He Yuyang: The tough eldest brother of the courtyard house

As autumn deepens, the locust trees in Nanluoguxiang have almost all shed their leaves, leaving bare branches swaying in the wind as if counting down the days. He Yuyang sits on a stone bench under a pomegranate tree, clutching a telegram in his hand, the corner of the paper crumpled from his grip.

The telegram was from the military, the handwriting concise yet conveying an undeniable urgency: "Return to your unit immediately, there is an urgent mission."

He traced those words between his fingers, already prepared. During this year of rest, though called "rest," he had never truly let go of military affairs—he frequently visited the garrison, called his old comrades, and knew the border was far from peaceful, with the troops constantly training and on standby. But when the time to leave finally came, his heart felt heavy, as if weighed down by something.

"Brother, what are you daydreaming about? Mom's calling you for dinner." He Yuzhu came out of the house, holding a freshly cleaned clay pot. Seeing him staring blankly at the telegram, he paused. "Is it... from the army?"

He Yuyang looked up at him and nodded: "Yes, let me go back."

He Yuzhu's smile vanished instantly. He scratched his head, wanting to say something but unsure where to begin. This past year, he had learned a great deal from his brother—not just about the martial arts school, but also how to get along with neighbors and how to solve problems with his brain. He used to think his brother was a "high-ranking officer" in the army, very prestigious, but now he realized that behind that prestige lay the responsibility of being able to leave at any time.

"When are you leaving?" He placed the casserole on the stone table, his voice a little muffled.

"Tomorrow morning," He Yuyang stood up, patted him on the shoulder, "come with me to the warehouse tonight."

During dinner, He Yuyang told his family about returning to his unit. Liu Yan's eyes immediately welled up with tears. She put food in his bowl, repeatedly saying, "Be careful on the road. Remember to call home when you get to the unit. It's getting cold, so wear more clothes. Don't stay up so late..."

"Okay, Mom, I'm not a child anymore," He Yuyang replied with a smile, placing the braised pork in her bowl. "You should eat more too, you've lost weight lately."

He Daqing didn't say much, just kept drinking one glass after another. Finally, he put down his glass, sighed, and said, "Go ahead, I'll take care of things at home. Do your best over there, and don't worry about home."

He Yushui lowered her head, shoveling rice into her mouth, tears falling into her bowl, too ashamed to look up. She knew her brother was going to defend their country, a glorious thing, but she couldn't help feeling sad—no one would listen to her talk about school anymore, no one would check her homework, and no one would solve her problems with a few words when she was bullied.

He Yuyang saw this and felt a pang of sadness, but he simply patted her head and said, "Study hard, and when I come back, I'll bring you a new workbook."

Rain nodded vigorously, holding back her tears: "Brother, you have to come back soon."

"must."

After the meal, the neighbors, having heard the news, all came to say goodbye. Yan Bugui, carrying a bottle of wine, said he wanted to have a couple of drinks with He Yuyang: "Take good care of yourself over there. If you have any difficulties at home, just tell your Uncle Yan, don't be shy."

Madam Yang chimed in, "Yes, Yu Yang, if your mother misses you so much that she can't sleep, I'll come and keep her company."

Liu Haizhong, hands behind his back and a serious expression, said, "If the country needs you, you have to go! It's an honor! Once you've done something right, our neighborhood committee will send you a banner!"

He Yuyang thanked them one by one, feeling warm inside. The neighbors in Nanluoguxiang are indeed noisy and argumentative, but when it comes to something, their mutual help is also genuine.

It was late at night when He Yuyang called He Yuzhu to the storeroom. The storeroom was small, filled with miscellaneous items, and in the corner was a worn-out wooden crate. He opened the crate, took out a heavy wooden box, and handed it to He Yuzhu.

"What's this?" He Yuzhu took the wooden box, which was icy cold to the touch. He opened it and was stunned—several rows of silver dollars and two gold bars were neatly stacked inside, gleaming warmly in the dim light. There were also several small porcelain bottles next to it, labeled "Hemostasis," "Anti-inflammatory," and "Pain Relief."

"Silver dollars are no longer in circulation, but they'll always come in handy. If you're really short of cash, find a reliable shop to exchange them for some money." He Yuyang pointed to the gold bars. "Don't touch these unless absolutely necessary; they're for your parents' retirement." He then picked up the porcelain bottles. "These contain special medicines, better than those from the hospital. If anyone in your family is unwell, or if a neighbor has a sudden illness, just take them out and use them. Remember to follow the dosage on the label."

