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

As the saying goes, "There is no harm without comparison."

Yu Li's mother was seriously ill and needed money, so she asked the Yan family for help. Not only did they refuse to lend her money, but they also said that it would be a waste for her to borrow money to treat her illness.

But Jia Dongming, an outsider, only borrowed twenty-nine yuan, yet he gave him one hundred without batting an eye.

Comparing the two situations, Yu Li wished she could slap herself – how could she have been so blind to the cold-hearted, calculating, and ungrateful nature of the Yan family?

Seeing the money Jia Dongming handed her, Yu Li was moved and quickly declined, saying, "Director Jia, thank you! But I don't need so much, thirty yuan is enough."

When Jia Dongming saw that Yu Li refused, he stuffed the money into her pocket and said, "Yu Li, you just said it was to raise money for the surgery."

After the surgery, where will you borrow money for follow-up treatment? Take this first, and come back to me if you need more.

Only after Jia Dongming reminded her did Yu Li remember the post-operative rehabilitation costs for her mother, and she thanked him profusely, saying, "Director Jia, thank you so much!"

When Yu Li thanked him, Jia Dongming smiled and replied, "Yu Li! You're not from the steel mill, so you don't need to call me Director Jia. Just call me Brother Dongming."

With this loan of one hundred yuan, Yu Li no longer worried about her mother's medical expenses. The heavy pressure she had been under suddenly eased, and she quickly replied, "Okay, Brother Dongming! I'll call you that from now on."

Remembering that Yu Li's mother urgently needed money, Jia Dongming immediately asked, "Yu Li! Which hospital is your mother in? I'll take you there by bicycle."

Yu Li then remembered that her mother was still waiting at the hospital. Without bothering with formalities, she immediately replied, "Brother Dongming! At the People's Hospital."

Jia Dongming immediately called out, "Yu Li! Get in the car quickly, I'll take you to the hospital."

Yu Li didn't refuse. She sat sideways on the back of the bicycle, gently tugged at Jia Dongming's sleeve, and whispered, "Brother Dongming! Thank you!"

As the bicycle continued along the road, Yu Li sat on the back seat, her voice slightly choked as she recalled the events of the day: "Brother Dongming! To be honest, if I hadn't met you just now, I was planning to stand at the entrance of the People's Hospital, trying to raise money for my mother's surgery."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming looked surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Yu Li! Yan Jiecheng is your husband. Your mother's illness is such a big deal, didn't you consult him or Uncle San?"

Upon hearing the name Yan family, a cold glint flashed in Yu Li's eyes, and she said indifferently, "How could we not have contacted them! When I learned that my mother needed surgery, the first person I went to was my mother-in-law."

"But she claimed she had no money and told me to go to my father-in-law. Before I left, she even mocked me, saying that it would be a waste of money to treat my mother's illness, and that I should just buy some good food instead."

"Dongming, is this something a human being would say?"

She paused for a moment, then continued, "Later, I left the courtyard and went directly to Hongxing Elementary School to find my father-in-law."

After he learned why I was there, he claimed he didn't have enough money on him, and after hesitating for a long time, he only managed to pull out one yuan—but when he took out the money, I clearly saw that he also had five-yuan and ten-yuan bills in his pocket.

"I didn't take that one dollar, and rushed to the grain station where Yan Jiecheng worked as a temporary worker, hoping that he could take out the money he had saved to help me in my emergency."

To my surprise, when he saw me asking for money, he didn't even ask about my mother's illness and simply said he didn't have any.

"Brother Dongming! I really misjudged you back then. How could I have married into the Yan family, a family that is so calculating and cold-hearted? When I went to my in-laws, I said I was borrowing money, not asking for money."

Whether the Yan family was rich or not, others might not know, but Jia Dongming knew very well—Yan Bugui was not only rich, but quite well-off; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to afford a bicycle, a radio, and later even a television.

Hearing the resentment in Yu Li's words, Jia Dongming didn't know how to comfort her and could only remain silent.

Soon, the bicycle stopped in front of the People's Hospital.

Jia Dongming parked the car, looked at Yu Li whose eyes were red, and encouraged her: "Yu Li! There are no insurmountable difficulties in life, only bends that cannot be turned."

