The Life of a Son-in-Law in a Courtyard House

Brother Tao, surnamed Hu, asked in surprise, "Da Linzi, do you mean you killed this tiger?"

Yang Dalin nodded first, then shook his head, trying to sound impressive: "Not entirely. Some were bought, and some I typed myself."

There are fewer and fewer tigers now.

"You're really amazing, I'm impressed, you're a tough guy."

Yang Dalin laughed and said, "It's not as amazing as you think. We have guns, and guns are the most powerful thing."

Alright, let's hurry back to school, it's getting dark soon.

I won't see you off; most of you are going that way anyway.

"Okay, goodbye then, boss."

"Goodbye, Brother Dalin."

Goodbye, Dalinzi.

"Okay, goodbye."

Come visit sometime.

Yang Dalin escorted them to the gate and waited until they were out of sight of the large group of bicycles before going home.

Today was good; I met several third- and fourth-generation bigwigs.

Yang Dalin also gave a lot of delicious food to the fifth-generation elementary school student.

I hope we'll have the chance to become good friends in the future.

Yang Dalin was very satisfied with today's big dinner party.

If I have the chance in the future, I should do it more often.

However, they may all be going to serve as officials in other places in the future.

In a few years, it will be harder to get together, as people will be scattered all over the country.

However, it's enough to lay a solid foundation in the next few years.

They don't yet have the right to believe that their friends are the most sincere at this time.

Because it doesn't involve any interests.

They just didn't expect that old silver coin Yang Dalin had thought so far ahead.

Aunt Qi didn't go to the temple fair in the afternoon.

When Yang Dalin and the others returned, the house had been almost completely cleaned up.

Yang Dalin then helped clean up the mess.

He was just getting ready to return to No. 95 Courtyard with his family.

Unexpectedly, when Yang Dalin arrived at Nanluoguxiang, he immediately noticed several people who looked like bodyguards standing in a dark corner.

However, they only observed and remained vigilant in secret, without showing any hostility.

As Yang Dalin and his family walked, they were quite a distance from the entrance of No. 95 Courtyard when Yang Dalin saw three cars and a jeep parked near the alley entrance.

Yang Dalin has good eyesight; from a distance, he spotted a driver smoking outside who looked like Minister Teng's personal driver.

Yang Dalin was not familiar with the other three drivers.

However, Yang Dalin recognized that jeep; it was Director Hou's official car.

Gao Xiaohu gave it to me, and I've ridden in it several times.

Why are Minister Teng and Director Hou here together so late at night?

Yang Dalin said to Aunt Qi, "Auntie, I'll go ahead first. The car at the alley entrance looks like the one belonging to a high-ranking leader from our unit."

Aunt Qi said, "Okay, then you should go and take a look right away."

Yang Dalin quickly ran a few steps and had just reached the entrance of the alley.

Minister Teng's driver, upon recognizing Yang Dalin, quickly greeted him: "Comrade Yang Dalin, the leader has arrived."

After he finished speaking, the driver knocked on the window on the car door.

As a result, four bigwigs got out of Minister Teng's car.

One was Minister Teng, Yang Dalin's highest direct superior in the Ministry of Railways.

One of them is Minister Duan, who is Yang Dalin's future minister. Yang Dalin had previously delivered tiger bone wine to his home.

Another one is Qi Desheng's father-in-law, Gong Xuemei's sister-in-law's father, the Deputy Minister of the First Ministry of Machinery Industry, who was originally a director and had just been promoted.

The other one is Director Hou.

Minister Teng extended his hand, and Yang Dalin quickly stepped forward and grasped the leader's hands with both of his.

Several secretaries of the leaders got out of the other cars, and Qi Desheng and his wife, Tian Xueyi and his wife, and others got out of another car.

Qi Desheng squeezed to the front and said, "Dalinzi, the leader is here today to help you propose marriage."

We're of the same generation, so it's not appropriate for your brother Tian and me to propose marriage for you. Today, your sister-in-law told my dad, who is also your Uncle Gong, and then our minister found out not long after.

