Siheyuan: Living in the People's Community, with a Heart for the Red Star

Old Yang took the receipt and took Zhao Jingyi out of Quyuan Restaurant, preparing to go home for a short rest and then drive to the Air Force compound at two or three o'clock.

The two returned to the compound, parked the car and went into the room.

At 3:00 p.m., the two men went to the Air Force compound with gifts in their hands, feeling refreshed.

The two were warmly received by Zhao's mother, who pulled them to sit on the sofa. She asked about their lives and well-being, and her words revealed one meaning: when are you going to have a child?

Old Yang handled it well. Zhao Jingyi, however, felt a little embarrassed because they hadn't met for several years, and kept changing the subject.

The gifts that Lao Yang brought were also sorted out, the snacks were placed on the coffee table, and the meat and fish were taken to the kitchen to be prepared as a snack in the evening.

Soon, Zhao Jingyi's elder brother Zhao Tiejun and second brother Zhao Tiehe came to the compound with their wives and children. Suddenly, the living room became lively, with four children running around everywhere, and the whole house was filled with noise.

Zhao Tiejun and Zhao Tiehe scolded the children, and Zhao Tiejun shouted, "Assemble!"

Several boys immediately stood at attention, and Zhao Tiehe shouted, "At ease, salute your aunt and uncle!"

Several children saluted and shouted in unison: "Hello, auntie, hello, uncle!"

Zhao Tiejun shouted softly: "The ceremony is over!"

The four children put down their hands and looked straight at Zhao Jingyi and Lao Yang.

Old Yang looked at the children with a beaming face and said, "Good seedlings, stand at attention! Line up and come to me to receive your gifts."

The four children immediately lined up and walked towards Lao Yang. Lao Yang took out a toy gun and a toy handcuff from his pocket and handed them to the first child.

The second child gave a toy submachine gun and a toy dagger.

The third child gave a toy sniper rifle and a telescope.

The fourth child gave a toy rifle and a toy grenade.

Zhao Jingyi gave each of them a handful of candy and a red envelope. Afterwards, she even blamed her brother for training the children to be like children no longer!

The children moved the toys around excitedly after getting them. They only dispersed after being scolded by Zhao Tiejun and ran out in a swarm!

The two sisters-in-law also hurriedly followed him out, and came back smiling after a while. They must have taken back the red envelopes from the children and kept them for them!

Soon, Zhao Tiejun, Zhao Tiehe and Lao Yang sat together. Zhao's mother, Zhao Jingyi, the eldest sister-in-law and the second sister-in-law gathered together and started chatting.

After it got dark and the lights were turned on, Zhao's mother took the girls to the kitchen to start cooking. The three men chatted merrily and became addicted. They were just waiting for Zhao Changkong to come back and start eating.

More than half an hour later, when the meals began to be served, Zhao Changkong finally returned home. Zhao Changkong's aura was so strong that the four older grandchildren who were playing in the front yard immediately fell silent as soon as he got home, and lined up in the living room. They stood straight with their toys in their hands, as if waiting for inspection.

After seeing the guns on his four grandsons, he reached out and took a submachine gun. He pulled the trigger and immediately heard a "da da da" sound. The muzzle of the submachine gun was flashing as if it was firing. It felt quite interesting, so he took a grenade from his waist, pressed the safety and heard a "bang" explosion from it.

After returning the toys to his grandson, Zhao Changkong shouted, "Disband!"

The children all ran away and went to the kitchen to find food.

Lao Yang and the other two came to greet Zhao Changkong. Zhao Changkong took off his military uniform, hung it on the hanger, and sat at the table with the other two to drink. Children brought dishes from time to time, and the atmosphere was particularly warm.

After three rounds of wine and five kinds of dishes, Lao Yang told the purpose of tonight: "Dad should know that the approval document for my return to China has been issued. Each branch of the military has a certain number of vacancies. Do you think we can fulfill the matter we discussed last time? This time I plan to recruit 500 people from the Air Force system to form a complete air-ground team to help me build the framework of the Air Force!"

Zhao Changkong took a bite of the food and said slowly: "Since we have already agreed, I can't go back on my word! When will the plane you donated arrive? What model is it? Tell me more about it, so I can see if it's worth it!"

Old Yang said with a smile: "Don't worry about this, Dad! The plane I prepared for you is one of the most advanced planes in the world today. I got it with great difficulty. In order to get some good seedlings from you, I will risk it and give it to you. It is the most advanced U-2 reconnaissance plane in the United States. Do you think this plane is okay?"

When they heard Lao Yang report the U-2 reconnaissance plane, the three men immediately stood up, stared at Lao Yang and asked, "The plane that the United States lost is in your possession? How is this possible?"

