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

In the blink of an eye, a year has passed, and it is now the end of September 1950.

Liu Yuheng sat in the back seat of the jeep, leaning back and watching the street scenes rushing past the window, a cigarette between his fingers, smoke curling upwards.

Xiao Sun turned around from the front seat, looked at the cigarette in Liu Yuheng's hand, then at his expression, and cautiously said, "Commander, the cigarette is almost burning your hand."

Liu Yuheng looked down and saw a long piece of cigarette ash hanging there, teetering precariously. He stubbed out his cigarette outside the car window, flicked the ash away, and took a deep breath.

"We've arrived." Xiao Sun parked the car on the roadside outside the Military Commission building.

Liu Yuheng pushed open the car door and got out. He straightened his military cap, buttoned up his cotton-padded coat, and instead of rushing in, he leaned against the car door, took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and slowly took a puff.

He's not here today to report on his work, to attend a meeting, or to receive assignments. He's here to find someone—someone he can talk to.

He stood at the bottom of the steps outside the building, smoking as he waited.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, a familiar figure appeared at the door.

Liu Yuheng's eyes lit up. He immediately threw the cigarette he hadn't finished smoking on the ground, stomped it out, strode up the steps, stood in front of the man, straightened his back, raised his right hand to the brim of his hat, and gave a standard military salute.

"Good morning, boss!"

The boss was about to walk to the car when he heard the shout. He paused, turned around, and glanced at Liu Yuheng.

"Liu Yuheng? You're here to report on your work?"

Liu Yuheng lowered his salute, stood ramrod straight, and shook his head: "Reporting to the boss, I'm not here to report on work. I've come specifically to see you today."

The boss frowned slightly. They came specifically to see him? If it wasn't to report on work, then it must be something else.

"Speak, what is it?"

"Boss, isn't war about to break out in the east? I'd like to ask you for a favor and have me transferred there."

The boss didn't say anything, just looked at him.

Liu Yuheng swallowed hard and continued, "I guarantee that I will absolutely obey orders and commands when we get there, and I will fight wherever I am told. I will never bring shame to the old Eighth Route Army. Commander, you know I'm a decent fighter, and I won't let you down."

After he finished speaking, he stood there, nervously looking at the boss's face.

The boss was silent for two seconds, then smiled.

"Just for this?"

Liu Yuheng nodded quickly: "That's it. Boss, as you know, I was transferred back last year before the war in the south was even over."

"This time, I can't be left out of the situation in the east, can I?"

Seeing his anxious and agitated expression, the boss's smile widened even further.

"Has the report been submitted?"

Liu Yuheng immediately replied, "I did! I submitted a report as soon as the order came down."

"Any news?"

Liu Yuheng's expression fell slightly: "No. It's like a stone sinking into the sea, not even a sound. I've been waiting for several days, and I couldn't wait any longer, so I came to find you."

The boss glanced at him and said, "It's settled. With you here, there's no need to stop us."

Liu Yuheng was stunned for a moment.

"Your old unit is about to be transferred out of the pass. You can just get on the train in Beijing."

After the boss finished speaking, he stopped looking at Liu Yuheng and turned to walk towards the car parked by the roadside.

Liu Yuheng stood there, his mind buzzing, the boss's words echoing in his ears—"It's settled, with you in the picture."

He's there. He's there!

He snapped out of his daze, gave his superior a crisp military salute to his retreating figure, and spoke so loudly that even the sentry at the gate turned to look at him: "Thank you, sir!"

The boss didn't turn around, but simply waved his hand, opened the car door, and got in.

Liu Yuheng stood on the steps, his hand still raised above the brim of his hat, and it took him a long time to lower it.

He turned and strode down the steps, walked back to the jeep, yanked open the door and sat down, the movement so forceful that the whole car lurched.

Startled by his commotion, Xiao Sun turned around from the driver's seat: "Commander, where are we going?"

"Back to the military region!"

Xiao Sun started the car, but before he could even put it in gear, Liu Yuheng suddenly spoke up: "Xiao Sun, I'm going to war. What do you say? Are you coming with me?"

