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

Banggeng then remembered his grandmother's instructions before she left, and quickly replied, "Grandma went to see Matchmaker Wang in the next alley. She said she was going to help Uncle find a partner and asked me to stay home and take care of Huaihua."

Jia Dongming is twenty-eight years old this year. In this day and age, many people get married at eighteen, so it is indeed rare to see someone like him who is still unmarried.

Jia Dongming had heard Jia Zhangshi mention the blind date last night during dinner.

At that time, Qin Huairu wanted to introduce her younger sister Qin Jingru from the countryside to him, but she was scolded by Jia Zhangshi.

Jia Zhangshi spoke very bluntly: "My son is the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill. He earns a little over a hundred yuan a month. Even if he's a bit older, he should marry a girl from the city. He can't be like Dongxu and find another girl from the countryside."

After learning where Jia Zhangshi had gone, Jia Dongming put his bicycle against the wall, picked up Xiaodang, and said to Banggeng, "Banggeng, my comrade sent a big bag of things today. There are several big apples in it. Go and take two, wash them, and share them with your sister."

Upon hearing about apples, Banggeng's eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "Uncle! I've eaten apples before; they're crisp and sweet, and so delicious!"

Jia Dongming placed the cloth bag on the table in the main room, opened it, took out two Fuji apples, and handed them to Banggeng: "Here, these two are for you and your sister, one each."

In Banggeng's memory, apples are green and about the size of his fist.

But the apple that Jia Dongming took out was not only as big as a man's head, but also bright red, completely different from the ones he had seen before.

Banggeng took the apple with both hands and immediately smelled its unique aroma. He couldn't help but say, "Uncle! This apple smells really good, but it's not quite the same as the ones I've had before."

(After Banggeng washed the apples with Xiaodang, he wanted to show off to his friends in the yard, so he let Xiaodang stay in the yard to eat them, while he took the apples to the middle yard to find his friends.)

"Wow! Is this an apple? I've never seen one this big before. I wonder what it tastes like? Can I have a bite?"

The second son of the Zhang family, who lived in the east wing of the front yard, was about the same age as Banggeng. Staring at the bright red apple in Banggeng's hand, he couldn't help but swallow and asked longingly.

"Wow! I've never seen such a big, red apple in my life. Can I have a bite?"

The children from the Li family in the middle court also gathered around Banggeng, their faces full of longing as they asked.

Yan Jiedi also stared longingly at the big apple in Banggeng's hand, swallowing her saliva as she looked at it, wanting to eat it but too embarrassed to ask for it.

The children's reactions greatly satisfied Banggeng's vanity, and he proudly replied, "These apples were given to me by my uncle's comrade-in-arms. I have several more at home! If you want some, I'll share some with you later."

Just as Banggeng was showing off to his friends, Qin Huairu walked into the courtyard carrying a cloth bag. She immediately noticed the big apple in Banggeng's hand and asked in surprise, "Banggeng, where did you get this apple?"

Hearing his mother's voice, Banggeng turned around and saw Qin Huairu returning from get off work. He immediately boasted, "Mom! This big apple was a gift from Uncle's comrade-in-arms. Uncle gave me one and Xiaodang one too. There are still quite a few left at home!"

Since Jia Dongming returned, the Jia family's life has undergone tremendous changes in the past two days, even better than when Jia Dongxu was alive.

Hearing Banggeng's words and looking at the big, red apple in his hand, Qin Huairu feigned displeasure and said, "Banggeng, dinner's almost here. How can you eat after eating such a big apple?"

Banggeng remembered that there was meat and sausage in the bag Jia Dongming had just brought back, and immediately replied, "Mom! I'm not eating this apple by myself. I already promised Li Ergou and Zhang Daidi that I would share the rest with them after I finish eating it."

Hearing Banggeng's words, Qin Huairu glanced at him and said with a hint of reproach, "Banggeng, since you promised to share the apples with Er Gou and the others, you should have cut them up and distributed them to everyone from the beginning, instead of eating them yourself first and then giving the rest to others. That's very impolite, understand?"

