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

Now, with these resources as a reward from the system, Jia Dongming is filled with anticipation and longing for the future.

"Dongming! You rest at home for a while. Mom will go to the market to buy some vegetables and some cooked meat. I'll warm up your house and welcome you back tonight."

Just as Jia Dongming was envisioning the future, he heard Jia Zhangshi's cheerful voice.

Jia Zhangshi's words brought Jia Dongming back to his senses. He remembered the reward given by the system and said to Jia Zhangshi, "Mom, I'll take care of this."

I know someone who works at the supply and marketing cooperative; I'll go see if I can get some meat."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi smiled and quickly said, "Dongming, wait here for a while, Mom will go back and get the money and tickets."

In the story of this courtyard, Jia Zhangshi has always been stingy, a miser who only takes in money and never spends it.

When Jia Dongming saw his mother take the initiative to get the money and tickets, he was a little surprised and his impression of her improved. He quickly stopped her, saying, "Mom, there's no need to go get them."

When I reported to the steel rolling mill, Deputy Director Li gave me some vouchers.

Madam Jia didn't insist, and happily told Dongming, "Then Mom will stay here and keep an eye on things for you. Come back soon."

After leaving the courtyard, Jia Dongming first went to a nearby supply and marketing cooperative and bought a bicycle and several cloth bags.

He rode his bike to the police station, spent three yuan to get a bicycle license plate, and then found a secluded spot. He took out ten kilograms of rice, ten kilograms of flour, three kilograms of pork belly, two kilograms of eggs, a slaughtered chicken, and toiletries and bedding provided by the system from his personal space before riding his bike back.

"Dongming, is this bicycle new?"

As Jia Dongming pushed the cart into the front yard, the three women who were chatting saw him and asked in surprise and envy.

But as soon as she finished speaking, her gaze was drawn to the meat and chicken hanging on the handlebars.

Jia Dongming nodded with a smile: "Third Aunt, I went to the steel rolling mill to report for duty today, and Director Li gave me a bicycle ticket."

Thinking it would be convenient for commuting, I simply bought it.

The three women snapped out of their daze and asked with shining eyes, "Dongming, where did you buy this pork belly? Is it still possible to find such good quality meat at this time of year?"

Seeing that several middle-aged women in the courtyard were looking over, Jia Dongming pushed his cart toward the central courtyard and replied, "Third Auntie, I have a comrade-in-arms who works at the supply and marketing cooperative. He specially reserved this spot for me."

The three older women and several other older women watched Jia Dongming push his cart through the moon gate, their faces filled with envy.

An older woman, thinking about the things in the car, sighed, "I thought the Jia family would have a hard time after Jia Dongxu left, but I didn't expect the eldest son of the Jia family to come back."

With him around, the Jia family will definitely prosper in the future.

Another older woman chimed in: "I heard from Jia Zhangshi that Jia Dongming works as the head of security at the steel rolling mill, earning over a hundred yuan a month, which is more than the salary of an old man in our compound."

Jia Zhangshi, who was instructing Qin Huairu to tidy up the house in the courtyard, was overjoyed to see Jia Dongming pushing in a brand-new bicycle. She quickly stepped forward and asked, "Dongming, whose bicycle is this?"

Jia Dongming parked the car under the eaves and explained with a smile, "Mom, didn't I tell you? Deputy Factory Director Li gave us some tickets, including bicycle tickets."

I just went to the supply and marketing cooperative to visit a comrade-in-arms, and they happened to have a car for sale, so I bought one.

Upon hearing that the car was bought by her son, Madam Jia excitedly called into the house, "Huai Ru! Come out quickly and see! Dongming bought a car!"

"Uncle, Xiaodang wants to ride in the car."

Little Dang, who was playing in the yard, ran over and looked up at me, saying in a childish voice.

Madam Jia's face darkened, and she was about to reprimand him when she suddenly remembered Jia Dongming's earlier reminder and swallowed her words.

Jia Dongming reached into his pocket and took out a few milk candies, saying gently to Xiao Dang, "Xiao Dang, have some candy first."

"Uncle will take you for a bike ride after he's all packed, okay?"

Seeing him pull out another handful of White Rabbit milk candies, Jia Zhangshi couldn't help but say, "Dongming, you already gave Xiaodang candy, why are you giving him more?"

