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

His eyes lit up at the word "two words," and he scratched his head sheepishly, laughing, "Brother Dongming, since you put it that way, I'll have a couple of drinks with you!"

Seeing that he agreed, Jia Dongming called out to Qin Huairu, who was washing pig offal, "Huairu, put these aside for now. Go to Zhuzi's house and call Yushui over for dinner."

Qin Huairu put down her work, stood up and replied with a smile, "Uncle, I'll go call Yushui right away."

Seeing that Qin Huairu had gone to call for help, Jia Dongming took out a dollar and handed it to Banggeng: "Banggeng, take this money and buy five bottles of soda to drink with your meal."

Upon hearing that he could buy soda, Banggeng jumped up with joy, took the money, and nodded repeatedly, "Uncle, I'll go right away!"

Before long, Qin Huairu led He Yushui into the courtyard.

He Yushui saw Jia Dongming sitting by the stone bench and greeted him quietly, "Hello, Brother Dongming."

Seeing her thin and small appearance, Jia Dongming said gently, "Yushui, your brother is a cook, how come you've gotten so thin? I'll have to talk to him after he finishes cooking."

When He Yushui was six years old, her biological father, He Daqing, ran off with a widow.

Later, due to Yi Zhonghai's scheming, the brother and sister were forced to make a living by collecting scraps.

Things only got a little better after Sha Zhu started working at the steel rolling mill.

Although Sha Zhu was good to his sister and even bought her a bicycle, after Jia Dongxu's death, he was persuaded by Yi Zhonghai to forget that he had a sister and sent all the food that should have been given to He Yushui to the Jia family.

Seeing that her brother used her own rations to feed the Jia family while she herself starved to death, He Yushui developed a deep hatred for Yi Zhonghai and the Jia family, and also harbored resentment towards Sha Zhu.

Hearing Jia Dongming speak up for her, He Yushui felt a little lost and explained in a low voice, "Brother Dongming, it's not my fault, it's just that I can't gain weight no matter how much I eat."

Jia Dongming knew there was grievance hidden in her words, so he sighed and said, "Yushui, for more than a year, your brother has always brought meals to the Jia family, neglecting you and making you suffer."

On behalf of the Jia family, I apologize to you.

"From now on, if your brother doesn't come home to cook, you can come eat at my place."

He Yushui's eyes reddened, and she shook her head, forcing back tears: "Brother Dongming, it's not your fault, there's no need to apologize."

Knowing that her heart was still troubled, Jia Dongming didn't say much, but instead smiled and said, "Yushui, your brother cooked several pounds of wild boar meat today, so you should eat more tonight."

A moment later, Sha Zhu poked his head out of the kitchen and called out, "Brother Dongming, the food's ready! Let's eat!"

Jia Dongming responded and entered the house. He first took out a bottle of Moutai from the inner room before turning around and walking towards the main room.

On the table were stir-fried pork with chili peppers, braised pork liver with vinegar, and braised pork belly. Jia Dongming unscrewed the cap of the wine bottle, first pouring a full glass for Sha Zhu, then turning to Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu: "Mom, Huairu, would you like a drink too?"

Smelling the aroma of Moutai liquor and looking at the dishes on the table, Madam Jia replied with a smile, "Dongming, I heard from Shazhu that Moutai is a liquor that only high-ranking leaders can drink. Today, I'll also have a glass and see what it tastes like."

Jia Dongming poured wine for Jia Zhangshi and then asked Qin Huairu, "Huairu, what about you?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu quickly handed over her empty cup and said with a smile, "Uncle, I'll have a drink with you too!"

"Uncle, Grandma says I'm an adult now, can I have a drink?"

Hearing the conversation, Banggeng, who was holding a soda bottle, couldn't help but ask.

Jia Dongming's expression turned serious, and he said to Banggeng, "You brat, you haven't even grown your hair yet, and you dare to call yourself an adult? Just drink your soda."

Seeing Jia Dongming's serious expression, Banggeng shrank back and said dejectedly, "Oh, I see. Then I'll just drink soda."

Jia Dongming poured himself a full glass, raised it to Sha Zhu, and said, "Zhu Zi, this first glass is for you. Thank you for taking care of our family over the past year."

