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

When Zhang Guoping saw Jia Dongming looking at him, he immediately felt a headache coming on and replied, "Section Chief! It's not that I don't support your work, it's just that the meat processing plant only gives us a monthly quota of fifty catties of pork, while the entire steel rolling mill has several thousand people, so the total quota is only one thousand catties."

Even if you sell me, I can't conjure up pork.

Jia Dongming was well aware that supplies were in short supply, but that was not a reason for Chen Jianfei to oppose his proposal.

Seeing Chen Jianfei and Zhang Guoping complaining to him in unison, Jia Dongming vaguely sensed something.

Jia Dongming did not show his displeasure on his face, but said to Chen Jianfei with a serious expression: "Comrade Chen Jianfei! When we fought the Japanese before, we lacked not only nutrition, but also weapons."

Under such difficult conditions, we not only drove out the Japanese invaders, but also established a new China.

Does this mean we should stop training just because we're not getting enough nutrition?

Just as Jia Dongming had predicted, although Director Lin was in charge of the security section, due to his poor health, the work of the section had always been overseen by three captains.

Moreover, the three of them had already heard that the higher-ups planned to select one of them to serve as the head of the security department.

That's why, over the past year or so, the three captains have maintained a facade of harmony while secretly competing with each other.

To their surprise, just as Director Lin was about to retire, a security chief was parachuted in from above, completely shattering their hopes for promotion.

The reason Chen Jianfei didn't give Jia Dongming face was mainly because he was the one among the three who had the best chance of being promoted.

Faced with Jia Dongming's criticism, Chen Jianfei not only did not back down, but responded confidently: "Section Chief Jia! I am the captain of the second team, and I must be responsible for my team members."

"We can resume normal training if you want us to, as long as you can solve the nutritional supplementation problem, our Second Brigade can resume daily training at any time."

When Guo Jianguo, the captain of the first brigade, saw Chen Jianfei directly contradict Jia Dongming, he remained outwardly calm but inwardly pleased. He then chimed in, "Section Chief Jia! It's not that we're unwilling to cooperate with your work, it's just that the difficult period of the past two years, coupled with the fact that most of our team members have families to support, has made our physical condition much worse than before."

If nutrition is inadequate during training, it could affect not just one person, but an entire family.

When Li Aijun, the third captain, saw that Chen Jianfei and Guo Jianguo had both stood up to oppose Jia Dongming's first decision after taking office, he cursed the two men in his heart for being stupid.

Considering the agreement the three had made beforehand, Li Aiwan said, "Section Chief Jia! I suggest that we have the team members do drills and shooting training first, and we can start physical training after we get some meat."

Looking at the four people sitting opposite him, Jia Dongming secretly made up his mind that once he had established himself in the security department, he would definitely replace these four people.

Thinking of this, Jia Dongming said solemnly, "I will find a way to solve the problem of insufficient nutrition for the team members."

As for the training of the team members, we will follow Comrade Aijun's suggestion and start with drill and shooting training.

We'll decide on physical training after we get our hands on some meat.

Chen Jianfei was overjoyed to see Jia Dongming finally give in, and even thought to himself, "Jia Dongming! No matter if you're a dragon or a snake, if you want to stay in the security department, you'd better behave yourself."

Thinking this to himself, Chen Jianfei asked Jia Dongming aloud, "Section Chief Jia! Is there anything else? If not, we'll head back now."

Faced with Chen Jianfei's words and unyielding attitude, Jia Dongming remained calm and replied indifferently, "Alright, you can go back first."

I will notify you separately if necessary.

As he watched the four of them leave the office together, Wu Aiguo's expression suddenly turned cold.

Jia Dongming knew perfectly well that if he could procure meat and implement his first decision after taking office, he could truly establish himself in the security department; otherwise, if he couldn't get meat, his position as department head would be rendered meaningless, and he would be completely sidelined by the three captains.

His first thought was to find Li Huaide and ask the steel mill to allocate some meat.

But then he remembered the information that Zhang Guoping, the head of the logistics section, had just provided, and Jia Dongming quickly dismissed the idea.

So he began to search his mind carefully, trying to figure out who he could ask to solve this problem.

After carefully considering all the people he knew, a name suddenly jumped into his mind. "How could I have forgotten Xiao Heping? If I remember correctly, when I was demobilized, the brigade commander mentioned that after returning to civilian life, Xiao Heping became the deputy director of Changping Commune."

Thinking of his old comrade-in-arms, Jia Dongming immediately reached out and pressed the telephone on his desk, shook the handle a few times, then picked up the receiver and said politely, "Comrade, hello."

Please transfer me to Changping Commune. Comrade Xiao Heping will answer the phone.

"This is Changping Commune. Who are you looking for?"

Not long after, the call was connected, and a deep, middle-aged male voice came from the receiver.

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming immediately smiled and introduced himself: "Hello comrade, this is the security department of the steel rolling mill."

I'm looking for Comrade Xiao Heping from your commune. Could you please ask him to answer the phone?

Upon hearing that it was the steel mill's security department, the middle-aged man on the other end immediately replied, "Comrade, please wait a moment, I'll go and call Deputy Director Xiao right away."

About two or three minutes later, footsteps came through the phone, followed by Xiao Heping's questioning voice: "Hello, this is Xiao Heping."

Who is looking for me?

Upon hearing that familiar yet hesitant voice, Jia Dongming couldn't help but laugh and teased, "Xiao Ermao! Guess who I am?"

Xiao Heping, on the other end of the phone, recognized the voice immediately, especially the phrase "Xiao Ermao".

The title instantly brought several faces to his mind.

He was both surprised and delighted, and blurted out, "Old Jia! It's you! Aren't you still in the army? Why are you calling from the steel mill? Did you transfer to civilian work too? No, wait... I clearly heard that the division was going to promote you to regimental commander."

