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

Liu Yuheng chuckled and took a drag of his cigarette: "So, did you find someone when you went back this time?"

Xiao Li's face flushed red instantly, even the tips of his ears turned red. He lowered his head and chuckled twice: "Well... the day after I got home, the matchmaker from our village came to my door, saying there was a girl in the next village whose family was well-off and who was hardworking, and asked me to go and meet her. So I went to see her, we met, exchanged a few words... and she seemed alright."

"What do you mean by 'not bad'?" Liu Yuheng pressed, his tone slightly teasing. "Has the girl taken a liking to you?"

Xiao Li's face turned even redder. He scratched the back of his head and mumbled, "I guess... she took a liking to me. When I left, she slipped me a pair of insoles, saying she embroidered them. I didn't know what it meant, but I just accepted them."

Liu Yuheng couldn't help but laugh, patting Xiao Li on the shoulder: "So you've taken a liking to her. Go back and write her more letters, don't just focus on work and leave the girl hanging. Feelings, if you don't nurture them, they'll fade away. After I finish the troop reduction here, before I transfer, I'll talk to the political commissar and the others, and ask them to approve your wedding leave during the Spring Festival this year so you can go back and take care of things."

Xiao Li suddenly looked up, his eyes lighting up: "Commander, really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?" Liu Yuheng stubbed out his cigarette. "But you have to promise me one thing."

"Commander, please speak!"

"Send me a packet of wedding candy when you get married."

Little Li nodded excitedly, "Don't worry, Commander! I'll definitely send it! I'll have my mom make the best wedding candy and send you a big bag!"

As they were talking, Xiao Li's voice suddenly lowered a few degrees. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke again: "Commander, I... I still want to follow you."

Liu Yuheng paused, turned around and glanced at him: "Why are you following me?"

Xiao Li caught up a few steps, his voice earnest: "I've been working for you for over two years, I'm used to it. Wherever you go, I'll follow. If you're transferred, I'll go with you."

Liu Yuheng looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, then shook his head: "Xiao Li, I'll be leaving the army soon too. I'll be working in civilian life then, and I won't be able to have a bodyguard with me anymore. What future do you have with me?"

Xiao Li opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Liu Yuheng didn't give him a chance to speak, and continued: "When the time comes, you'll go down to the front-line troops, learn more knowledge, and accumulate more experience. You're still young, and you have a long road ahead of you. If you want to stay in the army, study hard and learn skills so that you can lead troops when you get promoted. If you want to retire and go home, save some money, go back and get married and settle down. Following me isn't a long-term solution."

Xiao Li kept his head down and didn't say anything.

Unbeknownst to them, the two had reached the edge of the camp. Ahead stood a row of low bungalows, smoke billowing from their chimneys, and the air was filled with the aroma of cooking. That was the mess hall. Liu Yuheng stopped and was about to turn back when the mess hall door suddenly opened from the inside, and a person stepped out.

The man, dressed in a clean military uniform with his sleeves neatly rolled up, looked up and saw Liu Yuheng standing in the doorway. He paused for a moment, then immediately put down the enamel basin, stood at attention, and saluted, his voice booming and somewhat abrupt: "Regimental Commander!"

Liu Yuheng was taken aback. No one had used that title in a long time. He looked closely at the man before him; he was of medium build, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with a few faint scars on his face, but he was impeccably clean and tidy. He searched his memory and quickly recalled the name.

"You must be Wang Sanyong?" Liu Yuheng's voice was filled with surprise and delight.

The man scratched his head, a slightly embarrassed smile appearing on his face, but his eyes held a joy at being remembered: "The commander still remembers me?"

Liu Yuheng laughed: "How could I not remember? Back in northwestern Shanxi, you were a master at fighting the Japanese. That winter, you led a squad and managed to take down a Japanese pillbox and capture a Type 91 machine gun. You were wounded but refused to leave the front line."

He said with a touch of emotion, "Later I heard you were injured, which is why you were transferred to the mess hall."

Wang Sanyong's smile deepened: "Commander, you have a really good memory. That was ten years ago, it's amazing that you remember it so clearly."

Liu Yuheng nodded, his gaze falling on his legs: "Does it still hurt when you walk?"

"It hurts a little when it's cloudy or rainy, but it's fine most of the time," Wang Sanyong patted his leg, his tone relaxed. "It's nothing serious, it won't affect my work."

The two talked for a while, and just as Liu Yuheng was about to say goodbye, Wang Sanyong suddenly spoke up: "Commander, um... I went to register today."

Liu Yuheng frowned slightly: "What name should I register?"

"I volunteered for the troop reduction. I had heard before that this troop reduction was mainly for wounded and sick soldiers and older soldiers. Although I am only thirty years old, my leg injury will not heal and I cannot keep up with the training. Staying in the army would only cause trouble for the organization."

Liu Yuheng remained silent for a while.

"Have you thought it through?" Liu Yuheng asked.

"I've made up my mind." Wang Sanyong nodded. "After I go back, I plan to get married and settle down. I've been in the army for over ten years; it's time to go home."

Liu Yuheng didn't try to persuade him. He looked at Wang Sanyong for a while, then nodded: "Okay, if you get married when you go back, send me a letter."

He took out a pen and a small notebook from his pocket, tore off a page, wrote an address on it: No. 95, Nanluoguxiang, and handed the note to Wang Sanyong. "Just send the letter to this address. I'll probably be transferred back to Beijing later, so this address won't change."

Wang Sanyong took the note, glanced at the words on it, carefully folded it, put it in his pocket, patted it, and nodded: "Thank you, Commander."

"There aren't many old comrades who fought alongside us in the war. Now that you're settled in your hometown, live a good life."

Wang Sanyong nodded solemnly, straightened up, and saluted Liu Yuheng again. Then he turned around and walked back to the mess hall.

Liu Yuheng stood there, stared at the door for a while, then turned and walked back the way he came. Xiao Li followed silently behind him; neither of them spoke.