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

Jia Dongming pedaled his bicycle, carrying Banggeng, towards Hongxing Primary School.

On the way, he instructed, "Bang Geng, study hard at school and listen to your teachers."

From now on, whenever I have free time, I'll give you a ride to school.

Banggeng sat in front of the car, watching his classmates walking to school along the roadside, and a sense of pride he had never felt before welled up in his heart.

He couldn't help but ask again, "Uncle, is what you said true? Will I really be able to ride in your car to school often in the future?"

Sensing the child's dependence, Jia Dongming replied gently, "As long as you are obedient and study hard, your uncle will definitely keep his promise."

A few minutes later, the bicycle stopped in front of Hongxing Primary School.

After Banggeng got off the bus, Jia Dongming took out a dime from his pocket and handed it to him: "Banggeng, take this money."

Go home early after school at noon.

Bang Geng never expected that his uncle would not only personally deliver the package to him, but also give him pocket money.

This kind of care was something he rarely felt even from his father. Feeling warm inside, he quickly accepted the money and happily thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Uncle!"

Upon hearing Banggeng's thanks, Jia Dongming reached out and patted Banggeng's watermelon-shaped head, then kindly instructed him, "Alright! Your uncle should go to the factory now. You should head to school!"

"Great idea! Who's that guy on the bicycle? Is he your mom's new boyfriend?"

The scene at the school gate was witnessed by many children coming to school. A student who knew Banggeng saw Jia Dongming ride away and immediately went up to Banggeng to ask him a question.

Upon hearing the classmate's question, Banggeng remembered Jia Dongming's identity and explained to him with a hint of pride, "Liu Mingming! He's not my stepfather, he's my uncle, my dad's older brother."

"Let me tell you again, my uncle is the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill. If any of you bully me again, I'll tell my uncle, and he'll arrest you all."

Seeing Banggeng's smug look, Liu Mingming's face showed a hint of doubt, and she pressed him for an answer: "Banggeng! Are you telling the truth? Is your uncle really the head of security at the steel mill?"

Seeing the skeptical looks from his classmates, Banggeng replied smugly, "Liu Mingming! If you don't believe me, you can ask Yan Jiekuang and Liu Guangfu!"

"My uncle said that he would ride his bike to take me to school whenever he has free time."

If you dare bully me again, I'll have my uncle arrest you all and send you to a juvenile detention center.

Around 7 a.m., Jia Dongming arrived at the gate of the steel rolling mill by bicycle.

The security guard on duty at the gate was still Wang Jianjun from yesterday. Upon seeing Jia Dongming, he immediately raised his hand in salute and greeted him respectfully and formally: "Section Chief Jia! Good morning!"

Seeing this, Jia Dongming returned the salute and said solemnly, "Comrade Wang Jianjun! Good morning!"

After exchanging greetings, Wang Jianjun remembered what the section chief had told him that morning and quickly reported to Jia Dongming, "Section Chief Jia! Section Chief Lin is waiting for you in his office. Please go directly to see him when you arrive."

Yesterday at noon, while having lunch in the small canteen, Li Huaide told Jia Dongming that Director Lin of the Security Department was in a state of semi-working and semi-rest due to his unhealed war wounds.

Once Jia Dongming takes office, he will take full control of all affairs of the security department.

Upon learning that Director Lin was already waiting, Jia Dongming dared not delay and rode his bicycle toward the security office building.

Before long, Jia Dongming arrived at Director Lin's office. He saw a middle-aged man sitting inside reading a newspaper, so he knocked on the door, stepped in, and solemnly saluted to report: "Director Lin! Jia Dongming, formerly of the Special Operations Battalion of a certain division of the 18th Army, reporting for duty."

When Director Lin saw Jia Dongming enter, he stood up from behind his desk, returned the greeting, shook hands with him, and said warmly, "Comrade Jia Dongming! On behalf of the Steel Rolling Mill Security Department, I welcome you to join us."

After shaking hands, Jia Dongming politely replied, "Director Lin! Please rest assured, I will do my utmost to live up to the organization's trust."