Xiao Sun replied almost without hesitation: "Commander, I'll go with you. Wherever you are, I'll be there."

Liu Yuheng leaned back in his chair, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Back at the military region, Liu Yuheng strode into the office building, and the officers and soldiers he encountered along the way all stepped aside to make way for him, saluting and greeting him.

He walked up to the second floor without stopping, pushed open the office door, picked up the black telephone on the table, and turned the handle.

"Get me to the Northeast Military Region."

The call went through several rounds of detours, and it took almost five minutes before someone finally answered.

Liu Yuheng introduced himself and then inquired about his old unit. The person who answered the phone was his old partner, the head of the column's garrison. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they got down to business.

"Old Li, when did you pass through the capital?"

"We'll arrive around 9 a.m. the day after tomorrow, stop for two hours to resupply, and then continue northeast. So, you're getting on the train in Beijing?"

"Of course!" Liu Yuheng laughed loudly. "My team, if I don't lead it, who will? You make the arrangements, and I'll come directly to you the day after tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, Liu Yuheng sat in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table as his mind raced.

He stood up, walked to the door, and called out into the corridor, "Little Sun!"

Xiao Sun ran over from the communications room next door: "Commander, what's the matter?"

"Go and invite Deputy Commander Li over," Liu Yuheng said, then added, "Also, go to the supply and marketing cooperative later and buy some cooked food—braised beef, roast chicken, and pig's head meat. Buy plenty, and also buy two bottles of good wine; I want to take them home."

Xiao Sun responded and ran off. Liu Yuheng returned to his desk and began organizing the documents. Important documents were locked in the safe, while less important ones were categorized and placed neatly. Signatures were made, and approvals were issued.

Deputy Commander Li arrived very quickly.

He knocked on the door and came in. Seeing that Liu Yuheng had already tidied the table up, he understood seven or eight parts of the situation.

"Commander, you wanted to see me?"

"Old Li, I'm going on a long trip. You'll be in charge of the garrison's daily operations starting tomorrow. Here's the work schedule for now; I've written it all down. Just follow it. If you have any questions, call your superiors."

Deputy Commander Li took the folder: "Commander, rest assured, I will definitely do a good job."

Liu Yuheng patted him on the shoulder and didn't say anything more.

After arranging the work, Liu Yuheng took Xiao Sun out of the military region.

"Let's go to the courtyard house." Liu Yuheng got into the car, arranged the things Xiao Sun bought in the back seat, leaned back, and let out a long breath.

The car stopped at the entrance of Nanluoguxiang Hutong, and Liu Yuheng and Xiao Sun carried large and small bags into the courtyard.

Liu Yuheng pushed open the door to the east wing, and a faint aroma of food wafted from inside.

Wang Xiuhe was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) sewing shoe soles, stitch by stitch, when she heard the door open and looked up. She saw Liu Yuheng standing at the door and almost dropped the shoe sole in her hand.

"Yuheng?" Wang Xiuhe was taken aback for a moment, then her face lit up with a smile. She quickly stood up to greet him, "Why are you back? Are you on vacation?"

Liu Yuheng smiled and nodded, placing the things he was carrying on the table: "Yes, I'm on holiday, so I came back to see you all."

Seeing the cooked food and wine on the table, Wang Xiuhe started nagging again: "Why did you buy all this stuff? It's such a waste of money! We haven't even finished what we bought last time. You're such a spendthrift..."

Liu Yuheng knew Wang Xiuhe's temper, so he didn't argue. He just smiled and said, "If you bought it, just eat it. If you can't finish it, I'll leave it and eat it next time I come back."

Wang Xiuhe muttered to herself as she took the things and put them in the cabinet in the inner room. After she finished putting the things away, she came out and saw that Liu Yuheng had already sat down, so she sat down opposite him and looked him up and down.

"You've lost weight," Wang Xiuhe said, her voice filled with concern. "Have you been neglecting your meals again?"

Liu Yuheng touched his face and laughed, "I haven't lost weight at all! I'm eating very well, three meals a day without fail. Don't worry about me."

