Back to 1978

Chapter 195 Han Hongjun is back
After Jiao Peng became the Minister of the United Front Work Department, although his rank seemed to have not changed much, his treatment was different. He used to live in the staff quarters allocated by the Animal Husbandry Bureau, but now he has moved into the staff quarters of the county government. The neighbors in the same quarters have undergone a qualitative change.

Although it was a new four-story red brick building built after the earthquake, and every household had a bathroom, and they no longer had to go to the public toilet like in the Animal Husbandry Bureau's staff quarters, Jiao Peng was not happy at all.

It turned out that he was the third in command in the staff quarters of the Animal Husbandry Bureau. When he went out to work in the morning on his bicycle, everyone in the quarters would take the initiative to greet him when they saw him. Even if there was something they had to say, it was always related to the animal husbandry business.

Now Jiao Peng's neck is nearly broken when he goes out to work every morning. He asks any old comrade who comes out to work to stop and say a few polite words to him, praising the vegetables he grows. Then, when the comrade asks about the recent arrangements of the United Front Work Department or some related cases, he will be careful to avoid making mistakes and give him an informal report.

He can't afford to offend any old comrade.

Every day when Jiao Peng goes to work and leaves the family compound, he feels even more miserable than Guan Yu going through the five checkpoints. Guan Yu at least dared to pick up a sword and kill people, but he can only smile and push the cart to get out.

Today is Sunday. Hu Shuang, his wife, is washing fruit in the kitchen while scolding Jiao Peng, who is sitting in the cramped living room flipping through a Go book:

"Lao Jiao, I should have been turned against you back then. I would have drawn a clear line with you, divorced you and quickly remarried. I would have sold myself to your Lao Jiao family, given birth to children for you and served you. What else could it be? What did my brother do to anyone? You are a leader too!"

Jiao Peng didn't take his wife's scolding to heart. Instead, Hu Shuang's two younger brothers came out of the bathroom with muddy hands and shouted towards the kitchen: "Sister, don't scold my brother-in-law. Can't he do this job himself?"

"He can't do it, so how can you two do it? I told him on Monday that you should find the logistics personnel of the unit to change the toilet in our bathroom to a squat toilet, otherwise I'm afraid he will die on the toilet. If someone goes to the toilet to get a book, he has to sit for half an hour, and then lie on the bed for half an hour after going to the toilet. It takes exactly one hour to relieve himself!" Hu Shuang washed a plate of apples and put them on the coffee table in the living room, and said unhappily:
"I also said, if you feel that you have just started working in the government and are not familiar with the logistics, and you are embarrassed to find someone, then say hello to the logistics of the Animal Husbandry Bureau of your old unit. They have been friends for many years and are easy to talk to. He is so good that he found two brothers-in-law to do this job. Are our Hu family your long-term workers? I am puzzled, the brothers-in-law of the leading cadres in the whole compound can get along with them and eat and drink well, but your brother-in-law is only worthy of being called by you to repair the toilet on Sundays?"

Jiao Peng put down the chess piece and laughed: "If you had divorced and married the cadre who arranged for you to marry him, you would be in trouble now. I just received a notice this week that the state wants to liquidate him. I don't think he is optimistic. The punishment is too cruel. I can't even pretend to ignore him."

"Really? He should have been punished long ago! He scared us so much that we all hid in Stationmaster Xie's house and dared not come back. He is a piece of shit. God has eyes!" When Hu Shuang heard that his admirer was going to be punished, he became happy instead: "Based on the gossip I heard, he had improper relationships with several female comrades at that time, right?"

"Speaking of Lao Mao, his nephew Xie Hushan will come over later to give him some mountain products." Jiao Peng put the chess pieces back into the chess basket one by one and said to his wife, "I may have to go out for dinner with him. You can take my two brothers-in-law to the state-owned restaurant for me."

The two brothers-in-law finished their work, washed their hands, bit an apple each, and went out with a smile: "Don't eat for such a small thing, because if you two pay for dinner again for such a small thing, mom will scold us to death when we go back. Let's go, brother-in-law, let's go!"

"Hey, say hello to the message room before you leave. When I went downstairs before, I put two boxes of Fenjiu there, one box for each person. Remember to take it back and let dad try it. If I get off work early in a few days, I will go there for dinner with your sister. Don't be polite, otherwise it will be a bargain for the message room." Jiao Peng reminded his brother-in-law as he saw him out.

