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

Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's question, the deaf old lady recalled the smug look on Jia Zhangshi's face when she delivered the meat that evening, and couldn't help but sigh, "That girl from the Zhang family used to always pretend to be poor and take advantage of others in the courtyard. But ever since her eldest son came back, she's like a different person. She's even willing to share meat with the neighbors in the courtyard."

After hearing the deaf old woman's comments about Jia Zhangshi, and considering the purpose of his trip, Yi Zhonghai asked, "Grandma! Do you think Jia Dongming would agree to take care of us in our old age?"

Seeing Yi Zhonghai's expectant look, the deaf old lady slowly replied, "Zhonghai! Judging from Jia Dongming's decision to have Jia Zhangshi deliver meat to the people in the courtyard, this child knows how to be grateful; otherwise, he wouldn't have taken out so much meat to share with everyone."

"As for your idea of ​​having him take care of you in your old age, I advise you to give up that idea as soon as possible."

Although Jia Dongming knows how to be grateful, he is not like Jia Dongxu who can be manipulated at will.

In my opinion, Zhu Zi is the most suitable person to take care of you in your old age.

Although Yi Zhonghai felt that the deaf old lady's analysis made sense, he still did not think that Sha Zhu was the best candidate. Instead, he felt that the deaf old lady was saying this because she favored Sha Zhu.

He quickly changed his mind and reminded her, "Grandma! I'm not saying Zhuzi is bad, but don't forget, his father He Daqing is still alive."

Although He Daqing has run off with the widow for now, who can guarantee he won't come back in the future?

"Look at Jia Dongming, he was separated from the Jia family when he was young. He has only just been reunited with Jia Zhangshi and has already taken on the burden of the Jia family."

Besides, he is now the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill, earning a monthly salary of over one hundred yuan.

If he's willing to support us in our old age, we won't have to worry about retirement money at all.

After hearing this, the deaf old woman, remembering Jia Zhangshi's temperament, asked Yi Zhonghai, "Zhonghai! Do you think Jia Zhangshi would be happy to let Jia Dongming take care of you in your old age?"

Without hesitation, Yi Zhonghai said, "Grandma! If Madam Jia Zhangshi hadn't agreed, she wouldn't have let Jia Dongxu become my apprentice in the first place."

Besides, even if she disagrees, I have ways to control her.

The deaf old woman shook her head and chuckled, "Zhonghai! If you really think of Jia Zhangshi as someone you can easily manipulate, then you're mistaken."

"At the time, Madam Jia was afraid that the people in the courtyard would eat her family's bloodline and she was in a hurry to find a backer, so she was willing to let Jia Dongxu get close to you."

Given her temperament, if she weren't counting on your help, why would she let you manipulate her like that?

"Now that the eldest son of the Jia family has returned, and is working in the security department of the steel rolling mill, the Jia family has finally gained a foothold in the company."

Do you think Jia Zhangshi will still listen to your arrangements as before?

After a long silence, Yi Zhonghai reluctantly said, "Grandma! Let me think about this some more."

"It's getting late, you should rest. I'll head back now."

The deaf old woman watched Yi Zhonghai's departing figure, gently shook her head, and whispered, "Everyone in the courtyard thinks Zhang's girl is an ignorant country woman, but who knows that although she looks clueless, she is actually a very shrewd person inside."

As soon as Yi Zhonghai reached the central courtyard, he bumped into Sha Zhu, who was carrying a piece of meat, leading He Yushui out of the side courtyard.

He immediately called out to Sha Zhu, "Zhu Zi! How did you and Yu Shui get out of Dong Ming's house?"

Seeing that it was an old man, Sha Zhu smiled and explained, "Uncle! Didn't Brother Dongming bring back half a wild boar today? He asked me to help clean it up and invited me and Yu Shui to stay for dinner."

"After I finished eating, I wanted to braise the offal and pig's head for him, but I found that I was missing a few seasonings, so I went home to get some."

Yi Zhonghai had a slight thought and took the opportunity to instruct, "Zhuzi! The old lady's teeth aren't good. After you finish braising the meat for Dongming, see if you can ask him for some pig's head meat to satisfy the old lady's craving."

