work clothes. He immediately smiled and greeted her, "Aunt Zhang is here. Please come in and sit down."

The old lady slowly walked into the room and said earnestly, "Director Jia, I was planning to visit you yesterday to express my gratitude for arranging this job for me, which has given my family and me a way to make a living."

I was afraid that a hasty visit would cause you unnecessary trouble, which is why I didn't come to your home to bother you.

Jia Dongming waved his hand and said gently, "Aunt Zhang, it was just a small favor, you don't need to take it to heart."

Thinking of her family's situation, the old lady's voice trembled slightly: "Director Jia, this matter may seem insignificant to you, but to us, it is a life-saving grace."

My two children and I will remember this forever.

Seeing that she was emotional, Jia Dongming smiled and comforted her, "Aunt Zhang, if you really want to thank me, once you get your wages, send your two children to school as soon as possible."

Only through education can children have a bright future.

When her grandchildren were mentioned, tears welled up in the old lady's eyes: "Director Jia, I've wanted to send them to school for a long time, but things were really difficult before, so it's been delayed until today."

I'll get it done as soon as I get my salary this month.

Jia Dongming nodded and said, "Aunt Zhang, you are now an employee of the security department. I will give you a letter of introduction so that your two children can go to the factory-run school and save on tuition fees."

"In addition, your position is registered in the canteen, and canteen staff receive two free meals every day."

I can bring an extra lunchbox to work tomorrow and spend an extra penny to buy a meal to take home.

The food in our cafeteria is very flavorful and the portions are generous; it's a great deal at only one cent a meal.

The old lady repeatedly agreed and said gratefully, "Director Jia, I've got it."

"Then you go ahead with your work, I won't bother you any longer."

Jia Dongming smiled and replied, "Aunt Zhang, you go ahead and do your work."

If you encounter any difficulties in the future, feel free to come to me.

After leaving the office, Mrs. Zhang put the cleaning tools back in the cleaning room and then went to the cafeteria next door.

Everyone in the kitchen was busy preparing lunch.

The old lady walked up to Master Hong and asked, "Master Hong, is there anything I can do to help? Please let me know."

While stirring the vegetables in the wok, Chef Hong replied, "Sister Chen, you've just arrived today, so why don't you get to know Jiang Yun first?"

Lunch was prepared quickly.

Spicy stir-fried cabbage and stewed beef with potatoes were served that day, and the staple food was steamed buns made from a mixture of wheat flour and cornmeal.

After finishing cooking, Chef Hong took out his lunchbox from the cabinet and called out to the old lady while filling it with food, "Sister Chen, don't just stand there, go get your lunchbox, I'll get you some food."

The old lady hadn't eaten breakfast that morning, but now, smelling the aroma of food, she was already starving.

She responded and went back to the cleaning room, retrieved the newly issued aluminum lunchbox, and quickly walked back to the kitchen, handing it to Chef Hong somewhat apologetically: "Chef Hong, thank you for your trouble."

Master Hong took the lunchbox and reminded her, "Sister Chen, remember to bring an extra lunchbox tomorrow so you can buy another meal to take home for the children."

Seeing that Chef Hong had filled a box with vegetables and picked out two large steamed buns for her, the old lady thanked him repeatedly and then asked, "Chef Hong, my two little grandsons at home are waiting for me to go back and cook. I'd like to buy two more steamed buns, is that alright?"

Master Hong was not surprised by this, as canteen staff often buy extra food to take home and improve their meals.

He explained with a smile, "Sister Chen, we have meat and vegetables today. A serving of vegetables plus a steamed bun like this costs one cent. Each person can buy an extra serving."

If we want to buy more steamed buns, we'll have to see if there are any left over after dinner; if there are, we'll take turns buying them.

Looking at the full lunchbox in her hands, the old lady thought of her grandchildren waiting at home and asked hesitantly, "Master Hong, does the cafeteria have any extra lunchboxes? Could you lend me one first? I'll cook a meal for my child and take it back, then I'll return the lunchbox to you."

Master Hong did not show any surprise at the old lady Zhang's request. He replied with a smile, "Sister Chen, the official lunch boxes are in that cabinet over there. You can just go and get one yourself. Remember to return them this afternoon."

In addition, you are responsible for cleaning the cafeteria; please finish cleaning before dinner.

After listening to Mr. Hong's instructions, Mrs. Zhang quickly went to the cabinet, took out a lunchbox, and then went to the food serving window. She took out a small cloth bag from her pocket and said to Mr. Hong, "Mr. Hong, could you please make me another meal? I'll take it home for the children and then come back to clean."

When Master Hong saw that Old Mrs. Zhang was about to pay, he quickly waved his hand with a smile: "Sister Chen, there's no need to rush to pay. I'll have Sister Ye put it in the account later and deduct it when I get paid."

After hearing this, the elderly Mrs. Zhang thanked him profusely, saying, "Master Hong, thank you so much!"

Master Hong laughed heartily: "Sister Chen, we're all coworkers in the factory, no need to be so polite."

Based on the amount of food prepared by Chef Hong, Grandma Zhang only needed to make some steamed buns at home, along with the free lunch and dinner provided by the canteen, which would be enough to feed the three of them.

Today was Mrs. Zhang's first day back at work. Considering that her two children needed extra nutrition, she decided to bring an extra meal home so she could have a good meal with her grandchildren.

The thought that her two children would no longer have to go hungry and could go to school like the other children in the neighborhood filled Grandma Zhang with gratitude for Jia Dongming.

With hope for the future, Mrs. Zhang felt full of energy.

She packed two lunchboxes and four steamed buns into a cloth bag and happily headed home.

"Aunt Zhang, you really went to work at the steel rolling mill?"

As soon as he entered the front yard, the doorman Yan Bugui saw the old lady of the Zhang family dressed in work clothes and went up to greet her with envy.

Grandma Zhang replied with a smile, "Third Uncle, thanks to the neighborhood committee's care, the three of us, grandmother and grandson, finally see hope."

When Yan Bugui heard what the old lady of the Zhang family said, his gaze fell on the cloth bag in her hand, and he was stunned for a moment.

Years of experience told him that the bag definitely contained lunchboxes, and there were clearly two of them.

Judging from the curvature of the bag, it must contain quite a lot of things.

This situation made Yan Bugui suspicious: "Didn't the old lady of the Zhang family go to work as a temporary worker at the steel mill? Why did she bring back two lunch boxes? Even Sha Zhu, the canteen chef, usually only brings one lunch box, and only occasionally brings back two."

Grandma Zhang, carrying a lunchbox, quickly returned to the backyard and called out to her house, "Douzi! Douding! Grandma's back! Open the door quickly, Grandma brought back some delicious food!"

Hearing the noise, the two children inside quickly opened the door.

As soon as her granddaughter Douzi saw her grandmother in work clothes, she eagerly asked, "Grandma, what delicious treats did you bring for Douzi?"

Grandma Zhang walked into the house, put the cloth bag on the table, and happily said to her grandchildren, "Dou Ding, Dou Zi, Grandma brought spicy stir-fried cabbage, beef stew with potatoes, and steamed buns made of wheat flour and cornmeal today."

Upon hearing this, DouDing looked incredulous and quickly asked, "Grandma, where did all these vegetables and steamed buns come from?"