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

Yan Bugui paused for a moment after being intercepted, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, before he regained his usual, slightly contemplative expression.

He was well aware of why Yi Zhonghai was so nervous—Yi Zhonghai had long secretly regarded the Jia family's dining table as a warm place for his later years.

Thinking of this, Yan Bugui's lips curved slightly before he slowly said, "The Jia family hasn't had any troubles."

It's the small courtyard where Engineer Xue used to live on the west side of our compound; it was separated from the other side.

The new person who moved in is the head of the security department of your steel rolling mill.

Yi Zhonghai's shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly.

But before he could fully breathe a sigh of relief, another thought suddenly popped into his head—the other day, Jia Zhangshi had been pestering him to ask for that courtyard.

He quickly followed up, "Sister-in-law Jia...didn't go to the other courtyard to cause trouble, did she?"

Yan Bugui took in every change in his face.

Thinking that Yi Zhonghai's hopes, which he had been scrambling for for many years, would probably be ruined by this unexpected new neighbor, he felt a strange sense of joy. Even his voice carried a deliberately suppressed lightness: "You've got it wrong this time."

Not only did Sister-in-law Jia not make a fuss, she was actually quite happy.

Yi Zhonghai was stunned, staring at Yan Bugui suspiciously: "Really not making a scene?"

"really."

Yan Bugui nodded, his expression as certain as if he were stating something perfectly ordinary, "Because the newly moved-in Section Chief Jia is none other than Jia's eldest son, who has been missing for many years."

"What?!"

Yi Zhonghai reacted as if burned, his voice suddenly rising, disregarding the fact that he was standing at the busy entrance, "Where did Jia Zhangshi get an eldest son? This... how can this be explained!"

Seeing his flustered appearance, Yan Bugui maintained his calm and composed teacher's demeanor, but inwardly he was already overjoyed.

He casually dusted off his sleeves: "Why would I lie to you? If you don't believe me, go and see for yourself at the other end of the courtyard."

Yi Zhonghai stood there blankly for two seconds, then suddenly remembered something and turned to walk towards his home: "I'll go back first, and I'll have my family send you a few pounds of cornmeal later."

"Hey, wait a minute."

Yan Bugui stepped to the side, blocking his way. "Old Yi, even if Section Chief Jia is a member of the Jia family, he is still a new resident."

"These old men in our compound, it's only right and proper for them to show up and express their gratitude, isn't it?"

Yi Zhonghai stopped in his tracks, as if these words had awakened him.

He was silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "You're right."

Let's go take a look together when Lao Liu gets back.

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the central courtyard. His back looked heavy, as if he were soaked in the twilight.

As I pushed open the door to my house, an older woman who was busy picking vegetables by the stove turned around.

Yi Zhonghai, not even bothering to wipe his sweat, asked directly, "The new person who moved into the courtyard... is he really the son that Jia Zhangshi lost many years ago?"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman's hand rustled as she squeezed the vegetable leaves, and a look of displeasure immediately appeared on her face: "That's right! Absolutely true! You didn't see it at noon, Jia Zhangshi was so excited, her eyebrows were practically floating up to the roof beam!"

Yi Zhonghai frowned deeply: "We've lived in the same courtyard as the Jia family for most of our lives, and we've never heard her mention having an older son."

What... what exactly is going on?

An older woman curled her lip, her voice filled with jealousy and resentment: "I overheard Jia Zhangshi talking about it to those old ladies."

It is said that in 1943, Jia Youcai took his eldest son to the market to buy grain and witnessed Japanese soldiers killing people in the street.

Jia Youcai was so focused on protecting the bag of grain that he lost the child who was beside him when he turned around... At noon today, she heard that the family had been separated from the main courtyard, and she was making a scene.

Later, Yang Ruihua from Lao Yan's family added that the new resident's name was Jia Dongming, and that he looked exactly like Jia Dongxu.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi immediately fell silent, insisting that it was indeed her lost eldest son.

She paused, then gestured towards the window with her chin: "As soon as the mother and son recognized each other, Jia Zhangshi immediately took out money and sent Yan's third son to the factory to call Qin Huairu back and send her to clean up the courtyard."

