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

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's question, Yan Bugui didn't see anything wrong with his actions. Instead, he retorted confidently, "Dongming! Aren't you the head of the factory's security department? Do you think the factory will ask you for money if you ask for a position?"

Regardless of the fact that Yan Bugui had no connection with him, just considering the residents of this courtyard—if he helped Yan Jiecheng find work today, others would surely come to him tomorrow, also asking Jia Dongming to help them find jobs.

Upon hearing Yan Bugui's strange idea, Jia Dongming couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Uncle! It's true that I am the head of the security department, but I don't own the steel rolling mill."

If you really want to arrange a job for Jiecheng, then prepare the money.

As a neighbor, I can help you inquire about it.

Do you really think you can get things done just by talking and saying a few words?

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui realized that he would have to scrimp and save for several years to earn three hundred yuan, and he immediately felt a pang of heartache. With a bitter face, he said, "Dongming! Your third uncle relies on that little bit of money to support this whole family. Please, have some compassion and help your third uncle this once!"

Seeing that things had come to this point, and that Yan Bugui still wanted to take advantage of him without giving a penny, Jia Dongming simply stopped talking and pushed his bicycle toward the Intermediate Court.

Seeing Jia Dongming pushing the cart to leave, Yan Bugui hurriedly called out from behind, "Dongming! Don't rush off! Let's discuss it some more?"

Upon hearing the shout, Jia Dongming didn't stop this time, as if he hadn't heard it, and went straight through the moon gate to his own courtyard.

Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li, who were hiding in the house, heard the conversation outside and felt helpless about their father's stinginess.

Yan Jiecheng couldn't hold back any longer and rushed out of the house to complain, "Dad! We have no relation to the Jia family, why should they arrange a job for me for nothing?"

Yan Bugui was already regretting his son's ignoring him when he heard his son scolding him. He immediately put on a stern face and reprimanded him: "You think you're so great! Then go talk to Jia Dongming yourself!"

"Uncle! You're off work!"

Qin Huairu, who was washing clothes by the sink, greeted Jia Dongming happily when she saw him return.

Hearing the voice, Jia Dongming looked over and saw Qin Huairu. He smiled and asked, "Huairu! How's your first day working at the logistics warehouse?"

When Qin Huairu heard him ask this, she recalled what happened in the logistics office today and finally understood why Sha Zhu said that the position was reserved for people with connections when he heard that she had been transferred to the warehouse.

In the logistics office, there are five warehouse managers, including her. Their daily work is simply to register when someone picks up something, and the rest of the time they sit in the office and chat with the other women.

Thinking of this, she felt grateful and said to Jia Dongming, "Uncle! The older ladies in the office have been very kind to me."

Compared to the workshop, it feels a bit too leisurely.

Jia Dongming nodded in agreement, then, remembering Li Huaide's instructions, he urged, "Huai Ru! Those older women are all family members of the factory leaders, so you must get along well with them."

If you encounter any difficulties, just come to the security office to find me.

Before Qin Huairu went to the logistics department, she thought the security department was just an ordinary department in the factory.

It wasn't until I was chatting with some older women today that I learned that although the security department is located inside the steel rolling mill, it is not under the factory's jurisdiction—if something happens in the factory, they can even investigate the factory manager.

She quickly replied, "Uncle! I remember, I will get along well with the older sisters."

"Huai Ru! Why are you taking so long to wash a few clothes? Dong Ming is already off work, hurry up and cook!"

When Jia Zhangshi returned from her walk, she saw Qin Huairu talking to Jia Dongming while doing laundry, and immediately began to complain.

Qin Huairu quickly replied, "Mom! I'll go cook after I finish washing Uncle's two pieces of clothing."

Seeing how Jia Zhangshi treated Qin Huairu like a servant, Jia Dongming felt quite helpless.

But he also understood that some things couldn't be rushed, and changing Jia Zhangshi's temperament wouldn't be a matter of a day or two, so he changed the subject and asked, "Huai Ru! Where are Bang Geng and Xiao Dang? I haven't seen the two children."

Qin Huairu smiled and said, "Uncle! Banggeng took Xiaodang to play at his classmate's house next door. He should be back soon."

