Siheyuan: I have a multi-dimensional chat group!

Thinking of this, Liu Guangtian looked at Xiao Shan and asked in a low voice, "Xiao Shan, is there any way to..."

"Guangtian, you'll have to figure that out yourself!" Xiao Shan said to Liu Guangtian with a smile.

Although he had a good relationship with Liu Guangtian, Xiao Shan was still very careful about his behavior in certain matters.

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangqi are brothers after all. If I give them advice now, and they reconcile in the future, I'll be caught in the middle!

Therefore, Xiaoshan will not help come up with such an idea.

"Grrrrrr!"

Just then, Liu Guangtian's stomach suddenly rumbled.

Xiao Shan smiled and said, "Guangtian, why don't you go and get a pair of bowls and chopsticks and eat something here?"

Liu Guangtian blushed, clutched his stomach, and said embarrassedly, "I'm so sorry..."

"Why are you being so polite with me? Go get the bowls and chopsticks!" Xiao Shan waved to Liu Guangtian, then picked up a piece of spicy chicken and put it in his mouth.

Looking at the spicy diced chicken and stewed chicken carcass on the table, Liu Guangtian didn't hesitate. He went straight to the kitchen, took out bowls and chopsticks, and sat down to eat with Xiao Shan.

While eating, Liu Guangtian remarked with emotion, "Xiaoshan, when it comes to living life in our compound, you're still the best!"

"Isn't the point of making money to spend it? Saving it up and starving yourself is foolish! In this life, all we need is food, clothing, shelter, and transportation." Xiao Shan said with a smile, "We can't change our shelter and transportation for now, so let's work on our food and clothing. I'm not particular about clothes, I just like to eat well."

"Xiaoshan, what you said is absolutely true." Liu Guangtian took a bite of his cornbread and nodded.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Liu Guangtian helped Xiao Shan clear the table: "Xiao Shan, if it weren't for a brother like you, I don't even know what kind of life I would have led!"

"We're always hungry and constantly getting beaten. What kind of life is this?!"

Xiao Shan looked at Liu Guangtian and said, "Guangtian, I'm not trying to criticize you, but you need to learn to fight back!"

"Of course, by resistance I don't mean you should beat up your dad. It means that when your dad hits you, if you're in the right, you should argue your point; if you're not, you should run away. Anyway, your dad can't catch you."

"If all else fails, go to the neighborhood committee, but don't use that unless it's absolutely necessary! But you can use it to threaten your dad. He desperately wants to be an official, and if the neighborhood committee gets involved, they'll definitely notify the steel mill. Then your dad's dream of becoming a leader will basically be over!"

"Of course, it's best to use this as a bargaining chip with your dad, rather than actually doing it. You have to find the right balance!"

Liu Guangtian's eyes lit up when he heard this. He immediately wanted to go to the neighborhood committee and have Director Wang give his father a good scolding.

However, considering that he still had to live at home, Liu Guangtian had to put the idea aside for the time being.

After helping Xiao Shan pack up all his things, Liu Guangtian went home.

For the next few days, Liu Guangtian kept thinking about how he could get his older brother to leave the house.

One day, when Liu Guangtian was helping a family move their belongings, he overheard them chatting.

It is said that every year, Beijing has a quota for supporting local areas. Any worker who signs up and performs well will be given priority for promotion.

Liu Guangtian instantly had an idea.

My older brother, Liu Guangqi, works in a branch factory of the steel rolling mill, grinding parts; it's really just odd jobs.

Aside from job stability, there's basically no future in the job market.

If I reveal this information to him, he will definitely be eager to go and support the local area, and then get priority for promotion!

And this trip will take at least four or five years.

In these four or five years, I might have saved enough money to move out!

Even if my older brother comes back, I can move out and avoid being my dad's punching bag every day!

During dinner that evening, Liu Guangtian casually remarked, "I heard some news today that those who respond to the policy to support local areas will not only receive a raise, but may also be promoted. As long as they perform well, they can become officials!"

"Dad, why don't you spend some money these next few days to find me a proper job? I'll go and help out in the local area. When I become an official in the future, you'll be proud of me."

As Liu Guangtian spoke, he secretly observed Liu Guangqi's expression.

When the topic of supporting local areas came up, Liu Guangqi did not respond.

But when he mentioned that he had the opportunity to become an official, Liu Guangqi's expression changed.