This expression of gratitude made Sha Zhu feel proud, and he replied smugly, "Brother Dongming, our compound is an excellent siheyuan (traditional courtyard house), and it's only right for neighbors to help each other. Please don't be so polite."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming clinked glasses with Sha Zhu, then tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

After finishing his drink, Sha Zhu couldn't help but exclaim, "Brother Dongming, no wonder Moutai sells for six or seven yuan a bottle. The taste is hundreds of times better than those bulk liquors."

Seeing that the two had finished their drinks, Qin Huairu quickly refilled their bottles and then called out, "Uncle, Zhuzi, Yushui, don't just stand there, start eating!"

Upon hearing her words, Jia Dongming suddenly remembered the matter of transferring Qin Huairu's position. He raised his hand and patted his forehead, muttering to himself, "Look at my memory, I almost forgot something important."

He turned to Qin Huairu and said, "Huairu, this morning I saw you processing parts among a group of male workers. I felt that this job was not suitable for you, so I transferred you to a new position without consulting you."

Qin Huairu took Jia Dongxu's place at the factory and worked in the fitter's workshop doing the work that should have been done by male workers.

To be honest, she wanted to transfer to another position after only two or three days, but she didn't have any connections. In addition, Yi Zhonghai controlled her every move, so she had to keep the idea to herself.

After Jia Dongming returned, Qin Huairu had the idea of ​​transferring him to another position, but she was concerned that he had only just arrived at the steel rolling mill and planned to wait until he had established himself before bringing it up.

Before she could even speak, Jia Dongming had already taken care of it.

Upon hearing the news, Qin Huairu was overjoyed and hurriedly asked, "Uncle, is it true?"

"Dongming, which department are you planning to transfer Huairu to? What will her monthly salary be?"

When Jia Zhangshi, who was eating meat with gusto, heard Jia Dongming's words, her eyes lit up. She even forgot about the meat and hurriedly asked a question.

Seeing Jia Zhangshi's greedy look, Jia Dongming explained, "Mom, in order to get Huairu transferred, I specifically contacted Deputy Factory Director Li, who is in charge of logistics."

After he learned that Huai Ru was my brother's wife, he arranged for her to work as a warehouse manager, with a monthly salary of thirty-five yuan and fifty cents.

"Brother Dongming, being a warehouse manager is a leisurely and respectable job, usually reserved for people with connections in the factory."

Li Huaide really gave you face this time!

As the head chef of the steel rolling mill, Sha Zhu was familiar with the situation in the factory. When he heard about Qin Huairu's new position, he couldn't help but chime in.

Jia Zhangshi didn't care whether the job was respectable or not; she only cared about how much more money Qin Huairu would earn each month after the job transfer.

Upon hearing the salary amount, she immediately beamed with joy and stared eagerly at Qin Huairu, saying, "Huairu, Dongming has given you an easier job this time, and you'll even get an extra eight yuan a month."

"Now that your salary has increased and your work is easier, shouldn't you add some money to the savings you give Mom for her retirement?"

Qin Huairu was overjoyed to learn that she would be transferred to the logistics warehouse as an administrator, especially after hearing from Sha Zhu that the position was both easy and respectable. She couldn't wait to go to the factory with Jia Dongming to complete the formalities.

But her joy was short-lived. Jia Zhangshi's words startled her, and she could only reluctantly reply, "Mom, then I will give you five yuan a month for your retirement."

When Jia Zhangshi saw that Qin Huairu was only willing to give five yuan, she immediately said with dissatisfaction, "Qin Huairu! Before, your salary was twenty-eight yuan and fifty cents. Apart from giving me three yuan for retirement, the rest was used for household expenses."

Now……"

"Now that Dongming has arrived home, he is taking care of everything inside and outside the house, so you no longer need to worry about household expenses."

Dongming even found you a leisurely and lucrative job, paying me only five yuan a month. Doesn't that seem a bit stingy?

"Mom! From now on, let Huai Ru keep her salary herself. I'll take care of her retirement. Why should we ask her for money anymore?"

Seeing Jia Zhangshi's greedy appearance, Jia Dongming felt quite helpless. Seeing her entangled with Qin Huairu over retirement money, he couldn't help but advise her to stop asking Qin Huairu for more.

Madam Jia Zhang has always been greedy. When she heard Jia Dongming's words, she not only ignored his advice but also argued vehemently, "Dongming! I'm not greedy. I just want to be safe and save some money for Banggeng's future wedding."

If Jia Dongming hadn't known those stories, he might have believed what Jia Zhangshi said.

