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

"Da Mao! Are you sure you know the new Section Chief Jia from the security department very well? You two even had drinks together the day before yesterday?"

Just as Xu Damao finished speaking, a middle-aged man pushed open the door and came in, asking with an incredulous expression.

Xu Damao, who was chatting enthusiastically with his colleagues, heard a familiar voice behind him and quickly turned around, replying respectfully, "Section Chief, how could I dare to talk nonsense about such a thing? Brother Jia lives in our compound and did have dinner at my house the night before last. If you don't believe me, you can ask Liu Haizhong in the forging workshop."

Seeing how certain Xu Damao was, the head of the propaganda department began to believe him to some extent.

Remembering that Secretary Zhang was going to treat Jia Dongming to dinner that evening, he immediately told Xu Damao, "Damao, don't leave after get off work, I need to talk to you about something."

Although Xu Damao didn't know why the section chief wanted to keep him here, he understood that this was a good opportunity to get closer to him, so he naturally wouldn't let it go and quickly replied, "Okay, section chief, I'll wait for you in the office after get off work."

After telling Qin Huairu that he wouldn't be going home for dinner, Jia Dongming went straight to the small canteen at the steel rolling mill.

Upon seeing Jia Dongming arrive, Secretary Zhang's secretary hurriedly went to greet him warmly, saying, "Section Chief Jia, you've finally arrived! The Secretary and Director Yang are already waiting in the private room. Please come with me."

Jia Dongming thanked the secretary and then followed him into the small canteen.

As soon as he arrived at the private room, Xu Damao, who was inside talking with the leaders, saw Jia Dongming and immediately greeted him warmly, "Brother Jia, it's good that you've arrived. The leaders are all waiting for you."

Xu Damao's appearance surprised Jia Dongming slightly, but he quickly understood when he thought about how Xu Damao was often called to accompany people for drinks in the plot.

Jia Dongming looked at the leaders in the private room and said apologetically, "Secretary Zhang, Director Yang, and other leaders, I should have arrived much earlier, but I got a phone call just before leaving and was delayed for a while. I'm really sorry."

Upon hearing this, Secretary Zhang smiled kindly and said, "Comrade Dongming, don't listen to Xiao Xu's nonsense. We just arrived recently."

Yang Weimin chimed in, his tone very enthusiastic: "Comrade Dongming, you're a great contributor to the factory today. What's a little wait? Waiting a while is perfectly acceptable!"

As he spoke, he gestured to the seat next to him: "Comrade Dongming, come, sit here."

Jia Dongming looked at the seat that Director Yang pointed to and quickly waved his hand to decline, "Director Yang, that's the main seat. Secretary Zhang and you should sit there. I'll just sit on the side."

Seeing Jia Dongming's modesty, Secretary Zhang's eyes flashed with admiration, and he said kindly, "Comrade Dongming, we are all comrades working together, why distinguish between primary and secondary roles?"

"If you hadn't discovered the enemy agents hiding in the factory beforehand and cooperated with the police to catch them all before they could act, we would all probably have been punished."

"If we're really going to reward people, then among those present today, only you, the greatest contributor, are truly qualified to sit in this position."

Faced with Secretary Zhang's praise, Jia Dongming was not proud, but instead appeared very humble: "Secretary Zhang, you flatter me."

As the head of security at the factory, ensuring the factory's safety is my duty; it's what I'm supposed to do.

Yang Weimin recalled the criticism from the senior leader on the phone and said with lingering fear, "Comrade Dongming, although you have just been transferred here, the enemy's plot to target our factory's special workshop has been in the works for more than a year."

"If you hadn't discovered it in time and cooperated with the police to take them down, the consequences would have been unimaginable!"

When Jia Dongming reported for duty, apart from Li Huaide who hosted a welcome dinner for him, none of the other leaders showed up. He had already sensed that the factory leaders did not welcome him.

Therefore, Jia Dongming had no intention of trying to curry favor with anyone.

If it weren't for needing Yang Weimin's cooperation in arresting Zhou Xudong, he probably wouldn't have even bothered to contact Director Yang.

Despite Yang Weimin's praise, Jia Dongming remained humble.

He saw an empty seat next to Li Huaide, so he went over, pulled out a chair, and sat down, saying, "Secretary Zhang, Director Yang, I'm a bit sensitive to heat, and this is close to the fan, so I'll sit here."

