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

Jia Dongming gently tapped his forehead: "Your mother's driving skills are not good enough to carry passengers."

"Eat quickly, then come with me."

After breakfast, Jia Dongming took out three packs of Daqianmen cigarettes from the inner room and handed them to the three members of the Qin family, uncle and nephew, with a warm smile on his face: "This time, thanks to you for rushing to send Huairu's father into the city, take these cigarettes with you to relieve your fatigue on the way."

"This won't do! Uncle Bang Geng, absolutely not!"

The second son of the Qin family glanced at the cigarette again and again, but his hand remained firm.

Jia Dongming saw through their intentions and, without saying a word, stuffed cigarettes into each person's pocket, saying gently, "I'm the head of security at the factory, and I'm rationed two packs of cigarettes a month. I don't smoke much myself, so you can do me a favor and use up a few packs."

The second son of the Qin family was still refusing, but the third son had already accepted it with a big smile, hurriedly replying, "Since Uncle says so, we will definitely help you finish this cigarette!"

The second brother glared at the third brother, his eyes filled with both anger and helplessness. He then turned to Jia Dongming and said with a forced smile, "Please don't take offense, my third brother is just that simple-minded."

"Uncle, the kitchen is all cleaned up. I'll go to the hospital to deliver breakfast now."

Qin Huairu came out of the inner room carrying a net bag and said softly.

Jia Dongming took out his bicycle key from his pocket and handed it over: "Go ride your bike. Go straight to the factory after you deliver the food. Don't delay."

Qin Huairu took the keys and then turned to her two uncles: "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, I have to go to the hospital, so I won't see you off any further."

The Qin brothers had a pleasant meal at their niece's house during their trip to the city, and even received a pack of good cigarettes before leaving, which made them feel very content.

The second son quickly laughed and said, "We're family, no need for such formalities. You go about your business."

After Qin Huairu left the house, Jia Dongming helped carry the oxcart out of the courtyard.

After the second brother had loaded the car, he finally spoke: "Uncles, I have to get to the factory too, so I won't see you off any further."

Take it easy on the road, and come visit often when you have time.

Hearing these considerate words, Qin's second son recalled the care he had received these past two days, and a simple smile spread across his dark face: "Uncle Bang Geng, you not only lent us money for medical treatment, but also treated us to good wine. We really don't know how to thank you... If you have time in the future, please come to the village with Huai Ru so that we can reciprocate your kindness."

Jia Dongming sensed the sincerity in his words and joked, "Alright, if you ever have the chance to visit Qin Family Village in the future, don't try to avoid me."

The third brother, oblivious to the joke, quickly patted his chest and assured, "Uncle, don't worry! We Qin family members keep our word! If you come, I'll have the kids go up the mountain to hunt some game, and we'll have a good drink like we did last night!"

The second brother listened from the side, shaking his head, wishing he could crack open his brother's head to see what was inside.

Jia Dongming smiled and turned to Qin Huairen, saying, "Uncle Bang Geng, your parents have Huairu taking care of them in the city, so don't worry."

We will definitely let you know if there is any news.

Qin Huairen recalled the nurse's words from yesterday, his eyes filled with gratitude: "Uncle-in-law, I'll leave it to you then."

After bidding farewell to Jia Dongming, the three uncles and nephews drove the oxcart slowly into the depths of Luogu Lane.

Jia Dongming watched the oxcart drive away, then turned and patted the boy beside him on the shoulder: "Bang Geng, it's getting late, we should get going."

As the sun rose higher and it approached noon, the three members of the Qin family, uncle and nephew, finally returned to Qin Family Village.

As soon as the oxcart came to a stop at the shed next to the village office, the village chief rushed over upon hearing the news. He grabbed the second brother with concern and asked, "What exactly is wrong with Dashan? Is it serious? Why didn't he come back with you?"

Qin Huairen hurriedly stepped forward to explain: "Fifth Uncle, my father has appendicitis."

The city doctor said, "Luckily, it was brought in time last night; any later and it could have been dangerous."

As dusk approached, the resounding song "We Workers Have Strength" echoed over the steel rolling mill.

Jia Dongming tidied up the documents on the table, picked up his briefcase, and walked unhurriedly toward the factory gate.

