Chapter 2130

The living room instantly became quiet. Time ticked away bit by bit, and it was a good while before everyone shifted their gaze away from the teapot and the jade cabbage.

"Such a precious gift, I cannot accept it."

Cao Jingsong raised his hand and wiped his hair from front to back. He said the words, but his eyes never left the tea set.

"Right!" Deng Yuzhi said hurriedly: "This is too precious. Call Xiaoyi and tell her to come over tomorrow morning to pick it up and send it back to Andong."

Cao Mo shook his head: "Have you thought about why Andong gave you such a precious gift?"

Cao Jingsong and Deng Yuzhi didn't speak. Of course, they knew why, but this was just too precious.

"It's mainly because of your father's status; receiving such a precious gift is inappropriate." Deng Yuzhi said: "If it were sent by Xiaobei, your father and I wouldn't say anything, but we are still one layer removed from Andong."

Cao Mo disagreed and said: "But have you thought about the fact that if you send back something someone gave you, it will hurt their feelings too much?"

At this time, Hu Lan spoke: "Sending it back is definitely inappropriate. How about this: you keep it for now, and when Xiaobei and Xiaoyi get married, whether as a gift or a dowry, give it to them."

"This method works." Cao Mo nodded: "The best of both worlds."

Cao Jingsong and Deng Yuzhi looked at each other. They thought this was indeed the best solution and agreed.

"Actually, even if you keep it, no one can say anything." Hu Lan said with a smile: "Not to mention the relationship between our two families, even if Andong gives gifts, he wouldn't give them to my father, the Chairman of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles. What can you do for him? Ask you to write couplets or paint?"

Hearing her daughter-in-law's words, Deng Yuzhi giggled: "Xiaolan's words make a lot of sense. How many couplets would you have to write, and how many paintings would I have to paint to be worth the value of these two gifts?"

"Let's do that!" Cao Jingsong gave a wry smile: "I'll use the tea set for now to season the pot, and when Xiaoyi and Xiaobei get married, I'll give it to them."

Hu Lan checked the time and said to Cao Mo: "It's past ten o'clock; let's go back."

Cao Mo stood up: "Mom, Dad, we're leaving."

"Go ahead!" Cao Jingsong stood up and followed them to the door: "Xiaolan, during this period, pay more attention to the trends of your factory leaders, especially your factory director."

Hu Lan was stunned, then reacted: "I know!"

"Good if you know." Cao Jingsong sent his son and daughter-in-law out the door: "Drive slowly on the road."

"Dad, go back inside." Hu Lan turned back and waved her hand.

"Go!"

Watching his son and daughter-in-law disappear around the corner of the stairs, Cao Jingsong went back inside and closed the door.

Then he walked quickly to the sofa and sat down, impatiently picking up the teapot to look at it carefully.

Deng Yuzhi picked up the jade cabbage and turned to walk toward the bedroom: "I have to put this in a safe place. Don't let that girl Mingming see it; it would be troublesome if she dropped and broke it."

Cao Jingsong also picked up the tea set and walked toward the study: "You go to sleep first; I want to brew a pot of tea to drink."

Deng Yuzhi said irritably: "What time is it? You're still drinking tea; do you want to sleep or not?"

"I might not be able to sleep if I drink tea, but I definitely won't be able to sleep if I don't."

Cao Jingsong had already pushed open the study door, then turned and went to the kitchen; the pot and cups had to be washed thoroughly before they could be used.

The night grew deeper, but in this era without air conditioning and where even fans hadn't reached every household, the summer swelter made it impossible for many people to fall asleep even late at night.

At the entrance of an alley along the street in Xicheng, a group of old men gathered together, using the light from the streetlamp to play chess or cards.

"The weather today is too evil. It's almost eleven o'clock, and it's still so sweltering. I'm sweating just sitting here without moving."

"The weather forecast says there will be rain tomorrow. Looking at this sweltering heat, it should rain."

"Let it rain a bit; they say the crops in the countryside are almost dried to death."

"Speaking of drought, I can't help but think of the two years of famine."

"Yeah, we survived, but how many people didn't."

"Don't worry, the times are different. Even if such a drought happens again, people won't starve to death even if the crops fail completely."

"Indeed, the current emergency grain reserves are enough for the whole country to eat for three years."

"..."

They were chatting, and in the alley across the street, a small tavern still had its lights on, and there were quite a few customers.

In the tavern's only private room, Jiao Liwei, his father-in-law Zhang Qinghe, and Tong Yuancheng (Tong Huaiyu's cousin) were smoking and chatting, with three empty Wuliangye bottles on the floor beside them.

"Liwei, I'll give you six 'nots'!" Tong Yuancheng took a puff of his cigarette and flicked the ash into the empty bowl in front of him: "Do not participate, do not interfere, do not disturb, do not help, do not make decisions, do not speak."

Jiao Liwei frowned, carefully chewing over Tong Yuancheng's words.

"Alright!" Tong Yuancheng checked the time; it was almost twelve o'clock, and he stood up and said: "It's too late; I'm leaving."

Zhang Qinghe and Jiao Liwei hurriedly stood up, sent Tong Yuancheng out, watched him get into the car, and only turned back after the car drove out of the alley.

"Dad!" Jiao Liwei stubbed out his cigarette butt in the ashtray and then lit another one: "Does Director Tong mean that I should manage nothing and do nothing?"

Zhang Qinghe's face was flushed from drinking, and his eyes were bloodshot, but he was very energetic and showed no signs of drunkenness.

"Do not participate, do not interfere, do not disturb is aimed at Hu Dajun. Whatever he wants to do, let him do it. Do not help, do not make decisions, do not speak is aimed at Zhou Andong.

No matter how Zhou Andong struggles or fights with Hu Dajun, you just watch. If a vote is needed, you abstain. But there is one point: you must do your own work well.

In this way, no matter the result, no matter who wins or loses in the end, with me and Director Tong here, your interests can be maximized. Even if the higher-ups strike, they won't strike you."

Jiao Liwei nodded, a smile appearing on his face: "I understand, thank you, Dad."

Zhang Qinghe waved his hand and sighed inwardly. This son-in-law was smart, but he lacked a big-picture view. If he weren't there to steer the ship for him, it would be very difficult for him to move up.

"You must remember, you must do your own work well. You must not get involved in their struggle. Even if you are chatting in private, do not express your opinions.

Otherwise, once you get involved in their struggle, in your position, no matter who wins or loses, you will be the one who is unlucky. Even with me and Director Tong, it will be very difficult to fight for your interests."

Zhang Qinghe felt a bit thirsty, picked up the water cup beside him, took a sip, looked at his son-in-law, and finally said four words.

"Self-preservation!"