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

"Dongming! Why are you so late today?"

When Jia Dongming entered the main room, Jia Zhangshi, who was eating, saw him return and asked curiously.

Seeing that only Jia Zhangshi was sitting at the table, Jia Dongming asked her, "Mom! Where's Huairu? Why didn't you call Banggeng and the others to eat first?"

When Jia Dongming asked about Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi thought of the fact that her son had spent over a hundred yuan on Qin Huairu's father's hospitalization and complained, "We not only have to pay for Qin Huairu's father's hospitalization, but we also have to provide him with good food and drink."

"Now Qin Huairu only cares about her parents, not our family. Just now, the meal was cooked, and she rushed to the hospital to deliver it without even thinking about Banggeng and Xiaodang's dinner."

Seeing Jia Zhangshi scolding Qin Huairu, Jia Dongming knew his mother's temper was hard to change, so he said nothing more and called to Banggeng, "Banggeng! Come and eat!"

"Dongming-ge! Dongming-ge! I've been looking for you for so many times, you're finally back."

Just as Jia Dongming put Xiaodang on a chair and was calling Banggeng to eat, Xu Damao walked into the yard from outside and called out to Jia Dongming happily.

Hearing Xu Damao's words, Jia Dongming asked somewhat embarrassedly, "Damao! Didn't we just have drinks the day before yesterday? Why are you treating me again today? I feel so bad."

Hearing Jia Dongming's polite words, Xu Damao immediately explained, "Brother Dongming! My daughter Xiao'e got a bottle of good wine from her father and insisted that I invite you to drink it."

When Jia Dongming heard Xu Damao say this, he vaguely felt that it was probably Lou Xiao'e, not Xu Damao, who was inviting him to dinner tonight.

Thinking of this, Jia Dongming immediately remembered that when he took Lou Xiao'e home last night, he had given her advice about Xu Damao's infertility.

He vaguely sensed that Lou Xiao'e's invitation to dinner might be related to this.

Thinking of this, Jia Dongming smiled and said to Xu Damao, "Damao! You go back first, I'll wash my face and come right away."

Xu Damao nodded happily when Jia Dongming agreed, "Brother Dongming! I'll go back first, come over as soon as you've washed your face."

After a quick wash, Jia Dongming went back to his room, grabbed a small net bag of apples, and headed towards Xu Damao's house.

When Xu Damao saw Jia Dongming carrying apples, he looked surprised and asked curiously, "Brother Dongming! Where did you buy these apples? They're huge!"

When Jia Dongming heard Xu Damao ask about it and saw his surprised expression, he handed over the net bag and introduced with a smile, "Damao! These apples were a gift from my comrade-in-arms. I brought some for you to try."

Xu Damao took the net and called out to Lou Xiao'e in the kitchen, "Xiao'e! Xiao'e! Brother Dongming is here, quickly bring out the dishes."

Lou Xiao'e, who was busy in the kitchen, heard the call and immediately came out with a plate of food, warmly greeting Jia Dongming: "Section Chief Jia! You've arrived! Please have a seat."

Upon hearing Lou Xiao'e address him that way, Jia Dongming immediately smiled and corrected her, "Lou Xiao'e! This is a courtyard house, not a steel mill. Just call me Brother Dongming."

Lou Xiao'e, upon hearing Jia Dongming's words, didn't stand on ceremony and immediately replied, "Okay! From now on, I'll call you Brother Dongming, just like Da Mao!"

After Jia Dongming sat down, Xu Damao took out a bottle of wine from the house and presented it to Jia Dongming like a treasure, saying, "Brother Dongming! This is deer blood wine that my daughter Ezi got from her father."

"I had a drink at my father-in-law's house last time, and I felt full of energy afterward."

Upon hearing Xu Damao's words, Jia Dongming immediately became interested and asked curiously, "Damao! Is he really that good? Then I'll have to have a few more drinks tonight."

When Jia Dongming asked, Xu Damao quickly patted his chest and assured him, "Brother Dongming! Whether it works or not, you'll know once you drink it. I'm not bragging."

After Lou Xiao'e set the dishes on the table, she instructed Xu Damao, "Damao! Brother Dongming is the most promising person in our courtyard. If you want to improve, you must learn from Brother Dongming."

