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

He put down his chopsticks, about to say he would wash them himself, when the light in the room flickered, and a fair, curvaceous figure suddenly came into his view.

Upon catching a glimpse of the unintentionally revealed spring scenery, Jia Dongming immediately realized that he had seen something he shouldn't have.

He subconsciously looked away and said somewhat awkwardly to Qin Huairu, "Huairu! I'm done eating. I can wash my feet myself."

At that moment, Qin Huairu was unaware that she had exposed her private parts when she bent over.

Seeing that Jia Dongming was unwilling to let her continue to help, she did not insist. She quickly stood up, picked up the bowl and chopsticks that Jia Dongming had used on the table, and turned to walk towards the kitchen.

Watching Qin Huairu's retreating figure disappear into the kitchen, Jia Dongming couldn't help but recall the glimpse of fair skin he had caught earlier. He inwardly cursed himself: "Jia Dongming! Qin Huairu is your brother's wife, how could you have such thoughts?"

Just as he was blaming himself, another thought popped into his head: "I am Jia Dongming, that's true, but I came from the future."

Although this body and Jia Dongxu are blood brothers, my soul is not his.

It's only natural to have such thoughts.

"Uncle! I've finished washing the dishes."

After you've soaked your feet, please go back to your room and rest. I'll head back to my room first.

Qin Huairu came out of the kitchen after washing the dishes and said to Jia Dongming in a friendly manner.

Qin Huairu's voice pulled Jia Dongming back to reality from his chaotic thoughts.

Thinking of what he had just witnessed, Jia Dongming replied somewhat awkwardly, "Huai Ru! You should get some rest too."

Qin Huairu responded, glanced at Jia Dongming sitting at the table, and then walked out of the main room.

After washing his feet and tidying up, Jia Dongming quickly returned to his room.

But his mind kept replaying the glimpse of spring he had accidentally caught while washing his feet.

Perhaps it's because he acquired a "golden kidney"

Because of this, the little Dongming beneath him became somewhat restless.

Sensing Xiao Dongming's restlessness, Jia Dongming was eager to go to the backyard to find Lou Xiao'e and try out his newly acquired "golden kidney".

But considering it was already late at night, he had to suppress the thought and silently recited the Heart-Cleansing Mantra in his heart, trying to soothe the restless little Dongming.

The next morning around 7 a.m., Qin Huairu had just walked into the steel rolling mill's logistics office with her cloth bag on her back when several female colleagues immediately surrounded her.

A middle-aged female worker was the first to ask, "Huai Ru! I heard that your uncle arrested Director Yang and his wife last night. Apparently, they said Mrs. Yang was an enemy spy? What exactly happened?"

"Huai Ru! Director Yang lives in the same tenement building as me. I saw him being arrested last night."

The security guards carried him out on a stretcher, saying he had fainted from fright.

Another female worker, recalling what she had seen the previous night, quickly added to the story.

Qin Huairu overheard Jia Dongming mention the arrest of Director Yang and his family last night when he returned home.

Seeing the older women asking with curiosity, Qin Huairu explained, "Sister Wang! Sister Liu! Sisters, I don't know the specifics either."

I only heard from my uncle that Director Yang's wife was the head of the enemy's secret service on Xiao Rizi's side.

As for whether Factory Director Yang himself has any problems, I don't know.

"However, my uncle mentioned that even if Director Yang himself is innocent, his wife is the head of the enemy's intelligence agency. Director Yang will be severely injured even if he doesn't die this time."

After hearing Qin Huairu's words, Sister Liu confirmed the rumors she had heard last night and couldn't help but sigh, "I often run into Zhang Huizi in the hallway. We always greet each other when we meet. She doesn't have any airs of being the factory director's wife."

I never imagined she was actually a damned enemy spy.

"Huai Ru! Your uncle is really something else. He's only been at the steel mill for a short time, but he's already caught several enemy spies."

A young female worker, recalling the enemy agent who had been arrested a few days earlier, spoke of Jia Dongming to Qin Huairu with admiration.

Hearing this, Sister Wang, who was standing nearby, laughed and teased, "Chen Li! How do you know Uncle Huairu is so capable? Did you test him out in private?"