Meanwhile, in the Qin family compound far away in the countryside, the atmosphere was much more somber.

The old village chief squatted by the threshold, his pipe still in his hand for a long time, his brows furrowed.

He raised his eyes and looked at Qin Huairen, who was squatting opposite him: "Huairen, your father was perfectly healthy when he went to the fields yesterday, how could he just collapse like that? And in such a dangerous way?"

Qin Huairen rubbed his rough hands together, his throat a little dry: "Fifth Uncle, the doctor in the city said it's an acute illness."

After the examination, they said surgery was necessary immediately. My mother's legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.

Qin Laosan, who was squatting by the millstone, couldn't help but interject, his voice filled with lingering fear: "My God! You have no idea how much it costs at the city hospital. An operation costs fifty-seven yuan! We searched our pockets and couldn't even scrape together ten yuan."

If it weren't for my second brother sneaking into the city in the dark to find Huairu and ask for help, my eldest brother...

He didn't finish his sentence, and let out a heavy sigh.

The village chief took a puff of his cigarette. In the swirling smoke, he recalled some rumors and hesitated before speaking: "The women in the village gossip that Huai Ru's mother-in-law... is too picky and looks down on us farmers who toil in the fields."

She also said that the money box was held tightly in her mother-in-law's hands, so tightly that even a needle couldn't be inserted into it.

How did you manage to borrow this money?

Qin Huairen quickly waved his hand: "Fifth Uncle, that's the old almanac."

Nowadays, in my sister's family, her uncle—who is also Bang Geng's uncle—is in charge.

The money for my father's medical treatment, and even the subsequent expenses, were all paid for without hesitation; it totaled this much.

He held up his finger and gestured.

"Uncle?"

The village chief was taken aback, removing his pipe from his mouth. "When Huairu got married, wasn't everyone saying her husband was an only child? Where did this older brother come from?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Laosan perked up, straightening his back a bit: "Fifth Uncle, you wouldn't believe it! This uncle was separated from his family when he was young, and later joined our troops, fighting the Japanese in real battles in northwestern Shanxi! He only recently returned from military service and is now the head of security at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill!"

He paused deliberately, lowered his voice, but couldn't hide his pride, "A month's salary, this amount."

He quietly made a hand gesture.

As he spoke, he seemed to just remember something, and hurriedly pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, carefully opened it, took out one, and handed it to the village chief.

The gesture carried a hint of reluctance, yet also a touch of smugness. "Look, this 'Da Qianmen' cigarette was forced upon us by them."

There's no way to get rid of it.

The village chief took the cigarette but didn't light it immediately. He turned to Qin Dalin, who had been silent all along, and asked, "Dalin, what Lao San said... is it all true?"

Qin Dalin nodded, his words sincere: "Fifth Uncle, it's true."

Now, this eldest uncle is in charge of the Jia family.

When I went there last night, Grandma Huairu didn't even show her face.

When we returned from the hospital, they even treated us to a meal and drinks.

Qin Laosan interrupted again, his eyes shining: "Fifth Uncle, guess what we're being treated to? Scallion oil noodles made from fine white flour, topped with several large slices of braised beef! Each person has a huge bowl full of it! Huairu also fried eggs and peanuts."

The liquor is Xifeng liquor; I heard one bottle is worth seven yuan! I opened two bottles! The aroma… tsk, it's intoxicating just from the smell, and it's smooth on the palate, not harsh at all.

The village chief listened, and his throat moved involuntarily.

He looked at Qin Huairen, the wrinkles on his face slowly smoothing out, revealing a hint of relief: "Huairen, judging from this, your Huairu... has finally made it through."

Qin Huairen smiled, a smile that held both emotion and relief: "Fifth Uncle, it's not just that."

Uncle Banggeng saw that Huairu was working too hard in the workshop, so he transferred her to the logistics department to work in the office with just one sentence.

"Now she gets 35.5 yuan a month, and Uncle said Huairu can keep this money herself; she doesn't need to hand it over to the government."

"Okay, okay."

The village chief finally lit his cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled. "He's a man of integrity, responsible."

With this relative helping out, your family's life will finally look brighter.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast long shadows on the tall portico of the steel rolling mill.

Jia Dongming stepped out of the gate, his figure blending into the flow of people leaving get off work.

