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

As Yan Bugui walked inside, he called out into the house, "Huai Ru! Huai Ru! I've brought you the account book you wanted."

As Jia Zhangshi was enjoying chicken soup and dumplings, Yan Bugui's call suddenly rang out from outside.

Her face darkened, and she muttered unhappily, "That old man Yan must have come here because of the smell of dumplings."

Yan Bugui was known in the courtyard for his shrewdness, often saying, "You won't get poor from eating or dressing, but you will get poor if you don't plan ahead."

It's something they always say.

Even when dividing pickled vegetables at home, you have to count each one. Over time, this leads to a weakening of family bonds.

Upon hearing the sound, Jia Dongming put down his chopsticks and smiled at Qin Huairu, saying, "Sister-in-law, go and invite Third Uncle in, and also serve him some dumplings."

Qin Huairu stood up in response, walked quickly to the door, and greeted with a smile, "Third Uncle, you've arrived. Please come in."

Yan Bugui's face was full of smiles as he followed Qin Huairu into the main room.

Upon seeing Jia Dongming standing by the table, whose appearance bore a striking resemblance to Jia Dongxu, he warmly greeted him, "This must be Dongxu's older brother, Section Chief Jia, right?"

Jia Dongming sized up the thin, bespectacled old man in front of him and replied with a smile, "You must be the third uncle in the courtyard? I am Jia Dongming, the eldest son of the Jia family."

"As the saying goes, it's better to be early than late. We just happened to make dumplings at home today. If you don't mind, Uncle, please sit down and have some with us."

Yan Bugui looked at the chicken soup and dumplings on the table, secretly pleased, but said politely, "Section Chief Jia, my family rarely eats dumplings all year round, how could we possibly mind?"

When Liu Haizhong got home from get off work, before he could even sit down, his second aunt rushed out of the kitchen and urgently told him, "Honey, something big happened in our neighborhood today!"

Seeing her like this, Liu Haizhong's face hardened, and he reprimanded her with an air of authority: "How many times have I told you to keep your composure in the face of trouble?"

Look at yourself now, what kind of state do you look like?

Ignoring the scolding, the second aunt continued, "The villa where Engineer Xue used to live has been allocated to your steel mill's new security chief today."

"What? The villa was divided up? And it was given to the head of security?"

Upon hearing that a leader had moved into the compound, Liu Haizhong immediately looked surprised and asked, "Is the news true?"

The second aunt nodded vigorously: "Absolutely true! And this new section chief is Jia Zhangshi's long-lost eldest son."

"The eldest son of the Jia family? This... how is this possible?"

Liu Haizhong was first shocked, then a surge of indescribable jealousy welled up within him.

He longed to become an official every day, but unexpectedly, a cadre emerged from the Jia family without anyone noticing.

The second aunt lowered her voice and recounted in detail what had happened at noon, including Jia Zhangshi's commotion and the third aunt's message.

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong immediately ordered, "Quickly get Guangtian some money and coupons, and tell him to go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy two bottles of good wine."

A leader moved into the compound, and as his second uncle, I should pay him a visit.

Auntie Er turned and called into the inner room, "Guangtian! Come out for a second, go buy two bottles of wine for your dad!"

Outside Yan Bugui's house in the front yard, Sha Zhu, having learned from the third aunt that the eldest son of the Jia family was actually the head of the security department, widened his eyes in astonishment: "Dongxu's eldest brother is the head of the security department? Third Aunt, is that true?"

The third aunt nodded, then seemed to remember something and said, "Zhuzi, your third uncle was just called to the Jia family."

Before you came back, Qin Huairu came to ask for the account books of the money everyone had donated to the Jia family over the years. I think Section Chief Jia is planning to return the donations to everyone.

Sha Zhu had always been fond of Qin Huairu, and when he heard that she had something to say, he immediately couldn't sit still.

He waved to the third aunt, "Third aunt, I'm going to check on the Jia family. I'll be going now."

He rushed to the Jia family's house with a net bag, only to find the house dark. He then remembered that the eldest son of the Jia family had moved into another courtyard, so he turned around and walked towards the other courtyard.

In the courtyard, Jia Dongming invited the Third Uncle to sit down and said apologetically, "Third Uncle, we just moved here today and didn't prepare any drinks. Let's make do with this meal first."

Another day I'll prepare a few dishes and treat you to a couple of drinks.

Yan Bugui stared at the large, plump pork dumplings on the plate and nodded repeatedly: "Section Chief Jia, I'm already very satisfied to be able to eat such big dumplings. Please don't be shy."