Seeing that Jia Dongming had already sat down next to Li Huaide, Secretary Zhang did not insist. He sat down in the main seat and instructed his secretary, "Xiao Wang, go to the cafeteria and tell them to serve the dishes."

A short while later, the canteen staff brought the dishes into the private room.

After the secretary poured wine for everyone, Secretary Zhang raised his glass first and said loudly, "Let's all raise this first glass to welcome Comrade Jia Dongming to our Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill team."

When Jia Dongming saw Secretary Zhang pick up his glass and stand up, he quickly raised his glass and left his seat as well, smiling as he looked around at everyone at the table: "Secretary Zhang, Director Yang, and all the leaders, the organization has entrusted me with this task and honored me by sending me to the steel rolling mill."

We hope that the leaders will continue to provide guidance and support for the work of the Security Department in the future.

After hearing this, Director Yang saw Jia Dongming tilt his head back and drink the wine in his glass, and immediately said, "Comrade Dongming, rest assured, the security department is related to the safety of the entire factory's production, and the factory will definitely fully cooperate with your work."

If Jia Dongming hadn't known beforehand that Yang Weimin was unhappy about his arrival, he would almost have believed Yang's statement.

He put down his empty cup, still smiling as he thanked Yang Weimin: "Director Yang, then on behalf of all the comrades in the security department, I thank the factory for its support."

After the leaders, including Xu Damao, who was seated at the end of the table, finished exchanging toasts, Xu Damao picked up his glass, stood up, bowed to the people at the table, and said with a big smile, "Distinguished leaders, I am Xu Damao, the projectionist from the propaganda department."

Being able to dine with the leaders today is truly an immense blessing for me, Xu Damao.

"To express my gratitude, I will toast everyone as we always do when toasting our leaders."

When the head of the publicity department saw him get up to offer a toast and bring up the "old rules," he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Da Mao, what are the rules for offering a toast? Tell everyone."

Xu Damao quickly replied, "Section Chief, esteemed leaders, my rule is called 'One Big, Three Small, Two Fives Ten'!"

The head of the publicity department was even more confused: "What does this mean now?"

Xu Damao quickly explained, "The leader is the most important person in our hearts, that's what 'the most important person' means."

When drinking with the boss, if the boss drinks one cup, we little guys have to drink three – that's called "one big, three small".

Upon hearing this, Li Huaide assumed Xu Damao had a high alcohol tolerance and jokingly asked, "If I drink three cups, how much would you have to drink?"

Xu Damao replied without hesitation: "Deputy Factory Director Li, the leaders are the heavens of our steel rolling mill."

You drink three cups, so I have to drink nine cups (three times three equals nine)!

Li Huaide laughed: "It seems our factory is truly full of hidden talents."

Since Comrade Damao can drink so much, today is the perfect opportunity for everyone to see if you're a good comrade who can withstand the test of 'alcohol'.

Xu Damao was overjoyed when he heard that he had a chance to show off.

After a dozen or so drinks, his body went limp, and he slumped into his chair and fell fast asleep.

When everyone saw him passed out drunk, they burst into laughter, and the private room became very lively.

Looking at the unconscious Xu Damao, Li Huaide smiled at everyone and said, "Secretary Zhang, Director Yang, although Comrade Damao's alcohol tolerance is not exactly that of someone who can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, his willingness to drink and take risks is still commendable."

Recalling the dinner at Xu Damao's house that night, Jia Dongming continued, "Deputy Factory Director Li, Xu Damao invited me to his house for dinner the other night. Before I could even eat a few bites of the food, he got himself drunk first."

After Xu Damao passed out drunk, Jia Dongming became the focus of everyone's toasts.

Director Yang kept praising his abilities and painting a picture of his future, but never actually showed any promise. Only then did Jia Dongming realize why Yang Weimin had lost to Li Huaide.

Seeing that Yang Weimin was all talk and no action, Secretary Zhang immediately realized that this was an opportunity to win over Jia Dongming, so he reminded him: "Old Yang, if it weren't for Comrade Dongming this time, the special workshop would probably have been bombed by enemy agents."

If that happens, we'll both be sinners against the steel mill.

"We can't just praise Comrade Dongming's contributions verbally; we need to give him some real recognition."

I think we should give Comrade Dongming a bonus, like three months' salary plus some ration coupons.

