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

Jia Dongming smiled and replied, "That's precisely where Yi Zhonghai's brilliance lies."

"If he wants Sha Zhu to take care of him in his old age, he has to go along with Sha Zhu's wishes, play the role of an elder who cares about the younger generation, and take the initiative to arrange blind dates so that Sha Zhu will be grateful to him."

"As for how to make a blind date fail, it's actually very simple."

Sha Zhu values ​​appearance and has a high opinion of himself, so he has high standards. He requires his partner to have a job and be beautiful.

"If Yi Zhonghai asks the matchmaker to introduce girls who don't meet Sha Zhu's standards, how can this marriage possibly succeed?"

After hearing this analysis and recalling Yi Zhonghai's past methods, Qin Huairu felt a chill run down her spine. She thankfully said to Jia Dongming, "Brother Dongming, thank goodness you're back."

Otherwise, our whole family would probably have been completely outmaneuvered by him.

In the story of the courtyard house, although the Jia family was also affected by Yi Zhonghai, they were the family that ultimately fared the best. They not only received the property of Yi Zhonghai and Sha Zhu, but also the entire courtyard house came into their possession.

Looking at Qin Huairu's relieved expression, Jia Dongming recalled the ending of the story and said with a smile, "Huairu, do you really think your mother doesn't know Yi Zhonghai's plans? If we're talking about who's the most scheming in this courtyard, if I claim to be second, no one dares to claim to be first."

"Yi Zhonghai is trying to get our family to support him in his old age, but Mom is plotting to take over his assets."

Otherwise, Mom wouldn't have let Dongxu become his apprentice back then, since Yi Zhonghai's income has always been quite high.

Qin Huairu only remembered her mother-in-law's words and actions over the years after he reminded her, and immediately realized what had happened. She replied, "Brother Dongming, I really didn't notice if you hadn't mentioned it."

Now that you mention it, it's true.

Hearing Qin Huairu's words, Jia Dongming smiled slightly, reached out and pulled her into his arms, and said softly, "Alright, let's not talk about Sha Zhu anymore. It's getting late, let's rest."

"Ring ring! Ring ring! Ring ring!"

The next morning around nine o'clock, Jia Dongming was reviewing documents in his office when the phone on his desk suddenly rang.

Hearing the ringtone, Jia Dongming didn't look up. He simply 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."

As soon as Jia Dongming finished speaking, Zhang Huanchun's smiling voice came from the other end of the phone.

Upon hearing that it was Zhang Huanchun, Jia Dongming immediately thought of the case solved yesterday and then asked with a smile, "Good morning, Captain Zhang."

"Why are you calling so early? Is it about the case involving the female accountant at the thermos factory?"

When Zhang Huanchun heard Jia Dongming ask this question, he remembered how quickly Jia had solved the case and couldn't help but smile and reply, "Comrade Dongming, I did come to you about the thermos factory case."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming frowned slightly and then asked, "Captain Zhang, hasn't the murderer already been caught? Is there some hidden story behind this?"

Zhang Huanchun realized Jia Dongming had misunderstood and quickly explained with a smile, "Comrade Dongming, you've misunderstood!"

"To be honest, Director Zhao of the thermos factory is my old comrade-in-arms."

Three years ago, this case remained unsolved. Every time I, as the branch captain, saw him, I felt ashamed and couldn't bear to face him.

I never expected that the first case you solved after taking over the investigation of cold cases would be from my old comrade's factory.

"After confirming the case was solved yesterday, I was finally able to hold my head high and immediately called my old comrade-in-arms to tell him."

"This time, not only was the case solved, but more than 10,000 yuan in wages were also recovered."

My old comrade-in-arms was overjoyed when he found out, and said he would definitely treat you, this great hero, to dinner tonight.

"Is tonight convenient for you?"

In the past, Jia Dongming would most likely have declined such an invitation.

But after experiencing Yu Li's work, he realized the importance of interpersonal relationships, so he smiled and replied, "Deputy Chief Zhang, since she is your old comrade-in-arms, I must give her this face."

Where are we having dinner tonight? I'll be there on time.

