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Chapter 184, page 183: Second Brother's Friend Meets with Village Officials; His Attitude is Cold.
Just as Yang Guangming was about to give his second brother a few more instructions, he suddenly heard his second sister Yang Xiangmei's slightly hurried voice coming from outside the corridor, as if she was talking to someone.

The two brothers tacitly stopped talking, and Yang Guangyao quickly wiped his face, trying to hide his excitement.

The ward door was pushed open, and Yang Xiangmei came in first, followed by a strange young man.

The young man was about twenty years old. He had an ordinary appearance but a tall and robust build. He was wearing a faded denim work jacket with some wear on the cuffs, but he was clean and tidy.

He was carrying a net bag containing two golden-yellow cornbread cakes.

Upon seeing a stranger in the ward, the young man paused for a moment, looking somewhat reserved, unsure whether to go in or back out.

"Xingbang is here, come in quickly." Yang Guangyao forced a smile and greeted him warmly, as if the collapse just now had never happened.

The young man known as Xingbang then stepped into the room and placed the cornbread in his hand on the bedside table: "Brother Guangyao, are you feeling better today? These are freshly made cornbreads, I brought you a couple to try."

After saying that, he looked at Yang Guangming with curiosity, his eyes asking a question.

Yang Guangyao quickly introduced, "Xingbang, this is my little brother, Yang Guangming, whom I often mention to you. Mingming, this is Luo Xingbang, our roommate. He's taken good care of me these past few days."

Upon hearing Yang Guangming's identity, Luo Xingbang's eyes lit up. He quickly stepped forward, somewhat embarrassed, wiping his hands on his clothes before extending them:
"So you're the little brother Guangyao always talks about who's a cadre in Shanghai? I've always heard Guangyao praise you for being successful, and today I'm finally meeting you."

Yang Guangming stood up and shook hands with him, feeling the roughness and strength of the other's palm, the marks left by long-term farm work.

He smiled and said, "Comrade Xingbang, you're too kind. My second brother just said that we've been very grateful for your help these past few days. Thank you so much."

"No trouble at all!" Luo Xingbang waved his hands repeatedly, a simple smile appearing on his dark face. "Brother Guangyao is a good person, and he often takes care of me in the dormitory. It's only right that I lend a hand when he encounters this problem."

Yang Guangming looked him over and found that the young man had clear and open eyes, and his gaze was unwavering when he spoke, giving people a sense of reliability and dependability.

He felt somewhat relieved. In the current situation, it was truly rare for his second brother to have such a friend.

Yang Xiangmei added from the side, "Xingbang has been a great help these days. Every day after work he rides his bicycle to the hospital, and sometimes he even helps me get food and water."

Luo Xingbang was a little embarrassed by the praise and scratched the back of his head: "Sister Xiangmei, what are you saying? This is just what I should do."

Yang Guangming's heart stirred.

He had originally planned to talk to the village officials about his second brother's matter again tomorrow, but Luo Xingbang's appearance made him change his mind. Time was of the essence; the sooner it was resolved, the better, lest things get complicated.

He glanced out the window; it was getting dark, but it wasn't too late yet.

So he said to Luo Xingbang, "Comrade Xingbang, there's something I'd like to ask you for a favor. Is it convenient for you?"

Luo Xingbang immediately straightened his back: "Tell me! As long as it's within my power, I'll do it without hesitation!"

Yang Guangming nodded: "I'd like to ask you to make a trip to Kaoshantun and invite the village secretary and the brigade leader to the county. Tell them I'd like to treat them to a casual dinner tonight and also talk about my second brother's matter."

Let's find a restaurant nearby. I saw there's a state-run restaurant near the hospital; it'll be convenient for them to go there when they arrive.

He paused for a moment, then continued, "I just heard from my second sister that you have a bicycle. It would be best if you could lend your bicycle to the two village officials so they can use it. That way, it would be more convenient for them to travel back and forth."

I'm so sorry I couldn't treat you to a meal after going to so much trouble for you. I'll definitely host a separate dinner another day to properly thank you.

Luo Xingbang agreed without hesitation: "That's easy! I'll go right now. The Party Secretary and the Brigade Leader should have just gotten home by now, they're probably resting at home." He turned and was about to leave.

"Wait a minute." Yang Guangming took out the unopened pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket and stuffed it into Luo Xingbang's hand. "Take this and smoke it on the way. Remember to offer a cigarette to the Party Secretary and the team leader when you see them."

Luo Xingbang declined a few times, but seeing Yang Guangming's firm attitude, he reluctantly accepted it and carefully put it into his inner pocket: "Don't worry, I will definitely pass on the message."

After saying that, he nodded to Yang Guangyao and quickly left the ward.

After Luo Xingbang left, Yang Guangming instructed his second sister, "Second sister, I'm going out for a bit, I'll be back soon. Please take good care of second brother."

Yang Xiangmei nodded repeatedly: "Go ahead and do your thing, I'll take care of things here."

Yang Guangming picked up the heavy travel bag and walked out of the hospital.

