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

"Li Yunlong! Stop flattering yourself! Lin Yang is a soldier of our Fourth Field Army! He's the sharpest blade in our Fourth Field Army! He's only here to give you face! Don't act like he's the soldier you trained!" Commander Liu shouted, his tone full of pride and protectiveness towards Lin Yang.

Sitting next to Commander Liu, Division Commander Zhang (Lin Yang's former direct division commander, now deputy army commander) chimed in, "Exactly! Back in the battle of Ping'an County, if it weren't for our Lin Yang leading the assault platoon to tear a gap in your defenses, you, Old Li, would still be visiting Comrade Xiuqin's grave right now!"

Li Yunlong, his weakness exposed, blushed and retorted defiantly, "Bullshit! What I did was strategic containment! Besides, Yangzi is now a demobilized soldier in Beijing, he's my brother! It's only right that I treat him to drinks!"

"Alright, alright, stop arguing."

A bespectacled, refined-looking cadre in a Zhongshan suit stood up. He was Zhao Gang, the former political commissar of an independent regiment, now holding an important position in a national ministry.

Zhao Gang smiled and tried to smooth things over: "Old Li, Commander Liu, please stop arguing. Comrade Lin Yang is not only a combat hero, but also a pillar of the nation. His presence today is a joyous occasion for everyone."

Just as these generals, who could shake half of China with a stomp of their feet, were arguing heatedly over Lin Yang.

Suddenly, a guard's loud announcement came from outside the door!

"Report! Comrade Lin Yang, former deputy division commander of the Fourth Field Army and current Party Secretary of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, has arrived with his family!"

Swish!

The entire banquet hall fell silent instantly.

All eyes turned to the two heavy mahogany doors of the banquet hall.

"Squeak—"

The door was slowly pushed open.

Lin Yang, dressed in a crisp military uniform, his medals gleaming under the lights, stood tall and straight, like a vigorous pine tree, and strode into the banquet hall with steady and powerful steps.

Tian Yu held his left arm, while Lin Fan followed closely on his right.

When Lin Fan saw the room full of officers dressed in general's uniforms, their powerful aura almost suffocating, he almost stopped breathing.

He felt as if he had stepped into a pantheon that only existed in myths and legends!

After a brief silence, the banquet hall erupted in a deafening cheer!

"Yoko!"

Li Yunlong was the first to rush forward, like a charging black bear, spreading his arms wide and giving Lin Yang a fierce bear hug.

The force was so great that it seemed to break Lin Yang's bones.

"You little bastard! You've finally come! I thought you'd forgotten about us old bones after you became a big local official!" Li Yunlong's eyes were red as he punched Lin Yang hard on the back twice.

Lin Yang hugged Li Yunlong tightly, laughing heartily, "Old Li, even if you become a marshal, you'll still be me, Old Li! How could I not drink your wine?"

"Get out of the way, Li Yunlong! Don't occupy our Fourth Field Army's troops!"

Commander Liu shoved Li Yunlong aside and strode up to Lin Yang.

This usually stern and unsmiling commander of the Iron-Blooded Corps had tears welling up in his eyes as he looked at his beloved general whom he had personally promoted.

"Greetings, Commander!" Lin Yang stood at attention and gave Commander Liu a standard and solemn military salute.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Commander Liu uttered three "good"s in succession, his hands trembling as he lifted Lin Yang's arm, looking him up and down, his voice slightly choked with emotion: "It's good that you're alive! You haven't disgraced our Fourth Field Army! Even in civilian life, you'll still be a hero!"

Division Commander Zhang rushed over and hugged Lin Yang tightly: "You little rascal, you haven't even come back to visit your old unit after you've been demobilized! Everyone's missed you terribly!"

Ding Wei, Kong Jie, Zhao Gang, and others also gathered around.

In this hall, there are no ranks, no distinctions between local and military personnel. Only bonds forged in the fires of battle, only brothers-in-arms to whom one can entrust their back!

Watching these usually imposing generals now acting like children, laughing and scolding their younger brother.

Lin Fan, standing to the side, silently shed tears.

He finally understood where his brother's invincible confidence came from.

Just then, Li Yunlong noticed the uneasy Lin Fan.

He grabbed Lin Fan and shouted at all the bigwigs in the room.

"Fellow veterans! Quiet down!"

Li Yunlong pushed Lin Fan in front of the crowd and loudly announced, "This is Lin Yang's older brother, Lin Fan!"

"Yangzi saved my life, so Lin Fan is like my own brother! From now on, Brother Lin will be an honored guest in our entire compound!"

Commander Liu stepped forward, patted Lin Fan on the shoulder, and said solemnly, "Brother Lin, Yangzi has shed blood and made great contributions in our Fourth Field Army. You are his family, and therefore family to all the brothers in our Fourth Field Army! If you encounter any difficulties in Beijing in the future, come to me!"

Ding Wei, Kong Jie, and others also stepped forward and warmly shook hands with Lin Fan.

Lin Fan felt the warmth emanating from those calloused hands, and felt the heartfelt respect from these founding generals.

At this moment, the heart that had been timid for ten years was completely ignited by this scalding passion!

He is no longer the childless man who was bullied in the courtyard; he is the elder brother of the war hero Lin Yang!

They are brothers recognized by these iron-blooded generals!

Lin Fan straightened his back, his eyes shining with an unprecedented light, and picked up a bowl of strong liquor from the table.

"Commenders! I, Lin Fan, am a rough man and not good with words!"

But today, on behalf of my brother, I raise a glass to everyone! May our country prosper and flourish! May all our leaders enjoy boundless happiness and good fortune!

After saying that, Lin Fan tilted his head back and drank the bowl of spicy liquor in one gulp!

"Great! That felt good!"

"Brother Lin has a great capacity for alcohol!"

Thunderous cheers erupted in the banquet hall.

On this night filled with both fierce battles and tender emotions, Lin Fan was also incredibly excited about his destiny.

With the powerful return of his younger brother Lin Yang, he has embarked on a glorious and prosperous path.

·····

The atmosphere in the banquet hall reached its peak as bowls of spicy, specially supplied Moutai were consumed.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, these founding generals, who had killed countless people on the battlefield and commanded thousands of troops, all shed their general's majesty at this moment. They were like a group of old farmers who had been separated for a long time, shouting and red-necked, freely expressing their excitement.

Commander Liu, his face flushed from drinking, ripped open two buttons on his collar and slammed the rough porcelain wine bowl heavily onto the table.

"Old Li, Old Li, all you were bragging about was how Yangzi saved your wife in Ping'an County. That's nothing! That happened after he became a company commander and gained more skills!"