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

Jia Dongming first went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought some peanuts and melon seeds. Then he went to the market and bought some vegetables. After that, he rode his bicycle to a secluded place and took out two catties of pork belly, a slaughtered old hen, two ribbonfish, some fruit rewarded by the system, and the canned fruit that Jia Zhangshi wanted from his system space. Only then did he get on his bicycle and ride towards Tongluoguxiang.

Not long after, Jia Dongming returned to the courtyard house.

Just as I was about to push the cart into the yard, a couple came out from inside.

The older woman greeted Jia Dongming warmly, "Section Chief Jia! Good morning! You're back from grocery shopping?"

Upon seeing the visitor, Jia Dongming greeted her warmly, "Yu Li! Good morning! Where are you headed so early?"

Yu Li quickly replied, "Section Chief Jia! It's Sunday today, my sister doesn't have to go to school, so she came to ask me to go shopping with her."

Hearing this, Jia Dongming smiled and nodded, "Yu Li! You two take your time shopping, I'm going home now."

Standing next to Yu Li, Yu Haitang watched Jia Dongming push the cart into the courtyard and quickly asked Yu Li, "Sister! Which department is this Section Chief Jia from? I've never seen him before when I came to your hospital."

As Yu Li walked, she introduced the girl to her younger sister: "Haitang! That's the eldest son of the Jia family in our Intermediate People's Court. He just returned from military service a few days ago and is now the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill. His monthly salary is 135 yuan."

"One hundred and thirty-five yuan, that's almost half a year's income for Dad."

When Yu Haitang heard about Jia Dongming's salary, a look of surprise and longing appeared on her face.

As Jia Dongming pushed his bicycle into the courtyard, Xiao Dang, who was playing in the yard, saw him return and quickly ran to him, hugging his leg and asking in a childish voice, "Uncle! Where did you go? I looked for you for ages!"

Upon hearing Xiao Dang's question, Jia Dongming picked her up and placed her on the crossbar of his bicycle, replying kindly, "Xiao Dang! Uncle went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy you something delicious."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Dang asked softly, "Uncle! What's so delicious? I really, really want to eat it."

Sitting at her doorstep making shoe soles, Jia Zhangshi overheard Jia Dongming and Xiao Dang's conversation and immediately asked Jia Dongming, "Dongming! What did you buy?"

When Jia Dongming heard his mother's question and saw several middle-aged women in the courtyard casting inquiring glances at him, he smiled and replied, "Mom! It just so happens that my comrade's supply and marketing cooperative had some ribbonfish today, so I bought two. I also bought two pounds of pork belly and an old hen."

Knowing that Jia Dongming had bought so many nice things, Madam Jia Zhang happily instructed, "Dongming! Quickly take these things inside, and let Huairu unpack them when she returns."

Jia Dongming quickly pushed the bike back to his small courtyard, parked it, picked Xiaodang up from the crossbar, and asked her with a smile, "Xiaodang! Where's your brother? Why isn't he doing his homework inside?"

When Xiao Dang heard Jia Dongming ask about Bang Geng, she immediately remembered that her brother had gone out to play without taking her with him. She immediately complained to Jia Dongming, "Uncle! My brother went out to play by himself without taking Xiao Dang with him. If you have any good food later, don't give it to my brother."

Jia Dongming untied the cloth bag tied to the back seat, then took Xiao Dang's hand and walked towards the main room.

Upon entering the main room, Jia Dongming first took out pork belly and an old hen from a cloth bag, then took out the vegetables he had bought, as well as peanuts and melon seeds. Next, he took out two jars of fruit, and finally a few apples and a bunch of bananas.

When Xiao Dang saw the banana Jia Dongming had taken out, she asked curiously, "Uncle! What's this yellow, curved thing?"

Hearing Xiao Dang's question and seeing her pointing at a banana, Jia Dongming broke off a banana, peeled it, and handed it to Xiao Dang, saying gently, "Xiao Dang! This is a banana. It's soft, sweet, and delicious."

Xiao Dang took the banana, opened her mouth and carefully took a bite. She immediately liked the sweet taste and happily said, "Uncle! I've never eaten such a delicious banana before."

Jia Dongming laughed when he heard this and said to Xiao Dang, "Xiao Dang! Do you know how long a lifetime is? Bananas are rare now, but when you grow up, they will become a very common fruit, and you can eat as many as you want then."