Seeing his two younger brothers leave with smiles on their faces, Hu Shuang rolled his eyes at Jiao Peng who was closing the door and said, "You are the only one who knows how to get things done. We are all on your side."

"Three years ago, the old man must have asked his wife to go to Zhangjiakou to pay New Year's greetings to her parents. She couldn't go empty-handed." Jiao Peng explained to his wife:
"Besides, I'm working in this tight spot right now. If I ask people from the company to do my housework, I might get criticized. It's not worth it. Pack up and come eat with me later."

Hu Shuang sat down next to her husband and sighed, "I used to hope you would get promoted, but now you've really been promoted. I see you scratching your head all day long, and you don't even dare to go downstairs for a walk on Sundays for fear of running into other people. I also feel that it's not as good as staying in the countryside with Brother Xie. Although it was hard work and the environment was poor, it was solid. Brother Xie is still the one who knows how to live."

The couple and Xie Qimao and his wife are life-long friends. The deputy director of the county animal husbandry bureau and his wife go to the countryside every year to pay New Year's greetings to the director of the subordinate veterinary station. This is the only thing you see. Their relationship is not relatives, but it is almost like real relatives. Without the recommendation of director Xie Qimao, it would not have been so easy for Jiao Peng to be transferred to the county.

After Hu Shuang finished his sigh, he suddenly remembered and asked, "Why did Xie Hushan think of sending you mountain products and having a meal together?"

"I'm looking for you to go through the back door." Jiao Peng said with a smile:

"I'm not inviting our two families to a private meal. Lao Mao's nephew is the production team leader. He has delegated many matters of the team-run factory to others. Today he is inviting those business partners to introduce me to the clients. I'm the one who can bluff people. My position is not worth mentioning in the family compound, but if I mention it outside, I am still the head of the United Front Work Department of the county government."

While he was talking to his wife, Xie Hushan had already driven to the county government staff quarters. No matter how good the buildings in the staff quarters were, in Xie Hushan's eyes they were just old and dilapidated. At most, they had more green space than ordinary old and dilapidated staff quarters, and there was someone guarding the communication room at the entrance of the compound.

"Uncle, Minister Jiao of the United Front Work Department is my uncle. My hometown in the countryside asked me to deliver vermicelli and frozen tofu to him." Xie Hushan jumped out of the car, greeted the person in the message room politely and handed him a cigarette.

The person in the reception room came out and took the cigarette from Xie Hushan: "Wow, people in the countryside are driving jeeps?"

"Upstairs and downstairs, life with electricity and telephone will soon be here." Xie Hushan smiled and helped the other person light a cigarette. The old man opened the door:

"Just drive in, so you don't have to carry it in. Minister Jiao has said that a relative from Zhongping is coming today. His house is on the left hand side of the first floor of the third door of Building 5."

Following the direction given by the other party, Xie Hushan drove the car to the downstairs of Building No. 5 and got out with empty paws. Han Hongzhen was holding frozen tofu in her left hand, vermicelli in her right hand, and a basket of mushrooms and day lilies on her back.

"Xie Hushan, please help me carry it..." Han Hongzhen was almost unable to straighten her back due to the weight of millet and mountain products. She wanted Xie Hushan to help her share some of the burden. Even if it was just the lightest vermicelli, she could free up one hand to hold the basket behind her.

Xie Hushan acted as if he didn't hear anything. He went up a few steps and knocked on the door. Hu Shuang heard the knock and opened the door with a smile: "Your uncle Jiao was just telling me that you were going to have dinner with him. Wow~ You are taller than me now. You have grown into a big boy."

The last time Hu Shuang saw Xie Hushan was when her whole family was bullied and had to stay at Xie Qimao's house temporarily. In her mind, Xie Hushan was still the naughty and wild leader of the children in Zhongping, who ran around the countryside all day with two crazy girls, Daxiu and his own daughter Jiao Lan, making everyone hate him.

However, over the past year, her ears have been filled with her husband using the name Xie Hushan. Although her husband seldom talks to her about work, she roughly understands that this bold and ambitious child is now very successful. His trip to Hong Kong Island and his acquisition of a large sum of money, as well as her husband's job at the county government, are all related to this matter.

