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

The car moved smoothly forward. As Jia Dongming pedaled, he asked Yu Li in the back seat, "Yu Li, where are you and Jie Cheng working now?"

When asked about her work, Yu Li's face showed a hint of helplessness, and she answered softly, "Director Jia, Jie Cheng works as a temporary worker at the grain station, and I take on odd jobs at the street office."

Together, the two of them only earn about ten yuan a month.

Remembering Yan Bugui's character, Jia Dongming asked again, "I heard from the people in the courtyard that you and your husband have to pay Uncle San for food and lodging every month. Is that true?"

Mentioning the Yan family's situation, Yu Li seemed to see her father-in-law counting every last bit of pickled vegetables, and her expression became depressed. She said in a low voice, "Yes, Director Jia."

We have to pay six yuan for food and three yuan for lodging every month.

After deducting these expenses, all I had left from the money I earned through the settlement was just a few dollars.

Yan Bugui worked alone to support his family of six.

On the surface, the Yan family seems to be in dire straits, but in reality, this is not the case.

Yan Bugui always told others that his salary was the same as Qin Huairu's, 27.5 yuan per month.

But if that's the case, according to the standard of five yuan per person in Beijing, the Yan family should be considered a poor household and should be able to receive a hardship allowance from the neighborhood committee every month.

Given Yan Bugui's penchant for taking advantage of others, he probably already went to the neighborhood office to apply for subsidies. This alone shows that Yan Bugui's income is definitely more than 27.5 yuan. The Yan family is just pretending to be poor in the courtyard.

As for Yan Bugui, on the surface he treats his children equally, but he is naturally calculating and treats raising children as an investment. He makes his children pay this and that fee at the drop of a hat, and even charges relatives for meals and lodging when they come to visit.

In the end, even family ties were gone, leaving him with no one willing to support him in his old age.

When Jia Dongming heard Yu Li say this, he could clearly sense that she harbored resentment towards the Yan family, so he smiled and advised, "Yu Li, Uncle San has it tough too. He has to support six people on his own. If he doesn't manage his finances carefully, some people in his family might really go hungry."

As his children, you should also try to understand his difficulties.

Upon hearing this, Yu Li recalled the scene of being coldly scolded by her mother when she returned to her parents' home earlier that day, and replied irritably, "Director Jia, I admit that it is not easy for my father-in-law to support the whole family on his own, but his calculations are too outrageous."

"Take last week for example, my sister came to my house to go shopping with me, and my father-in-law actually asked me to pay for her meals, otherwise he wouldn't cook for my sister."

Is this something a father-in-law should do? It caused me to get a severe scolding from my mother when I went back to my parents' house.

As Yu Li grew angrier, Jia Dongming didn't know how to comfort her. He could only say helplessly, "Yu Li, I can't say much about your family's affairs. After all, every family has its own problems."

Before long, the bicycle arrived at the entrance of Nanluoguxiang.

As Yu Li saw that they were almost there, she quickly called out to Jia Dongming, "Director Jia, please stop here for a moment. I can walk back by myself."

Knowing that Yu Li wanted to avoid suspicion, Jia Dongming pulled the car over to the side of the road.

After Yu Li got out of the car, he smiled and said, "Yu Li, I'll head back now."

After saying goodbye to Yu Li, Jia Dongming got on his bicycle and rode towards No. 95 compound.

"Director Jia, why are you so late today?"

As soon as Jia Dongming pushed his cart into the yard, Yan Bugui, who was watering vegetables at the door, greeted him warmly.

When Jia Dongming saw Yan Bugui, he remembered Yu Li's resentful look earlier, but he still smiled and replied, "Third Uncle, there was a lot of work in the department today, and I'm only getting off work now."

"Uncle! Uncle! You're back!"

Jia Dongming pushed the cart to the central courtyard. Banggeng and Xiaodang, who were playing in the courtyard, immediately ran over happily when they saw him.

Jia Dongming picked up Xiaodang and placed her on the bicycle crossbar, then asked Banggeng, "Banggeng, have you finished your homework?"

