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

An older woman recalled what Jia Zhangshi had told everyone at noon, her tone tinged with bitterness, and said, "According to Jia Zhangshi, in 43, Jia Youcai took Jia Dongming to the street to buy grain and ran into Japanese soldiers on the street."

Jia Youcai was so focused on hiding and protecting the grain that he lost Jia Dongming, who had gone with him.

"At noon today, Madam Jia Zhang made a scene over the separation of the villa. But after hearing from Yang Ruihua that the new resident was named Jia Dongming and looked very similar to Jia Dongxu, she immediately stopped making a scene and insisted that he was her eldest son who had been lost for many years."

"After the mother and son were reunited, Jia Zhangshi paid Yan's third son to go to the factory to call Qin Huairu back and have her clean the other courtyard."

Before you left work, Jia Dongming bought a large piece of pork belly and a chicken, saying he was going to make dumplings that night.

At this point, the old woman recalled the couple's plans over the years to rely on the Jia family for their old age, and sighed softly, advising, "Husband, with Jia Zhangshi around, the Jia family is inherently unreliable."

Now that Jia Dongming has appeared, why not do as the old lady said before and let Zhuzi take care of us in our old age?

How could Yi Zhonghai not know Jia Zhangshi's character? He chose Jia Dongxu because of the master-disciple relationship and because he valued the disciple's character.

Unexpectedly, an accident caused this candidate for elderly care to be lost.

Thinking about all the investment he had made in the Jia family over the years, Yi Zhonghai was truly unwilling to give up now.

He was agitated and waved his hand, saying, "This isn't urgent, let's wait and see."

Beside the stove, Banggeng and Xiaodang stared longingly at the dumplings floating in the pot, swallowing their saliva incessantly.

Xiao Dang tugged at Qin Huairu's sleeve and said softly, "Mom, when will the dumplings be ready? My stomach is growling."

Normally, Madam Jia would have scolded Xiao Dang for being a money-loser and not deserving to eat dumplings.

But with Jia Dongming present today, she not only didn't scold him, but instead found the scene before her particularly heartwarming.

Banggeng stared at the pot, swallowed hard, and asked, "Mom, how much longer? I'm hungry too."

Seeing that the dumplings had floated to the surface, Qin Huairu smiled and instructed, "You two go wash your hands first, the dumplings will be ready soon."

After the two children turned around, she used a strainer to scoop up the dumplings and plated them one by one, placing them on the table.

Looking at the several large plates full of dumplings on the table, Qin Huairu thought of Yi Zhonghai and turned to ask Jia Zhangshi, "Mom, we have so many dumplings, should we send a plate to Uncle Yi's house? He has taken good care of our family over the years."

Madam Jia glared at Qin Huairu and scolded her irritably, "What are you sending him! That old man with no family left earns only ninety-nine yuan a month, what can't he afford? We finally get to eat dumplings, why should we send them to him?"

As Jia Dongming listened to their conversation, he recalled how Yi Zhonghai in the drama wanted the Jia family to support him in his old age but was unwilling to pay for it himself, and repeatedly called on the entire hospital to donate money to the Jia family.

He then asked Madam Jia, "Mom, my sister-in-law just said that Yi Zhonghai has been helping our family a lot over the years. How has he been helping us?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Jia immediately laughed and said, "Dongming, that old widow wants your brother to support her in her old age, but she's reluctant to spend her own money, so she held a general meeting of the whole family to ask everyone to donate to our family."

"The money came from everyone, yet you expect us to remember his kindness? No way!"

Jia Dongming then asked, "So, Mom, do you remember how much you've donated over the years?"

Jia Zhangshi always only takes in money and never gives it away; once the money is in her hands, you can forget about getting it out again.

She thought Jia Dongming was after the money and quickly defended her, saying, "Dongming, that's Mom's retirement money! Don't even think about it!"

After listening to Jia Zhangshi's words, Jia Dongming recalled her usual behavior and said with some displeasure, "Mom, my monthly salary is a little over a hundred yuan, and the army also gave me a resettlement allowance when I was demobilized. Do you think I would want your little bit of money?"

It's true that old habits die hard! As soon as Jia Dongming heard that he had money from his demobilization, Jia Zhangshi's greedy nature immediately surfaced.

Her eyes lit up, and she hurriedly asked, "Dongming, how much did the army give you? Why don't you leave the money with Mom? Mom will keep it for you and use it to find you a wife in the future."

