Courtyard Houses: Starting with Li Yunlong's Comrades-in-Arms

As Yao's mother turned around from the stove, carrying two plates of food, a satisfied smile on her face—the kind that comes after a busy afternoon—she said, "Alright, alright, everything's ready! Qingmu, come help carry the dishes! Qingwan, you get the bowls and chopsticks too! Xiaolei, go clear the table!"

The room became lively as Yao's mother and aunt brought out dishes from the kitchen one after the other and placed them on the square table.

Liu Yuheng got up to help move the chairs and set out the bowls and chopsticks. He then bent down and carried Liu Zhiyuan to a small stool by the table, placing a small bowl and a spoon in front of him.

The little guy's eyes lit up when he saw the table full of dishes. He reached out to grab the plate of braised pork, but Liu Yuheng gently stopped him: "Wait a moment, everyone sit down before you eat."

The family sat down around the square table. Mr. Yao sat in the main seat, Mrs. Yao sat next to him, Yao Qingmo and Aunt Yao sat on one side, Yao Qingwan and Liu Yuheng sat on the other side with Liu Zhiyuan, and Yao Qingmu and Yao Lei squeezed into the seat near the door.

Halfway through the meal, Liu Yuheng put down his chopsticks, as if remembering something, and turned to Yao Qingmu, his tone carrying the gentle concern of an elder for a younger person: "Qingmu, you've graduated from university now, right? Have you settled on a job yet?"

Yao Qingmu, who was chewing a piece of fish, quickly swallowed it upon hearing this, put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and said, "Yeah, I graduated half a year ago. I'm currently interning at my dad's company, doing technical work, so I guess you could say I'm learning on the job."

Liu Yuheng nodded, thought for a moment, and then suggested earnestly, "Have you considered transferring to Beijing first? Since you haven't been officially promoted yet, you have more flexibility in transferring. The Science and Technology Commission, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and several research institutes under various ministries all have positions related to your expertise. If you're willing, I can help you inquire and see if there are any suitable opportunities."

Upon hearing the suggestion, Yao Qingmu was taken aback for a moment, her gaze involuntarily turning to her father, Yao Qingmo. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then seemed to feel that she shouldn't make the decision herself, and swallowed her words, waiting for her father to speak.

Yao Qingmo took a sip of his soup, then put it down and thought for a moment before speaking, "Qingmu's matter isn't urgent. She just graduated, and her internship isn't over yet. Let her stay there a little longer to solidify her foundation before considering a transfer." He glanced at Yao Qingmu as he spoke, "Besides, my decision hasn't been made yet. If she transfers here first while I'm still in Chang'an, we'll be separated. Let's wait until things are settled on my end."

Hearing this, Liu Yuheng didn't try to persuade him any further and nodded: "Alright, then there's no rush. Anyway, there will always be opportunities. Let's wait until Uncle's side is settled before we talk about it." He then glanced at Yao Qingmu, "Qingmu, if you've made up your mind, just let me know anytime."

Yao Qingmu nodded, lowered her head, picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth, without saying anything more.

The conversation at the dinner table quickly shifted to other topics, with the group chatting amongst themselves, their laughter mingling with the clinking of bowls and chopsticks.

Meanwhile, on the Jia family's dining table, dim yellow light shone down from a light bulb covered in soot from the ceiling, making the colors of the simple, somewhat meager dishes appear dull.

A plate of stir-fried cabbage stalks, shredded pickled vegetables with a few drops of sesame oil, a dish of cornbread, and a bowl of cornmeal porridge so clear you could see your reflection in it—this was the Jia family's dinner on the evening of the 25th of the twelfth lunar month.

Jia Zhangshi sat at the back of the table, her chopsticks holding a piece of cornbread dipped in pickled vegetable juice. She chewed it until her lips turned white and her cheeks bulged. Her gaze swept over the dishes on the table before returning to Banggeng, who was engrossed in eating. She mumbled indistinctly, "Eat quickly, eat quickly, that's all there is."

Qin Huairu sat on the other side of the table, sipping her porridge slowly, occasionally picking up a piece of cabbage stalk with her chopsticks and putting it in her bowl.

Jia Dongxu sat at the table near the door, with a bowl of porridge and half a cornbread in front of him, his chopsticks resting on the rim of the bowl untouched.

Madam Jia swallowed the cornbread in her mouth, glanced at Jia Dongxu, and seeing his state, couldn't help but speak up: "Dongxu, why aren't you eating? This porridge is almost cold. Whatever it is, eat your fill first. Even if the sky falls, you'll die with a full stomach. What good will it do if you don't eat?"

Jia Dongxu seemed to be pulled out of his reverie by these words. He paused for a moment, picked up his chopsticks and stirred the porridge in his bowl, but did not put it in his mouth.

He was silent for a few seconds, sighed, put down his chopsticks, looked up at Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu across the table, then at Banggeng who was gnawing on a cornbread bun next to him. His voice was tired and helpless: "Mother, Huairu, I have something to tell you. I've been looking for a job lately. I found two people willing to sell at our steel rolling mill, I asked one at the textile factory, and I also inquired about two at the machinery factory."

"Every time, they agree on everything, agreeing on the price and the time, but when I go back the next day, they say they've already sold it to someone else. Once or twice could be a coincidence, but so many times, it's always the exact same routine. Do you think that's a coincidence?"

The cornbread in Jia Zhangshi's hand froze in mid-air. Her expression changed from casual to confused and wary, and her brows furrowed. "Once or twice could be a coincidence, but so many times... that's not right. You mean someone's sabotaging us behind the scenes?"

Qin Huairu put down her bowl of porridge, looked up at Jia Dongxu, and asked with the same confusion and unease in her eyes: "Is it... that Liu Yuheng is unwilling to help? Does he think our family has nothing to do with him and doesn't want to get involved in this matter, but he can't refuse you directly, so he's secretly getting someone to stop him?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi's face changed instantly. She slammed the cornbread in her hand on the table and sprang up from her chair. Her voice rose eight octaves, displaying her characteristic, indiscriminate rage: "What?! That eldest son of the Liu family? What right does he have to stop us from doing business? He promised to help put in a good word, and now he's sabotaging us behind our backs. Isn't he playing games with us? No way! I'm going to settle accounts with them right now!"

As she spoke, she was already rushing towards the door, cursing, "I'm going to smash their windows! Let's see if they dare to mess with the Jia family again!"

Jia Dongxu reacted quickly, grabbing Jia Zhangshi's arm and pulling her back onto the stool. His voice deepened, carrying a calmness that came from careful consideration over the past few days: "Mother! Sit down first and let me finish what I have to say."

He pulled Jia Zhangshi down to sit, her face still sullen, her lips tightly pursed, her chest heaving, clearly still holding back her anger. But at least she didn't rush out again; she just glared at Jia Dongxu, waiting for him to give her an explanation.