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

Hearing her sister's worries, she smiled slightly and said, "Haitang, don't worry about me."

I found a job at a textile factory and I have to report for duty this morning.

I'm afraid I won't be able to come and take care of Mom as often as I used to, except on holidays.

If you need anything, just come to the factory and find me.

"A textile factory?"

Yu Haitang's eyes widened. "Sister, you really went to the textile factory? Is it temporary or an apprenticeship?"

Yu Li's mind went blank for a moment.

She longed to tell her sister that this was a formal position arranged for her by Wu Aiguo.

But then she hesitated – she had just gotten divorced, and it wasn't convenient to reveal the details of her relationship with Wu Aiguo right now.

She pursed her lips and said softly, "It's a temporary job, but if you do well, you can become a permanent employee."

Upon hearing this, Yu Haitang's brows immediately relaxed, and her voice was filled with joy: "Sister! After your divorce, it's like your life has turned around and you've seen the light! If I had known this would happen, I really should have gotten divorced sooner..."

"A twist of fate"

These four words struck a chord with Yu Li.

If she hadn't broken up with Yan Jiecheng, she wouldn't have met Jia Dongming again on her way to find Fangfang; if Jia Dongming hadn't felt pity for her when he saw her down-and-out state, he wouldn't have given her the job at the textile factory; and she wouldn't have... known what it felt like to be cherished and protected.

Recalling all the ways Jia Dongming had treated her, Yu Li's eyes unconsciously curved into a smile, and her voice softened: "You're right."

Only after that divorce did I truly understand life.

I have to rush to the factory to report for duty now, so I'll leave Mom here with you for now.

Looking at the undisguised lightness on her face, Yu Haitang felt a little puzzled: Logically speaking, her sister should have been crying with swollen eyes and needing someone to comfort her. Why did she seem to have a heavy burden lifted off her shoulders and her whole being radiant?

If I don't want to write it down, I might as well not think about it at all.

Yu Haitang nudged her arm: "Sister, you go ahead, I'll take care of Mom here."

If anything happens, I'll definitely come to the factory to find you.

Yu Li nodded, turned around and went back into the ward.

She walked to the bedside, leaned down and whispered to her mother who was resting with her eyes closed, "Mom, I'm going to work. Haitang will stay here with you."

Let her buy whatever she wants to eat; don't be stingy.

Jia Dongming had only been transferred to the security department of the steel rolling mill for half a month when he led the entire department to a collective second-class merit award, and the overtime allowance he received was equivalent to nearly two months' salary.

Now, none of Corey's lads dare to challenge him.

That morning, Jia Dongming ate breakfast in the canteen and rode his bicycle into the factory gate.

Along the way, people kept greeting him, and he responded to each one before entering the office.

I was busy until after 10 p.m., but I had almost finished dealing with the things I was working on.

He gave instructions to the office, then got back on his bike and left the factory.

Twenty minutes later, the bicycle stopped in front of a small courtyard on Gulou Dongdajie Street.

The door was locked, and he knew that Yu Li hadn't returned from the textile factory yet.

He took out his keys, opened the door, and pushed the cart into the yard.

After parking the car, he first went into the kitchen, took out rice and noodles, a piece of pork belly, and some vegetables from the cloth bag he carried with him, and neatly arranged them on the cutting board.

They lit the coal stove again and put a kettle of water on it.

After the water boiled and I made tea, I carried the thermos into the main room.

After completing her onboarding procedures at the textile factory, Yu Li followed the office staff to the logistics department to collect her work clothes and labor protection supplies.

As he walked out of the factory gate carrying a large stack of brand-new winter goods, a smile remained on his face.

She took the bus back to Gulou Dongdajie, and when she got to the gate of the courtyard, she saw that the door was unlocked and her eyes lit up.

He pushed open the courtyard gate and strode inside, his voice filled with joy:

"Dongming-ge! What brings you here today?"

Inside the main room, Jia Dongming was holding a teacup when he looked up and saw her and Dongxi, who was in his arms, appear at the door, their faces still covered in fine beads of sweat.

He put down his teacup and smiled slightly:

"I came to see you."

Did the registration process go smoothly?

When Jia Dongming saw Yu Li carrying two bulging cloth bags in her hands, he immediately got up to greet her and took Dongxi from her, placing it on the table.