Before you came back, Section Chief Jia brought in a large piece of pork belly and a fat chicken, saying that the whole family was going to make dumplings that night.

The room fell silent, save for the faint hissing of the kettle on the stove.

Yi Zhonghai gazed at the deepening night outside the window, remaining silent for a long time.

Yi Zhonghai's wife placed the teacup on the table and said in a low voice, "Old Yi, I've been thinking about this for quite some time."

You know the temperament of that old lady in the Jia family, and now there's another one, Dongming.

In my opinion, we should follow the old lady's wishes and let Zhuzi take care of us in our old age.

Yi Zhonghai knew Jia Zhangshi's character like the back of his hand.

The reason Dongxu was chosen was firstly because of the bond between master and apprentice, and secondly because the boy was indeed honest and kind.

Who would have thought that a sudden disaster would shatter all these years of planning?

Hearing his wife mention it, he felt a tightness in his chest—were all the effort and resources he had poured into the Jia family just going to be thrown away like this? He frowned and waved his hand: "No rush, let's take another look."

White steam rose from the kitchen.

Bang Geng and Xiao Dang sat close to the edge of the stove, their eyes following the dumplings bobbing up and down in the pot.

Xiao Dang tugged at Qin Huairu's sleeve, her voice soft and sweet: "Mom, my belly is growling."

In the past, Jia Zhangshi's scolding would have come down on her head long ago, but today she just leaned against the door frame and watched, a rare smile of relief on her lips.

Bang Geng licked his lips as well: "Mom, can we eat now?"

"Wash your hands before serving."

Qin Huairu gently stirred the water with a strainer.

After the two children ran away, she scooped the snow-white dumplings one by one into the blue and white porcelain plate.

Several large plates of dumplings were steaming on the table. Suddenly remembering something, she turned to her mother-in-law and said, "Mom, why don't we take a plate over to Uncle? He's taken good care of us all these years."

Madam Jia immediately raised an eyebrow: "He only earns ninety-nine yuan a month, does he need this to eat? Do you think it's easy for our family to have dumplings? Why are we giving them away for nothing?"

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly seemed to remember something and added, "Don't get any ideas."

Jia Dongming, who was sitting to the side, put down his chopsticks.

He recalled those hospital-wide assemblies—Yi Zhonghai standing in the courtyard, holding an enamel mug, speaking earnestly, and the neighbors would chip in their spare change in three or five cents.

He turned to the old lady: "Mom, what's the procedure for the donations the nursing home has given us over the years?"

Jia Zhangshi immediately perked up, her words laced with sarcasm: "What else can we do? That old widow wants Dongxu to support her in her old age, but she's unwilling to spend her own money, so she's just encouraging everyone to 'help each other.'"

"Everyone contributed money, but they want him to get all the credit? There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

"Do you have a clear idea of ​​how much you've collected in total?"

The old lady immediately became alert, instinctively pulling her hands into her sleeves: "Dongming, that's my life savings, don't even think about it."

It looked just like an old cat guarding its food.

Jia Dongming almost laughed in anger: "I haven't even touched my demobilization allowance from the military yet, why am I eyeing your pittance?"

He regretted saying it as soon as it left his mouth.

Sure enough, Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up, and she leaned forward slightly: "How much did the army give you? Give it to your mother to keep for you; you'll need it when you get married in the future."

The wrinkles on her face smoothed out, and every crease radiated eagerness.

Jia Dongming turned his face away and looked at Qin Huairu, who was setting the table: "Sister-in-law, are you clear about the accounts of the donations?"

Qin Huairu paused for a moment, then wiped her hands and said, "There are thirteen chapters in total."

I don't know the exact amount, but Uncle San must have a good idea—he's the one who keeps the accounts every time, remembering each item in great detail.

Jia Dongming was silent for a moment, then lightly tapped his fingers on the table. "Huai Ru, take a plate of dumplings to Yi Zhonghai's place later, and while you're at it, pick up the donation ledger from Yan Bugui's house."

He looked up at the darkening sky outside the window. "Ming'er, I'll go buy some winter clothes. We'll go back to each family on the list."

"Pay back the money?"

As Jia Zhangshi was setting the table, she suddenly sat up straight upon hearing this. "That money was collected voluntarily by everyone, why should it be returned?"

