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

The engineer who used to live there moved out, and she went to check on him several times afterward.

When she woke up from her midday nap and heard that the courtyard had been taken over, she was about to make a scene, but then she heard someone say that the person who came might be her eldest son, Jia Dongming, who had been missing for many years.

She then calmed down and waited outside the courtyard gate.

The crying stopped at that moment, and Jia Zhangshi's eyes suddenly lit up: "Dongming, that courtyard has been empty for quite some time. It really can't be lived in without a thorough cleaning."

You sit here. Mom will go find Yan's son, Jiefang, in the front yard and ask him to run to the factory and call Huairu back to clean your house—it needs to be scrubbed inside and out.

"No need to trouble your younger siblings."

Jia Dongming stopped him, saying, "I can clean it up myself."

But Jia Zhangshi wouldn't listen.

In her mind, Qin Huairu was just someone the Jia family used, and bearing children and doing labor were her duties.

The eldest son in front of them was a cadre, the face of the Jia family, and he couldn't possibly get involved in such menial work.

Without a word, she picked up Xiao Huaihua, who was sobbing softly on the kang (a heated brick bed), and walked outside: "Don't worry about it, just listen to your mother."

Just rest.

Jia Dongming could only shake his head as he watched his mother's retreating figure.

Little Dang was sucking her fingers in his arms when he suddenly remembered the candy he had promised her. He quickly untied the cloth bag, took out a milky white candy, and asked gently, "Little Dang, tell your uncle, how old are you?"

The child stared at the candy, eyes wide, swallowed hard, and softly replied, "I'm four years old."

Jia Zhangshi carried Xiao Huaihua to the middle courtyard and saw that the Third Aunt was chatting with several women. She quickly went up to her, took out a dime from her pocket and stuffed it into her hand: "Third Aunt, have Jiefang go to the factory and call Huairu back."

This money is for the kids to buy snacks.

Aunt Yang Ruihua, clutching the money, replied with a smile, "Don't worry, this is called liberation."

Seeing her head towards the front yard, Jia Zhangshi couldn't help but puff out her chest.

She turned to the neighbors who were listening intently, raising her voice slightly: "Our Dongming is a former soldier who has been transferred back to civilian life. He's now the head of security at the factory, earning 135 yuan a month—the courtyard where Engineer Xue used to live has now been allocated to our family."

Actually, when Jia Dongming came to see the house in the morning, word had already leaked out through the three aunties.

Those in the compound who were itching to occupy a room all gave up their ideas when they heard that it was the head of the security department.

No one expected that this section chief was actually Jia Zhangshi's eldest son, whom she hadn't seen for many years.

Seeing her barely concealed smugness, the women gathered in the courtyard felt a mixture of sourness and envy.

Especially the second aunt in the backyard.

Her husband, Liu Haizhong, is always hoping to become an official, and she has also developed a snobbish attitude towards him.

Of the dozen or so households in this courtyard, the one she looked down on the most was Jia Zhangshi, but at this moment she could only listen awkwardly, her nails secretly digging into her palms.

Now that she knows Jia Zhangshi's eldest son, who has been missing for many years, has become the head of the security department and earns a monthly salary of 135 yuan, she can't hide her envy when she looks at Jia Zhangshi, and her voice is tinged with flattery: "Sister-in-law Jia, who would have thought that Bang Geng's uncle would be so successful? With Section Chief Jia backing you up, you can just wait to live a comfortable life!"

This flattery hit Jia Zhangshi right where it hurt.

Recalling Jia Dongming's achievements on the battlefield, she straightened her back a bit and said with pride, "His second aunt, what he said is true."

Dongming, that kid, survived a hail of bullets. If it weren't for that toughness, would the factory have given him the entire villa?

Whenever the villa was mentioned, the women gathered in the courtyard would show expressions of envy.

The older woman, Yi Tanshi, had often complained to her husband about the house, and now she forced a smile and said, "Sister-in-law Jia, you used to always complain that the house was too cramped. Now that we have that room in the other courtyard, you won't have to worry about where to live anymore."

In the past, the Jia family received a lot of help from Yi Zhonghai and his wife in many trivial matters.

Relying on this relationship and planning to have Jia Dongxu support the Yi family in their old age, Jia Zhangshi never took Yi Tanshi seriously and even privately called her a "hen that doesn't lay eggs."

.

