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

Jia Dongming took out a wad of banknotes from his pocket, counted out six mao (0.6 yuan), placed it in front of Xu Huizhen, and said, "Boss lady, please keep the money."

The wine here is quite authentic; I'll come again next time I have time.

I'll take my leave now.

Xu Huizhen carefully accepted the money and politely saw him off: "Take care, comrade, and welcome back again!"

"Section Chief Jia, please wait a moment."

Jia Dongming walked out of the tavern, stood at the door and looked at the dim streetlights. Just as he was about to head to the back of Xue Ru Silk Shop, a strange voice suddenly called out from behind him.

Jia Dongming stopped when he heard the sound, and saw a dark figure emerge from the shadows at the street corner.

As the other person approached, Jia Dongming recognized him as Zhang Yi, a security guard from the Second Brigade.

Upon seeing Zhang Yi, Jia Dongming immediately thought of the child who had stopped the car that evening, and asked with a serious expression, "Zhang Yi? If I'm not mistaken, you're Zhang Yi from the Second Brigade, right? You asked someone to invite me over, but you haven't shown up yet. What's going on?"

When Zhang Yi heard the question, he recalled the unexpected incident when he went out that night and explained apologetically, "Section Chief Jia, this is what happened."

I had dinner at home that evening and was planning to come over to see you, but as soon as I stepped out of the house, I realized someone was following me.

I had no choice but to pretend I went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy something, and then I went back home.

Jia Dongming frowned slightly and asked in a serious tone, "You said someone is following you? What exactly is the situation?"

Zhang Yi straightened his expression and lowered his voice, saying, "Section Chief Jia, I'm here today to report something important to you."

This matter... is also related to the death of your younger brother, Jia Dongxu, in a work-related accident.

"What! You're saying my brother's death wasn't an accident, that someone caused it? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming's face immediately showed shock, and he stared intently at Zhang Yi, pressing him for an answer.

Zhang Yi nodded heavily and replied, "Section Chief Jia, this is what happened."

Last year, Workshop 2 received a batch of orders, and Ke Li specifically arranged for people to be responsible for the workshop's security.

"The night before your brother's accident, it was my turn to work the night shift."

That evening, Chen Jianfei, the captain of our second team, came to check on us and offered me a cigarette, saying I could smoke one to stay awake if I was sleepy.

"I didn't smoke that cigarette at first, but I got really sleepy around 2 a.m., so I lit it and smoked it."

To my surprise, when I woke up the next morning, I found him slumped over the table in the guard post.

Shortly after the workshop started operations that morning, Jia Dongxu had an accident due to a machine tool malfunction.

"When I went to the workshop to verify the situation, I found that the machine Jia Dongxu was operating was not the machine tool he usually used."

In fact, he took the blame for the accident on behalf of an eighth-grade fitter in Workshop 2.

Furthermore, according to Engineer Xue, who participated in the investigation, the machine tool used by Yi Zhonghai showed signs of deliberate damage.

"After confirming that the accident was caused by sabotage, Director Lin immediately instructed the department to launch an investigation."

Chen Jianfei, who was on duty that night, knew that I had made a mistake while on duty, but chose to cover up the fact that I was sleeping on duty.

Out of fear of losing my job, I condoned his actions.

"Yesterday, Chen Jianfei summoned me to his office and asked me to secretly bring a certain item into the special workshop during my shift tomorrow night, intending to use this incident to get rid of you from the security department."

"Initially, out of trust in Chen Jianfei, I didn't think it through."

It wasn't until he summoned me again, threatening me with last year's accident in Workshop 2 and forcing me to follow his orders, that I suddenly remembered that accident and the cigarette I smoked while on duty.

Based on the information provided by Zhang Yi, Jia Dongming quickly determined that Chen Jianfei was likely a hostile agent lurking in the steel rolling mill.

However, considering Chen Jianfei's identity, Jia Dongming solemnly asked Zhang Yi, "Zhang Yi! Can you guarantee with your life that everything you just said is true?"

