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

The night wind swept through the pine forest, bringing a chilling, desolate feeling unique to late autumn.

The heavy solid wood door to the study was gently pushed open, and the hinges made no sound.

Chen Feng strode out, holding a red secure telephone with a long telephone line attached.

He walked into the corridor and lowered his voice: "Sir, this is a special line transferred from Linan City in the Central Plains Region."

Lin Yang turned around, his deep gaze withdrawing from the boundless night.

Those who know this number and can call directly into Building A, Unit 6 late at night are few and far between in the entire mainland.

Moreover, this applies to Linan City in the Central Plains region.

There was only one young man there who he cared about.

Lin Yang reached out and took the microphone, holding it to his ear without speaking immediately.

A distinct hissing sound came from the other end of the phone, a background noise characteristic of long-distance secure lines.

"Dad, are you still awake?"

Lin Weidong's voice came through, revealing a hint of undisguised fatigue, but it was still steady and powerful.

Lin Yang's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

"The party just ended. Your uncles' drinking capacity is getting worse every year," Lin Yang said casually.

A low chuckle came from the other end of the phone.

"If Uncle Li and Uncle Kong heard this, they would definitely drag you out for three days and three nights to drink."

Lin Yang didn't respond to that, and went straight to the point: "What happened in Lin'nan?"

Knowing son Moruo father.

Lin Weidong gave up his high starting point at the National Defense University and took the initiative to ask to become the deputy mayor of Linan County, the poorest county in Central China.

Over the past few years, he has relied on his inherent ruthlessness and cunning to climb step by step to his current position as the deputy chief of Linan City.

If he hadn't encountered a real problem, this guy would never have made that call so late at night.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"Dad, the second phase of the expansion of the Linan Fertilizer Plant has stalled." Lin Weidong's voice became serious.

Lin Yang narrowed his eyes slightly: "A funding issue?"

"Funding is one aspect," Lin Weidong sighed, "but the main problem is the conservative mindset in the local area."

Lin Weidong gave a brief report on the complex situation over the phone.

Linan is a typical agricultural city with a very weak foundation.

After taking office, Lin Weidong focused on the overall planning of agricultural machinery and fertilizer production, intending to use industry to support agriculture and increase grain output first.

Once the second phase of expansion is completed, Linan will not only be able to be self-sufficient, but also radiate to three surrounding prefecture-level cities.

"But the provincial approval has been delayed, and some senior officials in the city also feel that we are taking too big a step and are afraid of taking risks." Lin Weidong's tone revealed a hint of helplessness.

"They wanted to use their limited funds to build the municipal party committee building and a guesthouse."

Lin Yang's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the microphone.

This was the situation in 1985.

The Southern Special Economic Zone is undergoing large-scale development, while Handong and Hanjiang are transforming into heavy industry and electronics industries.

And across the vast Central Plains, countless eyes are still fixed on the small plot of land before them.

"You want me to step in and speak to the Central Plains region?" Lin Yang's voice turned cold.

If Lin Weidong called just to ask for help, he would be very disappointed.

"No," Lin Weidong answered decisively.

"If I were to come to you every time I encountered resistance, then I shouldn't have taken off that military uniform in the first place."

Lin Weidong's voice regained its usual sharpness: "I can handle it myself."

"So you called back in the middle of the night just to complain?" Lin Yang's tone softened a bit.

"I wanted to invite you to come and take a look," Lin Weidong said earnestly.

"The second phase of the fertilizer plant is going to break ground next month. I want you to see whether your son has brought shame to the Lin family in the past three years in Linnan."

Lin Yang fell silent.

Through the telephone line, he seemed to see the armored scout who had once beheaded enemy soldiers in the Northwest Sandy Zone.

Now, that young man has shed his murderous aura and moved his battlefield to the treacherous local officialdom.

"Okay." Lin Yang only said one word.

With a click, the phone call ended.

Chen Feng stepped forward and took the red phone.

"Make arrangements. We're going to another province first thing tomorrow morning," Lin Yang instructed.

