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

At midday, the sun was shining brightly.

The wide asphalt road outside the guesthouse has been completely transformed into an exhibition of high-end military vehicles.

A long line of black Volga sedans, GAZ command vehicles, and jeeps bearing license plates from military regions, corps, or even headquarters stretched along the entire street like a black and green steel dragon.

The car doors were constantly being pushed open, and those who stepped out were all founding generals with stars on their shoulders, medals all over their chests, and an aura so powerful it was suffocating!

"Hahaha! Yangzi! I've come to celebrate your one-month birthday!"

With a thunderous laugh, Li Yunlong, dressed in a crisp general's uniform, strode up the steps. In his hand, he carried a captured American officer's sword, inlaid with jewels!

"Old Li, with that voice of yours, you don't even know how to tone it down when you're on the General Staff's turf." Zhao Gang, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, walked beside him with a gentle and refined manner, holding an exquisite mahogany box in his hand, inside which was a calligraphy and painting he had personally inscribed.

Ding Wei and Kong Jie followed closely behind. The Northwest Iron Triangle reunited, and their fierce and ruthless aura, forged from piles of corpses, drew the attention of the surrounding guards.

Behind them are even more important figures.

Commander Liu, Deputy Army Commander Zhang, and even several veteran commanders of the Fourth Field Army who were serving at headquarters all came to offer their congratulations in person.

For a moment, the entire banquet hall was filled with the brilliance of stars, and the atmosphere was overwhelming.

And at the street corner less than fifty meters from the entrance of the guesthouse.

Yet standing there was a group of people who seemed completely out of place with the upscale atmosphere, appearing both comical and pathetic.

It was that group of beasts in the courtyard!

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, even Jia Zhangshi whose scars hadn't completely faded, and the timid Xu Damao, were all crammed together here.

They specially dug out their best and cleanest clothes to wear today. Yi Zhonghai even gritted his teeth and bought a two-yuan bottle of Fenjiu liquor, while Liu Haizhong held a red paper packet containing five yuan in his hand.

They learned from He Daqing that the Lin family was holding a full-moon celebration here today.

In their narrow-minded and greedy minds, they thought that as long as they shamelessly approached, Lin Fan and Lin Yang would be too embarrassed to kick them out out of consideration for their "old neighbors." As long as they could sneak into this place, even if they only ate a bite of leftovers at the corner table, they could at least strike up a conversation with those generals and leaders.

Just one word could change your destiny!

Liu Haizhong, his belly bulging, trembled with excitement: "Old Yi, look at those cars! They're all high-ranking officers! When we go in later, we must find a chance to toast Commander Lin!"

Yi Zhonghai swallowed hard, forcibly suppressing his fear and excitement: "Yes, you can't hit a smiling face. We brought gifts to congratulate him, and Lin Yang's status is so high now, we should definitely be magnanimous."

Hiding behind the crowd, Jia Zhangshi's triangular eyes gleamed with greedy green light: "How much good food are we going to eat! I heard the meat at the General Staff Guesthouse is specially supplied! I'm going to eat and take some today to make up for all the losses we've incurred over the past few years!"

These reckless beasts, encouraging each other, straightened their clothes and shamelessly walked towards the entrance of the guesthouse.

However, before they could even get close to the steps...

"stop!"

A thunderous shout suddenly rang out.

Four heavily armed guards, with bayonets fixed to their semi-automatic rifles, stood like four killing gods, instantly blocking their path. The dark muzzles of their guns were mercilessly pointed at this group of poorly dressed, greedy commoners.

Leading the team was Lin Yang's personal bodyguard, Xiao Li.

Xiao Li looked coldly at the group of familiar faces in front of him, a deep sense of disgust and mockery flashing in his eyes.

"Who are you? This is a military area. Unauthorized personnel are strictly prohibited from approaching! Back off!" Xiao Li's voice was icy cold, and the submachine gun in his hand had already been disengaged, making a crisp "click" sound.

Yi Zhonghai trembled with fear, quickly raising his hands and forcing his signature insincere smile, bowing and scraping as he said, "Sir, it's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! We're not just random people. We're from No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, old neighbors and elders of Director Lin and Commander Lin!"

Yi Zhonghai brandished the bottle of cheap Fenjiu liquor in his hand: "Today is the Lin family's full-month celebration, and we've come specifically to offer our congratulations. Could you please make an exception and go in to announce our arrival?"

Liu Haizhong quickly held up the five-yuan red packet: "Yes, yes, yes! We brought a congratulatory gift! We have a lot of affection for the Lin family!"

"Old neighbors? Elders? Relationships?"

Xiao Li seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world, and a mocking sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.

He stepped forward, looking down at Yi Zhonghai with the gaze one would give a pile of stinking garbage.

"You bunch of beasts, worse than pigs and dogs, dare to call yourselves elders of the commander?!"

Xiao Li's voice suddenly rose, and without any mercy, he tore their dirty underwear to shreds in front of everyone.

"Back when the commander wasn't home, you all ganged up on Director Lin, seized the main house of the Lin family, and forced him to live in a drafty outbuilding. Why didn't you mention any feelings then?!"

"You bunch of bloodsuckers! Back then, you wouldn't even give Director Lin a bowl of hot porridge. Now that you see the leader has risen to prominence, you come here with a cheap bottle of liquor and a five-yuan paper bag, hoping to freeload at the General Staff Guesthouse and curry favor with the leader?"

Xiao Li suddenly waved his hand, his voice sharp and stern.

"The commander already gave instructions! The Lin family has no elders in courtyard number 95! Only enemies!"

"The commander said that dogs may enter this gate today, but you bunch of black-hearted, filthy beasts are absolutely not allowed to step inside! Anyone who dares to force their way in will be treated as an enemy agent and shot on the spot!"

"Splash!"

As Xiao Li finished speaking, the four internal security soldiers simultaneously pulled back their rifle bolts, their bayonets gleaming with a deadly cold light in the sunlight, aimed directly at the throats of Yi Zhonghai and the others!

Dead!

Utter silence!

The bottle of Fenjiu liquor in Yi Zhonghai's hand fell to the ground with a "crack" and shattered. The liquor splashed all over his trouser leg, but he was completely unaware of it.

His old face instantly turned ashen, completely devoid of color. The officers and their families passing by cast disdainful and disgusted glances his way, as if he were watching a group of clowns.

Xiao Li's words were like a resounding slap in the face, not only shattering their daydreams of currying favor with the powerful and wealthy, but also trampling and rubbing their pitiful dignity on the main road!

Liu Haizhong's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground. The red paper packet containing five yuan fell into the muddy water, looking so ironic.

Madam Jia was so frightened that she retreated repeatedly, sat down on the steps with a thud, her face pale, and scrambled away to escape, fearing that the bayonet would really pierce her stomach.