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

Despite Director Lin's long-standing poor health, he has consistently performed his duties diligently over the years, making significant contributions to the development of the security department and the safety of the factory area.

"Now that the organization has considered that Director Lin's health condition is no longer suitable for continuing to work on the front line, it has decided to approve his early retirement so that he can go home and recuperate."

Now, let us give a warm round of applause to bid farewell to Director Lin and pay our respects!

As soon as he finished speaking, Jia Dongming took the lead in clapping, and everyone present followed suit.

Listening to Jia Dongming's speech and looking at his clapping colleagues, Lin Zhendong felt no joy, but rather a deep sense of melancholy.

Initially, out of consideration for his health, the organization did not assign him to work on the front lines, but instead placed him in the relatively easy position of security at the steel rolling mill.

However, after taking office, he focused on recuperating his health, neglecting his duties in the security department, which gave the lurking enemy agents an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

Although Jia Dongming had only been at the steel rolling mill for a short time, he had already secured many practical benefits for the security department and cracked a case involving enemy agents targeting the factory within just a few days, earning the entire department a collective third-class merit.

Comparing his own actions with those of Jia Dongming, Lin Zhendong felt deeply guilty for his dereliction of duty during his years in office and felt even more that he had failed his superiors' entrustment and expectations.

Looking at the applause in front of him, Lin Zhendong understood that the applause was not to say goodbye to him, but to celebrate the new honor that the Security Department had won.

Jia Dongming's words reminded Lin Zhendong of the events of the past few years. With a look of shame, he said to Jia Dongming, "Section Chief Jia, I am truly unworthy of what you just said!"

"The organization took care of me and arranged for me to work in the steel rolling mill."

As the head of the security department, even if his health prevented him from being on the front lines, handling routine paperwork shouldn't be a problem.

"But I was so focused on recuperating that I neglected my duties and almost caused a major disaster."

I apologize to everyone here—I have let down the organization and everyone's trust.

Seeing Lin Zhendong's sincere apology, Jia Dongming quickly comforted him, "Director Lin, the reason we transferred you to the steel rolling mill was so that you could rest and recuperate in peace."

The enemy's espionage activities have no direct connection to you, so please don't blame yourself too much.

"This morning I went to a meeting at the General Administration and specifically reported your retirement arrangements to Vice President Ma."

Vice President Ma clearly stated that your early retirement was for health reasons and had nothing to do with the case; please don't feel burdened.

Lin Zhendong knew the real reason for his early retirement. Hearing Jia Dongming defend his dignity, he was grateful and said, "Section Chief Jia, I'll leave the security section to you from now on."

With your abilities, you will surely lead everyone to achieve even greater success and make new contributions.

Jia Dongming immediately responded solemnly: "Director Lin, rest assured, I will do my best to lead the team well and ensure the production safety of the steel rolling mill."

"Section Chief, it's almost time. Shouldn't we head to the canteen?"

Zhang Guoping kept an eye on the time and whispered a reminder to Jia Dongming.

After lunch, Jia Dongming remembered that he still needed heating equipment and cement for his home renovation, so he rushed to the steel rolling mill's fleet to borrow a truck and drove away from the factory area.

After leaving the city, he found a secluded spot, loaded the necessary supplies into the truck, and then drove back to Tongluoguxiang.

After parking the car and entering the courtyard, Jia Dongming walked to the old Jia family house in the middle courtyard. He saw the workers busy inside, so he took out a pack of Peony cigarettes from his pocket, handed one to each of them, and then said to Master Lei, "Master Lei, the things have all been transported back. I'll have to trouble you to find a few more workers to help move them."

Master Lei took the cigarette, smelled it first, then tucked it behind his ear and called into the house, "Dazhu, Erzhu, stop for a moment and go out to help the master move the things to the yard."

The two apprentices put down their tools and followed Jia Dongming outside the courtyard.

In about fifteen minutes, all the supplies were moved into the yard.

Master Lei examined the heating device and said with a smile, "Boss, this is a good item."

Once the water pipes are connected, hot water will be available continuously when cooking in winter.

It just consumes more coal.

Jia Dongming was somewhat surprised and asked, "Master Lei, have you seen this before?"

