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

The more Liu Hai thought about it, the more he felt he had missed an opportunity, and he was heartbroken. He quickly asked again, "Da Mao! Tell your second uncle in detail what happened at dinner last night?"

Xu Damao, who loved to show off, became even more smug when he saw Liu Haizhong asking about last night's events with an envious look on his face. He introduced, "Second Uncle! If I hadn't sat down to eat with my brother Jia last night, I would never have imagined that brother Jia wielded so much power in our factory that even the factory leaders had to curry favor with him."

Upon hearing that the factory leaders were actually trying to curry favor with Jia Dongming, Liu Haizhong's face showed disbelief. He asked suspiciously, "Da Mao! Isn't Jia Dongming just the head of the security department? Why are the factory leaders trying to please him?"

Xu Damao originally thought that the security department was under the factory's jurisdiction, but he realized at the dinner party last night that the security department had dual jurisdiction and even the right to supervise the factory leaders.

Thinking of this, Xu Damao explained to Liu Haizhong with a smug look on his face: "Second Uncle! If it weren't for last night's meal, I wouldn't have known that the security department was under double management."

If any of our factory leaders commit a crime, the security department can arrest them directly.

Just like Deputy Factory Director Zhou, he was arrested yesterday by my brother Jia and his men.

Liu Haizhong was obsessed with becoming an official. He dreamed of being one himself. He heard that Jia Dongming, the head of the security department, had more power than the factory leaders. He was extremely envious and secretly made up his mind: tomorrow he would have his wife go to the market early to buy some meat and invite Jia Dongming to their home for dinner tomorrow night.

As soon as Liu Haizhong got home, he immediately instructed his second aunt, who was busy preparing dinner, "Old man! Tomorrow morning, take all the meat coupons you have at home and go to the market early to buy two pounds of meat and some other vegetables."

I plan to invite Section Chief Jia over for dinner tomorrow night.

When Aunt Erda saw Liu Haizhong suddenly decide to invite Jia Dongming to dinner, she asked with a puzzled look, "Honey! Why did you suddenly decide to invite Jia Dongming to dinner?"

When Liu Haizhong was questioned by his second aunt about the reason for hosting Jia Dongming, he recalled that Xu Damao had been introduced by Jia Dongming to accompany the factory leaders for drinks just because of a dinner party, which made Liu Haizhong feel that he had missed a good opportunity.

Recalling this incident, Liu Haizhong's expression revealed deep regret. He said to his second aunt, "Do you know? Xu Damao only invited Section Chief Jia for a drink, and yesterday Section Chief Jia took him to a banquet hosted by the factory leaders."

"If I had entertained Jia Dongming earlier, I might have been the one accompanying the leader yesterday instead of Xu Damao."

Alas, how could I be so clueless about social etiquette?

When the second aunt learned that Jia Dongming had taken Xu Damao to drink with the steel mill leaders, she looked surprised and couldn't help but ask, "How did you know about this? Did Jia Dongming really take Xu Damao to meet the factory leaders?"

Liu Haizhong replied with annoyance, "This is what Yan Bugui said."

To verify its authenticity, I waited for Xu Damao at the factory gate after get off work today and personally asked him for confirmation.

At this point, Liu Haizhong suddenly remembered another piece of information that Xu Damao had revealed, and hurriedly added to the second aunt: "In the past, I only thought that the security department was under the jurisdiction of the steel rolling mill. Today I learned that although this department is located in the factory, it is actually in the factory's management system and has the power to supervise the factory leaders."

"If I can be on good terms with Section Chief Jia, and he puts a good word for me with the factory leaders, I might have a chance for promotion?"

Upon hearing this, the second auntie, realizing that Jia Dongming's power actually surpassed that of the factory leaders, looked on with suspicion and uncertainty: "Is what Xu Damao said credible? The security department is merely a subordinate department of the factory; how could Jia Dongming's authority be higher than that of the factory leaders?"

Seeing that the second aunt was still suspicious, Liu Haizhong immediately explained, "If it weren't for what happened yesterday, I wouldn't have believed it so easily either."

However, yesterday afternoon, one of our factory's deputy directors was indeed personally arrested by Jia Dongming, reportedly on suspicion of being an enemy agent.

Upon hearing this, the second aunt's expression changed drastically, and she immediately said, "Tomorrow I will prepare more money and coupons to buy a sumptuous meal."

Once you establish a relationship with Jia Dongming, your promotion might very well depend on his word.