After Lou Xiao'e's prompting, Xu Damao suddenly understood and hurriedly asked Jia Dongming, "Brother Dongming! My daughter didn't mention it just now, so I really hadn't thought of it that way."

Now that I hear what she said, I really want to ask: I have a good relationship with the section chief, so why has he never considered me whenever there's a promotion opportunity in the department?

Seeing Xu Damao's eager expression, Jia Dongming smiled and asked in return, "Damao! Since you've asked this, let me ask you first, how many projectionists are there in our steel rolling mill?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao couldn't help but show a hint of pride on his face and replied, "Brother Dongming! I'm not bragging, but projecting movies is a highly technical job, and I'm the only projectionist in the entire factory."

"Isn't that settled? If your section chief promotes you, who will take over the task of showing movies in the countryside? If you were the propaganda section chief, would you go out of your way to promote the factory's only projectionist?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming asked a question almost without thinking.

Xu Damao was stunned by the question.

Just as Jia Dongming said, if he were promoted, who would take over the job of showing movies in the countryside?

As the old saying goes, "Teach your apprentice, and you'll starve."

Xu Damao's projection skills were personally taught by his father, Xu Fugui. Every time the factory wanted to assign him an apprentice, he would always decline the arrangement, saying that his skills were not good enough.

Now, after hearing Jia Dongming's analysis, Xu Damao suddenly realized how short-sighted he had been to refuse to take on apprentices. He felt a pang of regret and remorse for listening to his father and turning down the learning opportunities arranged by the factory, which ultimately blocked his path to advancement.

This thought filled him with both anxiety and regret, and he quickly asked, "Brother Dongming! If I start training apprentices now, do you think I still have a chance to become the deputy head of the publicity department?"

Seeing Xu Damao's anxious expression, Jia Dongming's face turned serious: "Damao! Opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared, but given your current situation, there is absolutely no way you can become a deputy section chief in one step."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's face immediately fell, and he asked in disappointment, "Brother Dongming! Why don't I have a chance to become a deputy section chief?"

Jia Dongming smiled and then posed another question: "Da Mao! Do you know what level the deputy head of the publicity department is? There's a saying, 'You have to eat one bite at a time.' You haven't even swallowed the first bite yet, and you're already thinking of getting fat in one bite. Do you think that's realistic?"

Xu Damao was taken aback by what he was saying and was a little confused. He quickly asked, "Brother Dongming! You've confused me. Please explain it to me in detail. What exactly is going on?"

"Da Mao! What Dongming means is that if you want to become a deputy section chief directly, that's like trying to climb to the top in one step, and it's simply not feasible within the system."

If you really want to climb the ranks, you need to first secure a group leader position, and then climb up step by step.

Lou Xiao'e, who was standing nearby, immediately understood Jia Dongming's implied meaning and quickly explained it to Xu Damao.

Jia Dongming gave Lou Xiao'e a thumbs up and praised her, "Lou Xiao'e! You're the quickest to understand."

The deputy head of the propaganda department is a deputy section chief-level position. According to organizational principles, for a worker to be promoted to the deputy section chief level, they must first secure a "doing-in-service" position, and then gradually advance through the ranks.

After hearing their explanations, Xu Damao suddenly realized and nodded repeatedly: "Brother Dongming! I always thought that as long as you had a good relationship with the leaders, promotion was just a matter of the leaders saying a word."

After listening to your analysis today, I realized I had been oversimplifying things.

In fact, Jia Dongming didn't explicitly state another crucial point: Xu Damao married Lou Xiao'e and became Lou Bancheng's son-in-law. Just this status as a capitalist's son-in-law meant that he was basically destined to have no future in officialdom.

Of course, Jia Dongming would never say this to his face.

Thinking of this, Jia Dongming smiled and suggested, "Da Mao! I have a practical suggestion for you: if you really want to improve, take on one or two apprentices first."

Once you're completely free from the projectionist role, try to lobby your superiors to become the projection team leader.

We'll plan the way forward later.

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's face was full of gratitude, and he quickly raised his glass: "Brother Dongming! I understand what you mean."

This glass is for you; thank you for explaining so much to me.

