Courtyard Houses: Starting with Li Yunlong's Comrades-in-Arms

While stirring the food, Liu Yuheng replied, "It's alright. The Ministry of Heavy Industry is being split up, and I've been assigned to the newly established Second Ministry of Machine Building. The Second Ministry is mainly responsible for weapons research and development and the aviation industry. From now on, our own aircraft, tanks, and guns will all be under the jurisdiction of this ministry."

He ladled the stir-fried vegetables into a plate, then turned to wash the pot, all the while saying, "I'm currently in charge of the military-related part of the Big Brother's aid-to-China project, as well as the liaison work with the Central Military Commission. Basically, I'm in charge of all the ministry's external liaison matters. The other two vice ministers have already gone down to the factories, so I don't think I'll need to travel anytime soon, which will allow me to stay home with you."

Hearing him say that, Yao Qingwan's lips curled up slightly. She didn't reply, but the smile in her eyes was impossible to hide. She went over and brought the served dishes to the table, then set out the bowls and chopsticks. The two sat down to eat, the warm lamplight spreading across the table, the steam rising from the food, keeping the chill of the autumn night out the window.

After taking a few bites, Liu Yuheng put down his chopsticks, as if remembering something, and looked at Yao Qingwan: "By the way, Yao Lei should be taking the college entrance exam next year, right?"

Yao Qingwan nodded and put down her chopsticks. "Yes, next summer. Why?"

Liu Yuheng thought for a moment and carefully considered his words: "The country is currently making great strides in the atomic energy industry, and many scientists have returned. Several universities in Beijing may be opening new majors related to atomic energy and nuclear physics. If Yao Lei is interested, he can apply after the college entrance examination next year and be among the first batch of students. His future should be bright."

Yao Qingwan didn't answer immediately. She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said, "Let's ask him for his opinion during the New Year. He's always had his own ideas, and we can't make this decision for him." She paused, then glanced at Liu Yuheng, "But I think you seem to really want him to apply for this."

Liu Yuheng didn't deny it, he just nodded, but didn't explain further. He picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it before saying, "It's a new major, there are more opportunities, and it'll be easier to plan for the future."

Yao Qingwan glanced at him but didn't press the matter further. She knew him; he always acted with discretion, and there must be a reason for his statement. She didn't say anything more, simply keeping the matter in mind before picking up her bowl and continuing to eat.

After the meal, Liu Yuheng took the initiative to clear the dishes, and the two sat in the living room and talked for a while before washing up and going back to their rooms.

Lying in bed, the room was dark, with only a faint sliver of streetlight filtering through the curtains. Liu Yuheng stared at the ceiling, his mind unable to settle. Yao Qingwan was already asleep, her breathing even and deep, nestled gently against him.

He didn't turn over, afraid of waking her, but just lay flat, his gaze fixed on the blurry outline of the ceiling in the darkness, his thoughts like a pot of boiling water that he couldn't calm down.

He thought of the Yao family again. He had transmigrated so many years ago, rising step by step to where he was today, from an ordinary person to a lieutenant general, and then to a vice minister. It seemed like a smooth journey, but he knew in his heart that there was still a long road ahead.

Duan Lu knew better than anyone how many families and individuals that storm would engulf. Could he protect himself? He didn't know. The only thing he was certain of was that he was unwilling to compromise his principles; he couldn't do such a thing. Since he couldn't compromise his principles, he could only find a way to protect himself.

Based on historical trends, the Second Ministry of Machine Building will become a highly classified unit with extremely high levels of secrecy. His early planning means the worst-case scenario is a few years of forced labor. He's not worried about the Liu family; Liu Shuanzhu and Liu Erhe are both workers, and with Liu Erhe's connections to his father-in-law Liang family, their safety for the time being shouldn't be a problem.

But the Yao family is different. Yao's parents are university teachers and intellectuals, so their lives will definitely not be easy. If it really comes to that, he can bring the two elderly people to live with him, and even if he is demoted, he can find a place for them to stay.

As for Yao Lei, if he can get into a major related to classified engineering projects, it will be like having an extra layer of protection. Whether it's engineering or nuclear physics, as long as it's linked to major national projects, the safety factor will be much higher.

Liu Yuheng mentally considered all the possibilities, breaking down each scenario and pondering it over and over until his head throbbed and his eyelids grew heavy, before finally closing his eyes. The night enveloped the small building, with only the occasional low chirping of autumn insects in the distance, quickly swallowed by the silence of the night.

He turned over, pulled the blanket up a bit, and finally fell into a deep sleep.

On the other side, autumn nights come early in Nanluoguxiang. As soon as it gets dark, warm yellow lights come on in the windows of every household.

In the east wing, Liu Shuanzhu's family was sitting around the dining table eating dinner. On the table were several dishes of home-style cooking: a plate of stir-fried cabbage, a plate of stir-fried shredded pork with pickled vegetables, a bowl of steaming cornmeal porridge, and a plate of pickled radish strips that Wang Xiuhe had made herself.

Liu Shuanzhu slowly drank his porridge, while Wang Xiuhe sat next to him, eating and serving food to Liu Yixuan. The little guy sat next to Liang Fangfang, clutching a piece of cornbread in his hand, his face covered in crumbs.

Liu Erhe was eating with his head down when he suddenly heard a knock on the door. He put down his bowl, stood up, went to the door, and peeked out. Standing there was Zhao Peng, the postman for the Nanluoguxiang area.

Liu Erhe's face immediately lit up with a smile: "Brother Zhao? What brings you here at this hour? Come in and sit down!" He stepped aside to make way for the doorway and called into the house, "Dad, Mom, Brother Zhao from the post office is here!"

Zhao Peng entered the east wing. The room was warm and cozy, the steam from the food still lingering. Liu Shuanzhu and Wang Xiuhe both stood up. Wang Xiuhe quickly pulled a stool over from the stove: "Little Zhao's here? Come on, sit down! Have you eaten? There's still porridge in the pot, I'll get you a bowl."

Zhao Peng quickly waved his hand, a smile on his face: "No need, no need, Auntie, don't bother. Dinner is ready at home. I'll go back and eat after I finish this delivery."

As he spoke, he took out a brown paper envelope from his pocket, handed it to Liu Shuanzhu with both hands, and said, "Uncle Liu, a letter just arrived at the post office. The address is in our courtyard, and the recipient is General Liu Yuheng. I thought this letter must be important, so I brought it to you as soon as possible without delay."

Everyone in the room was taken aback. Liu Shuanzhu took the envelope, looked down at it, and sure enough, Liu Yuheng's name and the address No. 95 Nanluoguxiang were neatly written on it. The handwriting was upright and strong, and there were several stamps and a postmark on the envelope.

He examined the letter from all angles, confirming it was indeed from Liu Yuheng, before nodding. "It is indeed Yuheng's letter. Thank you for making this trip, Xiao Zhao." He then turned to Liu Erhe and said, "Erhe, go get Xiao Zhao a pack of cigarettes."