"Sir, should we notify the high-ranking officials in other provinces to pick us up at the station?" Chen Feng asked softly.

"No need, travel light." Lin Yang waved his hand. "Just have Sha Zhu come along, you stay in Beiping and look after the house."

"Understood." Chen Feng stood at attention, saluted, and turned to disappear into the night.

The next morning, at Beiping South Railway Station.

A green train without any special markings is quietly parked on the designated platform.

This is the inspection train of the National Development and Reform Commission. Although its exterior is ordinary, its interior has undergone strict safety modifications.

Lin Yang, dressed in a plain dark gray Zhongshan suit, walked steadily onto the train carriage.

He Yuzhu followed closely behind, carrying a black leather briefcase.

He Yuzhu today is no longer the talkative cook in the courtyard house he once was.

As the head of the Special Security Division of the Central Security Bureau, his muscles bulged slightly beneath his well-fitting dark jacket.

His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, scanning all the movements around him.

"Master Lin, everything is arranged." He Yuzhu said in a low voice in the car, even his address conveying years of closeness and respect.

Lin Yang nodded and sat down by the window.

With a long whistle, the train slowly pulled out of the station and headed towards the vast Central Plains.

The carriage was quiet, with only the regular sound of wheels hitting the rails.

On the small table in front of Lin Yang was a thick stack of top-secret documents about Linan City.

He turned to the first page, his gaze sweeping over the dry, uninteresting data.

Per capita income, grain output, industrial output value...

Behind every number lies the arduous struggle of an impoverished region.

"That kid Wei Dong always picks the tough nuts to crack," He Yuzhu muttered as he made Lin Yang a cup of tea.

"Back when he graduated from the National Defense University, many military regions were eager to hire him, but he insisted on going to work in the saline-alkali land."

He Yuzhu sighed: "I've been to Lin'nan. When the wind blows, your mouth is full of yellow sand."

Lin Yang picked up his teacup but didn't say anything.

He Yuzhu didn't understand, but Lin Yang knew better than anyone else.

Lin Weidong is training the eagle to stay warm.

You're tormenting others, but you're also tormenting yourself.

Only by working hard and overcoming difficulties at the grassroots level can one truly shoulder the responsibility of the nation's overall strategy in the future.

Lin Yang looked out the window at the fields rushing past.

In the autumn of 1985, large swathes of wheat stubble in the fields had been plowed, revealing dark brown soil.

Occasionally, you can see a few farmers dressed in coarse cloth, driving old oxen to work in the fields.

In the distance are low adobe houses, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys.

This is the true nature of this country.

There are no fancy filters, only the urgent need for survival and development.

The train journey took a full eight hours.

At 4 p.m., the train stopped at Linan Railway Station.

This is an old, small station, with potholes and uneven concrete floors on the platform.

A large section of the wall plaster had peeled off, revealing the red bricks underneath.

A slogan painted in lime on the wall reads: "Grasp revolution, promote production," but it is already somewhat blurred.

Lin Yang and He Yuzhu walked out of the station discreetly.

There were no police cars leading the way, and no leaders welcoming them.

The train station square was a mess, with carts selling roasted sweet potatoes and tricycles soliciting customers all mixed together.

The air was filled with the smell of cheap diesel fuel and coal smoke.

"Mr. Lin, I'll go find a car." He Yuzhu frowned, somewhat wary of the chaotic environment.

"No need to look anymore, just take that one." Lin Yang pointed to a dilapidated Jeep parked on the side of the road.

The words "Linan City Agricultural Bureau" were printed on the car door, their paint chipped off in white.

The driver, a middle-aged man in his forties, was dozing off while leaning against the steering wheel.

He Yuzhu walked over and knocked on the car window.

The driver snapped out of his daze, wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, and looked at He Yuzhu warily.

Who are you looking for?

"Let's go to the municipal fertilizer plant." He Yuzhu took out a ten-yuan note and handed it over.

The driver's eyes lit up when he saw the money, and he immediately opened the car door: "Get in, get in! But things are a bit chaotic at the factory today, what are you doing there?"