Chapter 144 Two Little Things

He Yuzhu and his group had just moved to the gate of Old He's courtyard and hadn't even fully settled down yet.

Suddenly, a series of wailing cries erupted from inside the house, sharp and childish, making one's heart clench.

The crying wasn't coming from a single child; two babyish cries mingled together, loud enough to be heard clearly throughout the yard.

Immediately afterward, an even more aggrieved cry from a little girl emerged, filled with helplessness and panic.

"Auntie, Auntie, where have you been? My brothers are crying, and I can't soothe them, waaaah!"

The little girl's cries, intermittent and mixed with the wailing of the two infants, instantly filled the entire courtyard of the He family's house.

He Yuzhu immediately stopped and subconsciously turned to look at Chen Lanxiang beside him, his eyes full of doubt.

He couldn't understand why so many children were suddenly crying in his house.

Chen Lanxiang's cheeks flushed red instantly, the redness spreading from her cheeks to her ears, and her eyes darted away.

She met He Yuzhu's questioning gaze, her lips moved slightly, and she spoke softly to He Yuzhu.

"I'll tell you slowly when we get home."

Before He Yuzhu could ask any more questions, Chen Lanxiang quickened her pace and pushed open the door to enter the house.

He Yuzhu watched Chen Lanxiang's hurried figure, his doubts deepening. He then turned to look at the others around him.

Xu Damao, He Yushui, Xu Xiaoman, and the others all wore strange, knowing smiles on their faces.

That smile held a hint of teasing, a slyness that seemed to know a secret, leaving He Yuzhu completely bewildered.

He stood there, his brows furrowed slightly, completely bewildered and utterly clueless.

He couldn't fathom what had happened at home to cause such a scene.

After a moment of stunned silence, He Yuzhu followed the others and stepped into the main room of the He family home.

After entering, everyone casually placed their luggage and packages in the corner of the main room.

He Yuzhu was preoccupied with the crying inside the room and the strangeness from earlier, and had no mind to tidy up his things.

He put down his backpack, immediately took a step, and quickly walked towards the inner room.

As soon as the curtain to the inner room was lifted, the scene before him made He Yuzhu freeze in place.

On the kang (a heated brick bed) was a clean mattress, and sitting on it was a little girl with two topknots.

The little girl looked to be only three or four years old, with a round face and red eyes, clearly having just cried.

Chen Lanxiang sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), holding a baby a few months old in each hand, gently coaxing it.

The two babies were wrapped in floral blankets, their little mouths pouting, and they were kicking their little legs and crying from time to time.

Chen Lanxiang was busy patting the baby's back while humming a lullaby to soothe him.

He Yuzhu stared at the little girl with her hair in a topknot, looked her over carefully for a few moments, and instantly recognized her.

This child is Wang Siyu. I had heard my family mention her before, and judging by the time, she is about this age now.

But when his gaze fell on the two crying infants, he stopped in his tracks, his face full of hesitation.

He took a deep breath, looked up at Chen Lanxiang, and asked in a questioning tone, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Mother, are these two little ones our children?"

As He Yuzhu spoke, his finger unconsciously pointed to the two infants on the kang (a heated brick bed), his eyes full of surprise.

Upon hearing this, Chen Lanxiang immediately raised her head, glared at He Yuzhu, and spoke with a hint of reproach in her voice.

"You silly child, you can't even speak properly! What do you mean 'little thing'? If it's not ours, whose is it?"

"Uh...it really is!"

He Yuzhu was stunned when he heard the affirmative answer. His mouth was slightly open, and he was stunned for a long time.

He never imagined that in the two years he had been away from home, there would be two little babies in his house.

"Brother, brother, look! My two younger brothers are crying so much, I can't calm them down no matter what I do."

He Yushui had let go of He Yuzhu's hand as soon as she entered the room, and now she was standing by the kang (a heated brick bed) and quickly spoke up.

She looked at He Yuzhu with a helpless expression on her face, clearly exhausted by the crying of her two little brothers.

"Two batons?"

He Yuzhu looked at the two identical-looking babies and blurted out instinctively, his tone full of surprise.

He had lived this long, and this was the first time he had ever seen his twin brother in person. His heart was filled with complicated emotions.

"Hahaha, Zhu Zi, you finally figured it out, these are your two younger brothers."

The old lady sat at the other end of the kang (a heated brick bed), looking at He Yuzhu's surprised expression, she smiled from ear to ear, her face full of kindness.

"One is named He Yuxin, and the other is named He Yuyao. Listen to these names, aren't they beautiful?"

The old lady made sure to pronounce the names of her two children clearly, her tone full of pride and affection.