Then Minister Duan and Director Hou found out and prepared to propose marriage on your behalf as elders.

It's almost the end of the year, and they're too busy with work during the day, so they have to come in the evenings.

It turned out to be the case.

Today's event is quite grand.

Niubi.

Two ministerial-level officials and two vice-ministerial-level officials worked together to propose marriage to him.

That's awesome.

Director Hou's department is technically at the bureau level, but he wields considerable power and enjoys the待遇 (treatment/benefits) of a vice-ministerial level official.

He can be considered a high-ranking official at the vice-ministerial level.

Yang Dalin quickly introduced her to Aunt Qi.

Aunt Qi had met Gong Xuemei's father.

Because Yang Dalin had rescued Vice Minister Gong's grandson from human traffickers.

At that time, Vice Minister Gong was still at the bureau-level.

Moreover, it was Vice Minister Gong who introduced him to Qi Desheng to work at the Ministry of Railways freight station.

Later, during holidays, Vice Minister Gong's son and daughter-in-law would visit Aunt Qi with their son.

Therefore, Aunt Qi still remembered Vice Minister Gong.

They were meeting the other three for the first time.

However, when Yang Dalin introduced Director Hou, Director Hou himself preemptively mentioned that he was also a director in the Ministry of Railways.

This way, Yang Dalin wouldn't need to make up lies.

Director Hou said he was also from the Ministry of Railways and knew Yang Dalin. If he could arrange for Yang Dalin to go on business trips, then that makes sense.

Aunt Qi quickly invited everyone into her home.

Several cars were parked at the entrance of the alley just now.

The neighbors in courtyard number 95 had no idea where these people came from.

After this group of people entered Aunt Qi's house together.

Good heavens! The neighbors who were preparing to eat and cook all came to watch the spectacle.

When everyone heard that it was when several leaders were proposing marriage on behalf of Yang Dalin, they were all surprised.

I was even more shocked.

Yan Bugui and Qin Huairu, in particular, were a little scared when they saw that these big leaders had guards and secretaries, and that they were there to support Yang Dalin.

Fortunately, I didn't provoke Yang Dalin.

It seems Yang Dalin is someone you really can't mess with.

Yang Dalin went inside and took out several large bags of candy, which he then had Ma San'er distribute to the neighbors.

After all, it's a joyous occasion.

Aunt Qi and Yang Dalin invited the several high-ranking leaders to sit down.

There are too many people and not enough chairs. Even if we borrow chairs, the room will be too crowded.

Fortunately, many people stayed standing.

As soon as Minister Teng entered the house, before Yang Dalin had even finished brewing the tea, he said to Aunt Qi, "Sister Qi, I'm sorry, we've been a bit busy during the day. We should have come during the day, but we both have to work tomorrow."

I could only come to Dalinzi's place during my off-get off work hours.

Please don't blame me.

Dalinzi is not only a good employee of our company, but also our junior.

We, a few old folks, are here to propose marriage on his behalf.

Please feel free to make any requests you may have.

This is an old tradition we learned from the elderly in our capital.

After saying this, Minister Teng instructed his secretary and driver to present the betrothal gifts.

In the old days, when people proposed marriage in Jiucheng, they would bring six or eight gifts.

Minister Teng immediately prepared eight gifts.

Cigarettes, alcohol, sugar, tea, pastries, noodles, fish, and meat.

If the minister is involved, then it must be high-end goods.

The cigarettes were Zhonghua brand; Minister Teng didn't get any special-supply cigarettes, as that would make him seem superior.

The liquor is high-end Fenjiu, not Moutai, and its soy sauce aroma isn't something many northerners like.

Everything else is high-end, and the noodles are dried noodles, symbolizing "longevity".

The fish is a carp, which symbolizes "abundance year after year".

The meat is from the hind leg of a pig, and is called "meat from leaving one's mother's home," symbolizing the woman leaving her mother's family.