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

Seeing the puzzled look on Qin's second son's face, Yan Bugui roughly guessed what he was thinking and introduced him: "Huai Ru's second uncle, that's Huai Ru's eldest uncle, Jia Dongxu's older brother, Jia Dongming!"

Upon hearing this, the second son of the Qin family, recalling the Jia family's situation, asked with even greater confusion, "Comrade, I remember Dongxu is an only child, so how come Huairu suddenly has an uncle?"

Yan Bugui smiled and explained, "It's about Huai Ru's second uncle."

When Dongxu's older brother was a child, he went out with his family and encountered Japanese soldiers on the street. In the chaos, they were separated.

"Later, Dongxu's older brother joined our team and only returned a week ago after being demobilized."

The organization assigned him to be the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill. When the mill allocated housing, he happened to be assigned to our compound, which allowed him to reunite with the Jia family.

When the second son of the Qin family learned that Jia Dongming was the head of the security department of the steel rolling mill, a look of surprise appeared on his face. He then murmured in realization, "I thought Huai Ru had found someone else. So that's how it is."

Qin Huairu sat on the back of the bicycle, looking at Jia Dongming riding in front of her. Thinking about the Jia family's life these past few days, a sense of peace that she hadn't felt in a long time welled up in her heart.

At that moment, she almost wanted to reach out and wrap her arms around Jia Dongming's waist, leaning gently against his back, but due to their relationship, she could only silently grip the backrest.

More than ten minutes later, Jia Dongming rode his bicycle with Qin Huairu to the emergency department of the People's Hospital.

Qin Huairu jumped out of the car and hurried into the emergency room. Seeing her mother and third uncle, she anxiously asked her mother, "Mom, how is Dad now?"

When Qin's mother saw her belated daughter, tears welled up in her eyes, and she choked out, "Huai Ru, your father has appendicitis. The doctor said he needs to have surgery immediately, but we only have a few dollars at home, and we simply can't afford the surgery."

"Auntie, where's the payment slip? Give it to me quickly, I'll go pay the bill."

Jia Dongming followed him in and overheard Qin's mother's words.

Saving lives was the priority, so he didn't bother with pleasantries and went straight to Qin's mother for the payment receipt.

Qin's mother, who was complaining to her daughter, was taken aback when she heard the question.

Concerned for her husband's safety, she didn't have time to ask who Jia Dongming was, and hurriedly pulled out a form from her pocket: "Comrade, the form is here."

Jia Dongming took the form and instructed Qin Huairu, "Huairu, you stay here with your aunt. I'll go to the cashier to pay."

Watching Jia Dongming leave with the list, Qin's mother finally realized what was happening and hurriedly asked Qin Huairu, "Huairu, who was that young man? What's your relationship with him?"

When Qin Huairu heard her mother ask this, she knew her mother had misunderstood, and said with a hint of reproach, "Mom, what are you thinking? That's Dongxu's older brother and Banggeng's uncle."

"What? Dongxu's older brother? When did Dongxu have an older brother? Doesn't the Jia family only have one son, Dongxu?"

Qin's mother looked incredulous and pressed for an answer.

Seeing her mother's surprised look, Qin Huairu immediately explained, "Mom, when my uncle was a child, he went out to buy grain with my father-in-law. On the way, they encountered the Japanese soldiers, and they got separated from my father-in-law while fleeing for their lives."

"My uncle was pushed down and hit his head, after which he lost his memory."

He was later rescued by a kind person and joined the team. He only returned to civilian life last week.

"After my uncle was demobilized, he was assigned to work as the head of the security department at a steel rolling mill. The factory allocated a house right in our compound."

The mother-in-law had initially wanted to keep the house and cause a scene in the courtyard, but after seeing her husband's older brother, they were finally reunited.

After hearing this, Qin's mother felt that this was like a story, and murmured, "I always thought Dongxu was an only son, I didn't expect he had an older brother."

At this point, she suddenly remembered asking Qin Huairu to borrow money from her second son, and asked worriedly, "Huairu, did your mother-in-law give you a hard time when I asked your second uncle to borrow money from your family?"

In the past, if the Qin family came to borrow money, not only would they make things difficult for Qin Huairu, but Jia Zhangshi would most likely personally come forward to drive them away.