Even though He Yuzhu usually boasted that he had thoroughly read the Kangxi Dictionary, he was stunned for a long time before he realized which two characters they were.

He silently repeated his two younger brothers' names in his heart: Xin (鑫) with three "gold" characters and Yao (垚) with three "earth" characters, and instantly understood the secret behind it.

He muttered to himself: Did he specially have his fortune told or something, and even came up with the so-called Five Elements mutual generation?

According to this naming rule, if they have another son, wouldn't he be named He Yuyan?

What He Yuzhu didn't know was that the old lady and Chen Lanxiang had actually gone to a fortune teller to have their fortunes told.

The master said that choosing such a name would help protect him, the older brother, with the help of the five elements and their associated fortune.

The family named their two children that way in the hope that he would return safely from the battlefield soon.

He Yuzhu stared at the two babies who had fallen into a deep sleep, his throat inexplicably dry, and his voice became hoarse.

"How old are these two children now?"

Looking at his younger brother, who was almost eighteen years younger than him, he felt a sense of unease, a feeling of absurdity and helplessness.

In his memory, he had always been the eldest son in the family, and he couldn't accept the sudden appearance of two younger brothers in swaddling clothes.

"She's five months along, chubby and healthy, but she's very temperamental and difficult to soothe."

Chen Lanxiang looked down at the child in her arms, a gentle smile on her face, and responded softly.

"Alright, Zhu Zi, you must be exhausted from the long drive back. Are you hungry?"

Seeing this, the old lady quickly tried to smooth things over, looking at He Yuzhu with eyes full of heartache.

"If you're hungry, Mom will go to the kitchen right away and make you some hot food to tide you over."

As the old lady spoke, she got up and headed towards the kitchen, afraid that her eldest grandson, who had just returned home, would be mistreated.

"I'm not hungry, I'm not hungry. I already ate something in the car, I'm not hungry at all."

He Yuzhu quickly stepped forward, reached out to help the old lady who was trying to get up, and gently comforted her.

He carefully helped the old lady sit down gently on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), his movements gentle and filial.

After settling the old lady in, He Yuzhu turned around and slowly sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), his eyes still fixed on his two younger brothers.

Upon seeing this, He Yushui immediately scrambled onto the kang (a heated brick bed) on all fours, twisted her small body, and snuggled directly into He Yuzhu's arms.

She hugged He Yuzhu tightly around the waist, resting her little head against his chest, full of dependence.

Xu Xiaoman, who was standing to the side, followed He Yushui's example and slowly climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed) and sat quietly on the side.

Xu Damao and Xiaoman exchanged a glance, and seeing this, they quickly turned around and went out of the inner room, bringing in two wooden chairs from the main room.

The two placed chairs by the kang (a heated brick bed) and sat down quietly, neither of them making a sound to disturb the family reunion.

"Zhu Zi, what exactly happened when you suddenly disappeared on the battlefield?"

The old lady held He Yuzhu's hand, stroking the calluses on his skin, and finally asked the question that had been hidden in her heart for a long time.

"When the news came back from the front, the comrades from the military control commission came to our home to comfort us."

The old lady's eyes reddened slightly as she spoke of this, as she had been constantly worried about her eldest grandson's safety for the past two years.

The other people in the room also turned their gazes to He Yuzhu, their faces full of anticipation, waiting to hear him recount his experiences over the past two years.

Xu Damao leaned forward slightly, his eyes full of curiosity, eager to know the whole story.

Xiaoman also gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her eyes fixed intently on He Yuzhu, her heart filled with worry and concern.

Upon seeing this, He Yuzhu raised his hand and touched his nose, his eyes slightly vacant as he drifted into a brief recollection.

After a moment of silence, he slowly began to recount his experiences over the past two years.

He began by recounting how he had suddenly received an urgent order from his superiors, speaking each word with remarkable calmness.

He recounted how he followed the main force all the way to the peninsula and how they marched with great difficulty in harsh conditions.

He spoke calmly about the extreme weather and brutal battlefield environment he faced after arriving on the peninsula.

However, when it came to the brutal details of the battlefield and the casualties of his comrades, he subconsciously chose to remain silent.

Even though he didn't go into detail about the bloody battle scenes, a deep sadness would still unconsciously show on his face whenever he thought of those images.

It was a grief etched into one's very bones, an emotion that could not be concealed after witnessing death and separation firsthand.

He focused on telling his family his suspicions about being reported missing, without hiding anything.

Everyone listened quietly to He Yuzhu's story, and no one interrupted him. The only sound in the room was the baby's soft breathing.

