I am a literary giant in Europe

Chapter 391 Dad's Connections

The plane landed at the Capital Airport.

Liu Dasheng drove a Dongfeng Mengshi second-generation car with military license plates to the airport.

From the moment Liu Jin first saw it, he couldn't take his eyes off it.

This is a generation of warriors!

This isn't the civilian version; it's the official military version of the Mengshi Generation 1.

In 2023, a big shot in Shandong spent 195 million yuan to buy a military-grade Mengshi II vehicle and showed it off online.

Many people say that 195 million is a bit expensive!
What's so expensive?

That's the military version of the Mengshi II; you can't even buy it anywhere else.

"bought?"

"hold head high!"

The old man held his head high with pride.

"Get me one too."

"What are you doing?"

"Hehe, I'll buy one every time a new generation comes out. I want to collect all the models of the Chinese military's Mengshi."

"Hehehe, you're really rich."

"Just buy it if I tell you to, it's not like you're paying for it."

"You're willing to spend your own money to buy a courtyard house, so what's wrong with buying your son two cars?"

Unable to bear Liu Dasheng's smugness, the old lady got into the car and said angrily, "Get in the car now!"

Liu Dasheng, who had been so smug, suddenly lost his temper.

Just as he was about to get into the car, Liu Jin pulled him away and slid him into the driver's seat.

"key!"

"Give!"

Liu Dasheng had no choice but to hand the keys to Liu Jin and then get into the car.

"You really want it?"

"Definitely!"

Where are you parking?

"Can't three cars be parked over there in our courtyard house?"

"Go back to Zhongzhou, and buy a yard in Xinzheng. We can park our old cars there; it won't cost much."

"Comrade Liu Jin, you must be really rich."

Liu Dasheng snorted coldly.

The old lady said with some pride, "That's right, your youngest son earned another 83 million in the first half of this year."

"what?"

"Dollar!"

Liu Dasheng turned his head and looked at Liu Jin.

Liu Jin started the car and said with a smile, "It's mainly because of those books from last year; sales have been steadily increasing. Plus, we bought the copyrights for a few books, which brought in about ten million in total. The books published this year haven't sold very well."

"Very ordinary, eighty-three million?"

"There should be a significant reduction in the second half of the year."

They're mainly relying on last year's profits.

Liu Dasheng suddenly didn't want to talk anymore.

He worked hard all his life, but in his old age, all his life savings couldn't compare to his youngest son's income in half a year, which was equivalent to living off his savings.

How much money do you have in your account right now?

"I haven't calculated it."

Liu Jin drove his car out of the airport.

"All the odds and ends add up, could it be two hundred million?"

"Dollar?"

"It also includes some euros."

Liu Dasheng fell silent!

The old lady, sitting in the back seat, suddenly said, "Liu Dasheng, I'm warning you, you're not allowed to use your son's money to cause trouble."

"It's not exactly a disaster, is it?"

"Don't I know you? You're all about saving face. You jump on the bandwagon as soon as someone else sets up a spot."

I have no objection to you buying the courtyard house this time. But you've clearly been ripped off, and you've already paid all that money upfront. Are you trying to be a sucker?

"I……"

At this point, Liu Jin had already driven onto the highway.

"So, where is the siheyuan (courtyard house)?"

"Walk towards Andingmen Inner Street."

"okay!"

Liu Jin skillfully turned on the car's navigation system and entered Andingmen Inner Street.

"Dad, what are you trying to do?"

"I……"

Liu Dasheng turned his head and glanced at the old lady.

Now, the old lady has more confidence than him, and her son and daughter are all on her side, which makes Liu Dasheng feel a little less confident.

"Xiao Jin told you to speak, why are you looking at me?"

"That's right, I want to donate ten million to the descendants of comrades who sacrificed their lives in the counterattack war."

"what?"

"Actually, I have been providing financial assistance since 1981."

but……

There are too many people, and my abilities are limited; I can't help many. For the past two years, I've been trying to contact the descendants of those comrades-in-arms, and many of them are struggling financially. So I was thinking, could I set up a foundation to provide some assistance?

I discussed it with a few old friends and also consulted my former superior.

They all expressed their support... so I want to donate 30 million to establish this fund, specifically to help the descendants of comrades who are living in difficult circumstances.

It's not that we help with everything, but mainly those who are struggling financially, or whose children can't afford to go to school..."

Is 30 million enough?

"what?"

"I mean, is 30 million enough?"

"That's enough! We're just providing emergency relief, not long-term support. I don't want to cause a huge uproar."

Regarding small-scale assistance... the old leader said he could help me with the application procedures, but the funds must be effectively used.

"Okay, I'll transfer the money to you later."

"No need, no need... I haven't used much of the money you gave me at the beginning of the year."

"I only gave you ten million at the beginning of the year."

Liu Dasheng was taken aback, then realized what was happening and slapped Liu Jin hard across the face.

"I'm talking about fucking RMB!"

"You..." Liu Jin couldn't help but roll his eyes upon hearing this.

"Then what are you telling me? The money I gave you is for you to spend... You scared me, I thought it was thirty million US dollars."

"Uh, you've been abroad, and all you can think about is US dollars?"

"Euros are fine too!"

Liu Dasheng couldn't help but laugh and curse, finally feeling a weight lifted from his heart.

He wanted to help his comrades.

Liu Jin, on the other hand, felt he should use the money to rebuild the connections he had lost in his previous life. Only after his rebirth did he realize how foolish his father had been in his past life.

