Siheyuan: Security Office of Wude

"It's okay. When I first took office, the guys in the security department were also overly polite. You get used to it after a while."

"How do you get used to it?"

"Either they get used to your identity and treat you normally, then you won't feel embarrassed. Or, you learn to ignore other people's attitudes. You don't care about other people's attitudes, so of course you won't feel embarrassed."

Zhu Qingan pursed his lips: "Then which type are you?"

"As for me, it's about half and half. Guys like Liu Neng and Fang Wei get along well with me, but most of the security guards are in awe of my position as director, so they are too polite and flattering."

Bai Wanli raised the lunch box in his hand which was as big as a small mountain and said, "As for this lunch box, I have already told the canteen that they don't need to treat me specially and just give me the normal amount. But my amount is still a little more than others no matter how normal it is. It's useless to say it."

"Later I thought about it, the people below me have a different stance than me. If a leader doesn't accept such a small gift, the people below will feel uneasy. Anyway, it's not a serious violation of the rules, so I'm too lazy to care."

Zhu Qingan nodded, looking like he had learned something.

The two of them finished their lunch quickly. Zhu Qingan went to wash their lunch boxes. When they returned to the office, Bai Wanli gave her a brown paper bag.

Zhu Qingan opened the bag, and a fresh mint scent hit her face. Zhu Qingan's sleepy head after dinner became much clearer.

"what is this?"

"Dried plums with a lot of mint added. People tend to feel tired and sleepy in the afternoon. Eat this to refresh yourself."

"Come to my office and get it when you're done. I have plenty of it."

Zhu Qingan's eyes were curved with laughter, and he was obviously very happy: "Wanli, you are so thoughtful, I will eat well"

"Remember, this stuff is for you to stay awake when you feel a little sleepy, not for you to stay awake when you are very tired or uncomfortable. You are a doctor, so don't just stare at me and take care of your health. You should also take care of yourself. If you feel uncomfortable, take a leave and go back to sleep. Do you understand?"

"Know it"

Zhu Qingan's voice was soft and tender, with a hint of coquettishness. Then she picked up a mint plum with her fingers and stuffed it into Bai Wanli's mouth, as if she was 'disdaining' his nagging.

Bai Wanli actually hopes that Zhu Qing'an can feed him mouth to mouth, but... he will teach him slowly after they get married.

"By the way, Wanli, I want to tell you something. Just now in the infirmary..."

At the end of the lunch break, before Zhu Qing'an was about to leave, she told Bai Wanli everything about Liu Guangqi.

Bai Wanli's eyes were cold as he said, "I originally thought that Liu Guangqi was the only smart person in the Liu family, at least he knew the current situation. I didn't expect that he was really like father, like son. He is just as crazy as Liu Haizhong in his desire to get ahead. Not only did he run into a snag in the Security Department, but he even dared to use my name to deceive you!"

"He came to the Security Department to look for you?"

"He has been here. He must have come to my place first. I just gave him a five-dollar gift to send him away."

"Send away? That sounds like talking about beggars."

Bai Wanli sneered: "Aren't they just beggars? It's just that beggars usually beg for food and a chance to survive, but they beg for a future and a chance to succeed."

"But no matter what you ask for, a beggar is a beggar. You can only wait for others to give you alms and cannot be picky. If you dare to use such means, Liu Guangqi's future will be ruined."

"You can deal with people as you like, and I won't stop you, but don't get angry and do something you shouldn't do, or else someone will catch you!"

"Don't worry, I'm going to get married soon. For your sake, I won't easily get angry and give others a chance to deal with me. Liu Haizhong went to Pigeon City to buy a lot of things for Liu Guangqi's wedding banquet. This is considered speculation and profiteering. He should be arrested. Today, I received another letter of complaint about the same thing."

"Originally, I was only going to arrest Liu Haizhong and punish the other members of the Liu family, but Liu Guangqi crossed the line and used means that he shouldn't have used. He should be prepared to have his hand chopped off. On Wednesday, I want this father and son to be completely disgraced."

It is reasonable and legal for the Security Department to arrest speculators. Zhu Qingan felt relieved when he saw that Bai Wanli would not use tricks.

At this time, Bai Wanli asked, "Qing'an, do you want to come with me on Wednesday to see what happens to the Liu family?"