Although Jia Dongming's actions preserved Yang Weimin's political future, they also disrupted Yang Weimin's plans.

Yang Weimin was polite on the surface, but he didn't really like him. So he only flattered him and made empty promises, never mentioning any real rewards.

Secretary Zhang's suggestion made Yang Weimin's facial muscles twitch, and he forced a smile as he replied, "Secretary Zhang is right. This time, we owe a lot to Comrade Dongming."

The factory should give some tangible rewards.

Jia Dongming sensed that Yang Weimin was not being sincere. Remembering the matter of converting public housing into private housing, he pretended to decline, saying, "Secretary Zhang, thank you for considering my situation."

But protecting the factory area is my duty, so I can't accept the bonus.

"If the factory really wants to reward me, I'm willing to pay for it myself and buy the yard that the factory allocated to me, along with the two rooms my brother's family currently lives in."

Yang Weimin was pondering how to reduce Jia Dongming's reward when Jia Dongming himself offered to forgo the factory's reward and instead pay for the courtyard allocated to him.

This request surprised Yang Weimin, who found it difficult to understand the underlying intention.

Although he did not yet understand Jia Dongming's intentions, Yang Weimin hesitated and replied, "Comrade Dongming, the policy of converting public housing into private housing was suspended several years ago. Even if I agree to sell the courtyard, I'm afraid the higher authorities will have difficulty approving it."

"Director Yang, as the saying goes, policies are fixed, but people are flexible."

Although the conversion of public housing to private housing has been stopped, the factory still has an incentive mechanism.

Given Section Chief Jia's contributions to the factory, the courtyard could be given to him as a reward, with a reasonable fee charged.

Secretary Zhang, observing Yang Weimin's words and expressions, had already discerned his thoughts. He couldn't help but feel that Yang's thinking was rigid and couldn't understand how someone so clueless about human relationships could be appointed as the director of the steel rolling mill.

Secretary Zhang smiled and agreed with Li Huaide's suggestion: "Old Li's idea is good."

The courtyard where Comrade Dongming currently resides was originally allocated by the factory. Since he is willing to forgo the reward and purchase the property rights himself, we should support him.

Seeing that both Secretary Zhang and Li Huaide agreed to Jia Dongming's request, Yang Weimin, though unwilling, had no choice but to reluctantly agree, considering the upcoming investigation team and Jia Dongxu's work injury: "Since you two agree to sell the house to Comrade Dongming as a reward, I will follow the majority opinion."

"However, the factory can't afford to suffer losses."

The hospital room occupied by Comrade Dongming was priced at 1,000 yuan, while the two rooms occupied by his brother were priced at 500 yuan each, and were sold to Dongming together.

Li Huaide felt the price was too high and immediately asked Yang Weimin, "Director Yang, Section Chief Jia voluntarily gave up the factory's bonus. Isn't this price a bit too high?"

When they were vying for the position of head of the security department, Secretary Zhang had a contest with Yang Weimin, so he could understand why Yang Weimin initially disliked Jia Dongming.

However, Jia Dongming cracked a case involving enemy agents shortly after taking office, indirectly protecting their political future. Even if Yang Weimin was displeased, he should have expressed his gratitude.

After hearing the price set by Yang Weimin and what Li Huaide had just said, Secretary Zhang said, "Old Yang, Old Li is right."

When I previously suggested giving Comrade Dongming a tangible reward, he refused without hesitation.

"Since he is willing to buy his current house at his own expense, we should appropriately lower the price, after all, Comrade Dongming has just been demobilized and may not be financially well-off."

Seeing that the two men were speaking up for him, and to avoid any future trouble over the property issue, Jia Dongming smiled and declined, saying, "Secretary Zhang, Deputy Factory Director Li, and Factory Director Yang's pricing is reasonable. I appreciate your kindness."

"Then we'll go with this price. I'll go to the logistics department tomorrow to complete the formalities."

Seeing that Jia Dongming agreed to buy the house at the price set by Yang Weimin, Secretary Zhang said no more, but instead asked with concern: "Comrade Dongming, you have just returned from military service, and your savings should not be enough to pay for two houses."

Why not pay part upfront, and deduct the remainder from your salary later?

"Secretary Zhang, you should not underestimate Section Chief Jia when it comes to making money."

The first two trips were to improve the food for the security department, and each trip into the mountains brought back three or four thousand catties of meat; this amount of money was nothing to him.