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

Jia Zhangshi, carrying Xiao Huaihua, walked to the middle courtyard and saw the Third Aunt chatting with several women. She quickly stepped forward, took out a dime from her pocket, and said with a smile, "Third Aunt! Here's a dime for you. Ask Jiefang to go to the steel mill and call Qin Huairu back!"

The third aunt, Yang Ruihua, was immediately tempted by the money. She took the money and readily agreed, "Don't worry, Sister-in-law Jia, I'll have Jiefang go to the factory to find Huairu right away."

Watching the three older women go to the front yard to call their sons, and thinking about how her eldest son was the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill and earned 135 yuan a month, Jia Zhangshi couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.

She turned to the women gathered in the courtyard and said loudly, "Neighbors, my son Dongming has just been transferred from the army and is now the head of the security department of the steel rolling mill. His monthly salary is 135 yuan."

The factory also allocated the villa where Engineer Xue used to live.

In fact, when Jia Dongming came to see the house, everyone had already learned from the third aunt that the villa had been allocated to the head of the factory's security department, so the residents who originally wanted to occupy the house had to give up their ideas.

Previously, when they saw that Jia Zhangshi was going to "invite Old Jia" in the courtyard to discuss the house, everyone was ready to watch a good show. Who knew that the head of the security department mentioned by the third aunt was actually Jia Zhangshi's eldest son who had been missing for many years.

Seeing the smug look on Jia Zhangshi's face when she talked about her son's job and salary, the women in the courtyard were both envious and jealous, especially the second aunt who lived in the back courtyard.

As the saying goes, "A woman follows her husband wherever he goes, whether he's a chicken or a dog." Liu Haizhong was obsessed with officialdom, and his second aunt, influenced by him, also became a snob.

Of the dozen or so households in this courtyard, the one she looked down on the most was Jia Zhangshi.

Now that she learned that Jia Zhangshi's eldest son was actually the head of security at the steel rolling mill, earning 135 yuan a month, the second aunt couldn't help but show envy in her eyes. She said to Jia Zhangshi in a flattering tone, "Sister-in-law Jia! I never imagined that Banggeng's uncle was the head of security at our factory. With Head Jia here, you can just wait to enjoy a life of luxury!"

This flattery pleased Jia Zhangshi greatly.

Thinking of her son's meritorious service on the battlefield, she replied proudly, "His second aunt! This is all thanks to Dongming's hard work on the battlefield. Otherwise, why would the factory have given him the entire villa?"

Upon hearing about the villa, the women in the courtyard were filled with envy.

An older woman, Yi Tanshi—who had repeatedly asked her husband about the house in the villa—smiled and said to Jia Zhangshi, "Sister-in-law Jia, you always said that you didn't have enough room at home. Now that we have these rooms in the villa, you won't have to worry about where to live anymore."

In the past, the Jia family relied on Yi Zhonghai for support. Jia Zhangshi relied on him and expected Jia Dongxu to support her in her old age, so she never paid any attention to Yi Tanshi and even cursed her behind her back as a "hen that doesn't lay eggs".

Hearing Yi Tan say this, Jia Zhangshi, remembering her son's death from a work injury, said with resentment, "Although Dongxu is gone, Heaven has eyes and sent Dongming back."

Unlike some people who can't even lay an egg yet, when they die, there's no one to care for them.

When Yi Tan heard Jia Zhangshi's roundabout mockery of her as a hen that couldn't lay eggs, and her curse that she would die without anyone to care for her, she felt a sharp pain in her chest. She involuntarily raised her hand to her chest and retorted breathlessly, "Jia Zhangshi! What do you mean by that?!"

"Mom! What nonsense are you spouting?"

Just as Jia Zhangshi was about to take the opportunity to humiliate Yi Tanshi a few more times, Jia Dongming's shout to stop her suddenly rang out from behind her.

Startled by the sound, Madam Jia recalled her son's earlier warning and felt a pang of guilt. She quickly turned around and asked, "Dongming! Why aren't you resting inside? What are you doing out here?"

Jia Dongming heard his mother's mockery clearly from inside the house.

He, coming from a later generation, knew Jia Zhangshi's temperament well and understood that reforming her was not something that could be done overnight.