A smile appeared in his eyes: "Your room looks so empty, so I brought you some food."

Did your report to the textile factory this morning go smoothly?

Yu Li's eyes curved into a smile, and her voice was lighthearted: "Everything went very smoothly."

The factory had me learn in the inspection workshop first. The first three months were considered an internship, and I would receive 18.5 yuan per month.

Once I'm officially hired, I'll be able to earn 28.5 yuan.

Ming'er started work early in the morning.

Jia Dongming nodded and said gently, "It's a bit of a distance from here to the textile factory. If you have some free time this afternoon, you can buy a bicycle. It'll be cheaper to travel there and back."

Yu Li frowned slightly, remembering the money he had left behind yesterday. "Brother Dongming, isn't it too conspicuous for me to buy a car so soon after starting work?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming reached out and pulled her close, letting her sit diagonally on his lap. He laughed loudly and said, "We don't steal or rob; we earn our living with our own hands. What's so conspicuous about that?"

Yu Li obediently leaned into his arms and whispered, "I'll do whatever you say."

I'll go to the department store this afternoon to pick one out.

Jia Dongming tightened his arm around her waist, while his other hand began to wander restlessly.

Yu Li softly said, "Ah!"

She let out a sound and quickly pressed down on the mischievous hand, her eyes flashing with a charming reproach: "Brother Dongming must be hungry, right? I'll go start a fire and cook."

Jia Dongming scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the inner room, his voice lowered: "No rush for food."

Let me try your dessert first... After I've fed you, we can talk about other things.

As the sun began to set, Jia Dongming, looking radiant, pushed his bicycle out the door.

Yu Li stood by the door watching them go, her eyes still filled with lingering affection.

After the figure disappeared into the alley, she turned around and went back into the house, tidied the messy bedding, put her money and tickets in her pocket, and headed to the bus stop.

As evening fell, Jia Dongming rode his brand-new bicycle back to the courtyard house.

As soon as I entered the front yard, I saw Yan Bugui standing hunched over next to the pomegranate tree.

He stopped the car and greeted him with a smile, "Uncle, you're being discharged from the hospital already?"

When Yan Bugui saw it was him, a hint of embarrassment flashed across his face: "The hospital isn't a place to stay long-term. It costs several cents a day. You can just go home and recover."

Jia Dongming propped up the car and said seriously, "Money can be earned again, but you can't be careless about your health."

Yan Bugui gave a vague response twice.

Jia Dongming didn't say much and pushed the cart towards the Intermediate People's Court.

"Dongming is back!"

Madam Jia was sitting under the eaves picking beans when she saw her son come in. She quickly patted her clothes and stood up.

Jia Dongming parked the car against the wall and asked, "Mom, is dinner ready? I'm a little hungry."

Madam Jia called out towards the kitchen, "Huai Ru! Dong Ming is hungry, bring the food up quickly!"

A clear voice came from the kitchen: "That's all, Mom, you can set the table now."

Madam Jia picked up the winnowing basket from the ground and went into the main room with her son.

Bang Geng, who was writing on the square table, looked up and called out, "Uncle."

.

A little head peeked out from the kitchen doorway. Xiao Dang toddled over with her short legs, softly opening her arms: "Uncle, hug me!"

Jia Dongming ruffled Bang Geng's hair, bent down to pick up the little girl, and asked with a smile, "Was Xiao Dang well-behaved today?"

Little Dang nodded vigorously and said in her childish voice, "Good girl, Little Dang! You're even helping Grandma watch your little sister!"

Jia Dongming pretended to reach into his pocket, but actually took out a few milk candies from his system space.

He first stuffed one into Xiaodang's pocket, then handed the rest to Bang Geng, saying gently, "Good children all get a prize."

"Bang Geng, keep these, eat them slowly after dinner."

Little Dang touched the round candy in her pocket and jumped for joy.

Bang Geng carefully took the candies, his eyes sparkling, and smiled with his lips pursed.

Bang Geng took the candy, his eyes sparkling, and exclaimed, "Thank you, Uncle!"

Madam Jia put down the winnowing basket, went back inside and circled around, then came back to the main room and whispered to Jia Dongming, "Dongming, have you heard? Yan Jiecheng and Yu Li have broken up."

Jia Dongming already knew what was going on—Yu Li was now his woman.

He feigned surprise, however: "Mom, is this true? They really divorced?"