Chen Li was not shy at all; on the contrary, she responded generously: "Sister Wang, I'd like to give it a try, but unfortunately Section Chief Jia wouldn't be interested in someone like me."

"Chen Li, you've really taken a liking to Uncle Huai Ru? Judging from your appearance, has your husband at home not been taking good care of you?"

Taking the opportunity, Sister Liu chimed in, laughing and teasing Chen Li.

Chen Li didn't back down either, and immediately retorted with a smile: "Sister Liu, I heard you complaining the other day that your Section Chief Guo goes home and sleeps, making you anxious."

"How about we ask Section Chief Jia for a favor and help quench your thirst?"

"Huai Ru, there's an old saying: 'When a father dies, his wife is taken in; when a brother dies, his brother marries.' Section Chief Jia is single now, and you're single too. Why don't you go with him? It's like family getting a good deal."

Sister Wang suddenly interjected, making a suggestion to Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu had been watching the commotion from the sidelines, but the conversation unexpectedly turned to her.

In fact, ever since her mother persuaded her, and with Jia Dongming's care for her after his return, she had already developed feelings for him; otherwise, she wouldn't have mustered the courage to wash his feet last night.

Although she had her own thoughts, Qin Huairu knew she must never reveal them.

She feigned embarrassment and said to Sister Wang, "Sister Wang, that's my husband's older brother, and he already has a girlfriend. They'll get married as soon as the house is ready. Don't talk nonsense."

Sister Wang, however, sensed something else and asked with a smile, "Huai Ru, so according to you, if Section Chief Jia didn't have a girlfriend, you'd be willing?"

Qin Huairu was caught off guard by her thoughts, her face flushed, and she hurriedly denied it: "Sister Wang, it's not true at all, don't make wild guesses."

Li Huaide did not live in the factory's dormitory building, so he was unaware that Yang Weimin had been arrested.

Around 7 a.m., he had just arrived at the factory gate on his bicycle when a young man rushed over to report: "Director Li, something terrible has happened. Director Yang was taken away by the security department last night."

Although Li Huaide had anticipated that Yang Weimin would get into trouble, he did not expect it to happen so quickly.

His expression changed, and he pressed, "Yang Weimin was arrested? When did that happen? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

The young man quickly explained, "I only heard about this when I got to the factory. It's said that Director Yang's wife is a top enemy agent who stole a lot of factory secrets by using her identity as the director's wife."

"I'll go check with the security department."

Li Huaide didn't ask any more questions, got on his bike and rushed to the factory.

Zhang Guoping had just stepped out of his office when he bumped into Li Huaide and quickly greeted him, "Good morning, Director Li. What instructions do you have for the security department?"

Li Huaide asked directly, "Is your section chief here?"

Zhang Guoping replied, "The section chief just entered the office."

Li Huaide nodded: "Okay, you go ahead with your work, I'll go find him."

He walked up to Jia Dongming's office door and, without knocking, asked, "Section Chief Jia, I heard you arrested Yang Weimin and his wife last night, is that true?"

Jia Dongming was writing a report when he looked up and saw Li Huaide. He smiled and replied, "Director Li, our investigation has confirmed that Yang Weimin's wife, Zhang Huizi, is the head of enemy agents and is plotting a major conspiracy."

When Jia Dongming asked about it yesterday, Li Huaide guessed that Yang's wife had a problem, but he didn't expect her to be the head of enemy agents.

After a long while, Li Huaide finally recovered from his shock and said to Jia Dongming with an incredulous expression, "It's easy to draw the skin of a tiger but hard to draw its bones. Yang Weimin's wife is actually the leader of a hidden enemy agent. Yang Weimin is probably in trouble now."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming recalled the events of the previous night and replied with a serious expression: "Director Li, in my opinion, Yang Weimin's situation this time is not just a matter of him suffering a loss."

Even if he survives, he'll probably spend the rest of his life in prison.

At this point, Jia Dongming remembered that the Ministry of Industry would be sending people over that morning, so he reminded him, "Director Li, the Ministry of Industry's investigation team will be at the factory this morning."

Since you're in charge of logistics, it would be best if you went back in advance to make arrangements.

Li Huaide left the security department, got on his bicycle, and hurriedly returned to his office.

