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

Wang Xiuhe was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) sewing shoe soles when she heard these words. She stopped sewing, looked up at Liu Yuheng, and said, "You don't even take a break for the New Year? It was understandable when you were in the army and couldn't come back, but now that you've transferred to civilian life, why are you still so busy? You don't even have time to have a meal with your wife during the New Year?"

Liu Yuheng gave a wry smile, leaned back in his chair, and spread his hands: "Mother, it's not that I don't want to rest, it's just that once you reach this position, you don't have a choice. Think about it, even ordinary families visit relatives during the New Year, and I have to visit my old leaders and superiors too, don't I?"

"I have to attend the inter-ministerial New Year's gatherings, right? I have to go out and do the Spring Festival visits to factories, right? And I have to show up at the tea parties for high-ranking officials, right?"

He listed them off one by one, his tone tinged with helplessness: "These things come one after another, and I can't get rid of them all. It's just that Qingwan is pregnant this year, otherwise she would have to come with me too. If you don't believe me, ask her. The Women's Federation also has activities during the Spring Festival, and my older sister probably already informed her about it."

Yao Qingwan was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), holding a cup of hot water to warm her palms. When Liu Yuheng brought up the topic, she nodded and continued, "My older sister told me before that since I'm pregnant this year, I don't need to participate in any activities during the Spring Festival. I can just focus on my pregnancy. This year, I'll just go with Yuheng to pay a New Year's visit to the old brigade commander. I won't be going to any other activities."

Upon hearing the words "pregnancy care," Wang Xiuhe glanced at Yao Qingwan's slightly protruding belly, and her displeasure subsided considerably. She thought to herself that Yao Qingwan was indeed lonely at home alone, and that if she and her husband went over, they could at least lend a hand and keep her company, which was better than leaving her cooped up in the house alone.

She put her needlework aside, patted the loose threads off her clothes, and softened her tone: "Alright then... Since you have important business to attend to and can't get away, we'll come over. It's good that we're keeping Qingwan company while you're not home during the day, so she won't be all alone."

Liu Shuanzhu sat on a chair in the corner of the room. After listening to these words, he lowered his head and thought for a moment. Finally, he tapped his pipe on the table leg and slowly nodded: "Then let's go."

Upon hearing this decision, Liu Tingting jumped up with joy, grabbing Liu Yixuan's hand and spinning him around: "Great! We'll spend the New Year at Big Brother's! Big Brother's place is big! And we can watch movies in the courtyard!"

Liu Yuheng smiled and glanced at her: "Want to watch a movie? No problem. They should be showing movies over the New Year at the compound. I'll have someone reserve a good seat for you in advance."

Liu Tingting nodded excitedly, then squatted down to share the good news with Liu Yixuan: "Did you hear that, Yixuan? We're going to your uncle's to watch a movie!"

Although Liu Yixuan didn't quite understand what "watching a movie" meant, seeing his aunt so happy, he giggled along, revealing a row of tiny teeth.

Wang Xiuhe put down her needlework, looked up at Liu Yuheng, and asked with a smile, "Are you staying for dinner tonight?"

Liu Yuheng glanced at Yao Qingwan, and seeing that she had no objections, he smiled and nodded: "Stay, have dinner before you go back."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuhe's face immediately lit up with a smile. She stood up briskly from the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), rubbed her hands together, and raised her voice by half an octave: "Alright! We just bought some meat for the New Year, so I'll cook you a few more dishes. This meal can't be rushed."

As she spoke, she turned her head and shouted towards the corner of the room, "Old Liu! Go and take that piece of meat out of the cupboard in the west room, cut two pieces of tofu, and also take care of that fish."

Liu Shuanzhu was leaning back in his chair smoking a pipe when he heard this. He tapped his pipe on the table leg, stood up briskly, responded, and turned to walk into the inner room. His steps were lighter than usual, showing that he was happy that his son had stayed for dinner.

Wang Xiuhe had already rolled up her sleeves and walked to the stove. She deftly lifted the pot lid to take a look, then turned around and went to the cutting board to pick up the scallions, ginger, and garlic.

Liu Tingting jumped down from the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and joined in, saying, "Mom, let me help you pick the vegetables!"

Liang Fangfang put down her needlework and prepared to help at the stove, but Liu Yuheng stopped her, saying, "Sister-in-law, sit still. You're quite far along in your pregnancy, so don't walk around."

Liang Fangfang was stunned for a moment, then gave an embarrassed smile, but still obediently sat back down, picked up the needle and thread in her hand again, and continued to sew the little cotton-padded jacket.

Yao Qingwan also walked to the stove, rolled up her sleeves and said, "Mom, let me help you."

Wang Xiuhe quickly waved her hand: "Sit down, sit down! You're pregnant, don't move. Just sit and wait to eat today."

The east wing room suddenly became lively.

Liu Yuheng stood by the stove and circled around for a while, but found that he couldn't really get involved. So he gave Liu Erhe a wink, and the two of them lifted the curtain one after the other and stood on the steps at the entrance of the east wing.

A cold wind blew in from the yard, more than ten degrees lower than inside the house, but it was dry and crisp, which invigorated me.

Liu Yuheng had just stood on the steps and reached into his pocket to take out a pack of cigarettes. Before he could even take one out, he heard hurried footsteps coming from the other end of the courtyard.

Xu Damao was the first to rush over, a broad smile on his face, his voice a half-octave higher than usual: "Brother Liu! You're out? Couldn't stay inside any longer?"

He Yuzhu followed behind him, the two arriving almost simultaneously. He Yuzhu was holding a handful of sunflower seeds, cracking them as he walked over, and nodded to Liu Yuheng.

Immediately after, Jia Dongxu also lingered over from his own doorway, his steps not in a hurry, but not lagging behind either. His gaze swept over Liu Yuheng's woolen overcoat, then quickly moved away, standing next to He Yuzhu and whispering, "Hello, Brother Liu."

At the other end of the courtyard, Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui were standing at their door talking. Seeing the young men gathering around, Liu Haizhong turned around and shouted into the house, "Guangqi! Come out for some fresh air! Your brother Liu is outside!"

Yan Bugui also shoved Yan Jiecheng beside him, saying, "Go, go, go! Don't stay cooped up in the house. Talk to your Brother Liu and learn how he's made something of himself."

Liu Guangqi and Yan Jiecheng were chased out by their parents and walked over somewhat awkwardly, standing on the periphery of the crowd.

Liu Guangqi had just been admitted to a vocational school this year. His physique still carried the thinness of a young man. He kept his hands in his cotton-padded coat pockets and lowered his head, not daring to look at Liu Yuheng. Yan Jiecheng was a little younger than him and was a bit bolder. He took two steps closer and stared at Liu Yuheng's woolen overcoat curiously for several moments.

Liu Yuheng glanced at the crowd that had gathered around him, said nothing, took out a cigarette from the pack, lit it with a match, took a puff, and then casually tossed the remaining half pack to Liu Erhe next to him.

Liu Erhe took the cigarette box, paused for a moment before realizing what his elder brother meant, then took out cigarettes and handed them to everyone one by one.

In an instant, smoke curled up in front of the steps at the entrance of the east wing, and several people stood in a circle, puffing away in the cold December night.