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

Tian Yu came out of the inner room, greeted Ding Qiunan with a big smile, and grabbed her hand.

The two were best friends when they were in the field hospital, and now that they have been separated for a long time, they are naturally very affectionate.

"Sister Tian Yu, you're the wife of a high-ranking official now, yet you're still so energetic," Ding Qiunan said, making a rare joke.

The four of them sat down at the octagonal table. Tian Yu served steaming hot tea and delicate pastries.

Lin Yang sat to the side, drinking tea while observing Ding Qiunan discreetly.

He was observing not only the girl's appearance, but also her speech, personality, and attitude towards her older brother.

During the conversation, Lin Yang deliberately brought up several topics related to the current situation and factory construction.

To his surprise and satisfaction, Ding Qiunan, though a doctor, possessed extraordinary insight. She lacked the petty calculations of a small-town person, and she also lacked the vain, opportunistic nature of Bai Ling from the performing arts troupe who fawned over the powerful.

She speaks clearly and logically, with unique perspectives, and even offers her own insights when discussing the development of the country's heavy industry.

"Qiu Nan, my brother is a man of few words, but honest. He's suffered a lot in the courtyard house these past ten years." Lin Yang put down his teacup, his tone becoming serious. "But he has one good point: he's stubborn and responsible. Once he's made up his mind about something, nothing can change it."

Ding Qiunan turned her head and glanced at Lin Fan, who was sitting next to her, looking at her with tender eyes.

A gentle blush appeared on her cool and aloof face.

"Lin Yang, Sister Tian Yu, I know what you're worried about."

Ding Qiunan's gaze became very firm as she looked directly into Lin Yang's eyes.

"My family background is problematic; my father was a Western-trained doctor who used to run a private clinic. In the factory, many people avoided me because of this. But Lin Fan didn't."

Ding Qiunan took a deep breath, her voice, though not loud, conveyed a sense of determination.

"He didn't look down on me at all. Instead, he told me that anyone who sincerely contributes to the country is a good comrade. He promised that even if the sky were to fall, he would protect me."

Ding Qiunan grasped Lin Fan's calloused hands, a slight smile playing on her lips: "What I, Ding Qiunan, value is not wealth or high office. What I value is a man who can live a down-to-earth life and stand in front of me when I'm wronged."

"Lin Fan, he's that man."

This statement directly revealed Ding Qiunan's attitude.

Lin Fan trembled with excitement, tightly grasping Ding Qiunan's hand in return, his eyes welling up with tears. He felt that all the suffering he had endured in his life had been worthwhile at this moment!

"good!"

Lin Yang slammed his hand on the table, a hearty laugh spreading across his face.

"Qiu Nan, I'm relieved to hear you say that! From today onwards, you are the Lin family's future sister-in-law! If anyone dares to make things difficult for you because of your family background, I, Lin Yang, will be the first to object!"

Tian Yu was so happy she kept wiping away tears: "That's wonderful! Big brother, Qiu Nan, you two must take good care of yourselves!"

Before long, He Daqing and Shazhu came in carrying steaming hot food.

Braised chicken, braised sea cucumber with scallions, stir-fried double crispy... a table full of top-quality dishes, the aroma of which fills the air.

The family sat around the table, toasting and laughing.

After lunch, Lin Fan pushed his bicycle and took Ding Qiunan back to the machine repair shop.

Watching the two figures walk away side by side, Lin Yang stood at the door and lit a Daqianmen cigarette.

"Yangzi, Qiu Nan is a really good girl." Tian Yu walked over and took her husband's arm. "Big brother has really found a gem this time."

Lin Yang exhaled a puff of pale blue smoke and nodded: "Yes. He has a resilient character, is well-educated and reasonable, and is neither arrogant nor humble. My brother has finally made it through the past ten years of hardship."

……

Ding Qiunan's visit stirred up a protracted storm in the courtyard of No. 95 Nanluoguxiang.

In the following days, the whole courtyard was abuzz with discussion about this matter.

Inside Yi Zhonghai's house.

An older woman sighed as she sewed shoe soles, saying, "Old Yi, what incredible luck Lin Fan had! He found a girlfriend who's like a fairy from a painting, and Lin Yang even renovated the house. We'll never be able to hold our heads up in this yard again."

Yi Zhonghai sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), puffing on his pipe, his face so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

"Luck? That's because he has a good younger brother!" Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth. "We can only endure it for now. Once this storm passes, let's see how long Lin Yang can be so smug at the steel rolling mill!"

From Liu Haizhong's home, sounds of beatings and cursing could be heard incessantly.

Whenever Liu Haizhong thinks of Lin Fan's new bicycle and his beautiful wife, he can't suppress his anger and often takes it out on his two sons.

"I'll beat you two pieces of trash to death! How could I have given birth to such useless bastards! You're not even as good as Lin Fan!"

However, the He family's backyard presented a completely different scene.

Sha Zhu lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), crossed his legs, and hummed a little tune.

"Rain, you have no idea. Today at Chief Lin's house, the food smelled so good, I've never smelled anything like it in my entire life! Chief Lin's aura, just sitting there, is like a great general on a theatrical stage!"

Sha Zhu said with a face full of admiration, "From now on, I'll follow Chief Lin! As long as Chief Lin says the word, I'll go through fire and water without batting an eye!"

……

Time flies like an arrow.

In the blink of an eye, a month has passed.

The city of Beijing has entered the depths of winter, with heavy snowfall transforming the entire city into a silver-white wonderland.

In the past month, under Lin Yang's iron-fisted management, the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill has undergone tremendous changes.

The corrupt elements of Li Huaide's faction have been completely purged, leading to a significant increase in production efficiency. The huge sum of money donated by Lou Zhenhua, through Lin Yang's connections in the military, has successfully secured a batch of state-of-the-art rolling mill machines from the Soviet Union, which are expected to arrive next spring.

Lin Yang's prestige reached its peak in the factory with tens of thousands of employees. He was no longer the fearsome young killing god, but the most solid support in the hearts of all the factory workers.

At the national level, the situation on the Korean Peninsula is becoming increasingly tense, and the task of military production is becoming increasingly heavy. Lin Yang, as a key cadre with a strong military background, has attracted the attention of higher-level leaders due to his achievements and abilities.

That afternoon.

Lin Yang was in his office reviewing a top-secret document about the construction of a new recoilless rifle production line.

Suddenly, the office door was flung open.

"Hahaha! Yangzi! I've come to congratulate you!"

Accompanied by that familiar booming voice, Li Yunlong, dressed in an officer's overcoat with snowflakes covering his shoulders, strode in.

Lin Yang put down the documents, smiled, and stood up to greet him: "Old Li, what joyous occasion in this snowy weather warrants your personal trip, Commander Li?"

Li Yunlong walked to the stove, took off his overcoat, vigorously patted the snowflakes off his body, and mysteriously approached Lin Yang.

"Yoko, you're moving house!"