Chapter 556: Dark Maneuvers in the Siheyuan

In the residential area of the Guanghua Fangzhichang, as soon as Zhang Baofang got home after work, her eldest brother Zhang Baoxing said, "Little sister, we're having dumplings today, go buy some meat!" After saying this, he handed over 10 yuan.

"We don't need this much," Zhang Baofang said.

"Buy some small cold dishes too," Zhang Baoxing added.

As soon as Zhang Baofang left the compound, she was followed by two "little brats."

She wandered around the market for a long time, buying chives, fennel, tomatoes, three jin of pork belly, and some cold dishes like braised pig ears, before walking home at a leisurely pace.

Liu Guangtian and Yan Jiefang followed her the whole way, watching as she entered the dormitory area.

The two of them found the gatekeeper and hurriedly handed him a pack of cigarettes.

Yan Jiefang asked, "Old man, what's the situation with the family of the woman who just went in? A friend of mine wants to marry her, but he doesn't know the details about her family, so he wanted me to come and find out."

The old man rolled his eyes and said, "This family is quite good. The eldest one is the Security Team captain at the Guanghua Fangzhichang, and he's a decent person. However, the five brothers are very close-knit, and all five of them dote on this younger sister. If the person you're talking about wants to bully her, he's going to suffer."

Yan Jiefang asked again, "Then what is this girl named Zhang Baofang like?"

The old man thought for a moment and said, "This girl has a bit of an arrogant temperament. To put it bluntly, she's always looking for something better, wanting to find a suitor from a Cadre family. She's good-looking, so there are quite a few people acting as matchmakers for her."

Yan Jiefang asked a few more questions before he and Liu Guangtian went to the Xueru Clothing Store to report the situation to Xiaomei.

After hearing the situation, Xiaomei found Xiaoli, who was also at the Xueru Clothing Store. She told Xiaoli everything, and when she reached the sad parts, she even shed tears.

"Sister Xiaoli, what should I do? I originally wanted to go talk to that Zhang Baofang and ask her to give up Xu Damao, but she has five fierce brothers; I can't afford to provoke her!"

Xiaoli thought for a moment and said, "Meimei, do you remember why we came to work at the Xueru Clothing Store?"

"Of course I remember. It was because Bolihua wanted to bully us, so we asked Boss Chen to help us stand up for ourselves, and in the end, it was He Yuzhu who dealt with those people," Xiaomei said.

"Could it be that He Yuzhu can't deal with Xu Damao?" Xiaoli said with ill intent.

"But how could Manager Chen help me?" Xiaomei said, feeling a bit insecure.

"Manager Xueru hates evil as much as she hates a personal enemy and can't stand seeing her employees get bullied. As long as you tell the truth, she will have a way to help you!" Xiaoli said.

"Really?"

Xiaoli nodded.

Near the end of the workday, Xiaomei knocked on the door of the manager's office.

"Come in!" Chen Xueru said.

Xiaomei entered the room and tearfully recounted her experience.

After listening, Chen Xueru cursed, "Xu Damao is truly not a good person; he's just a Chen Shimei. Don't worry, I'll handle this matter. If Xu Damao doesn't behave, I'll have Zhuzi fire him."

Xiaomei immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Chen Xueru.

Chen Xueru hurriedly helped her up.

When Liu Guangtian returned to the Siheyuan, he saw Liu Guangqi carefully wiping his Phoenix Brand Bicycle.

Liu Guangtian curled his lip: "Big brother, keep wiping, and you'll wipe the paint right off the bicycle."

Liu Guangqi smiled: "Lao Er, don't be jealous."

Liu Guangtian snorted: "If I wanted to buy one, I could afford it just the same."

Liu Guangqi nodded: "I certainly believe that. But why haven't you bought one?"

Liu Guangtian was suddenly speechless—his money, after all, came from improper sources and couldn't see the light of day.

Liu Guangqi suddenly asked: "Lao Er, is Xu Damao getting married?"

Liu Guangtian didn't react immediately and blurted out: "It's not certain yet; that object of his... Xiaomei might cause trouble!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Guangqi immediately ran into the room and pulled a toy Box Cannon Pistol out of his schoolbag—the one Liu Xiuzhen had given him. He waved it in front of Liu Guangtian: "Want it?"

