The Life of a Son-in-Law in a Courtyard House

Yang Dalin became a little angry when he saw the tear stains on the letter.

Oh shit.

The Russians are up to no good again, aren't they?

I haven't been going there much lately.

I haven't really paid much attention to the northern border.

It seems someone is just looking for trouble again.

Chu Yanhua saw that Yang Dalin had finished reading the second letter.

He doesn't look well.

He asked Yang Dalin, "Dalinzi, what's wrong? Is something the matter?"

Yang Dalin didn't want Sister Yan to worry.

So he made up a lie and said, "It's nothing."

Sister Yan.

Xiao Cui's grandfather is sick and wants me to help him.

They didn't have much money because they were refugees fleeing famine.

The family didn't have much of a foundation.

Yang Dalin prepared to go over there immediately to take a look.

But I can't tell Sister Yan the real reason.

Otherwise, Sister Yan would worry.

Sister Yan said, "Why don't you take the money and go take a look?"

Xiao Cui and you have known each other for a while, and for her to come knocking on your door for help, it must be incredibly difficult for her.

"Yes, that's what I meant."

Sending money takes time, and besides, she and her younger brother are still young, so I really need to go and see them.

Let's see if there's anything we can do to help.

These past few days may have been tough for you.

Perhaps we could find someone to come and watch the child first.

How about we just invite Aunt Wang over every day?

Just then, Aunt Qi and Chu Xiaoning returned home from get off work.

Upon hearing this, Aunt Qi immediately said, "It's alright, Da Linzi, just go and don't worry about the family."

I'm asking for a few days off.

The streets haven't been as busy lately.

"Thank you for your hard work, Auntie."

"Hey, why are you saying that when you're family?"

Why don't you make a call now and ask about train tickets?

This matter should be addressed sooner rather than later.

Yes, it's a matter of life and death.

Yang Dalin went out to find a phone and called Director Hou.

Director Hou is not in his office right now.

Yang Dalin went directly to Director Hou's house to find him.

I told him about this situation.

Director Hou didn't hide it from him.

Tell him that although China and Russia have joined forces to make the United States look bad.

However, the Russians have been stirring up trouble on the border for the past few years.

Recently, there have been numerous incidents of civilians being lost at the border, attacks on civilians at the border, and attacks on border defense troops.

We also retaliated in some ways.

However, overall it's a loss.

Yang Dalin then asked, "Director, I'd like to go there."

Go teach those Russians a lesson.

That's going a bit too far.

And while we're at it, let's find some of the missing people.

Director Hou paused for a moment: "Are you confident?"

"Yes, but this time I might teach them a very serious lesson."

You have to cover for me.

"No problem, the higher-ups had planned to teach them a lesson long ago."

The matter has been settled by the authorities.

I support it too.

Don't worry, as long as you don't leave a trace.

They learned their lesson, and they deserved it.

By the way, we can frame the bald eagle for it.

You don't need me to teach you this, do you?

Director Hou is also a senior member of the intelligence organization, and he is most skilled at framing and slandering others.

Yang Dalin nodded: "Don't worry, Director, no problem."

"Okay, then I agree."

Remember to find a radio station when you get there so you can contact me.

I will be ready to provide backup.

When are you leaving, tonight or early tomorrow morning?

I'll arrange for you to travel on a military plane.

That's fast.

"I'll go home again and make some arrangements."

I'm leaving first thing tomorrow morning.

"Okay, I'll make the arrangements."

I'll just give you the contact information for some of the people I've placed there.

If you need help, just ask them.

"OK."

Yang Dalin turned and left Director Hou's house.

Just as I was about to go straight home, I went to the home of the former homeowner, Aunt Wang, near my freight station.

Aunt Qi said that with the twelfth lunar month approaching, how could the streets not be busy?

Please ask Aunt Wang to help take care of the three children.

Otherwise, Sister Yan and Aunt Qi would be too busy.

It's not good to rest anymore.

Aunt Wang doesn't need to go to work anyway.

My health is much better than before.

She probably won't be able to take care of her own grandchildren.

Because his son and daughter-in-law both work in classified units.

The child is over there too.

She had only ever seen the photos.

I've never seen him in person.

She was asked to help take care of her three children and Yang Dalin's wife, with whom she had a very good relationship.

Aunt Wang should be very willing.

Sure enough, Yang Dalin rode his bicycle to Aunt Wang's house.

Tell Grandpa Wang and Grandma Wang.

Aunt Wang readily agreed.

She said she would go first thing tomorrow morning.

Grandpa Wang can eat at the cafeteria by himself; it's not a big problem.

When Yang Dalin got home that evening, he told his aunt and Sister Yan about it.

Aunt Wang will come over early tomorrow morning to help take care of Yanji and her three children.

He's going to Northeast China first thing tomorrow morning.

On the way back, we'll make another trip to the Chengde Mountain Resort to see Uncle Huang's children.

It might take a few more days.

Aunt Qi and Sister Yan both told him to go without worry.

Don't worry about home.

The next morning, before it was fully light, Yang Dalin arrived.

Gao Xiaohu picked them up.

Before boarding the plane, Gao Xiaohu gave him a few pieces of paper and told him to read them and then destroy them.

These are all contact methods arranged by Director Hou for some secret intelligence agents in Russia.

Yang Dalin glanced at it, memorized it, and then set the paper on fire.

It's highly likely that Yang Dalin won't need it.

However, Yang Dalin also knew that Director Hou meant well.

I should just jot it down.

They boarded a military plane that was going the same way.

After getting off the plane, Yang Dalin received some materials from someone arranged by Director Hou.

These are lists of people who went missing in recent attacks on the northeastern and northwestern borders.

The name and address of Wang Xiaocui's elder brother, Wang Xiaoshan, were clearly visible inside.

There are two other addresses with the same address as his.

The other two should be the two people from the same village that Wang Xiaocui mentioned in her letter.

Yang Dalin carefully put the information away.

Then we boarded another small plane.

I kept looking at these materials on the way.

Yang Dalin discovered that most of these missing people lived in remote border mountain villages.

If it's a flat area or near a city, it's really difficult for their spies to get through.

Because our side is still very well guarded.

Only in mountainous areas can they sneak in and hide their tracks.

We must not allow Gui to discover this.

Not easy to track.

Yang Dalin changed cars again in the afternoon and arrived at the address Wang Xiaocui had given him in her letter.

A remote, small mountain village on the frontier.

Yang Dalin told the comrade who was seeing him off to go back first.

He needs a list of missing persons.

The comrade who brought him here had obviously received orders.

I didn't want to take it back.

Yang Dalin arrived at the small mountain village.

Find the village chief and have him take him to Xiao Cui's house.

This is a typical rural courtyard in Northeast China.

Several relatively new adobe houses.

A small courtyard enclosed by tree stumps and planks.

The house is on the edge of the village.

As soon as they heard that someone had come to visit Xiao Cui's family.

Many people came out of the village in the dead of winter.

The people in this small mountain village on the border are still very united.

Everyone knows that if you don't work together, you'll be bullied.