He carried Xiao Dang to Madam Yi Tan and, seeing her pale face, sincerely apologized, saying, "Auntie, my mother is a countrywoman who speaks bluntly without thinking. I apologize on her behalf. Please don't take it to heart and don't hold it against her."

When Jia Zhangshi saw that her son had apologized on her behalf, she was immediately displeased. She was about to retort when Jia Dongming silenced her with a glare, so she had to swallow her words.

Seeing that his mother had stopped making a fuss, Jia Dongming took out the key to the other courtyard from his pocket and instructed, "Mom, this is the key to the courtyard gate. Go open the gate and, while you're at it, see how much cloth you need for the bed in the main house."

I'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative in a bit and buy some fabric. Can you make me a set of bed sheets and blankets?

Upon hearing this, Madam Jia quickly stepped forward to take the key, opened the gate to the villa amidst the envious gazes of the crowd, and happily went inside.

"Qin Huairu! Qin Huairu! Someone's looking for you outside. They say there's an emergency at home, and your mother-in-law wants you to go back immediately!"

Around 3 p.m., Qin Huairu was dawdling in the workshop when a security guard suddenly ran in and shouted.

Qin Huairu looked up upon hearing the voice, quickly walked to the other person, and asked suspiciously, "Comrade, did the messenger say anything about what happened to my family?"

The guard shook his head: "He didn't say what it was about, only that your mother-in-law wants you to go home immediately."

Qin Huairu thanked him and then planned to ask the workshop director for leave.

"Huai Ru! What happened?"

Yi Zhonghai then walked over and asked with concern.

Qin Huairu shook her head and replied, "Uncle, the guard only said that my mother-in-law told me to go back quickly, without saying anything else."

Yi Zhonghai immediately said, "Huai Ru, your mother-in-law is urgently calling you back; something must have happened at home."

I'll let the director know for you; you should pack your things and go back to check on things quickly!

Qin Huairu packed her things and walked out of the steel mill gate. Seeing Yan Jiefang waiting there, she hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Jiefang! What happened to my family?"

Yan Jiefang replied, "Sister-in-law Jia, Banggeng's uncle is back. Banggeng's grandmother wants you to go back right away."

Qin Huairu was taken aback when she heard this—she had been married into the Jia family for so many years and had never heard that Jia Dongxu had an older brother.

Seeing this, Yan Jiefang recalled the gossip of the older women in the courtyard and added with a gossipy look, "Sister-in-law Jia, I heard that Banggeng's uncle got separated when he was a child. Now he has a house in our courtyard, and Banggeng's grandmother just recognized him."

He paused, then lowered his voice and said, "By the way, I heard from my mom that Banggeng's uncle is now the head of security at your steel rolling mill!"

Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat. She immediately recalled the young man she had seen in the cafeteria at noon who resembled Jia Dongxu, and wondered to herself, "Could it be him?"

About twenty minutes later, Qin Huairu followed Yan Jiefang back to the courtyard house, full of doubts.

As soon as they entered the central courtyard, they heard Jia Zhangshi's voice coming from the other courtyard.

She followed the sound into the courtyard and saw Jia Zhangshi holding a small locust flower, showing it off to the older women and young wives in the courtyard with a smug look on her face.

Qin Huairu cautiously stepped forward and asked, "Mom, why did you urgently ask Jiefang to call me back?"

Hearing the voice, Madam Jia turned around and saw that Qin Huairu's forehead was covered in sweat. She then ordered in a commanding tone, "Huairu! Dongxu's eldest brother is back. This villa was allocated to our family by the factory."

Go quickly and get buckets and rags, and clean these rooms thoroughly.

"Mom! This must be my sister-in-law, right?"

Jia Dongming, who was playing with Xiao Dang inside the house, came out when he heard the conversation in the courtyard. When he saw Aunt Thirteen next to Jia Zhangshi, he smiled and asked Jia Zhangshi.

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's question, Jia Zhangshi quickly introduced him: "Dongming! This is Dongxu's wife. She's now taking over Dongxu's job as an apprentice at the steel rolling mill."

At this point, Jia Zhangshi introduced Qin Huairu with a hint of pride: "Huairu! This is Dongxu's older brother and Banggeng's uncle."

He's now the head of security at the steel rolling mill, earning 135 yuan a month. This yard was also allocated to him by the factory.

