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

Li Wenying was the same Li Wenying who should have died in northwestern Shanxi. Back then, she survived in northwestern Shanxi thanks to Liu Yuheng's intervention.

Li Wenying also saw Liu Yuheng and quickly walked over to greet him, extending her hand from a distance, her voice filled with the joy of a long-awaited reunion: "Old Liu! Welcome, welcome!"

Liu Yuheng grasped his hand, shook it vigorously, looked him up and down, and said with a smile, "Old Li, it's been years, you haven't changed at all."

Li Wenying smiled and said, "You've gotten quite robust. You must be tired from the journey. Hurry up, the car is waiting outside."

Liu Yuheng followed him toward the exit, saying as they walked, "Old Li, let me make this clear first. I'm here on orders from above to find fault. If I find any problems with your unit, don't blame me for not giving my old comrade face."

Upon hearing this, Li Wenying not only didn't tense up, but instead burst into laughter: "Who do you think I am, Liu Yuheng? You don't know me at all. I may not have any other skills, but I'm clean-shaven. Let's go, investigate with confidence."

He paused, then added, "When I learned you were coming, I even called Old Kong. Old Kong said on the phone, 'If any of those bastards cause trouble, I'll come back and deal with them myself. No need to bother Old Liu.'"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuheng couldn't help but burst into laughter, patting Li Wenying on the shoulder: "Old Li, are you supporting my work, or are you deliberately targeting me?"

Li Wenying laughed along, waved her hand and said, "No, no, let's go, let's settle down at the military headquarters first."

As the group exited the train station, a grass-green military vehicle was already waiting in the square.

Liu Yuheng and Li Wenying got into the back seat, while the four staff members and the liaison team members got into the car behind. The car started and drove through the city's main road towards the military headquarters.

On the way, Li Wenying leaned back in her seat, turned her head and asked Liu Yuheng, "Old Liu, you've only been back from Jinling for a short time, right? How are Old Kong, Old Li, and Old Ding doing at the academy? I've been so busy here that I haven't heard from them in a while."

Liu Yuheng smiled, recalling the scene when he saw those three at the Jinling Military Academy last time: "With the instructors there watching over them, how could they not study hard? Even that simpleton Old Li can write papers now, let alone that good boy Old Kong!"

Upon hearing this, Li Wenying raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Really? Old Li, who gets a headache just looking at books, can actually write a thesis?"

"It's all under the teacher's supervision," Liu Yuheng said. "When the teacher sits there, even if Lao Li has a terrible temper, he has to sit down and write obediently. And you know what? He actually managed to produce something."

Li Wenying couldn't help but laugh: "The head teacher really knows how to do things. Zhao Gang has been teaching Old Li for so many years, but he hasn't even taught him to recognize all the characters. As soon as the head teacher left, he became obedient and can even write papers now."

They both laughed.

As the car rounded a bend, Li Wenying seemed to remember something and turned to ask, "By the way, I heard you're getting married soon?"

Liu Yuheng was taken aback: "The news spread so fast? I only made the decision less than half a month ago, how did you know?"

Li Wenying laughed and said, "The old brigade commander said so. You didn't know? He's over there preparing for the military industrial university. I went there a few days ago to deliver some things. I ran into him, and he mentioned it to me. He said you've finally settled down, and it's with the daughter of a university professor."

After listening, Liu Yuheng shook his head: "Old Brigade Commander, you really can't keep a secret." He paused, his tone becoming more serious, "But it's really settled. The girl's name is Yao Qingwan, she works at the Women's Federation, and her parents are both university teachers. When I get back from this business trip, we'll probably get things done around the time of the conferment of ranks."

Li Wenying nodded: "Will Lao Kong and the others be able to make it?"

Liu Yuheng thought for a moment: "They should be able to. They'll all be going to the capital when the ranks are conferred, so they can attend the celebration. As for you..." He glanced at Li Wenying, "You'll most likely have to stay behind."

Li Wenying waved her hand: "Where doesn't matter where we drink? We can drink early tonight." The two looked at each other and smiled.

The car drove into the military headquarters and stopped in front of the guesthouse. Li Wenying got out of the car first and called for someone to arrange accommodation.

Liu Yuheng and the four staff members went into their respective rooms, settled in, put away their luggage, and washed their faces. Li Wenying was already waiting downstairs.

Liu Yuheng came downstairs, and Li Wenying waved to him: "Come on, let's not go to the canteen tonight, let's eat at my house. I asked your sister-in-law to cook a few dishes, let's have a good drink together, old comrades."

Liu Yuheng followed him out of the guesthouse, walked for a while, and turned into a residential building.

Li Wenying's home is on the third floor. As soon as you open the door, the aroma of food wafts out.

Standing at the door, Liu Yuheng suddenly realized that he had left in such a hurry that he hadn't brought any gifts. He looked a little embarrassed and said, "Old Li, I didn't bring any gifts this time either. I've come empty-handed."

Li Wenying laughed and gave him a push: "When did you become so formal? Back in Northwest Shanxi, you came to our Independent Regiment for meals, but you never mentioned gifts. Come on in."

Liu Yuheng was ushered inside. A woman wearing an apron poked her head out of the kitchen, smiled and nodded at him: "Old Liu is here? Come on in, the food will be ready soon."

That was Li Wenying's wife. Liu Yuheng had met her before when they were in northwestern Shanxi, back when she was working in the logistics department of the army.

Liu Yuheng called out "Sister-in-law" and then said "Thank you for your hard work."

Two little boys peeked out from the inner room. The older one was five or six years old, and the younger one was three or four. They were wearing identical blue cotton jackets, with round faces and big eyes. When they saw strangers in the house, they first shrank back, and then curiously looked Liu Yuheng up and down.

Li Wenying beckoned to her two sons: "Come here and call him Uncle Liu."

The older one spoke first, his voice clear and bright: "Hello, Uncle Liu." The younger one followed suit, saying, "Hello, Uncle Liu."

Liu Yuheng smiled and ruffled each of their hair.

Li Wenying invited Liu Yuheng to sit down at the table, where several cold dishes and a bottle of baijiu (Chinese liquor) were already laid out.

Li Wenying unscrewed the bottle cap, poured a glass for each of them, then raised her glass to Liu Yuheng: "Old Liu, it's been years since we drank together. This glass is to welcome you back."

Liu Yuheng also picked up his cup, clinked it with Li Wenying's, and took a big gulp.

Li Wenying's wife brought out another bowl of steaming hot cornmeal porridge, put it down, and went back to her work, not wanting to disturb the two of them talking.

Liu Yuheng put down his chopsticks, looked at Li Wenying, and asked, "Old Li, how's the downsizing going in your army? I've looked at the data in the documents, but data is data; we'll have to see the actual situation to know."

Li Wenying picked up a piece of food, chewed it, and said, "Our army's situation is similar to yours. The downsizing started early and ended early as well. The first batch of discharged wounded and sick soldiers and older veterans have all left, and the second batch of streamlined staff have also been basically resettled. Those who remained have not stopped training."

Liu Yuheng nodded in agreement: "That's good. Tomorrow I'll go down there, take a walk around the camp, check on the training, and listen to the soldiers' thoughts."

Li Wenying raised her glass and clinked it against Liu Yuheng's again: "Don't worry, you won't be disappointed when we get to my turf."

As night deepened, the two old comrades sat at the dinner table, drinking and chatting about the past and the present.