Jia Dongming peeled a piece of candy and put it into Jia Zhangshi's mouth, saying with a smile, "Mom, this candy was a gift from a comrade-in-arms, you should try some too."

A sweet feeling welled up in Jia Zhangshi's heart. With a candy in her mouth, she mumbled to Xiao Dang, "Xiao Dang, you can only eat one piece of candy."

We'll eat the rest when my brother gets back.

Xiao Dang had reached out to take the candy, but when he saw Jia Zhangshi speak, he was so frightened that he withdrew his hand and looked timidly at his grandmother.

Only after being instructed did she take the candy back and obediently reply, "Grandma, I understand."

When her brother got out of school, Xiao Dang shared her candy with him.

When Jia Dongming pushed his bicycle into the yard, Jia Zhangshi's eyes were immediately drawn to it.

It wasn't until Jia Dongming started unloading things that she noticed the pork belly and old hen hanging on the handlebars.

Looking at the thick chunks of meat and the hen, Jia Zhangshi slapped her thigh with delight, her voice filled with surprise: "Dongming! This meat is really fatty! Where did you get it? Where can you find pork belly like this in the market at this time of year?"

Seeing his mother so happy, Jia Dongming smiled and explained, "Mom, this meat was saved by one of my comrades for someone else."

When he heard I wanted to buy meat, he gave me half of it.

This piece of pork belly weighs a full three pounds.

As he spoke, he untied the bags tied to the handlebars one by one and said to Jia Zhangshi with a hint of pride, "Mom, besides meat and chicken, I also bought ten catties of rice, ten catties of flour, and two catties of eggs."

Upon hearing that so many things had been bought, Jia Zhangshi was overjoyed and quickly called out to the kitchen, "Qin Huairu! Stop dawdling in there and come out quickly to help Dongming carry everything into the kitchen!"

Qin Huairu, who was tidying up in the kitchen, had already heard the conversation outside. She knew that Jia Dongming had brought back pork belly. She was very curious, but she was afraid of being scolded by Jia Zhangshi, so she had to hold back and not come out.

Hearing the call, she quickly wiped her hands and came out. When she saw the several bags on the ground, a look of surprise appeared on her face: "Uncle, why did you buy so many things?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Jia proudly instructed, "Qin Huairu, this is what makes my son so capable! Hurry up and get ready, then go home and fetch two cabbages. We'll make dumplings tonight."

Jia Dongming quickly replied, "Mom, where did you put the cabbage? I'll go get it and bring my luggage back with me."

Madam Jia waved her hand: "I've already had Huai Ru move your luggage to your room. Go back to your room and unpack, then you can wait for dinner."

Jia Dongming smiled and said, "Mom, no rush. I'll go get the cabbage first and then we can clean it up."

Madam Jia then said, "The cabbage is in the kitchen cabinet. You'll see it as soon as you go in and open the cabinet door."

As instructed, Jia Dongming entered the Jia family's kitchen, took out two cabbages from the cupboard, and was about to turn back when he suddenly heard a child's cheerful shout:

"Grandma! I'm home!"

Then, the voice suddenly turned panicked:

"Thief! Help! Catch the thief!"

Jia Dongming immediately understood—this must be his nephew, whom he had never met before, the future "Master Thief".

Stick stem.

I never expected that when I came back to get two cabbages, this child would mistake me for a thief.

"Bang Geng, that's your uncle, not a thief!"

An elderly woman who was doing needlework in the yard heard the shout and quickly spoke up to explain.

Jia Zhangshi, who was watching Qin Huairu work in the other courtyard, also ran out upon hearing the commotion, asking anxiously, "My dear grandson, where is the thief?"

An older woman quickly said, "Sister-in-law Jia, there's no thief. Bang Geng has misunderstood. He mistook your Dongming for a thief."

Only then did Madam Jia realize what was happening.

She saw Jia Dongming carrying cabbage out of the house and quickly pulled Banggeng over, saying, "Banggeng, this is your uncle, your father's older brother, not a thief."

"Quickly call him Uncle."

Banggeng looked at Jia Dongming and thought he looked somewhat like his father, but he was still confused: "Grandma, how come I've never known I had an uncle? Neither you nor Dad have mentioned him."