After not seeing each other for many years, Xie Hushan, who was always dressed in tatters and patches, is now wearing fashionable casual clothes. Next to him is a beautiful girl who is breathing air conditioning and whose waist is so heavy that she can't even straighten it because of the weight of mountain products.

"Aunt Jiao." Xie Hushan said with a smile.

Hu Shuang let the two in, and without bothering to be polite, he helped Han Hongzhen unload her things, complaining, "Is this your girlfriend Taozi? Your hands are so precious, what's wrong with helping to carry it? It's so heavy, let her carry it all by herself."

"No, this is... hehehe... we are just good friends." Xie Hushan said to Hu Shuang with a chuckle.

Hu Shuang's smile froze for a moment. Xie Hushan was almost about to make it clear that this girl was his lover.

Han Hongzhen felt that if this bastard hadn't told her in the car that she had to endure whatever he said, as soon as he said this, she couldn't control the urge to beat him to death.

Hu Shuang works at the County Women's Federation. In her eyes, girls like Han Hongzhen are the ones who urgently need to be persuaded and guided to learn to be independent.

While pouring water, Hu Shuang pulled Han Hongzhen to the kitchen to talk, leaving the living room to Jiao Peng and Xie Hushan. "Is it okay, Uncle Jiao?" Xie Hushan sat down next to Jiao Peng and asked in a low voice, "The hotel has been arranged, so I won't go there to steal the show. Everyone has a stereotype of me, thinking that I carry a gun all day long like a bandit, and I'm shy, not good at speaking, and don't know how to defend myself."

"What your Aunt Jiao hates the most is promiscuous relationships between men and women. How can you not fall into her trap? She will definitely try to break you up with that Comrade Xiao Han, right? Encourage her to be independent and self-reliant, not rely on men, and live an upright life." Jiao Peng said unhappily.

"That's fine. With this as an introduction, they can get closer. When she becomes a factory director in the future, she can get an honorary title for women in our county or something. We have to hurry up on this matter. Do you think she can get an honorary title by May 4th next year?" Xie Hushan asked Jiao Peng seriously.

Jiao Peng was so angry that he laughed at Xie Hushan's appearance.

Xie Hushan drove Jiao Peng and his wife and Han Hongzhen to the Friendship Restaurant, but he did not get out of the car. It was not until more than two hours later that the three of them were sent out by a group of people. In addition to Jiao Peng's red face, Han Hongzhen also looked a little tipsy. After sending Jiao Peng home, Xie Hushan took Han Hongzhen back to Zhongping.

"Did Aunt Jiao do some ideological work on you?" Xie Hushan asked Han Hongzhen with a smile while driving.

Han Hongzhen blurted out: "How much did that meal cost? I feel like I can't afford it even if I sell myself. There was a table full of food, but I didn't eat much. I didn't want to drink a single sip of wine at first, but then I felt sorry for the food and wine, so I drank a cup. It's not as good as the roadside wine you diluted with water, at least it's not that strong."

"If I still drink it after adding water, then wouldn't it be a waste of my money?" Xie Hushan laughed when he heard Han Hongzhen's words:
"I'm going to tell you something serious. Next time you go to the county, remember to go and spend some time with Aunt Jiao. Let's talk about our relationship and your work. She works at the Women's Federation. If the county Women's Federation needs a new-era female role model, you will be more qualified and will be given priority. A girl who leads her fellow villagers to run a steel mill and has a thriving business is nothing to men, but it's very eye-catching to women."

"Aunt Jiao asked me why I was so desperate to follow you... Did you know that you had a partner?" Han Hongzhen said with a smile.

Xie Hushan smiled and asked, "What did you say?"

"I did as you said. I said there was nothing wrong between us, we were just in the same sideline group, Taozi and I had a good relationship. Then Aunt Jiao said don't be afraid, you are a widow, Xie Hushan must have deliberately given you some sweet treats, you have to think it through..." Han Hongzhen said to Xie Hushan:

"Anyway, she just doesn't believe that there's nothing wrong with you and me. She also said that being in charge of a steel mill now is good, it can train people and make them confident. Maybe one day she will recognize your true colors and stay away from you without her persuasion."

Xie Hushan said: "So every time you see her, she asks you how you are, just say it will be soon."

"I see she also asked me to participate in the youth networking activities organized by the Women's Federation, saying that maybe I could meet a better gay man." Han Hongzhen said to Xie Hushan.