Upon hearing Yi Tan speak, Jia Zhangshi suddenly recalled the past incident of her son Jia Dongxu's death due to a work injury. A surge of resentment welled up in her heart, and her words became barbed: "It is true that our Dongxu is gone, but God has opened his eyes and sent Dongming back."

Unlike some people who live to this age without a single child, and who fear that when they pass away, they won't even have anyone to care for them in their final moments.

These words pierced Yi Tan's heart like needles.

She understood the underlying meaning—Fenming was mocking her inability to have children and cursing her to die a miserable death.

A sudden, sharp pain shot through her chest. She instinctively clutched her heart, her breath coming in short gasps as she snapped, "Jia Zhangshi! What do you mean by that?!"

"Mom! What nonsense are you talking about!"

Just as Jia Zhangshi was about to say a few more sarcastic remarks, she heard Jia Dongming's deep voice from behind her.

Hearing her son speak up to stop her, Madam Jia suddenly remembered Jia Dongming's earlier warning. Feeling guilty, she quickly turned around and asked, "Dongming! Why aren't you resting inside? What are you doing out here?"

Jia Dongming could hear the commotion inside the house clearly.

He came from the future and had long since figured out Jia Zhangshi's temperament, knowing that changing her nature would not be a task that could be accomplished in a day.

Jia Dongming carried Xiaodang to Yi Tanshi's side. Seeing that her face was pale, he sincerely bowed and said, "Auntie, my mother is a countrywoman and often speaks without thinking. I apologize on her behalf."

Please be magnanimous and don't take it to heart.

Seeing her son bowing to Yi Tanshi on her behalf, Jia Zhangshi was immediately displeased, but when Jia Dongming gave her a look, she swallowed back the harsh words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Jia Dongming ignored her, took out the key to the villa from his pocket, and handed it to Jia Zhangshi: "Mom, take the key and go open the gate first."

"You can estimate how much fabric you need for the bed in the main room. I'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative and get some. Could you please sew a quilt cover for it?"

Madam Jia hurriedly took it and, amidst the intense gazes from all around, walked to the gate of the villa. "Click."

With a click of the lock, he stepped inside, his face beaming.

Around 3 PM, Qin Huairu was dawdling at work in the workshop when a security guard rushed in, shouting, "Qin Huairu! Someone's looking for you outside. They say there's an emergency at home, and your mother-in-law wants you to go home right away!"

Qin Huairu looked up upon hearing the voice, quickly went to greet them, and asked in confusion, "Comrade, did the person who came say what it was about?"

The security guard shook his head: "That young man didn't explain clearly; he only urged you to go home immediately."

Qin Huairu thanked him and turned to ask the workshop director for leave.

"Huairu, what happened at home?"

Yi Zhonghai happened to come over from the side and asked with concern.

Qin Huairu shook her head: "Uncle, the security guards only told me to go back quickly, they didn't mention anything else."

Yi Zhonghai immediately said, "I'm afraid there really is an emergency."

I'll talk to the director. You should pack your things and go home to check on things.

Qin Huairu hurriedly tidied up Dongxi, and as soon as she stepped out of the steel rolling mill gate, she saw Yan Jiefang waiting there.

She rushed forward, her voice trembling with anxiety: "Jiefang, what happened to my house?"

Before Yan Jiefang could finish speaking, Qin Huairu slammed the enamel basin in her hand against the edge of the cement pool with a loud bang.

"Sister-in-law Jia?"

Yan Jiefang called out again.

Qin Huairu then came to her senses and unconsciously wiped her fingers on her wet apron.

Jia Dongxu's older brother? In all the years she's been married into the family, she's never heard those two words mentioned at the dinner table or in casual conversation.

Yan Jiefang took a half step closer, lowered his voice, but his eyes shone brightly: "My mother and the others have been talking about it. They say that the eldest son, who was separated from his family when he was young... is now the head of the security department of the steel rolling mill! That winter wing room in our compound that has been empty for many years was actually assigned to him by the factory."

He paused, as if he could finally hold back the secret, "Didn't you see him at the cafeteria entrance at noon? That new section chief looks just like Dongxu... tsk, they're practically identical."

Qin Huairu suddenly saw the face from noon—young, upright, with a calm demeanor that resembled Jia Dongxu's profile when he was hunched over his drawing board.

Her heart skipped a beat.

