A small courtyard with one leaf

  In the southeastern border area, a small town with beautiful mountains and rivers lived a Han family named Ye. The Ye family had been practicing martial arts for generations because they escaped to this town to avoid war.

  A robust middle-aged man entered the Ye family's courtyard and saw a six or seven-year-old boy squatting in a horse-riding stance.

  "Dad, you're back!" The clear voice of a little boy rang out, and he quickly ran to the front of the man.

  "Daddy, hug." The little boy said with open arms.

  "Yerqie, have you been listening to Grandpa's words and practicing your martial arts well lately?" The middle-aged man held the little boy in his arms, affectionately rubbing his nose against the child's tender cheek.

  "I'm very obedient, but practicing martial arts is too bitter. Can't I not practice anymore? I want to go out and play with the little friends." Ye Ren pouted and asked.

  At this time, a hoarse and majestic voice sounded: "Xiao Ren, who allowed you to move when you were squatting in horse stance? Today's horse stance will be extended by half an hour."

  "Dad..."

  "Alright, listen to grandpa's words and continue squatting in a horse stance." The middle-aged man put Ye Ren on the ground and said, "Dad, I'm back. This time when I came back from patrolling the forest, I caught a mountain chicken, and soon it'll be stewed for us two to drink a couple of bowls."

  Ye Ren pouted and then sulkily went aside to re-tie his horse's hoof.

  "Alright. Yun Tian, you go back and tidy up first, I'll come over to your place later, I have something to talk to you about." Old Master Ye said as he turned around and went back into the house.

  Ye Yuntian returned to the house, put down his things and took a bath, changed into clean clothes and went to Lao Yezi's room.

  "Dad, what can I do for you?" Ye Yun Tian asked respectfully after bowing.

  "Yun Tian, this is a letter from your former comrade-in-arms that arrived a week ago." Old Master Ye took out a letter from under his pillow and handed it to Ye Yun Tian.

  Yè Yún Tiān took over the letter and began to read it.

  "This kid, how did he end up transferring to our poor and remote place?"

  As he watched, Ye Yun Tian suddenly muttered a sentence to himself.

  "Who?"

  Ye Lao sat down in one of the two armchairs against the wall, gesturing for Ye Yuntian to sit down as well.

  "It's that little mountain, he wants to transfer to our county public security bureau as deputy director, and asked me to go find him for a drink when I have time. Tomorrow I'll go to the county to ask if he has arrived." Ye Yun Tian couldn't hide the excitement in his words.

  Comrade, comrade, my old comrade. Comrades for years, friends for life. Shoulder to shoulder in battle back then, through thick and thin together.

  "Then go tomorrow," said the old man. "Remember to buy some sturdy canvas in the county town tomorrow."

  "Alright. Father, are you planning to make a sandbag for Little Ren? If so, can't I just buy one that's already made for him? How is his martial arts training coming along?" Ye Yuntian picked up the teapot on the table and poured a cup of tea for Old Man Ye, saying as he handed it over.

  "He recently ran two laps around our town with an empty stomach and came back as if nothing had happened, it's time to consider adding some weight to him. You can't buy ready-made clothes for kids that are comfortable, in the end, it's better to let your wife make one by hand. This kid has talent, with more training he won't be inferior to you." Old Man Ye said after taking a sip of tea.

  "That's right, and don't look at who he is. With a grandfather as brilliant and powerful as you, it would be strange if he couldn't cultivate it." Ye Yun Tian didn't forget to flatter the old man and make him happy.

  Ye Tianyun's joy was written all over his face, on one hand because of the impending reunion with old comrades, and on the other hand because his son Ye Ren's martial arts had made some progress.

  The next day, Ye Yuntian left for the county town very early. After arriving at the county town, he first went to the Gardening Bureau to report on the recent work situation, and then carefully wiped the 56 semi-automatic rifle before putting it in the armory.

  At noon, Ye Yun Tian went out to buy a few meters of canvas for his son.

  After buying canvas, I was thinking about where to eat something, and then went to ask about the situation of old comrades-in-arms. At that time, someone behind me shouted: "Squad leader! Squad leader! Yun Tian squad leader!"

  The voice was filled with inexpressible excitement, so the voice was a little trembling.

  Yeyuntian could guess who it was just by the sound of their voice, so to put it in a trendy way, Yeyuntian's mood suddenly soared.

  Ye Yun Tian turned his head to take a look, and the little Shanzi who was still a new recruit at that time with a face full of childishness was now wearing a handsome police uniform getting off from an olive green off-road vehicle.

  Xiao Shanzi is also getting old, after Ye Yuntian retired from the army, Xiao Shanzi stayed in the army for another ten years before choosing to retire due to injury.

  The wound on Xiaoyanzi's body also has a story behind it, which is why Ye Yuntian can remember Xiaoyanzi's voice so clearly.

  Xiao Shanzi is no longer the naive and slender young man he used to be, but a robust and capable people's policeman with a strong back and waist.

  "Xiao Shanzi, I was just thinking of eating something and then going to find you, didn't expect to run into you here." Ye Yuntian said with a punch on Xiao Shanzi's chest.

