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

Recalling his gains today, Jia Dongming replied with a smile, "Dapao, I found a new clue at Zhou Xudong's residence, so I came here specifically to see him."

Zhou Xudong has now confessed.

However, you're probably going to be quite busy from now on.

Upon learning of Zhou Xudong's confession, Wang Dapao's first reaction was that Jia Dongming had used torture, and he immediately pressed, "Dongming, didn't I tell you not to use cruel torture methods on Zhou Xudong? Why didn't you listen to my advice?"

Jia Dongming understood the implication in Wang Dapao's words and realized that the methods he used on Chen Jianfei had attracted some criticism. He then clarified, "Dapao, you've misunderstood me this time."

"When I interrogated Zhou Xudong, I didn't even touch a single hair on his head."

Upon hearing that Jia Dongming had not used torture to extract a confession, Wang Dapao's face was immediately filled with disbelief.

The interrogation experts from the branch office took turns trying to get Zhou Xudong to talk, but after a day and a night, they still couldn't get him to confess. Jia Dongming was able to get him to confess willingly without using any tricks, which really shocked him.

Recalling Zhou Xudong's stubborn behavior during the interrogation, Wang Dapao couldn't help but ask curiously, "Dongming, you really didn't use any methods on Zhou Xudong to get him to talk?"

Looking at Wang Dapao's curious expression, Jia Dongming smiled calmly: "Dapao, it's the truth, and the truth will be judged by the public."

For specific details, you can ask Director Li.

After saying goodbye to Wang Dapao, Jia Dongming rode his bicycle away from the Dongcheng Branch.

As he passed a tailor shop by the roadside, he glanced at it subconsciously before driving toward the steel rolling mill.

However, Jia Dongming did not notice that just as he rode away, a figure quietly disappeared behind a curtain on the second floor of the tailor shop.

"Section Chief, Deputy Factory Director Li called you during the lunch break."

As soon as Jia Dongming returned to the security office, before he could even sit down, Zhang Guoping followed him in and reported the news of Li Huaide's call.

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming asked with a hint of doubt, "Guoping, did Deputy Factory Director Li say what he wanted to see me about?"

After Zhang Guoping reported to Jia Dongming, Jia Dongming learned that Deputy Factory Director Li Huaide had invited him to dine with leaders from several brother units at the small canteen that evening, and he nodded to indicate that he understood.

In the evening, Jia Dongming first went to Qin Huairu's place to tell her that he wouldn't be home for dinner, and then headed to the small canteen.

Before even entering the private room, bursts of laughter and conversation could be heard coming from inside.

Jia Dongming entered the private room, greeted Li Huaide and the other leaders present with a smile, and apologized for being late.

When Li Huaide met Jia Dongming, he warmly invited him to sit down and introduced him to the three leaders present: Guo Dehua, the factory director of the textile factory; Zhao Huichun, the deputy director of the grain bureau; and Jiang Beiping, the deputy factory director of the meat processing plant.

Next, Li Huaide introduced Jia Dongming to everyone, praising his heroic performance in the army and his quick cracking of enemy spy cases after being transferred to the steel rolling mill, thus protecting the factory's safety.

Jia Dongming responded modestly and politely greeted the three leaders.

Deputy Director Zhao Huichun expressed her appreciation for Jia Dongming, saying that she had long heard of his deeds.

Li Huaide then mentioned that Jia Dongming not only had strong work ability, but also an excellent alcohol tolerance.

Factory Director Guo Dehua expressed his curiosity after hearing this and suggested that he would like to see Section Chief Jia's drinking capacity that night.

Jia Dongming claimed that his alcohol tolerance was acceptable, but not as high as Li Huaide had described.

Factory Director Guo Dehua humorously followed up with the question, "Just a little bit?"

When asked which "one" it was, Jia Dongming humorously replied that in front of his superiors it was the "one" of "one, two, three, four," while in front of his colleagues it was the "hundred million" of "hundred million."

These words drew laughter from everyone. Factory Director Guo Dehua said that he, Zhao Huichun, and Jiang Beiping would test Jia Dongming's drinking capacity that night.

Jia Dongming responded that they would feel the warmth of the steel rolling mill.

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The three leaders were all heavy drinkers, but Jia Dongming used special methods to ensure that they had to be helped away by their driver at the end of the banquet.