Banggeng nodded as if he understood, and replied, "Oh, I understand."

"Mom, could you take the apple back and cut it up for me? I'll then share it with them."

Qin Huairu then showed a satisfied expression, took the apple and said, "That's right."

Give me the apple, I'll cut it.

"Sister Qin, I brought some vegetables back from the factory today, including a few pieces of braised pork."

Just as Qin Huairu was about to go back to her house with the apple, Sha Zhu walked in from outside the courtyard and called out to her with a smug look on his face.

In the past, Qin Huairu would try to get some benefits from Sha Zhu, mainly because her family of five was short of food, and Jia Zhangshi had a big appetite, so she had to wait for Sha Zhu to bring back lunch boxes by the water trough in the middle courtyard every day.

Now that Jia Dongming has returned, the Jia family no longer has to worry about food and clothing. Moreover, Jia Dongming is a cadre in the steel rolling mill, so Qin Huairu naturally doesn't want her actions to have any negative impact on him.

Hearing Sha Zhu's words and seeing the lunchbox he handed her, Qin Huairu, who had already eaten meat for two days in a row, no longer cared much about the lunchbox.

This time, she didn't reach out to take it as before, but politely declined, saying, "Zhuzi, since Dongxu left, if it weren't for your constant help, we Jia family really wouldn't know how we would survive."

On behalf of the whole family, I thank you.

"However, Banggeng's uncle said yesterday that my mother-in-law and I should not accept anything from anyone in the yard anymore."

I appreciate your kind offer, but I really can't accept this lunchbox.

Sha Zhu was taken aback when he saw that Qin Huairu didn't accept the lunchbox as usual. It wasn't until he heard her explanation that he realized the Jia family now had a pillar of support and no longer needed his help.

Watching Qin Huairu turn and walk into the courtyard, a hint of disappointment flashed across Sha Zhu's face, but he still muttered to himself, "If you don't want it, fine. I can keep it to have with my drinks tonight."

Jia Dongming, who was resting in the main room, saw Qin Huairu come in with an apple and asked with some confusion, "Huairu, weren't these apples for Banggeng to eat first? Why did you bring them back?"

Qin Huairu smiled and explained, "Uncle, Banggeng was showing off this apple to the children in the yard just now. When the other children asked him for some, he said he would share it after he finished eating it."

I felt this wasn't appropriate, so I took the apple back, intending to cut it up and then let him distribute it, so that the neighbors wouldn't say we didn't know how to raise our children.

Jia Dongming nodded in agreement and said approvingly, "Huai Ru, you've thought of everything."

There are still apples on the table. See how many children are in the yard? Cut some and give them to them.

At this point, Jia Dongming suddenly remembered that the security department's canteen would be serving meat tomorrow at noon, and added, "By the way, Huai Ru, bring two extra lunchboxes to work tomorrow."

Come to our security department's small canteen at noon; they'll have braised pork tomorrow, and each person can take two boxes home.

Qin Huairu had heard her coworkers mention in the workshop that the security department had gotten a fat pig from Changping Commune.

After hearing Jia Dongming's instructions, she immediately nodded and replied, "Okay, Uncle, I'll remember."

I'll get lunch at the cafeteria tomorrow and then bring the meat home.

Jia Dongming responded, then remembered what he had brought back and quickly instructed, "Huai Ru, this bag was given to me by a comrade-in-arms. Inside, there is a piece of pork fat, about five catties of pork belly, a few sausages, and some dried mountain products."

"Render the pork fat into oil later, and cut a pound of pork belly to cook for dinner."

Save one sausage for me; I'll take it to Xu Damao's house for dinner tonight.

Put the rest back in the cupboard, we'll eat slowly.

Qin Huairu noticed the bulging cloth bag on the table when she entered the main room, but she didn't expect it to contain so much meat.

Since Jia Dongxu's death, Qin Huairu has felt like a mountain is pressing down on her back, making it hard to breathe, in order to support the family.

If it weren't for her three children giving her the courage to persevere, she might have abandoned Jia Zhangshi and left the family long ago.

Just when she was feeling lost about the future, Jia Dongming appeared.