When I stepped into the courtyard house, the sun was already setting in the west.

A crowd had gathered under the old locust tree in the courtyard. Jia Zhangshi's laughter, eight octaves higher, broke through the throng: "...Our Dongming has been promising since he was a child! Look, the factory immediately allocated him an apartment!"

Qin Huairu pushed through the crowd, and her mother-in-law held Xiao Huaihua in her arms, her cheeks glowing.

Before she could speak, Madam Jia Zhang caught sight of her and pointed, "Huai Ru! Quickly, go to the water room and fetch a bucket of water and a rag! The winter wing needs to be wiped clean inside and out; your eldest brother will be staying here tonight!"

Before the words were finished, the curtain of the winter wing was lifted by a hand with distinct knuckles.

The man walked out, and the dim afternoon light fell precisely on his shoulder.

He smiled at Jia Zhangshi first, then turned his gaze to Qin Huairu, pausing for a moment.

"Mom, is this your sister-in-law?"

His voice was not loud, and had a slightly raspy quality, like the autumn wind blowing through dry corn leaves.

Jia Zhangshi grabbed Qin Huairu's arm, her voice brimming with barely suppressed pride: "Dongming, this is Huairu. After Dongxu left, she took over his job and is learning to work at the factory."

He then turned to Qin Huairu and said, "Quickly call him! This is your older brother, Dongxu's biological brother, the head of the security department at our steel rolling mill. He earns 135 yuan a month!"

Qin Huairu lowered her eyes and called out, "Big Brother."

.

My vague guess was confirmed—it was indeed the person at the cafeteria entrance.

Jia Dongming nodded, his gaze lingering for a moment on her faded cuffs and slightly sweaty forehead before he said gently, "Huairu, Mom has told me everything that's been happening at home these past few days."

Thanks a lot.

"From now on, I'll be here; you won't have to shoulder the burden alone."

This came as a complete surprise.

For more than a year, the cold machine tools in the workshop, her mother-in-law's occasional complaints, the open mouths of her three children, and the perpetually insufficient grain ration book... all these heavy burdens weighed on her back, but suddenly, this sentence opened a crack in her heart.

Her nose stung with tears, and she quickly turned her face away, only managing a muffled reply: "Brother, please rest first, I'll tidy up the house right away."

She worked quickly and efficiently, and soon the old wooden window frames, the dusty kang (heated brick bed) edges, and the mottled brick floor were all polished back to their original state.

Jia Dongming stood at the door watching her busy herself, and the room gradually filled with the smell of water and old wood.

A strange, unfamiliar sense of security, like the smoke rising from a chimney at dusk, quietly filled his chest.

He glanced out the window at Jia Zhangshi, who was still laughing and talking loudly. In a corner of his heart, a silent thought surfaced:

**Jia Dongming, you can rest assured.**

Your mom is my mom too, and I'll slowly work out those flaws of hers.

I'll take care of you in your old age and see you off in your final days.

**

It was as if a very soft sigh had dissipated deep within the soul, and some invisible constraint had snapped shut.

The ground loosens.

His shoulders felt lighter, as if he could finally stand firmly on his own.

In that instant when everything was completely settled, a cold, crisp sound pierced my mind without warning:

**"Ding! Soul fusion detected as complete."

System activated.

The new player gift pack has been distributed. Would you like to open it?

**

A clear, melodious sound echoed in his mind, and Jia Dongming was slightly startled as memories of the past flooded his mind.

Those afternoons spent on Qidian.com, those wildly imaginative stories, were not entirely meaningless after all.

A ripple stirred deep within his heart, and a knowing smile spread through him: So that's how it is; what others have, eventually falls into my lap as well.

"Host, would you like to open the newbie gift pack?"

When the inorganic voice sounded again, Jia Dongming had already recovered from the initial shock.

Without hesitation, he silently gave his affirmative opinion.

"The gift pack has been opened."

Gifts: Gene Repair Potion x1, Auxiliary Space x1, Skill 'Eagle Eye'.

Should I use the potion immediately and load the skill?

Jia Dongming glanced outside—the sounds of Jia Zhangshi and several neighboring women chatting and laughing could be faintly heard.

His mind raced, and he chose to postpone it.

If my body undergoes any unusual changes, it could cause trouble under the watchful eyes of everyone.

"bite.

The host has not checked in today. Would you like to check in?

"Check-in".