Standing at the entrance of the small canteen, Li Huaide watched the vehicle drive away, sincerely praising Jia Dongming's drinking capacity, saying that he had never admired him so much.

Although Jia Dongming was not completely drunk, he was somewhat tipsy. He responded to Li Huaide by saying that he was drinking to support Li's work.

Li Huaide was very satisfied and promised that after the allocation of the supplies was completed, he would give 10% of the proceeds to the security department as a reward.

On behalf of the Security Department, Jia Dongming expressed his gratitude to Li Huaide.

Li Huaide pointed out that if Jia Dongming hadn't drunk the three leaders under the table that night, the task of allocating supplies wouldn't have gone so smoothly, and this reward was well-deserved by the Security Department.

Just then, a jeep arrived. Li Huai opened the car door and invited Jia Dongming to get in, preparing to take him home.

As soon as Li Huaide finished speaking, Jia Dongming replied with a smile, "Director Li, thank you for your trouble. I'll just ride my bicycle back; it's no trouble at all."

After watching Li Huaide drive away, Jia Dongming walked slowly to the parking shed inside the factory, got on the bicycle that Qin Huairu had left behind, and rode towards the gate of the steel rolling mill.

"Good morning, Section Chief!"

"Section Chief, good evening!"

As Jia Dongming approached the gate, two security guards in the duty room immediately came out to greet him respectfully.

Jia Dongming lightly squeezed the brakes and stopped the car in front of the duty room. He took out the pack of Peony cigarettes that Li Huaide had given him at dinner from his pocket and handed them to the two men with a smile: "Deputy Factory Director Li gave me a pack of cigarettes at dinner tonight. I don't usually smoke, so you can share it."

Upon seeing that it was Peony cigarettes, their eyes immediately lit up.

One of them quickly accepted the cigarettes and thanked them repeatedly, saying, "Section Chief, this Peony cigarette is a Class B cigarette. We're really fortunate to have this opportunity to try something new today, thanks to you."

Jia Dongming remained calm, waved his hand, and instructed, "Things outside haven't been very peaceful lately, so be extra careful when you're on duty."

Also, remember to pass this message on to the comrades participating in the training.

The security guard who accepted the cigarette immediately straightened his back and solemnly assured, "Section Chief, rest assured, we will definitely guard our posts diligently and will never let you down."

After giving his explanation, Jia Dongming got back on his bicycle and left the steel rolling mill.

On the way, he remembered the tailor shop next to the Dongcheng branch and hesitated whether he should go over there to take a look.

But then he thought that Li Xidong had probably already arranged for people to be deployed, so he gave up the idea and rode straight towards Tongluoguxiang.

"Hey! Riding a bike so late at night, aren't you watching where you're going? Where are your eyes?"

While Jia Dongming was pondering matters related to enemy agents, he didn't pay attention to what was ahead and accidentally bumped into someone.

Upon hearing that somewhat familiar cry of pain, Jia Dongming quickly stopped the car and looked in the moonlight toward the source of the sound—it turned out to be Xu Damao's wife, Lou Xiao'e, lying on the ground.

He quickly set up his bicycle, went over to help her, and asked with a hint of apology, "Lou Xiao'e? It's me, Jia Dongming."

"What are you doing here so late?"

Lou Xiao'e had argued with Xu Damao and was determined to go back to her parents' home, but she was hit by a bicycle as soon as she reached the entrance of the alley.

This collision made her already bad mood even worse.

Just as she was about to explode, Jia Dongming's question was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing most of the anger in her heart.

She sat on the ground, frowned, rubbed her aching buttocks, and whispered, "I'm going back to my parents' home."

Seeing that her eyes were still a little red and swollen, Jia Dongming had already guessed what was going on, so he said gently, "I was lost in thought just now, I'm really sorry."

Where are you hurt? If it's serious, should I take you to the hospital to get it checked out?

Seeing Lou Xiao'e shake her head, he advised again, "It's not safe for you to walk alone so late."

"How about I take you to get your injury checked first, and then take you back to your parents' home?"

Lou Xiao'e stood up with his help, patted her clothes, and said, "No need for the hospital, please give me a ride, Section Chief Jia."

