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

Yao Qingwan held a clean, damp cloth in her hand and was carefully wiping the brass buttons on her epaulets. Her movements were gentle and meticulous, as if she were handling a fragile piece of porcelain.

Liu Yuheng stood at the top of the stairs for a few seconds, then couldn't help but laugh: "Why are you doing this? These are new clothes that were just issued yesterday, and I haven't even worn them once yet. What's the point of ironing them?"

Yao Qingwan didn't even turn her head, her hands continuing their work without stopping: "How could it not be serious? You're going to receive your rank today, so many people are watching. If there's even the slightest wrinkle in your clothes, that would be unacceptable." As she spoke, she straightened up, turned around and looked Liu Yuheng up and down, then frowned, "You haven't washed up yet? Hurry up! After you wash up, quickly change so I can see if it fits."

Liu Yuheng shook his head, muttering, "The ceremony isn't until this afternoon, what's the rush?" But his feet still honestly led him to the bathroom. After washing up, shaving his beard, and combing his hair neatly, he looked in the mirror twice to make sure he looked energetic and alert before returning to the living room.

Yao Qingwan had already picked up the military uniform from the sofa, shaken it a couple of times, and stood in front of him waiting.

Liu Yuheng took the clothes and put them on one by one. The dark brown jacket fit his shoulders perfectly, the brass buttons were fastened neatly, and the collar was crisp and well-fitting. He bent down to put on his trousers and leather shoes, and finally put on his peaked cap. Standing in front of the full-length mirror in the living room, he straightened the brim of his cap.

The person in the mirror looked more solemn and dignified than usual. The gold stars on their shoulder straps gleamed in the sunlight streaming in from the window, and the rank insignia on their collar were neatly affixed.

Yao Qingwan walked to his side, gently patted his chest, took a half step back, looked him up and down, and smiled, "So handsome."

Liu Yuheng looked at himself in the mirror, a grin spreading from the corners of his eyes. He was used to wearing his military uniform, but today he felt different. He turned around, pulled Yao Qingwan close, and said with a smile, "Alright, I'm off then."

Yao Qingwan nodded and straightened his collar: "Go ahead."

Liu Yuheng went out and got into the jeep waiting at the door. The car drove through the quiet autumn streets towards the Military Commission compound.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Central Military Commission compound, several cars were already parked. Officers in brand-new military uniforms entered the compound in twos and threes, the stars on their shoulder insignia gleaming in the sunlight. Liu Yuheng got out of the car and strode into the office building.

The large conference room was already quite full. In the spacious hall, officers in dark brown uniforms stood or sat, chatting in small groups. The air was filled with the distinctive scent of new fabric, mixed with the aroma of leather and metal. Liu Yuheng stood at the door and surveyed the room. Good heavens, the room was filled with generals, a dazzling expanse of gold.

He was searching for Li Yunlong and his two companions when someone called him from the side. A major general with a square face strode over; it was Old Zheng, his face crinkled with smiles: "Old Liu! Congratulations! You're really having double the good fortune this time—a wedding and a promotion! You've got all the good things in the world."

Several old comrades-in-arms gathered around, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with Liu Yuheng, offering their congratulations. As Liu Yuheng responded, he glanced at several figures in the corner of the hall; Li Yunlong, Kong Jie, and Ding Wei were talking to a familiar figure.

He walked through the crowd, and Li Yunlong spotted him first, waving: "Old Liu! Come here! He's talking to the old brigade commander!"

Liu Yuheng strode forward, stopped in front of the old brigade commander, and gave a standard military salute: "Greetings, old brigade commander!"

The old brigade commander was also wearing a brand-new, crisp general's uniform today, the stars on his epaulets gleaming with a dark gold light under the lamp.

He looked Liu Yuheng up and down, his gaze lingering on the two stars on his epaulets for a second longer, before nodding in satisfaction: "Good. You look smart in that uniform." He then turned to Li Yunlong, a teasing smile on his face, "Li Yunlong, you'd better make me look good today, don't cause any trouble at the conferment ceremony."

Li Yunlong quickly waved his hand, his face showing a "don't worry, old brigade commander" expression: "How could I? I've improved a lot now. I've studied at the academy for a few years and I know all the rules. Don't worry, I promise I won't embarrass you today."

The old brigade commander burst into laughter upon hearing this, his laughter echoing far and wide in the hall. "That's good. You guys chat, I have something to attend to, I'll go over there first." He nodded to the group, then turned and walked through the crowd towards the other end of the hall.

Li Yunlong watched the old brigade commander's figure disappear into the crowd before turning his gaze back. He looked down at his new uniform, smoothed his shoulder insignia, then glanced at the two stars on Liu Yuheng's insignia, and clicked his tongue twice: "How does it feel to wear the new uniform?"

Liu Yuheng replied with a smile, "Of course I'm happy." He deliberately glanced at Li Yunlong's epaulettes, then at his own, his smile deepening. "It's just that seeing that you have one less gold bead on your shoulder than me... how should I put it, it makes me feel quite comfortable."

Li Yunlong's face darkened instantly, and he rolled up his sleeves as if to strike: "You son of a bitch, say that again! Back when I was in Northwest Shanxi, you were still eating cornbread at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University!"

Ding Wei, standing beside him, laughed and pulled him aside: "Alright, alright, don't you even know where we are? Let's talk about it after the conferment of ranks."

Kong Jie smiled and shook his head, then said to Li Yunlong, "Old Li, you just said you'd improved, how come you've already shown your true colors?"

Li Yunlong snorted, lowered his rolled-up sleeves, and muttered, "I'll settle the score with you later," but the curve of his lips betrayed his good mood.

After a few more words of laughter and conversation, the conference room's loudspeaker came on, informing everyone to gather downstairs to board the bus.

One by one, everyone stood up, straightened their clothes, and walked out of the conference room in a line, lining up in front of the lobby on the first floor. Several grass-green military trucks were already waiting at the door, with uniform numbers painted on the sides of the truck beds and red flags flying in the autumn sun on the front of the trucks.

The officers boarded the cars one by one, and the cars slowly drove out of the Central Military Commission compound, through the streets of Beijing, and headed towards Haizi.

When the car stopped at the entrance of Haizi, the solemn building could be seen from afar, its red walls and yellow tiles appearing particularly dignified under the autumn sun. A number of people were already standing at the entrance: military officers in uniform, civilian officials in civilian clothes, and several reporters carrying photography equipment, looking for good spots.