Faced with Jia Dongming's stern questioning, Zhang Yi replied resolutely, "Section Chief Jia! I swear on my life that if what I just said is even slightly untrue, I am willing to accept any punishment."

Jia Dongming originally thought his brother's death was just an ordinary work injury, but he never expected it to involve enemy espionage activities.

Upon hearing Zhang Yi's vow, he continued to solemnly inquire: "Zhang Yi! The security regulations for the special workshop stipulate that three people must be on duty at each front."

Even if you were on duty, you should not have had the opportunity to enter the workshop.

Chen Jianfei, how do you plan to deliver the items?

Zhang Yi then explained to Jia Dongming: "Section Chief Jia! Actually, when Chen Jianfei came to me yesterday, I only thought that he was dissatisfied with you taking over his position as section chief and was trying to target you in this way."

It wasn't until he mentioned sending someone to distract the other two team members to help me that I began to doubt his true identity and motives.

"After leaving his office, I kept thinking about why Chen Jianfei chose me."

Later, he realized that he was still single, not good at socializing, and always acted alone—a situation that perfectly matched the target of the enemy agents, making him the ideal scapegoat in their eyes.

"Considering that Chen Jianfei has been working in the department for seven or eight years, I cannot be sure whether other colleagues are related to him. That's why I came to your neighborhood and asked a child who lives nearby to help me arrange a meeting with you."

At the same time, to avoid arousing Chen Jianfei's suspicion, I was also extra cautious when I came to see you.

"It turns out that Chen Jianfei did indeed suspect me, and even sent people to monitor me near my home."

Fortunately, I had taken precautions beforehand and eventually noticed the person following me. I then pretended to go shopping and go home to rest before trying to come see you.

After listening to Zhang Yi's detailed account of the entire incident, Jia Dongming pondered for a moment and then instructed, "Zhang Yi! I understand the matter."

To avoid alerting the other party, Ming can feign cooperation with Chen Jianfei, and I will handle the rest.

Zhang Yi immediately nodded and replied, "Section Chief Jia! I understand."

I will report to you immediately if there are any new developments!

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming smiled and nodded, saying, "Comrade Zhang Yi! We'll stay in touch. You should also go back and rest early."

After Zhang Yi left, Jia Dongming walked to his bicycle, unlocked it, and rode off towards the courtyard house.

Bicycles move slowly along the streets at night.

As Jia Dongming pedaled, he repeatedly pondered Zhang Yi's report, wondering to himself, "Engineer Xue was transferred from the steel rolling mill after his death in a workplace accident at Dongxu. Could this also be related to the accident at Dongxu?"

"If this is true, it indicates that Chen Jianfei's accomplices may exist within the steel rolling mill."

Otherwise, given Engineer Xue's importance to the factory, the factory would never have agreed to his transfer elsewhere.

"Comrade! Which unit are you from? Why are you still out so late?"

Just as Jia Dongming was pondering the relevant issues concerning Chen Jianfei, several police officers patrolling the streets saw him riding his bicycle alone and immediately stopped him.

One of them shone a flashlight on Jia Dongming's face and asked him a serious question.

The bright light from the flashlight made it difficult for Jia Dongming to open his eyes for a moment.

He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the light and replied, "Hello, officers! I am Jia Dongming, the head of the security department at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. I am late because I had to deal with some urgent business."

After hearing Jia Dongming's self-introduction and learning his identity, the police officers did not lower their guard.

The police officer who had just questioned them continued sternly, "Comrade! Please show me your work ID."

Jia Dongming took out his work ID from his pocket and handed it over, saying, "Comrade! This is my work ID."

"Guodong! What's going on here?"

Just as the police officer was about to take Jia Dongming's identification, another police officer rode up on a bicycle and asked the officer who had stopped Jia Dongming.

Upon hearing the voice, the police officer being questioned immediately reported to his superior, "Chief Wang! We saw this comrade still on the road late at night, so we went up to conduct a routine inquiry."