Master Lei nodded: "I've seen it before. Foreign embassies used to have similar ones, but yours is much smaller."

Jia Dongming then realized that the rewards given by the system were all in line with the times and did not surpass the current technology.

He then looked at the pile of cement and asked, "Master Lei, is this enough? If not, I'll go get more."

When Master Lei heard that he could get more cement, he quickly said, "Boss, it would be even better if you could prepare more."

I can pave the yard with cement and repair the drainage ditch, then we won't have to worry about mud and waterlogging after it rains.

After listening to Master Lei's advice, Jia Dongming immediately made a plan and asked Master Lei, "Master Lei, according to what you just said, how much cement do I need to prepare to have enough?"

Master Lei saw that Jia Dongming directly used the word "ton".

When asked by his workplace, he couldn't help but show surprise, and his opinion of Jia Dongming's abilities rose even higher.

Master Lei did a quick mental calculation and then said to Jia Dongming, "Boss, I've roughly estimated that if we can get more cement, it would be best to have three tons on hand; if things are really tight, one and a half tons would be just about enough."

"Uncle, Master Lei, all of you, please take a break and have some tea to relax."

As Jia Dongming was talking to Master Lei about cement, Qin Huairu came over carrying a kettle and several bowls, inviting everyone to drink tea.

Seeing that Qin Huairu's complexion had improved considerably, Jia Dongming asked meaningfully, "Huairu, are you feeling better?"

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's question, Qin Huairu recalled the events of the previous night, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks. She replied softly, "Uncle, I'm much better now."

Afterwards, Jia Dongming went out again and transported all the cement needed for the house repairs back to the courtyard house before driving back to the steel rolling mill.

"Section Chief Jia, you're back from get off work?"

Around 5 p.m., Jia Dongming rode his bicycle back to the yard. Yan Bugui, who was tending to the flowers and plants at the gate, saw him and greeted him warmly.

As Jia Dongming pushed the cart into the yard, he saw Yan Bugui greeting him and smiled as he reminded him, "Third Uncle, the weather is getting cooler these days. Growing vegetables is different from growing flowers. If you water them like this every day, the roots will easily rot."

Yan Bugui was somewhat surprised and curiously asked, "Section Chief Jia, is there a different way to grow this kind of vegetable than growing flowers?"

Jia Dongming smiled and said, "Third Uncle, there are many intricacies involved, but I've never grown vegetables myself, so I can't explain the specifics."

Yan Bugui nodded, then suddenly remembered what his wife had said that afternoon, and hurriedly said to Jia Dongming, "Section Chief Jia, my wife told me that you brought back a lot of cement this afternoon, is that true?"

Upon hearing Yan Bugui mention cement, Jia Dongming immediately thought of the man's penchant for taking advantage of others and assumed he was up to something again. He replied with a smile, "Uncle, I'm just repairing my house, and I need a lot of cement. I had to ask my comrades for help to get this."

Yan Bugui quickly waved his hand and explained, "Section Chief Jia, you've misunderstood."

I was thinking that those few steps at the entrance of our compound are really inconvenient; we have to lift our bicycles to get in and out all the time.

Since your house is currently under renovation, could you please have the contractor build a ramp next to the steps? This would make it much easier for everyone to ride their bikes in and out.

Jia Dongming was originally wary of Yan Bugui asking for cement, but he didn't expect him to make this suggestion.

Thinking that it was indeed troublesome for him to carry the bicycle every day, Jia Dongming readily agreed: "Okay, I'll talk to Master Lei in a bit and ask him to take some time to build a ramp with cement at the entrance so that the cart can be pushed in and out."

Yan Bugui had originally hoped to take this opportunity to build a cement ramp at the entrance that would allow carts to pass through, but he didn't dare to say it directly because of Jia Dongming's status.

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's offer to widen the repairs, Yan Bugui happily thanked him, saying, "Section Chief Jia, then I thank you on behalf of all the neighbors in the courtyard!"

"Uncle, you're back!"

No sooner had Yan Bugui finished speaking than Banggeng ran into the courtyard from outside, covered in sweat. Seeing Jia Dongming talking to the Third Uncle, he immediately called out cheerfully.

