He Yuyang: The tough eldest brother of the courtyard house

Summer in 1955 seemed to arrive earlier than ever before. The scorching sun hung high in the sky early, as if it couldn't wait to scorch the earth. At this time, the old locust trees in Nanluoguxiang had just finished blooming, and the snow-white locust blossoms were falling one after another. However, the air was already filled with the piercing chirping of cicadas, which made people feel irritable and restless.

At this moment, He Yuyang, dressed in a brand-new, crisp military uniform, looked dashing and spirited; a gleaming third-class merit medal adorned his chest, catching everyone's eye. He deftly helped his mother tidy and air out the freshly washed bedding and sheets. The bright sunlight filtered through the damp sheets, casting dappled shadows on him, adding a touch of mystery to his already handsome and resolute face. Especially striking was the faint glow of the deep and shallow scars on his cheek, a result of his valiant battles.

"Yes, Mother." He Yuyang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a gentle smile, as he softly responded to his mother. After speaking, he skillfully picked up the bed sheet, pulled it forcefully, and the originally wrinkled bed sheet instantly became as smooth as a mirror.

It's been over two months since I returned home, but the military's notification regarding job placement is still delayed. However, this is for the best; it allows me to spend more time with my mother and assist my younger brother, Yuzhu, in managing the martial arts school. Although this period has been uneventful, compared to the days spent battling through gunfire, life now feels exceptionally stable and fulfilling.

However, at that very moment, a sudden, unexpected commotion erupted, shattering the surrounding tranquility like a sharp blade. The clamor originated from one side of the alleyway, interspersed with the faint, high-pitched, shrill cries and curses of a woman, deafening and echoing through the sky. Hearing the commotion, He Yuzhu unhesitatingly dropped the rag he was using to wipe his weapon, and with the agility of a cheetah, dashed out, passing through the martial arts school's main entrance. His face was filled with suspicion and worry as he anxiously looked towards the source of the noise, muttering under his breath, "What on earth is going on? Why is it causing such a commotion, so no peace and quiet?"

Seeing this, Liu Yan sighed softly, her tone rather helpless, "In my opinion, something must have happened at the Jia family's place again. Ever since you came back, that Dongxu kid hasn't given me a kind look. The other day when I passed by their yard, I heard him and his mother whispering inside, I don't know what nasty things they were saying!"

He Yuyang didn't take the matter too seriously. After all, Jia Dongxu was four years older than him and had always enjoyed competing with him since childhood. When they were young, they competed in running speed; as adults, they competed in hand-to-hand combat. Now that He Yuyang had returned home in glory from the battlefield with outstanding military achievements, it was understandable that Jia Dongxu would feel jealous. He simply couldn't muster any interest in such ridiculous and clown-like jealousy.

However, unexpectedly, within just a few days, these rumors spread like wildfire throughout the entire alley. Some even claimed with absolute certainty that He Yuyang's medals were "found items," arguing that he hadn't fought in the three months he was missing, but instead had been living a carefree and comfortable life in a civilian's home. Even worse, some used increasingly offensive language, falsely accusing him of appropriating his comrades' achievements for personal gain.

When those words reached the martial arts school, Tie Niu was intently following Xu Xiuli's instructions on how to write the Chinese characters for "hero." Suddenly, as if enraged, he slammed his pencil to the ground and roared, his eyes wide and face flushed, "Who said such a thing? Our deputy brigade commander (that's what he always called He Yuyang) killed countless enemies on the Korean battlefield! Those were victories won with his life!"

He Yuzhu, standing to the side, was equally furious. Clenching his fists and gritting his teeth, he said, "It must be that Jia Dongxu talking nonsense again! Brother, let me go teach him a lesson!"

However, He Yuyang remained unusually calm in the face of his younger brother's impulsive behavior. He was focused on reviewing documents sent from the military, not even raising his head, and simply said, "Sit down. People can say whatever they want. True gold shines wherever it is, and withstands the test of time. As for whether I engaged in any opportunistic behavior, the commendation issued to me by the military makes it very clear, and my comrades know it perfectly well."

That being said, rumors and gossip, like mosquitoes, buzzed incessantly and were annoying. Seeing that He Yuyang didn't react, Jia Dongxu became even more aggressive, often making sarcastic remarks in front of the neighbors at the alley entrance: "Some people, after going out and messing around for a few years, come back all high and mighty, but who knows what shameful things they've been up to?"