Around 10 a.m., Matchmaker Wang led a young woman into the courtyard. Seeing Jia Zhangshi sitting at the door sewing shoe soles, she greeted her with a smile, "Sister Zhang! I've brought Lin Qiuyue with me."

When Jia Zhangshi saw Wang the matchmaker leading a girl into the central courtyard, she immediately put down her work and stood up from her stool.

She first glanced at Lin Qiuyue standing next to Matchmaker Wang, a satisfied smile appearing on her face, and then quickly beckoned to the two of them, "Wang family girl, Qiuyue, come with me quickly."

Sha Zhu heard that Jia Dongming was going on a blind date today, so he waited in the house early in the morning for Wang the matchmaker to arrive.

Hearing the voices of Matchmaker Wang and Jia Zhangshi coming from the courtyard, Sha Zhu immediately ran out of the house. The first thing he saw was Lin Qiuyue beside Matchmaker Wang, and his eyes lit up. He quickly greeted Matchmaker Wang, "Aunt Wang! I also want to find a wife. Could you help me find one?"

When Wang the matchmaker heard what Sha Zhu said, she remembered his previous criteria for choosing a partner and said irritably, "Zhu Zi! I've introduced you to no less than five or six people. The ones you liked, they didn't like you; the ones who liked you, you complained about."

How am I supposed to make arrangements like this?

"Silly Zhu! Why are you everywhere? Today is Dongming's blind date. You can talk to Wang's sister about your matter after Dongming's date."

When Jia Zhangshi saw Sha Zhu blocking Wang the matchmaker from introducing a potential partner, her face darkened, and she scolded Sha Zhu unhappily.

After being reprimanded by Jia Zhangshi, Sha Zhu realized that his behavior was inappropriate and quickly smiled and said to Matchmaker Wang, "Aunt Wang! I'll come back to see you later."

As Sha Zhu spoke, he watched with a forced smile as Wang the matchmaker led Lin Qiuyue into the courtyard. He secretly thought to himself, "The girl Wang the matchmaker brought today is even prettier than Sister Qin. How wonderful it would be if she could arrange for her to marry me."

The residents of the courtyard saw Wang the matchmaker leading a pretty young woman toward the courtyard, and several neighbors who loved to watch the excitement followed behind, heading toward Jia Dongming's courtyard.

Madam Jia led Matchmaker Wang and Lin Qiuyue into the courtyard and proudly introduced to Lin Qiuyue: "Miss Qiuyue, our Dongming family has five rooms in this courtyard, and this courtyard is Dongming's own property."

If you marry into this family, you'll never have to worry about not having enough space to live in.

As soon as Madam Jia finished speaking, she called out into the house, "Dongming! Dongming! Come out quickly, your Aunt Wang has brought Miss Qiuyue."

When the matchmaker heard that the courtyard belonged to Jia Dongming, she immediately showed surprise and asked Jia Zhangshi, "Sister Zhang! You just said that this courtyard belongs to the Jia family. Could that room in the middle courtyard also be yours?"

When Jia Zhangshi saw Wang the matchmaker ask this question, she showed a hint of pride on her face and explained to her, "Sister Wang! A few days ago, Dongming helped capture some enemy agents at the factory. The steel rolling mill wanted to reward him with a bonus, but Dongming didn't want the money. He only asked the factory to sell us the house we live in now."

The entire courtyard, plus the apartment in the middle courtyard, cost a total of 1,500 yuan.

"Right now, Huai Ru and I are living in the central courtyard, while Dong Ming and Bang Geng are living here."

Moreover, Dongming has already planned to invite the neighborhood committee's workers to renovate the house in a few days.

"If Miss Qiuyue were to marry into our Jia family, we wouldn't have to worry about not having enough room to live."

When Wang the matchmaker learned about the Jia family's current situation, she couldn't help but show envy, and even secretly regretted it in her heart—if she had known that the Jia family was so well-off, she should have arranged for her niece to marry Jia Dongming.

Despite her thoughts, Wang the matchmaker still maintained basic professional ethics.

Faced with Jia Zhangshi's boastful account, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Sister Zhang! Not only does your Dongming have a good income, but he also owns his own house. If Qiuyue can marry into the family, she really won't have to worry about food and lodging in the future."

Jia Dongming, who was reading a book inside the house, heard his mother calling from the yard and immediately put down his book and came out.