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As the lights of countless homes gradually dimmed, Qin Huairu's family home was located in Qin Family Village, Changping District.

With tears blurring her vision, Qin's mother looked at Qin's bedridden father and choked out, "This kind of stubbornness can't last. Why don't you go into the city and borrow some money from Huai Ru to go to the hospital for treatment?"

Qin's father lay on the bed, his voice weak, and replied, "Don't you know the temperament of that old woman, Huai Ru? Going to see her now would only put her in a difficult position."

Seeing Qin's father sweating profusely from the pain, Qin's mother was heartbroken: "The village doctor Xiao has already made it clear that if his prescription is ineffective, we must seek treatment at a large hospital in the city."

Your delay will likely worsen your condition.

"Mother! Second Uncle is here!"

Just as Qin's mother was trying her best to persuade her, Qin Huairu's eldest brother rushed into the house to report.

Qin Huairu's second uncle immediately entered the room and, seeing Qin's father's pained expression, asked with concern, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong with my brother?"

Qin's mother looked worried and said in a low voice, "Your eldest brother came home from work complaining of stomach pain. I asked Huai Ren to ask Doctor Xiao at the village entrance to examine him."

After prescribing the medicine, the doctor instructed that if the patient's condition did not improve, they must be taken to a hospital in the city for treatment.

"Now that the family is short of money, I wanted to ask Huairu for a loan, but your elder brother insisted on refusing, fearing that it would put Huairu in a difficult position."

What should we do?

Upon hearing this, the second son of the Qin family became furious: "Eldest brother! Your illness is already so serious, and you're still worrying about these things!"

He then turned to Qin Huairu's elder brother and instructed him: "Huairen, quickly go to the village chief's house to borrow the team's oxcart, and we will send your father to the city for treatment tonight."

Qin Huairen responded, "Second Uncle, I'll go borrow a car right away."

"Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang!"

Around nine o'clock at night, when all the residents of the courtyard were asleep, a series of urgent knocks on the door suddenly broke the silence of the front yard.

Yan Bugui awoke with a start, threw on his clothes, and muttered as he straightened them, "Who would be knocking at this hour?"

He walked to the courtyard gate and asked, "Who goes there? What brings you here so late at night?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu's second uncle quickly responded: "Comrade! We are Qin Huairu's family relatives, and I am her second uncle."

An urgent matter has occurred at home; please summon Qin Huairu for a meeting.

After Yan Bugui figured out that the person knocking on the door was Qin Huairu's relative, he took out the key and opened the courtyard gate.

Seeing the second son of the Qin family standing outside, he asked with some doubt, "Huai Ru's second uncle! Is there something important that you've come to see Huai Ru so late?"

Qin's second son hurriedly explained to Yan Bugui, "Comrade, Huai Ru's father is seriously ill. We need to rush him to the city to see a doctor tonight. Could you please call Huai Ru for us?"

Upon hearing that Qin Huairu's father was seriously ill, Yan Bugui did not delay and immediately said to Qin's second son, "Huairu's second uncle, Huairu is probably already asleep by now."

"Come with me, I'll take you to call her."

As he spoke, Yan Bugui led the second son of the Qin family through the moon gate into the central courtyard and arrived at the Jia family's gate.

He knocked on the door and called inside, "Huai Ru! Wake up! Your second uncle needs to see you urgently."

"Thump thump thump! Thump thump thump! Thump thump thump!"

Qin Huairu, who had just lain down, first heard a knock on the door, then heard Yan Bugui shouting, and learned that her second uncle had come looking for her overnight. Her sleepiness vanished instantly.

She hurriedly got out of bed, putting on her clothes as she replied, "Third Uncle! Please wait a moment, I'll come and open the door right away."

The door creaked.

It opened with a sound.

By the moonlight, Qin Huairu saw Yan Bugui and her second uncle standing outside the door. She immediately asked the second son of the Qin family, "Second Uncle, why are you coming to the city in the middle of the night? Has something happened at home?"

When Qin's second son asked, he quickly explained, "Huai Ru, your father suddenly felt unwell when he came home from work today."

We rushed him to the city hospital that night. The doctor said he had some kind of appendicitis and needed immediate surgery, which would cost over fifty yuan.

"Your father originally didn't want us to come looking for you, but the money we scraped together wasn't even a fraction of what we needed."

"Uncle, I had no choice but to take the liberty of borrowing some money from you."