That evening, He Yuyang was escorting Xu Xiuli home when they bumped into Jia Dongxu bragging to some idlers under a locust tree. Seeing them approach, Jia Dongxu deliberately raised his voice: "Have you heard? Some people in Korea never even went to the front lines; they earned their medals by serving tea and water to the leaders. Those kinds of people only fool the common folk..."

"Jia Dongxu!" Xu Xiuli suddenly stopped, her face pale. "You need evidence to support your claims! Yu Yang is fighting valiantly on the front lines, what makes you think you can slander him?"

Jia Dongxu was taken aback when Xu Xiuli stepped forward. He paused for a moment, then said with a grin, "Oh, so Teacher Xu is protecting him? Well, he's a great hero now, unlike us ordinary folks..."

"Whether I'm a hero or not is none of your business." He Yuyang took a step forward, his gaze as sharp as it was on the battlefield, landing on Jia Dongxu's face. "But remember, a soldier's honor cannot be slandered. If I hear another word of slander, I won't hesitate to let you know whether my medals were earned by serving tea and water."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an intimidating aura. Jia Dongxu felt a chill run down his spine under his gaze. Remembering how He Yuyang had beaten him to the ground when he was a child, he shrank back, grabbed the bystanders, and slunk away, muttering defiantly, "We'll see..."

Watching his retreating figure, Xu Xiuli's eyes reddened with anger: "That's outrageous! How can there be such a person?"

"Don't take it to heart," He Yuyang gently patted her arm. "He's just feeling resentful. Jia Dongxu is four years older than me and has always been competitive. It's normal for him to be unhappy now that I've received an award."

Xu Xiuli nodded, but still felt wronged for him: "But we can't just let him spread rumors like this."

"Don't worry, the innocent will clear themselves." He Yuyang smiled and changed the subject. "By the way, the army just sent a letter. The division commander said he wants me to stay and work at the military headquarters, and also..." He paused, a little embarrassed, and said, "He also said he wants to introduce me to someone, his daughter."

Xu Xiuli stopped abruptly, looked up at him, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes: "Then you..."

"I refused." He Yuyang looked into her eyes and said seriously, "I told you I'm already engaged and plan to file for marriage by the end of the year. Xiuli, I'm 21 this year, you're a year younger than me, and you've waited for me for so long. I can't hold you back any longer, and your family has been urging you for a long time."

Xu Xiuli's face flushed instantly. She lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Who, who's waiting for you..." But as she said this, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

"I've been waiting for you." He Yuyang held her soft, slightly cool hand tightly, as if wanting to keep that warmth in his palm forever. His gaze was firm and full of affection as he looked at the woman who had captured his heart, and he said softly, "After we get married, I'll immediately apply to the organization and ask for their approval to let you come with me to live in the army. After all, the military branch is in Baoding! It's not too far from Beijing. If there's a suitable opportunity, or on weekends, we can take some time to go home and visit Mother!"

At this moment, the setting sun was slowly sinking in the west, its poetic and picturesque afterglow spreading across the earth like a golden veil gently covering the entire world. Simultaneously, two long shadows intertwined against this beautiful backdrop—leaning against each other, overlapping, forming an incredibly warm and romantic scene. The entire alleyway was exceptionally quiet and peaceful, without a sound of wind or rustling grass, except for the faint, distant shouts of Yan Bugui calling for Yan Jiefang to come home for dinner. However, for Xu Xiuli, immersed in happiness, everything around her seemed insignificant; at this moment, all she could feel was her heart pounding with excitement and joy—a feeling even stronger than when she was deliberately teased by mischievous students on the podium years ago!

But this peace didn't last long, and a major incident really happened to the Jia family.

That night, in the middle of the night, Qin Huairu's heart-wrenching cries suddenly echoed from the courtyard, followed by Jia Zhangshi's curses and the sound of things smashing. He Yuyang was awakened and went out to see what was happening. He saw Jia Dongxu rushing out of the house like a madman, kicking the bricks on the courtyard wall in a fit of rage, yelling, "Useless thing! Can't even keep a child!"