But since Jia Dongming returned, under his intimidation, Jia Zhangshi's temper has changed drastically.

Although she was unhappy about the Qin family borrowing money, she didn't say anything unpleasant.

When Qin Huairu heard her mother ask about her mother-in-law, she remembered Jia Zhangshi's attitude before she left home, and subconsciously shook her head, replying, "Mom, since my eldest uncle came home, he has been in charge of all the family affairs."

After being reprimanded a few times by his uncle, Dongxu's mother is no longer as difficult to talk to as before.

Upon learning of Jia Zhangshi's change, Qin's mother immediately pressed for more information: "Huai Ru, you just said that Bang Geng's uncle is the head of security at the steel mill. Is he married? Are you living separately or together now?"

Qin Huairu didn't think much of it and continued, "My uncle has been in the army, so he hasn't gotten married yet."

However, my mother-in-law has already asked someone to arrange blind dates for him.

My uncle is now in charge of the household, and he even helped me get a job in an office, with a monthly salary of thirty-five yuan and fifty cents.

Upon hearing that Qin Huairu's salary was over thirty yuan, Qin's mother looked surprised and quickly asked, "Huairu, since your uncle is in charge, shouldn't you give your mother-in-law the wages paid by the factory?"

Qin Huairu remembered Jia Dongming's arrangement, shook her head and said, "Mom, Uncle said I should keep my money for myself and give it to Bang Gengcheng for household expenses later."

Jia Dongming quickly paid the fee, took the receipt back to the emergency department, and instructed Qin Huairu, "Huairu, this is your father's surgery payment receipt. Take it to the doctor quickly and ask them to arrange the surgery as soon as possible."

Qin Huairu took the order and thanked him gratefully, "Uncle, thank you so much!"

After the updated payment slip was handed to the nurse today, the emergency department quickly arranged for a doctor to perform surgery on Qin's father.

Watching her father being wheeled into the operating room, Qin Huairu finally breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Jia Dongming again: "Uncle, thank you so much."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming took out five ten-yuan bills from his pocket and said to Qin Huairu, "Huairu, your father will need to stay in the hospital after the surgery. With the cost of medicine and other expenses, it will cost at least twenty or thirty yuan."

"Take this money and use it to pay for what you need."

The surgery fee had already been paid by Jia Dongming, so when he mentioned the subsequent expenses, Qin Huairu did not refuse. She took the money and said gratefully, "Uncle, I will definitely pay you back slowly after I get my salary."

While a hundred yuan or so is not a small amount for ordinary people, for Jia Dongming, who has a systematic approach, it is just the income from signing in for about ten days.

If Qin Huairu's family hadn't been present, he wouldn't have cared about the money at all.

Considering the saying "A small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment,"

Understanding this, Jia Dongming simply smiled at Qin Huairu's repayment plan: "Huairu, the most important thing right now is to cure your father's illness."

We'll talk about the money later.

"Uncle Banggeng, we really didn't expect Huairu's father's illness to cost so much."

On behalf of Huairu's father, I thank you for lending money to save her life.

Don't worry, we'll definitely pay this money back, even if we have to sell everything we own.

When Qin's mother saw Jia Dongming take out money again, she said with a face full of gratitude.

Jia Dongming waved his hand, looking relaxed: "Auntie, my monthly salary is a little over a hundred yuan, this amount of money is nothing."

Besides, Huai Ru is my brother's wife, and you are her parents. It's only right for relatives to help each other out, so don't be shy.

When Qin's mother and several of Qin's relatives heard that Jia Dongming's monthly salary was more than one hundred yuan, they all showed expressions of shock.

"Sister-in-law! Third brother! How is eldest brother?"

Qin's second son rushed to the emergency department of the People's Hospital. Seeing the crowd in the corridor, he hurriedly asked his mother and younger brother for information.

Qin Huairu's eldest brother, Qin Huairen, quickly replied, "Second Uncle, my dad has already entered the operating room, and the doctor is performing surgery on him."

Around 10 p.m., the red light on the operating room door went out, and the door opened immediately.

Seeing the nurse come out, Qin Huairu anxiously went up to her and asked, "Nurse, did my dad's surgery go well?"

The nurse glanced at the family members present and explained, "Fortunately, the patient was brought in in time. The appendix was not perforated; otherwise, even the most skilled nurse would have been unable to save him."