Having read many stories about courtyard houses, he knew that Jia Zhangshi was not only greedy, but also had a tendency to only take in money and never give it back.

Seeing that Madam Jia was talking to herself, Jia Dongming was too lazy to persuade her anymore and said directly to her, "Mom, don't make things difficult for Huairu."

I'll give you ten yuan every month from now on, so don't ask her for money anymore.

Madam Jia had been calculating Jia Dongming's salary for a long time, and now that he had offered to give her ten yuan a month, she was overjoyed and quickly asked, "Dongming! Is this true? You really want to give your mother ten yuan a month?"

Seeing her greedy and greedy appearance, Jia Dongming found it amusing and replied, "Mom, is ten yuan a lot? Don't you even think about how much my monthly salary is?"

"Besides, do you know how much money I made from the game I hunted in the countryside today? As for Banggeng's marriage, you don't need to worry about that."

With me, his uncle, around, how could he possibly not be able to find a wife?

Madam Jia paid no attention to Jia Dongming's complaints. Hearing that the game had sold for a good price, she hurriedly asked, "Dongming! Tell me quickly, how much did the game sell for today?"

Seeing that she was only concerned about this, Jia Dongming felt a tightness in his chest and replied irritably, "I don't know the exact amount yet. It's 50 cents a pound when it's sold to the department, and 80 cents a pound when it's sold to the steel mill."

In total, it's probably around one or two thousand.

"Dongming! What did you say? One or two thousand? This is only one day's work. If you went into the mountains every day, wouldn't you earn tens of thousands of yuan a month?"

Upon hearing the amount, Madam Jia Zhang suddenly stood up from the dining table and asked in astonishment.

Jia Dongming glanced at her and said helplessly, "Mom, do you really think you can just hunt any game in the mountains? And you go every day! Don't forget, my real job is the head of security at the steel rolling mill."

Madam Jia then came to her senses, sat back down awkwardly, and said with a dry laugh, "Dongming, that's not what I meant, it's just that I feel this money came too easily."

Jia Dongming was too lazy to reply, so he picked up his wine glass and turned to Sha Zhu, saying, "Zhu Zi, I'm sorry you had to see this."

When Sha Zhu heard that Jia Dongming earned one or two thousand yuan a day, he was extremely envious. He even secretly thought that he would go to the countryside someday, try his luck in hunting wild animals, and sell them to the factory to exchange for some money.

Hearing Jia Dongming call him, Sha Zhu finally came to his senses and quickly raised his glass, laughing, "Brother Dongming, not to mention Aunt Zhang, even I was tempted just now, thinking about whether I should give it a try too."

Seeing the envious look on Sha Zhu's face, Jia Dongming said to him, "Zhu Zi, I only dare to go into the mountains because my marksmanship is decent."

If hunting were that easy, wouldn't everyone have been heading to the mountains long ago?

Sha Zhu nodded and agreed, "Brother Dongming is right. I was oversimplifying things."

As he spoke, he raised his glass to clink with Jia Dongming's and drank it all in one gulp.

Although Jia Dongming promised to give her ten yuan a month, Jia Zhangshi was still thinking about Qin Huairu's salary. She turned her head and reminded her, "Huairu, Dongming is giving her money to support his mother. You can't stop giving her money just because of that."

"Just like you said before, five dollars a month, as usual."

In the past, Qin Huairu would give three yuan to Jia Zhangshi every month, and use the rest to supplement the family income, leaving her with very little money.

Now Jia Dongming takes care of all the housework. Her salary has increased, and she doesn't have to worry about household expenses. Even though she only pays five yuan a month, she is actually more financially comfortable than before.

Upon hearing Jia Zhangshi's request, Qin Huairu did not object and nodded in agreement, "Mom, then I will still give you five yuan every month."

After having dinner at home, Yi Zhonghai strolled to the old deaf woman's house in the backyard, knocked on the door, and politely asked, "Grandma, are you resting?"

"Oh, it's Zhonghai. You're still awake. Come in."

The slow, deaf old woman's voice came from inside the house.

Upon hearing the deaf old woman's response, Yi Zhonghai immediately pushed open the door and entered the room. Seeing her sitting by the bed, he smiled and asked, "Grandma! Did Jia's sister-in-law bring you wild boar meat this evening?"

The deaf old lady was always shrewd; as soon as she heard Yi Zhonghai's voice outside the door, she had already guessed his purpose for coming so late at night.