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

Seeing that everyone had relented, Liu Yuheng said to Liu Erhe, "Then Erhe, you should take a day off tomorrow and take your sister-in-law to the Dongzhimen Supply and Marketing Cooperative to report for duty. I'll call the director there later and ask him to arrange an easier job for Fangfang, so she doesn't have to do heavy or tiring work."

Liu Erhe nodded quickly, his voice filled with gratitude: "Okay, okay, brother, don't worry, I'll take her there first thing tomorrow morning."

After arranging everything, Liu Yuheng glanced at the food on the table, smiled, and said, "Alright, you guys continue eating. I'll be leaving now."

Wang Xiuhe was taken aback, then stood up and called out to him, "You're here, aren't you going to finish your meal before you leave? There's still some left in the pot, I'll get you a bowl."

Liu Yuheng shook his head and turned to walk towards the door: "No, Qingwan is still waiting for me at home. I'll go back and have dinner with her."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuhe immediately changed her expression and waved her hand as if herding a duck: "Then you'd better go back quickly! Don't keep them waiting, the food will get cold. You'd better leave quickly."

Liu Yuheng's lips twitched at the stark contrast in her attitude, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "She's really forgotten her son now that she has a daughter-in-law." But he didn't say anything, just smiled and shook his head, then turned and left the east wing.

He walked through the courtyard, exited the gate, and got into the car. The car drove out of the alleyway in the twilight, heading towards the north of the city. Back at the compound in the north of the city, Liu Yuheng pushed open the door and saw Yao Qingwan carrying a plate of food out of the kitchen, her apron still on.

"You're back?" She put the dishes on the table and glanced at him.

Liu Yuheng washed his hands and sat down at the dining table, picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of food: "Yes, my sister-in-law is pregnant again. We found out today."

Yao Qingwan sat down opposite him, her expression momentarily stunned before she smiled, "That's great. Erhe is a father again." She thought for a moment and then said, "Should I send some things over tomorrow? Brown sugar, eggs, and stuff like that; we still have plenty at home."

Liu Yuheng shook his head: "No need. I left a lot of things for my family before, enough for them. Besides, we don't have much of a fortune ourselves."

He paused, picked up another bite of food, and said with a hint of self-deprecation, "I won't get paid until October, and I'm really strapped for cash right now. Next month is the awarding of ranks, and those old comrades-in-arms are coming, so I'll definitely have to treat them to a meal. I'm afraid I'll have to ask you for money again. I'll end up being a kept man."

Upon hearing this, Yao Qingwan put down her chopsticks, rolled her eyes at him, a look that held a mixture of reproach and amusement, and said, "Who told you to treat us so early? Couldn't you wait until you got paid?"

Liu Yuheng laughed twice, then picked up another piece of food with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling, "That won't do. That's not my style."

Yao Qingwan shook her head, said nothing more, and got up to serve him another bowl of soup.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, Liu Erhe woke up. He had something on his mind and couldn't lie still. He turned over, then over again, and the bed creaked twice.

He woke Liang Fangfang up. She rubbed her eyes groggily, her voice still sleepy, and asked, "What time is it?"

Liu Erhe propped himself up and glanced at the clock on the wall: "It's just past 6:30. It's still early, you should lie down a bit longer."

Liang Fangfang shook her head, propped herself up to sit up, and folded the blanket neatly: "I'm not lying down anymore. Today is my first day reporting for duty, I can't keep people waiting. You should get up too, don't dawdle."

Seeing that she had gotten out of bed, Liu Erhe also got up and dressed, saying, "Then I'll tell Mother later to keep an eye on Yixuan for us today."

"I already discussed it with my mother yesterday."

After the two finished washing up, Wang Xiuhe was already up and busy at the stove. The porridge in the pot was bubbling away, and several freshly steamed cornbreads were placed on the bamboo mat next to it, steaming hot.

Seeing the two of them come out, Wang Xiuhe greeted them without turning her head, "The porridge is in the pot, eat it while it's hot. Yixuan hasn't woken up yet, you two eat first, don't worry about him."

Liu Erhe responded, filled two bowls with porridge, and placed a few cornbread buns on a plate. The two sat down at the table and began eating. Liang Fangfang ate a few bites, then suddenly remembered something and looked up to ask, "Mom, if Yixuan insists on seeing me today, don't let him. He just went to the supply and marketing cooperative; it's not good for him to take leave on his first day."

Wang Xiuhe turned around, wiped her hands on her apron, and said with a smile, "I know, I know, how could I not control a child? You just go to work and don't worry about things at home."

After finishing their meal, Liu Erhe and Liang Fangfang went out and walked side by side down the street in the early morning. They hadn't gone far when Liu Erhe slowed his pace, glanced at Liang Fangfang, and, as if considering his words, finally spoke: "Fangfang, why don't we buy a bicycle? Right now, you don't need a ticket to buy one; we can save a hundred or two and buy a 28-inch bike. I'll ride it to pick you up and drop you off, so you don't have to walk every day."

Liang Fangfang glanced at him, thought for a moment, and shook her head: "Let's wait a little longer. The supply and marketing cooperative isn't far from home, it's only a twenty-minute walk. I can get some exercise by walking."

"Alright, I'll listen to you." Liu Erhe didn't insist anymore and nodded. "We'll talk about it when you're further along in your pregnancy."

The two turned two corners along the street, crossed a small stone bridge, and the gray building of the Dongzhimen Supply and Marketing Cooperative came into view.

The two entered the store, and Liu Erhe walked to the counter and asked a young female sales clerk who was arranging goods, "Comrade, is Director Li here?"

The girl looked up, glanced at him and Liang Fangfang, and asked with a hint of curiosity, "What do you need Director Li for?"

"We are acquaintances of Director Li."

The young woman glanced at them again, put down what she was holding, turned around and called out, "Director Li! Someone is looking for you!"

Not long after, a middle-aged man emerged from the back office. He was in his early forties, of medium build, and his gaze shifted instantly when it landed on Liu Erhe and Liang Fangfang, changing from professional politeness to a more earnest and enthusiastic tone.

Director Li strode over, first looking at Liang Fangfang, then at Liu Erhe, before extending his hand: "You must be Comrade Liang Fangfang? And this is…"

Liu Erhe quickly extended his hand and shook hands with him: "Hello, Director Li, I am Liang Fangfang's husband, Liu Erhe, and I work at the steel rolling mill."

Upon hearing this, Director Li's smile deepened, and he shook Liu Erhe's hand firmly: "Comrade Liu Erhe, it's an honor to meet you. Come, come, don't stand here talking, come to my office and sit down."

He stepped aside and led the two through the shelves filled with goods, turned into a corridor, pushed open a door with a sign that read "Director's Office," and let them in. The office was small, but clean and tidy. On the desk sat an old-fashioned telephone, next to an enamel mug. On the wall were a set of rules and regulations for the supply and marketing cooperative and a faded New Year's picture.