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

Four days later, Liu Yuheng glanced at the clock on the wall; it was just past four in the afternoon. He had almost finished processing the documents on his desk. He closed the last folder, leaned back in his chair, stretched, and thought he could leave early today to visit Liang Fangfang and her child at the courtyard house.

He had just stood up to grab his coat when the black phone on the table rang.

Liu Yuheng reached for the receiver, and Minister Song's voice came from the other end, brief and direct: "Yuheng, if you have time now, come to my office."

"Okay, I'll be right there." Liu Yuheng put down the phone, hung the coat he had just picked up back on the coat hook, turned and left the office, walking down the corridor towards Minister Song's office.

He knocked on Minister Song's office door, and a voice inside said, "Come in."

Liu Yuheng pushed open the door and walked in. Minister Song was sitting behind his desk, holding a document in his hand. There was a half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray in front of him, wisps of smoke rising from it. Seeing Liu Yuheng enter, he put down the document and gestured to the chair opposite him: "Sit."

Liu Yuheng sat down opposite him, his back ramrod straight.

Minister Song didn't waste any time on pleasantries. He picked up his enamel mug, took a sip of water, put down the mug, and got straight to the point: "Yuheng, how much do you know about our elder brother's plan to help us develop the atomic bomb?"

Liu Yuheng paused for a moment, then his expression became more serious, and he nodded: "I know a little. I've also seen the relevant documents and reports. Currently, this project is jointly managed by the military, the Science and Technology Commission, and our Second Ministry of Machine Building. It's considered one of the highest-level tasks at present."

Minister Song nodded, tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice, and said in a much more serious tone than before: "Our elder brother has already sent people over to help us select a site for the nuclear test base. The site selection team will be departing soon. The military has sent a lieutenant general, the Science and Technology Commission has sent several top scientists, and our Second Ministry of Machine Building also needs to send one person, of equivalent rank, at least a vice minister."

He paused, then looked up at Liu Yuheng: "I want to send you."

There was a brief silence in the office. Liu Yuheng hesitated for a moment, then sat up straight: "Okay, I have no problem with that."

Minister Song was pleased to see his quick agreement, but then, as if remembering something, she added with a hint of concern, "I remember your wife is about to give birth, isn't she? I didn't want to send you out at this time, but this matter is indeed important; all three parties need sufficiently influential figures present to make a decision. If you really can't get away..."

Liu Yuheng waved his hand to interrupt him: "Minister Song, work shouldn't be delayed by family matters. I can handle things at home. My wife's mother and my mother are taking care of her, so I have no worries. Don't worry, I can leave at any time."

Minister Song was finally relieved after hearing this, and tapped his hand on the table: "Alright, go back and prepare. There will be a plane to take you directly to the Northwest Military Region early tomorrow morning. Someone will pick you up when you arrive, and the military region will make all the arrangements."

Liu Yuheng stood up and nodded to Minister Song: "Okay, I'll go back and prepare."

He returned to his office, stood silently by the window for a moment, his gaze fixed on the gray-blue horizon in the distance.

The selection of a nuclear test site… fragments of memory, though not entirely clear, surfaced in his mind. He remembered how this event unfolded in his previous life: the technical experts from his elder brother initially chose a location near Dunhuang, but later, differing opinions arose from the domestic side, leading to a period of wrangling before a new site was finally selected.

He couldn't quite remember the specific details, but he knew that the matter had ultimately reached a result that was acceptable to all parties.

Forget about that for now. He walked back to his desk, sat down, and looked at the calendar. He was leaving tomorrow, but he didn't know how long the trip would take, or if he would be able to make it in time for Yao Qingwan's delivery.

When it was time to leave work, Liu Yuheng did not go straight back to the North City Compound as usual. Instead, he got into the car and told the driver, "Go to the Yao family first."

The car drove through the city in the twilight, heading towards the alley where the Yao family lived.

When the car stopped in front of the Yao family's house, Yao's mother was carrying a basin out of the yard to pour water. When she saw Liu Yuheng get out of the car, she almost dropped the basin in her hand: "Yuheng? Why are you here at this time? Did something happen to Qingwan?" Her voice was a little nervous, and she quickly put down the basin and came to greet him.

Liu Yuheng quickly waved his hand, his tone reassuring: "Mom, don't be nervous, Qingwan is fine, she's alright. I have a last-minute assignment that requires me to go on a business trip for a while, maybe a week or more. Qingwan is quite far along in her pregnancy, and I'm worried about leaving her home alone. My mother also has to take care of my younger brother, sister-in-law, and niece, so she can't spare any time. That's why I was thinking of asking you to come and stay with us for a while and help take care of Qingwan."

Upon hearing this, Yao's mother's tense expression relaxed, and she patted her chest, saying, "You scared me! I thought something had happened. Okay, okay, you wait here, I'll go pack my things." She turned and walked into the house, her steps as swift as the wind, muttering to herself, "How long will you be gone? Why so suddenly?"

Liu Yuheng followed him into the courtyard. Yao's father was sitting in the main room reading a newspaper. When he saw Liu Yuheng come in, he put down the newspaper and stood up. After listening to Liu Yuheng finish explaining the situation, he nodded and said, "Work is important. You should go. Qingwan's mother is taking care of her, so you don't need to worry."

Liu Yuheng then turned to Yao's father: "Dad, why don't you move in with us? Xiaolei lives at school, and once Mom leaves, you'll be all alone here."

Mr. Yao waved his hands repeatedly, his tone casual yet confident: "What do I, an old man, have to worry about? If I want to visit your compound, I can just go over for a visit after get off work. There's no need to move there. I'd feel uncomfortable going over to where you two live."

Hearing this, Liu Yuheng didn't press the matter further and nodded.

Yao's mother had already quickly packed a cloth bag and carried it out of the inner room. Inside were several changes of clothes and toiletries. As she reached the door, she turned back to Yao's father and reminded him, "Old Yao, don't forget to wash the dishes while you're home alone. Don't leave them soaking until the next morning."

Mr. Yao waved his hand, his tone a mix of impatience and amusement: "I know, I know, go ahead."

Liu Yuheng took the cloth bag from Yao's mother, helped her carry it out of the courtyard gate, and then helped her into the back seat of the car. He bent down and sat in the passenger seat himself. The car started and slowly drove away from the alley entrance. In the rearview mirror, Yao's father's figure standing at the door grew smaller and smaller until it was finally obscured by the courtyard wall at the corner.