As he calmly narrated, everyone felt as if they were there, witnessing firsthand the icy and snowy landscape of the peninsula.

It was as if I could feel the billowing smoke of the battlefield and experience the endless cruelty of war.

Especially the old lady and Chen Lanxiang, who both came from the war years, can best understand the hardships involved.

They understand better the unpredictability of life and death on the battlefield, and are even more grateful that their own yard has been peaceful and safe for the past few years.

I am so glad that my eldest grandson was able to return safely to my side from such a dangerous place.

"You're incredibly brave! You dare to chase after the enemy all by yourself?"

When He Yuzhu recounted how he had single-handedly pursued the enemy leader, the old lady immediately became anxious and began to scold him.

Looking at her eldest grandson, she felt that the child was too reckless and acted without considering the consequences.

That's a battlefield amidst gunfire, not your own backyard, and certainly not a chicken coop to catch chickens. How could you be so reckless?

"Madam, don't worry. There are many things on the battlefield that are far more dangerous than this. There are plenty of heroes who capture prisoners of war by themselves."

Seeing the old lady's anxious expression, He Yuzhu quickly comforted her gently, his tone calm.

"My experiences are nothing compared to those of true heroes."

"You're just lucky! You escaped with your life. You absolutely mustn't be so reckless in the future!"

The old lady glared at him, her voice filled with lingering fear, and her palms were sweating.

"That's right, that's a real battlefield, not a joke. How dare you be so impulsive!"

Chen Lanxiang stopped coaxing the baby, looked up at He Yuzhu, and said with a reproachful expression.

But her reproachful words were filled with worry and heartache for her son, fearing that he might suffer any more mishap.

"Brother, brother, is that place you mentioned really that cold?"

He Yushui snuggled closer to He Yuzhu, her small body trembling slightly, and asked softly.

Winter in Beijing is already bitterly cold; she simply couldn't imagine a place colder than this.

But He Yuzhu's calm description made her feel a bone-chilling cold even in this warm room.

"It's cold, much colder than winter in Beijing. When you go outside, your breath freezes instantly."

He Yuzhu looked down at his younger sister in his arms, gently patted her back, and nodded firmly.

A flicker of memory crossed his eyes—a chill strong enough to crack the skin, a taste he would never forget.

"I never imagined that the children on the front lines would suffer so much. They are all good children who risk their lives for their country."

After hearing this, the old lady couldn't help but sigh, tears welling up in her eyes, her heart filled with emotion.

The old lady and Chen Lanxiang both noticed the subtle changes in He Yuzhu's expression as he spoke.

He Yuzhu was unwilling to talk about his painful past, and they tacitly chose not to ask any more questions, not wanting to reopen his wounds.

"And then, Brother Zhu, where did you go? How did you lose contact with the army?"

Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Xu Damao quickly asked, his tone full of urgency.

"Your comrades later sent letters home, clearly stating that you had earned many military merits!"

When Xu Damao spoke of his military achievements, his eyes were full of admiration, and he admired He Yuzhu even more.

"Yes, yes, yes, Pillar, what exactly happened later? Why didn't you go back to your original unit?"

The old lady also hurriedly pressed for answers, her doubts still unresolved, and she only wanted to know the whole truth.

"later……"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu was once again lost in deep memories.

Scenes of incredibly brutal battles flashed through my mind, along with the familiar yet unfamiliar faces of my comrades.

Some of those faces were beaming with smiles, some were covered in scars, and some were left behind on that land forever.

As he pondered, a tear unconsciously slid down his cheek.

That tear contained endless sorrow, longing, and unspeakable battlefield suffering.

"Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly crying?"

When Xu Damao saw He Yuzhu's tears, he panicked instantly, stood up quickly, and shouted loudly.

He had never seen He Yuzhu so out of control before, and he was flustered and confused, not knowing what to do.

"Alright, alright, stop asking. Zhu Zi is exhausted from the long drive back."

Seeing this, the old lady felt extremely distressed and quickly interrupted everyone's questions, gently patting He Yuzhu's hand.

"After such a long and bumpy ride, let Zhu Zi rest first. We can talk later."

The old lady looked at He Yuzhu with eyes full of heartache, afraid that if she asked any more questions, it would bring back more painful memories for him.

"Okay, I understand."

Seeing this, Xu Damao immediately shut his mouth and dared not ask any further questions.

He quickly stood up, carried the chair he was holding back into the main room, and turned around to pick up He Yuzhu's two large backpacks.

"Brother Zhu, let me take your things back to the east wing and tidy them up. You can rest now."

