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

Liu Yuheng ate a few bites of rice, put down his chopsticks, took out a wad of cash from his pocket, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Wang Xiuhe: "Mother, I'm going on a business trip tomorrow. I'll need you to find someone to make the wedding quilt and such. I don't know anything about these things, so you can handle it yourself."

Wang Xiuhe glanced at the money on the table and quickly pushed it back, saying, "No need, no need. We have money at home. Keep it for your travel expenses."

Liu Yuheng pushed the money back, his tone leaving no room for refusal: "I don't need this on the way, take it, buy whatever you need."

Wang Xiuhe wanted to refuse, but seeing Liu Yuheng's determined expression, she didn't insist anymore. She put the money away, wiped her hands on her apron, carefully folded it, and put it into her inner pocket.

Liu Tingting sat across from him, biting her chopsticks, and suddenly asked, "Brother, how much do you earn a month?"

Liu Yuheng glanced at her, a slight smile playing on his lips: "What's wrong? Short on money?"

Liu Tingting rolled her eyes: "I was just asking, out of curiosity."

Liu Erhe put down his bowl and excitedly chimed in, "Brother, I'm preparing for the Level 4 worker exam. If I pass, I can earn fifty-six yuan a month!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuhe's eyes lit up again: "Really? When is the exam?"

Liu Erhe rubbed his hands together: "I'll sign up next month. I told my father-in-law, and he said my skills are good enough."

Liang Fangfang smiled beside her, clearly already knowing the news but keeping it to herself.

Liu Erhe then looked at Liu Yuheng, his tone becoming more serious: "Brother, if you don't have enough money, I have some here..."

Liu Yuheng smiled and shook his head, putting down his chopsticks: "Alright. I'm still on a supply system for now, so I don't have much money. But once October comes, the army will switch to a salary system, and things will be more comfortable then, so you don't need to worry about it."

Liu Tingting seized the opportunity to ask another question: "So how much money will you get then?"

This time, even Liu Shuanzhu and Liang Fangfang looked over, waiting for his answer. Liu Yuheng thought for a moment, calculating in his mind. Based on his rank, he should at least be a major general, and lieutenant general was not out of the question; the corresponding administrative level should be around level seven or eight.

"It should be around 300 yuan a month."

The room fell silent for a moment. Liu Tingting nearly dropped her chopsticks, Liu Er almost choked on his porridge, Liang Fangfang's steamed bun froze in mid-air, Wang Xiuhe stared at Liu Yuheng with her mouth open, and Liu Shuanzhu paused in his porridge bowl.

Liu Tingting was the first to react, her voice rising eight octaves: "Three hundred? Three hundred a month?!"

Liu Yuheng smiled and nodded: "About the same, maybe two hundred and eighty, maybe three hundred and ten. It depends on the final ranking, but it's roughly the same."

Liu Tingting paused for two seconds, then turned to look at Liu Shuanzhu, counting on her fingers: "Dad earns thirty-two and a half yuan a month, that's only three hundred and ninety a year... My brother earns three hundred yuan a month, so isn't my brother's monthly salary equal to Dad's annual salary?!"

Liu Shuanzhu's face darkened instantly. He slammed the bowl of porridge on the table and glared at Liu Tingting: "What kind of calculation is this? What's wrong with your dad earning 32.5 yuan a month? Are you starving or freezing?"

Liu Tingting then realized she had misspoke and quickly ran to Liu Shuanzhu's side, grabbing his arm and smiling apologetically, "Dad, that's not what I meant! I meant that my older brother's salary is high, not that you earn less..."

Liu Shuanzhu snorted, his face still not looking too good, but he didn't pursue the matter further and picked up his bowl to continue drinking his porridge.

Liu Yuheng, watching this scene from the side, couldn't help but laugh and waved his hand: "Alright, just know it, don't tell anyone. If the neighbors ask, just say I earn a hundred yuan a month."

The whole family nodded in unison, making the number a habit.

After dinner, it was completely dark. Warm yellow light shone from the windows of each house in the courtyard, forming a halo of stars against the night sky. Liu Yuheng stood up, picked up his coat draped over the back of his chair, and said to the people inside, "I'm leaving. Don't come to see me off this time; I'm going straight to the Military Commission first thing tomorrow morning."

Wang Xiuhe stood up, wanting to say something, but opened her mouth and then closed it again, only asking, "Are you really coming back in a few months this time?"

Liu Yuheng nodded solemnly: "I'll definitely be back by September at the latest."

Wang Xiuhe finally breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

Liu Yuheng walked to the door, glanced back at the family inside, his gaze lingered on each person's face for a moment, and then turned and stepped across the threshold.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Liu Yuheng went out.

He drove through the quiet streets and stopped at the entrance of the Central Military Commission compound. After the sentry checked his identification, he was allowed to pass. He parked his car and strode into the office building.

Several people were already in the small conference room. The members of the disarmament team came from different departments and units, including those from headquarters, those transferred from various military regions, and those like Liu Yuheng who had just been transferred back from the field army. When he pushed the door open, there were already three people sitting inside, talking in hushed tones.

"Old Liu!" The person sitting by the window saw him first, stood up and waved to him. It was Old Zheng, an old acquaintance from headquarters.

Liu Yuheng walked over and sat down in the seat next to him. He then greeted the other two people, Lao Wu and Lao Liang, who were both key members of their respective departments.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Old Zheng glanced at Liu Yuheng and said with a smile, "Old Liu, you're thirty this year, aren't you? Still not planning to get married? Among our group, you're the only one still single."

Liu Yuheng leaned back in his chair, smiled, and said with a hint of smugness, "Your news is so outdated. I just got back from Nanjing, and the old brigade commander introduced me to someone. We're already engaged. We'll get married when I get back from this business trip."

Old Zheng was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then laughed and slapped the table: "Really? That's great! When is the wedding? We have to come and ask for a drink!"

Old Wu chimed in, "That's right, Old Liu, we absolutely have to go to your wedding. Don't complain that we have too many people and not enough wine."

Liu Yuheng said with a smile, "Of course you're welcome, but I'm afraid you might be too busy with work to come."

"No matter how busy we are, we have to come," Lao Liang chimed in from the side. "Don't hold back, just let us know when the time comes, and we'll be there anytime."

As the group was chatting and laughing, the meeting room door was pushed open.

Zhang, the leader of the disarmament group, walked in with a document in his hand. He stood in front of the main seat and glanced at the faces of the people in the group.

Upon seeing this, the group immediately stopped talking and laughing, stood up, and saluted in unison.