No matter what you encounter, as long as you face it head-on and don't back down, everything will eventually pass.

Yu Li nodded gratefully, her voice slightly hoarse, "Yes, Brother Dongming! I'll remember that, thank you for your encouragement."

Jia Dongming smiled and instructed, "Yu Li! Go and pay the surgery fee quickly."

If that's not enough, come find me again.

Remember, anything that can be solved with money isn't a big deal.

Yu Li sensed the composure in his words and couldn't help but show a hint of admiration in her eyes. She nodded and replied, "Brother Dongming! I'll go in first then."

Yu Li rushed to the emergency room, where Yu Haitang, who was waiting there, hurriedly stepped forward upon seeing her: "Sister! Why did you take so long? The doctor has been urging us several times to pay the surgery fee as soon as possible."

Yu Li took out a wad of cash from her pocket and asked, "Haitang! How much is still owed? Take this money and pay the difference right away."

Yu Haitang looked at the stack of large black bills and exclaimed in surprise, "Sister! Where did all this money come from? Did Yan Jiecheng's father finally agree to help?"

Yu Li shook her head, the gentle figure of Jia Dongming flashing before her eyes, and urged, "Haitang! We'll talk about this later, you go pay the bill first."

Yu Haitang then came to her senses, took the money, and hurriedly walked towards the payment counter.

Yu Li followed, asking as she walked, "Haitang! Where is Mom having surgery?"

Yu Haitang turned around and replied, "Sister! It's on the second floor."

Wait for me a moment, we'll go up together after I pay.

Upon hearing this, Yu Li walked quickly towards the stairs.

Not long after, Yu Li arrived on the second floor and immediately saw her father and younger brother sitting on the bench in the corridor. She hurried over and anxiously asked her father, "Dad, how is Mom now? What did the doctor say?"

When Yu Li arrived, her father immediately stood up from his chair and told her with a grave expression, "Li, your mother has already gone into the operating room."

The doctor said it was fortunate that it was discovered in time; if it had been delayed any longer, the situation could have been dangerous.

Hearing her father's words, Yu Li's anxiety finally eased slightly, and she softly repeated, "That's good, that's good..."

At this moment, Yu Haitang, having paid the fees, also arrived at the operating room door. She handed the remaining money back to Yu Li and asked with a hint of curiosity, "Sister, is this the rest?"

"Yan Jiecheng's dad is so stingy! He even charges me for food and lodging when I stay at your house for two days. It's unbelievable that he's willing to lend us so much money today!"

"Haitang! That's your brother-in-law, how can you call him by his name like that?"

When Mr. Yu heard his youngest daughter address his son-in-law by his first name, his face darkened, and he reprimanded her.

Yu Haitang was not afraid at all; instead, she retorted with even greater dissatisfaction: "Dad! If he really treated me like his sister-in-law, he wouldn't have tried to charge me for food and lodging when I went to visit my sister."

Hearing her sister's words, Yu Li recalled the usual behavior of the Yan family father and son, and replied coldly, "Dad, Haitang is right, Yan Jiecheng is indeed not worthy of being her brother-in-law."

Yu Haitang was taken aback and quickly asked, "Sister, was the money you gave Mom just now borrowed from the Yan family?"

Seeing Yu Li's pained yet indifferent expression, Yu's father felt a pang of anxiety and asked worriedly, "Li, what exactly happened? Tell Dad the truth."

Yu Li took a deep breath and recalled the process of borrowing money from the Yan family. Her tone was filled with suppressed resentment: "Dad, Haitang came to me and said that Mom was hospitalized and still needed money, so I went to my mother-in-law first to ask her for some money."

But she claimed she didn't have any money on her hands, refused to lend it, and even said some unpleasant things.

"After that, I went to the school to find my father-in-law. He said he didn't have that much on him and only took out one yuan."

But I clearly saw that he still had more than ten yuan in his pocket.

"In the end, I had no choice but to go to Yan Jiecheng and tell him that his mother needed money urgently for surgery, and asked him to take out the money he had saved from odd jobs."

But he simply said no, without even asking a single question about his mother's condition.

Upon hearing this, Yu Haitang stomped her feet in anger: "This family is utterly despicable! How could I have ever married into such a family!"