Upon learning that her father was seriously ill and needed surgery, Qin Huairu panicked and quickly said to the second son of the Qin family, "Second Uncle, wait for me a moment. I'll change my clothes and then go to the hospital with you."

The reason Qin Huairu's father stubbornly refused to go to the city for treatment was because he knew that Qin Huairu's mother-in-law was difficult to get along with.

However, the hospital fees were too high. The villagers who sent him to the city were all farmers who made a living from the land. Even with everyone pooling their money together, they were still far short of the surgery fees.

Having no other choice, the second son of the Qin family had to go to Qin Huairu's house late at night to borrow money—after all, a married daughter is like water spilled from a cup.

Thinking about how they still didn't have the money for the surgery, the second son of the Qin family reminded Qin Huairu, "Huairu, we're still short fifty yuan for the surgery. Remember to bring it with you."

Qin Huairu hasn't received her salary for this month yet, and she currently has less than ten yuan left.

As she changed her clothes, her first thought was to borrow from Jia Zhangshi, but then she remembered Jia Zhangshi's greedy nature and immediately changed her mind, deciding instead to go to the other courtyard to ask Jia Dongming for help.

Awakened, Jia Zhangshi heard that Qin Huairu's family had come to borrow money in the middle of the night. She couldn't stand Qin Huairu and was about to scold her when she suddenly remembered Jia Dongming's warning. She had to suppress her dissatisfaction and swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Qin Huairu quickly got dressed and walked out of the Jia family home. She said to the anxious second son of the Qin family, "Second Uncle, please wait here for a moment. I'll go borrow some money from my eldest uncle, and then I'll go to the hospital with you."

After saying that, she hurried to the gate of the villa, pushed it open, and went inside. Seeing that the light was still on, she ran to Jia Dongming's room, knocked on the door, and called out, "Uncle! Are you asleep?"

Jia Dongming, who was leaning against the headboard reading a book, heard Qin Huairu's anxious voice outside the door. He immediately put down his book and asked, "Huairu? What's wrong so late?"

Qin Huairu was extremely anxious and hurriedly said to Jia Dongming, "Uncle, can you lend me some money? My father is seriously ill and needs surgery. He is currently in the hospital waiting for money to save his life."

Upon hearing that Qin Huairu's father was seriously ill, Jia Dongming immediately opened the door and asked, "Huairu, what illness does your father have? Why does he need surgery?"

Qin Huairu, who was worried about her father's safety, answered with a tense tone, her face full of concern, when Jia Dongming asked about his condition: "Uncle, my second uncle said it's called something like appendicitis, but I'm not really sure."

But the doctor said surgery was necessary immediately.

"The doctor said the surgery would cost more than fifty yuan, and I only had a few yuan left."

So I wanted to borrow some money from you, and I'll pay you back slowly after I get my salary.

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming immediately understood that it was appendicitis.

This disease might not seem like much in later generations, but in this era of limited medical resources, it was a life-threatening emergency.

Without further hesitation, he immediately went back inside to get his bicycle keys and said to Qin Huairu with a serious expression, "Huairu, let's go! We need to get to the hospital right away."

Jia Dongming hurriedly pushed his bicycle out of the courtyard and turned to ask Qin Huairu, "Huairu, your father's illness can't be delayed. We have to get to the hospital immediately."

By the way, which hospital is he in?

Qin Huairu, who was following closely behind him, realized upon being asked that she didn't know which hospital her father was in, and quickly turned around to ask the second son of the Qin family who was following behind, "Second Uncle, which hospital is my father seeing a doctor at?"

When the second son of the Qin family saw Qin Huairu call a young man out of the courtyard, he looked somewhat surprised. He only came to his senses after hearing Qin Huairu's question and hurriedly explained to her, "Huairu! Your father is in the emergency room of the People's Hospital."

Upon hearing that Qin's father was being treated at the People's Hospital, Jia Dongming immediately said to Qin Huairu, "Huairu! Your father may have acute appendicitis. He must have surgery as soon as possible. This disease cannot be delayed; it could be life-threatening."

We need to go to the hospital immediately, pay the surgery fees, and get your father into the operating room as soon as possible.

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's words, Qin Huairu knew that her father's condition was critical, and she panicked. She quickly said to the second son of the Qin family, "Second Uncle, let's go to the hospital first, and you can come later."

The second son of the Qin family watched Qin Huairu get on the strange man's bicycle and head towards the alley entrance, filled with doubt. He turned to Yan Bugui, who was standing to the side, and asked, "Comrade, who was that young man riding the bicycle just now?"