Qin Huairu finally breathed a sigh of relief and repeatedly expressed her gratitude: "Thank you so much, nurses, for saving my dad!"

The nurse earnestly instructed, "Patient's family, Dr. Zhang is still performing post-operative care."

Once the patient is brought to the ward, please remember not to give them any food or water until they pass gas.

After listening to the nurse's instructions, Qin's mother asked with a puzzled expression, "Nurse, what do you mean by 'passing gas'? How can we tell if my husband has passed gas?"

The nurse learned that the patient came from a rural area and expressed understanding that rural women often don't understand the meaning of flatulence.

Faced with Qin's mother's question, the nurse explained carefully: "Passing gas means farting."

Only after the patient has passed gas should they be given water and food.

In terms of diet, choose light and easily digestible foods, such as millet porridge or well-cooked noodles, and be sure to avoid greasy foods.

Worried that she might not remember the nurse's instructions, Qin's mother quickly asked Qin Huairu beside her, "Huairu, did you remember everything the nurse just said?"

Upon hearing her mother's question, Qin Huairu immediately nodded and replied, "Mom, I've remembered everything clearly, so you don't need to worry."

Shortly after, Qin's father was wheeled out of the operating room by a nurse.

The group followed the nurse to the ward.

Jia Dongming observed Qin's father, who had not yet recovered, and said to Qin Huairu, "Huairu, judging from your father's condition, he probably won't wake up until the effects wear off."

It's getting late. Discuss who will stay to care for the patient. The rest of you, come back to the ward with me to rest. We can arrange other things tomorrow.

After confirming that his father's condition was stable, Qin's second son quickly said to Jia Dongming, "Uncle Banggeng, we took the village's oxcart to the city. My third son and I will drive the oxcart directly back tonight, so we won't bother you at your courtyard."

After listening to Qin's second son's words, Jia Dongming advised, "Huai Ru's second uncle, it's so late, and the roads are dark. It's not safe to travel at night."

I have several empty rooms in my yard. You can bring the cow in, and go back to Qin Family Village after breakfast tomorrow morning.

Qin Huairu also felt that Jia Dongming's arrangement was more appropriate, and then advised, "Second Uncle, there are five rooms in the courtyard of the eldest uncle's house, which is enough for everyone to live in."

You can stay here for the night and go back tomorrow.

The second son of the Qin family was originally worried that staying overnight would put pressure on Qin Huairu's in-laws, so he planned to return overnight.

Faced with their persuasion, he hesitated and asked Qin Huairu, "Huairu, with so many of us going, won't your mother-in-law be unhappy? Why don't you let your third uncle and me go back tonight?"

Jia Dongming then understood the Qin brothers' concerns and immediately said, "Huai Ru's second uncle is now in charge of the family."

With me around, my mom won't say anything.

"Please stay here comfortably, and leave after breakfast tomorrow morning."

Qin's second son had heard from Yan Bugui that Jia Dongming was the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill. Seeing his resolute attitude, he nodded and agreed: "Thank you for your help, Uncle Banggeng."

Seeing that her second and third uncles agreed to stay, Qin Huairu turned to her mother and said, "Mom, why don't you go to my house with your second and third uncles to rest? I'll take care of Dad."

Upon hearing that Qin Huairu wanted to stay with her at the hospital, Qin's mother quickly said, "Huairu, you have to go to work tomorrow. I can stay here."

You should go back and rest with your uncle and the others.

Jia Dongming thought about preparing breakfast the next morning and delivering food to Qin's parents, so he advised Qin Huairu: "Huairu, you have to get up early tomorrow morning to cook for your uncles."

"Why don't we go back and rest first? There are doctors and nurses at the hospital, and your aunt should be able to take care of things here."

Qin Huairu considered the matter of delivering meals tomorrow and felt that Jia Dongming's words made sense, so she nodded and replied, "Mom, then I will take my second uncle, third uncle, and eldest brother back first."

If anything happens to Dad, please remember to call the doctor immediately.

Around 10 p.m., Jia Dongming rode his bicycle with Qin Huairu on the back, followed by the three members of the Qin family, uncle and nephew, who were riding in an oxcart. They finally returned to the courtyard house.