Wang Xiuhe rolled her eyes at him, about to say something, when she suddenly remembered something and her eyes lit up: "Yuheng, I haven't had a chance to tell you yet—Fangfang is pregnant!"

Liu Yuheng was stunned for a moment.

"What did you say? Fangfang is pregnant?"

"Yes!" Wang Xiuhe smiled broadly, her wrinkles smoothing out. "It was found out last month, it's been over two months now. The doctor said both mother and child are fine, there's nothing wrong. Your dad is overjoyed, he talks about holding his grandson every day, and he's even cut down on smoking quite a bit."

Liu Yuheng laughed, a hearty laugh that revealed his full set of white teeth.

"Great news! Great news! I need to prepare a gift for this future nephew or niece."

Wang Xiuhe rolled her eyes at him: "Is that what I meant?"

Liu Yuheng was baffled by the eye roll and scratched his head: "Then what do you mean?"

Wang Xiuhe pointed a finger at his forehead, her tone both angry and anxious: "What I mean is, Erhe will have a child soon, and you, as the older brother, don't even have a girlfriend! What kind of talk is that? Your younger brother is about to become a father, and you're still a bachelor. How embarrassing is that if word gets out?"

Liu Yuheng's smile froze for a moment when his sore spot was hit, but it quickly returned, though with a hint of guilt in it.

He scratched the back of his head, chuckled twice, and mumbled, "Mom, I'm looking for it, I'm looking for it, I'm looking for it, don't worry."

"Looking for someone? You said you were looking for someone last year!" Wang Xiuhe persisted. "You've been looking for a year, have you found anyone? If you were really looking, would you still be single?"

"We'll look for them right away, we'll definitely find them." Liu Yuheng quickly changed the subject, glancing outside, "Where are Dad and the others? Did they go to work?"

Wang Xiuhe nodded: "They've all gone to work. Your dad's at the restaurant, Erhe's at the factory, Tingting's at school, she's not out yet. Fangfang went shopping, she'll be back in a bit."

As soon as she finished speaking, the door was pushed open, and Liang Fangfang walked in.

"Big brother!" Liang Fangfang exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Liu Yuheng, "You're back?"

Liu Yuheng nodded and said with a smile, "You're back. Fangfang, congratulations on becoming a mother."

Liang Fangfang smiled shyly: "Big brother, it's still early, only a little over two months."

"It's getting late, we'll be here in the blink of an eye." Liu Yuheng took out his wallet from his pocket, rummaged through it, pulled out a wad of cash, about twenty yuan, and handed it over. "Fangfang, this is a little something from your older brother. Take it and buy yourself something good to eat to nourish yourself."

Liang Fangfang quickly waved her hand, her face turning even redder: "Big brother, no need, no need, we have..."

"Take it." Liu Yuheng stuffed the money into her hand, his tone leaving no room for refusal. "Don't be polite with your older brother."

Liang Fangfang looked at the money in her hand, then at Wang Xiuhe.

Wang Xiuhe sighed and nodded: "Take it, it's from your older brother, don't refuse."

Liang Fangfang then accepted the money: "Thank you, brother."

Liu Yuheng waved his hand and sat down again.

Wang Xiuhe chattered on about what had happened in the courtyard lately: who had quarreled with whom, how stingy Yan Bugui had become, who Jia Zhangshi had gotten into a fight with, and so on. Liu Yuheng listened, nodding and smiling from time to time, occasionally interjecting with a word or two.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from the courtyard, and then the door was suddenly pushed open, and Liu Tingting walked in.

"Big brother, you're finally back! I've missed you so much!"

"Tingting's grown taller!" Liu Yuheng pinched her cheek. "Are you being good at school? How are your studies?"

Liu Tingting proudly raised her chin: "I got third place in the class!"

"Hey, not bad!" Liu Yuheng ruffled her hair, then pulled out a handful of candy from his pocket, which he had brought especially for her. "Here, take this as a reward."

Liu Tingting took the candy, her eyes crinkling into crescents. She eagerly peeled off a piece and popped it into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out, and mumbled, "Big brother is the best!"

Not long after, voices could be heard in the courtyard. The steel rolling mill had closed for the day.