Xie Hushan let out a laugh.

"What do you mean?" Han Hongzhen heard Xie Hushan's reaction and asked unsatisfactorily: "Your tone clearly shows that I think my participation will have no effect."

"This is nonsense. Bingyang County is so small. You can ask which man would dare to marry you without asking me first." Xie Hushan said in a defiant tone:

"Just go ahead and I won't stop you. The only thing that can stop you is the inferiority complex of other gay men in front of me. If you could get married, Aunt Wu would have introduced you to so many girls this year and you would have been married a long time ago. If you can't get married, you don't know what's going on, so don't the other party know what's going on either?"

"What should the number be?" Han Hongzhen said, glancing at Xie Hushan.

Xie Hushan said confidently: "I think if the other party can't even solve your menstrual and underwear problems, don't even think about marrying him. It's easy for him to get sick if you marry him..."

"Then I can't get married, and my fate is to be a single woman beside you?" Han Hongzhen muttered softly.

"That's pretty much your fate."

Han Hongzhen was a little silent. To be honest, her mother-in-law, Aunt Wu, had helped her find a partner this year, hoping to marry her off in style. However, Han Hongzhen felt that none of them was suitable. It wasn't that the other party was a bad person, as they were both simple, honest and down-to-earth people. It was just that she couldn't help but compare them with Xie Hushan.

But after a comparison, I found that the other party had problems everywhere. Xie Hushan was full of shortcomings, especially his bad mouth, taking advantage of others all day long. But he had one advantage, he was good to the people he recognized as his own, no matter whether they were men or women, people or dogs. If he could achieve what he had, the people around him would definitely have it too.

A fool like Lao Meng wouldn't mind if he was given less money, and he wouldn't realize it if he was thought of less, but Xie Hushan would never do that.

When Xie Hushan was going back, Yang Liming was just seeing Cheng Yunfei off. It was less than three hours from the time he arrived to the time he left, so Xie Hushan didn't have the chance to meet Cheng Yunfei.

Cheng Yunfei came here mainly to get the relevant procedures for the boxing training team. In view of the fact that Hong Kong businessmen like boxing and to make Cao Tianbao happy, Bingyang County specially approved the establishment of a boxing training team in Zhongping Offset Printing Factory. Training was allowed, but no formal competitions were allowed to be organized in the country. After all, the general environment did not allow boxing competitions to be organized.

Yang Limin expressed through Cao Tianbao that he hoped the training team could train well and go to Macau to participate in the boxing competition. The county issued a certificate stating that the training team would start training to prepare for the Macau competition. If the competition was not allowed in China, Macau was allowed, and the offset printing factory was a joint venture of Hong Kong businessmen.

Cheng Yunfei came here just for the procedures and certificates. He excitedly got the documents and immediately rushed back to Yanjing to select team members for preparation. The training team could not really train in Bingyang, so he had to go back to his master. The main thing was that with this certificate and procedures, he could officially find a place as a training ground in the name of the Zhongping Offset Printing Factory Boxing Training Team to prepare for the competition.

"He also took away several samples of the calendars we produced." Yang Limin said to Xie Hushan, "He said that these samples should be able to bring in another batch of orders for the factory. How are you doing?"

"Today I took the fourth girl to see Minister Jiao. Let's do it step by step. I think it will work. If she wins some women's honors, I can transfer her to the offset printing factory. We should be able to get a quota for the Canton Fair." Xie Hushan said:

"My awareness is good, right? I have considered the image of women. There is nothing to do next, except the pipe factory. I will take Ma Saner to run the business later. Our company commander is good at daily management, but he is too lazy to run outside. Ma Saner is okay, he is wild at heart."

Seeing that Xie Hushan was not heading home or to the factory, Yang Limin asked curiously, "Where are you going?"

"You don't have a housing plot, but I do. I have to think about building a bridal chamber for Taozi and me." Xie Hushan walked towards his own housing plot in the distance with his hands behind his back.

Yang Limin said: "Virtue."

The two were bickering when they saw Han Lao San rushing past them like he was riding a Hot Wheels. Xie Hushan was almost hit by him: "Do you have a rocket stuck in your butt?"

"My eldest brother is back!" Han Laosan turned and said excitedly to Xie Hushan.

Has Han Laoer’s elder brother Han Hongjun recovered?
(End of this chapter)