Zhu Qingan smiled and said, "Why would I watch them? I don't care about anything about this family. If it weren't for that Liu Guangqi who wanted to talk nonsense in your name, I wouldn't bother to pay attention to him. I'd rather spend my time in the infirmary to see what's going on and eat some candied fruit."

"As long as you remember to consider our future, you don't have to tell me this."

"Okay, I'll take care of it myself then."

------

Liu Guangqi returned home in the evening. Liu Haizhong, who had asked for leave to go to Pigeon Market to exchange supplies, immediately asked, "How is it, Guangqi, did Director Bai agree?"

Liu Guangqi had always been loved and praised by Liu Haizhong at home. He had always heard comments like "Guangqi is really smart" and "Guangqi is the most capable" since he was a child. Therefore, Liu Guangqi was too embarrassed to say that he had been rejected by the Security Department and the Infirmary. He could only bring up the excuse Bai Wanli had given at that time.

"Director Bai said that the Security Department is busy recently and he can't spare the time, so he can't come on Sunday."

When Liu Haizhong heard this, he was disappointed. If it was his other two sons who failed to accomplish their tasks, Liu Haizhong would have beaten them with a belt long ago, but Liu Guangqi would not have to suffer this.

Zhu Xiuying was preparing dinner in the kitchen. Upon hearing this, she came out while wiping her hands and said, "Director Bai doesn't want to come? Old Liu, how about we change the date to Sunday?"

Seeing that Liu Haizhong seemed to be tempted, Liu Guangqi quickly interrupted, "That won't work, Mom. My father-in-law's friends have all been notified of their dates. They have to ask for leave to attend my wedding banquet on Wednesday. Wouldn't it be offensive to suddenly change the date? After all, Director Bai and I live in the same courtyard. We'll see each other every day. There's a chance to get along well with each other in the future."

Liu Guangqi saw Bai Wanli's attitude clearly. He knew that Bai Wanli was definitely unwilling to attend his wedding banquet. If he changed the date, his lie would be exposed, and he would lose face.

Chapter 125: The wedding day, the weathered Zhongshan suit

Fortunately, Liu Guangqi also has a certain say in the Liu family. Under his persuasion, Liu Haizhong gave up the idea of ​​changing the date to make sure Bai Wanli came to attend.

"Mother Guangqi, has the room in the middle courtyard been cleaned?"

"Of course I have cleaned the house. I cleaned the house as soon as I got up today. I used moxa leaves to fumigate the inside and outside, and I opened the doors and windows for a day for ventilation. Now the inside is spotless. We just need to move all the things in."

The house in the middle courtyard that the Liu family mentioned was the house where the Jia family originally lived.

After Jia Dongxu was fired, the house was taken back by the steel mill. Liu Guangqi applied to the steel mill housing management department and finally rented the house.

Of course, the actual process is not that easy.

Courtyard No. 95 has been the site of several criminals recently. The reputation of this courtyard has been greatly reduced, because people in this era are not willing to live with people with criminal records. Courtyard No. 95, which has produced several labor camp prisoners, is even more likely to be despised.

Most people would rather wait in line for other houses than move into this kind of labor camp.

But this courtyard has Bai Wanli, a meritorious leader, who has greatly improved the courtyard's overall reputation. Even if there are other disadvantages, being a neighbor to a powerful leader with a promising future is still very attractive.

In general, the grade of No. 95 Siheyuan is lower than that of normal cadres' courtyards, but higher than ordinary Siheyuans where ordinary people live.

For ordinary people and small leaders of lower status, it is still very attractive.

It was not so easy for Liu Guangqi to get the house in the Intermediate Court. He had to compete with others. In the end, Liu Haizhong paid 200 yuan to the Housing Management Department, which successfully got the Jia family's house and used it as Liu Guangqi's wedding house.

The house owned by Sha Zhu was bought by the street office. It has not yet been decided who it will be rented to. However, it is conceivable that the competition for this house must be quite fierce.

When Liu Haizhong heard that the house had been cleaned, he clapped his hands and said:

"Dinner won't be ready for a while, so let's move all the furniture over now. Guangqi, can you show me where to put the furniture?"

Liu Haizhong greeted Liu Guangqi, and then kicked Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu.

"What are you still standing there for?! Hurry up and move!"

Under the violence and tyranny of Liu Haizhong, the second and third sons of the Liu family could only hold back their anger and move the furniture they had bought and placed in the yard one by one to the house in the middle courtyard.

