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

"Move over here?" Lin Fan was stunned.

"Yes. You're all alone in the courtyard house. Although no one dares to mess with you now, that place is still a mixed bag, with all sorts of strange and shady characters. If you move here, your safety will be absolutely guaranteed. Besides, the coldest time of winter is coming soon, and the heating here will be good for your leg injury recovery." Lin Yang was genuinely thinking of his older brother.

However, Lin Fan remained silent for a moment after listening.

He picked up his teacup, gently blew on the floating tea leaves, took a sip, and then shook his head.

"Yangzi, I appreciate your kind intentions. But I can't move in."

Lin Fan put down his teacup, looked at Lin Yang, and his eyes revealed a calm and firmness that came from experiencing the vicissitudes of life.

"Why?" Lin Yang asked, puzzled. "Don't you still miss that dilapidated courtyard house?"

"It's not that I'm reluctant to part with it." Lin Fan smiled, a hint of satisfaction in his smile. "Yangzi, the main room you saved for me is already so beautifully decorated. That's my and Qiu Nan's future new home."

When Ding Qiunan was mentioned, Lin Fan's eyes softened considerably.

"Qiu Nan is a good girl. She doesn't care whether I have money or where I live. We planned our future life in that room, where to put the table, where to put the cradle, we had it all figured out."

Lin Fan slapped his thigh: "Besides, although the compound is nice, there are too many rules. You have to check your ID to get in and out. I'm just a quality inspector in a warehouse. Living here, seeing those generals and high-ranking officials every day, makes me feel uneasy. The down-to-earth atmosphere of a traditional courtyard house suits me much better."

"And there's one more crucial point."

Lin Fan looked at his younger brother, his tone becoming serious.

"That's our Lin family's old house. Your parents got married there, and you were born there too. Now that your status is different, you can't go back often. I have to protect that root for you."

Hearing his elder brother's simple yet heartfelt words, Lin Yang fell silent.

Looking at Lin Fan's face, which was no longer timid but still maintained its integrity, a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

Yes, everyone has their own way of life. The high walls of the compound, while blocking out the wind and rain, also isolate people from the warmth of human connection. For someone like my brother, a stable job, a loving wife, and a house of his own are already the greatest happiness.

"Okay." Lin Yang nodded, not pressing the matter further. "Since you've made up your mind, I respect your choice. However, if you're free this weekend, you must bring Qiu Nan over for meals often."

"Absolutely!" Lin Fan laughed heartily.

Just as the two brothers were having a pleasant conversation...

Suddenly, a loud banging came from outside the door.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Yangzi! Open the door! I know you're home! Open the door now!"

Who else could have such a deafeningly loud voice but Li Yunlong?

Lin Yang gave a helpless bitter smile, stood up, walked over, and opened the door.

Li Yunlong, dressed in a general's overcoat and carrying two unopened bottles of specially supplied Moutai, strode in.

Following behind him were Zhao Gang, Ding Wei, and Kong Jie.

The Northwest Iron Triangle, plus a refined political commissar, is a lineup that would strike fear into the hearts of the enemy on any battlefield.

"Old Li, you still can't shake this habit of banging on doors even now that you're in the compound. If you break this door, you'll have to pay for it," Lin Yang joked with a smile.

"Pay my ass! I'm doing you a favor by coming to warm your pot!" Li Yunlong put two bottles of Moutai on the coffee table, glanced around, and saw Lin Fan sitting on the sofa.

"Hey! Brother Lin is here too! Perfect timing, let's have a good drink together today!" Li Yunlong walked over enthusiastically and grabbed Lin Fan's hand.

Lin Fan quickly stood up. Although he was still a little reserved, he was no longer as scared as he was when he first met Li Yunlong in the courtyard.

"Commander Li, Political Commissar Zhao, Commander Ding, Commander Kong. Hello." Lin Fan greeted them one by one.

Zhao Gang adjusted his glasses and smiled gently, "Brother Lin, please sit down. There are no superiors here today, only comrades and brothers. Once you're in the compound, you're at home."

Ding Wei took off his coat, his shrewd eyes scanning the room. He clicked his tongue in amazement: "Yangzi, you've decorated this room quite well. It's much better than Old Li's doghouse. Old Li's room is just empty bottles and tattered maps; there's not even a place to put your feet down."

"Ding Wei! Stop talking nonsense! That's what a soldier does!" Li Yunlong immediately retorted, glaring at him.

Kong Jie, puffing on his pipe, added, "Old Li, you have to admit, your sister-in-law's housekeeping skills are definitely better than Xiuqin's. Xiuqin these days, all she does is practice knives and guns all day."

"Hahaha!"

A burst of hearty laughter erupted from inside the room.

Tian Yu hurried to the kitchen to prepare snacks to go with the drinks, while Lin Yang sat in the living room with his old comrades.

After a few cups of Moutai, the atmosphere quickly became lively.

They talked about the war years, the current situation on the peninsula, and some interesting things that happened in the compound.

Lin Fan sat to the side, unable to join the conversation, but listening with great interest. He sensed the genuine respect these generals had for his younger brother, and also their politeness and tolerance towards him, an ordinary citizen.

This feeling made Lin Fan stand even straighter.

……

At 3 p.m., Lin Fan declined Lin Yang and Tian Yu's offer to stay and left the military compound with his bicycle.

When he rode on the wide asphalt road again, feeling the cold wind blowing in his face, his state of mind had undergone a complete transformation.

He witnessed the pinnacle of power in the country and saw how well his brother thrived there. He knew that from now on, he would never have to fear anyone again.

As the sun set, Lin Fan returned to Nanluoguxiang.

As soon as he entered the alley, he keenly sensed that the atmosphere in the courtyard was somewhat unusual today.

Normally at this time, everyone is busy with their own things, but today, many people have gathered at the Intermediate People's Court, seemingly waiting for something.

The moment Lin Fan pushed his bicycle across the gate.

With a "whoosh" sound!

A dozen pairs of eyes were fixed on him.

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, He Daqing, and Sha Zhu all gathered around.

Their eyes were filled with undisguised curiosity, envy, and intense longing. They desperately wanted to know what that legendary, unattainable military compound was really like!

"Hey, Brother Lin Fan is back!"

Yi Zhonghai was the first to greet him, his wrinkled old face plastered with a nauseatingly obsequious smile. He even took out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket, which he would never normally smoke, and offered one to Lin Fan.

"Hey bro, have a smoke. That trip to the compound must have been tough, right?"

Lin Fan stopped his bicycle and calmly looked at the cigarette that Yi Zhonghai offered him.

He didn't answer.

Instead, he took out an unopened pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from the pocket of his Zhongshan suit. It was something Li Yunlong had insisted on putting in his pocket before he left.

"Sizzle—"

Lin Fan struck a match, lit a Zhonghua cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled a smoke ring.