Courtyard House: From Deputy Division Commander to Civilian, Progressing All the Way

He Daqing rubbed his hands together, standing to the side, his face crinkling with smiles: "Secretary Lin, please enjoy your meal. I'll head back now. If you'd like anything to eat in the future, just let me know, and I'll be there whenever you call!"

"Wait a minute." Lin Yang put down his chopsticks and called out to He Daqing, who was about to leave.

He turned and called out to the inner room, "Xiao Li, go and get some of the supplies we brought back."

The guard, Xiao Li, came out in response, carrying a heavy cloth bag and two cans of Soviet-made beef, which he stuffed directly into He Daqing's arms.

"Old He, I won't eat your food for nothing. This bag contains twenty catties of high-gluten flour, and you can take these two cans of beef back with you to improve the children's diet." Lin Yang's tone was calm, but it exuded an unyielding authority.

He Daqing felt the heavy weight in his arms, and his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

Twenty pounds of high-gluten flour! And Soviet-style canned meat!

In this day and age, when you need ration coupons to buy anything and even coarse grains are hard to come by, this is a huge sum of money! He spent less than two yuan on fish and chicken today, but the things Lin Yang gave him casually could not be bought for ten yuan on the black market!

"Oh! Secretary Lin! This...this is too precious, I can't accept it!" Although He Daqing was drooling with envy, he still pretended to refuse.

"Take it." Lin Yang picked up his rice bowl. "I, Lin Yang, never mistreat those who work for me. As long as you behave yourself, you'll be rewarded in the future. But if I find out you're using my name to do whatever you want, you know the consequences."

"Yes, yes, I understand! Thank you, Secretary Lin! Thank you, Chief Lin!"

He Daqing was so moved that tears almost welled up in his eyes. He bowed repeatedly, clutching the pile of food like a thief, afraid that someone would snatch it away, and ran all the way back to his home in the Central Court.

The atmosphere inside the He family's house was somewhat quiet at this moment.

Seventeen-year-old He Yuzhu (Silly Zhu) was sitting in front of the stove chopping firewood, while fourteen-year-old He Yushui was lying on the dilapidated table, her stomach growling with hunger, her face sallow.

"Brother, I'm hungry..." He Yushui looked timidly at Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu sighed, put down his axe, and took out a bowl of cornmeal porridge from the pot, so thin you could see your reflection in it: "Yu Shui, have some porridge to fill your stomach first, then there will be something to eat when Dad comes back."

Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open.

He Daqing rushed in, his face flushed, and slammed the door shut behind him.

"Dad, what are you doing? Are you feeling guilty?" Sha Zhu asked, looking at the cloth bag his father was holding.

He Daqing put the cloth bag on the table and untied the rope.

"Whoosh—"

The snow-white, fine wheat flour was revealed, emitting an enticing aroma in the dimly lit room. Immediately afterward, two cans of beef, printed with Russian writing, were slammed heavily onto the table.

Sha Zhu and He Yushui were both stunned.

"This... Dad, you've struck it rich?!" Sha Zhu stared wide-eyed, touching the shiny white flour in disbelief.

He Yushui stared intently at the two tin cans, unconsciously swallowing a large mouthful of saliva.

"What fortune! This is a gift from Secretary Lin!" He Daqing proudly raised his chin and embellished the story of what had just happened at the Lin family's house.

"Zhu Zi, Yu Shui, listen up!" He Daqing lowered his voice, his tone more serious than ever before.

"This courtyard has changed! Before, that old fox Yi Zhonghai held absolute power in the courtyard, spouting righteousness and morality all day long, but in reality, he was ruthless and vicious. But now, Secretary Lin is back! He's a true dragon soaring in the sky! From now on, our He family will follow Secretary Lin wholeheartedly! Do you hear me?"

Sha Zhu recalled the domineering scene a few days ago when Lin Yang had just returned to the courtyard, with the two guards pointing their guns at Jia Zhangshi, and his blood began to boil.

He naturally admired strong people, especially great heroes like Lin Yang who had been on the battlefield and were decisive in killing.

"Dad, don't worry! Secretary Lin is a real man! And he's so generous, giving our family so many good things. From now on, if the Lin family has any dirty or hard work, I, Shazhu, will take care of it all!" Shazhu patted his chest and promised.

He Daqing nodded in satisfaction, picked up the can opener, and laboriously pried open a can of beef.

A rich aroma of meat instantly filled the entire room. It was the pure fragrance of beef and its fat.

He Daqing used his chopsticks to pick up a large piece of beef covered in solidified grease and stuffed it directly into He Yushui's mouth.

"Waaah..."

He Yushui held the piece of meat in her mouth, and tears instantly streamed down her face. She had never eaten such pure, fragrant meat in her entire life, not even during the Lunar New Year!

"Daddy, it's delicious...it's so delicious..." the little girl cried as she chewed.

Looking at his sister's appearance, Sha Zhu felt a pang of sorrow, and at the same time, his gratitude towards Lin Yang was deeply etched into his bones.

"Alright, stop crying. Dad will make you all some pure white dumplings today! Let's celebrate the New Year together!" He Daqing said with great enthusiasm, rolling up his sleeves.

The He family was filled with long-lost joy and laughter thanks to Lin Yang's reward.

Meanwhile, in an independent military compound more than ten kilometers away from Nanluoguxiang.

A middle-aged soldier, dressed in a general's uniform, with a burly build and a full beard, paced anxiously back and forth in the spacious office with his hands behind his back.

This man is none other than the renowned general who has fought countless battles throughout the army, and now the army commander—Li Yunlong!

"Damn it! Life in Beijing is so dull it's unbearable!"

Li Yunlong slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups on it clang loudly.

"Back in northwestern Shanxi, there was fighting every day. Even if we were eating tree bark and grass roots, we felt good! Now, all we do is attend meetings and read documents. My bones are practically rusting!"

Standing to the side, the guard captain, Wei Heshang (Wei Dayong), stood ramrod straight, grinning.

"Commander, you should be content. The whole country is liberated now, and peace reigns. If you're really bored, why don't you come to the training ground and spar with me?"

Monk Wei touched his bald head. Back in Black Cloud Village, if Lin Yang hadn't led the assault platoon to take a shortcut and shot the bandit leader who tried to snipe him, Wei Dayong would have been a headless corpse long ago.

Therefore, in Wei Heshang's heart, besides his old commander Li Yunlong, the person he admired and was most grateful to was Lin Yang.

Li Yunlong glared at Wei Heshang: "Spar with you? You little brat, you're really going all out now. My old bones can't take your abuse."

Just then, the office door was pushed open.

Xiuqin walked in, dressed in a neat military uniform, holding a freshly mended sweater in her hand.

"Old Li, what are you complaining about now?" Xiuqin rolled her eyes at him and put the sweater on the sofa.