Liu Haizhong and Liu Guangqi did nothing but give orders.

Liu Haizhong likes to order his son around, which gives him a sense of satisfaction similar to being an official.

Liu Guangqi had grown accustomed to Liu Haizhong's beatings and orders of his two younger brothers, and he took it for granted. He did not think there was anything wrong with him ordering his two younger brothers to work with his hands behind his back.

The arrangement of the furniture had to be adjusted many times. It was very difficult for Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu to lift the wardrobe, sofa, coffee table and other large items. However, due to the violence of Liu Haizhong, they did not even dare to complain. They could only move the large items with sore waists and legs.

After several people tossed around in the middle courtyard for a full hour, Liu Guangqi was finally completely satisfied with the placement of all the furniture.

Liu Haizhong only cared about Liu Guangqi's opinion. If Liu Guangqi said he was satisfied, he would naturally be satisfied too. He walked over and patted Liu Guangqi on the shoulder and said, "Guangqi, when you are done, go back and wipe your sweat. Your mother has prepared dinner, so eat quickly. You are getting married soon, don't starve yourself."

"Okay, Dad"

The father and son were talking and laughing, looking like a loving father and a filial son, but neither of them even glanced at the unfortunate brothers Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu who were exhausted.

Liu Guangfu looked at the backs of Liu Haizhong and Liu Guangqi and said resentfully, "What a shitty job he did! Wasn't it all done by the two of us!"

Liu Guangtian said helplessly: "Hasn't it been like this for so many years? Who told us that we don't have jobs yet and can't separate and live on our own? Just bear with it for now."

In fact, having many sons is generally a good thing in this era. Although the burden of supporting a family is heavy, young men are strong and have an advantage in doing any lifting or moving work at home, or in going out to "talk physics" with people when something happens.

But it is really strange that the Liu family favors the eldest son and treats the remaining two sons like donkeys and beats them like sandbags.

Liu Guangfu clenched his fist and whispered, "Liu Guangqi! I wonder how long you can keep doing this!"

------

Others really didn't know how long Liu Guangqi could remain in the limelight. Soon it was Wednesday morning.

Bai Wanli hadn't even gotten up yet when he heard the Liu family making a commotion.

"Guangqi's mother! Hurry up, it's time to get up and wash up!"

"Old Liu, it's too early. The roosters haven't even crowed yet."

"Didn't we say that Guangqi is getting married today? We have to get up early to prepare. If anything goes wrong, we have time to correct it. Hurry up and get up!"

Liu Haizhong shouted, and although the Liu family was not very happy, they could only get up and go to the middle courtyard to wash up, yawning.

Liu Guangqi had no complaints. After all, today was his wedding banquet. After the ceremony, he would have a beautiful wife and become a leader with the help of his father-in-law's connections. He was very excited and woke up early in the morning without Liu Haizhong urging him.

After washing up in the middle courtyard, I finally sobered up a lot.

Liu Haizhong seemed to be more excited. He threw his toothbrush and towel away when he got home.

"Mother Guangqi, where is my Zhongshan suit? Didn't I ask you to find it for me?!"

"Didn't I take it out for you? It's on the chair next to the bed."

"Oh, I see, I see"

When Zhu Xiuying returned to the room with the towel, she saw Liu Haizhong struggling to put on the Zhongshan suit that was obviously too small.

Zhu Xiuying said helplessly: "Old Liu, you must wear this suit. Can you wear it now with your belly?"

"Today is Guangqi's wedding, and a leader is coming. How can I, as a father, lose face for him? Of course I have to dress decently. Come over here and help me hold my waist. I'll use all my strength!"

The head is empty in the bangs, so I like to use external things to highlight my dignity and majesty.

This Zhongshan suit is his most respectable clothing. He wore this suit when he got married.

But he was still very thin back then.

Now with the 200-pound body in Liu Haizhong's physique and the big belly that looks like she's pregnant, this set of clothes is really a big test and even torture.

Zhu Xiuying had no way to persuade Liu Haizhong, so she could only come over to help him hold the waistband of his pants. Liu Haizhong's fat face turned red, and he took a deep breath. Zhu Xiuying took advantage of the situation and slid up, finally stuffing Liu Haizhong's body into his pants.

The fabric of the pants made a creaking sound like a mast about to break. I wonder how long this weathered Zhongshan suit can last.