Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Starting with the Korean War, returning home to take charge

The auditorium was still the same auditorium, but the slogans on the walls had faded, and a corner of the paint had chipped off the four characters "Self-reliance," revealing the grayish-white wall underneath. He Yuzhu stood below the stage, wearing a new military uniform, the collar of which was a little tight, and he reached out to tug at it. Commander Chen walked in from the door, followed by two staff officers, each carrying a wooden box.

"It's just the few of us, no need for any formalities."

Commander Chen stood before him and opened the wooden box. Inside lay a pair of epaulets, belonging to a major general; the gold stars gleamed dimly under the lamplight. The old man didn't rush to take them; he glanced at them twice before reaching out and taking them out.

He gestured towards He Yuzhu's shoulder and paused.

"You've lost weight again."

He Yuzhu didn't say anything.

Commander Chen pressed the epaulettes onto the board, but they were crooked. He released his grip, adjusted their position, and pressed them down firmly. His hands were still strong, but He Yuzhu could feel that his fingers paused for a moment when he pressed them down.

Commander Chen took a step back and looked at him.

"Xiao He, your military rank has been restored from today."

He paused.

"From now on, your battlefield will no longer be in the rear research field, but on the front lines."

He Yuzhu stood there, feeling the weight of those two stars on his shoulders. The auditorium was quiet, except for the chirping of birds outside, their chatter unreadable. Commander Chen patted him on the shoulder, turned, and walked away. Reaching the door, he turned back.

"Go back and get some rest. You'll be busy starting tomorrow."

The door closed. He Yuzhu glanced down at the two golden stars on his shoulders, slightly dazzling under the light. He remembered the year he was awarded his rank; it was in this very hall, with the same shoulder insignia. He had handed them in, and now they were back on.

He didn't take a car; he walked back from the research institute. The streets were deserted, the streetlights weren't on yet, and the alleyways were pitch black. He walked slowly, the epaulets on his shoulders pressing down, making his steps heavier than usual. Reaching the courtyard gate, he stopped, tightened his collar button further, and then pushed the door open.

The shadow of the old locust tree in the courtyard fell to the ground. He Nianhua squatted under the tree, drawing circles with a twig, making crooked marks all over the ground, muttering something under his breath. Hearing the door open, he looked up, paused, and dropped the twig.

"dad!"

He ran over and buried his face in He Yuzhu's chest, his head hitting He Yuzhu's chin, causing He Yuzhu to stumble backward. He Yuzhu picked him up, and the boy wrapped his arms around He Yuzhu's neck, but his eyes were fixed on He Yuzhu's shoulder. After looking at it for a while, he reached out and touched it.

"What is this?"

Shoulder epaulettes.

He Nianhua's fingers traced over the two stars for a long time before he suddenly turned his head and shouted into the house.

"Mommy! Daddy has stars on him!"

Qin Huairu came out of the house, wearing an apron and with flour still on her hands. She paused for a moment when she saw the epaulets on He Yuzhu's shoulders. He Nianhua broke free from He Yuzhu's embrace, ran to her, and pulled at her apron.

"Mom, look! Stars!"

Qin Huairu squatted down and wiped the ash off He Yuzhu's face. After wiping it off, she didn't stand up, but remained squatting, watching He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu stood there, feeling a little uncomfortable under her gaze.

"Commander Chen gave it to me."

Qin Huairu stood up, walked over, and smoothed out the wrinkles at his collar. Her fingers paused on his shoulder for a moment before shedging them.

"nice."

She spoke very softly, as if afraid of being overheard.

He Nianhua was shouting from the other side.

"Mom, look at my drawing!"

Qin Huairu responded and walked over. He Yuzhu was still standing there, glancing down at the two stars on his shoulder. The light shone from inside the house into the yard, casting a long shadow of the old locust tree.

When the knocking sounded, He Yuzhu was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), lost in thought. He Nianhua was lying on his lap, already asleep, her little mouth moving slightly, as if she were having a dream.

Qin Huairu went to open the door, and Yang Xiaobing was standing outside, dressed in a military uniform, with a rather unpleasant expression on his face. He didn't come in, but just stood outside the threshold, his hands clenched into fists until his knuckles turned white.

"Sister-in-law, I'm looking for the regimental commander."

He Yuzhu gently placed the child on the kang (a heated brick bed), covered him with a quilt, and went outside.

Yang Xiaobing stood in the courtyard, the moonlight shining on his face, making his sharp features appear even more pronounced. He noticed the epaulets on He Yuzhu's shoulders, paused for a moment, and seemed about to say something, but then swallowed his words.

"Commander, the Indians have made their move."

He Yuzhu tightened his grip inside his sleeve.

"When?"

"This afternoon, the border defense regiment called to say that the other side had crossed the Line of Actual Control and was building fortifications on our side. We fired several signal flares as a warning, but they ignored us."

Yang Xiaobing's voice was very low, but he couldn't suppress his anger, which was rising from his throat.

He Yuzhu remained silent. He recalled Commander Chen's words from earlier that day: "From now on, your battlefield will no longer be in the rear research field, but on the front lines." Back then, it sounded like a request; now, it sounded like a prophecy.

Yang Xiaobing waited for a while, but didn't get a reply, so he spoke again.

"Commander, what do we do?"

He Yuzhu turned around and walked into the house. After taking two steps, he stopped and looked back.

"There will be a meeting tomorrow."

He pushed the door open and went in. Qin Huairu sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), looking at him without saying a word. He Nianhua turned over, mumbled something, and fell asleep again. He Yuzhu sat down on the edge of the kang and took off the gloves, placing them on the table.

Qin Huairu glanced at him and turned off the light.

Outside the window, the moon was bright. He Yuzhu lay down, staring at the darkness above him. The two stars on his shoulders were still there, heavy with weight.

"You've lost weight again."

Commander Chen's words echoed in his ears. He turned over, the blanket rustling softly. Qin Huairu remained motionless beside him, her breathing light. He didn't know if she was asleep.

A dog barked a few times in the distance, then stopped.