Old Yang looked at the three excited people and smiled without saying a word. He stretched out his hand and motioned them to sit down.

Zhao Changkong realized that the three people's reactions were a bit extreme, so he suppressed his doubts and sat down. He asked, "Does my dear son-in-law really have a U-2 reconnaissance plane? This is not a joke. The U-2 reconnaissance plane is the best among the most advanced reconnaissance planes in the world today! The United States is keeping a close eye on it and has not exported it to other countries. I have a bad heart, don't scare me!"

Zhao Tiejun and Zhao Tiehe also looked at Lao Yang with a serious face. If Lao Yang told a lie, they would immediately step forward and grab Lao Yang and beat him up.

Under the astonished gazes of the three, Lao Yang took out a translated document from his bag and handed it to Zhao Changkong. Zhao Changkong took the document and read it carefully, becoming more and more solemn as he read. Finally, under the gazes of the Zhao brothers, he closed the document and carefully placed it on the table behind him.

Zhao Changkong calmed down and said, "If there really is such a plane, I will let my second brother go with you to train the air force abroad, and then let him work for you. I will retire a group of active pilots and let them go with my second brother! Now tell me when this plane can be handed over to me!?"

Old Yang immediately stood up excitedly and said, "Thank you for your trust, Dad! My second brother will definitely have a bright future with me. I will let my air force be managed by him, because we are a family! I have had this U-2 transported to the vicinity of Kyoto, and it can be handed over to Dad at any time, but this matter needs to be kept strictly confidential. The handover also needs to have a strict process, after all, this plane was also seized from the United States by my people. Once the United States knows that it has fallen into the hands of the country, it will definitely put pressure on us to get the plane back. After all, our methods are a bit dishonorable and untenable."

Zhao Changkong also calmed down, picked up the wine glass and took a sip and said: "You are right, we can't rush this matter! I will report it tomorrow, and after I come up with a safe plan, we will proceed with the handover!"

Zhao Changkong picked up the wine glass again and drank the wine in one gulp. Then he stood up, put on his military uniform, picked up the U-2 information, and said to the three people: "You three continue to eat and drink and don't worry about me. I'll go back right now and arrange the next plan with the commander. Boss, tell your mother that I won't be back tonight. Let her not worry!" After that, he left in a hurry.

Old Yang, Zhao Tiejun and Zhao Tiehe looked at each other and walked back helplessly. Zhao Tiejun went directly to the kitchen and told his mother about his father's departure. He returned to the table amid his mother's nagging.

After Zhao Tiejun sat down, he began to envy Zhao Tiehe and said, "Second brother, you finally got it this time! Dad agreed to let you go with your brother-in-law. This is a great opportunity to see the advanced level of foreign countries. You won't have to worry about material life, unlike me who have to worry about trivial logistics!"

Zhao Tiehe also laughed, picked up the wine glass and took a sip, and said proudly: "Who said I am a flight crew, and you are a ground crew? I have long wanted to go abroad to see it! I feel frustrated doing anything in China. The planes in my brother-in-law's hands should be more advanced. I will need to learn for a while before I can adapt after I go there. But I am excited to think about replacing the plane in my hand with the latest fighter. When does my brother-in-law plan to return to Hong Kong, so that I can make preparations in advance?"

Old Yang picked up the wine glass and took a sip. He said, "I will be able to go back in six or seven days. It will take you another month or so to complete the formalities and go to Hong Kong in batches. I don't think the country will handle the exit formalities for your group very quickly, so I can't just wait. Jingyi and I will go back to Hong Kong to wait for you."

After that, the three of them started drinking. After the four little ones knew that their grandfather had left, they all ran to the living room to play, watching the three of them drinking and eating the meat dishes on the table.

Soon, Zhao Jingyi accompanied Zhao's mother to the living room and sat on the sofa to watch the three people drinking. Soon, the eldest brother Zhao Tiejun got drunk and fell to the ground. After seeing the eldest brother getting drunk, the second brother Zhao Tiehe pulled Lao Yang to start drinking.

The two drank two more cups and Zhao Tiehe also fell drunk on the table. The eldest and second wives also rushed over from the kitchen. Old Yang followed them upstairs, carrying one in each hand.

Mother Zhao and Zhao Jingyi sat on the sofa and watched Old Yang carrying one child upstairs. They said with emotion, "This little Yang is really extraordinary. If he were in ancient times, he would be a martial arts champion! You must hurry up and have more children to pass on his talent!"

Seeing her mother bringing up the topic of having children again, Zhao Jingyi immediately changed the subject and said, "I heard from them that my second brother is going to Hong Kong with us. I wonder if my second sister-in-law and the children will be upset? Dad, I've let it go this time!"