"Dongming! When I came back, I heard Yan Jiecheng complaining to Yan Laoxi in the front yard, saying that the Yan family and our Jia family are not related, so why should our family arrange a job for him?"

What's going on? Did Old Yan come looking for you to ask for your job back?

When Jia Zhangshi saw Qin Huairu finish hanging up the clothes and go into the kitchen to cook, she remembered the argument between the Yan father and son that she had overheard at the gate and curiously asked Jia Dongming about it.

When Jia Dongming heard Jia Zhangshi mention that Yan Bugui had asked him to do something, he recalled Yan Bugui's secret plans and replied with a contemptuous expression, "Mom! When Yan Bugui found out that I had transferred Huairu's position, he planned to get me a job for Yan Jiecheng without spending a penny."

"What! Old Yan actually wants you to arrange a job for Yan Jiecheng for free? This Yan Bugui is truly a shrewd businessman, calculating every penny he can think of. He actually wants to find work for his eldest son without spending a single cent. Old Yan is really delusional!"

When Jia Zhangshi heard that Yan Bugui had asked Jia Dongming for a job, her face immediately darkened, and she sternly rebuked Yan Bugui for his shamelessness.

When Jia Dongming saw Jia Zhangshi angrily cursing Yan Bugui for being shameless, he did not try to stop her from getting angry. He knew that once this kind of thing started, given the temperament of the people in the courtyard, they would all swarm around the Jia family and take advantage of them.

Seeing Jia Zhangshi's angry expression, Jia Dongming smiled and said to her, "Mom! Putting aside the fact that the Yan family and our family have no connection whatsoever, even if we were related, I have no reason to help the Yan family for nothing, so I refused Yan Bugui on the spot."

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's answer, and considering the character of the Yan family father and son, Jia Zhangshi did not forget to instruct Jia Dongming: "Dongming! Given Yan Laoxi's temperament, he will never give up easily. Even if Yan Bugui is willing to pay for the job, you cannot agree to help him with this favor."

Upon hearing Jia Zhangshi's explanation, Jia Dongming looked surprised and asked her in confusion, "Mom! Given Yan Bugui's style, if he were truly willing to pay for Yan Jiecheng's job, it wouldn't have been delayed until today. But why don't you agree to let me help with this?"

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's question, and considering the character of the other residents in the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi solemnly said to Jia Dongming, "Dongming! Although our courtyard is labeled as an excellent siheyuan (traditional courtyard house), there are really not many kind people in the courtyard. Once you give in and agree to help Yan Bugui, the other people in the courtyard will definitely come knocking on our door."

"If you help, it might jeopardize your job; if you don't, people in the courtyard will gossip behind your back and ruin the reputation of our Jia family."

Jia Zhangshi's words greatly surprised Jia Dongming, and his impression of her underwent a tremendous change at that moment.

Thinking about the various situations in the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi was usually domineering and unreasonable, often bringing up Old Jia to make things difficult, while Qin Huairu always acted like a dutiful daughter-in-law. Jia Dongming suddenly realized that the actions of the Jia family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were all to gain sympathy and were deliberately put on for the residents of the courtyard.

Thinking of this, Jia Dongming gave Jia Zhangshi a thumbs up and sincerely praised her, "Mom! I never expected that you would understand the temperaments of these people in the courtyard so clearly."

Hearing Jia Dongming's praise, Madam Jia Zhang's face showed a proud expression, and she said smugly, "Dongming! If your mother didn't have some ability, your brother and I would have been bullied and left helpless long ago after your father passed away."

After hearing Jia Zhangshi's words, Jia Dongming smiled and said to her, "Mom! Actually, I thought of this from the beginning, which is why I suggested that Yan Bugui pay for the job, given his stingy nature. After all, there are more families in our compound than just the Yan family who want to work."

"Mom! Big brother! Dinner is ready. You two eat first. I'll go to the next yard and call Banggeng and Xiaodang back for dinner."

As soon as Jia Dongming finished speaking, Qin Huairu came out of the main room and said loudly to Jia Dongming and Jia Zhangshi.

