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

Inside the Jia family's house.

The swelling on Jia Zhangshi's face had subsided, but the resentment in her triangular eyes had grown even stronger.

She pressed her face against the glass, staring at the increasingly bright and spacious windows of the Lin family's house, cursing wildly: "He's utterly heartless! Corrupt! Where did he, a soldier, get so much money to renovate his house? He must have embezzled public funds from the factory! Why doesn't God send lightning to strike this little beast dead!"

Jia Dongxu sneered from the side, "Mom, stop being a sour grapes. He's the Party Secretary; he calls the shots in the whole factory. If you're so capable, why don't you go report him to the factory? Let's see if the security department arrests him or you!"

Speechless after being rebuked by her son, Jia Zhangshi sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed) in anger and wiped away her tears.

Meanwhile, Sha Zhu in the backyard was watching with great interest.

Holding a lunchbox, he ate the leftovers while saying to He Yushui beside him, "Yushui, see that? That's what you call the style of a high-ranking official! Secretary Lin handled this matter with great care! If our family ever gets rich, I'll install a whole house of large windows for you!"

He Yushui looked in the direction of the Lin family's house with envy and whispered, "Brother, do you think Uncle Lin's house is so nicely decorated? Is he going to get a new wife?"

……

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

With the steel mill's construction team working day and night, the Lin family's main house and east wing underwent a complete transformation.

After the construction team left and Xiao Li cleaned the house, everyone in the courtyard would stop and crane their necks to look inside whenever they passed by the central courtyard.

So grand! So luxurious!

The snow-white walls were spotless, the blue bricks on the floor had been polished and even covered with a thick red moisture-proof carpet.

The most eye-catching feature is the row of large, bright glass windows. Sunlight streams into the room without obstruction, illuminating it as bright as day.

The room was furnished with a set of newly crafted furniture made of fine red pine wood, including a wardrobe, an eight-immortal table, a grand master chair, and even a large bed with exquisite carvings.

In an era when every household used kerosene lamps, Lin Yang even used his privileges to have an electrician run an electrical wire in his house and install a bright incandescent light bulb!

This isn't a single-story house in a traditional courtyard house; it's practically a small villa for high-ranking officials!

Lin Fan stood in the newly renovated east wing, touching the new bed that exuded the scent of wood, so excited that he was at a loss for words.

"Yangzi, this...this is too much of a waste. I don't even feel at ease staying here." Lin Fan's eyes reddened with emotion.

Lin Yang chuckled and patted his shoulder: "Brother, Qiu Nan is coming to visit tomorrow. We're doing this to attract the phoenix to the nest. With this new home, don't you feel even more confident?"

Lin Fan nodded vigorously, his chest puffed out.

It was evening.

Lin Yang called He Daqing to the main room.

"Old He, my future sister-in-law is coming to our house for a formal visit tomorrow at noon. This meal is in your hands." Lin Yang handed He Daqing a Daqianmen cigarette.

He Daqing accepted the cigarette with both hands, nodding excitedly, "Secretary Lin, don't worry! This is a major event in Brother Lin's life, and even if I have to use all my skills, I'll make sure this meal is a complete success!"

Lin Yang pointed towards the kitchen: "I've had Xiao Li prepare all the ingredients. A five-pound fat duck, a ten-pound grass carp, five pounds of top-quality pork belly, as well as sea cucumber and dried scallops. If you're missing any seasonings, just ask Xiao Li to get them from the supply and marketing cooperative."

He Daqing's mouth watered as he listened to the names of the ingredients. This was even more lavish than the banquets he used to prepare for high-ranking officials at the Tan Family Restaurant!

"Alright! Just you wait and see!"

The next morning.

The winter sun was unusually bright.

He Daqing set up a temporary stove in the courtyard early in the morning. Finding the kitchen cramped, he decided to start cooking up a storm in the yard.

On the cutting board, the huge grass carp was still jumping around, and the piece of red and white pork belly gleamed with an enticing sheen.

He Daqing, wearing an apron and holding a sharp kitchen knife, deftly processed the ingredients.

"Click click click!"

The cleaver danced on the cutting board, making a crisp, rhythmic sound.

Soon, lard began to render in the pot, and the strong, domineering aroma of meat instantly swept through the entire courtyard like a tornado.

In an era when even cornmeal had to be eaten sparingly, the pure aroma of oil was a double torment to the senses and mind of everyone in the hospital.

Yan Bugui, who was drinking bland vegetable soup in the front yard, was so engrossed in the aroma that he could barely hold his chopsticks.

"That He Daqing, what a scoundrel! He starts stewing meat so early in the morning, how can anyone live like this!" Yan Bugui cursed jealously, swallowing hard.

Inside the courtyard, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong could no longer bear the torment and pushed open the door to come out.

Looking at He Daqing's ruddy face and sycophantic demeanor, they could no longer suppress their sourness and anger.

"Hey, He Daqing, you're really doing a great job as a cook."

Yi Zhonghai walked over with his hands behind his back, his tone full of sarcasm and mockery.

"I've never seen you this diligent before. What, now that Lin Yang is an official, you're rushing to be his lackey? Aren't you afraid of disgracing your He family ancestors!"

Liu Haizhong chimed in, his pregnant belly protruding as he sneered, "Exactly! You're supposed to be the head chef in the factory canteen, yet you're working as a maid in this yard, sacrificing all your dignity for a meager scrap?"

The two of them vented all the anger they had suffered at Lin Yang's hands on He Daqing. In their eyes, He Daqing's behavior of currying favor with the powerful was the greatest betrayal of them, his former "bosses in charge."

He Daqing was stirring the pork belly in the pan with a spatula.

Hearing the two men's mockery, he not only didn't get angry, but stopped what he was doing, sneered, and turned around.

Who is He Daqing? He's a seasoned veteran who grew up in the alleyways. When it comes to arguing, even ten Yi Zhonghais tied together wouldn't be a match for him!

"Oh my goodness, who do we have here spewing nonsense? It's just that old man who wet his pants because he was so scared of Commander Li, and that second old man who's kneeling on the ground begging for mercy!"

He Daqing's words were like a dagger to their heads, loud enough for the entire hospital to hear.

Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong's faces instantly turned a deep shade of liver. Yi Zhonghai pointed at He Daqing, trembling with rage: "You... what nonsense are you spouting!"

"Am I talking nonsense?"

He Daqing, holding a spatula dripping with oil, stepped forward and pointed menacingly at the two men.

"I, He Daqing, earn my living with my skills. Cooking a meal for Secretary Lin is a sign of the leader's respect! I'm serving a national hero, and I'm honored!"