Mother Zhao asked worriedly, "I heard that Hong Kong is in chaos. Will the second brother be in danger if he goes there? You can't let your second sister-in-law and the children go there. You have to wait until your second brother is established there before you can take him over. And we don't know when we'll see each other again after he leaves. You must take good care of your brother when you go there!"

Zhao Jingyi hugged Zhao's mother and said, "That's for sure! After all, when I go there, I only have my brother as my relative to support me, so we must support each other. When we are stable over there, we will bring mom and sisters-in-law over to enjoy the good life. Let dad and big brother continue to make contributions to the country!"

Air Force Headquarters

Zhao Changkong, who hurried back to the military headquarters, had been sitting in the conference room for more than an hour. Sitting next to him were Army Commander Feng Tianyu, Political Commissar Lu Ming, and Zhao Changkong's Political Commissar Li Feng. The three were called over by Zhao Changkong.

After everyone arrived, they entered the conference room. Zhao Changkong locked the door and took out the information to circulate among the three people. After reading the information, the three people looked at Zhao Changkong in surprise.

Feng Tianyu asked directly: "What's going on?"

Zhao Changkong told the story of how he and his son-in-law exchanged a retired Air Force pilot for an airplane.

Political Commissar Lü Ming pointed at Zhao Changkong's nose and scolded him: "How can you exchange your comrades for airplanes? You have a dangerous ideology. Your comrades trusted you so much, but you sold them out! What do you want them to think? What do your superiors think?"

Commander Feng Tianyu didn't think so, but asked Zhao Changkong directly: "Who is this son-in-law you are talking about? I haven't heard that your daughter is getting married again?"

After all, the methods and ideas of considering problems are different depending on your position. As a leader, you cannot just listen to one side.

Zhao Changkong glanced at Lu Ming slowly and said, "My son-in-law is Yang Shangjin, the one who was mentioned in the recent approval document as being able to recruit retired soldiers!"

When Lu Ming heard that it was Yang Shangjin, he also shut up.

Commander Feng flipped through the information and asked, "Are you sure he really has a U-2 reconnaissance plane? The U.S. military has been looking for it like crazy in Bohai Sea these past two days! This is no joke."

The two political commissars also looked at Zhao Changkong nervously, waiting for his answer.

Zhao Changkong smiled confidently and replied, "I have already confirmed this with my son-in-law! The plane has been transported to Kyoto and hidden. As long as we have determined the pick-up plan, we can pick it up. You can tell us its location at any time. Comrade Yang Shangjin donated the world's most advanced aircraft to us. I suggest that a group of outstanding personnel from the active troops retire and follow Comrade Yang to Hong Kong to develop and help him set up an air force. Our retired non-commissioned officers serve as instructors, all of them are hired and rented, and they can be recalled again if a war breaks out in the country. So we are not at a disadvantage, and the other party will give us a considerable amount of resettlement and training fees!"

Zhao Changkong smiled wretchedly and said, "I believe you have heard that the Security Bureau, which was the first to take action, has received more than 3000 million US dollars in training fees, which is almost the total amount of foreign exchange since the founding of the country! The Security Bureau has suddenly become a hot commodity in the eyes of the upper echelons. This time, we can not only get a world-leading reconnaissance aircraft, but also a considerable amount of foreign exchange. There are only benefits and no harm. I think we can do it!"

The commander and the political commissar were not in a hurry to express their opinions. Instead, they took the information and looked at it repeatedly. After a quarter of an hour, they asked again: "Do you think there is anything different about this information?"

The other three were stunned for a moment and looked at the commander, urging him to speak directly. The commander said: "The Chinese annotations in this document are very clear, and the function names are concise and to the point. You can understand them at a glance. This shows that the other party has been researching aircraft for a long time and is very familiar with each system of the aircraft. They may even have detailed drawings! This shows that the other party's ambition is definitely not as simple as robbing a reconnaissance plane. If possible, I suggest that you directly ask for advanced equipment! Foreign exchange is just waste paper to us. It is valuable only if it can be exchanged for equipment!"

After thinking about it, several people nodded in agreement. Even if you have foreign exchange, you can't buy advanced equipment. It would be perfect if you can convert foreign exchange into equipment. After all, officers must be given the instructions from the higher-ups. It would be even better if you can get some benefits along the way. I will report to the higher-ups now and try to come up with an effective plan as soon as possible."

"Old Zhao, your son-in-law is really extraordinary! Although there are no warlords in the country now, it is still possible to occupy an island and become king abroad! We may have to rely on your son-in-law, Old Zhao, in the future." Commander Feng stood up, put away the information, and said to Zhao Changkong meaningfully.