Upon hearing Liu Guangtian's words, Liu Haizhong instinctively retorted, "You little brat, you can't do anything right! What kind of official are you? Besides, your father isn't even an official yet. Do you think you're better than your father?"

Liu Guangtian explained with a smile, "Dad, it's different! You didn't become an official because the competition in the steel mill is fierce, it's a factory with tens of thousands of employees!"

"But if I go to a smaller place, the competition will naturally be less! Besides, I was transferred from Beijing, so I'm considered an active member of the team, making it easier for me to become a leader. Don't you think that makes sense?"

Liu Haizhong said with a stern face, "We'll talk about it later."

He didn't want Liu Guangtian to become an official.

The fact that his second son, whom he constantly berated for being useless, became an official while his eldest son, whom he cherished, didn't, doesn't that prove that Liu Haizhong is blind?

Liu Haizhong would never do something that would embarrass himself like that.

"You little brat, stay home and behave yourself! 'Supporting local areas'? You're barely out of your teens, the boss must be blind to have promoted you!" Liu Haizhong berated Liu Guangtian.

Chapter 127, Yi Zhonghai with His Lung Tube Pierced! (Please Subscribe!)

Watching Liu Guangtian being berated by Liu Haizhong, Liu Guangqi kept the matter Liu Guangtian had mentioned in mind.

As Liu Haizhong's eldest son, Liu Guangqi was quite interested in becoming an official.

Moreover, there were basically no opportunities for advancement at his current workplace, and Liu Guangqi had long wanted to switch to a more promising job.

Now that such an opportunity is presented to him, Liu Guangqi is naturally unwilling to miss it.

However, Liu Guangqi dared not tell his father about this, because he knew his father would definitely not agree.

Although Liu Guangtian, who was being scolded, was meek and submissive, he knew in his heart that the matter was almost settled.

He knew his older brother well; given such an opportunity, his brother would definitely not let it slip by.

Even if the chances of promotion are slim, people always have a bit of wishful thinking.

I feel that many things that others can't do, I can do myself.

Over the next few days, Liu Guangqi secretly inquired about the matter.

Then he discovered that the information his brother had given him was indeed true.

As long as you apply for local support, you will receive subsidies, and those who perform exceptionally well will be given priority for promotion.

Seeing these conditions, Liu Guangqi was tempted.

So he secretly signed up at the factory without telling Liu Haizhong.

We'll all depart together on the first of next month.

Liu Guangqi ran into Xiao Shan on his way home from get off work.

Looking at Liu Guangqi's radiant face, Xiao Shan asked with some curiosity, "What's the good news, Guangqi?"

"Xiao Shan, you don't even call me 'brother' anymore! You and Guang Tian are still good friends." Liu Guangqi said to Xiao Shan with a smile.

Xiao Shan smiled and said, "We're all neighbors, calling me 'brother' is too formal!"

Hearing Xiao Shan's words, Liu Guangqi was a little stunned.

Calling me "brother" is too formal, but calling me by my name is perfectly acceptable. What kind of culture is this?

Looking at the somewhat bewildered Liu Guangqi, Xiao Shan continued to ask, "They say that people are in high spirits when they have good news. What good news do you have? You look so happy."

"I'm just in a good mood, nothing special!" Liu Guangqi waved his hand and went straight home.

Seeing Liu Guangqi return home, Xiao Shan didn't take the matter to heart and also went back to his own room.

Liu Guangqi's performance was naturally noticed by Liu Guangtian.

Liu Guangtian knew that his plan had likely succeeded.

However, since he didn't know the specifics of the situation, Liu Guangtian didn't act rashly.

Time quickly passed to the end of April in 1960.

That evening, Xiao Shan was cultivating at home when a huge roar echoed from the backyard.

"You little brat, you dare sign up to support the local area behind my back? I'll beat you to death, you little brat! All those years of spoiling you were for nothing!"

Upon hearing this voice, Xiao Shan was momentarily stunned.

However, based on the plot of the Siheyuan he had watched, Xiao Shan quickly realized that Liu Haizhong was probably angry because Liu Guangqi went to support the local area.

"But why would Liu Guangqi suddenly go to support the local area?" Xiao Shan couldn't help but wonder to himself. "Could it be that Liu Guangqi was so happy that day because he signed up to support the local area?"

Out of curiosity, Xiao Shan came out of the house.

