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

If the workshop foreman asks you to write a safety report, are you going to ask one of the less educated workers in the workshop to write it for you?

In Liu Haizhong's mind, becoming an official would allow him to order others around and he wouldn't have to do anything himself.

After listening to Jia Dongming and Xu Damao, Liu Haizhong realized that being an official was not as easy as he had thought.

Thinking about the tasks that the team leaders in the workshop usually handled, Liu Haizhong asked Jia Dongming, "Section Chief Jia! Our workshop team leaders just arrange the work for their teams properly every day; they don't need to write any reports at all. It's not as troublesome as you're making it out to be!"

Liu Haizhong's line of thinking finally made Jia Dongming understand why Liu Haizhong was always used by Yi Zhonghai in those stories about the courtyard house, and even manipulated by Yi Zhonghai.

At this moment, Jia Dongming felt extremely regretful, regretting why he had accepted Liu Haizhong's invitation to have this meal at his house.

Faced with Liu Haizhong's question, Jia Dongming could only patiently explain, "Second Uncle! Xu Damao was just using an analogy. After all, a workshop team leader isn't even a clerk, so whether he's educated or not isn't really a big deal."

"But if you really want to become a cadre, a leader of the steel rolling mill, if you lack education, even if the leader appreciates your abilities, they can't put you in an important position, because education is the minimum requirement for promotion."

After hearing Jia Dongming's words, Liu Haizhong truly realized that becoming a cadre was not an easy thing. He could only nod sullenly and reply, "Section Chief Jia! When I get to the factory tomorrow, I'll ask around and find out what the night school is all about."

Upon hearing Liu Haizhong's reply, Jia Dongming knew he had achieved his goal. He smiled, raised his glass, and said to Liu Haizhong and Xu Damao, "Second Uncle! Damao! Let's leave it at that and drink!"

After a few drinks, Xu Damao's face turned bright red. He then resorted to his usual tricks of persuading others to drink, but after only a few drinks, Xu Damao once again got himself drunk.

Looking at the drunken Xu Damao, Liu Haizhong had a disdainful look on his face. He smiled and said to Jia Dongming, "Section Chief Jia! Damao has such a low alcohol tolerance, yet he always likes to show off. In the end, just like that night, he knocked himself out."

Upon hearing Liu Haizhong's words and seeing the disdain on his face when he commented on Xu Damao, Jia Dongming smiled and replied, "Second Uncle! Damao is just straightforward and honest, which is why he drank himself into oblivion."

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's words, Liu Haizhong called out to the inner room, "Guangtian! Guangfu! Come out quickly and take your brother Damao home."

Upon hearing Liu Haizhong's shout, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu immediately ran out of the inner room, grabbed Xu Damao on either side, and headed towards the door.

Already drunk, Xu Damao felt someone supporting him and groggily stood up, shouting as he walked, "Drink! The leader is the greatest, I'm the youngest, the leader gets a drink...!"

As Jia Dongming watched the Liu brothers help Xu Damao away, he picked up his wine glass and said to Liu Haizhong with a smile, "Second Uncle! It's getting late, let's stop drinking here tonight. We can continue drinking next time."

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's words, Liu Haizhong immediately raised his glass and said with a smile, "Section Chief Jia! Let's drink again when we have the chance!"

"Ding!"

"The daily check-in system is now open. Would you like to check in?"

At 7:00 a.m. the next morning, as soon as Jia Dongming opened his eyes after waking up, the system's notification sounded in his mind.

Upon receiving the system notification, Jia Dongming immediately responded with his consciousness: "System! Sign in!"

"Ding!"

"Check-in complete. The host has been issued advanced tracking skills, ten boxes of frozen yellow croaker, ten boxes of frozen ribbonfish, ten boxes of frozen cuttlefish, and ten yuan in cash."

All materials have been stored in the system space.

Should I learn advanced tracking skills immediately?

Upon sensing the system's prompt, Jia Dongming immediately responded in his mind: "System, learn advanced tracking skills."

In an instant, a massive flow of information flooded into Jia Dongming's mind.