When Jia Dongming heard Xiao Heping say this, he recalled the reason for his demobilization, and a complicated expression flashed across his face. He replied, "Old Xiao, when I was on the plateau, I didn't like those Indian prisoners, so I picked up my gun and shot them."

The old commander got angry and sent me back to my hometown.

Hearing Jia Dongming's nonchalant tone, Xiao Heping, knowing Jia Dongming's temperament well, immediately realized that there must be something hidden.

However, since Jia Dongming didn't elaborate, he wouldn't ask further. Instead, he warmly greeted him, "Old Jia, how long have you been back since you transferred to civilian work? When do you have time to come to Changping for a visit? Brother, I'll treat you to a feast and lots of drinks!"

Just as Jia Dongming was wondering how to ask for help, he heard Xiao Heping mention "meat".

He immediately seized the opportunity and said, "Old Xiao, after I leave the military, I'll be assigned to be the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill."

I'm calling this time not only to catch up, but also because I need your help with something.

Upon learning that Jia Dongming was now the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill, Xiao Heping was genuinely happy for him and quickly asked, "Old Jia, what can I do for you? If it's within my power, I'll do it without hesitation."

Seeing that he was straightforward, Jia Dongming didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Old Xiao, here's what happened."

I just took office today and found that the security personnel are undisciplined and lazy in their training. I plan to give them a good overhaul and also establish my authority.

As a result, several captains in the department immediately said that the security personnel were neglecting their training because of poor nutrition.

Isn't this blatantly trying to intimidate me, the new section chief?

Xiao Heping, who was on the other end of the phone, had been working in the local area for three years. He immediately understood the situation and pointed it out with a smile: "Old Jia, I guess the position of head of the security department of the steel rolling mill should have been promoted from one of the three captains."

Your sudden arrival has blocked someone's path to promotion, so naturally they'll want to teach you, their boss, a lesson.

Jia Dongming agreed with Xiao Heping's analysis and nodded in response, "Old Xiao, you're right."

However, the most important thing right now is for me to first gain actual command of the security department.

Only in this way can we deal with those three guys later.

So I'd like to ask you for your help to see if I can buy some meat from your Changping Commune.

After Xiao Heping understood his purpose, he pondered for a moment and said, "Old Jia, I can help you get an unplanned pig."

However, a pig can only solve the immediate problem; it can't fundamentally solve your current predicament.

Upon hearing Xiao Heping's reminder, and recalling how he had been treated by his subordinates on his first day in office, Jia Dongming said with a solemn expression, "Old Xiao, resuming normal training for the security department was the first decision I made after taking office."

Right now, the most important thing for me is to get this done and establish myself in the security department.

After understanding Jia Dongming's plan, Xiao Heping believed it was the most appropriate arrangement at the moment, so he said to Jia Dongming, "Old Jia! You can arrange for a vehicle to transport the pigs tomorrow, and set the price at seven cents per pound. Does that seem reasonable?"

Upon receiving Xiao Heping's reply, Jia Dongming immediately expressed his gratitude: "Old Xiao! Thank you so much. If you come to the city, I'll definitely treat you."

Xiao Heping smiled upon hearing this and replied, "Old Jia! There's no need for such formalities between us. When I have time, I'll definitely come to the city to meet up with you."

Jia Dongming laughed and told Xiao Heping, "Old Xiao! I'm living in a separate courtyard at No. 95 Tongluoguxiang now. If you can't find me at the steel mill, just come to my house. We'll have a good drink then."

After ending the call, Jia Dongming felt much better. He immediately got up from his desk, walked quickly to the logistics office, and called out to Zhang Guoping inside, "Zhang Guoping! Come to my office."

When Zhang Guoping, who was sitting in his office, heard Jia Dongming call him, his first thought was that the section chief was probably going to hand over the task of purchasing meat to the logistics department.

Thinking about the actual number of people in the logistics section, Zhang Guoping couldn't help but feel a headache, but he could only get up and follow Jia Dongming to his office.

"Section Chief! It's not that I'm not cooperating with your work, it's just that our logistics section only has one purchasing agent."

If it were just ten or twenty pounds of meat, we might be able to figure something out, but if it's more than that, even if you dismiss me, I still can't do it."

Upon entering the office, before Jia Dongming could even speak, Zhang Guoping immediately began to complain.

Zhang Guoping's actions displeased Jia Dongming, but as a newcomer with limited manpower, he suppressed his emotions and said, "Comrade Guoping! I've already said that I'll handle the meat issue, so please stop talking about it."

"Tomorrow morning, arrange a car and go to Changping Commune in person. Go directly to Deputy Director Xiao Heping, and he will arrange for a pig to be delivered to you for transport back."

Remember to complete the formalities with Changping Commune at the highest purchase price.

After hearing Jia Dongming's account, Zhang Guoping's face showed disbelief. He quickly asked to confirm, "Section Chief! Are you telling the truth? Changping Commune is really willing to sell us a pig?"

Jia Dongming's expression turned serious as he replied, "Comrade Guoping! Do you think I would joke about something like this? Tomorrow morning, take two people to Changping Commune and make sure to bring the pigs back."

I hope that the security department can add a meat dish to the lunch menu the day after tomorrow.

At this point, Jia Dongming paused briefly, then added, "Also, considering that everyone is short of food, please tell Comrade Ke Li to remember to bring an extra lunchbox tomorrow, so he can take a dish home and let his family try it too."

On his first day in office, Jia Dongming secured a lucrative position for the department. Once the news spread, the department staff would surely approve of the new department head.

This also means that Chen Jianfei's plan to sideline Jia Dongming is likely to fail.