Courtyard House: I, the eldest son of the Jia family, have returned from the battlefield.

He recalled the comments in the file, and also the shadowy figure that always peeked at Qin Huairu when she washed clothes by the well at night.

"Comrade Xu."

Jia Dongming nodded and pushed the bamboo basket towards the center of the table. "Perfect, I brought some eggs. Let's share them among everyone."

The basket gleamed warmly in the moonlight.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment, with only Jia Zhangshi being heard sniffling softly in a corner.

The lamplight cast slanting shadows on the blue brick floor of the courtyard in winter.

He Yuzhu turned to the side, raised his hand and pointed to the corner of the yard, and whispered to Jia Dongming beside him: "That guy, Xu Damao, who lives in the backyard, is in charge of the projectors at the factory."

But don't be fooled by his respectable appearance; inside... he's not a decent person.

Xu Damao was about to step forward to speak when He Yuzhu beat him to it. After hearing this introduction, his face immediately darkened.

He stiffened his neck, his voice laced with suppressed anger: "He Yuzhu! Don't try to fool me in front of Section Chief Jia! When did I offend you?"

He Yuzhu scoffed and casually flicked his sleeve: "Why would I need to offend you? You're all entangled with those young women at the factory, and when you go to the countryside to show a movie, you practically steal all the chickens and ducks from the villagers' homes. What kind of good person are you?"

"Xu Damao!"

Before he could finish speaking, a question trembling in his voice broke in.

Xu Damao felt a sharp pain in his ear and was pulled to one side.

Lou Xiao'e was already standing beside him, her fingers twisting his ear, her eyes slightly red. "Did you actually do any of what he said? You and those female workers in the factory..."

"Ouch! E'zi! Be gentle, be gentle!"

Xu Damao grimaced, both ashamed and angry. "That's Sha Zhu making things up about me! Don't listen to his nonsense! Let go!"

The commotion drew everyone's attention in the courtyard.

Sitting at the octagonal table, Liu Haizhong cleared his throat, picked up the enamel mug on the table, and slammed it down: "Lou Xiao'e! What kind of behavior is this! Can't you see there are distinguished guests in the courtyard, and three of us gentlemen sitting here? Don't you have any manners at all!"

Lou Xiao'e was jolted awake by the official tone and realized that this was not her own backyard.

She looked around, and the stares of onlookers made her face burn.

She released her grip abruptly, her fingertips still trembling with anger, and stared at Xu Damao, lowering her voice to say, "You wait... I'll settle the score with you when we get home."

Having lost face so badly in front of everyone, Xu Damao felt blood rushing to his head, his pitiful pride utterly crushed.

He stubbornly raised his neck and yelled at Lou Xiao'e, "Go home? Go home what! You hen that can't even brood! You'd rather believe a stranger's lies than your own man. Do you think I, Xu Damao, am made of clay?"

Jia Dongming's gaze fell on Lou Xiao'e's face.

She bit her lower lip, her eyes red-rimmed, and struggled to hold back her tears.

His appearance caused a slight pang in his heart.

He knew the rights and wrongs in this courtyard, and he also knew that the woman in front of him was perhaps the cleanest, yet most fragile, thread in this intricate web of human relationships.

Lou Xiao'e, the daughter of Lou Bancheng.

For that inexplicable and indescribable "ingredients".

She married the son of her family's servant.

A hasty marriage is like throwing a greenhouse flower into the cold wind.

Xu Damao took advantage of his trip to the countryside to learn about those shady dealings; Lou Xiao'e's dowry quietly decreased, but she just assumed she had misremembered.

The most absurd thing is that Mingming's problem is his own inability to have children, yet the blame for this has been firmly placed on Lou Xiao'e's head for so many years.

She endured beatings and scoldings; she also tolerated cold treatment.

Later, when the storm broke out, Xu Damao was eager to distance himself from the situation, so he reported Xu, divorced him, and had his property confiscated... one thing after another.

Later, the deaf old woman secretly exerted her efforts, and He Yuzhu begged someone to help pull her parents out of the mire.

That gratitude, mixed with other emotions, brewed into an inexplicable secret on the eve of leaving Beijing.

Many years later, she returned with her child, wanting to prove something and try to salvage something, but by then Qin Huairu was already standing beside He Yuzhu, along with the invisible wall of Yi Zhonghai.

