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

When I returned to the compound in the north of the city, the windows of the small building were lit with warm yellow light.

Liu Yuheng pushed open the door, and the aroma of food wafted towards him. Yao Qingwan was standing in front of the stove, one hand on her back, the other holding a spatula and stirring something. Hearing the door open, she didn't turn around, but only asked softly, "You're back? Is everything arranged over there?"

Liu Yuheng took off his coat and hung it by the door. He walked quickly to the stove and took the spatula from Yao Qingwan. "Let me do it. You rest." He said as he stirred the food in the pot. "It's all settled in. I'm in a double room. The other bed is empty, which is convenient for the person accompanying me to rest. The doctor said I'll give birth in the next few days. Everything is normal."

Yao Qingwan stepped aside, leaning against the sink as she watched him cook, and asked again, "Is someone keeping you company over there? Did Mother and Aunt Liang stay?"

Liu Yuheng nodded: "Mother and Aunt Liang are both here, and Erhe has arrived too. Let them take turns, so they don't have to endure it together."

Yao Qingwan hummed in agreement, then turned and took two bowls from the cupboard. She then bent down and carried the pot of cooked porridge from the stove to the table. Liu Yuheng ladled the stir-fried dishes onto plates and brought them over. The two sat down at the table and began to eat dinner.

After taking a few bites, Liu Yuheng looked up at Yao Qingwan, his gaze lingering on her protruding belly. "You're seven months along now, and your body is getting heavier. Should we ask your mother to come and help take care of you for a while? Your sister-in-law is about to give birth, and Mom can't manage here anymore. I'm worried about you being home alone."

Yao Qingwan picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, chewed it twice, and swallowed it. After thinking for a moment, she said, "No need to rush. Let's talk about it later. I'll have my mom come over to stay at night. I can manage on my own during the day, and I just need someone to keep me company at night." As she spoke, she glanced at Liu Yuheng, her tone carrying a hint of casual concern, "You've been busy at work lately, so don't worry about both. I can take care of myself."

Liu Yuheng nodded after hearing this, and did not insist any further, lowering his head to continue eating.

......

three days later.

When the phone rang, Liu Yuheng was hunched over his desk reviewing a report on the import of equipment for a military project. His pen traced lines of annotations on the paper, his handwriting neat and strong, displaying the efficient and decisive style characteristic of a demobilized military officer. He only looked up after the phone rang twice, put down his pen, and picked up the receiver.

"Feed?"

Liu Erhe's voice came from the other end of the phone, filled with barely concealed excitement and breathless urgency: "Brother! It's a girl! Fangfang gave birth! She gave birth a little over half an hour ago! Mother and daughter are both safe!"

Liu Yuheng's grip on the receiver tightened slightly, then a smile appeared on his lips, and his voice became a little lighter: "Good! Good! Now you have both a son and a daughter, a complete family. How is Fangfang? Is she feeling alright?"

"She's doing great, she's doing great. The doctor said she has a good constitution, the delivery went smoothly, and there weren't any major problems. The baby is healthy too, and her cry is really loud; even the nurses say she has a loud voice." Liu Erhe chattered on the other end of the phone, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement. "Brother, come and see her when you have time. Our daughter is so beautiful; her eyes and eyebrows are just like her mother's."

After listening, Liu Yuheng said a few more words of concern, and finally said to Liu Erhe, "Okay, you stay with Fangfang and the child for now. I'll bring Qingwan to see you when I'm done here. Don't hesitate to ask the nurse if you need anything; I've already told her."

Liu Erhe readily agreed, and the two exchanged a few more words before hanging up.

Liu Yuheng put down the receiver and sat in his chair for a moment. He glanced down at the unfinished documents on the table, picked up his pen again, and continued reviewing them.

When it was time to leave work, Liu Yuheng closed his folder on time, tidied his desk, picked up his coat and briefcase, and left the office.

When the car stopped at the entrance of the North City Compound, Yao Qingwan was sitting on the sofa in the living room reading a book. She was wearing a loose light gray sweater, and her belly was already quite protruding; her seven-month pregnancy made her look much rounder.

Hearing the door open, she put down her book and looked up. Seeing the slightly different expression on Liu Yuheng's face as he entered, she asked, "What good news?"

Liu Yuheng hung up his coat and walked over, sitting down next to her. His tone was light and cheerful, as if he were sharing good news: "Fangfang gave birth this afternoon, a girl. Mother and daughter are both safe. I'm going to go see her, do you want to come?"

Yao Qingwan's eyes lit up immediately. She put down her book and sat up straight: "Really? That's great! I want to go see too. Wait for me to change my clothes."

Liu Yuheng glanced at her, his gaze lingering for a moment on her protruding belly: "Are you feeling alright? If you're tired, just stay home and rest. I'll go take a look for you."

Yao Qingwan had already stood up, holding onto the sofa armrest, and waved to him, "What's wrong with me? I'll go check on my sister-in-law and the child, say a few words, and come right back. Besides, I also want to learn some experience so I'll be more prepared when the time comes."

Hearing her say that, Liu Yuheng did not stop her anymore. He got up to help her arm, bent down to get her a coat to put on, and the two went out together.

When getting into the car, Liu Yuheng specifically told the driver, "Drive slowly, don't rush."

The driver responded, and the car steadily drove out of the compound, slowly heading towards the hospital in the twilight.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Liu Yuheng helped Yao Qingwan slowly out of the car, and only let go of her hand after she had regained her footing on the steps. The two walked side by side toward the inpatient department. The building was filled with the mixed smell of disinfectant and soap. Occasionally, nurses would hurry past with trays in the corridor, their white coats looking exceptionally clean and bright under the lights.

The two arrived at Liang Fangfang's hospital room. The door was open, and several people were standing inside. Liu Shuanzhu sat in a chair against the wall, holding a cup of tea, a relaxed smile typical of grandfathers on his face; Wang Xiuhe stood by the bed, bending over to look at the baby in swaddling clothes; Liang Cheng and his mother stood on the other side of the bed, Liang's mother holding a handkerchief, her eyes slightly red, as if she had just wiped away tears and then smiled again; Liu Erhe leaned against the windowsill, his hands in his pockets, unable to suppress the smile on his face; Liu Yixuan stood on a small stool by the bed, tiptoeing and peering into the swaddling clothes, his little face full of curiosity and excitement.

The people in the ward were talking quietly when they saw Liu Yuheng and Yao Qingwan enter, and they all looked up.

Liu Erhe was the first to greet them, his smile impossible to hide: "Brother, sister-in-law, you're here! Come in and sit down!"

Liu Shuanzhu put down his teacup and stood up. Wang Xiuhe turned around and greeted the two of them. Liang's mother wiped her eyes and smiled and nodded at them.