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

Lin Yang did not refuse. He held the baby and slowly paced around the room, looking out at the vast blue sky.

"Our country has just won its founding war, and this land has ushered in true peace. This child is fortunate to be born in this great era."

Lin Yang stopped and said in a deep voice, "Let's call him Lin Jianguo. Jianguo means 'building the nation.' I hope that when he grows up, he will become the most solid pillar of our new China!"

"Lin Jianguo... Great! What a great name!" Lin Fan nodded excitedly, his eyes slightly red. "Grand, resounding! From now on, our Lin family will count on him to build our country!"

After handing the child back to Ding Qiunan, the two brothers went to the octagonal table in the outer room and sat down.

Tian Yu brought over two steaming cups of West Lake Longjing tea, then turned and went back into the inner room, leaving the two brothers alone to talk.

Lin Yang picked up his teacup, gently blew away the floating leaves on the water, and looked sharply at Lin Fan.

"Brother, I've been fighting in Korea while I was there. How's the situation at the steel mill? As the newly appointed factory director, are you finding it difficult to manage this factory with tens of thousands of employees?"

When work was mentioned, Lin Fan's silly grin vanished instantly, replaced by a calm and capable demeanor. Three years of experience had completely shed his former timidity, transforming him into a truly capable senior manager.

"Yangzi, don't worry. You laid a solid foundation for the steel rolling mill back then. After Li Huaide and his group of corrupt officials were purged, the atmosphere in the factory has been very good."

Lin Fan sat up straight and began his report earnestly: "Before former factory director Zhou Zhenhua was transferred, he gave me a thorough review of all the key personnel in production. Now our factory has introduced the latest Soviet-made rolling mill machines, operating day and night in three shifts. Last month's steel production hit a new historical high!"

Lin Fan paused, lowered his voice, and his expression became somewhat cold.

"However, the bigger the tree, the more the wind blows. Our factory is now a benchmark enterprise in the country, and there are quite a few people watching us. Half a month ago, a few people with shady backgrounds infiltrated the new batch of apprentices we hired."

Lin Yang raised an eyebrow, his eyes instantly turning icy: "A spy?"

"Yes!" Lin Fan nodded. "When they were off their night shift, they tried to sabotage the cooling system of blast furnace number two. If the cooling system stopped working and the blast furnace exploded, hundreds of workers in the entire workshop would die!"

As Lin Fan spoke, a hint of lingering fear flashed in his eyes, but more so a sharp and decisive ruthlessness.

"Luckily, I had worked in the security department, and the factory's security network was airtight. Those spies were caught by my sentries as soon as they got near the cooling pipes!"

"I personally interrogated them overnight, prying open their mouths, and following the clues, we cooperated with the Municipal Public Security Bureau to dismantle a Kuomintang spy liaison station lurking in Beijing!"

After listening to his elder brother's report, Lin Yang put down his teacup, a look of sincere appreciation in his eyes.

"Brother, well done!"

Lin Yang patted Lin Fan's shoulder heavily, his tone filled with absolute certainty.

"The blast furnace is the heart of the steel rolling mill; it's the lifeblood of the workers. Your ability to uncover the spy at a critical moment shows that you, as the factory director, not only understand production but also struggle. Although the situation appears peaceful on the surface, the undercurrents have never ceased. You must remain vigilant at all times while you're in the factory."

Lin Fan nodded vigorously: "I understand! As long as I, Lin Fan, am in this position, no one will be able to touch a single screw in our factory!"

"One more thing." Lin Yang tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a soft tapping sound. "The workers' welfare and benefits must keep up. We are the proletariat in charge, and the workers are risking their lives to make steel, so the logistical support must not be neglected. You must personally oversee the meat rations in the canteen, the labor protection supplies in the workshop, and the newly built staff dormitory building. You must not allow anyone below to embezzle funds."

"Yangzi, don't worry. Anyone who dares to skim money from the workers' bowls, I, Lin Fan, will be the first to skin them alive!"

The two brothers were talking.

A series of steady, powerful footsteps suddenly echoed in the courtyard.

"Report!"

A powerful, resonant voice, tinged with a chilling aura, rang out from outside the door.

"Come in," Lin Yang said calmly.

The door opened, and a gust of cold wind blew in, carrying a few fallen leaves.

He Yuzhu, dressed in a crisp Type 50 police uniform, strode across the threshold.

The uniform he wore made his imposing, towering frame appear exceptionally imposing. The shrapnel scar on his left cheek, left from the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, was slightly reddened by the cold wind, and paired with his piercing, cheetah-like eyes, it sent chills down one's spine at first glance.

"Commander! Factory Director Lin!"

He Yuzhu walked to the octagonal table, suddenly brought his legs together, the sound of his leather boots clashing crisply, and raised his right hand to give a perfectly standard and powerful military salute.

Lin Yang looked at the soldier he had personally trained, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

"Zhu Zi, are all the transfer procedures completed?" Lin Yang pointed to the chair next to him. "Sit down and talk."

He Yuzhu didn't sit down immediately, but maintained his military posture and loudly reported to his superior: "Reporting, Commander! All procedures have been completed! The appointment document from the Municipal Bureau was officially issued yesterday. I have been assigned to Jiaodaokou Police Station in Dongcheng District as deputy director and concurrently as captain of the Major Crimes Investigation Team!"

"Good lad, starting as deputy director and team leader, that's no small responsibility." Lin Fan smiled and handed him a cup of hot tea.

He Yuzhu then carefully pulled out a chair and sat down, accepting the teacup with both hands, his expression extremely respectful.

"Director Lin, it's all thanks to the division commander speaking up for me, and the special forces' medals that gave me back. Otherwise, how could a cook like me, who just flips a wok, be qualified to wear this uniform?"

He Yuzhu took a sip of hot tea, looked up at Lin Yang, and his once murderous eyes were now filled with endless gratitude and admiration.

"Commander, I've come today for two reasons: first, to report on my work; and second, to bring a small gift for my nephew."

He Yuzhu took out a small box wrapped in red cloth from his pocket, placed it on the table, and pushed it over.

"This is a silver bracelet with my demobilization pay that I had made for Xiao Jianguo at a jewelry store in Qianmen Dashilan. It's a little something for him to have a long life. It's not worth much money, but it's a small token of my appreciation as his uncle."

Lin Yang did not refuse and nodded to accept it.

"Zhu Zi, the Jiaodaokou area is a mixed bag. There are all sorts of people, thugs, and even enemy agents lurking around. What are you going to do when you get there?" Lin Yang stared intently at He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu straightened his chest, and a terrifying fierce light shot out from his eyes.

"Commander, you taught me. To deal with the enemy, to deal with those scum who harm the people, there's only one word: kill!"

He Yuzhu gritted his teeth, his voice tinged with a bloody stench.