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

At first, Lin Minghua and Zhao Baoguo, like Zhang Huanchun, thought it was money and planned to refuse.

Realizing it was a job opportunity, their eyes lit up with eagerness, and they both looked at Zhang Huanchun.

Liu Xiangqian originally thought that Zhang Huanchun would readily accept the gift, but seeing that he still declined, he couldn't help but admire him and wanted to get to know him better.

Noticing the expressions of Lin Minghua and the other person, he continued to persuade them: "Team Leader Zhang, of the recruitment quotas this time, the factory has reserved fifty, and the rest will be arranged by the street office."

The approval for the expansion of recruitment wouldn't have been possible without your support—if you hadn't quickly cracked the finance department case and purged the corrupt elements in the factory, the application wouldn't have gone so smoothly.

"Besides, by recovering the stolen wages, you have essentially saved our political future."

These few spots are nothing compared to your help.

Jia Dongming himself didn't need the quota, but he took note of Lin Minghua and the other person's reactions.

Seeing that Liu Xiangqian had put it this way, he smiled and advised Zhang Huanchun, "Captain Zhang, Director Liu is being very sincere, so let's not refuse."

Thinking of his sister, Zhang Huanchun finally nodded and thanked Liu Xiangqian: "Director Liu, since you say so, we won't stand on ceremony."

After saying this, he took the envelopes and distributed them to Jia Dongming and the others according to their names. Then he said goodbye, "It's getting late, we still have to rush back to the branch office, I'll be going now."

Watched by Liu Xiangqian and the others, the group rode their bicycles away from the factory area.

Thinking about the work quota he had just received, Lin Minghua happily said to Zhang Huanchun and Jia Dongming, "Deputy Detachment Leader Zhang, Deputy Detachment Leader Jia, the textile factory is really generous, giving us four quotas at once."

Jia Dongming stepped on the foot pedal and continued, "Comrade Minghua, Director Liu just said that if we hadn't solved the case and recovered the wages in time, all of them would have been punished."

These four indicators are really nothing compared to their future prospects.

Zhang Huanchun, however, solemnly reminded him: "Comrade Dongming, although that is true, what we are doing is ultimately somewhat irregular."

This is a one-time thing; let it not happen again.

Jia Dongming didn't take it seriously and laughed, "Team Leader Zhang, didn't Director Liu also say that we don't want it? The quota will be given to the street office."

As long as you don't exchange it for money, it's not against the law.

Upon reaching the crossroads, Jia Dongming bid farewell to Zhang Huanchun and the others because the steel rolling mill was in a different direction from the branch office, and then rode towards the steel rolling mill.

Halfway there, Jia Dongming suddenly remembered the house that the system had rewarded him with—he hadn't seen it yet after completing the property deed on Gulou Street yesterday, so he turned his bike around and headed towards Gulou Street.

I had only been riding for a few minutes when a familiar figure came into view.

Jia Dongming muttered to himself, "What's going on? I keep running into Yu Li wherever I go these past few days."

Despite thinking this, he still gripped the brakes and slowly pulled over to the side of the road, calling out to Yu Li, who was carrying a backpack, "Yu Li! Where are you going? Why are you carrying such a big bag?"

Yu Li, who was about to stay with her sisters, stopped in her tracks when she heard Jia Dongming calling her.

She turned around and saw Jia Dongming standing there, leaning on his bicycle. A look of surprise crossed her face, and she walked over, asking with a puzzled expression, "Brother Dongming? What are you doing here?"

When Jia Dongming saw Yu Li ask a question and noticed the confusion in her eyes, he smiled and replied, "I'm here to take care of some things."

Where are you going?

Upon hearing his question, Yu Li immediately remembered that she and Yan Jiecheng had already separated. Her expression darkened, and she explained in a low voice, "Brother Dongming, Yan Jiecheng and I... have already divorced."

My mother is still in the hospital, and I'm worried that going back would disturb her rest, so I'm thinking of staying with my sister for a few days first.