Seeing Jia Zhangshi's money-grubbing expression, Jia Dongming felt a pang of helplessness. He turned to Qin Huairu and asked, "Sister-in-law, do you know how many times the courtyard has donated to our family over the years, and how much money has been donated in total?"

Although Qin Huairu didn't understand why he suddenly asked this, she still replied, "Uncle, the courtyard has donated thirteen times in total. I don't know the exact amount, but Third Uncle should have the accounts. He's the one who kept the records each time."

Jia Dongming pondered for a moment, then said to Qin Huairu, "Sister-in-law, later you should take a plate of dumplings to Uncle Yi, and while you're at it, go to Uncle San's house and get the details of the donations."

Tomorrow I'll buy some things, and we'll return the money to each household in the courtyard.

"Dongming! What did you say?"

Upon hearing that the money was to be returned, Jia Zhangshi immediately became agitated. "That money was given voluntarily by them, and we earned it through our own abilities. Why should we return it?"

Jia Dongming's expression turned serious, and his tone became more forceful: "Mom, do you really think everyone is donating money willingly? Besides, I'm now the head of security at the steel rolling mill. If the factory finds out that our family has been accepting donations from the compound, where will I put my face? The leaders might think I'm abusing my position to force people to donate money. Will I still be able to keep my position as head of the department then?"

"Furthermore, if the money isn't refunded, if anyone in the courtyard asks me for a favor in the future, it's fine if I do it, but if I can't—for example, if it violates the rules—they'll just say that our Jia family is ungrateful, taking the money and not helping."

Can you bear this reputation?

Jia Zhangshi was stumped by Jia Dongming's barrage of questions, and only then did she realize that her eldest son was no longer the same obedient youngest son who used to dote on her.

Thinking of Jia Dongming's current status, she couldn't help but shrink back, her voice lowering: "Dongming, that's not what Mom meant. Mom was just worried you'd waste money..."

Qin Huairu, who was standing to the side, almost couldn't help but laugh when she saw her mother-in-law suddenly become so docile in front of her uncle.

Jia Dongming knew that Jia Zhangshi couldn't be changed overnight, so he didn't say anything more, only saying, "Alright, I'll handle this."

Come and eat some dumplings first.

Upon hearing about dumplings, Jia Zhangshi immediately forgot about the refund, quickly walked to the table, picked up the plate, and began to eat heartily.

Following Jia Dongming's instructions, Qin Huairu carried a plate of dumplings to Yi Zhonghai's door and called out, "Are you home, Uncle and Aunt?"

Just as he was about to eat, Yi Zhonghai responded, "Yes, Huai Ru, what's up?"

Qin Huairu lifted the curtain and entered the room, smiling as she said to Yi Zhonghai, who was sitting at the table, "Uncle, we made dumplings today. Uncle Banggeng asked me to bring some over. Thank you for taking care of our family all these years."

Yi Zhonghai was somewhat surprised to see the large plate of dumplings. He said politely, "It's not easy for your family to make dumplings. You should keep them for yourselves."

Qin Huairu placed the plate on the table and replied, "Uncle, Banggeng's uncle bought five catties of pork belly and ten catties of flour. He made a lot today. You and Auntie can eat these first. I'll come back for the plate later."

Remembering what Yan Bugui had said during the day, Yi Zhonghai asked, "Huai Ru, I heard that Bang Geng's uncle is the new head of security at our factory, is that true?"

Qin Huairu smiled and said, "Uncle, when I went to the cafeteria for lunch today, didn't I tell you that I ran into someone who looked a lot like Dongxu at the entrance of the small cafeteria? That's Banggeng's uncle."

Yi Zhonghai's eyes flickered, and he said with emotion, "After Dongxu left, your family has been struggling financially. Now that his uncle has returned, you finally have someone to rely on."

Qin Huairu remembered Jia Dongming's promise to take care of the family in the future, and a hint of anticipation appeared on her face. She said to Yi Zhonghai, "Uncle, there are still dumplings cooking in the pot. I have to go back now."

After leaving Yi Zhonghai's house, Qin Huairu didn't go straight back to Jia Dongming's room. Instead, she went through the moon gate to Yan Bugui's house and asked, "Third Uncle, are you home?"

As Yan Bugui was distributing pickled vegetables inside, he heard Qin Huairu calling from outside the door. Thinking she was inviting him to dinner, he excitedly went to the door and asked with a smile, "Huairu, I'm here! Did you need something?"