Seeing that Jia Dongming had agreed, Zhang Huanchun immediately introduced him: "Comrade Dongming, you are in the small canteen of the thermos factory."

Let's meet at the thermos factory gate at 5:30.

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming readily replied, "Okay, Captain Zhang, then let's meet at 5:30 at the thermos factory gate. Don't be late!"

Around 11 a.m., the old lady of the Zhang family returned to the courtyard from the steel rolling mill carrying a cloth bag.

As soon as they entered the front yard, they ran into Yan Bugui, who was guarding the door.

She pretended not to see it and walked straight toward the moon gate with the bag in her hand.

Yan Bugui's gaze was immediately drawn to the cloth bag in the old lady Zhang's hand.

Judging from the shape of the bag and the degree of its drooping, he immediately concluded that it was filled with a box of food.

Watching the old lady Zhang's figure disappear behind the moon gate, Yan Bugui's face showed a thoughtful expression, and he muttered to himself, "This old lady Zhang just started working at the steel rolling mill. She brought back two lunch boxes yesterday at noon, and another one in the evening, which makes a total of three lunch boxes."

"He actually brought back another box today. Judging from how heavy the bag is, it must contain quite a lot."

What exactly does she do at the steel rolling mill? And her pay is even better than that of Chef Shazhu?

"Old Yan, what are you muttering to yourself about?"

Just as Yan Bugui was wondering, Liu Haizhong suddenly walked over from the side and asked.

Yan Bugui snapped out of his daze and asked Liu Haizhong with a curious look, "Old Liu, which department does that old lady from the Zhang family in your backyard work in at the steel rolling mill? She's only been working there for two days, and every time she comes back, she brings a whole lunchbox full of food?"

When Liu Haizhong heard Yan Bugui ask about this, he showed a dismissive expression and replied, "Old Yan, the old lady of the Zhang family works as a cleaner in the security department of our factory, and also helps out in the canteen."

The kitchen helper in the security department's canteen provides two meals a day, so it's normal for her to bring some food back with her.

What are you muttering about here, lost in thought?"

"What? Old Liu, you're saying she works in the security department under Jia Dongming? Really?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui immediately showed an incredulous expression and blurted out the question.

Liu Haizhong was puzzled by Yan Bugui's overreaction. He looked at Yan Bugui with a puzzled expression and said, "Old Yan, the neighborhood committee saw that the Zhang family was in trouble and arranged a job for the old lady of the Zhang family. What's the big deal?"

Yan Bugui was a well-known "calculator" in the courtyard.

When Director Wang from the neighborhood office came to visit the Zhang family before, he wondered to himself: There are so many poor households in the neighborhood, why did they arrange a job for the old lady of the Zhang family?

Now that he heard she was working in the security department of the steel rolling mill and could have two free meals a day in the canteen, Yan Bugui suddenly realized what was going on and thought to himself, "I was wondering why Old Madam Zhang suddenly had a job. It turns out it was the eldest son of the Jia family who was pulling the strings behind the scenes."

Liu Haizhong noticed Yan Bugui's mysterious and furtive appearance and felt that Yan Bugui was acting strangely today. However, Liu Haizhong was in a hurry to go home to get his things and did not pay attention to Yan Bugui's abnormality. He went straight to the backyard.

After a long while, Yan Bugui finally came to his senses. Thinking about how Jia Dongming had been easily given a position by the old lady of the Zhang family, Yan Bugui felt as if he had lost a lot of money. He muttered to himself in annoyance, "Why didn't I think of going to Jia Dongming earlier? If I had thought of this earlier, Jie Cheng wouldn't have had to divorce Yu Li."

After spending the entire day reviewing all the old case files sent by the branch office, Jia Dongming finally selected five cases that showed promise for solving. He muttered to himself, "Starting tomorrow, we'll begin reinvestigating these five long-standing cold cases."

"Ring ring! Ring ring! Ring ring!"

Just as Jia Dongming finished speaking, the phone on his desk suddenly rang urgently.

Upon hearing the ringtone, Jia Dongming reached for the receiver and politely greeted, "Hello! This is Jia Dongming. Who is this?"