Sha Zhu readily agreed: "Uncle! Brother Dongming said he'll share some of the braised offal and pig's head with me."

I'll ask him for some pig's head meat and take it to the old lady.

"Ding!"

"The daily check-in system is now open. Would you like to check in?"

The next morning at seven o'clock, the system notification sounded on time, waking Jia Dongming from his sleep.

Jia Dongming groggily opened his eyes and subconsciously muttered in his mind, "System! Sign in!"

"Ding!"

"Check-in confirmed. You have acquired top-tier cooking skills, ten towels, ten bars of soap, ten bottles of face cream, ten sets of bedding, and ten yuan in cash! All supplies are now stored in the system warehouse. Do you wish to master top-tier cooking skills immediately?"

Upon receiving the system notification and learning about his achievements for the day, Jia Dongming responded without hesitation: "I've mastered top-tier cooking skills!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a vast amount of culinary knowledge flooded into Jia Dongming's consciousness. In a short moment, he went from knowing nothing about cooking to becoming a master chef who was knowledgeable about various cuisines.

After fully absorbing the top-notch cooking techniques, Jia Dongming quickly tidied his clothes and got out of bed to wash up.

"Good morning, Uncle!"

Banggeng, who was brushing his teeth in the yard, saw Jia Dongming come out of the room and immediately greeted him happily.

"Uncle! Little Dang can brush his teeth by himself now!"

Standing next to Banggeng, Xiao Dang heard his brother's voice and saw Jia Dongming approaching. He called out to Jia Dongming in his childish voice.

Upon hearing the two children's greetings, Jia Dongming first reached out and gently patted Banggeng's head, then praised Xiaodang gently: "Xiaodang is really capable; he can even brush his teeth by himself now."

To reward Xiaodang for learning to wash herself, Uncle will bring you milk candy when he comes home tonight!

The boy, who had just brushed his teeth, heard "milk candy"...

He swallowed hard, then quickly said to Jia Dongming, "Uncle! I taught Xiaodang to brush his teeth by himself, little by little."

Jia Dongming sensed the expectation in Bang Geng's words; his expression seemed to say, "Uncle, please praise me and give me some candy as a reward, okay?"

Seeing Banggeng's expectant look, Jia Dongming smiled and said, "Banggeng, it's what an older brother should do to teach his younger sister to take care of herself."

However, you deserve praise for teaching Little Dang how to brush his teeth so quickly.

Bang Geng heard Jia Dongming's praise but didn't receive a promise of reward, and a hint of disappointment appeared on his face.

Jia Dongming noticed Bang Geng's disappointed expression, smiled, rubbed his head, and added, "You reap what you sow."

When I get home from get off work tonight, I'll give you both some milk candy.

Bang Geng, who had initially thought he wouldn't get any milk candy, brightened up upon hearing the next sentence and happily thanked Jia Dongming, "Thank you, Uncle!"

After breakfast, Jia Dongming rode his bicycle, with Banggeng on the front seat and Qin Huairu on the back, towards Hongxing Elementary School.

Upon arriving at the entrance of Hongxing Primary School, Banggeng jumped out of the car with a nimble gait and waved goodbye to Jia Dongming and Qin Huairu happily: "Uncle! Mom! Goodbye! I'm going into school now!"

Standing beside the bicycle, Qin Huairu watched Banggeng happily walk into the school with his classmates. Filled with gratitude, she said to Jia Dongming, "Uncle, thank you! This is the first time I've seen Banggeng smile so happily since Dongxu left!"

Upon hearing Qin Huairu's gratitude, Jia Dongming followed Bang Geng's retreating figure with his gaze and replied gently, "Huairu, Bang Geng is my nephew."

"Now that Dongxu is gone, it's only natural that I, as his uncle, should take good care of his children."

At this point, Jia Dongming got back on his bicycle and said to Qin Huairu, "Huairu, it's getting late, we need to hurry to the factory."

"Look! Isn't that Qin Huairu from Workshop Two? Why is she sitting on the back of a man's bicycle so early in the morning?"

On the way to the steel rolling mill, some of the workers traveling with her saw Qin Huairu sitting on the back of a bicycle and looked surprised.

"Do you think Qin Huairu might have found someone else?"

Upon seeing this, a female worker immediately shared her guess with her fellow workers.