Director Lin asked Jia Dongming to sit down and then introduced him: "Comrade Dongming! The reason why I was transferred to the steel rolling mill as the head of the security department was mainly because my health was not suitable for heavy work, so I could only manage the security department in a semi-rest and semi-work manner."

"Due to health reasons over the past two years, I have relaxed my management of the department, which has led to some staff members becoming lax in their work attitude and perfunctory in their handling of tasks."

"Some time ago, I received a notice from my superiors that a combat hero would be coming to take over my job."

I've been looking forward to your arrival ever since that day, and now that you've finally come, I can finally retire to the second line with peace of mind.

After hearing this, Jia Dongming smiled and said, "Director Lin! Health is the foundation of work."

You can rest assured and recuperate from now on. I will take care of the security department; there will be absolutely no problems.

Director Lin nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Dongming! I'm relieved to hear you say that."

Now I'll give you a brief explanation of the structure of the security department.

Our department is mainly divided into two parts.

The field operations unit is divided into three brigades: the first brigade is responsible for factory area security, the second brigade is responsible for factory area patrols, and the third brigade is responsible for security and patrols in the living quarters.

"Each brigade is headed by a brigade commander, who is in charge of two squads."

Each team consists of one team leader and thirty team members, for a total of thirty-one people.

The three brigades totaled 187 men.

"The logistics department is responsible for the undergraduate's logistical support, firearms management and maintenance, etc., and has one logistics section chief."

The subordinates include seven canteen staff, six armory managers, two warehouse managers, and four logistics and cleaning staff.

"The security department is under dual management, belonging to the internal security department of the public security bureau and also under the leadership of Li Huaide, the deputy director of the steel rolling mill in charge of logistics."

But the steel rolling mill has no authority over us; we have the authority to handle cases. Even if the mill leaders are involved in problems, we have the right to take action.

Through Director Lin's explanation, Jia Dongming gained a preliminary understanding of the organizational structure of the security department of the steel rolling mill, and at the same time, he deeply appreciated the actual authority held by the security department during this period.

After confirming that Jia Dongming understood the basic situation, Director Lin stood up from his seat and said with a smile, "Comrade Dongming, I will now take you to the armory to collect your sidearm, and then I will gather all the staff in the department to meet you."

Soon after, Jia Dongming accompanied Director Lin to the weapons storage area of ​​the security section.

Seeing the equipment displayed in the warehouse, he was secretly surprised: "The equipment here far exceeds that of a typical security department. In addition to regular firearms, there are even mortars and anti-aircraft guns."

Jia Dongming received a 1910 rifle and three 50 rounds of ammunition, and then followed Director Lin to the security section's daily training ground.

Having received prior notice, all members of the security department, except for those on duty, gathered at the training ground early in the morning to wait for their meeting with the new leader.

"Comrades, this is our newly appointed head of the Security Section, Comrade Jia Dongming."

After the team had assembled, Director Lin introduced Jia Dongming to everyone present.

As soon as he finished speaking, a round of applause rang out in the training field.

After the applause subsided, Jia Dongming said, "Comrades, I am Jia Dongming."

From today onward, we will work and strive together, and we hope for your support in our future endeavors.

"In addition, the security department has always valued practical skills."

If any comrade is confident that their strength surpasses mine, they may challenge me at any time.

The winner will receive a raise and I will personally fund a banquet for the entire department; the loser will have to contribute thirty yuan to improve the meals for the entire department.

"Section Chief, is what you just said true? That beating you will result in a raise and you treating everyone?"

Upon hearing this, a burly team member stepped out of the ranks and asked with an eager expression.

Jia Dongming had hoped to establish his authority through the competition, and seeing someone take the initiative to challenge him, a knowing glint flashed in his eyes. He asked with a smile, "Comrade, what's your name?"

The member who stepped forward immediately replied, "Section Chief Jia, my name is Zhan Jun, and I belong to the First Squad of the Second Battalion."