Madam Jia nodded vigorously: "It's not easy to find someone after a divorce, but it's still better than following someone like Yan Jiecheng who only cares about himself."

It's quieter living alone.

"There's an old saying that a woman can be supported by her husband. Yan Jiecheng can't even rely on that, so it's understandable that Yu Li would take this step."

Jia Dongming echoed.

The kitchen curtain was lifted, and Qin Huairu came out carrying two plates of food, calling out to Bang Geng at the table: "Collect your homework first, then do it after you eat."

……

After their tender moment, Qin Huairu nestled in Jia Dongming's arms, her eyes and brows still brimming with the lingering warmth of spring.

She reached out and drew circles on his chest, whispering, "Brother Dongming, my dad had surgery a while ago, and I'd like to go back to Qinjiacun this Sunday to visit him."

Jia Dongming stroked her smooth back: "Tell me before you go, and I'll prepare some winter snacks for you to take with you."

As Qin Huairu listened, she snuggled closer to him, her voice soft and sweet: "Brother Dongming, it's so good to have you here."

"Go to sleep, Ming'er still has to go to work."

Jia Dongming placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"Ring ring—!"

The next morning around 9 a.m., the office phone suddenly rang.

Jia Dongming picked up the receiver: "Hello, this is Jia Dongming. Who is this?"

"Director Jia, this is Li Huaide."

A batch of parts just rolled off the production line in the special workshop, and we need your security team to escort them to Harbin under armed escort.

Li Huaide's smiling voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Has the shipping date been set?"

Jia Dongming asked.

"Next Monday, a total of three trucks."

"We'll need you to send a company."

Li Huaide replied.

Jia Dongming immediately agreed: "Okay, I'll arrange for people to cooperate right away."

"Then I thank you in advance on behalf of the factory."

Li Huaide smiled.

"It's my duty, Director Li, you're too kind."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Huaide changed the subject: "By the way, Director Jia, I heard that our factory's new director will be taking office in a few days."

Jia Dongming's eyebrows twitched slightly: "Oh? What's the background of this new factory manager?"

His name is Chen Weizhong, and he used to be in charge of work at Ansteel.

They're supposed to report for duty on Thursday.

Li Huaide's tone conveyed a sense of understanding.

Although the security department is nominally affiliated with the steel rolling mill, it is not actually directly managed by the mill.

It didn't make much difference to Jia Dongming who became the factory director.

He followed up with a smile and asked, "And what about you, Director Li? Shouldn't the Ministry of Industry be moving you to a better position this time?"

A low chuckle came from the other end of the phone: "Thanks to you, I've been promoted from the last deputy factory director to the third deputy factory director."

"You flatter me. It's all thanks to your own abilities."

Jia Dongming declined with a smile.

Li Huaide didn't argue much, only saying, "Once this busy period is over, I must do you the honor of having a meal with me."

Just then, Xie Jian, the office director, quietly pushed the door open and saw that Jia Dongming was still on the phone, so he stood aside with his hands at his sides.

As soon as he hung up, he immediately stepped forward and whispered, "Chief, the branch office has something urgent to discuss with you. Your line was busy, so we transferred it to your office."

When Jia Dongming received the call from the branch office, he was on the phone with Li Huaide.

He briefly ended the call, turned around and quickly returned to his desk to pick up the receiver.

"Hello, I am Jia Dongming."

"Deputy Captain, this is Zhou Jin from the Second Brigade."

The voice on the other end of the phone was calm and quick: "There was a murder near the machine repair shop last night."

A female factory worker was dragged into an abandoned courtyard late at night on her way home from get off work, where she was assaulted and strangled to death.

Jia Dongming's expression darkened. "Where's the suspect?"

There are no leads yet.

Zhou Jin replied, "We visited the factory and the area around the deceased's residence, but haven't found anything yet."

"I'm coming right away."

After hanging up the phone, Jia Dongming looked at Xie Jian, the office director beside him. "I'm going to the branch office."

If Corey has any urgent matters, call me at the precinct.

"Mingbai, Section Chief."

Twenty minutes later, Jia Dongming arrived at the branch office on his bicycle.

Zhou Jin was already waiting at the door of the Second Brigade office, and immediately went up to him when he arrived.

"The deceased was named Wang Qiuyan, and she was the manager of the logistics warehouse at the machine repair shop."