She left behind her family business, hoping to help him live a better life, but it became the beginning of a new round of demands...

"Xu Damao! Lou Xiao'e!"

A deep shout interrupted Jia Dongming's thoughts.

Yi Zhonghai, with a stern face, tapped his fingers on the table, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority: "Today's hospital-wide meeting is to welcome Section Chief Jia to our hospital and also to reunite Jia's mother and son."

If you two have any household matters to discuss, go back inside and close the door.

Now, everyone, sit down and prepare for the meeting.

Xu Damao's earlier comment about "a hen that can't lay eggs"

He roared out, driven entirely by brute force, completely forgetting that the new "Buddha" Jia Dongming was sitting right next to him.

.

Only after being touched by Yi Zhonghai did he realize the fear that followed. His arrogance dissipated, and his face turned pale and then red. He awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth but did not move.

Lou Xiao'e turned her face away, blinked hard to force back the sour feeling, and silently retreated to the shadows at the edge of the crowd.

As Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, the courtyard fell silent instantly.

Xu Damao, who had been stubborn, immediately deflated when he heard that today's occasion was for Jia Dongming.

He glanced at Lou Xiao'e sideways, snorted, and lowered his voice: "Lou Xiao'e! Today is Section Chief Jia's big day, I can't be bothered to argue with you."

Before he finished speaking, a warm smile spread across his face. He turned to Jia Dongming, who was sitting in the middle, and unconsciously bent his back a little: "Section Chief Jia! How are you? I live in the backyard. Xu Damao is in charge of showing movies at the steel rolling mill."

"To be able to come and go in the same courtyard as you from now on is truly... truly an immense honor for me, Xu Damao!"

Jia Dongming was sitting upright when he saw Xu Damao's posture, so he stood up, a friendly smile on his face, and nodded: "Comrade Xu Damao, hello."

From now on, we're neighbors, so there's no need to be so formal.

Xu Damao felt relieved to see that the new section chief was easygoing and approachable.

His eyes darted around, and he quickly stepped forward, his voice full of obsequiousness: "Section Chief Jia, you're a new guest, so our institute should show you some hospitality."

"Mingwan, if you have some free time, please do me the honor of visiting my home. We'll have a simple meal and a couple of drinks; it'll be my way of welcoming you."

Upon hearing this, a faint hint of contemplation flashed across Jia Dongming's eyes, but his smile remained unchanged as he readily replied, "Alright, then I'll trouble you."

Xu Damao nodded repeatedly with delight, rubbing his hands together and saying, "It's a deal! It's a deal!"

Liu Haizhong, who was sitting at the square table nearby, saw this scene and was filled with regret.

He cursed himself for being so stupid, letting that sly Xu Damao get the upper hand and missing a good opportunity to build a relationship.

Just as he was feeling frustrated, Yi Zhonghai cleared his throat, and his voice rang out steadily:

"Everyone's here, let's get started now."

Liu Haizhong snapped back to reality, knowing he couldn't fall behind any longer. Before Yi Zhonghai could speak again, he stood up abruptly, faced the residents of the courtyard, and raised his voice:

"Ladies and gentlemen! As you all probably know, we have a new neighbor in our compound today—Jia Dongming, the newly appointed head of the security department at the steel rolling mill!"

As he spoke, he clapped his hands vigorously, saying, "Come on! Everyone, let's give Section Chief Jia a warm welcome!"

The people in the courtyard had already heard the news from the third aunt and knew that this Section Chief Jia was not only of extraordinary status, but also going to return the money that everyone had raised for the Jia family over the years. Now, seeing a basket of round eggs at his feet, how could they not be happy? Immediately, applause rang out, even more lively than setting off firecrackers during the New Year.

Amid applause, Jia Dongming rose again, slowly cupped his hands in greeting to all sides, and said in a clear voice, "Dear neighbors, I am Jia Dongming, the eldest son of the Jia family who went missing many years ago."

Today, on behalf of my entire family, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your care and support over the years.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the eager faces, and then said, "In these times, no family is well-off."

What everyone contributed back then was their hard-earned money and genuine friendship.

We, the Jia family, will remember this kindness for a lifetime; but we cannot accept this money.

