Courtyard House: From Deputy Division Commander to Civilian, Progressing All the Way

In the kitchen, the stove fire was burning brightly.

He Daqing, dressed in a pristine white chef's uniform with a towel draped around his neck, stood before the enormous iron pot, intently watching the bubbling broth inside.

He Yuzhu, dressed in casual clothes, rolled up his sleeves and skillfully chopped scallions, ginger, and garlic on the side, his knife skills so fast that only a blur could be seen.

"Zhu Zi, control the heat! Watch the heat!" He Daqing scooped up a spoonful of golden broth with a large ladle, brought it to his nose to smell, and nodded in satisfaction. "This 'Tan Family Braised Shark Fin' is all about slow simmering. The essence of the old hen, Jinhua ham, and dried scallops must be extracted little by little to infuse the shark fin."

While chopping vegetables, He Yuzhu laughed and said, "Dad, I've heard your line eight hundred times. Today's meal is a farewell dinner for Director Zhao and Director Pei, so you'd better bring out all your best tricks."

He Daqing wiped the sweat from his forehead, turned to look at his son, and said earnestly, "Zhuzi, although your father is just a cook and doesn't understand those national affairs, my eyes are not blind."

He Daqing pointed towards the living room with his spoon and lowered his voice: "These three who came today are all going to be high-ranking officials. In the words of old operas, they are called 'regional governors'! Chief Lin is casting a wide net across the country. Look at them, all wearing suits and ties, they will all be figures who can shake the region with a stomp of their feet in the future."

He Daqing patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder, his tone becoming unusually serious: "Although you are now the deputy director of the Central Security Bureau, you must remember your duty. You are the leader's personal bodyguard, and your blade should always be pointed outwards, never inwards. It's their good fortune that they go to local areas to become high-ranking officials; you must not be envious. As long as you wholeheartedly protect the leader, our He family will be as secure as Mount Tai for life."

He Yuzhu stopped wielding the knife and nodded solemnly.

"Dad, don't worry. I, He Yuzhu, have only one thought in my mind. I'll do whatever the commander tells me to do. If anyone dares to have any disloyalty to the commander, even if he becomes a provincial governor or a minister, I'll still plunge this military dagger into his heart!"

Just as the father and son were busy in the kitchen, a rough car engine sound came from outside the mansion.

A military-grade Beijing Jeep parked directly at the entrance.

The car door opened, and Li Yunlong, dressed in a general's uniform and carrying two bottles of unpackaged Moutai, strode in.

Although the years have etched more marks on his face and the gray hair at his temples has become more and more obvious, this veteran who fought his way up from the battlefield still retains his unruly spirit and killing intent.

"Yangzi! I'm here to freeload! I heard you're releasing all those tiger cubs you're working for back into the mountains today?"

As soon as Li Yunlong entered the room, his loud voice made the crystal chandelier in the living room tremble slightly.

Lin Yang was sitting on the sofa having tea with Zhao Lichun and others when he saw Li Yunlong come in. He immediately got up to greet him.

"Brother Li, please sit down. We've been waiting for you to start the feast." Lin Yang smiled and took the wine from Li Yunlong's hand.

Li Yunlong casually tossed his military cap onto the sofa, plopped down, and scanned Zhao Lichun, Pei Yihong, and Chen Feng with his eyes.

"Good lads, all dressed up so smartly." Li Yunlong laughed, pointing at the three of them, "Back when I was a regimental commander in Shanxi, I had a few battalion commanders as fierce as you guys. Zhang Dabiao, Shen Quan... It's a pity they didn't live to see the good old days, they didn't get to see the state of our country today."

Li Yunlong sighed, then his eyes lit up as he looked at Lin Yang.

"Yangzi, you've made a brilliant move! Our army is currently undergoing streamlining and modernization. The battlefield of this country has shifted from the border to the factories, mines, and special economic zones. By releasing those three, you've essentially dropped three anchors into your vast heavy industrial network!"

"Brother Li, you flatter me. I was just going with the flow," Lin Yang said with a smile.

Soon, the large round table in the restaurant was filled with a sumptuous spread of Tan family dishes.

Golden and rich shark fin, tender and fall-off-the-bone abalone, fragrant steamed grouper... each dish represents the pinnacle of He Daqing's culinary skills.

Lin Yang sat in the main seat, with Li Yunlong to his right. Zhao Lichun, Pei Yihong, and Chen Feng took their seats in turn.

He Yuzhu opened the two bottles of specially supplied Moutai and filled the large porcelain bowls in front of everyone with the liquor. The strong aroma of the liquor instantly filled the restaurant.

"Here, raise your cup." Lin Yang took the lead in picking up the porcelain bowl in front of him.

Everyone immediately stood up in unison, holding their wine bowls with both hands.

Lin Yang's gaze became incredibly deep and solemn as he looked at his three beloved generals who were about to leave for distant lands, his heart surging with boundless pride.

"This first bowl of wine." Lin Yang's voice was deep and resonant, carrying an undeniable sense of historical vicissitude.

"A salute to the difficult years we've shared. A salute to those days we endured in basements, coal yards, and snowstorms. Without those hardships, we wouldn't have the confidence to sit here today."

"Dry!"

Lin Yang tilted his head back and downed the spicy liquor in one gulp.

Without any hesitation, Zhao Lichun, Pei Yihong, and Chen Feng followed Lin Yang's lead and finished their drinks in one go. The strong liquor burned their eyes and ignited the ambition in their hearts.

"Fill it up," Lin Yang said in a deep voice, putting down the bowl.

He Yuzhu quickly stepped forward and refilled the bowl.

Lin Yang picked up the second bowl of wine, his gaze sweeping over the three faces in turn.

"This second bowl of wine is a toast to the new battlefield you are about to embark on."

Lin Yang's voice gradually rose, carrying a resolute air of battle.

"At the beginning of spring, you must clear the political quagmire in Handong for me!"

"And Yi Hong, the rusty gears of the Han River, you must get them turning again! Chen Feng, the gates of the East China Sea, you must guard them to the death!"

"Once you go to your posts, you will be local warlords, wielding great power. The temptations and challenges you will face will be unprecedented. I, Lin Yang, here today lay down the rules for you: no matter how high you fly or how far you go, you must never forget your original aspirations!"

We must never betray the industrial backbone of this nation! Anyone who dares to abuse their power for personal gain and forget the suffering of the people, I, Lin Yang, will have my knife on their neck at any moment!

These words were both a spur to action and a stern warning.

The three of them shuddered and simultaneously picked up their wine bowls.

"Rest assured, Commander! May we be struck down by heaven and earth if we break this oath!" The three roared in unison, picked up their wine bowls, and drank them down in one gulp.

Li Yunlong, watching from the side, was filled with excitement. He slapped his thigh, picked up his wine bowl, and stood up.

"Good! That's the kind of spirit that makes you worthy of being Yangzi's soldiers! I'm a roughneck, I don't understand your economic calculations. All I know is that while you're waging an economic war on the front lines, my troops are here on the coastline to protect you! This bowl of wine is a toast to you bunch of ununiformed daredevils!"

Li Yunlong threw his head back and drank it all, his hearty laughter making the windowpanes tremble slightly.

That night, the air in Building No. 6, Jiazi, Yuquan Mountain was filled with the aroma of wine and boundless pride.

They talked about the coal mines of Handong, the steel mills along the Han River, and the ports of the special economic zone. Faced with this great era filled with hope and challenges, these men poured the strongest liquor into the grand blueprint for the nation's rise.

The banquet lasted until 11 p.m.

All three of them had drunk until their faces were flushed, but their eyes remained unusually clear and determined.