After Xu Damao finished speaking, he picked up his backpack and quickly walked out of the inner room, not wanting to disturb He Yuzhu any further.

Xiaoman looked at He Yuzhu with eyes full of heartache, biting her lip tightly, her heart filled with pity.

Without saying a word, she turned and followed Xu Damao to the east wing to help He Yuzhu tidy up the room.

She has been helping to clean the east wing for the past two years, keeping it spotless, hoping that He Yuzhu will return soon.

She was going to light the brazier in the house; it was cold outside and the house was too chilly, so she couldn't let He Yuzhu, who had just returned home, get cold.

"Pillar, was the fighting on the peninsula particularly brutal?"

After everyone had left, the old lady spoke softly, asking in a low voice.

Looking at He Yuzhu's reddened eyes, she understood that the war was far more brutal than she had imagined.

He Yuzhu didn't say much, he just nodded slightly, his throat choked up, unable to utter a single word.

"So you won't go to places like that again, right?"

The old woman held his hand tightly, her eyes full of pleading, her voice trembling slightly.

She could no longer bear such fear and only hoped that her eldest grandson could stay by her side and be safe and sound.

"I'm not going. I've already retired from the military and will never go to the battlefield again."

He Yuzhu took a deep breath, suppressing his grief, and spoke firmly to the old lady.

"It's good that you're not going. Staying at home and living a peaceful life is better than anything else."

Upon hearing this, the old lady finally felt relieved, and a relieved smile instantly appeared on her face.

That smile was full of peace of mind, a sense of ease I hadn't felt in the past two years.

"Alright, Zhu Zi, you should go and rest in the east wing too. We can talk about it later, there's no rush."

The old lady patted He Yuzhu's hand and gently urged him to rest, not wanting to delay his rest any longer.

"it is good."

He Yuzhu responded softly, got up and helped the old lady sit down, then turned and slowly walked out of the inner room.

Chen Lanxiang had been busy comforting her two young sons in her arms and hadn't said much throughout.

Actually, she had so many questions she wanted to ask her son, and so many worries she wanted to share with him.

But after hearing He Yuzhu's brief explanation, she no longer wanted to ask any more questions.

She knew in her heart that any more questions would only stir up painful memories for her son and make him sad again.

Now that my son has returned home safe and sound, it's a relief compared to those children who never come back.

This is already an immense blessing for the He family; it is a blessing that the whole family has earned through good deeds.

As for those so-called military achievements and honors, she didn't care about them at all.

The thing she cares about most and cherishes most is that her eldest son is safe and healthy by her side.

As He Yuzhu walked out of the main house of the He family and closed the door, the old lady couldn't help but sigh deeply.

She turned to look at Chen Lanxiang beside her and said in a heavy tone, "Our Zhuzi has changed so much since he came back this time."

He Yuzhu used to be carefree and outgoing, with a lot of youthful energy in his eyes, but now he is so calm that it's heartbreaking.

"Yes, Mom, he's changed so much. Nobody knows how much he's suffered and endured these past two years."

Looking at the sleeping child in her arms, Chen Lanxiang could no longer hold back her grievances and heartache, and choked out her words.

As she spoke, the worries, fears, and grievances that had been building up for two years suddenly burst forth, and she burst into tears.

Her sobs were suppressed and sorrowful, finally finding an outlet for the emotions that had been nagging her day and night for the past two years.

But her crying instantly shattered the peace in the room.

The two babies in her arms were awakened by the crying and immediately started wailing as well.

When Wang Siyu saw Chen Lanxiang crying, she pouted and joined in the crying.

The cries of the three children mingled together, instantly filling the entire room.

Looking at her crying daughter-in-law and great-grandson, the old lady was also stirred up by the bitter emotions of the past two years, and couldn't help but wipe away her tears.

Although He Yushui was young, she understood some of the hardships of adults. She hugged the old lady's arm and cried her heart out.

Xu Xiaoman, who was still very young, had no idea why everyone was suddenly crying.

But seeing everyone in the room crying their hearts out, she knew that she should be saddened along with them.

She tried for a long time to muster up some tears, but couldn't manage to squeeze them out, and her face turned bright red with anxiety.

Seeing this, He Yushui reached out and secretly pinched her arm.

A sharp pain shot through her, and Xu Xiaoman couldn't help but open her mouth and wail loudly.

For a moment, the room was filled with sobs, a release of emotions that had been suppressed for a long time.

He Yuzhu, who had already reached the door of the east wing, could hear the crying inside clearly.

But instead of turning back to comfort him, he stood there silently for a moment.

He knew in his heart that his family had been under too much pressure in the past two years, and it would be good for them to vent.