  "Come on, since we've met, let's have a drink together. Little Li, take the car back to the office, if there's anything important, come find me directly at the restaurant, I'll catch up with my classmate." Xiaoshan then handed over instructions to the driver and pulled Ye Yuntian's hand to walk towards a small restaurant across the street.

  "Xiao Shanzi, won't drinking at noon interfere with your work? Let's just find a place to eat something and chat casually, don't drink anymore." Ye Yuntian said with some concern for Xiao Shanzi.

  "Monitor, I owe you my life from back then. You were injured and discharged from the army because of saving me. It's been over a decade since we last met, so no matter what, let's have a good drink together! Don't worry, I'll talk to the director later." Xiaoshan dragged Yeyuntian into the restaurant, "Waiter, bring us two bottles of your best wine!"

  Then Xiaoyuzi pulled Yeyuntian to sit down in a corner by the window, which was convenient for talking.

  After the waiter brought the wine, Xiaoshan ordered a few dishes that Li Tianyun liked to eat. Over the years, Xiaoshan had never forgotten his old classmate, and naturally he couldn't forget what his old classmate liked to eat.

  They simply opened two bottles of wine and started drinking.

  "Monitor, does your leg still hurt?"

  After three rounds of drinking, both people's faces had a reddish glow.

  At this time, the dishes were also served, and the two of them put down their wine cups, picked up their chopsticks, and started eating while chatting.

  "It's been fine for a long time, it doesn't hurt anymore. It's just that it's not as flexible as before."

  "Monitor, you said that if you had stayed in the army, by now you would have been promoted to regiment commander or division commander, and who knows, maybe even brigade commander or corps commander. You wouldn't have ended up in a place like this."

  "At that time, our country and Vietnam were almost done fighting, I thought to myself, why stay in the army just to get a pension when I can go back home? Besides, my fiancée had been waiting for me at home for over 3 years and we still hadn't gotten married. And also, we shouldn't be a burden to the military, right?"

  "But Class Monitor, you're being too hard on yourself, aren't you?"

  "What's wrong with me? I'm doing just fine, aren't I? Alright, enough about me. What about you? How did you end up transferring to this place? Don't you ever go back home and visit your old mother?"

  "My mother died two years ago, and after thinking about it, I only have you as a relative, so I must show filial piety to you. That's why I came." Xiaoshan took a sip of wine and said, "My father died early, Captain, you treated me well and took care of me, I truly regard you as family."

  The two old comrades-in-arms chatted about things in their old unit while drinking and having lunch.

  "Xiao Shanzai, you go back to the police station and get busy, I should head home too. We'll catch up later." Ye Yuntian patted Xiao Shanzai's shoulder and said.

  "Alright, class monitor, I'll go first." Xiaoyuzi said to Yeyuntian and then turned around and left.

  Just as Xiaoshan turned around and walked towards the police station in big strides, two lines of tears had already fallen from his eyes.

  After leaving the restaurant, Ye Yuntian bought canvas on the street and carried it back to the park bureau. In the afternoon, he was busy with some things and then went home.

  ……

  Time flies like an arrow, and Ye Ren is already 10 years old.

  This morning, Ye Ren had just finished his run and returned home, running into his father: "Dad, are you going to patrol the forest again?"

  "Yes. Xiao Ren, don't you want to take advantage of the summer vacation and go into the mountains with your father?"

  "Alright, but what about my homework?" Ye Ren suddenly remembered that he hadn't finished the homework his grandfather had assigned.

  "You go back home and tidy up first, I'll talk to your grandfather about this. For the next few days, let's just have you and me go into the mountains, and when we get back, you can practice martial arts and writing with your grandfather."

  "Dad, you're too good! I'm going to pack up now." Ye Ren happily ran into his own room to start packing.

  Ye Yuntian entered Old Master's room: "Dad, I'm planning to take Xiaoren into the mountains and teach him some things about the mountains. What do you think..."

  "You two don't spend enough time together, take him to the mountains for a stroll." Old Master Ye thought for a moment and said, "However, his studies can't fall behind, let him wear that lead block vest and go into the mountains with you. Don't take it off unless absolutely necessary. As for our family's fist and footwork as well as knife skills, I'll continue teaching him when he gets back."

  "Dad, let's go then."

  After leaving Lao Ye's house, Ye Yun Tian saw Ye Ren wearing shorts and carrying a backpack running out of the house.

  "Xiao Ren, I just talked to your grandfather about it, and he agrees too."

  "Long live Father!" Ye Ren jumped up excitedly.

  "But your grandfather wants you to wear that lead apron, and it's different from the mountain to the foot of the mountain, go back and change into another pair of pants."

  "Oh..." Ye Ren suddenly slumped down, "You little stinker, after entering the mountains, Dad will teach you what he learned in the army. If you keep dawdling like this, I won't take you with me."

  As soon as Ye Ren heard this, he immediately gained spirit and quickened his pace to run towards the house. While running, he shouted: "Dad, you can't go back on your word. I'll change quickly, you must wait for me."