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

He spotted Jia Dongming about to push his cart away and quickly called out, "Section Chief Jia! Wait, I have something to discuss!"

Jia Dongming stopped in his tracks, turning around with a perfectly timed look of confusion on his face: "Director Li? You wanted to see me?"

Seeing his expression, Li Huaide made a mental note of it, but still smiled warmly: "I heard that Section Chief Jia went into the mountains alone today and had a very fruitful harvest, so I came to see for myself."

Jia Dongming smiled, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the weather: "When I first took over the security department, I found that the brothers were all physically weak and couldn't keep up with the training."

Thinking of going into the mountains to try my luck, maybe I could earn some extra money for everyone, and also have the strength to protect the factory.

They were lucky to run into a group of wild animals.

It's a pity we don't have enough manpower, otherwise we could have brought back more.

Li Huaide's gaze swept over the mountain of meat, his approval growing even stronger: "Section Chief Jia, there must be at least several thousand catties of meat here. The Security Section only has about three hundred people, so they can't possibly consume it all in a short time."

"Look... could you allocate some to the factory canteen? I'll buy it at the market price of 80 cents a pound, you definitely won't lose out."

These words were exactly what Jia Dongming wanted to hear.

When he went to the second workshop to look for Qin Huairu in the morning, he saw her struggling to move iron materials among a group of male workers. Her hair was soaked with sweat and stuck to her cheeks. He then thought of giving her an easier job.

Just when he was wondering what to do, Li Huaide delivered himself to his doorstep.

Jia Dongming pretended to hesitate for a moment before saying, "Director Li, to be honest, I was originally unwilling to give up this Dongxi that we hunted."

It's not easy to make a trip into the mountains.

He changed the subject, his smile deepening, "But since you've asked, I have to give you face."

Here's what we'll do: I'll have Guoping from logistics calculate it, keep five jin for each of the brothers to buy their own portion, add the amount needed for Mingtian Canteen, and the rest will be arranged by the factory.

What do you think?

Li Huaide quickly calculated in his mind: This pile of meat in front of him looked impressive, but after removing the skin, hair and internal organs, it was at most a little over two thousand catties.

But his smile didn't fade, and he immediately nodded: "Okay! Section Chief Jia is straightforward!"

According to Jia Dongming's previous statement, the steel rolling mill would only be able to get a few hundred kilograms of meat in the end.

Li Huaide frowned as he thought of the tens of thousands of workers in the factory. He said to Jia Dongming, "Section Chief Jia, our factory has a large workforce. If we distribute these few hundred kilograms of meat, each person probably won't even get a bite. It's really just a drop in the ocean."

Jia Dongming looked troubled and sighed, "Director Li, what you said puts me in a difficult position."

Seeing that his tone had softened, Li Huaide immediately took half a step forward and said sincerely, "Section Chief Jia, please help your brother out."

These words were exactly what Jia Dongming wanted to hear.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Since Director Li has spoken, how about this—I'll leave half of the wild boar on the back of my bicycle, and each team member will buy one pound less."

However, I do have something I'd like to ask you for help with.

Li Huaide's eyes lit up, and he immediately replied, "Tell me! As long as it's within my power, I'll do it without hesitation."

Jia Dongming nodded, his tone softening: "To be honest, the accommodations arranged by the factory this time helped me find my family members whom I had been separated from for many years."

My younger brother was also a worker at the steel rolling mill, but he died in a work injury last year… Now his wife, Qin Huairu, has taken his place, working in the second workshop.”

"What?"

Li Huaide was suddenly taken aback. "Qin Huairu is your sister-in-law? Then your brother is Jia Dongxu?"

Li Huaide handled Jia Dongxu's funeral arrangements last year.

His face was filled with astonishment, and he hurriedly asked for confirmation before Jia Dongming could finish speaking.

Jia Dongming nodded solemnly: "Yes, Dongxu is my younger brother."

Unfortunately, he was no longer with me when I reunited with my mother.

Li Huaide's heart skipped a beat—he had met Qin Huairu before and had considered her, but he had suppressed his thoughts because she had just joined the factory and he already had Liu Lan by his side.

Upon learning of this relationship, a cold sweat broke out on his back, and he secretly rejoiced that he had not acted rashly back then.

He steadied himself and said with emotion, "I never imagined that Dongxu was your brother... I personally handled his matter."

