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

After listening to Ma Weidong's reasoning, Jia Dongming thought it was very reasonable and immediately added, "Vice President Ma! Since the other side has deployed early warning personnel, it means they must have prepared an evacuation plan."

This likely means that their hiding place also contains a secret passage for a safe retreat.

After all, the underground drainage network of Beijing is intricate and can be fully utilized.

"Drainage system! If hostile elements use the drainage system to move, they can use the channels within it to dispose of the excavated soil."

It seems necessary for us to organize a covert inspection of the underground drainage network, especially in sections near each bureau.

Upon hearing the explanation about the drainage ditch, Ma Weidong felt that Jia Dongming's speculation was highly plausible, and a response strategy quickly took shape in his mind.

Jia Dongming came to the Dongcheng Branch Bureau for two reasons: to share intelligence and to inform the police officers of the hostile elements' plans in order to prevent their conspiracy from succeeding.

The warning had now been delivered, and Jia Dongming said to Ma Weidong, "Vice President Ma! We have reported all the information we have to Director Li."

I will contact you immediately if there are any new developments.

Considering Yang Weimin's special status, Ma Weidong specifically instructed Jia Dongming: "Section Chief Jia! Yang Weimin's position is extraordinary. Before taking any action, be sure to ensure that the evidence is sufficient and the preparations are thorough. Do not act rashly."

This matter has far-reaching implications and requires careful handling.

Jia Dongming nodded earnestly in response: "Vice President Ma! Thank you for your reminder."

We will only take action when we are fully prepared.

Around 5 p.m., since he had a day off the next day, Jia Dongming did not use the security department's bicycle, but walked away from the steel rolling mill.

Just as I stepped out the gate, I heard Sha Zhu's voice behind me: "Dongming-ge! Why didn't you ride your bike today?"

Jia Dongming turned around and saw Sha Zhu walking over with two lunch boxes. He explained, "Zhu Zi! Your sister-in-law Huai Ru needed a car to deliver food to the hospital, so I let her ride it."

Why are you leaving get off work so early today too?

Sha Zhu replied with a smile, "Brother Dongming! The cafeteria doesn't have any reception duties today, and it's the weekend and rainy days, so I left a little early."

Remembering he still needed to go to the market, Jia Dongming asked, "Zhu Zi! I was just about to go to the market. Are you going straight back to the yard, or are you going to the market too?"

Sha Zhu had originally planned to go to the market to buy some vegetables to cook for He Yushui, but when he heard that Jia Dongming was also going, he immediately said, "Brother Dongming! I also want to go to the market."

Since we're going the same way, let's go together.

Jia Dongming nodded: "Okay, let's go for a walk together."

The two took a bus to Chaoyang Market and found that although there were many people, there were very few vegetables for sale.

Seeing Jia Dongming's disappointed expression, Sha Zhu laughed and said, "Brother Dongming! If you want to buy fresh vegetables, you have to come early and queue up."

Coming here at this time, it's unlikely you'll find anything good.

"Just because others can't buy it doesn't mean I can't buy it either."

"Come with me, I'll take you somewhere."

Sha Zhu led Jia Dongming to a small courtyard by the market, knocked on the door and called out, "Is Master Zhou home? I'm Sha Zhu from the steel mill canteen."

Soon, a middle-aged woman opened the door and greeted Sha Zhu warmly, saying, "Sha Zhu! My husband has gone out, but the meat you requested has been reserved."

Sha Zhu thought of Jia Dongming and asked, "Aunt Zhou, besides meat, do you have any other fresh vegetables? My brother here would like to buy some too."

The middle-aged woman shook her head: "Silly Zhu! Where would you find fresh vegetables at this time of year? But we do have some river shrimp; I wonder if this comrade would like some?"

Jia Dongming didn't lack supplies; he only came to the market to find a reasonable explanation for what he brought home.

Hearing that there were river shrimp, he asked, "Auntie! Are the river shrimp fresh? What's the price?"

The middle-aged woman replied, "Comrade! The river shrimp cost two cents a pound. They were just delivered this afternoon, and some of them were still lively. They're definitely fresh."

Jia Dongming then asked, "How many kilograms are there in total? I want them all."

The middle-aged woman was overjoyed to hear that Jia Dongming intended to buy all the river seafood. She quickly said to Jia Dongming, "Brother! The river shrimp weighs two jin and three liang in total. The scale is set high; I won't shortchange you a single cent!"

Around 5 p.m., Jia Dongming and Sha Zhu walked into the courtyard together.

Yan Bugui noticed that both men were carrying cloth bags and looked surprised. He stepped forward and asked, "Section Chief Jia! Sha Zhu! Why are you two back together?"

When Jia Dongming heard Yan Bugui ask him a question and noticed that Yan Bugui kept glancing at his bag, he immediately understood what was going on. He smiled and replied, "Third Uncle! I went to the market with Zhuzi to buy some vegetables."

The food at home is waiting to be cooked, so I won't chat any longer.

Although Yan Bugui loved to take advantage of others, he would never dare to take advantage of Jia Dongming.

He watched Jia Dongming walk towards the central courtyard with the bag, then turned to Sha Zhu and said, "Sha Zhu! Uncle San has a bottle of good wine hidden at his house. How about I bring out the wine and you come out, and we'll have a couple of drinks tonight?"

Upon hearing Yan Bugui mention the watered-down "good wine," Sha Zhu immediately showed a disgusted expression and replied irritably, "Third Uncle, you dare call your watered-down wine good wine? Yu Shui is coming back from school today, so I have to get her something nice to eat. I won't chat with you anymore."

Having failed to gain anything from Sha Zhu, Yan Bugui felt a void in his heart, as if he had lost a large sum of money. He muttered to himself, "I clearly smelled meat in Sha Zhu's bag just now. I wanted to sneak some, but I didn't expect this kid to have become so cunning..."

"Dongming! You're finally back."

This afternoon, Matchmaker Wang came by specially, saying she'd found you a suitable blind date, and she'll bring him to the courtyard tomorrow morning so you can meet him.

While sewing shoe soles at the entrance of the central courtyard, Jia Zhangshi saw Jia Dongming returning with a cloth bag and quickly told him about Wang the matchmaker's visit that afternoon.

Upon hearing that Matchmaker Wang had been there, Jia Dongming casually asked, "Mom! Did Matchmaker Wang mention the woman's age or where she works?"

After thinking for a moment, Jia Zhangshi slowly said, "According to Matchmaker Wang, the girl's name is Lin Qiuyue, she is twenty-five years old, and her father is a martyr's family member."

She took over her mother's job at the supply and marketing cooperative; she also has a younger brother and sister.

"A few years ago, her mother was sick and needed someone to take care of her, and her younger brother and sister were all in school, so she hadn't found a partner."

Last year, her mother recovered from her illness, and her younger brother graduated from vocational school and was assigned to a machine repair factory as a technician. That's why her mother started urging her to get married.

Twenty-five years old is considered old these days, but looking ahead, it's the perfect age.

After hearing the situation, Jia Dongming nodded: "Okay, let's meet tomorrow."

When Jia Zhangshi saw that her son had agreed to the blind date, her face lit up with a smile. She then said, "Dongming! Once the blind date is successful, Mom will immediately arrange your marriage."

"Give me a few more big, healthy grandsons, so that I can have something to show for it when I meet the ancestors of the Jia family."

"Mom! This isn't even going to happen yet, and you're already thinking about having a baby? That's way of thinking."

Seeing Jia Zhangshi's hopeful expression, Jia Dongming said with a hint of helplessness.

Madam Jia, however, was full of confidence and said smugly, "Dongming! With your current conditions, what kind of wife can't you find?"

"Auntie is right. Dongming, you earn more than a hundred yuan a month and have a small courtyard with five rooms. With these conditions, how many girls in Beijing would be eager to marry you?"

When Sha Zhu, who had just entered the Intermediate People's Court, heard that Jia Dongming was going on a blind date, he couldn't help but interject with envy.

What Jia Zhangshi said was true; given Jia Dongming's current conditions, he would be a highly sought-after bachelor in the future.

After hearing what Sha Zhu said, Jia Dongming smiled and asked him, "Zhu Zi! You're twenty-six now. Tell me, what kind of wife are you looking for? Matchmaker Wang is coming tomorrow, I'll ask her to keep an eye out for you too."