"Director Jia! This is Li Huaide. Are you free tonight? I've invited some leaders from other departments to dinner, and I'd like to invite you to join us."

No sooner had Jia Dongming finished asking than Li Huaide warmly invited him over the phone.

Upon hearing Li Huaide's invitation, Jia Dongming said apologetically to Li Huaide, "Director Li! It's really unfortunate, Director Zhao from the thermos factory invited me to dinner today, and I already agreed to it this morning."

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's explanation that Zhao Huanxi wanted to treat Jia Dongming to dinner, Li Huaide looked surprised and asked curiously, "Director Jia! Zhao Huanxi is notoriously stingy in our system. Why did he suddenly decide to treat you to dinner?"

Jia Dongming heard Li Huaide use the term "iron rooster" (meaning stingy or stingy).

The factory manager of the thermos factory, somewhat surprised, smiled and explained to Li Huaide, "Manager Li! Have you heard about the case of the female accountant who disappeared three years ago?"

Upon hearing Jia Dongming mention the disappearance of the female accountant from the thermos factory three years ago, Li Huaide immediately realized that Jia Dongming had likely already solved the case. He hurriedly asked, "Director Jia! I know about this case. Have you already solved it?"

Upon hearing Li Huaide's question, Jia Dongming replied with a smile, "Director Li! The Dongcheng Branch Bureau assigned me to handle the backlog of old cases. I just took over yesterday. The thermos factory case was the first one I solved after taking over, and I even recovered the tens of thousands of yuan in wages that had been stolen."

When Li Huaide learned that Jia Dongming had taken over the task of solving the old case from the Dongcheng branch, an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

Although he did not work in the public security system, he was well aware that those backlog cases were unsolved problems that had not been solved for many years. When Jia Dongming took over this work, it was like taking on a hot potato!

Upon hearing that Jia Dongming had solved the thermos factory case from three years ago as soon as he took over, Li Huaide's surprised face immediately turned into one of admiration. He smiled and flattered, "Director Jia! I really didn't expect that you would solve the thermos factory case in less than a day and help the factory recover so much money. No wonder Zhao Huanxi, that stingy miser, would take the initiative to invite you to dinner."

Upon hearing Li Huaide's praise, Jia Dongming did not become complacent. Instead, he humbly replied, "Director Li! I just happened to find some clues in the case file, and it was by following those clues that I solved the case."

"As for Director Zhao of the thermos factory, he and Chief Zhang of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the branch bureau are old comrades-in-arms. Chief Zhang personally called to invite me to dinner, and I couldn't refuse that request. So I really couldn't find the time to attend your dinner."

Hearing Jia Dongming's words, Li Huaide laughed and replied, "It's alright! We're brothers in the same unit, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future!"

Around 5 p.m., Jia Dongming rode his bicycle to the entrance of the thermos factory and saw Zhang Huanchun and others chatting at the factory gate.

Upon seeing Zhang Huanchun and the others, Jia Dongming immediately gripped the brakes, stopped his bicycle in front of them, and greeted them with a smile: "Captain Zhang! Comrade Minghua! Comrade Xie Jian! Thank you all for waiting."

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's words, Zhang Huanchun smiled and said to him, "Comrade Dongming! We just arrived a little while ago."

At this point, Zhang Huanchun immediately introduced to Zhao Huanxi beside him, "Old Zhao! Let me introduce you. This is Comrade Jia Dongming, the deputy head of our branch's criminal investigation detachment and also the head of the security section of the steel rolling mill (deputy division level)! Comrade Dongming solved the case of the missing female accountant from your thermos factory."

After introducing Jia Dongming, Zhang Huanchun turned to him and said, "Comrade Dongming! This is Comrade Zhao Huanxi, the factory director of the thermos factory!"

"Comrade Zhao Huanxi heard that the case of the missing female accountant at the thermos factory had been successfully solved, so he specially arranged a table in the factory's small canteen to treat you, the great contributor, to a meal. We are all benefiting from your kindness."

Upon hearing Zhang Huanchun's introduction, Zhao Huanxi learned that the young man in front of her was not only the deputy head of the criminal investigation branch of the bureau, but also a deputy division-level cadre, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.