Although Liu Guangtian was involved in petty theft and mischief, he hadn't fully grown up yet and still had no resistance to such toys.

While he said, "What's the point of this fake thing," his eyes kept darting toward it.

Liu Guangqi handed the pistol directly over: "It was originally for Lao San. As long as you tell me about Xu Damao, this toy is yours."

Liu Guangtian suddenly became alert: "Why are you asking about Xu Damao?"

Liu Guangqi didn't change his expression: "I ran into He Yuzhu today, and he asked me to help find out what that bad seed is up to."

Liu Guangtian became even more alert. He Yuzhu had always had connections with the Municipal Bureau; was he trying to investigate Xu Damao?

"Brother, is what you're saying true?"

Seeing Liu Guangtian looking a bit nervous, Liu Guangqi knew they hadn't been doing much good lately, so he comforted him: "Don't worry, He Yuzhu is just curious about Xu Damao. After all, they haven't seen each other in over two years."

Hearing Liu Guangqi say this, Liu Guangtian calmed down. He touched the toy gun, unable to put it down, and lowered his voice: "I'll tell you, but don't spread it around. Xu Damao has a lover named Xiaomei, and she had me and Yan Jiefang follow the object that Cui Shenzi introduced to Xu Damao. It looks like Xiaomei is going to make a move on that girl..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Guangqi felt his opportunity had come and continued to ask: "No wonder you two have been coming back so late these past two days. Where does that woman live?"

Liu Guangtian didn't think much of it and spilled everything like beans pouring from a bamboo tube.

Liu Guangqi pretended not to care as he warned: "You and Yan Jiefang should be careful; she has five brothers. If you get caught, you won't have a good time!"

Liu Guangtian laughed wickedly: "Brother, don't try to scare me; we haven't done anything..."

As soon as He Yuzhu got home, Chen Xueru told him about Xiaomei's situation.

He Yuzhu thought for a long time but didn't know where he could help Chen Xueru.

"Xueru, only if that Xiaomei you mentioned goes to the Red Star Rolling Mill to file a complaint can we deal with Xu Damao. I'll go talk to Zhao Yingzi, who is in charge of women's work at the factory union, and have her talk to Xu Damao."

Chen Xueru nodded.

The next day, Zhang Baoxing received an anonymous letter that detailed everything about Xu Damao's father being a traitor, as well as Xu Damao's grave robbing and imprisonment.

Zhang Baoxing immediately sent people to investigate Xu Damao.

After the investigation confirmed it was basically true, he called his five brothers together, explained the cause and effect of the matter, and then asked: "Brothers, someone has dared to ride on the Zhang family's neck and defecate; tell me, what should we do?"

The second brother, Zhang Baolong, said: "Eldest brother, we can't swallow this insult; we must break the matchmaker's legs. Also, we can't let Xu Damao off easy."

On the other side, at the Beifang Jungongchang.

He Yuzhu drove an extended heavy-duty truck to the entrance of the Military Factory and called Liu Xiaohua on the phone.

Liu Xiaohua trotted out to greet him, and after a strict inspection, the truck drove into the factory Warehouse.

Upon seeing the depth charges, torpedoes, radar, and other equipment loaded on the vehicle, Liu Xiaohua's eyes immediately lit up.

He said excitedly, "These are all the latest equipment from M Country! I really thank you so much this time!"

He Yuzhu waved his hand, "Why be so polite between us? Isn't it all so that our weaponry and equipment can take another big step forward?"

Liu Xiaohua then spoke about recent progress, "We have made great strides in linking anti-aircraft guns with computers; now the artillery fire can coordinate very well with the computers, and even if enemy planes fly to 15,000 meters, we are confident we can shoot them down."

He Yuzhu said earnestly, "I think we should start developing surface-to-air missiles. If I'm not mistaken, Su Guo has already developed them."

Liu Xiaohua nodded, "To tell you the truth, after Mr. Qian returned to the country, our nation has already specifically established a Rocket and Missile Research Institute."

"That's great!" He Yuzhu gripped Liu Xiaohua's hand tightly.

After getting off work, Xu Damao rode a new Phoenix Brand Bicycle quite smugly to go eat with Zhang Baofang.

Zhang Baoxing and his several younger brothers watched as Xu Damao carried Zhang Baofang away on the bike, and they quietly followed after them.