When Jia Dongming heard Yan Bugui mention the past, he remembered the time when the courtyard had raised funds for the Jia family. He smiled and said to Yan Bugui, "Third Uncle, my mother once told me that since my father passed away, she and my brother's family had survived those difficult years entirely thanks to the support of the neighbors in the courtyard."

On behalf of my mother and brother's family, I would like to express my gratitude to all the residents of the compound.

As the saying goes, when you drink water, you should think of its source.

Therefore, I asked Huairu to invite you here so that I could find out how much money each family in the courtyard has donated to our Jia family over the years.

Tomorrow I plan to buy some items, and I'd like to trouble Third Uncle to accompany me to return all the money that everyone donated to the Jia family.

Over the years, under Yi Zhonghai's leadership, the courtyard has organized thirteen donation drives for the Jia family.

Although Yan Bugui donated small amounts each time, he accumulated thirteen yuan.

If he could get the money back, it would naturally be a happy thing for him.

Yan Bugui, who was eating dumplings with gusto, quickly swallowed the dumplings when he heard Jia Dongming's words. He then opened the account book he had brought with him, carefully checked it, and then explained to Jia Dongming: "Section Chief Jia, the institute has donated to your Jia family thirteen times over the years. I just calculated it, and the total amount is four hundred and thirty-seven yuan and forty-eight fen."

"Among them, Uncle One donated 150 yuan, Uncle Two donated 130 yuan, Sha Zhu donated 85 yuan, and I donated 13 yuan..."

"Sister Qin! I heard that Dongxu's older brother is back, is that true?"

Yan Bugui was reading the amounts from the account book when suddenly Sha Zhu's shout came from outside.

If it were yesterday, Qin Huairu would have happily gone out to greet Sha Zhu upon hearing his voice, said a few kind words, and taken the lunchbox from his hand to take home for her child.

Upon hearing Sha Zhu's call, Qin Huairu did not immediately respond. Instead, she subconsciously glanced at Jia Dongming, who was talking to Yan Bugui, and said, "Uncle, it's Sha Zhu. He's probably here to deliver lunchboxes to our family again."

Sha Zhu, a cook at the steel mill, like his father, took special care of the widow, often saying, "If one person is full, the whole family isn't hungry."

He always talks about it, but he forgets that he has a younger sister who is still in school.

Because he had feelings for Qin Huairu, and at Yi Zhonghai's urging, Sha Zhu often helped the Jia family by sending them money and food.

If it weren't for the deaf old lady's scheme to lock Lou Xiao'e and him in the same room, Sha Zhu would probably have ended up childless for the rest of his life.

Upon hearing Qin Huairu's words, Jia Dongming smiled warmly and said kindly, "Sister-in-law, I know that Shazhu has helped our Jia family a lot."

Since he's here, please invite him in to eat with us.

Qin Huairu felt a slight sense of relief, quickly put down her chopsticks, and hurried to the doorway of the main room. Smiling, she said to Sha Zhu, who was carrying a net bag, "Zhu Zi, Bang Geng's uncle came back today and bought some pork belly. We made dumplings. Would you like to come in and have some?"

Sha Zhu had been wanting to see what Jia Dongxu's older brother looked like, and when he heard Qin Huairu's invitation, he immediately picked up his net bag and happily replied, "Sister Qin! The cafeteria is hosting a dinner party today, so I brought back some snacks to go with the drinks. I can have a couple of drinks with my brother Jia."

Qin Huairu remembered that Jia Dongming hadn't prepared any wine yet, so she quickly called out to Sha Zhu, "Zhu Zi, come in and sit down first. I'll go home and get a bottle of wine. You can have a good drink with Uncle Bang Geng tonight!"

Sha Zhu walked into the main room with a net bag, and when he saw Jia Dongming sitting inside, he immediately smiled and said to Jia Zhangshi, "Aunt Zhang! I heard that my brother Jia is back, so I specially brought some dishes to have a couple of drinks with him."

Although Sha Zhu had always helped the Jia family, Madam Jia Zhang never really liked him.

If Jia Dongming hadn't been there, Jia Zhangshi probably would have snatched the lunchbox and kicked Sha Zhu out the door.

Hearing what Sha Zhu said, Jia Zhangshi gave him an annoyed look and replied, "Since you're here, find a stool to sit on."

After finishing the dumplings Qin Huairu brought him at home, Yi Zhonghai stayed by the window, keeping an eye on the movements in the yard.