The songs broadcast over the factory's loudspeaker still resonate powerfully, carried by the evening breeze to distant places and to villages where smoke begins to rise from chimneys.

"Section Chief Jia! Please wait!"

As soon as Jia Dongming stepped out of the iron gate of the security department, he heard Liu Haizhong's panting shout behind him.

He turned around and saw Liu Haizhong jogging over from the shadows on the side of the office building, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

A perfectly timed look of confusion crossed Jia Dongming's face. He stopped and asked in a gentle tone, "Second Uncle? Did you wait for me specifically? Is something the matter?"

To ambush him, Liu Haizhong made an excuse to slip out of the workshop right at the end of the workday and had been waiting in the cold wind for quite some time.

He quickly approached, his smile almost squeezing out wrinkles: "Section Chief Jia, I'm sorry to bother you."

"I just wanted to ask if you're free tonight?"

Jia Dongming raised an eyebrow slightly, showing some interest: "I don't have any plans for tonight."

Second Uncle, please speak frankly.

Upon receiving this confirmation, Liu Haizhong seemed to straighten his back a bit and smiled even more enthusiastically: "That's how it is! Your second aunt went to the early market today and happened to see a batch of good meat coming to the slaughterhouse. The meat was so fresh and bright! She couldn't bear to part with it and used her meat coupons to buy a full two jin (1 kg)."

I was just thinking... I've prepared some light food and drinks at home, and I'd like to invite you over for a simple meal to warm up."

Jia Dongming's mind was as clear as a mirror.

In this hairstyle, what's so special about "a minor official position"?

His thoughts were almost written in every wrinkle that tried to flatter him.

He could guess eight or nine parts of the motives behind today's sudden invitation without even having to think about it too much.

He didn't show any sign of refusing; instead, he smiled and said in a familiar and polite tone, "Second Uncle, you're being too polite."

We live in the same courtyard, we see each other every day, there's no need for such formalities.

"You have to be particular, you have to be particular!"

Liu Haizhong quickly chimed in, bending slightly at the waist, "When you moved into the courtyard, didn't you also set up a table and invite a few of us old neighbors? That's called reciprocity, it's only natural."

I've been thinking about this, and I feel I should reciprocate by treating you to a meal sometime.

Jia Dongming nodded readily: "Since Second Uncle has put it this way, it would seem disrespectful of me to refuse."

Okay, I'll definitely be there tonight.

"But don't bother with the wine. I happen to have two bottles of Xifeng wine in my room, unopened. I'll bring them over tonight, and we can have a taste."

Upon hearing his agreement, Liu Haizhong's eyes lit up instantly, a joy spreading from his eyebrows to the corners of his mouth, as if he already had the appointment letter for workshop foreman in his pocket. "Hey! Good, good! Section Chief Jia, you're such a straightforward person! I'll go back to the workshop to get ready first, and I'll come back to invite you later!"

Watching Liu Haizhong's light-footed, almost hopping figure leave, Jia Dongming remembered the reason for his invitation to dinner, and couldn't help but shake his head slightly, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips, before turning and walking towards the gate of the steel rolling mill.

Before they even reached the dusty, heavy iron gate, another voice came from behind, clear and urgent:

"Uncle! Wait for me, I'll go back with you!"

Jia Dongming turned around and saw Qin Huairu riding that old 28-inch bicycle, wobbling and coming from the other end of the factory road.

He stopped and waited for her to get closer before asking, "Huairu, how's your dad? Is he feeling any better?"

Qin Huairu gripped the car brake, tapped one foot on the ground, and showed a relaxed expression on her face: "Uncle, my dad woke up last night."

When I brought him lunch at the hospital, he was able to slowly get off the bed and take a few steps, holding onto the edge of the bed.

"Oh? You can get out of bed so soon?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming frowned slightly, revealing genuine concern. "The surgical wound probably hasn't healed completely yet. Moving around too soon might...?"

"That's what the doctor specifically instructed!"

Qin Huairu quickly explained, her tone certain, "The doctor said that moderate exercise will improve blood circulation and actually help you recover faster."

Jia Dongming then relaxed his brows and smiled knowingly, "So that's how it is."

As an amateur, I was so worried about the wound reopening that I forgot about this other aspect.

"That's a good thing, that's a good thing."