Upon hearing Qin Huairu's words, Jia Dongming suddenly remembered the child who had blocked his way and quickly said to Jia Zhangshi, "Mom! I have an appointment to discuss business tonight. I need to eat something quickly and then go out to meet my friend."

Upon learning that Jia Dongming had plans for the evening, Jia Zhangshi immediately said to him, "Dongming! Since you have something to do tonight, let's eat quickly!"

"Grandma! Uncle! We're back."

Just as Jia Zhangshi and her son Jia Dongming were sitting at the dining table having their meal, Banggeng ran into the main room from outside, covered in sweat, and shouted happily to the two of them.

When Jia Zhangshi saw Banggeng return, a loving smile immediately appeared on her face. She asked Banggeng with concern, "My dear grandson, where have you been playing? Why are you all sweaty? Let your mother wipe you down, and then hurry up and eat."

After finishing dinner, it was already past 6:20. Thinking of the mysterious person who had arranged to meet him, Jia Dongming didn't linger any longer and rode his bicycle towards Qianmen Street.

"Boss Xu! Give us two ounces of liquor and a dish of pickled vegetables each!"

At around 6:50, Jia Dongming finally arrived at the entrance of the small tavern on Qianmen Street. Just as he parked his bicycle and was about to go inside, two middle-aged men rushed into the tavern and called out to the young woman standing behind the counter.

Upon hearing the shouts of the two middle-aged men, Jia Dongming was slightly taken aback. A thought immediately popped into his mind, and he wondered to himself, "Could it be that the world I've transmigrated to isn't simply 'Love in the Courtyard,' but rather a world created by merging multiple film and television works?"

With this thought in mind, Jia Dongming immediately went into the tavern. When he saw the young woman standing behind the counter, whose appearance was seven or eight parts similar to Xu Huizhen in "The Little Woman Under the Zhengyang Gate", he could almost conclude that the world he had transmigrated into was a world woven together by multiple film and television worlds.

Standing behind the counter, Xu Huizhen saw Jia Dongming walk into the tavern. Having run the tavern for many years, she immediately recognized that this customer was not a regular. She quickly and warmly greeted him, saying, "Comrade! If I'm not mistaken, this seems to be your first time at our tavern, right?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming immediately smiled and replied, "Boss lady, you have a really good eye."

If my friend hadn't invited me to sit here tonight, I wouldn't have known there was a little bar on this street.

Upon hearing this, Xu Huizhen's expression immediately showed understanding, and she warmly greeted Jia Dongming, "Comrade, we have the most authentic Niulanshan Erguotou here! Would you like to try some?"

Upon hearing Xu Huizhen's question, Jia Dongming glanced into the tavern and said with a smile, "Boss lady, give me two ounces of wine and two side dishes."

Xu Huizhen responded, "Comrade, please find a table and sit down. I'll get you some wine right away."

Jia Dongming nodded, looked around the tavern's furnishings, then walked to a relatively quiet table and sat down, quietly waiting for the person who had invited him to arrive.

"Comrade, here's your two ounces of wine, a dish of peanuts, and a dish of pickled vegetables. Please enjoy."

Not long after, Xu Huizhen came to the table with a tray, set out the wine pot and side dishes, and greeted them politely.

Jia Dongming glanced at the food and wine on the table, smiled and nodded, then picked up the wine pot, poured himself a cup, and began to drink alone.

Jia Dongming waited in the tavern for almost an hour, but the mysterious person who had arranged to meet him never appeared.

Realizing he might have been stood up, he wasn't angry. Instead, he started thinking about the enemy agent in the backyard of Xue Ru's silk shop.

"Comrade, it seems your friend probably won't be coming tonight!"

At exactly eight o'clock in the evening, the number of customers in the tavern gradually decreased. Xu Huizhen walked to Jia Dongming's table and asked with a smile.

Just as Jia Dongming was thinking about whether to go to the backyard of the silk shop, Xu Huizhen's words pulled him back to his senses.

He looked up at the clock behind the counter and saw that it was already eight o'clock. He smiled and replied, "The proprietress is right. My friend must have been delayed by something."

It's getting late, I should be going now. Could you please settle the bill?

Xu Huizhen smiled and said, "Comrade, two ounces of wine plus two small dishes of side dishes, that'll cost six mao in total."