Banggeng then realized that he had been so busy playing after school that he hadn't even touched his homework. Feeling a little guilty, he whispered, "Uncle... I was so busy playing when I got home that I forgot to do my homework."

Seeing his expression, Jia Dongming deliberately put on a stern face and said, "I'll let it go this time, but remember, you can only come out to play after you finish your homework, understand?"

Banggeng nodded quickly: "Uncle, I understand. I will definitely do my homework first from now on."

Jia Dongming pushed the cart back to his own courtyard with Banggeng in tow. He saw Jia Zhangshi sitting in the yard sewing shoe soles and called out, "Mom, I'm back."

Madam Jia put down her work and said with concern, "Dongming, why are you so late today? The whole family is waiting for you to eat."

Hearing that the family hadn't started eating yet, Jia Dongming parked the car under the eaves, picked up Xiaodang, and said to Jia Zhangshi, "Mom, I've been busy lately. If I come back late in the future, you guys eat first, don't wait for me."

As he spoke, he walked to the wall, looked at the newly installed small gate, pushed it open, and stepped outside.

Standing in the alley, Jia Dongming muttered to himself, "I need to hire an electrician from the steel mill tomorrow to install a street light here, so it will be easier to come and go at night."

"Dongming, dinner's ready!"

Qin Huairu came out of the main room and called out towards the small door.

Jia Dongming responded, turned around and entered the courtyard, closing the door behind him as he walked towards the main room.

While serving him porridge, Qin Huairu said, "Brother Dongming, Master Lei said the old house will be finished tomorrow. He told us to get ready here too, so that once that's done, we can clear this place out for them to fix."

Jia Dongming nodded: "The old house can be renovated to have several more rooms."

After it's fixed, move my furniture over there first, then see if anything's missing, and I'll go to the trust store to get some more.

Qin Huairu replied, "Yes, Brother Dongming, I've got it."

Is Comrade Jia Dongming home?

Just as the Jia family sat down to eat, Director Wang led a middle-aged man into the courtyard and called out to the main room.

Upon hearing Director Wang's call, Jia Dongming immediately put down his chopsticks and replied loudly, "I'm at home. Who's looking for me?"

As he spoke, he walked out of the main house and saw Director Wang in the courtyard. He looked surprised and said, "Director Wang! What brings you here? What brings you here today?"

Upon hearing this, Director Wang immediately introduced Jia Dongming: "Comrade Jia Dongming, let me introduce you. This is Director Chen from the Gulou Subdistrict Office!"

After the introductions, he turned to the middle-aged man beside him and said, "Old Chen, this is Comrade Jia Dongming from the Security Department of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill."

"Director Wang, my son Dongming is now a division chief and the deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Chengdong Public Security Bureau."

Jia Zhangshi, who came out behind Jia Dongming, heard that Director Wang was still referred to as section chief, and hurriedly told him the news of her son's promotion.

When Director Wang learned that Jia Dongming had become a division-level cadre, he showed surprise and quickly apologized to Jia Zhangshi: "Auntie, I'm so sorry, I didn't know that Comrade Jia Dongming had been promoted to deputy division chief."

Director Chen, who was standing nearby, was also surprised to hear that the young man in front of him was actually a deputy director. He then smiled and asked, "Director Jia, hello! Do you know an elderly man named Gong Zhongming?"

Upon hearing the name, Jia Dongming immediately recalled the message from the system that morning. Feigning surprise, he asked, "Director Chen, hello! Uncle Gong is my comrade's father. You've suddenly come to see me; has something happened to Uncle Gong?"

Director Chen explained with a grave expression, "Director Jia, a week ago, Comrade Gong Zhongming was hit by a car while trying to save a child running across the road at the intersection of Lou Street."

"Before he passed away, the old man said that he was very grateful for your care over the years, so he decided to leave a courtyard house with a street-front shop at the entrance of Xiaojing Hutong on Gulou East Street to you."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming could not hide his shock—he had not expected the system to give him the reward courtyard in this way.

Seeing his expression, Director Chen assumed he was having trouble processing the news and continued, "Director Jia, Comrade Gong Zhongming passed away while saving someone. He had already instructed that our street office would handle his funeral arrangements, so we didn't inform you in time."