Crying it out can lessen the grievances and worries in your heart.

At the same time, he gradually began to have his own guesses.

No wonder everyone in the courtyard surrounded him and kept asking about his disappearance as soon as he entered the courtyard.

In particular, the two sarcastic remarks made by Jia Zhangshi were clearly malicious.

He knew in his heart that many unpleasant things must have happened in the courtyard in the past two years that he was unaware of.

Pulling himself out of his thoughts, He Yuzhu pushed open the door to the east wing and stepped inside.

Inside the house, Xu Damao was squatting on the ground, busy adding firewood to the brazier, trying to make the fire burn even brighter.

Xiaoman stood by the kang (a heated brick bed), quickly and efficiently helping He Yuzhu tidy up the bed and lay out clean bedding.

"Brother Zhu, you're finally back! Are you staying forever?"

When Xu Damao saw He Yuzhu enter the room, he immediately stopped what he was doing, looked up and asked with expectant eyes.

For the past two years, he had been hoping that He Yuzhu could come back soon and support the family.

"I'm not leaving. I'll stay in Beijing from now on, stay in this courtyard, and never leave again."

He Yuzhu looked at the two of them and said firmly, his eyes full of determination.

"That's great! I've long since stopped getting along with those gossipy guys in the front yard."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao was overjoyed and almost jumped up in excitement.

"You little rascal, all you do is play around all day. How's your studying going?"

Looking at the boisterous Xu Damao, He Yuzhu couldn't help but ask, his tone carrying a hint of reproach.

"Hehe, Brother Zhu, you know me too well, I'm just not cut out for studying."

Xu Damao scratched his head and grinned sheepishly.

"I'm barely making it through high school. Once I graduate, I'll go straight to work in a factory and never have to study again."

"You have no idea what has happened in the two years you've been away..."

Once Xu Damao started talking, he couldn't help but tell He Yuzhu everything that happened in the courtyard.

"Xu Damao..."

Upon hearing this, Xiaoman, who was inside the house, immediately stopped what she was doing, called out to him softly, and looked at him with a dissuading expression.

She didn't want Xu Damao to talk about these upsetting things when He Yuzhu had just returned, lest he upset him.

"Hehe, it's nothing, it's nothing, I just spoke too quickly."

Xu Damao immediately realized what was happening, quickly shut his mouth, and gave He Yuzhu a sheepish smile.

"Brother Zhu, you go inside and rest first. I'll quickly stoke the fire and warm the room up."

After Xu Damao finished speaking, he quickly lowered his head and continued to fiddle with the brazier, not daring to say another word.

He Yuzhu didn't say much, turned around and walked into the inner room of the east wing.

Seeing this, Xiaoman immediately stopped making the bed and softly called out, "Brother Zhuzi."

Her voice was soft, filled with grievances, longing, and the joy of a long-awaited reunion.

Before He Yuzhu could speak, Xiaoman could no longer suppress her emotions.

She rushed forward and threw herself into He Yuzhu's arms, her shoulders trembling slightly as she began to sob softly.

Two years' worth of longing and worry turned into tears at this moment.

The scalding tears quickly soaked He Yuzhu's clothes on his chest, leaving a wet patch.

"Alright, stop crying. You're a grown woman now, and Xu Damao is still outside."

He Yuzhu gently raised his hand and patted her back, soothing her with a gentle voice.

"I'm back. I'll never leave again and I'll never make you worry again."

"ah."

Xiaoman only realized after hearing this that she was still in He Yuzhu's arms.

Like a startled fawn, she instantly released her grip and quickly took a step back.

Her cheeks instantly turned bright red, all the way to her ears. She lowered her head and kept rubbing the hem of her clothes with both hands.

She looked extremely shy and flustered, not daring to look up at He Yuzhu.

Looking at her shy expression, He Yuzhu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a gentle smile.

Without saying anything more, he turned and slowly walked out of the inner room.

Xiaoman watched He Yuzhu's retreating figure, her heart still pounding. She quickly calmed herself down and hurriedly made up the bed.

Xu Damao, who was outside, could hear everything that was happening inside.

He pretended not to hear or see anything and focused intently on the fire.

But the smile on his face remained unsuppressed and wouldn't fade.

He has been mentally exhausted these past two years.

As Xiaoman grew more and more beautiful, many families in the courtyard became interested in her and frequently came to inquire about her.

He served as a temporary shield, enduring unspeakable suffering and constant criticism from others.

Now that Brother Zhu is finally back, he no longer has to shoulder these troublesome matters.

In no time, Xiaoman had made the bed neatly.

She looked up at He Yuzhu and whispered, "I'm going back."