These past two days have felt like a dream to Qin Huairu, and she is filled with renewed hope and anticipation for the future of the Jia family.

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's instructions, Qin Huairu, who was always frugal, suggested, "Uncle, since we're going to render lard, I'll use the cracklings to stir-fry a dish later."

"And you just mentioned that the cafeteria will have braised pork tomorrow. Should we make these five pounds of pork belly into cured pork and save it for later?"

Jia Dongming knew that Qin Huairu was frugal, so he wasn't surprised by her suggestion. He smiled and replied, "Huairu, you can handle these things at home. You can make the arrangements."

When Qin Huairu saw that Jia Dongming had agreed to her arrangements, a joyful smile immediately appeared on her face. She picked up the cloth bag on the table and turned to go into the kitchen.

She deftly cut the apples into pieces in the kitchen, arranged them on a plate, and handed it to Banggeng, who was standing nearby, instructing him, "Banggeng, take these to the yard and distribute them to everyone. Everyone should get a piece, understand?"

Upon hearing his mother's words, Banggeng thought of his friends waiting in the yard and happily nodded in agreement, "Mom, I remember."

"Section Chief Jia! The food and drinks are all prepared at home. I've come especially to invite you over for a couple of drinks."

Just as Banggeng was carrying the apple out, Xu Damao suddenly appeared in front of the main room door.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door, looking inside with a big smile, and explained his purpose to Jia Dongming.

Hearing the sound, Jia Dongming looked towards the door and saw Xu Damao. He smiled and replied, "It's Damao! You can go back first. I'll pack up and come right away."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao quickly replied with a smile, "Section Chief Jia, then I'll be waiting for you at home."

Qin Huairu, who was busy in the kitchen, heard Xu Damao's voice outside and immediately remembered what Jia Dongming had just mentioned.

Thinking of Xu Damao's usual character, she picked up a sausage, walked quickly to the main room, and whispered to Jia Dongming, "Uncle, Xu Damao is not a reliable person. You should be careful when you go out for drinks."

Jia Dongming knew Xu Damao's character perfectly well.

After listening to Qin Huairu's reminder, and thinking of those two-faced people in the courtyard, he replied meaningfully, "Huairu, Xu Damao's badness is at least out in the open."

Unlike some people who appear upright but are full of scheming.

Although Qin Huairu married into the city from the countryside, she was not confused at all.

As soon as Jia Dongming said that, she immediately knew who he was referring to.

Seeing that she understood, Jia Dongming reached out and took the sausage she offered, then grabbed two apples and walked towards the door.

Just as Jia Dongming left the hospital, he ran into Jia Zhangshi, who was returning from outside.

When Jia Zhangshi saw the sausages and large apples he was carrying, her eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, "Dongming, where are you taking these things?"

Jia Dongming replied with a smile, "Mom, Xu Damao said he would treat me to dinner yesterday, this is a small gift I brought with me."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi couldn't help but mutter, "Going to Xu Damao's house for dinner, just bringing a bottle of wine would be enough. Why bring something so expensive?"

Jia Dongming naturally understood her thoughts and explained, "Mom, these were sent by my comrades from Changping Commune. We have quite a few more at home."

If you'd like some, I'll have Huai Ru cook some for you.

When Madam Jia heard that there was still some at home, she stopped trying to stop him, only saying, "Dongming, when you get to Xu Damao's, remember to eat plenty of vegetables and drink less alcohol!"

Jia Dongming understood her meaning immediately. He felt a little helpless, but still replied, "Mom, I understand."

Last night, when Liu Haizhong saw that Jia Dongming had agreed to have dinner at Xu Damao's house, he secretly regretted not having treated everyone first.

When he got off work in the evening, he saw Xu Damao busy in the kitchen and began to plan: as soon as Jia Dongming arrived at Xu's house, he would bring some wine and scrambled eggs to join the meal, and try to get on Jia Dongming's good side so that he could find a job at the steel mill.

"Didn't Section Chief Jia promise to go to Xu Damao's house yesterday? Why haven't we seen him yet?"