Madam Jia affectionately patted Banggeng's head and explained softly, "My dear grandson, your uncle joined the army a long time ago, which is why you don't recognize him."

At that time, Jia Dongxu had not been dead for long, and Banggeng had not yet been spoiled by Jia Zhangshi.

Hearing his grandmother's words, he looked at Jia Dongming curiously: "Uncle, Grandma said you joined the army a long time ago, is that true?"

Looking at the adoration in Banggeng's eyes, Jia Dongming realized that the child hadn't gone astray yet.

He smiled and nodded: "Great, Grandma is right, I became a young soldier in the Youth Corps when I was ten years old."

Banggeng's eyes lit up at the question: "Uncle, could you tell me a story about war?"

Jia Dongming said gently, "Of course."

My uncle bought a lot of meat today, so we'll make dumplings together tonight.

"I'll tell you the whole story when we eat dumplings, okay?"

For children, being able to eat meat is undoubtedly an exciting thing.

When Banggeng heard that Jia Dongming had bought meat and was going to make dumplings that evening, his mind was immediately drawn to dumplings. He jumped up and down with joy, repeatedly shouting, "We're going to have dumplings! We're going to have dumplings!"

"Uncle, didn't this used to be Uncle Xue's place? How come it's yours now?"

Banggeng followed Jia Dongming into the courtyard and suddenly remembered Engineer Xue, who used to live here, and couldn't help but ask curiously.

Hearing her grandson's words, Madam Jia explained to him with a hint of pride, "My dear grandson, your uncle is now the head of security at the steel rolling mill. This courtyard was allocated to him by the factory, and from now on it belongs to our Jia family."

The Jia family originally only had one room. Banggeng used to sleep with Jia Zhangshi. After Jia Dongxu passed away, Jia Zhangshi slept with Qin Huairu, and Banggeng took over Jia Zhangshi's bed.

Upon learning that the courtyard and all the rooms inside would belong to his family, Banggeng immediately asked Jia Zhangshi excitedly, "Grandma, is what you're saying true? This courtyard is really ours now? Can I move in?"

Banggeng was the only grandson of the Jia family, and Jia Zhangshi always doted on him.

Upon hearing Banggeng's question, she agreed without hesitation: "Sure! If my dear grandson wants to move in, Grandma will have your mother prepare a room for you, and you can move in tomorrow."

"Move what?! Mom, this is a house the factory allocated to my eldest brother. How can Banggeng move here with Uncle?"

Jia Zhangshi spoke without much thought, but Qin Huairu was different.

While she was chopping meat in the kitchen, she overheard the conversation between the grandmother and grandson. Fearing that it would displease Jia Dongming, she quickly interrupted Jia Zhangshi's thoughts.

Jia Dongming had anticipated Jia Zhangshi's thoughtless reaction; however, Qin Huairu's attitude surprised him somewhat.

Jia Dongming put the cabbage in his hand on the table and said to Qin Huairu with a smile, "Sister-in-law, Bang Geng is getting bigger, and it's really inconvenient for him to always sleep squeezed together with you."

Anyway, I have plenty of empty rooms here. You can clean one out later for Banggeng to stay in.

Bang Geng was initially disappointed after hearing Qin Huairu's words, but after Jia Dongming finished speaking, he immediately became overjoyed, dancing with excitement: "I can live in a new house! I can finally have my own room!"

Seeing Banggeng so happy, Jia Dongming put on a stern face and said seriously, "Banggeng, you can live here if you want, but your uncle has to make a deal with you. If it were the Banggeng after the plot started, he probably wouldn't agree to this; but the current Banggeng hasn't been spoiled by Jia Zhangshi yet, and he really wants to live in his own room. He immediately assured Jia Dongming, 'Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely study hard!'"

Jia Dongming's expression softened, and he gently encouraged him, "Bang Geng, it's not enough to just be serious; you have to strive to get into the top ten in your class."

If you can do that, I'll give you 50 cents; if you make it into the top nine, the reward will double, and so on!

Banggeng's eyes lit up at the mention of a reward, and he eagerly asked, "Uncle, is it true? Is it really true that you get paid for making it into the top ten?"

Looking at his expectant expression, Jia Dongming nodded firmly: "Great job, the men of the Jia family keep their word."

If you do it, you'll definitely get the reward.

"Brother, have some candy!"