Jia Dongming then chimed in, "The workshop is full of heavy work, and it's really tough for my sister-in-law, who's just a woman."

"Director Li, could you please do me a favor and transfer her to a less demanding position?"

This was a favor that came to Li Huaide by chance.

He answered almost without thinking, "The logistics warehouse is short of an administrator, with a monthly salary of thirty-five yuan and fifty cents."

"If your sister-in-law is willing, Mingtian, please bring her to see me. I'll handle the formalities."

This position has always been reserved for those with connections, and Li Huaide's swift and decisive action demonstrates his shrewdness.

Jia Dongming smiled and thanked him repeatedly, saying, "Director Li, I will remember this favor."

"You're too kind."

Li Huaide waved his hand, "Your family is my family, it's only right."

Jia Dongming said no more, turned around and called out to Zhang Guoping, who was directing the slaughter of pigs.

Zhang Guoping jogged over and respectfully asked, "Section Chief, what are your instructions?"

Jia Dongming smiled and said, "Find two people to deal with the other side of the car as well, I'll keep half of it."

After all the pigs have been slaughtered, each member of the security department is allowed to buy three catties of offal, which will be left for Mingtian in the canteen to add to the dishes.

The remaining meat, along with the three wolves and the silly roe deer, was sold to the factory canteen for 80 cents a pound—since we ate the meat, our fellow workers should at least get a taste of the grease too.

After receiving instructions from Jia Dongming, Zhang Guoping couldn't help but glance at Li Huaide, who was standing to the side.

His face showed some difficulty, and he rubbed his hands together, saying in a low voice, "Section Chief, I just promised everyone five catties of meat, and now suddenly we have to reduce it by two catties... How can I say that?"

Jia Dongming laughed and patted his shoulder: "Guoping, just tell everyone that I'll take some time to go into the mountains again next week."

Meat will be available sooner or later.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guoping's brows immediately relaxed, and he nodded in agreement, "Okay, I'll go and tell them right away."

I'll clean this wild boar for you and bring it over in a bit.

After Zhang Guoping pushed his bicycle away, Li Huaide walked up to him with a smile: "Section Chief Jia, the factory has really owes a lot to you."

He paused slightly, lowering his voice, "Next time you go up the mountain, if you have the chance, you might as well leave some more wild animals behind."

The factory will buy at the highest price possible, so you won't lose out.

Those were the days when ration coupons were more valuable than money, but ultimately no one ever complained about having too much money.

Jia Dongming agreed without hesitation: "Don't worry, Director Li, any surplus will be prioritized for the factory."

Li Huaide immediately smiled, and his tone became much more friendly: "Then I'll go to the logistics department and call a few people to lend a hand."

"I settled the payment for these wild animals with you when you brought Qin Huairu to my office to handle the transfer earlier."

"Okay, see you, Ming'er."

Jia Dongming nodded, giving a crisp answer.

After Li Huaide's figure disappeared at the other end of the corridor, Jia Dongming strolled back to the front of the small canteen.

Inside, things were bustling with activity; several men from the security department were cleaning up wild boar around a chopping board.

He waved to Zhang Guoping, who was standing by the door: "The brothers who did the work today will each receive two jin of offal as a reward for their hard work."

Zhang Guoping immediately turned around and shouted inside, "Did you all hear that? The section chief has spoken: everyone who does it gets two jin of offal!"

A rustling of laughter came from inside, and the sounds of knives rising and falling sounded even more crisp.

Before long, the wild boar that Jia Dongming wanted to take away had been properly disposed of.

He kept half of the steel roll, put the other half in a rough burlap sack from the canteen, tied it back to the back of his bicycle, said goodbye to everyone, and rode away from the steel mill.

After more than twenty minutes of driving through the night, the outline of the courtyard gradually became clear in the dim light.

As soon as Jia Dongming pushed the cart into the courtyard, Yan Bugui's eyes were glued to the bulging sack.

He rushed over, his face beaming, "Section Chief Jia's back! I heard from the people in the compound that you brought down a truckload of mountain produce today, is that true?"

Jia Dongming understood perfectly well, but he just smiled and said, "I did get some winter vegetables."

Has Uncle San eaten yet?

Yan Bugui peered into the sack again and again: "Is this... wild boar meat?"

"I kept half a door for myself, to help the elderly and children in my family."

