Chapter 424: The He Family is Adding a New Member

"No matter how capable He Yuzhu is, can you guarantee he will always be of use to us? I can promise you, if you can get him to come to the bureau and sit at his desk on time every day, I will voluntarily give up this Deputy Bureau Chief position to him," Deputy Bureau Chief Zuo said in a deep voice.

Tian Dan was silent for a moment, then shook her head lightly: "You are right; I truly don't have the ability to make him work here full-time. Those words just now... were merely a moment of impulse. I will obey the organization's decision. If there is nothing else, I will head back first."

In the end, the First Division led by Tian Dan was awarded a Collective First Class Merit for their great success in capturing the I-Kuan Tao.

Inside Quanjude Restaurant, Zhou Hao brought the remaining fifteen veteran team members to hold a victory banquet, celebrating this hard-won honor.

Zhou Hao was the first to raise his glass and said loudly: "This first glass, I toast everyone! Without everyone risking life and limb, there would be no glory for us today!"

The crowd responded in unison and drained their glasses in one gulp.

Deputy Captain Zhao Xu stood up immediately after, raised his glass, and his voice dropped a few notches: "This glass, I toast Sun San, Liu Liang, Ma Kui, and Sun Tieshan!" As his voice fell, he slowly poured the wine from his glass onto the floor.

Watching his actions, a trace of displeasure flashed through Zhou Hao's heart—he was the captain, and this toast to commemorate the fallen comrades should have been led by him. But he had been too busy enjoying himself just now and had actually forgotten this, allowing Zhao Xu to take the lead.

At this moment, Chen Jian leaned in, his face full of smiles as he raised his glass: "Deputy Department Chief Zhou, I toast you! From now on, I'll have to ask you to look after us brothers!"

"Why be so polite! We are all brothers; as long as I, Zhou Hao, have a bite to eat, none of you will go hungry!" Zhou Hao said, tilting his head back to finish the wine in his glass.

Immediately after, everyone took turns coming forward to toast Zhou Hao.

An hour passed, and Zhou Hao was already somewhat drunk.

He raised his glass with a flushed face and slurred his words as he laughed: "Come on, everyone, let's have another! I am truly fucking happy today! It's not because I was promoted to Deputy Department Chief, but because that special merit award Tian Dan submitted for He Yuzhu was shot down by the bureau..."

Chen Jian hurriedly chimed in, his tone full of sourness: "Before you came, almost everything in our First Division was decided by He Yuzhu. Every time we had an operation, he would go in first, catch the people, and then let us in... None of us had a chance to earn merit! Why do you think Section Chief Tian values him so much? Why does she look down on me? I don't look any worse than him!"

The crowd burst into uproarious laughter.

Lan Yong, who was sitting to the side, put down his chopsticks and spoke slowly: "I heard from the old-timers in the bureau that at the end of 1948, Section Chief Tian and her father were ordered to come to Beiping to participate in peace talks, but they were targeted by the Secret Service Bureau. The father and daughter nearly lost their lives, and it was He Yuzhu who risked his life to save them. Since then, their relationship has been unusual. Take this investigation into the I-Kuan Tao, for example; while Section Chief Tian had our Third Division conduct a sweep, she also gave the documents to He Yuzhu, letting him investigate privately. Who would have thought... he actually managed to find the key clues. I don't know if this guy is truly capable or just lucky."

Zhou Hao sneered, his tone filthy and mean: "Bullshit luck. In my opinion, Section Chief Tian found the case and deliberately gave the credit to that kid! As I see it, Section Chief Tian is craving that kid's body! She's already thirty and isn't married; how could she not be lonely and desperate?"

Once these words were out, the whole table erupted into even more unbridled laughter.

Hearing this, Zhao Xu frowned tightly, feeling very displeased, and immediately said in a deep voice: "I think everyone has had enough to drink and is speaking without any restraint. Let's break it up."

As his voice fell, the noisy table instantly went quiet.

Zhou Hao curled his lips and said nothing more. He knew clearly in his heart that if it weren't for his connections, the one in the First Division who should have been promoted was the hardworking and meritorious Zhao Xu.

Meanwhile, in Paizi Hutong, He Yuzhu personally prepared a sumptuous table of food and wine to host Tian Dan.