By this time, a large crowd had gathered in front of Liu Haizhong's house.

Everyone was used to Liu Haizhong beating Liu Guangtian.

Today they actually started beating up the boss, Liu Guangqi, which piqued everyone's curiosity.

Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui were also drawn by the commotion.

Standing at the Liu family's door, Yi Zhonghai asked Liu Haizhong inside, "Old Liu, what's wrong? Did Guangtian make you angry again?"

At this moment, Liu Guangtian, who was standing inside the house, said irritably, "Uncle, you have no right to speak if you don't understand. You are the oldest man in the courtyard, surely you understand this basic principle!"

Liu Guangtian has learned bad habits from Xiao Shan; he's got a whole repertoire of insults now.

Upon hearing Liu Guangtian's words, Yi Zhonghai's face immediately darkened.

Seeing Yi Zhonghai get rebuked, Yan Bugui quickly came to the rescue, saying, "Guangtian, your uncle misspoke. What exactly happened today?"

"I don't know," Liu Guangtian shook his head.

He dared not say that; his father was furious, and if he said anything out of line, he might get a beating from his father.

"Uncle, Uncle, it was Guangqi who provoked Uncle. We've been listening to this for ages," a neighbor who had come to watch the commotion said to Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui.

Liu Haizhong knew there was no point in hiding it, so he angrily said, "That brat Guangqi signed up to go and support the local area. He's leaving the day after tomorrow to go to a county town below Shicheng!"

"Can you believe there are such disobedient children? They even kept it from me! The list has already been submitted, and there's no going back now! Everything's been arranged in Shicheng; it'll take at least five years."

Upon hearing Liu Haizhong's words, Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui were dumbfounded!

Unexpectedly, Liu Guangqi has made such a huge mess.

Yi Zhonghai looked at Liu Guangqi, who was avoiding Liu Haizhong, and said, "Guangqi, this is wrong of you! Did you know how hard it was for your father to raise you? Now you're separated from your father before you've even fulfilled your filial duty. What will happen when your father gets old?"

“Uncle, there are subsidies for supporting local areas, and it’s easy to get promoted to a leadership position. In a few years, when I become a leader, I’ll bring my dad over to live with me and enjoy the good life.” Liu Guangqi said to Yi Zhonghai, “Or we can find a way to transfer him back so that my dad can also have a moment of glory, after all, his son is an official.”

After hearing Liu Guangqi's idea, Yi Zhonghai felt that it didn't seem to make no mistake.

So he said to Liu Haizhong, "Old Liu, Guangqi's idea is very good! After all, the child has grown up and has his own ideas, so we, as elders, should support him!"

“Old Yi, you don’t have children, so you don’t understand what parents think,” Liu Haizhong retorted on the spot.

As soon as Liu Haizhong said this, many people present couldn't help but laugh.

Liu Haizhong has hit Yi Zhonghai right where it hurts!

Yi Zhonghai's face immediately darkened: "Your family's affairs are your own business, so you can handle them yourselves!"

After saying that, Yi Zhonghai turned and left.

Watching Yi Zhonghai leave, Yan Bugui said to Liu Haizhong, "Old Liu, what's done is done, getting angry won't help. Give Guangqi a few words of advice, it'll be more effective than scolding him. Once Guangqi goes to Shicheng, you won't be able to find him to give you any more advice!"

After Yan Bugui finished speaking, he left, not wanting to be criticized by Liu Haizhong.

After the two old men had ruined things, Liu Haizhong's pent-up anger had finally dissipated.

So he said to the onlookers outside the door, "Alright, everyone go back to sleep!"

With that, Liu Haizhong closed the door.

Seeing that there was no more juicy gossip to be had, the onlookers went home.

Xiao Shan naturally followed the crowd and returned home.

Chapter 128, So exciting! So exciting! This is quite a show! (Please subscribe!)

Seeing that the onlookers were gradually leaving, Liu Haizhong said to Liu Guangqi, "Let's talk about this tomorrow! You're not leaving until the day after tomorrow anyway. If you can't convince me, I won't let you go even if I break your legs!"

The next morning, Liu Guangtian went to Xiaoshan's home early.

Then he shared his joy at having made his plans come true with Xiaoshan.

After listening to Liu Guangtian's sharing, Xiao Shan finally understood the whole story: "Guangtian, I didn't realize you'd become so capable lately!"