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

Lin Fan took a deep breath, straightened his back, and his expression became extremely solemn.

"Yangzi, sister-in-law. Qiu Nan and I came here today not only to see you, but also to discuss something important with you."

Lin Fan held Ding Qiunan's hand tightly, his voice trembling slightly, but it conveyed an undeniable firmness.

"Qiu Nan and I have discussed it, and we want to get married."

Upon hearing this, Tian Yu clapped her hands excitedly: "That's wonderful! Big brother, Qiu Nan, I'm happier than anyone that you two have finally tied the knot! This wedding must be a grand affair, a truly magnificent celebration at our steel rolling mill!"

Ding Qiunan's fair cheeks flushed red to her ears, but she still bravely raised her head and looked at Lin Yang: "Lin Yang, Lin Fan has been very good to me these past few months, and he's also very filial to my parents. I've made up my mind about him. We want to pick a good day to get our marriage certificate."

Looking at his elder brother's expectant eyes, Lin Yang picked up the teacup on the table and took a small sip.

He put down his teacup, his smile gradually fading, replaced by a serious yet gentle expression.

"Brother, Qiu Nan. I'm truly happy for you two to be together. I'll offer this cup of tea in place of wine, wishing you a long and happy life together."

Lin Yang picked up his teacup, offered a toast from afar, and then drank it all in one gulp.

But after he put down his cup, he suddenly changed the subject.

"However, the wedding date will have to be postponed."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fan and Ding Qiunan were both stunned. Tian Yu's eyes also dimmed slightly; she knew that her husband was about to reveal his plan to go to the southwest to suppress bandits.

"Yangzi...is there something urgent at the factory? Or do you think it's too hasty for Qiu Nan and me to get married now?" Lin Fan asked nervously.

Lin Yang shook his head, looking calmly at Lin Fan.

"Brother, this isn't a factory matter. It's a national matter."

Lin Yang took a deep breath, his voice low and powerful: "The Central Military Commission has issued a top-secret order. Banditry in the Southwest is becoming increasingly rampant. The remnants of the Kuomintang army are colluding with local bandits to harm our cadres and civilians. The situation at the front is critical, and we need the sharpest blade to tear through the enemy's defenses."

"I've received my transfer orders. I'm reinstated to my military post and will soon be following Commander Li Yunlong to the front lines in Southwest China to wipe out the bandits!"

boom!

The news came like a bolt from the blue, exploding directly in the living room.

Lin Fan suddenly stood up, his eyes wide open, his voice trembling violently: "Yangzi! You...you want to go back to the battlefield?! Your wounds have only just begun to heal! You're the Party Secretary of the steel mill now, a local cadre, how can we let you go to fight in those deep mountains and forests?!"

Ding Qiunan also covered her mouth in shock, and subconsciously looked at Tian Yu. She saw that although Tian Yu's eyes were red, she was biting her lip tightly, not letting the tears fall.

"Brother, sit down." Lin Yang gestured for Lin Fan to calm down.

"I am a soldier. As long as the country is in trouble, as long as the people are bleeding, even if I am covered in wounds, even if I only have one breath left, I will crawl back to the battlefield!"

Lin Yang's eyes burned with the fierce flames of battle, a supreme faith belonging to an iron-blooded soldier.

"This trip to the southwest is extremely dangerous, and my return date is uncertain. You are my only blood relative in this world, and as your younger brother, how can I miss your wedding?"

Lin Yang looked at Lin Fan and Ding Qiunan, his tone softening considerably: "Brother, Qiunan, wait for me. Wait for my triumphant return from the Southwest, wait for me to wipe out those bandits who ravaged the people! I'll personally come back to officiate your wedding! I'll give you the most magnificent wedding in Beijing!"

Tears welled up in Lin Fan's eyes.

Looking at his brother's resolute face, he felt as if a piece of lead was stuck in his throat. A thousand words were left unsaid, but in the end, they all turned into a heavy nod.

"Okay! Yangzi, I'll listen to you! Qiu Nan and I will stay home and uphold the honor of the Lin family! We'll be waiting for you to come back for your wedding!"

Ding Qiunan, her eyes also red, nodded solemnly: "Lin Yang, go to the front lines with peace of mind. We'll take care of Tian Yu at home. You must come back safely."

"It's a deal!" Lin Yang extended his large hand and clasped it tightly with Lin Fan's.

This is a promise between men, and also a bond of blood ties between the Lin brothers.

……

three days later.

Military platform at a train station in Beijing.

A long, green military train was parked beside the platform, its thick chimneys spewing out billowing white smoke, like a steel behemoth about to awaken.

The platform was densely packed with fully armed soldiers. They wore thick winter clothes, carried steel guns, and each of them had a solemn expression, their eyes revealing the killing intent of someone who had survived countless battles.

This unit was an elite force carefully selected by Li Yunlong from the main divisions of the military region.

Among this elite force, one group of 2,500 men stands out as particularly noteworthy.

They were all equipped with the latest Soviet-made PPSh submachine guns, each with four wooden-handled grenades hanging from their waists, sharp military daggers strapped to their legs, and even their backpacks were stuffed with climbing ropes and entrenching tools.

This team was eerily quiet; not a single person whispered to each other. They stood there like silent blocks of raw iron.

This is the elite force that Lin Yang is about to lead—the Fourth Field Army Special Task Force Independent Regiment!

In the center of the platform, several high-ranking generals were bidding their final farewells.

Li Yunlong, dressed in an officer's overcoat with his Browning pistol, which had been with him for many years, at his waist, looked like a tiger descending from the mountain, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

"Old Zhao! I'm leaving this part of Beijing to you! You have to keep up with the logistics! If the brothers on the front lines go hungry, I'll come back and flip your desk!" Li Yunlong pointed at Zhao Gang's nose and shouted loudly.

Zhao Gang pushed up his glasses and smiled helplessly: "You, Li Yunlong, still have the temper of a bandit. Don't worry, the Central Military Commission has given us the highest level of supply authorization. You guys fight on the front lines, and I'll sell everything I own to make sure the soldiers don't go hungry!"

Ding Wei and Kong Jie also stepped forward and patted Li Yunlong on the shoulder heavily.

"Old Li, the forests in the southwest are dense and the miasma is heavy. Those bandits are more slippery than eels. Don't be careless and lose Jingzhou." Ding Wei rarely gave him such a word of advice.

"Go away! I've fought all my life, what kind of battles haven't I seen! In my eyes, those bandits are just a bunch of breathing targets!" Li Yunlong laughed arrogantly.

Not far away, Lin Yang was saying his final goodbye to Tian Yu.

In the wind and snow, Tian Yu carefully helped Lin Yang straighten the collar of his military uniform and fastened the buttons of his coat one by one.