"Big brother?" Liu Erhe pushed open the door and came in. Seeing Liu Yuheng sitting in the room, the weariness on his face vanished, and he grinned. "Why are you back?"

Liu Yuheng stood up and patted his younger brother on the shoulder.

"I'm back to see you all," Liu Yuheng said with a smile, "and congratulations to you as well."

Liu Erhe scratched his head, chuckled, and wore an expression that was both embarrassed and unable to suppress his pride.

"Big brother, you know everything?" Liu Erhe asked.

"Got it." Liu Yuheng nodded, his tone tinged with emotion. "You're quick on your feet, aren't you? You're going to be a dad already. You're better than me."

Liu Erhe grinned from ear to ear and sat down next to Liu Yuheng.

Liu Shuanzhu was the last to return. He was leaving the restaurant with two lunchboxes filled with leftovers he had packed before leaving get off work. As soon as he looked up, he saw that the door to the east wing was open, and he could hear voices and laughter coming from inside.

"The boss is back?"

"I'm back, Father," Liu Yuheng called out.

Liu Shuanzhu nodded, said nothing more, went inside, and sat down at the dining table. Wang Xiuhe had already started serving dishes, including the braised beef and roast chicken that Liu Yuheng had brought back, filling two large plates. Finally, she brought out a large bowl of steaming hot steamed buns, made with white flour, not the usual mixed flour, clearly made especially for Liu Yuheng's return.

The family sat around the dining table.

Halfway through the meal, Liu Yuheng put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, looked at everyone at the table, and spoke.

"Father, Mother, there's something I need to tell you."

"I'm being transferred."

Wang Xiuhe's chopsticks fell to the table with a "thud".

"Transferred?" Wang Xiuhe's voice changed abruptly, filled with suppressed tension and unease. "Transferred to where? Aren't you doing just fine in Beijing? Why are you being transferred again?"

Liu Yuheng smiled and said, "Mother, it's what I need to do for work. I'll go wherever the organization assigns me; that's the rule."

"So where are you going?"

Liu Yuheng didn't answer directly, instead saying evasively, "It's not far. I'm just going out on a mission, I'll be back in two or three years. Don't worry, I'm a grown man, how could I get lost?"

Wang Xiuhe's eyes immediately reddened, her lips trembled, and she gripped Liu Yuheng's hand tightly until her knuckles turned white.

Liu Shuanzhu held his wine glass, remained silent for a long time, and then said, "When are you leaving?"

"The day after tomorrow morning," Liu Yuheng said.

"So fast?" Liu Erhe couldn't help but interject.

Liu Yuheng glanced at his younger brother and nodded: "It was a temporary mission, so I had to leave in a hurry."

Liu Tingting's lips immediately trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes: "Big brother, are you leaving again?"

Liu Yuheng reached out and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, smiling slightly. "Your older brother has gone out on a mission and will be back soon. You stay home and study hard, listen to your parents, and if you get first place in your exams when I come back, I'll bring you a big gift."

Liu Tingting sniffed, but tears still streamed down her face.

Wang Xiuhe took a deep breath, released Liu Yuheng's hand, turned around, wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and tried her best to keep her voice steady: "Eat before you go, and I'll make you something nicer."

"Mother, no need, this is enough." Liu Yuheng pointed to the dishes on the table. "There's meat and vegetables, it's quite good."

Wang Xiuhe ignored her and stood up to walk towards the kitchen in the backyard, saying as she went, "Wait here, Mom will make you dumplings, with chives and eggs, your favorite."

Liu Yuheng opened his mouth, wanting to call out to her, but looking at her stubborn back, he swallowed his words back.

After dinner, it was already dark. Liu Yuheng helped Wang Xiuhe clear the dishes, sat in the room for a while, said a few words to Liu Shuanzhu, gave Liu Erhe some instructions, patted Liu Tingting's head, and then stood up.

"Father, Mother, I have to go."

Wang Xiuhe stood at the door, looking at Liu Yuheng: "Be careful on the road, and send a message home when you get there."

"Understood, Mother." Liu Yuheng said, then turned and walked out of the east wing.