A fitter from the second workshop overheard the passersby's discussion and quickly explained to his fellow workers who were chatting, "Please don't spread rumors."

The man on the bicycle is Jia Dongming, the newly transferred head of security at our factory. He's Jia Dongxu's older brother and Qin Huairu's uncle.

"What? That's Jia Dongxu's older brother, Qin Huairu's uncle? Really?"

When a coworker learned of the relationship between the two, his face was full of surprise, and he asked the workers in the second workshop for confirmation in disbelief.

Seeing the surprised expressions on everyone's faces, the workers in Workshop 2 answered with absolute certainty, "It's absolutely true."

Moreover, I estimate that it won't be long before Qin Huairu is transferred from our workshop to another less demanding position.

Amidst the astonished gazes of numerous steel mill workers, Jia Dongming rode his bicycle, carrying Qin Huairu, into the steel mill area.

After parking his bicycle, Jia Dongming instructed Qin Huairu, "Huairu, go wait for me at the administration building."

I'm going back to my office to get something, I'll be right back.

Qin Huairu nodded in response and then walked towards the administration building.

"Section Chief! The factory canteen took away 2,132 catties of the game you brought back yesterday."

Here is 537.5 yuan, our department's share. Please take a look.

As soon as Jia Dongming entered the office, Zhang Guoping followed him in, placed a stack of money on the desk, and respectfully reported to Jia Dongming on the distribution of yesterday's prey.

After listening to the report, Jia Dongming did not count the money, but put it directly into his pocket and said to Zhang Guoping with a smile, "Guoping, I trust you to handle things. There's no need to count the money."

Zhang Guoping felt a surge of joy at Jia Dongming's trust in him and quickly reported to Jia Dongming: "Section Chief! Yesterday, after the comrades in our section brought the meat home, their families all praised our Security Section for having such a considerate leader."

I dare say that, with the exception of a few individuals, the vast majority of people in the department are willing to follow in your footsteps!

Jia Dongming understood Zhang Guoli's meaning and reminded him, "Guoping, you can say these kinds of things to me, but don't mention them in front of outsiders."

After seeing Zhang Guoping off, Jia Dongming took out two packets of tea from the system space, then left the office and headed towards the steel rolling mill's administrative building.

A short while later, Jia Dongming arrived in front of the administration building and smiled at Qin Huairu, who was waiting there, saying, "Huairu, something came up in the department just now, so we were delayed for a bit."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu smiled and replied, "Uncle, you're busy with important matters, it's nothing for me to wait a little while."

Jia Dongming nodded and led Qin Huairu into the administration building.

The two quickly arrived outside Li Huaide's office.

When Jia Dongming saw Li Huaide sitting inside, he raised his hand and knocked on the door, greeting him with a smile, "Good morning, Factory Director Li!"

Li Huaide, who was reviewing documents, looked up at the sound and saw Jia Dongming and Qin Huairu at the door. He immediately stood up from behind his desk and greeted them warmly, "Section Chief Jia is here! Please come in!"

Jia Dongming walked into the office, placed two packets of tea on the desk, and introduced them, "Director Li, this is some good tea that I got from the old leader. I brought two packets for you to try."

Seeing the exquisite tea packaging on the table, Li Huaide knew that this was no ordinary tea, and quickly thanked him, saying, "Section Chief Jia, thank you so much."

Jia Dongming waved his hand and then introduced, "Director Li, this is my sister-in-law, Qin Huairu."

Li Huaide looked at the slightly reserved Qin Huairu, walked to his desk, took out a transfer form from the drawer, and said to Jia Dongming, "Section Chief Jia, this is Comrade Qin Huairu's job transfer certificate."

You can just take it to the personnel department to complete the formalities later.

Jia Dongming took the form and looked at it carefully, then smiled and thanked him, "Director Li, thank you for your trouble!"

Li Huaide took out a thick envelope from the drawer and handed it to Jia Dongming: "Section Chief Jia, this is the payment for yesterday's prey, a total of 1,710 yuan. Please check if the amount is correct."

Jia Dongming took the envelope, stuffed it into his pocket without even looking at it, and said with a smile, "I trust Director Li to handle things, no need to count it."