As soon as Qin Huairu saw Jia Dongming, she recognized him as the man she had seen at the entrance of the steel mill canteen at noon.

Hearing from Jia Zhangshi that Jia Dongming was the head of the security department and earned 135 yuan a month, she couldn't help but feel a little happy and quickly greeted him respectfully, "Uncle! Welcome back."

In Jia Dongming's eyes, Qin Huairu's image is complex and multifaceted. Her words and actions present different characteristics in different situations. She is sometimes described as shrewd and self-serving, and sometimes praised as considerate and kind.

Upon hearing Qin Huairu's words, Jia Dongming said gently, "Huairu! Mom has told me everything that's happened at home."

On behalf of my mother and Dongxu, I thank you for all you have done for the family over the past year.

"From now on, with me here, you won't have to work as hard as before."

Since Jia Dongxu's passing, the heavy burden of the family has weighed on Qin Huairu's shoulders like a mountain, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

If she hadn't been so reluctant to leave her three children, she might have already left Jia Zhangshi and remarried.

Hearing Jia Dongming's assurance and seeing his sincere expression, Qin Huairu suddenly felt as if the heavy shackles on her body had been removed, and an unprecedented sense of relief welled up in her heart.

Her eyes were slightly moist. She nodded, her voice trembling slightly, "Uncle! Please sit in the yard for a while. I'll go and tidy up your room right away."

Qin Huairu was indeed efficient at housework; in less than half an hour, she had tidied up the room where Jia Dongming would be staying that night.

Looking at the tidy room in front of him, Jia Dongming felt a sense of belonging, perhaps because of his years of wandering.

He looked at the smiling Jia Zhangshi. Although he still harbored many reservations about her, he silently vowed in his heart, "Jia Dongming! Although I don't have a very good impression of her, rest assured, from now on your mother is my mother. I will do my best to change her bad habits and take care of her in her old age until her death!"

Perhaps because the original owner sensed Jia Dongming's heartfelt promise, the wisp of remnant soul hidden deep within his body dissipated like wisps of smoke in Jia Dongming's soul, making him feel suddenly much lighter.

"Ding! Detection indicates complete fusion of the two souls within the host. System activation successful! Rewarding the host with a newbie gift pack. Open now?"

Just as Jia Dongming's soul completely merged with the original owner and replaced her existence, a mechanical notification sound suddenly rang in his mind!

Upon hearing the system notification, Jia Dongming immediately recalled the online novels he had read on Qidian.com in his spare time in his previous life. His heart leaped with excitement, and he thought to himself, "I was wondering why everyone else had a system when they transmigrated, but I didn't. So that's why!"

"Host, would you like to activate the newbie gift pack?"

Just as Jia Dongming was overjoyed at obtaining the system, the mechanical voice in his mind rang out again.

Jia Dongming immediately chanted in his mind, "Open the newbie gift pack!"

"Ding! New player gift pack has been activated."

The host will be rewarded with one gene repair agent, one personal space, and one Eagle Eye skill.

Use Gene Repair Agent immediately? Activate Eagle Eye skill?

Jia Dongming was unsure how his body would react after using the gene repair agent. Considering that Jia Zhangshi and several other elderly women in the courtyard were present, and to avoid unnecessary trouble, he mentally replied, "I will not use the gene repair agent for now."

"Ding! Host has not checked in today. Would you like to check in?"

Just as Jia Dongming decided to postpone using the repair agent, the system notification sounded again.

He immediately muttered to himself, "Sign in!"

"Ding! The daily check-in function has been activated."

Because this is the host's first time checking in, the reward includes 20 large black ten-yuan bills, a set of three-turn-one-ring receipts, 100 jin of rice, 100 jin of flour, 100 jin of cornmeal, 100 jin of pork belly, 100 jin of mutton, 100 jin of beef, 10 each of pre-processed old hens, geese, and ducks, 10 jin of eggs, 10 jin of White Rabbit milk candy, 10 jars of canned fruit, and two sets of household items!

"All items have been sourced from reasonable locations, so the host can use them with confidence."

The items have been stored in my personal storage space.

Although the most difficult three years have passed, in this era where shopping requires coupons, it is almost impossible for Jia Dongming to live comfortably and eat well as he did in his previous life.