So many connections, and they've all been thrown away.

I have to rebuild this life no matter what.

……

The family of three arrived at Beiluoguxiang.

Liu Jin visited the courtyard house and was very satisfied.

However, it wasn't as luxuriously decorated as the courtyard house he remembered.

After Liu Dasheng's old comrade-in-arms bought this courtyard house, he didn't renovate it much, so it looks a bit dilapidated.

"If you want to renovate, I'll go to the Ancient Architecture Research Institute and find someone to design it for you."

"Do you know anyone at the Ancient Architecture Research Institute?"

“I don’t know them, but your Uncle Chang and the others do.”

"Which Uncle Chang?"

"He's retired. He used to be the political commissar of the XX Army. His daughter-in-law is the deputy director of the Ancient Architecture Research Institute."

However, I asked Lao Chang, and he said that restoring it to its original state would cost a lot, about three or four million.

Three or four million?

The old lady stood under the corridor and, upon hearing Liu Dasheng's words, flew into a rage.

"You paid three or four million more for the courtyard house, and now you have to spend another three or four million on renovations? Doesn't that amount to nearly twenty million?"

"Forehead……"

Upon hearing this, Liu Dasheng shut his mouth.

Liu Jin, however, didn't seem to mind and smiled as he offered the old lady a few words of advice.

When this courtyard house was officially registered in 2024, it was said that the renovation cost was as high as ten million yuan.

It's estimated that it was renovated around 10 years ago, in 03. Three or four million is already a very impressive figure.

When courtyard houses are incorporated into the market mechanism next year, renovation costs will increase further.

That evening, the family of three checked into a guesthouse.

Liu Jin also met "Uncle Chang" and "Uncle Wang," whom he had never met before.

Uncle Chang has retired, but Uncle Wang hasn't.

Well, I can't really disclose the specific job title.

Then Liu Jin was taken to the guesthouse restaurant.

Hmm, a guesthouse!

It sounds like a very old-fashioned name.

But there's really more to it than meets the eye.

The chef is said to be a retired head chef from the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

That dish...

It's truly extraordinary.

Liu Dasheng, Uncle Chang, and Uncle Wang drank two bottles of Moutai, while Liu Jin and his two uncles' three sons drank six bottles.

Since his rebirth, he has hardly ever drunk heavy alcohol.

This meal really got him thoroughly drunk...

He was completely drunk.

When I woke up the next day, I felt like even my breath smelled of Moutai.

"Old Chang's eldest son is now in the XX Military Region, and yesterday was his youngest son, who is now working at the National Development and Reform Commission."

Old Wang's two children are in the General Political Department's Cultural Troupe and the Rapid Reaction Division, respectively.

Your Auntie Xiaotang was supposed to come too, but she got held up by something else and told us to go have lunch with her.

Who is Auntie Little Sugar?

Liu Jin stared wide-eyed, completely dumbfounded.

The old lady said with a gloomy face, "She used to be an actress, but now she works at the August First Film Studio."

You guys go at noon, I'm not going!

Liu Jin immediately looked at the old man.

The old man had a helpless expression on his face.

Aunt Xiaotang, an actress, works at the August First Film Studio...

Liu Jin's gaze towards the old man became somewhat unusual.

"Cough cough!"

He coughed twice, then pulled the old lady aside and comforted her, finally calming her down.

As he was leaving, he suddenly grabbed the old man's arm.

"Wildfire and spring breeze battle the ancient city?"

"What?"

Liu Dasheng was taken aback.

She quickly realized what she meant and said hesitantly, "Mmm."

"You actually know her?"

Liu Jin was furious.

In his past life, when he was hovering on the fringes of the film and television industry, unable to find a way in, the old man never mentioned that he had such connections.

This person has appeared on the TV show "Art Life" and served as the vice chairman of the China Film Association.

The old man didn't say a word during his most difficult time.

However, it is understandable.

At that time, the old man was in a low point, or rather, his whole family was in a low point, and he was too ashamed to contact his old friends.

but……

I'm so angry!
Liu Jin looked at the old man.

Suddenly, an idea came to me.

Old man, how many connections did you have in your past life?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh.

The old man was competitive his whole life; otherwise, why would he be called Liu Dasheng (meaning "Great Victory")? If he had stood up for himself back then, he might have been just as domineering and influential as he is now, pulling together all his old connections. Unfortunately, he wasn't ambitious enough in his past life!
"I'm going to the restaurant to have some porridge."

"Go ahead, we'll leave at 10:30, don't keep your Auntie Xiaotang waiting."

"Dad, I have a question."

"What's the problem?"

How did you meet Aunt Xiaotang?

"She's from Bianliang. We used to live on Caochang Street when we were kids, so we were neighbors."

"Are we from Bianliang?"

"No, they were from Wuzhi, and later moved to Bianliang."

Not long after, your Aunt Xiaotang and her family moved... Back in '92, when she was filming "The Great Turning Point," I was working as a consultant. We chatted by chance, and it turned out we were neighbors. She was closer to your uncle; I didn't remember her very well.

Did you work as a consultant in 92?

Liu Jin couldn't remember!
In his past life, he was serving in the military during this period, so he doesn't know much about it.

He has no memory of this in his entire life.

Liu Jin pursed his lips and didn't ask any further questions.

It would be impolite to ask again!

So he strolled off to the restaurant...

(End of this chapter)