Jia Dongming turned around and saw Bang Geng covered in sweat. He asked, "Bang Geng, where have you been playing? Why are you sweating so much?"

Banggeng excitedly said, "Uncle, we were playing cops and robbers in the alley. I was the cop, and I caught several 'thieves'!"

Jia Dongming smiled and said to Banggeng, "Come on, Banggeng, help your uncle push his bicycle. Let's go home and have dinner together."

Banggeng happily ran to Jia Dongming's side, took the bicycle which was almost as tall as him, and walked happily towards the Intermediate People's Court.

"Section Chief Jia! Section Chief Jia! Someone outside is looking for you. They say they're from the steel rolling mill's security department and have something important to report!"

Around 10 p.m., Jia Dongming was holding the tired Qin Huairu as they slept when Yan Bugui's urgent shouts suddenly came from the courtyard.

Yan Bugui's shouts woke the two of them.

When Qin Huairu woke up, she was startled and nervously whispered to Jia Dongming, "Brother Dongming, it's Third Uncle... What if he finds out about our relationship?"

Jia Dongming felt Qin Huairu's body trembling slightly, so he gently patted her smooth back and whispered to comfort her, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

After calming Qin Huairu down, Jia Dongming called out to the door, "Third Uncle, I understand. You can go back to the front yard first. I'll come out as soon as I'm dressed."

Jia Dongming tidied his clothes and strode towards the front yard.

Seeing Yan Bugui standing behind the door with a flashlight in his hand, he stepped forward with a smile and said, "Uncle, I'm so sorry to trouble you to get up so late at night."

As he spoke, he handed Yan Bugui a box of Daqianmen cigarettes that he had prepared in advance.

Yan Bugui took the cigarettes, a smile playing on his lips, and replied as he opened the door, "Section Chief Jia, you're too kind. Guarding the door is just my duty."

"You can go ahead and do your work; just let me know when you come back."

Jia Dongming didn't say anything more, and immediately walked out after the door opened.

"Section Chief, the Third Brigade discovered someone sneaking into the logistics warehouse during a night patrol."

By the time we arrived, the other party had already disappeared.

Considering the possibility of connection to enemy agents, I came to report this overnight.

When Chen Qiang, the security guard waiting outside the door, saw Jia Dongming come out, he quickly explained the situation.

The steel rolling mill had just cracked a case involving enemy agents, and now someone had broken into the warehouse, making them highly suspicious.

Jia Dongming's mind raced, and he remembered Qin Huairu, who worked in the warehouse. He then instructed Chen Qiang, "Wait a moment, I'll go back and ask my sister-in-law if there are any important supplies in the warehouse, and then we'll go back to the factory together."

Chen Qiang nodded in agreement: "Okay, Section Chief, I'll wait for you here."

Jia Dongming turned back into the courtyard and saw Yan Bugui still guarding the door. He greeted him with a smile, "Third Uncle, I'll have to keep you a little longer. I'll just ask you something and then I'll be right back."

Although opening the door late at night was quite tiring, Yan Bugui felt that the pack of cigarettes he had just received made the trip worthwhile.

He quickly waved his hand: "Section Chief Jia, don't be so polite. I'm getting old and don't need much sleep. I can't wait any longer."

This midnight disturbance gave Jia Dongming an idea: perhaps a small door should be opened next to the wall of the other courtyard, so that it would be more convenient for him to come and go at night in the future.

Back at the villa, Jia Dongming pushed open the door and saw Qin Huairu tidying up the room. He immediately asked, "Huairu, have any important supplies been delivered to the warehouse these past two days?"

Qin Huairu was taken aback when she heard this, and shook her head and replied, "No, the supplies that have been put into the warehouse recently are all ordinary labor protection products, nothing special."

"Dongming, has something happened at the warehouse?"

Upon learning that there were no important supplies, Jia Dongming felt somewhat relieved and explained, "During the night patrol, we discovered someone sneaking into the warehouse. I was afraid they were after something important, so I asked them a question."

"Since there's nothing there, I'm relieved."

I need to go back to the factory now, you should get some rest.