Today, I will return in full all the money that was donated to the Jia family, not a single penny less.

A low, excited buzzing sound came from the courtyard.

Jia Dongming raised his hand and pressed it down lightly. After the sound subsided, he pointed to the basket of eggs and said, "This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please add five more eggs to each household as a way of thanking you all."

After saying that, he took out a stack of neatly arranged bills from his pocket, bent down and picked up the heavy bamboo basket, walked steadily to the table of the three stewards and put it down, and said with a smile: "I'll trouble you three gentlemen to take care of the trivial matters of refunding money and distributing eggs."

Yan Bugui stared at the stack of money and the basket full of eggs on the table, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

Before Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong could respond, he quickly agreed with a smile, his words perfectly tactful: "Section Chief Jia, you're too kind! Leave this small matter to us. We guarantee not a penny will be wrong, not a single egg will be missing!"

……

The next morning, just after seven o'clock, the sunlight shone dimly into the room through the window paper.

Jia Dongming slowly awoke from a deep sleep. Before he even opened his eyes, a clear and peculiar notification sound rang out directly in the depths of his mind:

"Ding! Daily check-in is complete. Confirm?"

Jia Dongming's drowsiness vanished instantly. He focused his mind and responded in his consciousness, "Confirmed."

"Ding! Check-in successful."

Rewards: Master-level hunting skills; a special bait that is highly effective at attracting all kinds of fish and animals; 10 jin of citrus fruits, 10 jin of apples, 10 jin of bananas, and 10 jin of grapes; 10 yuan in cash.

Should we immediately incorporate insights related to "master-level hunting skills"?

Jia Dongming, who was pondering how to improve the food and boost the morale of the security department yesterday, couldn't help but beam with joy upon receiving this unexpected gift.

He steadied himself and silently recited in his mind:

"Begin the fusion."

The next moment, a vast and subtle stream of information surged forth from nothingness, like a river bursting its banks, flowing mightily into the depths of his consciousness.

The scent of the mountains and forests, the habits of the prey, the traces of tracking, the tricks of setting traps, the aim of the crossbow... countless vivid experiences and knowledge are rapidly being imprinted into a part of his instincts.

The morning light had barely penetrated the window paper when he already seemed like a hunter who had spent half his life immersed in the mountains and forests, his eyes and brows full of familiarity and composure.

The training regulations established by the security department yesterday are now being silently planned in Jia Dongming's mind.

Once the pig from Changping is delivered, he will collect a long spear and head to the vast wilderness outside Beijing.

This would not only ease their financial burden, but also allow the brothers in Corey to earn some extra money.

Just then, a clear, resonant voice rang out from outside the courtyard gate: "Uncle! Are you awake? Mother told me to call you for breakfast!"

Jia Dongming responded, hurriedly put on his clothes, and pushed open the door to go out.

After washing up, I stepped into the main room and saw that Madam Jia Zhang was already sitting at the table.

"Mom, why are you up so early today?"

Jia Dongming was slightly surprised.

Madam Jia sighed and gestured to the side, "It's Huaihua again. She was crying because she was hungry before dawn, making everyone anxious."

Little Huaihua was nestled in Qin Huairu's arms. At only one and a half years old, she could only call out "Mother".

With "sister"

.

Upon hearing her name, she looked up with a bewildered expression, grinned at Jia Dongming, and babbled in a soft language that no one could understand.

Jia Dongming looked at Qin Huairu with a gentle gaze and said, "The child needs nutrition to grow."

I've been trying to get some milk powder these past two days.

Starting from the anniversary, each person in the family would have an extra egg added to their daily routine; Huaihua's portion was steamed into a tender soup.

Qin Huairu's eyes lit up, but she hesitated again: "Eggs are so expensive these days, I'm afraid they'll be hard to buy..."

"It's alright."

Jia Dongming waved his hand, "I have old acquaintances in the supply and marketing cooperative. If you need anything, just let me know."

Qin Huairu nodded in relief: "Then I'll cook for the children as soon as possible."

After the meal, Jia Dongming went back to his room to get two packs of cigarettes, pushed his bicycle, and led Bang Geng out of the courtyard.

Neighbors along the way greeted them warmly:

"Good morning, Section Chief Jia!"

"Taking your nephew to school?"