Hearing the conversation between the two policemen, Jia Dongming suddenly felt that the voice of the newly arrived officer sounded familiar, and couldn't help but tentatively call out, "Wang Dapao! Is that you?"

When Director Wang heard someone call out his nickname from his time in the army, he was stunned for a moment, quickly stopped his bicycle, and walked briskly to Jia Dongming.

Upon recognizing the person on the bicycle, Director Wang's face lit up with disbelief, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Old Jia! It's you! When did you transfer back from the military? Why didn't you write me a letter so I could come pick you up!"

Jia Dongming never expected that the voice belonged to his old comrade-in-arms, Wang Dapao.

Looking at his old comrade-in-arms whom he hadn't seen for many years, Jia Dongming stopped his bicycle and happily introduced him to Wang Dapao: "Dapao! I just got back from my demobilization a few days ago. The leaders took care of me and arranged for me to be the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill."

At this point, Jia Dongming remembered Zhang Yi's visit to him that night and quickly asked Wang Dapao, "Dapao! I didn't expect you to join the public security system after leaving the military. Which police station are you the head of now?"

"Thank you for your insightful support, and thank you all for your encouragement!"

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's question, Wang Dapao immediately replied, "Dongming! I am now the director of Jiaodaokou Police Station!"

Jia Dongming had only been in office for two days, and his information about the security personnel mainly came from the archives. As for whether these security personnel were reliable, he was not entirely sure.

After learning that Chen Jianfei might be involved in enemy espionage activities, Jia Dongming was worried about who to ask for assistance in the investigation.

Meeting his old comrade-in-arms, who was now the head of the police station, was undoubtedly a godsend for him.

Jia Dongming said to Wang Dapao, "Dapao! It's so great to meet you here!"

Wang Dapao was puzzled and asked suspiciously, "Dongming! It's certainly good to be reunited with an old comrade, but this reaction isn't like you at all!"

Seeing Wang Dapao's curious expression, Jia Dongming explained to him seriously, "Dapao! The reason I met you tonight is because one of the team members in our department arranged to meet me privately and told me an important piece of information: there may be enemy agents lurking inside the steel rolling mill and the security department."

"Dongming! What did you say? There are enemy spies inside the steel rolling mill and the security department? Is the information reliable?"

Wang Dapao was taken aback upon hearing this and quickly confirmed it with Jia Dongming.

Recalling his thoughts on the matter on the way back, Jia Dongming earnestly explained to Wang Dapao, "Dapao! If my subordinates aren't lying, this group of enemy agents may have been lurking in the steel mill for some time now."

As public security officers, combating enemy agents is one of our top priorities.

Upon hearing this, Wang Dapao asked anxiously, "Dongming! Tell me quickly, what exactly happened?"

When Wang Dapao asked for details, Jia Dongming carefully recounted, "Dapao! This evening when I was leaving get off work, one of my subordinates asked me to meet him at a small tavern on Qianmen Street through a child."

"I waited there for over an hour, but the person I was supposed to meet never showed up."

The subordinate appeared just as I was about to leave.

"According to him, Chen Jianfei, the captain of the Second Security Brigade of our steel rolling mill, is one of the enemy's special agents."

Last year, a workplace accident occurred in the No. 2 workshop of the steel rolling mill while processing special parts. The security guard responsible for safety in the No. 2 workshop at the time was Zhang Yi, who is meeting me tonight.

According to Zhang Yi's account, when he was on duty that night, Chen Jianfei, the captain of the second brigade, came to check on him and handed him a cigarette.

After smoking that cigarette, Zhang Yi fell asleep while on duty.

"The accident happened in Workshop 2 the next morning."

The machine tool involved in the accident was a special product used by an eighth-level fitter at the steel rolling mill. At the time, the fitter happened to be away from the machine tool.

My younger brother, Jia Dongxu, died from a work-related injury in that accident.

"Dongming! If I remember correctly, you were separated from your parents when you were very young, weren't you? Have you found your family?"

When Wang Dapao heard Jia Dongming mention his younger brother, he immediately remembered his personal situation and asked in surprise.