Tian Dan raised her glass, her tone full of apology: "Zhuzi, this operation... I really feel sorry for you. The clues were provided by Wan Ning, and you personally captured Sun Suzhen and Sun Daoyan. This special merit should have been yours, but the bureau insisted on suppressing it..."

He Yuzhu shook his head with a smile: "Dan, I told you when you submitted the merit report that this wouldn't work, but you insisted. I'm not part of your system; by pushing me up so hard, aren't you just slapping others in the face? Someone as perceptive as you, how could you not understand this simple logic?"

Tian Dan looked at him and shook her head lightly: "I just feel that this is too unfair to you."

He Yuzhu took a sip of wine, his tone indifferent: "Dan, I don't care about these empty titles. The only reason I'm willing to help the Police Bureau is because you're there. The day you're no longer there, I'll turn around and leave immediately."

Hearing this, Tian Dan nodded silently.

He Yuzhu added: "Zhou Hao has been promoted to Deputy Department Chief; he will surely cause you trouble in the future. Don't come to Paizi Hutong anymore; if you have something, contact me directly, and I will contact Lin Wanning."

"I understand." Tian Dan tilted her head back and finished the wine in her glass, then stood up. "I still have official business to attend to, so I'll be going first."

He Yuzhu didn't linger at Lin Wanning's place either and headed straight back to the 95 Siheyuan.

Just as he walked into the Zhongyuan, he saw quite a few people gathered at his door, each holding a popsicle and eating happily.

He Yuzhu knew that these popsicles were made by He Yushui and a few little girls, but he didn't understand why everyone was gathered at his door.

He squeezed into the room quickly and saw the First Aunt, Second Aunt, and Third Aunt sitting around Shen Guizhi, all talking excitedly.

He Yushui was jumping around the room with Xiaomi, Dahua, and Xiaoqi, looking as if there were some great joyous event.

"Mother, what happened at home? Why are there so many people gathered at the door?" He Yuzhu hurriedly stepped forward to ask.

Before Shen Guizhi could speak, Third Aunt Yang Ruihua chimed in first: "Zhuzi! Your mother is pregnant! She's going to give you a little brother! Now there's someone to split the family property with you!"

He Yuzhu secretly admired her; the Yan family really never forgot to stir up trouble wherever they went.

He turned to look at Shen Guizhi, his tone concerned: "Really? Mother, how many months have you been pregnant? Why didn't you tell me sooner..."

Shen Guizhi sighed lightly: "The neighborhood conditions are better now, and Director Wang organized a physical examination for unemployed women over thirty. It was only after the check that I found out I was pregnant."

He Yuzhu nodded and said: "This is a huge piece of good news! However, your plan to return to your hometown will probably have to be delayed."

Shen Guizhi gently stroked her lower abdomen, a trace of worry between her brows: "I'm already forty years old. Can I still give birth smoothly at this age? My heart is always a bit uneasy."

"Mother, don't worry!" He Yuzhu hurriedly comforted her: "I know a divine doctor at the Beijing Hospital. When the time comes, I'll invite him over to take a good look at you, and I guarantee it will be fine. Actually, you've met this person before; he's the Old Beggar from my father's regiment."

Shen Guizhi looked up at him and said softly: "He's working at the Beijing Hospital? I heard your father say his medical skills are excellent, but he injured his nerves and can't perform acupuncture himself, so he has to let Sanya do it for him. Actually, it would also be fine if you invited the doctor who treated the First Aunt before."

How could He Yuzhu not understand his mother's thoughts? He immediately smiled and said: "Both are fine. When the time comes, we'll invite whoever is convenient."

Hearing this, a relieved smile finally appeared on Shen Guizhi's face.

As they were talking, the people from the Rolling Mill finished their shifts and returned to the courtyard one after another, and the Siheyuan gradually became lively again.

As soon as He Daqing stepped into the house and heard that Shen Guizhi was pregnant, he was so happy he couldn't close his mouth, muttering incessantly: "I really didn't expect this! Heaven is truly looking after me! At this age, I can still have another child. Now that life at home is better, let alone adding one, even if we add two, we can afford to raise them!"

He Yuzhu smiled and replied: "I'm actually hoping for a little sister."

Upon hearing this, He Yushui immediately ran down the stairs and nodded like a chick pecking at rice: "I want a little sister too! A little brother is no fun at all! Liu Guangfu is so annoying; he always snatches Xiaomi's things!"