Yu's father was equally furious, but considering his daughter's marriage, he still sternly reprimanded Yu Haitang: "Haitang, don't talk nonsense! No matter how bad the Yan family is, they are still your sister's in-laws."

As he said this, he suddenly remembered the money Yu Haitang had just returned to Yu Li, and asked, "Yu Li, tell Dad the truth, from whom did you borrow this money?"

Yu Li paused, recalling the encounter with Jia Dongming on the road, and explained in a low voice: "Dad, Yan Jiecheng refused to contribute money, so I went to Juanzi and the others to pool our money, and we managed to raise a little over six yuan in total."

I was planning to pay the deposit I could at the hospital first, but I ran into a neighbor from our building on the way, and he lent me the rest of the money.

"Sister, is that neighbor you're talking about the same Section Chief Jia I ran into at the gate of the courtyard when I went to see you a few days ago?"

Yu Haitang immediately thought of someone and hurriedly asked.

Yu Li nodded, her tone softening unconsciously when she mentioned Jia Dongming: "Yes, it's him."

However, Dongming is no longer a section chief, but a division chief.

Mr. Yu noticed the subtle change in his daughter's expression and immediately became suspicious. He solemnly reminded her, "Xiao Li, don't forget that you have a husband."

What exactly is your relationship with that Jia Dongming?

Yu Li realized that her father might have misunderstood, so she quickly explained, "Dad, Dongming and I are just ordinary neighbors. We've barely spoken a few words since we met."

Looking at his daughter, Yu's father wanted to believe her, but the thought that Jia Dongming was not related to his family and yet was willing to lend such a sum of money made him suspicious.

He stared intently at Yu Li, his voice heavy with urgency, and asked again, "Li, are you sure you're not lying to me?"

Yu Li met her father's scrutinizing gaze and answered seriously, "Dad, Dongming has only been back from the army for less than half a month."

Do you see your daughter as the kind of woman who is unfaithful?

Known daughter Moruofu.

Yu Li denied it verbally, but her father still sensed that his daughter had a vague affection for Jia Dongming.

He lowered his voice and solemnly reminded her, "Yu Li, no matter how many faults the Yan family has, they are still your husband's family."

Remember this: no matter how stingy or cold-blooded they are, you must not do anything to betray the Yan family.

Although Yu Li had feelings for Jia Dongming, she never considered taking their relationship further.

However, her father's repeated admonitions that she must never do anything to betray the Yan family only fueled her rebellious spirit.

Recalling the coldness and mockery of the Yan family father and son, and contrasting it with Jia Dongming's thoughtfulness and care, Yu Li silently vowed in her heart: "Yan Bugui! Yan Jiecheng! Just you wait and see, one day I will make you regret your actions!"

After taking Yu Li to the People's Hospital, Jia Dongming quickly rode his bicycle to Sesame Alley and arrived near Ye Quanwang's residence.

After parking his bicycle, Jia Dongming first used his eagle-eye ability to observe Ye Quanwang's courtyard and the adjacent courtyards to confirm that no one was there.

To avoid repeating yesterday's mistake, he carefully looked around to make sure no one was watching before quickly walking to the courtyard wall and nimbly vaulting over into the yard.

Upon entering the courtyard, Jia Dongming immediately retrieved a shovel from the system space and dug out the bag that Ye Quanwang had buried underground.

He quickly removed the fuse, reburied the bag, covered it with fresh soil, and covered all traces of digging with dry soil.

After completing these tasks, Jia Dongming turned and walked towards the side room.

Upon reaching the door of the side room, Jia Dongming remembered that Ye Quanwang had set a trap on the key, so he looked down to check the doorknob but found nothing unusual.

After checking the ground to make sure it was in good condition, he pushed open the door and entered the side room.

Jia Dongming entered the side room, then used a shovel to pry open the floor tiles at the doorway, removed the fuse buried underneath in the same manner, and restored the floor tiles to their original state.

After dealing with all the bags in turn, Jia Dongming confirmed that no traces had been left behind, and then jumped into the courtyard where Ye Quanwang was actually hiding.

Upon finding the entrance to the underground chamber, Jia Dongming did not rush to open it. Instead, he carefully examined the ground and soon discovered a thin line connecting the floor tiles.