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

Upon seeing the third auntie sweeping the floor, she immediately introduced her happily: "This is our eldest son, Jia Dongming, from the third auntie!"

"This child bumped his head when he was little, and he only remembers Lao Jia and my name, he has forgotten everything else."

We've been neighbors for so many years, can you tell me for me, are Lao Jia and I named Zhang Cuihua and Jia Youcai?

When Aunt Yang Ruihua first met Jia Dongming at noon, she felt that he looked exactly like Jia Dongxu.

Later, I heard that he was also surnamed Jia, and I thought he was a distant relative of the Jia family. I never expected that he was the eldest son of Jia Zhangshi who had been missing for many years.

Yang Ruihua then realized what was happening and quickly said to Jia Dongming, "Section Chief Jia, Aunt Zhang's real name is Zhang Cuihua, and her husband is Jia Youcai."

At first, I thought you and Dongxu looked alike, so I assumed you were related. Who knew you were actually Dongxu's older brother?

Jia Dongming had already guessed seven or eight parts of it from the original owner's memories, and now that he heard the Third Aunt confirm it herself, his last bit of doubt disappeared.

He looked at Jia Zhangshi, who was trembling with excitement, and asked incredulously, "You...you're really my mother?"

Jia Dongming's voice startled Jia Zhangshi, and the luggage in her hands fell to the ground.

She rushed forward and hugged Jia Dongming tightly, bursting into tears: "My son! Heaven has finally opened its eyes! I've been waiting for you to come back."

Seeing Zhang Shi crying so hard in Jia Dongming's arms, Yang Ruihua, remembering the Jia family's situation over the years, couldn't help but comfort her, "Aunt Zhang, now that the eldest son is back, you should be happy. Why are you crying like this?"

Most women in those days believed in these things, and Jia Zhangshi was one of the most devout among them.

Reminded by the third aunt, Jia Zhangshi seemed to suddenly come to her senses. She quickly released Jia Dongming, wiped away her tears with her sleeve, and said, "The third aunt is right. My eldest son has been missing for nineteen years. It's a great joy that he can come home today. I should be smiling, not crying!"

After saying that, she glanced at the neighbors gathered around her, bent down to pick up her luggage from the ground, and said happily to Jia Dongming, "Dongming! Come on, let's go home with Mom!"

Under the astonished gazes of several middle-aged women, Jia Zhangshi, with a hint of smugness, pulled Jia Dongming into the Jia family's house in the central courtyard.

She pointed happily into the house and said, "Dongming, this is our home."

After you got lost, your father went to work at the Lou's Steel Rolling Mill, and your father and I moved here with your younger brother.

"Your father passed away three years after you were lost because of a machine accident at the factory."

Later, your younger brother took over his job and also went to work at the steel rolling mill. He got married and had your eldest nephew and two daughters.

Last year... Dongxu also went bankrupt due to a machine accident.

Mentioning Jia Dongxu, Jia Zhangshi's tears fell like beads from a broken string.

In fan fiction, Jia Zhangshi is often portrayed as an uncultured, selfish, mean, unreasonable, greedy, and opportunistic old woman.

But after what had just happened, Jia Dongming felt that Jia Zhangshi was not entirely like the person described in the book.

Her reaction showed that her love for the child was genuine and pure.

Seeing Jia Zhangshi's face full of grief, perhaps influenced by the lingering emotions of the original owner, Jia Dongming sincerely said to her, "Mom, although I can't remember the past clearly, don't worry, I'm here for you from now on, and I will never let you suffer again."

After hearing these words, Madam Jia gradually stopped crying.

She wiped her eyes, her voice trembling with emotion, and asked, "Dongming, where have you been all these years? Why haven't you come back to find me and your father?"

Jia Dongming then explained to her, "Mom, I injured my head back then and I don't remember anything."

Later, the head of a theatrical troupe took pity on me and took me in.

"I left Beijing with the opera troupe. In 44, the troupe was attacked on their way to perform in Ping'an County."

Because I was young, I escaped death and was later rescued by the Eighth Route Army. From then on, I followed the army and fought in various battles.

"Over the years, my memories have slowly returned a little, but I only remember that I am from Beijing, my father's name is Jia Youcai, and my mother's name is Zhang Cuihua."

"Back then, on the way back from buying grain with my father, we ran into Japanese soldiers in the street. While fleeing for our lives, someone pushed me down, and I injured my head, which caused my amnesia."