It took him about ten minutes to fully absorb the tracking skills taught by the system.

This skill mainly includes footprint recognition, scent identification, and even the ability to track fleeing targets based on subtle traces.

After breakfast, Jia Dongming led Banggeng to the front yard, where they happened to run into Yan Bugui, who was watering the vegetable garden. Jia Dongming greeted him with a smile, "Good morning, Uncle San!"

Yan Bugui saw Jia Dongming and Banggeng and smiled, replying, "Section Chief Jia, good morning! Are you taking Banggeng to school?"

Jia Dongming replied, "Third Uncle, I happen to be going the same way, so I'll give him a ride."

Yesterday, when Yan Bugui saw Jia Dongming and Ran Qiuyue talking about sticks, he had the idea of ​​playing matchmaker for the two of them.

Before he could take any action, Jia Zhangshi came to inquire whether Ran Qiuyue was single.

Because of Jia Zhangshi's arrival, Yan Bugui pondered the matter repeatedly last night, even planning that if he could successfully arrange a marriage, he could take the opportunity to ask Jia Dongming to arrange a job for his eldest son, Yan Jiecheng, at the steel rolling mill.

To achieve his goal, Yan Bugui estimated the time Jia Dongming would leave, and deliberately carried a water jug, pretending to water the vegetables, while waiting for Jia Dongming.

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's words, Yan Bugui immediately asked, "Section Chief Jia, Ran Qiuyue, Banggeng's teacher, is still unmarried. What do you think of her? If you think she's suitable, I can introduce you?"

Jia Dongming smiled and politely declined, "Uncle, thank you for your trouble."

Ms. Ran is indeed good-looking and has good qualities, but she's not my type, so I'll pass on this idea.

Ran Qiuyue was considered one of the best students at Hongxing Elementary School, and Yan Bugui never expected that Jia Dongming would look down on her.

Thinking of his son's job, Yan Bugui quickly added, "Section Chief Jia, what kind of job do you like? Why don't you tell me?"

We have several single teachers at our school. Let me see if any of them are suitable for you, and I can help you make a connection.

Yan Bugui was the most calculating person in the courtyard; he would never take on any task without a benefit to himself.

His eagerness to play matchmaker reminded Jia Dongming of an old saying: "Those who offer unsolicited kindness are either treacherous or thieves."

With this thought in mind, Jia Dongming feigned gratitude and said, "Third Uncle, my mother has already asked Matchmaker Wang to arrange a marriage for me. I appreciate your kindness."

When Yan Bugui saw that Jia Dongming refused, he became anxious and hurriedly advised, "Section Chief Jia, all the teachers in our school have formal jobs and are all well-educated and reasonable. They are the most suitable candidates for a wife."

Would you like to reconsider?

Seeing that Yan Bugui still wouldn't give up, Jia Dongming became even more certain of his guess and replied with a smile, "Third Uncle, there's always a first-come, first-served order in everything."

Now that I've already hired Matchmaker Wang, I can't possibly trouble you to introduce me to someone else at the same time!

"Ring ring! Ring ring! Ring ring!"

Around 10 a.m., Jia Dongming finished reviewing the duty roster and was about to go to the training ground to check on the security department's training progress when the phone suddenly rang.

Upon hearing the phone ring, Jia Dongming immediately turned around and went back into the room. He picked up the telephone receiver from his desk and politely asked, "Hello, this is Jia Dongming. May I ask who this is?"

"Dongming! This is Dapao! Yesterday, based on the confession of that Japanese spy, we found a secret enemy warehouse in Xishan, where we seized enough light and heavy weapons to equip a regiment."

No sooner had Jia Dongming finished speaking than Wang Dapao's excited voice came through the receiver.

Upon learning this news, Jia Dongming thought of Zhou Xudong, the head of the enemy agents, and asked Wang Dapao, "Dapao, has Zhou Xudong confessed? I feel that this group of enemy agents probably has more than one secret warehouse in Beijing."

When Wang Dapao heard Jia Dongming ask this question, he thought of Zhou Xudong, who had refused to confess to this day, and replied with a serious expression: "Dongming, your thoughts coincide with those of our Director Li."