These silver dollars were from his previous captures, the gold bars were a system reward, and the special medicine was refined from the spiritual spring water in his space, its effects far superior to those of medicines from this era. He knew he didn't know how long he would be gone, and he had to ensure his family's future.

"Brother, this is too much..." He Yuzhu's hands trembled slightly as he looked at the contents of the wooden box. He had run a martial arts school for a year and had seen some money, but he had never seen so many silver dollars and gold bars before.

"Take it." He Yuyang pressed his hand down, his eyes serious. "I'm leaving the family to you. Your parents are getting old, the rains are still light, and you also have to take care of the martial arts school. You have a heavy burden on your shoulders." He paused, then took out a wad of new banknotes from his pocket and handed them to him. "These are for daily use. Don't be stingy; spend them when necessary."

He Yuzhu's eyes reddened, and he nodded vigorously, "Brother, don't worry! I'll definitely take good care of Mom and Dad and Yushui, and I'll keep the martial arts school safe for you. I'll be waiting for you to come back!"

"I believe you." He Yuyang smiled. "Think things through carefully and don't act impulsively. If you can't solve it, talk to Uncle Yan and Uncle Liu. They are reliable people."

"Um!"

After leaving the warehouse, He Yuyang went to Yan Bugui's house again. Yan Bugui was still awake, doing accounts under the lamp. Seeing him come in, he quickly got up: "Why did you come back? Is there something you need to tell me?"

"Uncle Yan, I'm leaving tomorrow." He Yuyang sat opposite him. "I'll have to trouble you to look after things at home. My parents are getting old, Yuzhu is straightforward, and Yushui is still young..."

"What are you talking about!" Yan Bugui interrupted him, closing the account book. "We're all neighbors, helping each other out is only natural! Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on things at home! Not only your parents, but I'll also keep an eye on Yuzhu's martial arts school!" He was unusually serious, his eyes sincere. "You're going to protect our country, so we can all live in peace. Leave the family matters to me!"

"Then thank you very much." He Yuyang stood up and bowed to him.

"Hey, what are you doing!" Yan Bugui quickly helped him up. "Go back and rest. We have to travel tomorrow."

Back home, Liu Yan was still unpacking his luggage, neatly folding several thick clothes and stuffing her homemade pickles into his bag: "These are better with porridge than the pickled vegetables served in the army."

He Yuyang walked over and gently hugged her from behind: "Mom, don't bother, this is enough."

Liu Yan's tears welled up instantly. She patted his hand and said, "When you get there, eat well and don't always think about home..."

"Mmm." He Yuyang buried his face in her shoulder, smelling the familiar scent of soapberry. His heart felt warm and bittersweet, as if it were being soaked in warm water. In his previous life, he was an orphan and had never experienced this kind of attachment. In this life, with parents and younger siblings, he realized how heavy the word "home" truly was.

The next morning, before dawn, Nanluoguxiang was quiet, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the treetops. He Yuyang, carrying his luggage, stood at the gate of the courtyard, looking at the familiar blue bricks and gray tiles, the pomegranate tree in the courtyard, and his family members who were seeing him off at the gate.

Liu Yan's eyes were red, and she held back her tears. He Daqing patted his arm and said only, "Take care." He Yuzhu stiffened his neck and held back his tears. He Yushui ran over and stuffed something into his hand—a glass marble tied with a red string—the very one Zhao Xiaogang had given her.

"Brother, take this with you. Look at it when you miss me," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

He Yuyang gripped the glass marble tightly; it was warm, carrying the little girl's body heat. He knelt down and hugged her: "When I come back, I'll bring you something even better."

"Um!"

He stood up, took one last look at his family, and turned to leave. His steps were slow, but resolute.

Reaching the alley entrance, he glanced back—the He family's gate was still open, their figures blurred in the morning light, like the softest longing in his heart. Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong were also standing at their respective gates, waving at him.

He Yuyang waved to them, then turned and strode forward. The rising sun cast a long shadow on the bluestone path as he walked step by step toward the distance.

He knew that this journey might be filled with storms and hardships, but he could not turn back. Because behind him lay the home he was meant to protect, the vibrant atmosphere of Nanluoguxiang, and countless ordinary families like the He family, yearning for a peaceful life.

The country still needs him to protect it.

The wind blew past her ears, carrying the familiar scent of the alleyways and a distant call. He Yuyang took a deep breath, quickened her pace, and her figure gradually disappeared into the morning light at the alley entrance.

Life in Nanluoguxiang continues. The shouts from the martial arts school, the sounds of students reading aloud, and the laughter of neighbors echo through the alleyways as usual. Only now, these sounds carry a new layer of longing and anticipation—a wait for the figure in military uniform to return soon.