Yesterday, when Yu Li and Yan Jiecheng argued, she mentioned separating, but Jia Dongming just thought it was something she said in the heat of the moment—these days, even if a couple is very unhappy, very few actually end up like that.

Unexpectedly, she actually did it.

Jia Dongming was shocked and blurted out, "You really divorced him? I thought you were just saying that in anger yesterday..."

Seeing the disbelief on his face, and recalling Yan Jiecheng's usual behavior, Yu Li felt disgusted and her tone turned cold: "They say that a woman marries a man for food and clothing."

I don't ask to become rich and powerful with him, but at least I should be able to eat and have a stable place to live, right? But what happened? I had to pay for everything myself, including food and lodging.

Now that my mother is sick, he, as her son-in-law, is unwilling to give her a single penny.

What's the point of keeping a man like that around?

When Jia Dongming heard her story and recalled the meeting in the courtyard yesterday, he couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for her. He gently comforted her, saying, "Since you've already made up your mind, I won't try to persuade you any further."

Where do your sisters live? I can give you a ride home.

Perhaps because they knew each other, Yu Li did not refuse. She gently replied and walked to the bicycle, whispering, "It's at the other end of Gulou Street."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming showed a hint of surprise on his face and laughed, "What a coincidence, I was just about to go to Gulou Street."

After Yu Li settled into the back seat, Jia Dongming pushed off with his foot, and the bicycle sped forward, heading towards Gulou Street.

Yu Lijing stood behind, watching Jia Dongming's straight back, her gaze gradually becoming complicated.

A vague sense of loss welled up inside her, and she sighed silently, "Why didn't I meet such a wonderful person sooner..."

About fifteen minutes later, the bicycle stopped at the entrance of an alley.

Yu Li got out of the car, remembering Jia Dongming's repeated help, and felt grateful. She sincerely said, "Brother Dongming, thank you."

"That money... I'll pay you back slowly when I'm better off."

Jia Dongming waved his hand, his expression gentle: "It was just a small thing, don't take it to heart."

"Make sure you're settled in first. If you encounter any difficulties later, feel free to come to the steel rolling mill and find me."

After saying goodbye to Yu Li, Jia Dongming got on his bike and soon arrived at the gate of the small courtyard given to him by the system.

He took the key from the system space, opened the door, and pushed his bicycle inside.

This is a courtyard house with one main house, two east and two west wing rooms, and three rear rooms, totaling more than 200 square meters.

The shops along the street were built right next to the east wing.

Since it was a gift from the system, the room was fully furnished. Jia Dongming looked around and was quite satisfied, muttering to himself, "System products are indeed worry-free."

If this courtyard were in later generations, it would probably be worth a lot of money.

On the other side, after Yu Li and Jia Dongming parted ways, she carried her bundle to the gate of another courtyard house.

She pushed open the door and called out towards the west wing, "Fangfang! Fangfang, are you home?"

Upon hearing the noise, the young woman who was pasting matchboxes inside the house quickly put down her work and ran out.

Seeing Yu Li standing in the courtyard, she went up to her and asked with concern, "Lili? What brings you here? Are you feeling any better, Auntie?"

Upon seeing that it was a close friend, Yu Li softened her expression slightly, but still looked a little embarrassed: "My mother's surgery went smoothly, and she is currently recuperating in the hospital."

This is the money I borrowed from you a few days ago. I've managed to get some money out of cash right now, so I'm paying you back.

When Fangfang saw her handing over the money, she didn't reach out to take it, but shook her head and said, "Auntie is still in the hospital and needs money right now. This money isn't urgent. We'll talk about it when your mother is discharged."

Yu Li insisted on stuffing the money into her pocket and whispered, "I have more here, you can keep it for now."

If I really don't have enough later, I'll borrow from you again.

Seeing that she insisted, Fangfang stopped refusing, put the money away, and said with a smile, "Okay, then I'll take it first."

Don't be shy, just ask if you need money.

Yu Li nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then asked softly, "Fangfang...can I stay here for a few days?"