But Zhou Xudong is stubborn and hasn't said a word yet.

Jia Dongming then asked, "Dapao, do you need me to come to the branch office again to interrogate Zhou Xudong?"

Wang Dapao recalled Jia Dongming's interrogation of Chen Jianfei yesterday and quickly replied, "Dongming, Director Li said your interrogation method was too intense and he disagreed with using this method to deal with Zhou Xudong."

Jia Dongming thought for a moment, then asked, "Dapao, have you thoroughly searched all these people's residences?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Dapao looked helpless and said to Jia Dongming, "Dongming, do you think we would make such a basic mistake? We searched all these people's residences, and apart from finding a radio and some gold, we didn't find much else."

Jia Dongming possesses eagle eyes that can penetrate objects for observation. Combined with the tracking skills he acquired during his morning check-in, if he were to go to the locations where those enemy agents had lived and conduct a thorough inspection again, he might be able to discover some previously overlooked clues.

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Jia Dongming immediately said to Wang Dapao, "Dapao! I'm going to thoroughly investigate the place where these enemy agents stayed. Remember to report to Director Li."

Wang Dapao had great confidence in the police's search capabilities. When he heard that Jia Dongming wanted to re-search the enemy's residence, he couldn't help but advise, "Dongming! We searched almost every corner last time. I don't think you need to waste your time."

After hearing this, Jia Dongming replied seriously, "Big Cannon! I'm not questioning your search capabilities, but there's always the possibility of oversights. I have a feeling that some places might have been overlooked."

Seeing that Jia Dongming insisted on investigating again, Wang Dapao stopped trying to dissuade him and said, "Since you've decided to investigate again, I'll arrange for someone to bring you the key."

Upon seeing that Wang Dapao agreed and was willing to provide the key, Jia Dongming immediately thanked him, saying, "Dapao! Thank you for your help."

After lunch, Jia Dongming took the keys that had been delivered, got on the security department's bicycle, left the steel rolling mill, and headed to the place where Zhou Xudong had once lived.

Zhou Xudong's residence was a courtyard house with one entrance. When Jia Dongming arrived, he saw that the gate was sealed.

Instead of immediately tearing off the seal and going inside, he activated his Eagle Eye ability and slowly circled around the outer wall of the courtyard.

With the help of eagle eyes, Jia Dongming noticed a secret room below the kitchen, but it was empty, indicating that the public security authorities had already discovered this space.

After circling around without finding anything else, Jia Dongming returned to the gate, tore off the seal, and used the key to open the gate and enter the courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard, Jia Dongming immediately activated his tracking skills, attempting to find valuable traces. However, due to the previous police search, most of the clues left in the courtyard had been destroyed, making it difficult for him to identify which traces belonged to Zhou Xudong.

With some disappointment, Jia Dongming locked the gate, resealed it, and pushed his bicycle to Chen Jianfei's residence to check on him.

He had only taken a few steps with his bike and was about to get on when an abandoned courtyard house next to him caught his attention.

Jia Dongming immediately activated Eagle Eye to look inside the abandoned courtyard and discovered that there was not only a secret room filled with more than a dozen boxes, but also a hidden tunnel beneath the well.

This discovery invigorated Jia Dongming. He parked his bicycle, pushed open the seemingly flimsy gate, and entered the overgrown, abandoned courtyard.

Following the location indicated by Eagle Eye, Jia Dongming first found the entrance to the secret room. He carefully moved a dilapidated water vat, revealing a dark hole.

Faced with the pitch-black entrance, Jia Dongming did not enter immediately. Instead, he waited at the entrance for a moment to confirm that the air inside was circulating before carefully walking down into the secret chamber.

With Hawkeye's vision, the dark chamber was like daytime to him.

The wooden crate was covered in a thick layer of dust. Jia Dongming initially judged that the items in the secret room were not related to enemy agents, but were left behind by the original owner.

Looking at the dozen or so boxes in front of him, Jia Dongming felt a surge of excitement, like finding a treasure. He reached out and opened one of the boxes.