Jia Dongming also raised his glass, lightly clinked it with his, and said with a smile, "Da Mao! I'm just offering a suggestion; the key is still up to you to handle it."

Xu Damao drank it all in one gulp, feeling much better. He then said, "Brother Dongming! Actually, when I gave the section chief a gift before, he reminded me to mentor an apprentice."

At that time, I didn't quite understand, and even thought that the section chief only accepted gifts and didn't do anything.

After hearing what you said today, I finally understand the section chief's good intentions.

"When I get to the department tomorrow morning, I'll find the department head and ask him to assign me one or two apprentices."

Lou Xiao'e, who was standing nearby, heard Xu Damao say this and a hint of displeasure flashed across her face. Then she smiled and said to Xu Damao, "Damao, Dongming just told you so much, shouldn't you thank him properly?"

Reminded by Lou Xiao'e, Xu Damao immediately realized what was going on and quickly picked up the wine bottle to pour wine for Jia Dongming, saying, "Brother Dongming, Xiao'e is right. I really have to thank you today."

After saying that, Xu Damao poured himself another glass and raised his voice to Jia Dongming, "Brother Dongming, let's stick to the old rules: one big, three small, two fives, ten. Watch me!"

Before Jia Dongming could even speak, Xu Damao, a novice at the dinner table, was encouraged by Lou Xiao'e to down several drinks in a row, and finally collapsed on the table and fell into a deep sleep.

Lou Xiao'e glanced at Xu Damao, who was fast asleep on the table like a dead pig, with a look of disgust. She picked up the wine bottle and poured wine for Jia Dongming while saying, "Brother Dongming, don't mind him, I'll keep drinking with you."

When Jia Dongming saw that Xu Damao had drunk himself into oblivion again, he planned to leave the Xu family. However, before he could say goodbye to Lou Xiao'e, Lou Xiao'e had already picked up the wine bottle and poured him a drink.

At this moment, Jia Dongming, having been drinking, did not notice the disgust in Lou Xiao'e's eyes as she looked at Xu Damao.

Faced with Lou Xiao'e's suggestion, he hesitated and advised, "Lou Xiao'e, Xu Damao is already drunk. Why don't we drink another day?"

Lou Xiao'e didn't respond to Jia Dongming's words. Instead, she picked up her wine glass and said to Jia Dongming, "Brother Dongming, this glass is for you. Thank you for reminding me last night, which finally made me realize that I'm not the hen that Xu Damao was talking about, the one that can't lay eggs."

At this point, Lou Xiao'e raised her glass to Jia Dongming and said readily, "Brother Dongming, I'll drink first!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she tilted her head back and downed the wine in her glass. Then she picked up the bottle and poured herself a full glass, her voice slightly choked as she said, "Brother Dongming, for the past two years, because I haven't been able to conceive, it's one thing for people in the compound to laugh at me, but even Xu Damao and his parents haven't given me a kind look!"

"I used to think that not being able to get pregnant was a woman's problem, so I always swallowed my anger in the face of Xu Damao's family's attitude. Even when I found out that Xu Damao was having affairs, I pretended not to know."

"Until last night when you told me that having a child is a matter for two people, I went to Peking Union Medical College Hospital for a full check-up early this morning."

The doctor told me that not only was there nothing wrong with my body, but I was also the kind of person who could get pregnant very easily.

The one who truly cannot have children is not me, but Xu Damao.

Lou Xiao'e raised her glass again and drank it all in one gulp.

In the TV series "Full House of Love", Lou Xiao'e is a naive and innocent girl.

If you were to ask who in this courtyard could be considered a good person, it would definitely be Lou Xiao'e.

Seeing Lou Xiao'e about to pour more wine, Jia Dongming quickly took the bottle from her and asked, "Lou Xiao'e, now that you're certain you can have children, have you thought about what you'll do in the future?"

Lou Xiao'e froze when Jia Dongming asked about the future, muttering to herself, "What can I do... what else can I do? I can only make do with Xu Damao and take it one day at a time."

Jia Dongming sensed the resentment in Lou Xiao'e's words and advised, "Lou Xiao'e, you could have Xu Damao go to the hospital for a checkup as well. Maybe his illness can be cured?"