Courtyard House: A Veteran Returns Home and Becomes a Father

The fire in the Western Hills on the outskirts of Beijing burned for an entire night.

As the first rays of dawn pierced the clouds, illuminating the scorched ruins, a storm that swept through Beijing and Tianjin, unearthing countless conspiracies and crimes, finally came to an end.

Chen Qiming, the mastermind who had been hiding at the pinnacle of power for decades, finally fell in the dust of Jue Luo Prison. His insane "Return to God Plan," along with his intricate web of crimes, was uprooted by Su Mo in the most thorough and ruthless way.

Three days later, in a heavily guarded secret meeting room in the capital.

Su Mo placed a heavy nanmu wood box in front of Jiang Chao.

"It's all here." Su Mo's voice was calm and even. "The complete map of Jue Luo Prison, the 'heavenly book' that records all the data on the evil experiments of Unit 731, and the network of relationships and the list of all his cronies that Chen Qiming has built over the years, not a single one is missing."

Jiang Chao stared solemnly at the box before him. He knew that these few thin documents were worth far more than any gold or silver. They were enough to cause an unprecedented political earthquake in the country, and on the international stage, they could bring long-overdue justice to the souls who perished in the war.

"Su Mo, on behalf of the country and all the comrades who sacrificed their lives, thank you." Jiang Chao stood up and solemnly saluted Su Mo.

Su Mo accepted his bow without hesitation.

"This is my master's last wish, and it's the last thing I, as a soldier, should do." He paused, his gaze becoming clear and resolute. "Uncle Jiang, things are settled. All my files, all my military achievements, all my past... please, help me bury them all in Jue Luo Prison."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chao's body trembled, and a trace of reluctance and regret flashed in his eyes: "You... are you really sure? With your contributions, whatever you want, the country will grant it to you."

"I've made up my mind." Su Mo smiled, a smile of unprecedented ease and relief. "From now on, I don't want to be a major general anymore, nor do I want to be a hero. I just want to be an ordinary husband, a father who can watch his daughter grow up every day."

"My name is Su Mo. I am Xia Wanqing's husband and Su Nian's father. That's enough."

Looking into Su Mo's eyes, which were now devoid of any murderous intent and filled only with boundless longing for his family, Jiang Chao remained silent for a long time.

He knew that after experiencing mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and power struggles and intrigues, what this young man wanted most was nothing more than the most ordinary, mundane things in life.

Finally, Jiang Chao nodded, raised his hand again, and gave Su Mo a more standard military salute, full of respect and blessings.

"Yes, sir!"

……

One year later, in the capital, spring.

The courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang is no longer the chaotic and disorderly place it was a year ago.

The uneven ground in the courtyard has been paved with smooth blue bricks, and the messy piles of debris in the corners have been cleared away, replaced by several newly built flower beds. At this moment, the roses and forsythia in the flower beds are in full bloom, their red and yellow blossoms adding a touch of vitality and warmth to this ancient courtyard.

Those beasts of the past have either left, scattered, or been imprisoned.

After the houses of Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and others were reclaimed by the neighborhood committee, they were redistributed to several families with impeccable revolutionary credentials. These families included model workers who had rendered meritorious service in the factory and retired veterans whose families had three generations of military personnel.

The arrival of the new neighbors completely changed the atmosphere in the courtyard.

There was no more scheming, no more petty arguments. Neighbors greeted each other warmly when they met, and if one family made dumplings, they would send a bowl to the next. Children chased and played in the yard, while adults gathered under the eaves, chatting about factory news and discussing national policies. The whole yard was filled with a positive and harmonious atmosphere.

He Yuzhu is now known as "Director He" by everyone in the hospital.

He was no longer the impulsive and easily angered fool Zhu. With Su Mo's guidance and his own efforts, he not only managed the various affairs of the courtyard in an orderly manner, but also won a big prize in the factory's skills competition. He was allocated a spacious two-bedroom apartment, married a virtuous wife, and had a big, healthy baby boy last winter.

At that moment, he was holding his infant son, basking in the sun in the yard, a simple and content smile on his face. Seeing Su Mo emerge from the east courtyard, he called out enthusiastically from afar, "Brother Su, out for a stroll?"

Su Mo smiled and nodded. His relationship with He Yuzhu was no longer that of superior and subordinate; it was more like that of friends, like family.

Su Mo didn't go back to the police station to be that "gatekeeper." Instead, he used his savings to take over a small antique shop in Liulichang. He was knowledgeable and had a sharp eye for antiques. He made a living by picking up bargains and dealing in trinkets, earning some pocket money. He lived a leisurely and carefree life.

He walked to the old locust tree in the center of the courtyard, where a rocking chair he had personally crafted from Phoebe zhennan wood stood.

Xia Wanqing was sitting on a small stool next to the rocking chair, holding a knitting needle in her hand, intently knitting a sweater. Sunlight shone on her gentle profile, gilding it with a golden halo.

In the open space not far away, six-year-old Niannian, dressed in a pink princess dress, was chasing Qingtian and Zhuzi around like a happy butterfly. The two once majestic dogs were now as docile as two big cats, wagging their tails and playing along with their little master's game, occasionally letting out a cheerful bark or two.

"Daddy! Daddy, come quick! Let's play Eagle Catches Chicks together!" Niannian ran over, grabbed Su Mo's hand, and pleaded in her childish voice.

"Okay." Su Mo smiled, bent down, lifted his daughter high in the air, and spun her around a few times, making the little one giggle non-stop.

That crisp laughter, like a string of silver bells, echoed in the courtyard, carrying far, far away.

Su Mo put down his daughter and ran around with her for a while until fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead before returning to the rocking chair and sitting down.

He lay gently in the rocking chair, basking in the warm sunshine of a spring afternoon, listening to his daughter's laughter and the soft rustling of his wife knitting. An unprecedented, deep-seated tranquility and happiness enveloped him.

The smoke of battle has long since dissipated, and the bloodshed is now a thing of the past.

He finally returned to his original and final battlefield—home.

He slowly closed his eyes, and a satisfied, peaceful smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

Xia Wanqing put down the sweater in her hand, glanced at her daughter and dog rolling around on the grass, and then at her husband who seemed to be asleep in the rocking chair. Her eyes were filled with tenderness and love.

She gently rested her head on her husband's shoulder.

The years are quiet and the world is stable.

This is probably the most beautiful thing in the world.

The sun shines brightly, and the breeze is gentle. We are both here.