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

Wu Cheng nodded, his expression carrying a calm honed by reality: "I know, things are tight all over the country right now. Every little bit helps, it's better than nothing."

He paused, then added, "I was thinking of going to find Commander Wang, who's in charge of reclaiming wasteland in the Northwest, to see if he had any surplus grain or supplies that I could share. But when I called him a couple of days ago, I found out that Commander Wang is also in dire straits. They can't even feed themselves in their reclamation area, let alone have any surplus grain to send out."

Liu Yuheng shook his head, his tone heavy with helplessness: "Everywhere is tight, it's the same everywhere. The rations have been reduced, there's not enough food. I'll go back and think of a way to see if I can spare some more from the supplies of other key projects."

Hearing this, Wu Cheng's expression relaxed a little, and he nodded to him: "Okay, then I'll leave it to you. After I get to the Northwest, I'll try my best to solve some of the problems locally. I won't trouble you with what I can handle myself."

The two chatted for a few more minutes about the situation at the base. Wu Cheng briefly explained the current construction progress and personnel arrangements, while Liu Yuheng also informed him of the Second Ministry of Machine Building's subsequent personnel deployment plan. After sitting for a while longer, Liu Yuheng glanced at his watch; the train was about to depart. He stood up and said, "Alright, I have to go back. There are still over twenty workers waiting for my arrangements. Contact me anytime if anything happens after we arrive in the Northwest."

Wu Cheng also stood up and shook hands with him: "Okay, have a safe trip. We can talk more when we get there." He escorted Liu Yuheng to the door of the private room, and the two nodded to each other again. Liu Yuheng turned around and walked back to his own car along the aisle.

After returning to his sleeper car, Liu Yuheng didn't immediately go into his compartment. Instead, he slowly walked along the aisle from one end of the car to the other, stopping briefly in front of each berth. He nodded to the people inside and said, "If you need anything, just ask the guard next to you. Don't be shy," before turning around and continuing on his way.

Most of the workers had already settled in. Some were resting with their eyes closed against their blankets, some were sitting on the edge of their bunks flipping through old newspapers they carried with them, and some were talking quietly to the people next to them across the aisle. At each bunk, after Liu Yuheng finished speaking, the person inside would respond with "Okay" or "Thank you, Minister Liu," their tone a little reserved, but also a little reassured.

The atmosphere in the carriage was more relaxed than when we first boarded. The train had already started moving, and the platform outside the window had long since receded into a blurry gray line in the distance, replaced by the ever-receding fields and villages.

He walked all the way to the back of the carriage before finally stopping at the door of Liang Cheng's compartment. Liang Cheng, Fang Tie, and two other crew members were chatting on their respective berths.

Seeing Liu Yuheng approach, the group stopped talking and looked up. Fang Tie was the first to stand up and greeted him, "Minister Liu," while the other two men also sat up straight. Liu Yuheng waved to them, indicating they didn't need to get up, and then, as usual, said, "If you need anything, just ask the guards over there. Don't be shy. Once we arrive, everyone will be taken care of. Please rest well during the journey."

Fang Tie and the two masters both nodded in agreement. After Liu Yuheng finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Liang Cheng: "Master Liang, come out for a moment."

Liang Cheng paused for a moment, put down his cup, and stood up. He and Liu Yuheng left the cubicle one after the other and walked down the corridor to the door of Liu Yuheng's private room. The guard at the door saw Liu Yuheng return, stepped aside, and Liu Yuheng pushed open the door, let Liang Cheng go in first, and then followed him in, closing the door behind him.

Liu Yuheng pointed to a spot next to the berth and asked Liang Cheng to sit down. Then, looking at Liang Cheng, his tone was more relaxed than when he had spoken in the aisle earlier.

"Uncle Liang, I left in a hurry this time and didn't have time to make arrangements at home. Don't worry, once I return to Beijing, I'll have Erhe and Fangfang take Aunt Liang to live with me. Aunt Liang can't live alone without anyone to take care of her. With Erhe and Fangfang by her side, at least she'll have someone to look after her. They can also help out if anything happens."

Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng's expression shifted slightly. He pursed his lips and nodded, "Yuheng, thank you for your concern. As for home... what I'm most worried about is her being alone. If Erhe and Fangfang could stay with us for a while, I'd feel much more at ease."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Please tell Fangfang not to worry too much, that I'm fine. She's already exhausted enough raising two kids on her own and working; don't let her be distracted by my situation."

Liu Yuheng nodded, his tone softening slightly: "I'll talk to Fangfang about it. Uncle Liang, there's one more thing. I know you've been wondering about this mission, and so have Fang Tie and the others. I can't tell you the specifics now, but you'll understand when we get there. I can only tell you that it's a big deal, a very serious matter. Someone will explain it to you in detail once you get there."

Liang Cheng listened quietly without asking any further questions, simply nodding: "Alright, Yuheng, I won't ask any more. Since you're here, just follow the arrangements."

Liu Yuheng looked at him, paused for a moment, and then continued, "Once you arrive, you will be temporarily under the joint management of the military and the Second Ministry of Machine Building. There are two people in charge at the base, one is Deputy Commander Sun, and the other is Commander Wu, both of whom are my old comrades-in-arms. If you encounter any difficulties there, or if there is anything that needs to be coordinated, you can go directly to them. Just say that I sent you to find them, and they will help you."

He paused, then added, "Of course, you don't know them yet. You'll know when you get there and meet them."

Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng nodded seriously and memorized the two names: "Yuheng, I'll head back now. You should get some rest too; the journey ahead is still quite long."

Liu Yuheng stood up, opened the door to the private room, and saw Liang Cheng out. Liang Cheng walked back to his cubicle along the aisle. Liu Yuheng stood at the door of the private room for a while, watching until Liang Cheng's figure disappeared behind the curtain of the cubicle, before turning back to the private room, closing the door, and sitting down on the berth.

The train moved steadily along the tracks, the wheels making a rhythmic clatter as they rolled over the seams. The fields and villages outside the window receded slowly in the afternoon sun. He leaned against the blanket, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath.