He Yuyang: The tough eldest brother of the courtyard house

In the spring of 1972, the wind still carried a chill, but tender green shoots had already sprouted in the vegetable garden of the military compound in Baoding. He Yuyang squatted by the edge of the plot, holding a plump tomato in his hand. The skin had a natural reddish hue and a sweet aroma—this was the fruit of seeds soaked in spiritual spring water, ripening almost a month earlier than ordinary tomatoes and also larger in size.

"Dad, are these tomatoes edible?" He Shouye leaned closer, his nose almost touching the fruit, his eyes sparkling. "They smell much better than the ones sold at the supply and marketing cooperative."

"Wait two more days, let it bask in the sun a bit more." He Yuyang put the tomato back on the branch, the soil on his fingertips still carrying a moist spiritual energy—this was the black soil from the spiritual spring space, very fertile, everything grows vigorously. He patted his son's head, "Go, take that basket of vegetables to Aunt Zhang, tell her it's experimental vegetables issued by the army, let her try some."

He Shouye responded, picked up the basket of glossy greens from the corner, and ran off. Water droplets still clung to the leaves; they had just been transplanted from the space, so vibrant green they looked like they could drip juice. Xu Xiuli stood at the door watching, holding a piece of newly sewn cloth in her hand, which she intended to use as a drying bag for the newly harvested medicinal herbs in the spiritual spring space.

"You're being way too cautious," she said, walking over and brushing the dirt off He Yuyang's trousers. "They're just some vegetables. Do you have to call them 'experiments' every time?"

"Better safe than sorry." He Yuyang straightened up, looked at the military post in the distance, and lowered his voice. "These past few years have been tense. Last year, someone on the western farm was accused of 'following the capitalist tail' and was criticized for a long time because he grew high-yield crops. We absolutely cannot let a word of our Lingquan matter slip out."

Xu Xiuli nodded and remained silent. She recalled the three years of hardship when countless families resorted to gnawing on tree bark and eating clay, but the continuous supply of food and vegetables from this spiritual spring space ensured that her family of five not only didn't go hungry but could also secretly help those around them. He Yuyang used the medicinal herbs from the space to make ointments that cured the festering hands and feet of many soldiers; he mixed spiritual spring water into feed, increasing the slaughter rate of the military's pig farm by 30%—they did all these things with utmost secrecy, never daring to make a fuss.

Just like the crops in the garden right now, they look no different from ordinary vegetables, but their yield and taste are worlds apart. He Yuyang deliberately controlled their growth, making them only slightly stronger than ordinary crops, but even so, it attracted the curiosity of many neighbors.

"Brother Yu Yang, how come your vegetables are growing so well?" The wife of Staff Officer Wang from next door passed by carrying a laundry basin, her eyes fixed on the tomato vines. "My cucumbers are almost ready for fruiting, yours are practically bearing fruit already. Do you have some secret?"

"There's no secret to it," He Yuyang said with a smile, handing over two freshly picked green peppers. "Just water them frequently and fertilize them often. By the way, these are new seeds from the military agricultural technology station. Take them and give them a try; maybe they'll grow just as well."

Staff Officer Wang's wife happily accepted it, muttering, "The army is so good; they always think of us when there's something good," before turning and going home. Xu Xiuli watched her retreating figure and whispered, "Is that green pepper from your spatial dimension too? Aren't you afraid people will notice it's different?"

"Don't worry, I specifically picked some that look ordinary." He Yuyang picked up the watering can and poured some tap water mixed with spiritual spring water onto the vegetable roots. "Besides, even if you can tell they're different, you'll just assume it's because the seeds are better. Who would think of anything else?"

Despite this, he felt a vague unease. In recent years, the campaign to "cut off the capitalist tail" had been in full swing, and even the smallest things could be blown out of proportion. Not long ago, Old Li from the logistics department was accused of "speculating and profiteering" simply because he kept a few laying hens at home. Not only were his chickens confiscated, but he also had to make a self-criticism at a large meeting.

That afternoon, He Yuyang was processing documents in his office when his bodyguard, Xiao Wang, rushed in, his face pale: "Deputy Commander, something bad has happened! The security personnel are in the yard. They say they want to inspect our vegetable garden, and they also say... they also say someone reported you for 'special treatment,' using unknown materials to grow high-yield crops."

He Yuyang's heart skipped a beat, and he almost dropped his pen. He steadied himself: "Don't panic, do they have any evidence?"

"No...no evidence was mentioned. It just means someone complained that our vegetables are growing too well, which is unusual." Xiao Wang rubbed his hands, sweating profusely with anxiety. "The leader is the new cadre Zhao. I heard he's particularly meticulous. He was just transferred from the local area and wants to find some examples to exemplify."

He Yuyang stood up and straightened his military uniform: "Let's go back and take a look. If you're upright, you have nothing to fear. We haven't done anything wrong, so what are we afraid of?"

Back at the family compound, a crowd had gathered around his vegetable garden. Officer Zhao was squatting in front of the tomato vines, examining them closely with a magnifying glass, his brow furrowed in worry. A security guard beside him held a small shovel, as if he were about to dig up the vegetables for testing.

"Officer Zhao, what are you busy with?" He Yuyang walked over, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, but carrying an air of authority.

Officer Zhao looked up, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with scrutiny: "Deputy Commander He, someone has reported that you used your position to obtain special supplies for planting crops. This is not in line with the principles of collectivization, and we need to verify it."

"Special supplies?" He Yuyang smiled and pointed to the crops in the vegetable garden. "Officer Zhao, look, what's the difference between these and ordinary vegetables? The seeds were issued by the agricultural technology station, the fertilizer is manure from the pigsty, and the water is tap water from the yard. Where did these special supplies come from?"

"But they just look better than everyone else's!" Officer Zhao stood up, his tone unwavering and forceful. "This doesn't make sense! I suspect you're hoarding scarce supplies allocated by higher authorities, or even... even things from capitalist countries!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding neighbors gasped. In this day and age, being labeled a "traitor" was no laughing matter. Staff Officer Wang's wife quickly said, "Officer Zhao, you must have misunderstood. Brother Yu Yang is a good man. He even gave us some green pepper seeds the other day, saying they were issued by the army."

"That's right," Aunt Zhang chimed in. "Last year, my husband got frostbite on his legs, and it was the ointment that Deputy Commander He gave him that cured it. The ointment looks ordinary, but it works really well!"

Officer Zhao remained unmoved, coldly stating, "The masses have discerning eyes, but they can also be misled by appearances. Men, dig up these crops and take them back to the lab for analysis! Also, search the He family's house for any suspicious materials!"

"Who dares!" He Yuyang suddenly raised his voice, his eyes sharp as knives. "I am the deputy commander of the military. Do you have any authorization from your superiors to search my home? Are you going to convict me based on just one sentence, 'It's illogical'?"

Having served in the military for many years and enjoying immense prestige, his angry shout frightened the security guards into immobility. Officer Zhao was also taken aback, probably not expecting this seemingly mild-mannered deputy commander to be so forceful.

"Deputy Commander He, I'm just following the rules," he said, forcing himself to remain calm. "These are special times, and we can't let any suspicious situation slip by."

"Follow the rules?" He Yuyang took a step forward, almost face to face with him. "Then I'd like to ask, who reported me? What evidence do they have? If they can't find anything wrong, don't you owe me an explanation?"

Just then, footsteps sounded at the courtyard gate; it was Li Jianguo, the political commissar of the military headquarters. He shouted from afar, "What are you all doing here? What kind of behavior is this!"

Li Jianguo was He Yuyang's old comrade-in-arms and knew his character. After hearing Xiao Wang's report, he rushed over without hesitation. "Officer Zhao, you're making a scene!" he said, pointing to the crops in the vegetable garden. "I ate these vegetables a couple of days ago; they were grown by Yuyang's family. They taste better, but that's because they're hardworking and know how to tend to them! Are you arresting someone based on that?"

When Officer Zhao saw Li Jianguo arrive, his arrogance immediately diminished: "Political Commissar Li, I... I also received a report..."

"Reported? Who reported him? Make him step forward!" Li Jianguo glared at him. "Yu Yang has been in the military for so many years, from the Korean War to peaceful construction, he's always been at the forefront. Would he seek special treatment? Use your brain!"

Officer Zhao was scolded until his face turned red, and he stammered, unable to speak. The surrounding neighbors also chimed in, saying how the He Yuyang family had helped everyone and how they had cured the soldiers' frostbite with "folk remedies," speaking with great sincerity.

"Alright, that's enough about this." Li Jianguo waved his hand. "Officer Zhao, go back and write a self-criticism, deeply reflecting on your work methods. All the security personnel are dismissed!"

Zhao, the clerk, dared not refute and slunk away with his men. The neighbors who had been watching gradually dispersed, each offering a few words of comfort to He Yuyang before leaving, saying, "The innocent will clear themselves."

The courtyard finally quieted down. He Yuyang and Li Jianguo sat on the steps, and Xu Xiuli brought over two bowls of hot tea. "Old buddy, I'm sorry you had to go through this." Li Jianguo patted him on the shoulder. "That Officer Zhao is from the local area. He doesn't understand military rules and just likes to make a mountain out of a molehill."

"I'm not afraid of him, I'm afraid this isn't over." He Yuyang took a sip of tea, his brow still furrowed. "We managed to suppress it this time, but what about next time? There's always someone watching us."

Li Jianguo sighed: "It's been like this for the past few years, things are tight. You should also be careful. Avoid using those ointments and seeds if possible. If you really have to use them, you have to be more discreet."

He paused, then said, "Actually, I know that your 'folk remedies' and 'experimental seeds' are extraordinary. A few years ago, there was a severe drought, and all the surrounding farms suffered a complete crop failure. Only our military's small vegetable garden was able to produce anything, allowing the soldiers to eat fresh vegetables. And that frostbite ointment is ten times better than the Vaseline from the hospital. I know all these things."

He Yuyang's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at his old comrade-in-arms. Li Jianguo winked at him: "But I won't ask, and you shouldn't tell. As soldiers, as long as we can ensure our brothers are well-fed and clothed and can win battles, there's no need to pry into some things."

He Yuyang tightened his grip on the teacup, his eyes welling up with tears. In all these years, Li Jianguo was the first person who, despite vaguely knowing his secret, chose to protect him.

"Thank you," he said softly.

"No need to thank me," Li Jianguo laughed. "Let's invite your wife over for a couple of drinks tonight, as a way to calm your nerves."

After seeing Li Jianguo off, Xu Xiuli finally breathed a sigh of relief, her legs almost giving way and she collapsed to the ground. "I was so scared," she patted her chest, "I was really afraid they would rush into the house, that space..."

"Don't be afraid, I'm here." He Yuyang supported her. "I already tampered with the cellar. Even if they search, they won't find the entrance to the space."

Even so, he decided to hold back for the time being. That evening, he moved all the medicinal herbs and excess seeds in the space to a deeper cellar, and buried the edges of the vegetable garden with soil to make the crops look more "ordinary".

"From now on, you can't just give out ointments to people casually, and you should also give out fewer vegetables." He told Xu Xiuli, "If you really need to help someone, you have to go through a roundabout way, like having Xiao Wang or Political Commissar Li's family members do it."

Xu Xiuli nodded, picked up her needle and thread, and continued sewing the medicine bag, though her fingers trembled slightly. She recalled the three years of hardship when He Yuyang secretly packed the food in his spatial storage into "relief rations" and had the soldiers deliver them to the surrounding villages in the middle of the night; she recalled the soldiers who had suffered from frostbite, who were so moved by the ointment that they cried and said, "Deputy Commander He is a living Bodhisattva"—they had done these things openly and honestly, but now they had to hide them like thieves.

"When will this end?" she whispered.

He Yuyang didn't speak, but walked to the window and looked at the night sky. There were very few stars, only a few bright ones, appearing and disappearing among the clouds. He knew that the current difficulties were only temporary, just like during the war years, no matter how bitter or difficult, they could always be overcome.

The next morning, He Yuyang went to work at the military headquarters. As he passed the security section, he heard Officer Zhao being reprimanded by Li Jianguo, which calmed him down considerably. Xiao Wang approached him and said, "Deputy Commander, I found out that it was Old Zhang from the logistics department who reported you yesterday. He wanted you to get some scarce medicinal herbs for his son's treatment a while ago, but you refused, so he's been holding a grudge."

"I understand," He Yuyang said calmly. "Ignore this kind of person."

He knew perfectly well that human nature was like that; if you helped ten times, but didn't help once, you might incur resentment. But he didn't regret it. The things in the Spirit Spring Space could save lives, but they couldn't be used as tools for personal gain. Just as he often said, "Good steel should be used on the blade," he would rather give those medicinal herbs to the soldiers on the front lines than to those who would try to take advantage of others.

When He Shouye returned home at noon, he ran up excitedly and said, "Dad, Grandpa Zhang (Li Jianguo) just came to our house. He said he likes the tomatoes you grow and asked you to send some to the military canteen this afternoon to improve everyone's meals."

He Yuyang smiled; Li Jianguo was helping him clear his name. He picked a full basket of tomatoes, and also picked some green peppers and cucumbers, asking Xiao Wang to deliver them to the canteen. Sure enough, in the afternoon, he heard that the military canteen had made scrambled eggs with tomatoes and cucumber salad, which the soldiers ate with great relish, all saying, "The vegetables grown by Deputy Commander He are truly exceptional."

Officer Zhao was also present. Watching everyone eat so happily, his face turned pale and then red. In the end, he picked up a piece of tomato with his chopsticks and ate it in silence.

In the evening, He Yuyang brought home a plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes from the cafeteria, which Xu Xiuli and the children ate with great relish. He Xiaoxuan held up a small tomato and brought it to He Yuyang's mouth: "Dad, you eat this, it's sweet."

He Yuyang took a bite, and the sweet juice spread in his mouth, carrying the unique warmth of the spiritual spring. Looking at his daughter's innocent smiling face, he suddenly felt at peace.

No matter how fierce the storms outside may be, as long as we protect this home, keep the secret of the sacred spring, and hold onto the kindness in our hearts, that is enough. This sacred spring is a gift from heaven, not meant to cause trouble, but to save lives and make life better.

Just like the tomatoes on the table right now, they grow in the sunshine, are tasted, and bring joy—that's their best destiny. As for suspicion and scheming, they're like weeds in a vegetable garden; just pull them out, they won't hinder the crops' growth.

He Yuyang picked up a piece of tomato, put it in Xu Xiuli's bowl, and said with a smile, "Tomorrow, let's pick the cucumbers from that patch and send some to Political Commissar Li's family."

Xu Xiuli looked into the light in his eyes, nodded, and smiled. The wind was still blowing outside the window, but the sunlight had already pierced through the clouds and shone on the vegetable garden, where the lush green shoots were growing vigorously, full of vitality.