Jia Dongming nodded in praise: "Comrade Zhan Jun, it takes a lot of courage for you to be the first to stand up among more than a hundred people present."

"As for the promise you just made, it naturally stands."

Everyone here is a witness. If you win, your salary will increase by one level, and I'll be in charge of the department's dinner party.

Upon hearing this, Zhan Jun bowed respectfully and said with a smile, "Section Chief Jia, since that's the case, I'm determined to get this salary grade today!"

Before he finished speaking, he charged forward like a tiger, throwing a punch straight at Jia Dongming.

What appeared to be a swift and powerful offensive to outsiders seemed like slow motion to Jia Dongming.

As Zhan Jun's fist approached, Jia Dongming stepped forward with his right foot, turning his fist into a palm, and delivered a three-point strike to Zhan Jun's chest.

Zhan Jun felt a jolt in his chest and took several steps back, his fierce expression turning into astonishment.

He had practiced martial arts since childhood and recognized that Jia Dongming was using Bajiquan techniques.

If that strike had been delivered with a fist instead of a palm, I would likely have been either dead or seriously injured.

After recognizing the difference in strength, Zhan Jun reluctantly bowed and said, "Section Chief Jia, I admit defeat."

Thank you for going easy on me.

Jia Dongming gestured for him to return to the team, and then addressed the crowd, saying, "What I just said is still valid."

If any comrade believes they are capable enough to advance, or wishes to exchange skills, they are welcome to challenge me at any time.

Among the team members were martial arts practitioners who had long recognized the gap between Zhan Jun and Jia Dongming, so their decision to concede defeat was not surprising.

Those who were not skilled in martial arts were surprised and even suspected that Zhan Jun was intentionally letting them win.

Regardless of what others thought, no one else stepped forward to challenge them at this point.

Seeing that he had achieved his goal of establishing his authority, Jia Dongming said, "The logistics section chief and the three battalion commanders will come to my office later. The rest of you may leave."

As Zhan Jun watched Jia Dongming and Director Lin leave, he finally realized that this challenge was actually a move by Jia Dongming to establish his authority, and he also deeply understood what it meant to "make a mountain out of a molehill".

"Old James! This isn't like you at all! Did you make this concession on purpose to help the new section chief establish his authority?"

A teammate who was on good terms with Zhan Jun saw him standing there in a daze and immediately approached him and whispered to him what he was doing.

Hearing his colleague's question and seeing the suspicious looks from the others around him, Zhan Jun reached out and unbuttoned his coat, revealing his injury. He explained to everyone, "Section Chief Jia was using Bajiquan. If he hadn't changed his fist into a palm strike, I'd probably be lying on the ground seriously injured by now."

When everyone saw the palm print left on Zhan Jun's chest, they were all secretly surprised. At this moment, the team members present finally realized just how powerful the new section chief was.

Jia Dongming first saw Director Lin off, then led the four men to his office, where he said to them, "Comrades! The members of our security section are all veterans."

Although we have left the military, we cannot simply return to civilian life and live a comfortable life like ordinary people.

Therefore, I have decided to resume my daily training starting tomorrow.

"Section Chief! Our Security Section's mission is to ensure the factory's normal operation and prevent sabotage by enemy agents."

But supplies are very tight right now. I'm worried that once training starts, my comrades will exhaust themselves because they won't get enough nutrition.

When Chen Jianfei, the captain of the second brigade, learned of Jia Dongming's plan, he immediately thought of the department's shortage of supplies and was the first to stand up and express his concerns.

Jia Dongming received some supplies through system check-ins, but these were only enough to meet his family's daily needs, far from sufficient for the more than two hundred people in the security department.

Upon hearing Chen Jianfei's question, Jia Dongming realized that he had only been thinking about improving the combat effectiveness of the security team members, but had overlooked the fact that if logistical support could not keep up with the intensity of the training syllabus after the training began, problems might arise.

Thinking about logistical support, Jia Dongming turned his gaze to Zhang Guoping, the head of the logistics section, and asked him with a smile, "Old Zhang! Can your logistics section come up with a plan regarding logistical support?"