When Qin Huairu saw Yan Bugui come out, she remembered the purpose of her visit and said with a smile, "Third Uncle, over the years, have you kept accounts of the money the courtyard has raised for our Jia family every time?"

Yan Bugui originally thought Qin Huairu was inviting him to Jia Dongming's house for dinner, but he didn't expect her to come to ask about the donation records.

Yan Bugui, who was always good at calculating, guessed the reason as soon as he heard it and quickly replied, "Huai Ru, the account has been recorded. What do you need this for? If you're not in a hurry, I'll find it and send it to you later."

Qin Huairu smiled and explained, "Third Uncle, it's Banggeng's uncle who wants it."

Could you please help me find it? I'll come back to pick it up in a bit.

Watching Qin Huairu walk away through the moon gate, Yan Bugui remembered her purpose for coming and couldn't help but show joy on his face. He hurriedly turned around and went back into the house.

Seeing Yan Bugui's happy expression, the three women sitting at the table asked curiously, "Honey, what did Qin Huairu want to see you about?"

Yan Bugui didn't answer directly. He went into the inner room and took out a booklet. Then he smiled and said to the third aunt, "Daughter-in-law, Qin Huairu has come to ask for the account book of the money the courtyard donated to the Jia family back then."

I suspect that the eldest son of the Jia family probably wants to return all the money everyone donated.

When the three women heard that the money they had donated might be returned, they were overjoyed.

But thinking of Jia Zhangshi's usual behavior, she became somewhat doubtful: "Honey, Jia Zhangshi is so stingy, would she really give back the money that's in her pocket?"

Yan Bugui shook his head and analyzed with a smile: "You don't understand."

The eldest son of the Jia family is not Jia Dongxu, and may not listen to Jia Zhangshi entirely.

Besides, he's the head of security at the steel rolling mill. If he sent Qin Huairu to ask for the account books, he definitely doesn't want anyone to ask him for help with the donations later.

"If we refund the money, no one can say the Jia family is ungrateful."

At this point, Yan Bugui remembered that Jia Dongming had bought pork belly, and said as he walked out, "Wife, didn't you say before that the Jia family bought a big piece of meat? I'll take the account book over now, maybe I can get a couple of bites."

"Uncle, where are we going?"

As Yan Bugui walked into the central courtyard, he heard Sha Zhu's shout from behind.

Yan Bugui stopped and saw that Sha Zhu was carrying a net bag, so he smiled and said, "Sha Zhu, you don't know yet, do you? Dongxu's older brother is back!"

Sha Zhu had entertaining duties at noon and in the evening today, so he took the opportunity to pack two lunchboxes of meat dishes, thinking he would show them off to Qin Huairu when he got back to the courtyard.

Hearing Yan Bugui's words, he looked puzzled: "Third Uncle, where did Jia Dongxu get an older brother? I've never heard Brother Dongxu mention him before?"

Yan Bugui glanced at the lunchbox in Sha Zhu's net bag and changed the subject, asking, "Sha Zhu, what's in your lunchbox? It smells really good."

Sha Zhu understood Yan Bugui's meaning perfectly well, but with the Jia family's affairs on his mind, he could only grit his teeth, take a lunchbox out of the net bag and hand it over: "Third Uncle, this is leftover food from the factory canteen. If you don't mind, this box is for you."

"Not at all, not at all! How could I possibly mind!"

Yan Bugui quickly took the lunchbox, exchanged a few polite words, and then called out to the west wing, "Wife! Come out for a moment."

Hearing the shout, the third aunt put down her bowl and chopsticks and came out. Seeing the lunchbox in Yan Bugui's hand, she asked happily, "Husband, what did you call me for?"

Yan Bugui handed the lunchbox to the third aunt and instructed, "Wife, put the food in a bowl and heat it up to eat tonight."

He paused for a moment and then said, "Zhu Zi just asked about Brother Jia Dongxu's return. I need to go to the Jia family. You can explain the situation to Zhu Zi in detail."

The three women immediately understood, weighed the lunchbox in their hands, and cheerfully said to Sha Zhu, "Zhu, it's like this, at noon today at your factory..."

Holding the account book, Yan Bugui quickly walked to the gate of the Jia family's courtyard. A strong aroma wafted towards him, and he couldn't help but take a few deep breaths of the dumpling smell wafting in the air before strode into the courtyard.