He pressed the phone on the table, cranked the handle, picked up the receiver and said, "Hello comrade, please connect to the office of Vice President Jiang of the Ministry of Industry."

"Hello, this is Vice President Jiang's office. May I ask who you are?"

Soon, a middle-aged man's voice came from the other end of the phone.

Li Huaide immediately greeted him with a smile, "Director Kou, good morning! Is my father home? Could you please ask him to answer the phone?"

Upon learning the purpose of the call, Director Kou immediately explained, "Director Li, General Manager Kou notified us this morning to hold an emergency meeting. Vice President Jiang has already gone to Conference Room 1 and probably won't be back for a while."

"If there's anything you need, please tell me first, and I'll pass it on as soon as Vice President Jiang returns."

When Li Huaide heard that his father-in-law had gone to a meeting, he vaguely felt that the meeting might be related to Yang Weimin, so he said, "Director Kou, Yang Weimin from our steel rolling mill was arrested by the security department last night."

When my father returns, please have him call me back.

Director Kou sounded quite surprised on the other end of the phone and pressed for details: "Director Li, are you saying Yang Weimin was arrested by the factory's security department? What exactly happened?"

Li Huaide felt that the other party was not an outsider, so he explained: "Director Kou, the situation is like this: Yang Weimin's wife, Zhang Huizi, is the head of enemy agents who has infiltrated our country."

She used Yang Weimin's identity to steal confidential documents from the factory, which was discovered by the security department.

Last night, the factory's security department, in conjunction with the Beijing Public Security Bureau, apprehended this group of enemy agents, and Yang Weimin was subsequently arrested.

After listening to the account, Director Kou recalled the solemn expression on General Manager Kou's face when he met him that morning, and immediately felt that this emergency meeting was likely related to Yang Weimin's matter.

He immediately replied, "Director Li, I will report to Vice President Jiang as soon as he returns and ask him to call you back."

Li Huaide hung up the phone, put the receiver back on the landline, strode to the door, and called out to the next room, "Xiao Lin, come to my office."

The young man who had been waiting at the factory gate rushed over upon hearing the commotion and respectfully asked, "Director Li, what are your instructions?"

Li Huaide solemnly instructed, "Xiao Lin, go find Director Zhang from logistics and Director Ma from the canteen immediately and ask them to come to my office right away."

Xiaolin nodded in agreement and turned to walk towards the logistics office.

Not long after, the logistics director walked into the office and respectfully asked, "Factory Manager, I heard you have something important to discuss with me?"

Li Huaide directly instructed: "Xiao Zhang, the investigation team from the Ministry is coming to the factory this morning."

Immediately notify the sanitation department to send someone to thoroughly clean the factory roads.

Upon hearing this, Director Zhang immediately thought of Yang Weimin's arrest and asked curiously, "Factory Director, did the ministry send an investigation team here because of Yang Weimin's case?"

Li Huaide nodded affirmatively: "Yang Weimin's incident had a very bad impact, so it's normal for the ministry to send an investigation team down."

You must urge the sanitation department staff to maintain a clean factory area in preparation for the investigation team.

After receiving the order, Director Zhang remembered that Li Huaide's father-in-law was Vice President Jiang, and couldn't help but probe, "Director Li, Yang Weimin's accident this time will definitely implicate many people."

Is it possible for you to... take another step forward?

Everyone says that a deputy position is not as good as a principal position.

Although Li Huaide longed to become the head of the steel rolling mill, he had a clear understanding of himself and knew that he was not yet qualified for the position.

Faced with Director Zhang's question, Li Huaide slowly shook his head: "Xiao Zhang, I've only been a deputy factory director for about half a year."

With my current qualifications, how could I possibly become the top leader? The most important thing in life is to have self-awareness.

After listening to Li Huaide's explanation, Director Zhang, recalling that Li Huaide had recently been promoted, understood that given Li Huaide's current experience, even though his father-in-law held a deputy position in the Ministry of Industry, Li Huaide would hardly have any further opportunities for promotion in the short term. He couldn't help but say with some sympathy, "Factory Director! Zhou Xudong was just dealt with recently, and Yang Weimin has also run into trouble. The only person in the factory who has the strength to compete with you now is Deputy Factory Director Guo, who is in charge of the workshop."