Era: Starting from the local police station

We went outside.

At this moment, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys throughout the courtyard.

The courtyard was filled with the sweet scent of corn, and people were constantly going in and out of the houses, accompanied by the sounds of women scolding their children to get up.

"Are you... Zheng Hua?"

Just as I squatted down by the big tree at the entrance, a man's surprised voice came from beside me.

Jiang Zhenghua turned around and saw a young man in his mid-twenties, wearing blue overalls, holding a toothbrush cup, looking at him with delight in his eyes.

"You are... Zhao Shanhe?"

Jiang Zhenghua's mind flashed through some images, recalling his childhood friends.

"It's me, Zhenghua. When did you get back? Are you visiting family or transferring to civilian work?"

Zhao Shanhe nodded repeatedly.

"He arrived home last night; he's back from his military service."

Jiang Zhenghua smiled and looked him up and down: "You've changed a lot! I almost didn't recognize you."

"We haven't seen each other for five years, how could we not have changed a lot? I was having dinner with Baolai and a few others the other day, and we were talking about you."

As he spoke, Zhao Shanhe also squatted down to the side.

"Are Baolai and Ma Xiao alright?"

When Jiang Zhenghua heard these names, he remembered that they were all his former playmates, and a look of reminiscence appeared on his face.

"Baolai and the others are all fine, it's just that Ma Xiao... a few years ago he was involved in the black market and got... "

Zhao Shanhe sighed softly, a hint of sorrow appearing on his face.

Jiang Zhenghua was taken aback upon hearing this.

In my mind's eye, I recalled a twelve-year-old boy in Yu'er Hutong, his face pale, clutching a wooden stick, shouting, "Zhenghua, what do you say? Who are we going to fight today?"

The scene shifts to the depths of an alley, where Ma Xiao, bruised and battered, stands in front of him, holding a long stick and pointing it at a group of thugs, shouting angrily: "You fucking want to touch my brother? You'll have to step over my dead body first!"

"Do you know who did it?"

Jiang Zhenghua's face instantly darkened.

"Zhenghua, the other party was arrested on the spot and made to eat peanuts."

When Zhao Shanhe saw his expression, his hand trembled, knowing that the little tyrant was angry.

Jiang Zhenghua nodded and picked up his toothbrush to start brushing his teeth.

"Dad, wipe my bottom."

Just then, a three-year-old boy ran over, pulling up his pants.

Jiang Zhenghua was taken aback.

"You brat, couldn't you wait until I finished brushing my teeth? Where's your mom?"

Zhao Shanhe laughed and scolded the child, put the enamel mug in his hand on the brick, took out a few sheets of toilet paper from his pocket, and began to wipe the child's bottom.

The little boy chuckled, sticking his bottom out, and said, "My mom is tidying up the house."

After Zhao Shanhe finished putting on the child's pants, he turned around and saw Jiang Zhenghua staring blankly at him.

"This is my eldest son, Zhao Xiaojun."

She gently kicked her son again: "This is the Uncle Zhenghua from Grandpa Jiang's family that I told you about. Call him Uncle."

"Hello, Uncle Jiang."

Zhao Xiaojun called out crisply, then looked on curiously.

Jiang Zhenghua was startled awake and quickly patted his pockets, finding them empty. He half-squatted down and reached out to pat the child's head: "Good boy, Xiaojun. Uncle didn't bring anything today, but I'll make it up to you with a gift next time."

"Zhenghua, no need."

Zhao Shanhe quickly waved his hand.

"When did you get married? From what you're saying, you have more than one child?"

"Ever since Ma Xiao's accident, we all settled down. I started working at the Hongxing Machinery Factory. Then, my family introduced me to someone, and I got married. We also have a one-year-old son."

After saying that, Zhao Shanhe affectionately patted the back of his son's head.

At this moment, Jiang Qinghe came out and called out, "Second Brother, breakfast is ready."

"I just got back and I have some things to take care of. Let's go see Ma Xiao this weekend."

After saying that, he patted Zhao Shanhe on the shoulder.

"Zhenghua, I'll come find you for drinks tonight."