Hearing this, Jia Zhangshi felt heartbroken and hugged Jia Dongming, crying and scolding, "My son, you've suffered so much! It's all that damned Jia's fault. If he hadn't only cared about that bag of grain, you wouldn't have been lost..."

Sensing Jia Zhangshi's genuine emotions, Jia Dongming gently patted her back and comforted her, "Mom, I'm back safe and sound, aren't I? We should be happy, why are you crying again?"

Madam Jia quickly wiped her face with her sleeve and nodded repeatedly: "Dongming is right, we should be happy today! You rest in the house for a while, I'll take some money to the pigeon market and see if I can buy some meat to make you feel better tonight."

In the original story, Jia Zhangshi was notorious for only taking in money and never giving it back; once money was in her hands, you could forget about getting it out.

At this moment, she actually took the initiative to pay for the meat, which greatly changed Jia Dongming's impression of her.

He quickly called out to her, "Mom, it's already afternoon, there's no meat left to sell at the pigeon market."

I have some canned meat I brought back from the Korean War in my duffel bag. I'll open a couple of cans and heat them up later to have some extra food.

"Waaaaah... Waaaah...!"

No sooner had Jia Dongming finished speaking than the sound of a baby crying suddenly came from the inner room.

Just as Jia Zhangshi was happy to have canned food, upon hearing the crying from the inner room, her face immediately darkened, and she impatiently scolded, "You good-for-nothing! All you do is cry all day long!"

Upon hearing the crying, Jia Dongming guessed that it was Xiao Huaihua, who had just been born.

Hearing Jia Zhangshi's cursing, he frowned and followed her into the inner room.

A little girl, about three or four years old, was standing by the bed, trying to soothe the crying Xiao Huaihua. When she saw Jia Zhangshi come in, she turned pale with fright and her body trembled slightly.

Jia Dongming came from a later era and was influenced by the prevailing social customs of that time. He did not have the concept of valuing boys over girls and even preferred girls.

Seeing Xiao Dang trembling with fear at Jia Zhangshi's hands, Jia Dongming immediately asked, "Mom, what are you doing?"

When Jia Dongming asked about it, Jia Zhangshi didn't notice the displeasure in his words at all. She only glanced at the crying Xiao Huaihua on the bed with disgust, and then smiled and said to Jia Dongming, "These two girls were born to your sister-in-law who came to the city from the countryside."

Qin Huairu had to go to the factory to cover for her, so she left me to look after her.

Upon learning the reason, Jia Dongming looked at Xiao Dang, who was cowering to the side in fright. He walked over, squatted down, and gently picked her up, asking in a tender tone, "Good child, I am your uncle."

Tell your uncle, what's your name? How old are you?

When Jia Dongming picked her up, Xiao Dang's small body trembled.

Perhaps it was the blood connection, but when she looked up and saw that kind and gentle face, her fear subsided a little, and she answered softly, "Uncle, my name is Xiaodang, and I am four years old."

The baby on the bed is my little sister, Xiao Huaihua. Mom says Huaihua is seven months old.

The light weight of the little one in his arms, and her dry, sparse hair, made Jia Dongming's heart ache.

He softened his voice and said, "Little Dang is really sensible."

Uncle wants to reward Xiao Dang with a piece of candy; I'll take you to get it now.

Seeing how Jia Dongming treated Xiao Dang, Madam Jia Zhang was immediately displeased: "Dongming! What right does a little girl like you have to eat candy?"

Jia Dongming was separated from Jia Zhangshi when he was eight years old and had no feelings for the original owner's family.

If it weren't for that lingering obsession deep in his soul, he would never have acknowledged this mother.

Just as Jia Dongming was about to take Xiaodang out, his smile vanished upon hearing this, and he warned her coldly, "Mom! Boys and girls are both Dongxu's flesh and blood."

In our Jia family, there is no distinction between noble and lowly, and we are not allowed to call anyone a "money-losing commodity."

If you still want me to acknowledge you as my mother, don't let me hear you say that again.

When Jia Zhangshi was young, her eldest son was lost by her husband, and she lost her husband in middle age. In addition, it was common for people to take advantage of those who had no descendants, so she had long since become extremely insecure.

Since Jia Youcai passed away, she has been secretly saving money for her retirement.

