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

Putting down his wine glass, Liu Yuheng decided to quickly change the subject.

He looked at Liu Tingting and asked, "By the way, Tingting, I was so busy last time I forgot to ask you. You should be starting junior high this year, right?"

Liu Tingting put down the half-eaten dumpling and nodded: "Okay! I'll go register after the New Year! No. 11 Middle School, it's not far from our courtyard house, about a 20-minute walk."

"No. 11 Middle School? That's not bad." Liu Yuheng nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "Okay, before I leave in a couple of days, I'll pick out a fountain pen for you as a gift to celebrate you starting junior high."

Liu Tingting's eyes lit up immediately, and her smile was brighter than the June sunshine: "Really? Brother, you mean what you say!"

"I promise." Liu Yuheng nodded with a smile.

Wang Xiuhe chimed in from the side, "You just spoil her. What does a little girl like her need a fountain pen for?"

"Mother, what's wrong with the little girl?" Liu Yuheng replied with a smile, "Tingting got into junior high school, that's a big deal, she deserves a reward."

Liu Tingting made a smug face at Wang Xiuhe, then lowered her head and ate dumplings in big bites, as if afraid that Liu Yuheng would change his mind.

Liu Yuheng then turned to Liu Erhe, his tone becoming more serious: "Erhe, there's something else. I heard that universities now offer self-study programs, which involve attending night school, completing the courses, and then taking an exam. If you pass, you get a university degree. Are you and your sister-in-law planning to take the exam?"

Liu Erhe froze, his chopsticks holding the dumplings hovering in mid-air, motionless for a long time. Liang Fangfang also looked up, glancing at Liu Yuheng and then at Liu Erhe, her expression somewhat blank, clearly having never thought about this before.

Liu Erhe put down his chopsticks, thought for a moment, scratched his head, and smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "Brother, I... I think I'll pass. I'm not cut out for studying; I've never liked reading since I was little. I'm fine with working in a factory, but as for sitting in a classroom, I feel like I have nails stuck in my butt; I can't sit still."

Liang Fangfang shook her head: "Big brother, I'll pass too. Yixuan is still young and needs constant care. I work in the street factory during the day and take care of the child at night, so I don't have time to study at all. Besides, I only have an elementary school education. Going to university is just a pipe dream."

Looking at their expressions, Liu Yuheng knew that they didn't not want to, but felt that they weren't up to the task.

He paused for a moment, then softened his tone, saying, "Alright, no rush. Sister-in-law, once I'm transferred back, I'll find you a stable job at the supply and marketing cooperative."

Liang Fangfang was stunned for several seconds before she realized what Liu Yuheng was saying.

She nodded emphatically, her voice brimming with barely suppressed joy: "Thank you, big brother! I'll be waiting!"

Wang Xiuhe, watching from the side, also laughed and patted Liang Fangfang's arm: "Look how happy you are, it's not even a possibility yet."

Liang Fangfang laughed so hard her eyes almost disappeared: "Big brother always keeps his word, I trust him!"

Liang Cheng and his wife sat opposite him, and upon hearing this, they couldn't hide their smiles. The elderly couple had always worried about their daughter's work.

Although factories are short of workers, they are lacking either experienced master craftsmen or male apprentices who can perform physical labor. There are already few female worker positions, let alone good ones. Liang Fangfang is currently working in a street factory, doing sewing work, which is not only tiring but also pays little.

The work at the supply and marketing cooperative was easy and clean, more than ten times better than working in a factory. They had always wanted to help their daughter change jobs, but they didn't have any connections. Now, with just one sentence from Liu Yuheng, this important matter was settled. The two exchanged a glance, and the restraint and awkwardness they felt towards Liu Yuheng lessened considerably.

After the dumplings were finished, the bowls and plates were cleared away, and Wang Xiuhe brought over a dish of melon seeds and peanuts, and refilled the pot of hot tea. Liu Shuanzhu and Liang Cheng sat at the main table drinking tea and chatting. The two talked about everything from factory matters to street matters, and then from street matters to the national situation, having a lively conversation.

Wang Xiuhe and Liang Cheng's wife sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) talking, while Liang Fangfang held Liu Yixuan beside them, occasionally chiming in with a few words. The room was filled with the sounds of casual conversation and laughter.

Liu Yuheng sat for a while and felt that Liang Cheng and his wife were still a little reserved in his presence, so he waved to Liu Erhe: "Erhe, come on, come with me for a walk."

Liu Erhe put down the melon seeds in his hand and followed Liu Yuheng out of the east wing.

Liu Yuheng stood in the middle of the courtyard, his hands in his pockets, and exhaled a puff of white breath, watching it slowly dissipate in the cold air.

He turned around and looked at Liu Erhe: "Erhe, I have something to tell you. Don't tell anyone about what I just said about finding a job for your sister-in-law."

Liu Erhe was stunned for a moment, his expression showing confusion for a instant, but then he roughly understood and nodded.

Liu Yuheng continued, "Firstly, I'll be returning to Jinling for the New Year, not in the capital. We'll talk about it after I'm officially transferred back and things are settled. If word gets out now, it'll create a bad atmosphere. Secondly…" He slightly turned his head, glancing at the houses in the central courtyard, "You know the people in this courtyard. Let's not talk about the distant ones, just take the Jia family. I heard Jia Dongxu's wife, Qin Huairu, is still unemployed? What if they hear I can arrange work and come asking for help? Do you think I should help them or not?"

Liu Erhe frowned slightly.

"If I help them, all the young men in the neighborhood will come to me for jobs after they get married. I don't have that many connections. If I don't help them, they'll think I'm putting on airs and looking down on them. I can't help them from out of town, and if they bother my parents, it'll be difficult for them."

"So let's not talk about this for now. Once I'm back and settled in, if anyone tries to cause trouble, I'll deal with them."

After listening, Liu Erhe nodded solemnly: "Brother, don't worry, I understand."

Liu Yuheng patted his younger brother on the shoulder and said nothing more.

The two brothers stood in the yard for a while, the cold wind blowing on their faces, which made them feel much more awake.

Liu Yuheng suddenly felt something was missing. After thinking for a while, he realized what it was. He turned to Liu Erhe and said, "Erhe, it doesn't sound like anyone set off firecrackers at noon today. It's New Year's Eve, there should have been at least a few, right?"

Liu Erhe paused, scratched his head, as if stumped by the question: "Set off firecrackers? Brother, you don't know the cost of living until you're in charge. Those things are so expensive! The price of a whole string of firecrackers is enough for a family to make dumplings. Who would be willing to buy them?"

Liu Yuheng opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words to reply. Standing in the courtyard, looking at the lights shining from the windows of each house, he suddenly realized that he was indeed quite far removed from the lives of ordinary people. Having been in the army for a long time, he always had a guarantee of supplies, and the higher-ups would even give him some things during holidays; he had never worried about these things.

But it's different for ordinary families. If they had to choose between the money for a string of firecrackers and the money for a meal of dumplings, everyone would choose dumplings. Firecrackers are things that explode in one go, while dumplings are filling and have a bit of meat on them—that's real food.

He nodded, not bringing up the topic again. He took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a drag. The smoke dispersed in the cold air, drifting towards the hazy sky. Footsteps and voices came from the courtyard. Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong, along with several others, came out of their rooms, still discussing something.