Hearing her say that, Jia Dongming breathed a sigh of relief and helped her onto the back of the bicycle: "Then sit tight, I'll take you home."

The wheels turned smoothly in the night.

As Jia Dongming pedaled his bicycle, he said, "Why do couples have to walk alone at night when they're having a little argument? It's too dangerous."

Upon hearing this, Lou Xiao'e, sitting in the back seat, immediately recalled the things Xu Damao had said to her and gritted her teeth, saying, "That Xu Damao! He called me a hen that can't lay eggs and even slapped me."

My parents have never touched me in my entire life, so why should he?

Jia Dongming remained silent for a moment.

He remembered that in the original story, Xu Damao had no children, but Lou Xiao'e later had a child with Sha Zhu.

So he carefully asked, "Having a child is a matter for two people."

Have you both gone to the hospital for a checkup to see who has the problem?

Lou Xiao'e paused, her tone tinged with surprise: "Section Chief Jia, what you're saying... doesn't mean that being unable to have children isn't necessarily a woman's problem?"

Jia Dongming never expected that a lady from such a prominent family would have such a misunderstanding, so he patiently explained: "Let me put it this way: men are like seeds, and women are like soil."

If the seeds are bad, even the most fertile soil won't grow crops; conversely, if there's a problem with the soil, even the best seeds won't germinate.

Jia Dongming's words revealed an unprecedented perspective to Lou Xiao'e, and she immediately thanked Jia Dongming: "Section Chief Jia! In the past, I always thought that not being able to get pregnant was a woman's responsibility, so I tried many folk remedies in the past two years."

I'm going to the hospital for a check-up first thing tomorrow morning.

If the root of the problem is found to be Xu Damao, I will not let him off easily.

In those days, the idea of ​​divorce was not common, so even if she suspected that the problem might lie with Xu Damao, Lou Xiao'e's first thought was to teach him a lesson, rather than end the marriage.

As the saying goes, it's better to tear down ten temples than to break up one marriage.

Upon hearing that Lou Xiao'e intended to punish Xu Damao, Jia Dongming did not take the opportunity to sow discord between the couple. Instead, he silently rode his bicycle toward Lou Xiao'e's family home.

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Sitting on the back of the bicycle, Lou Xiao'e recalled the various rumors circulating in the compound about Jia Dongming. Finally, unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, "Section Chief Jia! I heard that you were separated from your parents when you were young. Is that true?"

When Lou Xiao'e suddenly asked about this past event, Jia Dongming, who was riding his bicycle, replied, "It is true."

Years ago, I went with my father to the Tianqiao Market to buy grain. On our way back, we were unfortunately mowed down by Japanese troops in the street…

"Section Chief Jia! After your memory returned, did you try to find your biological parents?"

Lou Xiao'e listened carefully to Jia Dongming's account and then asked him questions with great interest.

Jia Dongming did not try to hide Lou Xiao'e's question, and replied with a smile: "I was knocked unconscious by artillery shells during the battle, and only then did I recover some fragments of my memory, but I only remembered my parents' names."

"When I was demobilized and returned to my hometown, I planned to settle down before slowly looking for their whereabouts. However, on the first day after moving into the courtyard house, I unexpectedly reunited with my mother."

The only regret is that I never got to see my father and brother again.

Upon hearing this, Lou Xiao'e couldn't help but exclaim, "Section Chief Jia! Perhaps this is fate's decree!"

Jia Dongming escorted Lou Xiao'e to the villa gate, said goodbye, and then rode his bicycle towards Luogu Lane.

Watching Jia Dongming's figure disappear into the night, Lou Xiao'e raised her hand and gently knocked on the door, calling inside, "Mom! I'm back, open the door quickly."

A light came on in the previously dark villa as she shouted.

Soon, Lou Tanshi, wearing an overcoat, opened the door. Seeing her daughter, she asked in surprise, "Xiao'e! Why are you back so late? Did you have another argument with Xu Damao?"

Mentioning Xu Damao, Lou Xiao'e's smile vanished instantly. She replied, "Mom! Xu Damao called me a hen that can't lay eggs. I was so angry that I had a fight with him, which is why I rushed back overnight."

Lou Tan was not surprised by the quarrel between her daughter and son-in-law; such incidents had occurred many times in the past year.