He saw Sha Zhu carrying a net bag into the villa, and then Qin Huairu came out of the villa. She went back to the Jia family to get a bottle of wine and was about to return. He quickly came out of the house and called out to Qin Huairu, "Huairu! I just saw Sha Zhu calling you at your door, like he was going to deliver a lunchbox. Where is he?"

Although Qin Huairu married into the city from the countryside and suffered a lot in the Jia family, her emotional intelligence was not low.

When she saw Yi Zhonghai come out of the house, she immediately guessed that he must have been watching the yard from inside.

In response to Yi Zhonghai's question, Qin Huairu replied with a smile, "Uncle, the pillar is with my uncle."

My uncle just moved in and hasn't prepared any wine yet, so I went home to get a bottle for my uncle and Zhuzi to have some.

"Would you like to come and sit with us if you have some free time?"

Ever since Yi Zhonghai learned that the eldest son of the Jia family had returned, he had been trying to find a reason to visit the other residence.

Qin Huairu's invitation provided him with a perfectly legitimate excuse to visit her.

This invitation was exactly what Yi Zhonghai wanted to hear. He immediately smiled and said to Qin Huairu, "Huairu, today is a big day for your Jia family. How can we drink Lao Baigan? I happen to have two bottles of Xifeng liquor. I'll go back and get them. We'll drink that tonight."

Yi Zhonghai went home to get the wine and followed Qin Huairu into the villa.

Looking at the five rooms in the villa, Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but sigh, "Huai Ru! Your mother-in-law used to always say that there were too many people in the family and the house was too crowded. Now that we have this villa, your family no longer has to worry about not having enough housing."

Yi Zhonghai's words, seemingly for the sake of the Jia family, actually harbored malicious intent, deliberately trying to sow discord between Jia Dongming and the Jia family, making Qin Huairu suddenly realize the danger involved.

In the past, the two widows of the Jia family with three children needed Yi Zhonghai's support to establish themselves in this courtyard house; now that Jia Dongming has returned, the Jia family has a backbone, and Qin Huairu naturally no longer needs to rely on Yi Zhonghai.

Faced with Yi Zhonghai's scheme, Qin Huairu replied as she walked, "Uncle! Although my uncle is the eldest son of the Jia family, this courtyard was allocated to him by the steel mill and has nothing to do with us."

"However, my uncle saw that Bang Geng was getting older and it was really inconvenient for him to live in the same room as us women, so he asked me to prepare a room for Bang Geng to live in alone after dinner."

At this point, Qin Huairu raised her hand to lift the curtain and called into the house, "Mom! Uncle! Uncle's here!"

"Hey! Old Yan! Zhu Zi! You guys are here too?"

Yi Zhonghai followed Qin Huairu into the house carrying two bottles of wine. When he saw Jia Dongming, who looked seven or eight parts like Jia Dongming, he first pretended to be surprised and exchanged pleasantries with the two of them. Then he smiled and greeted Jia Dongming: "Section Chief Jia! Hello! I am Yi Zhonghai, an eighth-grade fitter from the steel rolling mill, and also an old man in this yard."

"My wife told me that you moved into the courtyard today, and that you are the eldest son of the Jia family, whom my sister-in-law has been separated from for many years. She came here specifically to visit you."

Yi Zhonghai appears honest and simple, and seems fair in his dealings. He is deeply respected by the residents of the courtyard, but in reality, he is the most cunning person in the courtyard.

To support his family in their old age, Yi Zhonghai first took Jia Dongxu as his apprentice. Fearing that Jia Zhangshi would be a hindrance, he then listed Sha Zhu as a potential caregiver. He not only slandered He Daqing in front of Sha Zhu, but also secretly withheld the living expenses that He Daqing sent to Sha Zhu and his sister.

After Jia Dongxu's death, he coveted Qin Huairu's beauty. On the one hand, he tried to matchmake Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu, and on the other hand, he wanted to use Qin Huairu to have a child. He used every means to force her to submit at the steel mill. Then, under the pretext of helping the Jia family, he visited Qin Huairu late at night with food.

Looking at Yi Zhonghai, who was holding a wine bottle and had an upright expression, Jia Dongming thought that if he didn't know the inside story, he would probably be deceived by his appearance.

Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's self-introduction, Jia Dongming responded warmly: "Uncle! Hello! My mother and Huai Ru have already told me about your care and assistance to the Jia family over the years. On behalf of the Jia family, I would like to express my gratitude to you."