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

After several rounds of drinks, most of the dishes on the table had been eaten, and the faces of the group were flushed with the effects of the alcohol.

Li Yunlong had unbuttoned two buttons on his collar and rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, as he was putting a piece of braised pork into his mouth. Kong Jie was slowly sipping his wine, while Ding Wei leaned back in his chair, a cigarette in his hand that he hadn't lit, looking slightly tipsy.

Zhao Gang put down his wine glass, his gaze sweeping between Kong Jie and Ding Wei. With a concern typical of old friends, he casually asked, "Old Kong, Old Ding, now that Old Liu is married, shouldn't you two older brothers start thinking about your own lives?"

Ding Wei leaned back in his chair, twirling the cigarette between his fingers before placing it on the table. His tone was casual and lazy: "I don't have that idea yet. I've gotten used to being alone these past few years. I'll just take it one step at a time. These things can't be rushed. We'll see when it happens, and I won't force it if it doesn't."

Kong Jie nodded and continued, "I'm similar to Lao Ding. I've been in the army all these years, my mind has been on fighting and leading troops, I haven't thought about this much. Besides, I'm still studying at the academy, where would I find the energy for that?"

Liu Yuheng, who was about to bring his wine cup to his lips, paused upon hearing this, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips. He put down his cup, glanced at Kong Jie, and suddenly burst into laughter twice. Then, as if realizing his mistake, he abruptly shut his mouth, picked up his cup, and pretended to drink tea.

Kong Jie was taken aback by his drastically different reaction. She put down her chopsticks and looked at him: "Old Liu, what are you laughing at?"

Liu Yuheng waved his hand, picked up his teacup and took another sip, mumbling, "Nothing, nothing, I just suddenly remembered something funny."

Li Yunlong, standing nearby, was furious. He slammed his hand on the table and pointed at Liu Yuheng's nose: "You little brat, you definitely know something! Tell me right now! Old Liu, you're not the kind of person who laughs for no reason. You son of a bitch, you definitely know something inside."

Forced into a corner by him, Liu Yuheng glanced at Kong Jie's puzzled expression, thought for a moment, and finally waved his hand, saying with a hint of annoyance, "Never mind, never mind, I can't help but blurt it out. Old Kong, let me tell you something. On my way back from your army last time, your political commissar, Li Wenying, told me something. He's looking for a partner for you and plans to arrange a blind date for you after you return from your conferment of rank this time."

Kong Jie's hand holding the wine glass stopped in mid-air, and the expression on his face changed from doubt to surprise, and then from surprise to a bit of embarrassment.

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong immediately perked up, patted Kong Jie's shoulder forcefully, making Kong Jie sway twice: "Old Kong! You're lucky! You've met a confidant just like me! Look, I was the one who arranged Old Zhao's marriage, and now you, Old Kong, have Li Wenying to take care of things for you!"

Kong Jie's shoulder ached from the slap, so he raised his hand and shoved Li Yunlong's hand away, retorting irritably, "Get lost. It's Old Zhao's own doing, what does it have to do with you? You just got lucky."

Li Yunlong's eyes widened, and he was about to retort when Liu Yuheng waved his hand and took over the conversation, looking at Kong Jie and saying, "Old Kong, if you ask me, don't overthink it. We've survived countless battles, big and small, over the years, and we've even survived gunfire. What's a blind date? Just go back and meet them openly. It's not like you're going to the battlefield. If it works out, great; if it doesn't, that's normal too. It's not a big deal."

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie's expression relaxed slightly. He picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and didn't reply, but it was clear that his attitude was no longer so resistant.

Li Yunlong added from the side, "Exactly! Don't be so hesitant and timid. Back when I was dealing with Tian Cheng, I was decisive and efficient, settling things down in just a few words. What makes you, Old Kong, any less capable than me? Don't be a coward!"

Provoked by his words, Kong Jie finally spoke up, put down his wine glass, and glared at Li Yunlong: "Alright, alright, it's just going back to meet, I didn't say I wouldn't see you. Do you, Li Yunlong, need to do my ideological work here? You act like you're some kind of matchmaking expert."

Li Yunlong chuckled, raised his glass, and toasted him: "That's settled then. Come on, wishing Old Kong success in his blind date, cheers!"

The group laughed and clinked their glasses together.

After finishing his drink, Li Yunlong picked up the bottle again to pour more wine for everyone. He had only poured half when Kong Jie reached out and pressed his elbow, glanced at the clock on the wall, and said with a hint of sobriety, "Alright, Lao Li, that's enough. We have to participate in the parade training tomorrow. If you drink too much today, you won't be able to march properly in the formation tomorrow morning, and that would be incredibly embarrassing."

Ding Wei nodded and stood up as well: "Old Kong is right. We're in Beijing this time for the conferment of ranks, it's serious business. If you want to drink, let's have a good drink before we leave after we've finished our business."

Li Yunlong glanced at Kong Jie, then at Ding Wei, and put the bottle on the table. Although he still seemed a little unsatisfied, he didn't insist any further: "Alright, whatever you say. We'll save it for after the conferment of ranks."

The group chatted for a while longer, finished their last few drinks, and cleared away most of the food on the table.

When Yao Qingwan came over to clear the dishes, the group stood up to thank her and exchanged pleasantries.

Li Yunlong put on his coat, and Kong Jie and Ding Wei also straightened their collars. The three of them walked to the door, where Liu Yuheng and Yao Qingwan saw them off.

Zhao Gang also got up and followed along. He shook hands with Liu Yuheng at the door, nodded to Yao Qingwan, and then walked with Li Yunlong and the other two toward the car parked at the gate of the compound.

Liu Yuheng stood at the door, watching the figures walk further and further away under the streetlights, finally turning a corner and disappearing into the depths of the night.

Before we knew it, it was September 27th.

When Liu Yuheng woke up, the sunlight outside the window was already shining on the headboard. He squinted at the clock on the wall; it was past nine o'clock, more than an hour later than usual.

He stretched and sat up in bed. Hearing rustling sounds coming from downstairs, he put on a coat and went downstairs.

As soon as I reached the corner of the stairs, I saw Yao Qingwan standing in front of the sofa in the living room, bending over and busy with something. The brand-new military uniform was neatly laid out on the sofa, the dark brown fabric gleaming softly in the morning light, with delicate gold trim sewn on the collar and epaulettes.