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

In the evening, in the North City compound, Liu Yuheng's Volga came to a stop in front of the building. He got out of the car, picked up his briefcase, and went inside.

The living room was much livelier than usual. Wang Xiuhe sat on the sofa, talking to Yao Qingwan, her expression showing the excitement of someone who had just come from a lively gathering. Liu Tingting sat on a chair next to her, slowly munching on a pastry, her gaze fixed on the three children on the living room carpet.

Liu Zhiyuan was squatting on the ground, fiddling with his wooden toys, muttering to himself; Liu Qingyan was squatting next to him, holding a cookie in her two little hands, taking small bites, with crumbs around her mouth; Liu Yixuan, who was a little older, was squatting behind the two little ones, helping them from time to time.

Hearing the door open, everyone looked up simultaneously. Liu Yuheng nodded to Wang Xiuhe and Yao Qingwan, then glanced at Liu Tingting, before scanning the living room and asking, "Where are Erhe and Fangfang? And Dad? Why didn't they come over?"

Wang Xiuhe was holding a teacup when she heard this. She put the cup down and waved her hand, saying, "It's Liu Guangqi's wedding today. Your father and Erhe both drank quite a bit. Erhe can't hold his liquor, but he forced himself to drink a few cups. He was staggering when he came back. Fangfang stayed home to take care of him, and your father went back to the east wing to rest, saying he was tired today and didn't want to move."

Liu Yuheng nodded and didn't ask any more questions. He bent down and placed his briefcase on the shoe cabinet, walked to the carpet, squatted down, reached out and ruffled Liu Zhiyuan's hair, then reached out to Liu Qingyan. The little girl immediately grabbed a cookie and came over, looking up and calling out "Uncle" in a clear, sweet voice.

Liu Yixuan also looked up and called out "Uncle". Liu Yuheng patted him on the shoulder, telling him to continue playing with his younger siblings, and then stood up and walked over to the sofa to sit down.

Yao Qingwan poured him a glass of water, which he took and drank a sip of before leaning back on the sofa, listening to Wang Xiuhe continue telling Yao Qingwan about the wedding that day.

"It seems that Liu Guangqi's girlfriend's family is headed by a cadre." Wang Xiuhe picked up her teacup and put it down again, her tone carrying a complex mix of gossip and disapproval. "Didn't you see how smug Liu Haizhong was? He was shouting for people in the yard early this morning, his voice eight octaves louder than usual."

"Let me tell you, he emptied his pockets to throw this banquet for Guangqi. Just the ingredients that Shazhu bought without coupons cost almost a hundred yuan. Add to that the drinks, snacks, and cigarettes, and this wedding will cost more than a bicycle. He also has two sons, Guangtian and Guangfu. What will they do in the future? I don't think he's thought about it at all."

Yao Qingwan listened from the side, nodded, and did not respond.

Wang Xiuhe then changed the subject, bringing up Xu Damao's matter: "By the way, Xu Damao is getting married soon. Xu Fugui and his wife asked me to ask you if Yuheng could attend Xu Damao's wedding. I said Yuheng is busy, but they said that even if Yuheng can't go, Qingwan can attend instead."

Liu Yuheng, who was about to bring his cup to his lips, frowned slightly upon hearing this: "Qingwan can go if she wants, or not if she doesn't. It's up to her. As for me, I won't..."

He hadn't even finished saying the word "go" when he suddenly stopped.

Liu Yuheng sat on the sofa, still holding the cup in his hand, his gaze fixed on the plate of fruit on the coffee table, as if he were nailed to the spot by something.

The living room was silent for several seconds. Liu Tingting couldn't hold back any longer and called out, "Brother? What's wrong? You stopped talking halfway through."

Liu Yuheng didn't respond to her. His mind was racing, several times faster than it had been in the previous few seconds.

Xu Damao is getting married. If there are no unforeseen circumstances, his bride-to-be will likely be Lou Xiao'e.

Lou Xiao'e is Lou Jingye's daughter. Lou Jingye is the boss of the steel rolling mill, nicknamed Lou the Half-City.

Before the liberation, the Lou family was a well-known industrialist family in Beijing, with businesses in multiple industries such as flour, textiles, and steel rolling, and their wealth was staggering. After the public-private partnership, Lou Jingye held the title of private director and appeared to be honest and obedient, but he knew in his heart that the Lou family's money had not been completely distributed, and most of their wealth had long been transferred to Hong Kong Island.

Hong Kong Island. Liu Yuheng mentally weighed those two words over and over again.

Lou Jingye had connections in Hong Kong, and quite close ones at that. If he could find a way to get a shipload of grain from Hong Kong and transport it to the mainland by sea, it wouldn't be entirely impossible for him.

Liu Yuheng leaned back on the sofa, tapping his fingers lightly on his knees. He had always kept his distance from the Lou family for a simple reason. Lou Jingye was a capitalist, a sensitive figure, and it wouldn't look good if word got out that he was associated with someone in Lou's position.

But that was under normal circumstances.

The scientists at the Northwest Base are now starving and fainting, and the soldiers are sparingly putting food into their bowls. Professor Cheng, an old intellectual, is lying in bed unable to get up. He can't wait for this matter, nor can he wait any longer.

What's the big deal about contacting the Lou family? At worst, I can just remind them to prepare in advance and leave when it's time to leave.

Lou Jingye was a shrewd man who had been clever his whole life. As long as the words were pointed out in the right way, he would definitely know what to do.

Moreover, this matter is a contribution to the country, not just Liu Yuheng's personal affair. As long as things are explained clearly and the proper channels are followed, Lou Jingye will definitely be pragmatic.

Thinking of this, Liu Yuheng put down the glass of water he was holding and stood up from the sofa. Wang Xiuhe, Yao Qingwan, and Liu Tingting all looked at him, their faces showing a puzzled expression of "What's wrong?"

According to their thinking, Liu Yuheng definitely wouldn't attend Xu Damao's wedding. He stopped halfway through his sentence just now, and they thought he was thinking about something related to work, but judging from his expression, it didn't seem like it.

Liu Yuheng snapped out of his reverie, glanced down at Wang Xiuhe, and said in a more serious tone than before, "Mother, how about this, you go back and tell the Xu family that I might attend Xu Damao's wedding. Even if I don't go myself, Qingwan will go."

Wang Xiuhe was stunned for a moment, and Yao Qingwan was also stunned. Liu Tingting opened her mouth, wanting to say something but then didn't. The group looked at each other, none of them expecting Liu Yuheng to suddenly change his mind.

Liu Yuheng didn't give them time to process this, and continued, "Also, Mother, please go back and ask the Xu family for me who Xu Damao is going to marry, which family's daughter she is from, and what her name is. Once you find out, have Erhe come and tell me."

Wang Xiuhe looked at him, her confusion deepening: "Yuheng, why are you suddenly asking this? What does it have to do with you who Xu Damao marries? Haven't you always kept to yourself from these matters in the courtyard?"

Liu Yuheng waved his hand, his tone carrying a certainty that suggested he didn't want to explain further: "Mother, I have other plans. Don't ask yet, just pass on the message. Once you've found out, have Erhe come over; I have something to say to him."

Wang Xiuhe opened her mouth, wanting to ask something more, but seeing Liu Yuheng's determined expression, she swallowed her words and nodded: "Okay, I'll ask when I get back tomorrow. Xu Damao's mother told me today that the date is roughly set for next month, but the exact date hasn't been finalized yet. She's having someone check their horoscopes."