As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Lin Qiuyue standing next to Wang the matchmaker.

At first glance, I felt that the person looked about seven or eight parts like the actress Gao Yuanyuan from later generations.

As Jia Zhangshi was speaking, she saw her son come out and quickly introduced him: "Dongming! This is your Aunt Wang, and this is Comrade Lin Qiuyue."

After hearing the introductions, Jia Dongming politely greeted the two women: "Hello, Aunt Wang! Hello, Comrade Qiuyue! Welcome to my home, please come in!"

When Matchmaker Wang saw Jia Dongming take the initiative to greet her, her face lit up with a smile. She turned to Jia Zhangshi and said, "Sister Zhang! Your Dongming is truly handsome!"

When Lin Qiuyue saw Jia Dongming greet her, perhaps due to girlish shyness, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she softly replied, "Hello, Comrade Jia Dongming!"

"Uncle! Is this pretty aunt the person you're supposed to meet on a blind date?"

Banggeng ran into the yard from outside, covered in sweat. He saw Lin Qiuyue in front of Jia Dongming and immediately asked her curiously.

Before Jia Dongming could answer, Madam Jia said to her grandson with a loving expression, "Bang Geng! My dear grandson, you guessed right, this is your uncle's blind date. Maybe she'll be your aunt in the future."

After inviting Matchmaker Wang and Lin Qiuyue into the main room, Jia Dongming quickly greeted them, "Aunt Wang, Comrade Qiuyue, please have a seat."

After the two sat down, he casually broke off a few bananas, handed one to each of them, and said with a smile, "Aunt Wang, Mom, Comrade Qiuyue, please try some bananas."

"Brother! Brother! That yellow banana is so delicious!"

When Xiao Dang, who was playing in the main room, heard Jia Dongming mention bananas, he immediately remembered their taste and said to Bang Geng in his childish voice.

Upon hearing his sister's words, Banggeng immediately shouted to Jia Dongming, "Uncle! I want to eat bananas too!"

Upon hearing her grandson's request, Jia Zhangshi quickly peeled the banana in her hand and lovingly handed it to Banggeng: "Banggeng! Here, Grandma has peeled it for you."

"Uncle! Xiao Dang still wants to eat bananas."

When Xiao Dang saw her grandmother peeling bananas for her brother, she immediately ran up to Jia Dongming, looking up at him with her little face and begging.

Looking at Xiao Dang's appearance, Jia Dongming picked up a banana, broke it in half, peeled off one half, and said to Xiao Dang, "Xiao Dang! You've already eaten one. If you eat another, your tummy won't be able to hold any more lunch."

So your uncle only lets you eat half a stick; take the other half to the kitchen and give it to your mother.

Banggeng took the banana that his grandmother had peeled and took a big bite.

The soft, sweet taste made him happily say to Jia Zhangshi, "Grandma! This banana is so delicious!"

Hearing her grandson say this, Jia Zhangshi greeted Wang the matchmaker and Lin Qiuyue with a big smile: "Wang family sister! Comrade Qiuyue, don't just look at them, try these bananas and see what they taste like."

Upon hearing this, Matchmaker Wang eagerly peeled the banana, took a bite, and exclaimed with delight, "Where is this banana a specialty? It tastes so good!"

Qin Huairu, who was preparing lunch in the kitchen, heard laughter and conversation coming from the main room. She thought about how Jia Dongming would soon be getting married and remembered what her mother had told her that morning.

For some reason, she felt a little empty inside, as if something was about to leave her.

The lunch was very plentiful.

Looking at the chicken soup, braised pork, and braised ribbonfish on the table, Wang the matchmaker couldn't help but swallow hard. She said to Lin Qiuyue, "Qiuyue! Look how much Dongming values ​​you; he's prepared so many delicious dishes."

Upon hearing what Wang the matchmaker said, Jia Dongming picked up his chopsticks and said to Lin Qiuyue with a smile, "Comrade Qiuyue! Make yourself at home here, please don't stand on ceremony."

At this point, he turned to Matchmaker Wang and said, "Aunt Wang! Don't just look at the food, please have some."

During this period, meat was undoubtedly a rare treat for most people.

Today at the Jia family's house, Wang the matchmaker not only tasted bananas she had never eaten before, but also enjoyed meat and vegetables to her heart's content, which was a first in her matchmaking experience.