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

Two hours later, the door was pushed open, and a gust of cold wind rushed in along with Liu Tingting and Liu Yixuan, quickly melting into the warm air inside the room.

Liu Tingting's face was flushed from the cold wind outside, her scarf was askew to one side, and her hair was a little messy, but her eyes were as bright as two glass beads, and she had the kind of excitement that comes from seeing something good.

She led Liu Yixuan through the door, and Liu Yixuan grinned, clutching a withered twig he'd picked up from somewhere, holding it like a treasure and refusing to let go.

Liu Erhe was rolling out the last few dumpling wrappers by the coffee table. As soon as he saw the two return, he immediately threw down the rolling pin and stood up, not even bothering to brush off the flour from his hands. He rushed over and asked, "What are you looking at? Is it good? Is it good? Tell me!"

Liu Tingting took off her scarf and hung it on the coat hook by the door, answering excitedly, "The Crossing River Reconnaissance! It's so good!"

Upon hearing the words "Reconnaissance Across the River," Liu Erhe's eyes widened, and he rubbed his hands together, spinning around on the spot. "I've wanted to see this for ages! Last year, Xiao Wu at the factory said it was good, but I never got a chance. What time is there another showing this afternoon? I absolutely have to see it this afternoon!"

Liu Tingting rolled her eyes and, while bending down to help Liu Yixuan untie his scarf, replied, "There's another show at three in the afternoon."

Wang Xiuhe was standing in front of the stove preparing dumplings when she saw the two return. Without turning her head, she greeted them, "Tingting, take Yixuan to wash his hands and get ready to eat. The dumplings will be ready soon."

As she spoke, she pushed the plump white dumplings into the boiling pot. A cloud of white steam immediately rose from the pot, and the dumplings sank and floated up again in the churning water.

Liu Shuanzhu poked his head out of the kitchen and called out to Liu Erhe and Liu Tingting, "Stop just standing there chatting, come and serve the dishes! Set the table!"

Liu Erhe responded and hurried to the kitchen to bring out the dishes. Liu Tingting also took off her coat and followed to help get the bowls and chopsticks.

Yao Qingwan took two bottles of wine from the cabinet and placed them on the table. She then placed a wine cup in front of Liu Shuanzhu, Liang Cheng, and Liu Erhe.

Just as Liang's mother was about to decline, saying she wouldn't drink, Yao Qingwan smiled and said, "Auntie, I've prepared soda for you, Mom, and Tingting."

As she spoke, she brought out several bottles of soda from the kitchen and lined them up on the table.

Mother Liang paused for a moment, picked up a bottle and looked at it, then said somewhat embarrassedly, "This...this soda must be quite expensive, it's too wasteful to drink this during the New Year."

Wang Xiuhe chimed in with a smile, "It's Chinese New Year today, so drink and eat as much as you want, don't be shy."

Only then did Liang's mother stop refusing. She took the soda bottle in her hand, and as the cool glass bottle pressed against her palm, her fingers tightened slightly.

Liang Cheng had already raised his glass and clinked it with Liu Shuanzhu's. The two of them took a sip and simultaneously let out a satisfied sigh.

Liang Cheng glanced at the table and suddenly noticed someone was missing. He looked up at Yao Qingwan and asked, "Isn't Yuheng coming back for lunch?"

Yao Qingwan was serving food to Liu Yixuan when she heard this and explained, "The ministry has a meeting this morning, as well as a celebration and luncheon. He can't leave for lunch and won't be coming back for dinner."

A group of people sat together, the clinking of chopsticks, the gentle clatter of bowls and plates, and the occasional laughter and chatter blending together, creating a warm atmosphere in the afternoon sun.

After finishing their meal, Wang Xiuhe and Liang's mother efficiently began clearing away the dishes.

Yao Qingwan and Liang Fangfang wanted to stand up and help, but Wang Xiuhe pressed them back down: "You two are both pregnant and quite far along in your pregnancy, so just sit still. There are only a few dishes; my mother-in-law and I can wash them in no time."

Mother Liang nodded in agreement, "That's right, that's right, you all sit down and rest."

Yao Qingwan declined a couple of times, but seeing the two elders' firm attitude, she didn't insist and sat back down on the sofa. Liang Fangfang, heavily pregnant, also slowly sat back down, giving Yao Qingwan a helpless yet warm smile.

Yao Qingwan turned to Liu Shuanzhu and Liang Cheng, her tone polite and considerate: "Dad, Uncle Liang, if you want to rest, there are two guest rooms upstairs, and the bedding has been cleaned and changed. If you're not sleepy, there's a chess set under the coffee table; you can play a couple of games to digest your food. Or you can go for a stroll; although there aren't many flowers in the garden in the compound in winter, it's still quite bright and airy."

Liu Shuanzhu and Liang Cheng exchanged a glance. Liang Cheng rubbed his stomach and said, "I just ate, and I can't sleep."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shuanzhu gestured towards the coffee table with his chin: "How about we play a couple of games? It's been a while since I played chess with you."

Liang Cheng smiled and nodded. Yao Qingwan got up and took out a chess set from the storage compartment under the coffee table. The chess box was made of wood, and inside were round boxwood chess pieces. They felt warm and smooth to the touch, and were obviously high-quality items that were frequently used.

When Liang Cheng took it, he couldn't help but take a second look at it, weighed it in his hand, clicked his tongue twice, and started setting up the chess pieces without saying much.

Liu Erhe couldn't sit still any longer. He leaned close to Liu Tingting and asked in a somewhat ingratiating tone, "Tingting, I'll take you and Yixuan to that movie this afternoon. Let's get there early and get good seats, okay?"

Liu Tingting was taking the last sip of her soda when she heard this. She put down the bottle, rolled her eyes, and said, "It's only one o'clock now, and it doesn't start until three. What's the rush? Are you going to go there an hour early and wait like an idiot? There's no stove in that auditorium; you'll freeze to death."

Liu Erhe was scolded by his sister and muttered something indignantly, but he didn't move an inch and paced around the room twice.

Seeing his restless state, Yao Qingwan couldn't help but smile and said, "Erhe, you can wander around the house or go out for a stroll as you please, just don't go into Yuheng's study."

As soon as she said that, everyone in the room turned to look at her.

Liu Erhe was also stunned for a moment, his steps faltering, and he subconsciously glanced at the closed door at the end of the corridor.

Seeing that everyone was looking over, Yao Qingwan smiled and explained, "There are some confidential documents and files in his study. I don't usually go in there; he handles everything himself. Although he doesn't keep particularly important things at home, they're all locked up at his workplace, it's still better to be careful. We should avoid him if possible."

Mother Liang quickened her pace while wiping the plates, nodding repeatedly and speaking with a hint of seriousness: "Of course, of course. We can't go into these places; it's the rule. Erhe, don't be curious and go through your brother's things."

Liu Erhe quickly waved his hand: "Mother, don't worry! I'm not curious!"

Seeing the "don't do anything rash" look on his family's faces, Liu Erhe scratched the back of his head awkwardly and changed the subject: "Then I'll take Tingting and Yixuan out for a walk! Let's go to the auditorium early, so we don't run out of seats!"

Although Liu Tingting complained, she still stood up and helped Liu Yixuan put on his cotton coat.