Last year, Jia Dongxu died in a mechanical accident. She was even more afraid that her daughter-in-law would abandon them and remarry, and she lived in constant fear.

The appearance of Jia Dongming is like grasping at a straw.

Faced with his warning, Madam Jia Zhang dared not throw a tantrum like she had with Jia Dongxu, and hurriedly promised: "Dongming, Mom was wrong, Mom will never call them... I will never call Xiaodang those money-losing girls again."

You can't abandon your mom!

Sensing the fear in Jia Zhangshi's words and moved by the original owner's obsession, Jia Dongming sighed and gently advised, "Mom, I don't know how you've been all these years."

But now that I'm back, with my monthly salary of 135 yuan, I can easily support not only you, but also my brother's entire family.

Initially anxious, Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up upon hearing the salary amount, and she excitedly asked, "Dongming, are you serious? You can earn 135 yuan a month now? That's more than Yi Zhonghai!"

Jia Dongming pretended not to know: "Who is Yi Zhonghai? Is he also in the steel rolling mill? I was transferred to civilian work because of my military achievements, and the factory gave me a salary grade of fifteen."

Is Yi Zhonghai also a cadre?

When Jia Zhangshi heard that her son had distinguished himself in battle and was a demobilized soldier, a sense of pride welled up on her face.

When Jia Dongming asked whether Yi Zhonghai was a cadre, she immediately recalled how he had manipulated the Jia family in an attempt to provide for their old age, and said resentfully, "That old man Yi Zhonghai, who has no descendants, is an eighth-grade worker in the factory, earning 99 yuan a month."

He took Dongxu as his apprentice so that Dongxu would support him in his old age. However, fearing that the Jia family would no longer rely on him after Dongxu's advancement, he deliberately withheld Dongxu's true skills, which led to Dongxu's accident and left us, a widow and orphan, behind!

When she spoke of her youngest son, whom she had raised single-handedly, tears welled up in Jia Zhangshi's eyes again.

Yi Zhonghai appears to be upright and helpful, but in reality, he is hypocritical and full of scheming.

Upon hearing Jia Zhangshi's assessment, Jia Dongming realized that she was not entirely confused.

Seeing her tears fall again, he changed the subject: "Mom, the factory allocated me a small courtyard."

I went to check it out; the house was covered in cobwebs and dust. If it's not cleaned up, no one can live there tonight.

(After the original engineer of the villa moved away, Jia Zhangshi took notice of that empty room.)

When she woke up from her afternoon nap, she learned that the villas had already been allocated, and she immediately began to plan to make a fuss and see if she could get one.

She only rushed to the gate to wait after hearing that the new homeowner might be her long-lost eldest son, Jia Dongming.

As Jia Zhangshi was weeping bitterly, she immediately stopped crying when she heard Jia Dongming mention the villa. Her face lit up with excitement as she said to him, "Dongming! Those rooms in the villa have been empty ever since the last resident moved out. If they aren't properly cleaned up, they really can't be lived in."

"You sit here for a while. Mom will go to Uncle San's house to ask Jiefang to go to the factory and call Qin Huairu back. Tell her to clean the place inside and out so you can move in."

Jia Dongming quickly dissuaded her, "Mom! I can pack myself, there's no need to ask my sister-in-law to come back from the factory."

In Jia Zhangshi's mind, Qin Huairu was nothing more than a servant of the Jia family and a tool for continuing the family line.

In her eyes, her eldest son was a cadre and a pillar of the family, so how could he do chores like cleaning?

Faced with her son's dissuasion, Madam Jia did not back down this time. Instead, she took charge and said, "Dongming, listen to your mother on this matter."

"You stay inside and rest. Mom will go find Yan Jiefang and ask him to go to the steel rolling mill and call Qin Huairu back."

After saying that, without waiting for Jia Dongming's agreement, she picked up Xiao Huaihua, who was sobbing on the bed, and walked straight out the door.

Jia Dong watched his mother leave with the child, a look of helplessness on his face.

Looking down at Xiao Dang, who was pointing at him, he remembered his earlier promise to give her candy. He quickly opened the cloth bag on the table, took out a White Rabbit milk candy, and asked gently, "Xiao Dang, tell your uncle, how old are you this year?"

Xiao Dang's eyes lit up the moment he saw the milk candy.

She swallowed hard and replied in a childish voice, "Uncle! Xiao Dang is four years old!"