Before He Yuzhu could respond, she blushed and quickly ran out of the east wing, heading straight for the main house of the He family.

"Hehe, Brother Zhu, you're really something."

Xu Damao watched Xiaoman's retreating figure, then grinned foolishly at He Yuzhu, his eyes full of teasing.

"You little brat, need a good beating? Haven't taught you a lesson in a while, are you itching for a beating?"

He Yuzhu looked at the grinning Xu Damao, deliberately cracked his knuckles, and spoke with a hint of threat in his tone.

"No, no, Brother Zhu, I was wrong, I'll never do it again."

Seeing this, Xu Damao quickly waved his hands and backed away, his face full of a pleading smile.

In the past two years, he has gotten into quite a few fights with the people in the courtyard, and he has seen blood, which has made him much tougher.

Even so, he could still faintly sense the killing intent emanating from He Yuzhu.

That was the aura one could only have after experiencing life and death on the battlefield, which made him subconsciously feel awe.

"Stop talking nonsense. Tell me everything that has happened in the yard in the past two years."

He Yuzhu withdrew his hand, his expression gradually calming down, and spoke in a flat tone.

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's eyes flickered, and he remained silent for a long time, looking troubled.

"Tell me quickly, or I'll have a practice session with you right now and see if you've improved at all in the past two years."

Seeing his hesitation, He Yuzhu spoke again, her tone firm and unyielding.

"Then you have to promise me you won't tell anyone I told you, or I'll be in big trouble."

Seeing this, Xu Damao had no choice but to compromise, repeatedly instructing He Yuzhu, afraid of being blamed.

"I understand, I know what I'm doing, I definitely won't say you told me, hurry up and tell me."

He Yuzhu nodded, urging impatiently, eager to know what had happened in the past two years.

Only after receiving He Yuzhu's assurance did Xu Damao finally feel at ease and slowly begin to tell his story.

He started by talking about Xiaoman, saying frankly that these were all minor matters and not worth mentioning.

He then focused on the incident when He Yuzhu was reported missing on the battlefield, and the military control committee came to comfort him.

And then there are those gossipy neighbors in the front yard, doing all sorts of dirty things behind people's backs and spreading all sorts of rumors.

He didn't hide anything about his father Xu Fugui's past actions and indifferent attitude, and told everything truthfully.

"Aren't you afraid your father will find out and give you a good beating?"

After hearing what Xu Fugui had done, He Yuzhu couldn't help but laugh and scold him, but he wasn't too angry inside.

He knew in his heart that Xu Fugui was not a person of good character.

When rumors about his disappearance were rampant, it was understandable that Xu Fugui would act coldly for fear of being implicated.

But this was not his business; it was up to He Daqing to deal with Xu Fugui.

As for Xu Damao, he was able to go to the door to greet him with his family, and his family did not dislike him.

This alone is enough to explain a lot, and he doesn't need to worry about it too much.

"Hehe, my dad can't catch me at all now, and besides, I can't fight him."

Xu Damao smiled smugly and said nonchalantly.

"If we really started fighting, he wouldn't stand a chance against me; he could only yell at me."

"Hey kid, stop trying to be clever, keep talking, don't stop."

He Yuzhu raised his hand and gave him a light tap on the neck, urging him with a smile.

Xu Damao scratched his head and continued talking, bringing up Jia Dongxu's blind date.

When Jia Dongxu was on blind dates, he secretly sabotaged several of Jia Dongxu's marriages.

He also told He Yuzhu all the unpleasant things that had happened to the Jia family over the years, down to the smallest detail.

After listening to Xu Damao's story, He Yuzhu suddenly realized and thought to himself, "So it was Qin Huairu."

No wonder I felt a sense of déjà vu when I saw her in the courtyard earlier; she was the same person from the original story.

Xu Damao then recounted how he later received a letter from He Yuzhu's comrade-in-arms, confirming that he was still alive.

When Chen Lanxiang learned the news, she blocked the entrance to the Jia family's house and berated Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, mercilessly.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were rendered speechless by the scolding and dared not go out to refute it, enduring endless pointing fingers and whispers from the people in the courtyard.

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu couldn't help but reveal a hearty smile.

It seems that my mother has really been feeling incredibly stifled during the two years I've been away from home.

Given my mother's usual temperament, she would never normally do something like publicly cursing someone.

It must have been the Jia family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who said too many unpleasant things and did too many excessive things that angered the mother.

"By the way, Brother Zhu, does Jia Dongxu have any children after he got married?"

He Yuzhu, recalling the Jia family's affairs, casually asked a question, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

"Yes, she had a boy named Jia Geng, who is two months younger than your two younger brothers."

