In 1959, what's wrong with me pedaling a tricycle?

Wang Xingguo followed them into the conference room, but the leader inside was a middle-aged man he didn't recognize.

Director Ma introduced, "Xingguo, this is Chief Li Enze, the Director of the Cadre Department."

Wang Xingguo quickly saluted and shouted "Greetings, Commander!" in a loud voice. He knew that the head of the cadre department was a commander at the division level, so saluting was the most appropriate choice.

Li Enze returned the greeting, then gestured, "Comrade Wang Xingguo, please sit down."

After Wang Xingguo sat down, he stood up straight, placed his hands on his lap, and looked directly at the leader.

His gaze was extremely sharp, as if he wanted to see through Wang Xingguo's body. Wang Xingguo felt very uncomfortable under his gaze, which not only scrutinized him but also seemed to contain a hint of dissatisfaction.

Wang Xingguo wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he had a feeling that this person wanted to beat him up...

Li Enze explained calmly, "Comrade Wang Xingguo, the organization sent me here to talk to you. Don't feel guilty. The organization trusts you, which is why they sent me to talk to you..."

………………

The conversation wasn't complicated. Director Li Enze came here to ask Wang Xingguo if he had any plans to go to another place to be in charge of protecting a confidential unit.

After careful consideration, Wang Xingguo said that although he was determined to complete the mission, he could not put down his current work. As long as Malan Town did not receive material support, he could not concentrate on doing other work.

He dared not say that he couldn't bear to leave his wife and children and didn't want to work in another city, because if he did, it would cause him a lot of trouble.

Li Enze only came to have a talk; he didn't give him any direct orders.

Wang Xingguo was unaware of what he had missed. In fact, the organization wanted to transfer him to the Gansu Machinery Factory in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, also known as Factory 504, to work in the security department.

This was a great trust in him, because working at Factory 504 was a very important job!

Simply put, it's something used to turn yellowcake into mushrooms. Currently, the equipment is still being installed and tested there, so we need to organize trustworthy comrades to be in charge of security work there.

Li Enze was very disappointed with Wang Xingguo's choice, because Wang Xingguo's reliability had been proven, so he hoped that Wang Xingguo could bravely accept this important task.

Wang Xingguo doesn't know what he missed, but even if he did, he probably wouldn't have any regrets.

His current job is just as important, and he really doesn't want to go for years or even longer without seeing his son.

After leaving the oil transportation depot, Wang Xingguo rode his bicycle home.

Li Enze then called his former boss to report the outcome of the conversation.

The former leader was silent for a moment, then said into the phone, "Respect his choice. I don't want to emphasize that he's going to work in another city."

Li Enze asked calmly, "Sir, but Comrade Wang Xingguo is the most reliable. If we don't transfer him, what do you think the other leaders will think?"

The old leader chuckled and said, "That rascal isn't that reliable. He's fearless and doesn't really fit the security work. How about this, let's send Xiao Liu there. Xiao Liu is a reliable comrade, and one of my favorites. If I send him, no one can say anything, right?"

Li Enze sighed into the phone, "Sigh, I understand. But there's something I want to say. His eyes and nose do look a lot like Sister Yongzhen's, but he doesn't have Sister Yongzhen's courage. He'll never be as good as Sister Yongzhen. I think it's better to throw him into the army. I'm very disappointed in him because of his weak personality."

The old leader didn't say anything. He hung up the phone and then sighed deeply.

Li Enze was the son of his comrade-in-arms, who had fallen during the War of Resistance against Japan. He regarded Wang Yongzhen as his sister, so it was normal for him to be dissatisfied with Wang Xingguo.

He felt that Wang Xingguo's actions were unworthy of his status as Wang Yongzhen's nephew because he regarded Wang Yongzhen as his hero, and therefore could not accept Wang Xingguo's "lack of ambition".

Nobody knows that the person who most wants to send Wang Xingguo into the army right now is not him, nor Li Zhong, but Li Enze, who is unhappy with Wang Xingguo!

After Wang Xingguo returned to the compound, Old Chen from the security department pulled him aside and whispered in his ear, "Director Wang, recently many people have come to inquire about your affairs. They are all leaders from higher-level departments, and there's nothing we can do."

Wang Xingguo recalled their conversation earlier that day and nodded, saying, "It's nothing, just routine. Just answer truthfully whatever they ask. Of course, don't gossip about procuring supplies, or we'll all be in trouble."

Old Chen nodded and said, "Director Wang, don't worry, we wouldn't dare say anything out of line and we won't cause you any trouble."

Wang Xingguo nodded and continued riding his bicycle home.

Wang Xingguo felt sorry for his bicycle; it always ended up gathering dust in the warehouse whenever he went on a business trip. He regretted not getting himself a bicycle in the first place.

He needs a bicycle to commute to and from work, but once he gets there, his wife won't have a bicycle to use.

This woman loves to go to the big market to buy groceries; I wonder if she takes the bus every day.

Unfortunately, he guessed wrong!

Li Xiuping, carrying a shoulder bag full of things and holding a child's hand in each hand, had just gotten off the tricycle and paid two cents for the fare before returning home.

The two little ones were tired from walking today. They can only walk for half an hour before getting tired, but Li Xiuping led them around for a long time, which made them both cry from exhaustion.

When Li Xiuping returned home and saw the door open and the bicycle parked against the wall, she exclaimed happily, "Son, your father is home!"

Wang Jianhua just wanted to sleep. After hearing Li Xiuping's words, he was a little confused and asked with a question in his mind, "Dad?"

But he quickly remembered and happily said, "Dad~"

He scooped up his son, who was clumsily running towards him, kissed his cheek, and asked happily, "Son, where did you go with your mom?"

Li Xiuping led Wang Cheng'an in, cheerfully saying, "Honey, why are you home so early today?"

Wang Xingguo quickly put his son down and helped her put down her handbag. He also explained, "I didn't waste any time on the way here, so I got back to Beijing at nine o'clock this morning, finished the handover of my work, took a bath and scrubbed myself, and then rushed back."

Li Xiuping said happily, "Honey, my sister-in-law gave birth to a son. Today, my younger brother and sister went back to our hometown with Uncle Yongchang and the others. Someone from our hometown sent word that a fishpond was being built in the village today, and they asked some of our relatives in the city to go back and bring some fish back to add to everyone's meal. Uncle Yongchang said that some fruit is ripe now, so he coaxed my younger brother and sister back to our hometown to play."

Wang Xingguo nodded and smiled, "That's alright. Uncle Yongchang is usually quite reliable. It's fine for my sister and the others to go and have some fun. There's definitely plenty of fruit available at this time. Did you send the eggs and squeeze through the crowd, brother?"