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

Not long after, Wang Xiuhe came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of steaming dumplings and placed it on the coffee table in front of Liu Yuheng. She also handed him a pair of chopsticks and a small dish of vinegar.

Liu Yuheng didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up a dumpling, dipped it in vinegar, put it in his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, swallowed it, and gave Wang Xiuhe a thumbs up: "Mom, this filling is so good, it's even more fragrant than the ones in restaurants."

Wang Xiuhe stood beside him watching him eat, her face showing the satisfied smile unique to a mother. She said, "Eat more if you like it," and then turned around and went back to the kitchen to busy herself.

After Liu Yuheng finished a bowl of dumplings, Liu Shuanzhu poked his head out from the kitchen and called out, "The food is ready, let's set the table!"

The room suddenly became lively. Liu Erhe and Liu Tingting got up to serve the dishes, and Liang Fangfang also helped move chairs and set out bowls and chopsticks.

Yao Qingwan got up, took two bottles of wine from the cabinet, returned to the dining room, and handed them to Liu Yuheng.

Liu Yuheng took the bottle she handed him, unscrewed the cap, and was about to pour it into the cups in front of Liu Shuanzhu and Liang Cheng when he suddenly paused, looked down at the label on the bottle, and stopped in mid-air.

Yao Qingwan noticed his momentary pause, sat down beside him, and asked with some confusion, "What's wrong? Is the wine not right?"

The eyes of everyone at the table turned to look. Liu Erhe also leaned over to glance at the wine bottle in Liu Yuheng's hand and found that it was not significantly different from the wine that Liu Yuheng had given him and Liu Shuanzhu before. It was an ordinary white glass bottle with a plain label.

Liu Yuheng snapped out of his daze and quickly waved his hand, "No, the wine is fine." He paused, noticing everyone staring at him, and could only smile and explain, "This case of wine is one I specifically asked the logistics department for after I was awarded my rank. It's from the same batch used at the state banquet after the awarding of my rank. There were only three cases left, and I got one. I was originally planning to save it for some special occasion in the future."

The room fell silent for a moment, and everyone's eyes fell on the ordinary white glass bottle, as if they were looking at it again.

Yao Qingwan spoke first, with a hint of apology: "I didn't know. I put it with the other distributed drinks, assuming they were all the same. If only I had known..."

Liu Yuheng waved his hand, interrupting her: "It's alright, it's already opened, drinking it on New Year's Eve is no loss. Besides, this wine isn't much different from the wine we usually distribute, it just has some commemorative value."

Liu Erhe leaned on the table, craned his neck, and took another look. He clicked his tongue and asked, "Brother, what's the difference between this wine and the ones we usually drink? Can the flavor even change?"

When asked this question, Liu Yuheng smiled and shook his head: "It tastes similar to Moutai, but the difference is not in the taste, but in the day it was drunk. That day was at Huai Ren Hall, during the national conferment of ranks, and hundreds of generals sat together drinking this wine. It was the first time in the history of our army."

Without saying anything more, he raised the bottle again, and the amber-colored liquid poured steadily into the glasses in front of Liu Shuanzhu and Liang Cheng.

Liu Yuheng poured himself a glass, then raised it to Liu Shuanzhu, Liang Cheng, and Liu Erhe, his tone carrying the warm and solemn feeling unique to New Year's Eve: "Come on, it's New Year's, let's have a drink. I wish Dad and Uncle Liang good health, I wish Erhe a smooth year ahead, and I wish our whole family peace and safety."

Four glasses clinked lightly in the air, then each person tilted their head back and took a sip. The spicy yet mellow liquor slid down their throats, a warm sensation rising from their stomachs and spreading throughout their limbs.

Liu Erhe put down his glass, licked his lips, and his eyes lit up: "Mmm! It's delicious! Much smoother than the wine I usually drink!"

Liu Yuheng smiled and waved his hand, then sat down again, picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

After several rounds of drinks, the dishes on the table were almost empty, but the aroma of dumplings lingered in the air, mingling with the smell of alcohol and warmth, permeating the entire room. Liu Shuanzhu and Liang Cheng's faces were flushed. They clinked glasses again before putting down their glasses, leaning back in their chairs, and letting out a long sigh.

Liang Cheng glanced at his mother beside him, and the two exchanged a look.

Mother Liang put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, smiled at Wang Xiuhe, and then turned to Liu Yuheng, her tone conveying a polite farewell: "Minister Liu, it's getting late, we should go back. We've bothered you all day, the food is ready, and the New Year is over, it wouldn't be appropriate to stay any longer."

Liang Cheng nodded in agreement, stood up from the table, and reached for the cotton-padded coat hanging on the back of the chair: "Yes, yes, we should go. Some people are coming to pay their respects in the courtyard early tomorrow morning. It wouldn't be right if we weren't home."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuheng immediately put down his wine glass and stood up, his tone filled with urgency as he pleaded, "Uncle Liang, Aunt, please stay! The guest rooms upstairs are all ready, and the bedding is clean. It's not like there's no room."

Liang Cheng waved his hand firmly: "No, no, the neighbors will be coming to pay their respects early tomorrow morning. If we're not home, they'll come and find it's not home. That wouldn't be good."

Liu Yuheng was about to persuade her further when Liang's mother smiled and added, "Minister Liu, we appreciate your kindness. But it's the New Year, the house can't be empty, and someone needs to cook. It's more reassuring to stay back home."

Seeing that the two were adamant, Liu Yuheng didn't want to force them to stay any longer, so he changed his approach: "Alright, I'll have the driver take you back. It's dark and the road is long; it'll be too cold to ride a bike."

Liang Cheng quickly waved his hand: "No need, no need, we rode our bikes here ourselves, the bikes are still at the door. It's only a half-hour ride, it won't be a problem to ride back."

Liu Yuheng waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for refusal: "Erhe will ride the bike back for you tomorrow, one more night won't make a difference. It's the New Year, we can't let you two ride in the dark." He then turned to Liu Erhe, "Erhe, you ride Uncle Liang's bike back tomorrow."

Liu Erhe quickly nodded in agreement: "Okay, okay, I'll ride over first thing tomorrow morning."

Just then, Liu Shuanzhu, who had been silent until now, wiped his mouth with his sleeve and spoke up: "Old Liang, just listen to Yu Heng's arrangements and take the car back. Safety first, we'll be busy early tomorrow morning."

Seeing that he said that, Liang Cheng stopped refusing, nodded, and put the cotton-padded coat back on the back of the chair.

Liu Shuanzhu stood up as well, reached for the old cotton-padded jacket hanging on the wall, and said to Liu Yuheng as he put it on, "We'll go back with your Uncle Liang and the others."

Liu Yuheng was about to call the driver when he heard this and paused. He turned around and looked at Liu Shuanzhu with a puzzled expression: "Dad, are you going back too? It's much better to stay here. There's no rush tomorrow."