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

Everyone in the courtyard gathered at the main gate, stunned into silence by the astonishing spectacle and the mountain of supplies.

Liu Haizhong, with his large belly protruding, stared intently at the half-eaten pork, his mouth practically watering. He usually loved to speak in official jargon, but now he stammered, "Old Yi, this...this high-ranking official, where did this come from? What's he doing in our compound?"

Yi Zhonghai frowned, a hint of unease flashing in his eyes. He had always prided himself on having absolute power in the courtyard, but he felt quite insecure in front of officials of this rank.

"I don't know, let's wait and see. Everyone, please don't say anything out of turn," Yi Zhonghai warned everyone in a low voice.

Two guards, each carrying a bag of flour and a piece of meat and canned goods, followed behind Lin Yang and Tian Yu as they strode into the courtyard house.

Ignoring the shocked, greedy, and awe-inspiring gazes around him, Lin Yang walked straight toward the central courtyard.

As soon as Lin Yang entered the Intermediate Court, a sharp string of curses pierced his ears.

"Lin Fan! You heartless bastard! Your brother ran off with all your family's money back then, making all the money our Jia family lent you go down the drain! Now you're living in the back room of our Jia family, and you're supposed to pay us five yuan in rent every month! If you can't come up with the money today, I'll throw your bedding roll out onto the street!"

In a cramped corner of the Intermediate People's Court.

A man dressed in patched clothes, with a haggard face, who looked to be in his thirties but was actually only in his early twenties, was bowing his head and letting an old woman who was as fat as a ball of flesh point at his nose and spit on him.

This man is none other than Lin Yang's older brother, Lin Fan!

The old woman with her hands on her hips and a fierce face was none other than Jia Zhangshi.

Lin Fan's hands were red with cold as he washed a tattered cotton-padded coat. His voice was hoarse as he pleaded, "Aunt Jia, the factory gave me some work injury compensation this month, and I still need to buy medicine. Next month, I promise I'll pay the rent. Also, that outbuilding… it wasn't originally my house…"

"Pah!" Madam Jia spat a mouthful of phlegm at Lin Fan's feet, her triangular eyes filled with malice. "What do you mean, 'your house' or 'my house'? Uncle was sentenced a long time ago, that house belongs to the Jia family! You're a childless man, you can't even get a wife, and your ungrateful brother died out there long ago, what are you still doing occupying the house?"

Madam Jia was engrossed in her tirade, completely unaware that the atmosphere in the courtyard had become utterly tense.

Yi Zhonghai stood at the back of the crowd, his face turning deathly pale. He wanted to speak up to stop Jia Zhangshi, but it was too late.

Because Lin Yang stopped in his tracks.

His gaze at that moment was as cold as the Siberian wind.

He looked at his elder brother, who was subservient and worn down by life, and at the main house that originally belonged to the Lin family, which now had the curtains of the Jia family hanging on it.

An uncontrollable rage exploded in Lin Yang's chest!

"Xiao Li." Lin Yang's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling, murderous aura.

"Here!" The guard put down the flour in his hand and immediately stood at attention.

"Go, shut that old hag up. If she dares to say another word, knock her teeth out."

"yes!"

Without the slightest hesitation, guard Xiao Li strode towards Jia Zhangshi. His battlefield-hardened killing intent was instantly unleashed.

As Jia Zhangshi was hurling insults, spittle flying everywhere, she suddenly saw a burly man in military uniform with fierce eyes walking towards her. Startled, she took two steps back and shouted, her voice trembling with fear, "You... what do you want? Let me tell you, this is a society governed by law! Sir, sir, please do something about this!"

Xiao Li walked up to Jia Zhangshi, and without saying a word, raised his hand.

"Snapped!"

A crisp, loud slap landed hard on Jia Zhangshi's fat face.

The slap was so powerful that it sent Jia Zhangshi spinning halfway around before she fell to the ground with a thud, blood instantly spilling from the corner of her mouth and spitting out two bloody molars.

The entire courtyard was deathly silent.

Everyone stared wide-eyed and gasped.

This is Jia Zhangshi! The notorious shrew of the courtyard; anyone who crosses her is doomed. Today, she was slapped in public, and slapped so hard!

Yi Zhonghai panicked and quickly stepped forward, suppressing his fear, and said with a forced smile, "Comrade, how can you hit someone like that? Can't we talk things out?"

Lin Yang didn't even glance at Yi Zhonghai.

He slowly walked toward the man who was standing frozen in front of the basin, his face filled with disbelief.

Lin Yang's eyes reddened.

It's been ten years.

When he left, his older brother Lin Fan was still a spirited young man. He was beaten bloody by street thugs while protecting him.

Now, the eldest brother, who is only in his twenties, already has white hair and a hunched back, looking like a little old man.

Lin Yang walked up to Lin Fan, his voice trembling slightly, but he uttered those two words with absolute clarity:

"elder brother."

Lin Fan shuddered, and the tattered cotton-padded coat in his hand fell into the icy basin of water, splashing up a spray of water.

He stared blankly at the tall, imposing young man before him, his lips trembling violently as he looked at those familiar features.

"You...you are...Yangzi?" Lin Fan's voice was hoarse and tears welled up in his eyes instantly.

"It's me, brother, I'm back." Lin Yang hugged Lin Fan tightly, holding his only blood relative in the world.

"Yoko! It really is you! You're not dead...you're not dead!"

Lin Fan burst into tears, clutching Lin Yang's clothes tightly with both hands, as if afraid that if he let go, everything before him would vanish.

Ten years of grievances and ten years of longing erupted completely at this moment.

The beasts around them were stunned, as if struck by lightning.

Yi Zhonghai stood there, stunned, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

Liu Haizhong's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

Yan Bugui was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, praying to every god and Buddha in the heavens.

This high-ranking official returned with bodyguards, in a jeep, and carrying half a pig...

It turns out to be Lin Yang, the second son of the Lin family who stole the gold bars and ran away back then?!

Jia Zhangshi covered her swollen face, originally wanting to throw a tantrum, but upon hearing Lin Fan call out "Yangzi,"

Then look at the two guards standing behind Lin Yang, their eyes filled with murderous intent.

She was so frightened that she swallowed her cries back, her whole body trembling like a leaf.

Lin Yang gently patted his older brother's back, let go, and turned around.

He took Tian Yu's hand and said gently, "Brother, this is your sister-in-law, Tian Yu."

Tian Yu bowed gracefully and generously: "Brother, Yangzi often mentions you to me."

Lin Fan awkwardly wiped his hands on his clothes, nodding excitedly, "Good, good, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back..."