"You dare to curse me!" Madam Jia chased after him, pointing her finger at his nose and yelling, "If you hadn't beaten her so badly she was bedridden, would my grandson be dead? You heartless bastard!"

He Yuyang then learned that Qin Huairu was pregnant, more than three months along, and had miscarried the night before after being beaten by Jia Dongxu. It was a newly formed male fetus.

Qin Huairu married Jia Dongxu last year. Her family was from a rural area in Hebei Province; she fled famine to Beijing and married Jia Dongxu through an introduction. She usually seemed gentle and obedient, but no one expected her to be beaten like this.

"Jia Dongxu, are you even human?" He Yuzhu was also woken up by the noise. She rushed over and pointed at Jia Dongxu's nose, yelling, "How could you lay a hand on a pregnant woman?"

"My family affairs are none of your business!" Jia Dongxu roared, his eyes red. "If she weren't always flirting with He Yuyang, would I be this angry?"

"What nonsense are you spouting!" He Yuyang's face darkened. "Comrade Qin and I are completely innocent. Don't try to smear that girl!"

Qin Huairu stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, her face ashen, her eyes devoid of tears, only a deathly stillness. She looked at Jia Dongxu and suddenly said, "Jia Dongxu, let's get a divorce."

"Divorce? You wish!" Madam Jia jumped up. "Once you've entered the Jia family, you'll die a ghost of the Jia family!"

"This is a new society, and marriage is a matter of freedom." He Yuyang stepped forward and blocked Qin Huairu's way. "Comrade Qin, if you want a divorce, I can help you report it to the neighborhood committee and the Women's Federation."

Qin Huairu glanced at him, a glimmer of light finally appearing in her eyes, and nodded gently.

But no one expected that, in order to keep her grandson (she thought that the divorce would put an end to her hopes), Madam Jia set up an incense table in the courtyard, burning paper money and kowtowing, chanting incantations, saying that she wanted to "summon the soul" and bring back the unborn male fetus.

The neighborhood committee quickly learned of this. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, there had been a strong advocacy against feudal superstition; Jia Zhangshi's blatant behavior was a direct challenge to this cause. Old Wang from the neighborhood committee arrived with his men, immediately overturned the incense table, arrested Jia Zhangshi, paraded her through the streets as a public spectacle, forced her to sweep the alleyway for a month, and finally gave her a seven-day detention, warning her that "if she engages in feudal superstition again, she will be sent back to the countryside for labor reform."

After this ordeal, Jia Dongxu couldn't hold his head up at the factory anymore. He was severely criticized by his superiors and had his monthly salary deducted. His eyes were filled with resentment and malice when he looked at He Yuyang, but he no longer dared to openly provoke her.

That day, He Yuyang was packing his things, preparing to report to the military headquarters. He Daqing returned from the steel rolling mill, holding an envelope in his hand: "Zhuzi, this is your notice of promotion. The factory said you performed well and have been promoted from a temporary worker to a permanent employee."

He Yuzhu took the notification and grinned, "Really? I'm a full-time employee now?"

"Thanks to your brother." He Daqing sighed. "A few days ago, the factory director talked to me and said that Yu Yang had made meritorious contributions in the army, which was an honor for the factory. He told me and you to work hard and not to bring shame to the families of martyrs (although Yu Yang is alive, the factory still uses this term)."

He Yuyang smiled and said, "It's because you did a good job. It has nothing to do with me." He picked up the marriage report on the table, which already had his information filled in and was just waiting for Xu Xiuli's signature. "I'll go to the school this afternoon to find Xiuli and fill out the report."

"It's time to do it, it's time to do it." Liu Yan came over to take a look, grinning from ear to ear. "I'll go get a piece of red cloth right now and make you a new quilt."

Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the marriage certificate page. The names "He Yuyang" and "Xu Xiuli" stood side by side, as if it had been destined long ago. The laughter of children echoed through the alley, along with the distant whistles of factory workers leaving get off work; everything was filled with hope.

He Yuyang knew that the storms in life were like the smoke of battle, always dissipating eventually. As long as the scales in one's heart remained steady, the path one walked would not stray. He picked up his military uniform, gently brushed off the dust, and turned to leave—he was going to tell Xu Xiuli that their good days were about to begin.