In a small county town in Northeast China in late autumn, it gets dark early. At only six o'clock, there are already few pedestrians on the street, with only a few figures hurrying along.

A cold wind blew in his face, and he instinctively tightened his collar. Following the direction he remembered from his journey, he headed towards the state-run restaurant.

A faded wooden sign hung at the entrance of the restaurant, with the six large characters "Workers' and Peasants' State-Owned Restaurant" painted in red. A layer of condensation covered the glass door, and figures could be vaguely seen moving inside.

Pushing open the door, I saw seven or eight square tables in the hall, almost all of which were occupied by people.

People were talking loudly, and the sounds of clinking bowls and chopsticks and cooking in the kitchen mingled together, creating a lively atmosphere.

A slightly plump waitress wearing a white apron was carrying plates and moving between tables. When she saw Yang Guangming come in, she only glanced at him and then went back to her work.

Yang Guangming looked around and noticed a small room partitioned off at the far end of the hall, which must be the so-called "private room." He walked straight to the counter.

A man in his fifties sat behind the counter, head down, fiddling with the beads on an abacus. Seeing someone arrive, he asked without looking up, "Eating? There are no empty tables right now, you'll have to wait a bit."

Yang Guangming calmly asked, "Comrade, I'd like to ask if the private rooms are still available?"

The man then looked up and sized up Yang Guangming. When he noticed that Yang Guangming was dressed in a respectable Zhongshan suit and had an extraordinary air about him, his tone softened: "Private rooms? Those are reserved for leaders and not for the public."

Yang Guangming calmly took out half a pound of White Rabbit milk candy from his travel bag and gently placed it on the counter: "Comrade, please do me a favor. I have some official business to discuss and need a quiet place. It'll only take the time it takes to eat a meal."

The man's eyes lit up when he saw the White Rabbit milk candy. White Rabbit milk candy was a rare commodity in this small county; even money couldn't buy it. He hesitated for a moment, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and quickly hid the candy under the counter.

"Well... since it's official business, I can make an exception this time." His attitude became noticeably warmer. "A private room is available. How long will you be using it?"

"About three hours," Yang Guangming said. "I'd like to order a few dishes in advance, so that the main dishes won't be all gone later."

"Sure!" the man readily agreed, taking out a handwritten menu from under the counter. "What would you like to order?"

Yang Guangming glanced at the menu and ordered four main dishes: braised pork belly, chicken stew with mushrooms, steamed white fish, and pork stew with vermicelli. He also ordered two bottles of local baijiu, along with some side dishes and staple food. The man clicked his tongue as he wrote down the order: "Comrade, your standards are quite high."

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "We can't be too stingy when entertaining important guests." He prepaid five yuan and the corresponding food coupons, "We might need to order more dishes later, so we'll refund any overpayment or charge any underpayment."

The man carefully put away the money, his face beaming with smiles. "Don't worry, I'll make sure everything is arranged properly for you. By the way, what's your surname? And how should I address you?"

"His surname is Yang, meaning sunshine."

"Comrade Yang, please go ahead with your work. When the guests arrive, I'll lead them directly to a private room. I'll arrange the dishes according to the time, and I'll make sure they're served hot."

After thanking him, Yang Guangming carried his travel bag into the private room. The room was simply furnished with a round table and a few chairs, but it was much quieter than the main hall outside.

After confirming that no one was around, he placed the travel bag on the chair, opened it, and reached inside to rummage around. With a thought, the previously cluttered contents of the bag were instantly stored in the refrigerator, while several carefully prepared gifts were taken out.

Two Jinhua hams wrapped in oil paper, each weighing seven or eight pounds; two one-pound packs of White Rabbit milk candy; two cans of milk powder; two two-pound packs of biscuits; two pounds of brown sugar; and two large pieces of braised beef.

These are extremely rare gifts these days, as they are both presentable and practical, without being too flashy.

He rearranged the gifts, zipped up the travel bag, and took out a pack of cookies from his storage space, carrying it separately in his hand.

After doing all this, he picked up his travel bag, walked out of the private room, and went to the counter.

"Comrade, I have some important things in this bag. Could I leave them with you for now? I'll pick them up after I finish eating." Yang Guangming said, pushing the bag of biscuits in front of the other person. "It's just a small token. You've worked hard on duty. Here are some biscuits to tide you over."

The middle-aged man's eyes lit up when he saw the cookies, and he nodded repeatedly: "No problem, no problem! Give me the bag, I guarantee it won't get lost!" He carefully took the travel bag and placed it in the safest spot under the counter.

Only then did Yang Guangming feel relieved enough to leave the restaurant and return to the hospital.

When Yang Xiangmei returned to the ward, she was pouring water for Yang Guangyao. Seeing her younger brother return, she quickly asked, "Is everything arranged?"

Yang Guangming nodded: "Everything's settled. We're just waiting for the Party Secretary and the team leader to arrive."

Yang Guangyao seemed a little nervous, his lips were dry, and he kept licking them: "Mingming, do you think they'll come? What if they don't give us the face..."

