Chapter 247: Evened Out

Upon hearing Liu Haizhong's words, Liu Guangfu said with a resentful face:

"Every time I see Lin Shengli, I always greet him first."

"But he's unwilling to teach me martial arts."

"What can I do, then, as you say?"

Liu Haizhong let out a cold snort and said:

"You're just insincere!"

"I've told you before, Lin Shengli isn't an ordinary person, yet you won't listen."

"When you see him, you don't even smile—I really don't know what to say to you."

"You're all so disappointing."

Liu Guangfu: "Well, you're the Second Elder of the household—why don't you have him teach you martial arts?"

"If he won't teach you, doesn't that show you're just like us—unfavored by him?"

Upon hearing that, Liu Haizhong instantly raised his palm high.

How could he allow Liu Guangfu to speak about him like that?

He also wanted Lin Shengli to teach him martial arts, but Lin Shengli wouldn't give him the time of day.

Liu Guangfu said, looking glum: "At this point, you still want to hit me?"

"Go ahead, come on, hit me."

Liu Haizhong let out a long sigh, lowered his hand, pulled Liu Guangfu, and said:

"Go, go get that medicine pot back for me."

Liu Guangfu: "That one—my mom will be back soon; just have her get it."

Liu Haizhong pointed at Liu Guangfu and asked: "Xu Damao can handle that matter for me—can you?"

Liu Guangfu pursed his lips and said: "Well, does it absolutely have to be Xu Damao doing it?"

"Wouldn't asking Lin Shengli work?"

Liu Haizhong: "Then Lin Shengli would also have to agree to help."

"Right now, only Xu Damao can help me with this—you understand?"

"Honestly, how am I supposed to talk about you? You went and offended Xu Damao at this critical moment."

"If Xu Damao doesn't help me with this, I won't let you off the hook."

Having said that, Liu Haizhong walked out with his hands behind his back.

Qin Huairu's home.

Qin Huairu was still worried that Lin Shengli would cause trouble for Bang Geng.

Although Yi Zhonghai had already promised to help and ask Lin Shengli for assistance.

But she still couldn't relax.

Just thinking that Lin Shengli would look for trouble with Bang Geng made her start crying.

Jia Zhangshi sat opposite her, and just looking at her made her angry.

She's always bursting into tears, constantly wearing a dead‑pan face.

Qin Huairu was still crying, and Jia Zhangshi couldn't take it anymore:

"Enough, stop crying—your weeping is tearing me up inside; sigh, the more I think about it, the more frightened I get."

"How did Bang Geng just lash out at the Eldest Uncle like that?"

"Doesn't he know that behind the Eldest Uncle stands Lin Shengli, this devil?"

"Sigh, let's think of a solution—can you stop crying?"

Qin Huairu cried: "What else can we do? For now we can only keep it hidden from Lin Shengli."

"The Eldest Uncle also said we should keep it from him."

Jia Zhangshi: "But will those two rascals, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, help keep it secret?"

"What if Lin Shengli finds out—what then?"

Qin Huairu: "What else can we do? We'll just have to beg him."

"Besides, you've already sent Bang Geng out to lie low for a few days."

"There probably won't be any trouble."

Jia Zhangshi: "Then why are you still crying?"

Qin Huairu, unhappy: "I'm anxious and scared—you won't even let me cry?"

"Now there's another issue: the relationship between Shazhu and Bang Geng."

"If things go badly, Shazhu might stop helping our household from now on."

"Shazhu has always been especially sensitive about Bang Geng's and Xu Damao's relationship."

"He keeps saying he regrets letting Bang Geng live in that courtyard."

"Sigh, now it's really nice."

"Since they've come to blows, this knot will never be undone."

"If Shazhu's support disappears, our quality of life will surely decline."

"After finally getting life to improve a bit, now we have to go back to how it was before liberation."

Jia Zhangshi let out a long sigh and said:

"Who would say otherwise?"

"If Shazhu's support is truly gone, our quality of life will have to decline."

"Mainly, Shazhu has two rooms—if he bears a grudge against us, will he still leave the rooms to Bang Geng?"

"Sigh, just thinking, Bang Geng has grown up; it's time to find a partner."

"You see, the partner hasn't been found yet, but the house is already there."

"Working at the cinema again—what kind of daughter‑in‑law couldn't be taken in?"

"But, this, this—who could have thought such a thing would happen?"

"Ah, really."

"Why are there so many troubles?"

"It's truly maddening!"

Qin Huairu: "Shazhu is right; those close to vermilion turn red, those close to ink turn black."

"Anyone who spends a long time with Xu Damao ends up badly."

Jia Zhangshi nods in agreement:

"Exactly, this matter is bad because it's in Xu Damao's hands."

Qin Huairu: "Precisely."

Meanwhile.

Xudamingjia.

Xu Damao, while pouring tea for Liu Haizhong, says:

"Second Elder, can this matter be blamed on me?"

Liu Haizhong sighs, lifts his hand, waves it, and says:

"Not blaming, not blaming you."

"Only blame our third child for not knowing the rules."

Xu Damao: "But when Guangfu said that yesterday, my first reaction was that you still harbored a grudge."

Liu Haizhong waves his hand and says:

"Nothing, it's gone."

Xu Damao: "But, sigh, from the start I thought that the knot in our hearts should have been untied, right?"

"It was I who schemed behind the scenes back then and caused you to fall from your position."

"But you also knocked me down, didn't you?"

"So that settles it between us, right?"

Liu Haizhong snorts and says:

"No, why bring this up?"

"Don't bring this up, huh."

"We never had the destiny to be officials."

Xu Damao nods and says:

"Exactly, so I've long let it go."

"In that case, Second Elder, let's have two cups here later."

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong hurriedly stands, waves his hand, and says:

"No, no, no, let me tell you, I, I—my doctor said."

"My headache, this underlying illness—"

"Hasn't been diagnosed yet."

"Can't drink alcohol right now."

"We'll talk after it's diagnosed, okay."

Xu Damao nods, stands, and says:

"Alright then."

Liu Haizhong: "Then, then I'll leave first."

Xu Damao: "Very well, Second Elder, take your time."

Liu Haizhong walks a few steps toward the doorway, then suddenly stops, turns, and asks Xu Damao:

"By the way, Damao, about my matter…"

Xu Damao: "Oh, don't worry, I've already passed the message to you."

Liu Haizhong nods.

Xu Damao continues: "You've got it wrong; your son is a Level‑24 cadre."

"Cadres are all managed by the Organization Department."

"As for me, I went to look for the head of the local Organization Office."

"It's fine, quite good—a reasonable, understanding person."

"This, sigh, I only just learned."

"Back then, when we were at the factory, it was all chaotic."

"We always thought we were big cadres."

"In fact, none of it counted."