Jia Dongming's answer was ordinary.

Yan Bugui rubbed his hands together, his words earnest: "Our family hasn't had any meat for a while... Could you spare some for me? The price is negotiable."

Jia Dongming shook his head: "Private transactions are not allowed."

He then changed the subject, "But there is indeed too much meat; one family can't finish it all."

"Let's distribute a pound to each household in the courtyard later, so everyone can have a taste."

Yan Bugui had originally planned to get some benefits, but unexpectedly it was a free gift, and he was immediately overjoyed: "Section Chief Jia, then I thank you on behalf of the entire institute!"

Just then, a boy of about ten years old ran over from the Intermediate People's Court; it was Bang Geng.

Hearing the commotion in the front yard, he rushed over and, upon seeing Jia Dongming, called out in a cheerful voice, "Uncle! Grandma and Mom are waiting for you to eat!"

Jia Dongming responded and nodded to Yan Bugui: "Third Uncle, I'll go home first. My mother is waiting."

Bang Geng followed him into the backyard, his eyes constantly glancing at the heavy sack.

Remembering what his mother had said when she came home that evening, he looked up, his eyes sparkling with admiration: "Uncle, Mom said you hunted a lot of wild boars in the mountains today—is that true?"

Jia Dongming met Bang Geng's bright, sparkling eyes, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his face. "Bang Geng, when has your uncle ever lied to you? See that sack in the back of the car? It's filled with half a wild boar, and a lot of guts and offal."

In the past, when Jia Dongxu was still alive, the family rarely had meat a few times a month, and they had to carefully calculate the amount each time.

Ever since Jia Dongming returned home, there has been meat on the table almost every meal, and Bang Geng feels like he is living a dream.

Upon hearing that there really was half a wild boar in the sack, Bang Geng immediately jumped high, clapping his hands and shouting, "Meat time! We can eat our fill of meat again tonight!"

As they were talking, Jia Dongming pushed his cart into the courtyard and bumped right into Sha Zhu, who had just crawled out of the house.

As soon as Sha Zhu saw him, his face immediately lit up with a smile: "Brother Dongming is back? I heard you went to the countryside today and took down more than a dozen wild boars in one go? That's really impressive!"

Jia Dongming smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Not many, just seventeen wild boars, plus three wolves and a silly roe deer."

Li, the deputy factory director of your canteen, has sharp ears. He smelled the food and came straight to the security department. He tried to persuade them to take half of it.

I couldn't argue with him, so I had to give in.

When Sha Zhu heard that Li Huaide had taken so much meat from the security department, his mind immediately started working – there must be meat dishes in the canteen at Mingtian Factory, so he could save some for himself and the old lady and Yushui could have a good meal again.

He became happier the more he thought about it, but he went along with the conversation and said, "Brother Dongming, you don't know, the cafeteria hasn't had any meat for more than a month."

If this news gets out, Mingtian will probably be packed with people at noon.

Jia Dongming couldn't help but laugh when he recalled the farce at the security department's canteen during the day: "Zhu Zi, we had braised pork for lunch today."

It was supposed to be a good thing, but the guys hadn't had any meat or oil in a long time, so they spent the whole afternoon running to the outhouse.

"Mingtian, if your cafeteria started serving meat dishes, you might make a fool of yourself too."

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu quickly chimed in, "I've heard gossip about this too, saying things like 'a new broom sweeps clean'—but if you ask me, he's just jealous that your security department had a good meal!"

Jia Dongming shook his head, his tone slightly teasing: "Our canteen slaughtered a fat pig today, and everyone got almost a pound of meat."

Mingtian factory has tens of thousands of workers. Even if you include all the ones I brought, how many slices could each person get? In the end, there will probably be even more people running to the toilet.”

Sha Zhu thought about the scene and laughed, "That's true. There are too many people and not enough meat in the factory. What you get is just enough to fill a tooth gap."

Jia Dongming said no more, pointing to the sack behind the car: "There's half a carcass of meat, a pig's head, and two sets of offal in here."

I'd appreciate it if you could help me divide it up and cut a pound for each household in the yard.

Please braise the pig's head and offal, take your time, and I'll save some for you later.

When Sha Zhu heard that he was going to distribute meat to the whole hospital, he immediately gave a thumbs up: "Brother Dongming, you're so generous! Leave this to me, I'll make sure you get it done perfectly."