“They will come,” Yang Guangming said confidently. “Personally, I’m here on behalf of my family to handle matters; officially, I have a formal letter of introduction, so they’ll have to give me some face. Besides, most people won’t refuse an opportunity to have dinner and drinks.”

What he didn't say was that, more importantly, the other party might become curious about him, a "cadre from Shanghai," and want to test his credentials. That was exactly the effect he wanted.

As darkness fell completely, footsteps and voices finally came from outside the ward. The door was pushed open, and two people walked in.

The man walking in front was about sixty years old, thin and slightly hunched, with a face full of wrinkles, but his eyes were bright and piercing, revealing the shrewdness unique to farmers. He wore an old felt hat and a dark blue shirt, faded but neat and presentable. He was Sun Degui, the village secretary of Kaoshantun.

The man behind him was slightly younger, around fifty years old, tall and strong, with a square face, dark skin, and a habitually furrowed brow, making him appear very serious.

He was wearing a military green cotton-padded jacket and a hat; this was Captain Wang Jianjun.

Yang Guangming immediately stood up to greet her, and Yang Xiangmei also quickly stood up, looking somewhat flustered. Yang Guangyao tried to sit up, but Yang Guangming stopped him with a look.

"Secretary Sun, Captain Wang, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedules to come." Yang Guangming stepped forward, extended his hand, and spoke warmly yet tactfully.

Sun Degui squinted at Yang Guangming for a moment before extending his hand to shake his: "Comrade Yang, you're too kind. We should have come to visit Yao sooner after his accident, but we were too busy with team affairs to get away."

Wang Yuanjun shook hands firmly and spoke in a loud voice: "Yang Guangyao is an educated youth in our team. Of course we are concerned about what happened to him. It's just that I have some tasks assigned by my superiors recently and I really can't get away."

Yang Guangming keenly noticed that Wang Yuanjun's attitude seemed slightly indifferent.

He smiled calmly and said, "I understand, I understand. There are many things to do in the village, and the leaders are working the hardest. That's why I took the liberty of asking Comrade Xingbang to invite you two, thinking that I should thank you in person for taking care of my second brother these past few days."

As he spoke, he solemnly took out a letter of introduction from his inner pocket and handed it to Sun Degui with both hands: "This is my letter of introduction. Please take a look."

Sun Degui took the letter of introduction, took out his reading glasses from his pocket, put them on, and carefully examined them in the dim light.

Wang Yuanjun also came over to take a look. When they saw the words "Deputy Section Chief of Finance Department (Deputy Section Chief Level) of Shanghai Red Star Cotton Mill", the two exchanged a glance, and their attitudes clearly became more serious.

"I didn't expect Comrade Yang to become a deputy section chief at such a young age. He's truly a promising young man." Sun Degui handed back the letter of introduction, his tone now filled with genuine enthusiasm.

Wang Yuanjun nodded and said, "A big factory in Shanghai, that's impressive."

Yang Guangming smiled modestly: "You flatter me, leaders. It's all thanks to the organization's cultivation." He put away the letter of introduction. "I've already booked a simple meal at a nearby state-run restaurant. It'll be just the right time for us to eat and chat."

Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun declined a few times, but under Yang Guangming's insistence, they finally agreed.

Yang Guangming turned to Yang Xiangmei and instructed, "Second Sister, take good care of Second Brother. We'll be back after we finish our business."

Yang Xiangmei nodded repeatedly, her eyes filled with worry.

The three of them walked out of the hospital. The streets of the county town were very quiet under the cover of night, with only a few streetlights casting a dim yellow glow. A cold wind blew, swirling up fallen leaves and making a rustling sound.

Sun Degui shrank his neck and put his hands in his sleeves: "The weather in Northeast China gets cold so suddenly. It's only the end of October, but it feels like winter."

"Aren't people in the South still wearing only a single layer of clothing at this time of year?" Wang Yuanjun asked, his tone tinged with curiosity.

Yang Guangming nodded: "Indeed, it's only a bit cool in the mornings and evenings in Shanghai now, but it's still quite warm during the day." He changed the subject, "However, the cold in the Northeast has its advantages. You can freeze anything and preserve it, unlike in the South where things spoil easily."

“That makes sense,” Sun Degui agreed. “Although our winters are long, if we store some radishes and cabbages in cellars, we can eat them all winter.”

Amidst laughter and conversation, the three arrived at the state-run restaurant. It was past lunchtime, and the hall was much less crowded, with only two or three tables still occupied by people drinking and chatting.

The man behind the counter greeted Yang Ming as he entered, saying, "Comrade Yang, you've arrived. The private room is ready; this way, please." He was very enthusiastic.

Sun Degui and Wang Yuanjun exchanged a glance, clearly surprised that Yang Guangming was able to book a private room in such a place.

Upon entering the private room, four cold dishes were already laid out on the round table: peanuts, salted duck eggs, dried tofu, and braised pig's head. Two bottles of local baijiu (Chinese liquor) were also placed in the center.

(End of this chapter)