Her fingers tightened around the rag, and her face wrinkled with dissatisfaction.

Jia Dongming turned his head, his gaze calm and collected: "Mom, do you really think the neighbors are willingly handing over their money?"

Before Jia Zhangshi could speak, he lowered his voice even further: "I am the head of the security department in the factory."

If word gets back to the factory, what will the management think? Someone might say I'm using my position to pressure people into raising funds. Then it'll be hard to say whether I'll still be able to keep this uniform.

He paused, "Besides, we've already received the money today. Mingri is coming to us asking for favors. Should we accept or not? Accepting would violate our principles, but if we don't, people will criticize our Jia family behind our backs for being ungrateful."

Madam Jia opened her mouth, looking at her son's gloomy profile, and suddenly felt that her youngest son, who used to listen to her every word, had become a stranger.

She shrugged, her voice softening, "Mom... Mom just feels sorry for how hard it is for you to earn that little bit of money."

Qin Huairu was standing by the stove stirring the dumplings in the pot when she caught a glimpse of her mother-in-law's expression. She almost burst out laughing, but quickly lowered her head to cover her mouth.

Jia Dongming waved his hand, no longer saying anything: "I have my own ideas about this matter."

The dumplings are getting cold, let's eat first.

Hearing "dumplings"

Upon hearing the two words, Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up. She instantly forgot about the argument from before, quickly went to the table, grabbed her chopsticks, picked up a plump white dumpling, and stuffed it into her mouth.

As Qin Huairu carried the coarse porcelain plate with a blue rim across the courtyard, it was already completely dark, and dim yellow light shone through the window paper of a few houses.

She stopped in front of Yi Zhonghai's house and called softly, "Are you home, Uncle and Aunt?"

There was a rustling sound inside the room, and the curtain was lifted slightly. Yi Zhonghai poked half his body out and said, "Huai Ru, come in quickly."

This is……"

"We made dumplings at home today, and Brother Dongming asked me to bring some over. Thank you for taking care of our family all these years."

Qin Huairu smiled and handed over the plate, the steam rising in the cold air, carrying with it the aroma of oil.

Yi Zhonghai quickly accepted it, saying politely, "How could I accept this? You should keep it for yourselves."

"Brother Dongming bought five catties of meat and ten catties of flour, and packed a lot of stuff."

Qin Huairu released her hand. "Please eat first. I'll come back for the plate later."

Yi Zhonghai, carrying a heavy plate, suddenly lowered his voice: "Huai Ru, I heard from Lao Yan... that old man Bang Geng, is he the new head of security at the factory?"

"That's right."

Qin Huairu's smile deepened. "I bumped into that person who looked exactly like Dongxu at the cafeteria entrance at noon. That was him."

As she spoke, she recalled Jia Dongming saying in the house that afternoon, "Things will get better from now on."

His expression at that moment, the corners of his eyes unconsciously curved upwards.

Yi Zhonghai was silent for a moment and then sighed, "You and your children have had a hard time all these years since Dongxu left."

Now that there's a man to support the family, there's finally hope.

"There are still dumplings cooking in the pot, I'm going back now."

Qin Huairu bowed slightly, lifted the curtain, and left.

Instead of going straight back inside, she turned through the moon gate and stopped in front of Yan Bugui's window.

The faint sound of voices talking about dividing pickled vegetables could be heard from inside the house.

She cleared her throat: "Third Uncle, are you home?"

The door creaked open, and Yan Bugui walked out, rubbing his hands together and smiling broadly. "Huairu, have you eaten? Did you need something?"

Qin Huairu tucked a stray hair behind her ear and smiled gently, "I just wanted to ask, do you still have those account books from previous years about the donations our neighbors made to our family?"

When Yan Bugui heard Qin Huairu inquire about the accounts of the donations, he already knew what was going on, but his face remained polite: "Huairu, there are records."

Are you in a hurry? If not, I'll pack it and bring it to you later.

Qin Huairu smiled and said, "It's because Bang Geng's uncle wants to see it."

Please look for it; I'll come back for it in a bit.

After the figure disappeared outside the moon gate, Yan Bugui turned around and went back into the house, his steps lighter than usual.