Xu Damao nodded, a disdainful expression appearing on his face when he spoke of the child.

"However, everyone says that this kid is a jinx."

"Hmm? What do you mean? What brings you to this?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu immediately became interested, raised an eyebrow slightly, and asked further questions.

"Hehe, this is really interesting."

Xu Damao laughed with a gloating expression, his tone full of sarcasm.

"Jia Dongxu's father, Old Jia, is gone. He passed away suddenly, just one month after Jia Geng was born."

"Why? How could someone who was perfectly healthy suddenly be gone?"

He Yuzhu asked, feigning confusion, though he already knew the whole story.

"What else could it be? It's all because of that bastard Jia Dongxu."

Xu Damao curled his lip and said in a disdainful tone, his face full of contempt.

"Let me tell you, when Jia Dongxu's wife, Qin Huairu, was pregnant with Jia Geng, she was really horny."

"On the night after his son's one-month celebration, Jia Dongxu went a little too far, you know what I mean."

As Xu Damao spoke, he winked at He Yuzhu, his tone ambiguous.

"The next day at work, he couldn't stand up straight and kept swaying while working in the workshop."

"His father, Mr. Jia, felt sorry for his son and was afraid that he would have a work accident, so he told him to rest on the side and did the work for him."

"But who could have imagined that the lathe he was working on would suddenly malfunction and cause an accident on the spot."

"Old Jia is gone just like that, without even a chance to be saved."

After listening, He Yuzhu remained silent, sighing inwardly.

After all the twists and turns, Old Jia's life was ultimately lost in the steel rolling mill workshop, nothing changed.

Xu Damao continued, saying that since Old Jia's accident, gossip has been circulating in the courtyard.

Everyone says that Jia Geng is a born jinx, as he killed his own grandfather right after he was born.

That unreasonable old hag, Jia Zhangshi, argued and fought with everyone in the courtyard a lot over this matter.

Even so, it couldn't silence the gossip; instead, the story became increasingly unpleasant.

"When I came in just now, I saw the woman next to Jia Dongxu's mother. Did Jia Dongxu not take over his father's position?"

He Yuzhu recalled the scene he had just witnessed in the courtyard and asked the question, already having the answer in his heart.

"Succession? He did want to, he dreamed of taking over from Old Jia and becoming a worker in the steel rolling mill."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao couldn't help but sneer, his tone full of sarcasm.

"The root of this problem lies with Jia Dongxu. The factory originally didn't even want to pay their family compensation."

"And then? How was this resolved?"

He Yuzhu chimed in, playing the role of a proper straight man, and followed up on Xu Damao's words by asking follow-up questions.

"What else can we do? That shrew Jia Zhangshi, all she does is throw a tantrum and make a scene."

Xu Damao said with a disdainful look, his tone full of contempt.

"She directly hired people to carry Mr. Jia's coffin to the gate of the steel mill and cause a scene, making it known to everyone."

"You know what, this commotion actually had some effect. Jia Dongxu was successfully promoted and became a formal worker in the steel rolling mill."

"A small amount of compensation was also paid, but most of it was taken by Jia Zhangshi's family."

"Back when Jia Zhangshi caused trouble at the factory, she relied entirely on her family's support; they were only after the benefits the Jia family would receive."

"When Jia Dongxu got married, he borrowed a lot of money. He paid off part of the debt with the money he lost, and I guess there's not much left."

"I heard that her family initially helped cause trouble because they were after Mr. Jia's job and wanted to arrange a job for their own relatives."

"Later, when they couldn't get the job, they reluctantly took most of the compensation. They're just a bunch of vampires."

"So that's how it is. I understand completely now."

He Yuzhu nodded, a knowing look on his face, his disdain for the Jia family's farce growing stronger.

"The Jia family deserved it. They got what they deserved. They did so many bad things, and they finally got their comeuppance."

Xu Damao said with a look of satisfaction, his tone full of indignation.

"It's a pity that old hag Jia Zhangshi was too stubborn; all the retribution fell on the rest of her family."

After hearing this, He Yuzhu was speechless for a moment, and couldn't help but complain in his heart.

Xu Damao's mouth is so sharp; it would be a waste of his talent if he didn't switch to fortune telling. He speaks so eloquently and logically.

"Alright, let's not talk about the Jia family's troubles anymore. It has nothing to do with us."

He Yuzhu waved his hand, not wanting to mention the Jia family's farce again, lest it affect his mood.

"Let me ask you something else. In Beijing, have subdistrict offices been established yet?"