Upon being asked this question, Sha Zhu immediately pictured Qin Huairu and blurted out, "Brother Dongming! I want to find someone handsome, and he has to be a city resident."

Looking at Sha Zhu's aged appearance, Jia Dongming shook his head: "Zhu Zi, I'm not trying to be mean, but by your standards, you'll probably never find a wife in this lifetime."

Sha Zhu was unconvinced and retorted, "Brother Dongming! I am the head chef of the steel rolling mill. My monthly salary is thirty-seven yuan and fifty cents. I have a main room and a side room in the yard. I can eat my fill and my whole family is not hungry."

Although my circumstances are worse than yours, with that, I shouldn't be able to find a good-looking wife.

Seeing that Sha Zhu still didn't understand why he was still single, Jia Dongming continued, "Zhu Zi, I'm not trying to discourage you."

If you had those qualities, you could easily find a beautiful wife in the countryside.

But searching in the city would be risky.

Sha Zhu became even more displeased upon hearing this and pressed, "Brother Dongming! Why can you find people in the city, but I can't? If you don't explain yourself clearly today, I'm not finished with you!"

Faced with Sha Zhu's words, Jia Dongming did not get angry. Instead, he spoke gently: "Zhu Zi, your conditions are indeed not bad, but among your peers, you look a bit more mature."

"Regardless of gender, people tend to prefer partners who are well-off and good-looking."

In the city, do attractive young women with jobs choose younger men who look older than they are, or handsome men?

"People should have self-awareness."

So if you want to find a beautiful woman, you can probably only consider a country girl; if you want to marry a city girl, then you have to accept someone of average appearance.

"Take me for example, I'm 28 this year, and I only dare to look for someone a little older."

As for appearance, I only ask the matchmaker to introduce someone I find pleasing to the eye, not someone like you who has to be both beautiful and have a job.

Sha Zhu was stunned for a moment after hearing these words.

Always confident in himself, he thought finding a beautiful city wife would be a piece of cake.

It wasn't until Jia Dongming pointed it out that Sha Zhu finally understood the real reason why he had repeatedly failed in blind dates over the years.

"Brother! I'm back! What are you making for dinner tonight?"

Just as Sha Zhu was lost in thought, He Yushui pushed her bicycle through the moon gate into the central courtyard. Seeing Sha Zhu carrying a cloth bag, she called out happily.

He Yushui pushed the cart closer and noticed Jia Dongming standing to the side. Seeing that he looked similar to Jia Dongxu, she couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Brother, who is this? How come he looks so much like Brother Dongxu?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi immediately showed a smug look and introduced him to He Yushui: "Yushui, this is your Dongxu brother's older brother, Banggeng's uncle."

Dongming from my family is the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill; his monthly salary is 135 yuan.

Upon hearing this, He Yushui looked puzzled and muttered to herself, "Didn't the Jia family only have one child, Dongxu? When did they get an older brother?"

Sha Zhu snapped out of his daze and quickly explained to He Yushui, "Yushui, Dongming got separated from his family when he was a child. Later, he joined the army and just returned from military service a few days ago. He was assigned to our steel rolling mill as the head of the security department."

He Yushui playfully stuck out her tongue and said to Jia Dongming with a hint of apology, "Brother Dongming, I'm sorry! I always thought Aunt Zhang only had Brother Dongxu as her child. I didn't know she had an older brother."

Jia Dongming waved his hand and replied with a smile, "Yushui, I only recently reunited with my mother, it's normal that you don't know."

"Rain is back! Did your brother prepare something delicious for you? If not, come to Sister Qin's house for a meal."

As soon as Jia Dongming finished speaking, Qin Huairu pushed her bicycle into the courtyard and greeted He Yushui warmly.

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu pretended to be dissatisfied and muttered, "Sister Qin, you're looking down on me a bit."

To improve the rainwater's diet, I specially bought a pound of pork belly today. You can ask Brother Dongming if you don't believe me.

If Jia Dongming hadn't returned, Qin Huairu would most likely have used Banggeng's name to get the meat back to the Jia family after hearing that Shazhu had bought it.

Now that Jia Dongming has returned and is in charge of the Jia family, Qin Huairu's burden has been lightened considerably. She no longer has to worry about household expenses, and naturally, she no longer has the nerve to scheme against Sha Zhu.