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

Liu Yuheng was pushed back by his parents, shook his head with a smile, and sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

He suddenly remembered something, turned to Liang Fangfang and said, "Sister-in-law, there's something else I forgot to tell you. I asked an old comrade to get some milk powder and enriched flour for Yixuan. The milk powder is for the baby, and the enriched flour is a large quantity. I'll bring it over to you tomorrow."

Liang Fangfang paused in her hand, making dumpling wrappers, and looked up: "Brother, this is too much of a waste..."

"Why are you being so polite with your older brother?" Liu Yuheng waved his hand. "Yixuan is my nephew. What's wrong with me getting him some milk powder? We're short on whole grains at home too. I'll get as much as I can."

Wang Xiuhe chimed in, her tone tinged with emotion: "It's really hard to buy Fuqiang flour these days. It's in limited quantities; even if you have money, you can't get it. Which old comrade did you ask? You'd better thank them properly..."

"Mother, don't worry about it," Liu Yuheng interrupted her with a smile. "When the food arrives tomorrow, you can decide how to divide it. Steamed buns or noodles are fine; it'll be enough to last for a while."

Liang Fangfang lowered her head, pinching the dumplings even more carefully. Wang Xiuhe also stopped talking, burying herself in making dumplings, but her movements were noticeably lighter, the rolling pin spinning rapidly on the board.

Liu Yuheng sat for a while, then stood up: "I'm going out for some fresh air, to take a walk in the yard."

"Go ahead, go ahead." Liu Shuanzhu waved his hand. "Take Yixuan with you and let him get some fresh air. It's stuffy inside for too long."

Liu Yuheng took his nephew from his father's arms. The little guy wasn't shy at all, hugging Liu Yuheng's neck while clutching an unpeeled boiled egg in his other hand. Liu Yuheng carried him out of the east wing, the thick cotton curtains falling behind them, cutting off half of the warmth and liveliness inside.

The snow in the yard had been swept to the corner and piled up, revealing the bluish-gray brick floor. Spring Festival couplets had been pasted on the doors of every household; the bright red paper and rich ink stood out vividly against the gray winter sky.

Liu Yuheng held Liu Yixuan in his arms and stood in the middle of the courtyard. He took a deep breath of the cold air and felt much more awake. The little guy looked around in his arms and suddenly pointed at the icicles under the eaves and cried out "Ah ah!" His little finger pointed at the shiny things with a curious expression.

The uncle and nephew were standing there when they heard Yan Bugui's voice coming from across the street.

"How many times have I told you both? You need to save your candy! Wrap it up so you can eat it again tomorrow! What if you eat it all at once and there's none left tomorrow? Listen to your father, spit the candy out of your mouths, wrap it in paper, and eat it again tomorrow!"

Yan Jiefang looked up at his father, his eyes brimming with tears. The candy in his mouth had been sitting for so long that it was almost completely melted, sticking stickily to his teeth. He wanted to spit it out but couldn't bear to. Yan Jiekuang, who was even younger, pouted, tears already welling up in his eyes.

Liu Yuheng carried Liu Yixuan over, and upon seeing this scene, his face immediately darkened.

He walked up to Yan Bugui, trying to make his voice sound calm: "Teacher Yan, let it go. It's the New Year, it's just a piece of candy for the child. It's New Year's Eve, let the child have some fun."

Yan Bugui was about to retort when he looked up and saw Liu Yuheng standing in front of him. He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. His expression changed several times. He glanced at Liu Yixuan in Liu Yuheng's arms, and then at the candy in his two sons' hands. It was Liu Yuheng who had given them that candy. If he angered Liu Yuheng, he would lose even more candy in the future.

He hesitated for a second, then waved his hand, his tone somewhat reluctant as he conceded: "Alright, alright, I'll make an exception today, eat up."

But as he turned around and walked back into the house, he kept muttering, "You won't go poor from eating or wearing clothes, but you will if you don't plan ahead. You're too young to understand now, but you'll understand when you grow up..."

Liu Yuheng watched his retreating figure and shook his head helplessly. That's just how life is for most people.

This scene was witnessed by Yi Zhonghai and a few others who were standing near the moon gate between the front and middle courtyards.

"Old Yan, that guy," Liu Haizhong cracked a sunflower seed and clicked his tongue, "He won't even let the kids have a good time during the New Year. He can't take all that money with him to his grave."

Yi Zhonghai smiled and shook his head, not replying. His gaze lingered on Liu Yuheng for a moment, as if he were pondering something. He beckoned behind him, "Dongxu, bring your wife over here, let her meet you."

Jia Dongxu peeked out from behind the moon gate, then pulled Qin Huairu out.

The two walked up to Liu Yuheng, and Jia Dongxu was the first to call out, "Brother Liu."

Qin Huairu also greeted, "Happy New Year, Brother Liu."

Yi Zhonghai walked up to Liu Yuheng and introduced him with a smile: "Comrade Liu, this is Dongxu, you've met him before. This is Qin Huairu, Dongxu's new wife, she's still a bride."

Liu Yuheng, holding Liu Yixuan, nodded to the two of them with a polite smile: "Dongxu, congratulations on marrying a good wife. Wishing you both a happy and harmonious life together this New Year, may your days get better and better."

Qin Huairu's face flushed slightly, and she whispered, "Thank you, Brother Liu," taking half a step behind Jia Dongxu. Jia Dongxu smiled憨厚ly, scratching the back of his head, unsure how to respond, only managing to say, "Thank you, Brother Liu."

Yi Zhonghai watched from the side, a satisfied smile on his face.

He waited a few seconds, then spoke again, his tone sounding like a casual question: "Comrade Liu, is this your official transfer to work in Beijing?"

Liu Yuheng shook his head, his tone flat: "No. I'm going back to Jinling after the New Year; there's still work to be done with the troops there."

Yi Zhonghai raised an eyebrow slightly: "That's true... But I heard from your father that you were allocated a house in the north of the city?"

Liu Yuheng smiled and did not deny it: "I was assigned a building. But it was assigned in advance, as a benefit from the organization. I am indeed to be transferred back, but I have to wait for a while until the work there is finished before I can be officially transferred back."

Yi Zhonghai nodded, his smile still on his face, but the thoughtful look in his eyes never faded.

Liu Haizhong came over from the side, cracking sunflower seeds in his mouth, and said with a smile, "Comrade Liu, your house is quite big, isn't it? I've been to that area in the north of the city, it's all good places, and it's full of cadres."

Liu Yuheng smiled but didn't respond to the question. He looked down at Liu Yixuan in his arms. The little guy had been in his arms for a while and was starting to get restless, squirming and pointing towards the east wing, calling out, "Grandma! Grandma!"

Liu Yuheng nodded to everyone, "I'll head back now, the child's making a fuss. Master Yi, Master Liu, Master Xu, you all keep busy." With that, he picked up Liu Yixuan and turned to walk towards the east wing.

Yi Zhonghai stood beside the moon gate, watching Liu Yuheng's figure disappear behind the cotton curtain of the east wing. The smile on his face slowly faded, but his gaze remained in that direction. Liu Haizhong cracked melon seeds, Xu Fugui held a teacup, and the three men stood in the winter courtyard, each lost in their own thoughts.