He looked at Xu Damao and asked earnestly, something that had been on his mind all along.

"Hey, Brother Zhu, you just got back to Beijing, and you're already so well-informed? You even know about this!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao instantly showed a surprised expression, looking at He Yuzhu with eyes full of admiration.

"Official news just came out before New Year's Day that the Military Control Commission will be officially dissolved this year."

"The original department was split into many different units, each with its own responsibilities."

"Aunt Hongxia, who used to visit our courtyard all the time, was assigned to work at the Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office."

"The subdistrict office for this area? The one that governs our courtyard houses, Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office?"

He Yuzhu's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked for more details.

"Yes, that's the one that's in charge of this area. From now on, everything in the compound will be under the jurisdiction of the subdistrict office."

Xu Damao nodded affirmatively, and then continued.

"And Aunt Ping, who used to come here often, has been transferred to work at the Dongcheng District Public Security Bureau. Now she's a proper section chief."

"She got promoted? Aunt Ping became a section chief?"

He Yuzhu was somewhat surprised and asked, his mind already racing with calculations.

"That's right, he got promoted really fast."

Xu Damao said with a sigh, his tone full of envy.

"In the past two years, there has been a lot of trouble with spies in the city. Aunt Ping has been busy catching spies and is basically never home."

"By the way, Siyu, she hasn't been staying with us all these past two years, has she?"

He Yuzhu thought of Wang Siyu in the inner room and asked again, his heart filled with heartache.

"Yes, they've been living at our house all this time. My teacher's wife has been exhausted these past two years taking care of this child and his two younger brothers."

Xu Damao nodded, his voice full of heartache as he spoke of Chen Lanxiang.

"Fortunately, Xiaoman often comes to help, otherwise my master's wife would not be able to manage at all."

By this point, He Yuzhu had a general idea of ​​everything that had happened in the courtyard over the past two years.

He paused for a moment, then spoke again, looking at Xu Damao and asking, "Is your dad still showing movies?"

"Yes, he's still doing his old job, showing movies everywhere. I've learned a lot from him in the last two years."

Xu Damao nodded, but his tone was full of reluctance.

"However, deep down, I don't really like this job; I find it meaningless."

"You don't like showing movies?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu looked somewhat surprised, finding the matter truly unbelievable.

In his memory, Xu Damao in the TV series regarded the job of showing movies as a dream job.

I wish I could hold onto it tightly, and no one could take it away from me. How could I not like it?

"I really don't like it; I have other plans."

Xu Damao raised his head, his eyes filled with longing, and said firmly.

"I want to work in the Public Security Bureau. If that doesn't work out, I'll go to the security department of the steel rolling mill. That's what I want to do."

"Security Department..."

Upon hearing these three words, He Yuzhu subconsciously murmured them aloud, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

"Yeah, Brother Zhu, you don't know, it's been a public-private partnership for a long time now, and there are government employees working in the steel rolling mill."

Xu Damao looked at He Yuzhu and said with great interest.

"The security detail inside is staffed entirely by retired soldiers, each one highly skilled and incredibly imposing."

"By the way, Brother Zhu, what are your plans after you're discharged from the army? What are they?"

After Xu Damao finished explaining his thoughts, he remembered to ask He Yuzhu about his future plans, his eyes full of curiosity.

"I haven't decided what I want to do in the future."

He Yuzhu shook his head slightly and said in a calm tone.

"I've been on edge for the past two years, and I haven't had a proper rest. I want to take a break for a while first."

Having experienced life and death on the battlefield, he now only wants to relax and doesn't want to think about work right away.

"You really need to rest. You've been working too hard these past two years."

Xu Damao nodded, his face full of agreement, and then a look of curiosity appeared on his face.

"By the way, Brother Zhu, could you tell me some real stories from the battlefield? I'd love to hear them."

He admired heroes since childhood and always longed for battlefield stories.

"No, you have too big a mouth, you can't keep secrets."

Without a second thought, He Yuzhu refused outright, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

"No way, Brother Zhu, don't be so stingy. I just want to hear it, I promise I won't tell anyone."

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao instantly revealed a resentful expression and pleaded with a wronged look on his face.

"The way you were talking to me about these mundane family matters just now, you're just like all the old ladies in the neighborhood."

He Yuzhu glanced at him, his tone laced with sarcasm, and said without any mercy.

"If I tell you to keep it a secret, it will spread throughout the entire courtyard in no time. I dare not tell you."

"oh."

Xu Damao was speechless and could only give a muffled reply, his face full of resentment.

What he didn't expect was that his wish to hear stories of the battlefield would be fulfilled for him in the near future.