Fangfang then noticed that she was carrying luggage and asked in surprise, "Lily, did you and Yan Jiecheng have a fight?"

Upon hearing that name, a flash of disgust crossed Yu Li's eyes, and she turned her face away, saying, "Don't mention him."

I was afraid to go home because I was afraid my mom would see how worried I was.

I was just thinking of staying here for a couple of days.

When Fangfang heard Yu Li ask for lodging, she hesitated and replied, thinking about her own family's situation, "Yu Li! It's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that my uncle recently came back from the army, and there's really no spare room at home. Why don't you go ask Xiuqing?"

Yu Li and Fangfang were close, and Yu Li knew about Fangfang's family situation. Seeing the troubled look on Fangfang's face, she realized that her request was indeed difficult for Fangfang, and replied apologetically, "Okay, then I'll go to Xiuqing's house to take a look. We'll talk again later."

After wandering around the yard for a while, Jia Dongming locked the gate, got on his bicycle, and headed towards the steel rolling mill.

"Hey? Isn't that Yu Li? Didn't she go to stay with her friends? Why is she carrying luggage on the street?"

Jia Dongming had only ridden a short distance when he saw Yu Li walking towards him.

Seeing this, Jia Dongming immediately rode his bicycle up to Yu Li and asked with some curiosity, "Yu Li, didn't you say you were going to stay at your sister's house temporarily? Why are you walking around here alone?"

Yu Li also saw Jia Dongming. When he asked her, a hint of embarrassment flashed across her face, and she explained in a low voice, "My sister's brother-in-law just came back from the army, and there's no room at home. I was just planning to go and see another sister."

Hearing Yu Li say this and seeing her flustered expression, Jia Dongming suddenly remembered the courtyard he had obtained from the system's daily check-in. He smiled and suggested, "Yu Li, get in the car, I'll take you somewhere."

Although Yu Li didn't know where Jia Dongming was going to take her, she trusted him and didn't hesitate to sit on the back of the bicycle.

Soon, Jia Dongming drove Yu Li to the gate of a courtyard house.

He parked the car, took out his keys from his pocket, unlocked the padlock on the door, then pushed the car into the yard and called back, "Yu Li, come in quickly."

When Yu Li saw Jia Dongming take out his keys to open the door, she couldn't help but feel suspicious. It wasn't until she heard him call out that she followed him into the yard, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Brother Dongming, whose house is this?"

Jia Dongming smiled and replied, "Yu Li, this courtyard is mine."

"Aren't you temporarily without a place to stay? You can stay here for a while."

Upon hearing this, Yu Li, realizing that Jia Dongming was actually the owner of the courtyard, immediately showed an expression of disbelief and asked in surprise, "Brother Dongming, are you telling the truth? This courtyard is really yours?"

Seeing Yu Li's surprised expression, Jia Dongming nodded affirmatively and explained, "This courtyard originally belonged to one of my comrades-in-arms."

After he died on the battlefield, I helped take care of his father.

His father passed away a few days ago, leaving the courtyard to me.

"I just finished the property deed procedures yesterday, and I happened to be running errands nearby today, so I stopped by to take a look at the house. I didn't expect to run into you on the way."

Since you have nowhere to go right now, why don't you stay here for the time being?

Although Fangfang suggested that Yuli try going to Xiuqing's house, Yuli knew in her heart that Xiuqing's family was also large and their living space was not spacious.

With nowhere else to go, she could only try her luck by going to Xiuqing.

At this moment, Yu Li felt a surge of warmth in her heart upon learning that Jia Dongming was willing to take her in, and she quickly said gratefully, "Brother Dongming, thank you so much!"

Jia Dongming waved his hand, took a key from his keychain, and handed it to her, saying, "Yu Li, the rooms here are fully furnished and equipped with daily necessities. You can stay in whichever room you like."

These past two days, because of her mother's illness, Yu Li has not only seen Yan Jiecheng's true colors but also experienced the coldness and warmth of human relationships.

Only Jia Dongming was like a lamp, extending a helping hand to her time and time again.