"Also, do you have time tomorrow? If so, please come to our subdistrict office to handle the property inheritance procedures."

Jia Dongming came to his senses and solemnly thanked Director Chen: "Director Chen, thank you for the street office for handling Uncle Gong's funeral arrangements."

By the way, where is Uncle Gong buried? I'd like to go and pay my respects.

Director Chen replied politely, "Director Jia, this is what we should do."

Before his death, Comrade Gong Zhongming wished that his ashes be sent back to his hometown in Henan for burial, and we have already sent someone to deliver them.

When Director Wang arrived at the courtyard, the residents had just finished dinner and were chatting in the courtyard. Therefore, his appearance aroused everyone's curiosity, and many people followed Director Wang to the small courtyard where Jia Dongming's family lived.

When the residents heard that Jia Dongming had inherited a courtyard house with shops along the street, they were first shocked, then turned to envy.

After Jia Dongming saw Director Wang and Director Chen off, Jia Zhangshi immediately rushed forward and excitedly asked, "Dongming! Was what Director Chen said true? Did your comrade's father really give you the house?"

Seeing his mother's expectant expression, Jia Dongming smiled and replied, "Mom, whether it's true or not, I'll take you to see it tomorrow after I finish the formalities at the Gulou Subdistrict Office, and then we'll know."

Madam Jia nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay! After the formalities are completed, you must take me to see that courtyard."

Since Qin Huairu already had a bicycle, the task of taking Banggeng to school in the morning was naturally left to her, so Jia Dongming didn't have to leave for work early as usual.

At 8:00 a.m. sharp, Jia Dongming had just arrived at the steel rolling mill when Guo Jianguo and Li Aijun followed him into the office.

"Director, Zhao Jun has already found out the information about the middle-aged woman that Guoping and his team were following yesterday."

Li Aijun immediately reported to the leader upon entering.

Jia Dongming placed his briefcase on the table, looked at the two men who had entered, and asked, "Comrade Aijun, tell me, what are the specific details about that woman?"

Li Aijun immediately reported: "Director, the woman's name is Miao, she is a newspaper editor, and her husband's name is Zhao Huiming, who is the deputy director of Changping Commune."

For some reason, the couple has never had children.

After a moment of contemplation, Jia Dongming instructed, "Comrade Aijun, we can have Zhao Jun and his men temporarily suspend their surveillance of the blacksmith shop and instead keep an eye on Miao and You Wan'an."

I need to track their daily movements, who they meet, and so on.

Upon receiving Jia Dongming's instructions, Li Aijun immediately raised a question: "Chief! Based on the current intelligence, the blacksmith shop is clearly suspicious. Why are you asking us to stop monitoring it?"

Jia Dongming responded with a serious expression: "Current clues indicate that blacksmith Ye Quanwang is indeed an enemy agent."

Yesterday, I followed Ye Quanwang's trail and discovered that Xiao Quan, the security guard at the Jingshan Street scrap metal recycling station, was his accomplice.

"All indications suggest that the blacksmith shop was merely a transit point for enemy agents to transmit intelligence, not their true stronghold."

Our current mission is to ascertain the list of enemy agents' subordinates and the identity of Ye Quanwang's superior, ultimately eliminating this enemy agent force completely.

Li Aijun looked surprised upon hearing what Jia Dongming had said.

He hadn't expected Jia Dongming to uncover so much crucial intelligence single-handedly, and hurriedly asked, "Director! If we stop monitoring Ye Quanwang, how do we find out who his superior is?"

Jia Dongming replied solemnly, "I will personally follow up on the Ye Quanwang line."

Your Third Battalion's mission is to investigate the list of enemy agents' subordinates.

Upon receiving the order, Li Aijun immediately replied, "Chief! I'll go and inform Zhao Jun right away to have them adjust the mission plan."

Jia Dongming nodded slightly, then turned to Guo Jianguo and asked, "Comrade Jianguo! Has your First Brigade made any progress in the investigation of the enemy agent in the backyard of Xue Ru Silk Shop on Qianmen Street?"