"Okay, let's have a good chat tonight."

Upon entering the main room, several bowls of corn porridge were already laid out on the dining table.

The older brother was slurping from his bowl.

Jiang's mother asked, "Why does brushing your teeth take so long?"

While washing his face, Jiang Zhenghua said, "I ran into Shanhe and we chatted for a bit."

Jiang's mother glared at him: "Shanhe is only three years older than you, and she already has two children. Now that you're back, and you're not young anymore, you should hurry up and settle this matter."

Jiang Zhenghua was taken aback, turning his head to look at his mother: "Mom, I just got back, and you're already pressuring me to get married?"

"What does this have to do with how long you've been back? Hurry up. Otherwise, I'll find someone to arrange a marriage for you. If you don't like the match, don't blame me."

Speaking of this, Jiang's mother was very dissatisfied. Her eldest son's wife had been married for more than a year, but there was no sign of pregnancy.

"Alright."

Jiang Zhenghua nodded helplessly, then changed the subject, asking, "Where did my dad go to buy things? Why isn't he back yet?"

"Never mind him. You guys eat quickly, the eldest and eldest daughter have to go to work, or we'll be late."

When Jiang's mother heard that her second son did not object, she finally put away the dissatisfaction on her face.

Jiang Zhenghua hung up the towel and asked his older brother, "Any work today?"

The eldest brother didn't have a formal job and did odd jobs everywhere, while his sister-in-law was a logistics staff member at the Hongxing Textile Factory.

"She's moving out of the warehouse at her factory today, so I'll go with her after we finish eating."

After saying that, the older brother continued to swallow the corn porridge.

Jiang Zhenghua nodded, walked straight to the corner, opened a green canvas bag, rummaged around inside, and took out a cloth bag.

"Why aren't you eating? What are you rummaging through? Oh, by the way, do you have any dirty clothes to wash? If so, bring them out; I'm washing them today."

"Mom, no need, my clothes are all clean."

As he spoke, Jiang Zhenghua opened the cloth bag.

Six watches were quietly placed inside.

He had an American Hamilton, a Swiss Roma, two Soviet Kirov watches, a Japanese Citizen, and a Rolex, all of which he traded with his comrades.

He put the Rolex on his wrist and put the Hamilton back in his bag.

He walked to the dining table with four watches in his hands, handing the two Roman watches to his older brother: "Hey, these two Kirov watches are for you and your sister-in-law."

The group looked up and saw that he still had two pieces in his hand.

Jiang's mother exclaimed in surprise, "How do you have so many watches?"

Jiang Zhenghua laughed and said, "Some of them were awards given to me by my superiors for my meritorious service on the battlefield, and some were gifts from my comrades."

The older brother hurriedly put down his chopsticks, reached out and took the watch, stuffed one of the watches into his shocked wife's hand, and then eagerly put the other one on his wrist.

The sister-in-law realized what was happening and quickly and reluctantly placed the watch on the table, waving her hand and saying, "Zhenghua, I can't accept this; it's too valuable."

Jiang Zhenghua said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, take it. It's nothing valuable, just consider it a small gift."

As he spoke, he handed the two pieces to his mother, who was standing beside him: "These two pieces are for you and Dad."

Jiang Qinghe looked at the beautiful watch, pouted, and exclaimed, "Second Brother, I want a watch too!"

"Just take your pocket watch. You're so young, why wear a wristwatch?"

Jiang's mother took the watch and glared at her calling daughter.

She looked at the watch on the table in front of her eldest daughter-in-law: "It's from the eldest daughter-in-law's family. Zheng Hua gave it to her, so just take it."

The sister-in-law wanted to refuse, but the brother picked up the watch, took his wife's hand, and quickly put it on her wrist.

"Take what Zheng Hua gave you; ours are the same."

As he spoke, he stretched his arm out in front of his sister-in-law and waved it.

The eldest sister-in-law first glanced at her mother-in-law, seeing her smiling face, then looked down at the watch on her wrist, and was truly delighted: "Thank you, Zhenghua."

"We're all family, no need for formalities."

Jiang Zhenghua waved his hand, seemingly unconcerned.