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

Immediately from the other end of the microphone came a familiar, booming voice, so loud that Lin Yang had to move the microphone a little further away.

"Yangzi! It's me! Li Yunlong!"

Lin Yang smiled and leaned back in his chair. "Old Li, your loud voice can deafen me even through the phone line. What's up? Too much free time at the military region, looking for me for a drink?"

"What are you drinking for! I'm here to do something serious for you!" Li Yunlong laughed triumphantly on the other end of the phone. "Didn't I promise to find Brother Lin a girlfriend at my birthday party a few days ago? I, Li Yunlong, keep my word!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yang immediately perked up: "Oh? It's settled so quickly?"

"Of course! I personally went to the military arts troupe and gave that troupe leader surnamed Wang a good scolding, making him pick out all the prettiest, most beautiful, and unmarried young women in the troupe for me!"

Li Yunlong's voice carried a bandit-like arrogance: "I personally inspected her and picked one! Her name is Bai Ling. Oh my, her looks, her figure, she dances like a celestial being! She's only twenty years old this year, and her education level isn't low either, she graduated from high school! Paired with Brother Lin, she's absolutely a beautiful flower in... cough cough, absolutely a perfect match!"

Lin Yang couldn't help but chuckle at Li Yunlong's nonsensical description. But he knew in his heart that since Li Yunlong had personally overseen the selection, the girl's physical attributes were definitely top-notch.

"Old Li, thank you for your trouble. But you know my brother, he's honest and straightforward, and hasn't seen much of the world. Can he handle the leading man in the performing arts troupe?" Lin Yang asked with a hint of worry.

"What's there to be afraid of! With your younger brother, a deputy division commander, backing him up, and me, a corps commander, standing in front of him, even if it's the daughter of the Heavenly King himself, Brother Lin can handle her!" Li Yunlong said arrogantly. "I've arranged everything. This weekend at ten o'clock in the morning, at the entrance of Beihai Park. Have Brother Lin dress smartly, go meet the girl, take a stroll, and cultivate some rapport!"

"Okay, I got it. I'll treat you to drinks another day." Lin Yang hung up the phone with a smile.

After putting down the microphone, Lin Yang stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the bustling factory area.

His elder brother's marriage is indeed his biggest concern right now. Lin Fan has suffered for ten years, tormented by the beasts in the courtyard, which made him lose his confidence. Although his work has improved now, the inferiority complex in his bones still needs a happy marriage to completely heal it.

"The girls in the cultural troupe..." Lin Yang murmured to himself, his eyes deep.

Having seen countless people in his past and present lives, he knew all too well that places like cultural troupes, while filled with beautiful and talented girls, often had flaws such as arrogance and vanity. Especially in this era, those who could get into the military region's cultural troupe were not simple-minded.

However, since it was Old Li's good intention, we should let the elder brother give it a try. Whether it succeeds or not, it all depends on fate.

After get off work in the afternoon.

Lin Yang returned to No. 95 Nanluoguxiang in a jeep.

As soon as I entered the Intermediate People's Court, I saw Lin Fan squatting by the sink, washing two large cabbages with cold water. He had now gone to work as a quality inspector in the warehouse, no longer having to work overtime and do hard labor like before, and could leave work on time every day.

"Brother, stop washing and come inside. I have good news to tell you." Lin Yang walked over and patted Lin Fan on the shoulder.

Lin Fan wiped the water off his hands and followed Lin Yang into the main room.

Tian Yu was cooking cornmeal porridge on the stove, with two poached eggs in it, steaming hot.

"Yangzi, what's the good news? You're smiling so mysteriously." Lin Fan sat down at the table and asked curiously.

Lin Yang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said directly, "Old Li introduced you to someone, Bai Ling, from the military arts troupe. She's pretty and has a high school education. We've arranged for you two to meet at Beihai Park this weekend."

"What?!"

Lin Fan's chopsticks fell to the table with a "clatter," and he froze instantly, as if struck by lightning.

"Wen... from the performing arts troupe? High school education?" Lin Fan's voice trembled, his face flushing red. "Yangzi, don't kid me. I'm just a warehouse keeper who didn't even finish elementary school. You think they'd be interested in me? This... this is such a mismatch. Wouldn't I just be a laughingstock?"

Seeing his elder brother's timid and hesitant appearance, Lin Yang frowned.

"Brother, remember this. You're not the apprentice who gets bullied anymore. You're a cadre at the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, and more importantly, you're my own brother! You're good enough for any woman, not just a girl from the performing arts troupe, but even the minister's daughter!"

Lin Yang's tone left no room for doubt, carrying a powerful sense of pressure.

Tian Yu also came over, smiling and comforting him, "Yes, brother, Chief Li personally picked this person for you, so it can't be wrong. You look very smart in the Zhongshan suit I bought you the other day. Be confident and show the spirit of a man from the Lin family."

Lin Fan swallowed hard. Although he was still unsure, he nodded emphatically when he saw the encouraging looks in his younger brother and sister-in-law's eyes.

"Alright! I'll go! I can't let the Lin family down!"

"That's right." Lin Yang smiled with satisfaction.

Then, as if by magic, he pulled a piece of paper with a bright red seal from the inside pocket of his jacket and gently slapped it on the table.

"However, we can't just walk to see our date. We need to buy some big-ticket items."

Lin Fan looked down and his eyes widened instantly, his breath catching in his throat.

That was a "bicycle industry voucher"!

In this era of extreme scarcity following the founding of the People's Republic of China, bicycles, watches, sewing machines, and radios were known as the "three turns and one sound." These were undoubtedly the ultimate luxuries in the eyes of ordinary people!

Forget about the money to buy a bicycle; the bicycle ticket alone is already fetching exorbitant prices on the black market, and there's practically no market for it. Many factory workers, even those at the highest level, have saved up for half their lives and still can't get their hands on a single ticket!

"Yangzi...this...this is a bicycle ticket?!" Lin Fan felt his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

"The factory just issued the quota, and as the Party Secretary, I naturally have priority," Lin Yang said casually. "Come on, before the supply and marketing cooperative closes, I'll take you to buy the car. You can ride it to Beihai Park for your blind date this weekend."

Lin Fan was at a loss for words; he felt as if he had been living in a dream these past few days.

Half an hour later.

In front of the bicycle counter at Wangfujing Department Store.

Several brand-new bicycles are displayed here. At that time, bicycles were mainly "Flying Pigeon" brand bicycles made in Tianjin, or imported British "Phoenix" brand bicycles.