Chapter 204: Gratitude

"Ping'an, you, your wife, and Yingnan are all good friends. I can understand your actions. Never mind, if you need any help in the future, just come find me."

Mu Santai knew Zhang Ping'an's attitude and did not stay any longer; the father and son left gifts and their home address before leaving.

The Mu family's gifts were truly not light; there were malted milk extract, pastries, candies, canned goods, and everything else.

At noon, Liu Guangtian returned. His mother told him about the Mu family coming to express their gratitude and gave him the envelope.

"They asked me to give this to you, saying it contains what you need most."

Liu Guangtian opened the envelope with trembling hands; inside was the very Public Security recruitment form he had dreamed of.

"Mother, from now on, Lao Liu will be under my jurisdiction."

"..."

"Has this child lost his mind? Your father not beating you is already being lenient; you still want to manage your father?"

Liu Guangtian did not care about anything else; he took his identification and went to the Police Station to complete the recruitment procedures.

"Comrade Liu Guangqi, this is your summer Uniform, along with your Tea Mug, lunch box, and other items. Go home and pack up, then come back tomorrow for a one-month training session."

"Alright, thank you."

In the evening, Liu Guangqi appeared at the entrance of the Siheyuan wearing a white and navy blue Public Security Uniform.

"Comrade Public Security, who are you looking for?" Because Liu Guangqi's cap brim was pulled very low, Yang Ruihua did not recognize him for a moment.

"Ahem, Aunt Yang, it's me."

"Oh my goodness? Guangtian?"

"It's me."

"How did you become a Public Security officer? Cuihua, Cuihua! Your Guangtian has become a Public Security officer!" Yang Ruihua let out a loud cry, and everyone in the Siheyuan who was at home came out to watch the excitement.

"It really is Guangtian. I've felt this child had potential since he was small."

"Who's to say otherwise? Guangtian has been lively since he was a child; he's exactly the material for a Public Security officer."

"Yes, yes, indeed."

"Guangtian, what is going on with you?" Liu Guangtian's mother could hardly believe it; she reached out as if to touch the Uniform, but did not dare.

"Mother, I've become a Public Security officer. I have to go for training for a month starting tomorrow. Hurry and help me pack my clothes."

"Oh, oh, okay."

At this moment at the Siheyuan entrance, the main group from the Rolling Mill was getting off work.

"Why is there no one in the Front Courtyard?"

"That's right, usually there would be plenty of people here gossiping at this time."

Everyone walked into the Middle Courtyard and only then discovered that everyone was gathered in the Back Courtyard, talking in twos and threes.

"Lao Liu, I used to think you were wrong for beating your children. Now I know your vision is profound; it was my perspective that was small."

"What do you mean?" Liu Haizhong was completely baffled by the praise.

"Go home and see for yourself, and you'll know."

The others were also curious and followed Liu Haizhong to the Back Courtyard, only to see a Public Security officer with their back to them, speaking with great animation.

"Lao Liu is here."

"Guangtian, your father is back."

Liu Guangtian turned around and saw his father's pupils dilate slightly in shock, feeling immensely proud in his heart.

"Ahem, so Lao Liu has returned."

"..."

Liu Haizhong was brought back to his senses by this "Lao Liu." His hand uncontrollably pulled out his Seven Wolves belt. Liu Guangtian subconsciously wanted to run, but thinking of the Uniform on his body, he straightened his back again.

"Father, look, you're being impatient again."

"Hmph."

Liu Haizhong could not actually hit him; at least he could not hit him while he was wearing the Uniform. He would wait until he was in plain clothes to hit him.

"Everyone, stop watching and go home to cook."

Returning home, Liu Haizhong assumed his posture as the head of the household again and saw that there were quite a few gifts in the house.

"Tell me, what is going on with this outfit of yours? And these gifts?"

"Let me tell you, O-Old Father, this is..." Liu Guangtian recounted the story of saving someone yesterday.

"So you're saying Ping'an gave the opportunity to you?"

"Ah, yes. I haven't gone to thank Zhang Shu yet." After saying this, Liu Guangtian was about to go to Zhang Ping'an's house.

"Come back. Are you going to thank him empty-handed? Besides, it's mealtime now. Wait until after eating to prepare some things before going." When it comes to social etiquette, it still has to be our Comrade Lao Liu.

"Oh, oh, okay."

Liu Guangfu came home from school and saw his second brother in a Public Security Uniform. He threw his schoolbag down and was about to pounce, but was grabbed by the back of his collar by Liu Haizhong.

"Don't wrinkle your second brother's clothes."

"..."

"Oh, Second Brother, this outfit is too cool. I want to be a Public Security officer in the future too."

At this age, Liu Guangfu was at the stage of idolizing heroes and had absolutely no resistance to this Uniform.

"You should worry about graduating from middle school first."

Liu Guangfu was two years younger than Liu Guangtian. Ever since Liu Guangtian graduated, there was no one to compete with him, and he had lost his motivation; his grades had been falling. Now, however, the motivation had returned.

"I can definitely graduate."

"Mm, mm, mm."

After finishing dinner past seven o'clock, the whole Lao Liu family set out. They picked a few items from the gifts the Mu family had sent during the day, added some eggs they had saved for a long time and a hen, and knocked on Zhang Ping'an's courtyard gate.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Who is it?" Zhang Ping'an was holding his daughter and lifting her high.

"Ping'an, it's me, Lao Liu from the Back Courtyard."

"Brother Liu, come in quickly. Sister-in-law is here too, and Guangqi, Guangtian, and Guangfu." Zhang Ping'an opened the door with one hand while holding his daughter with the other.

"Uncle Zhang." (x3)

"Mm, come in and sit." Looking at the things in their hands, Zhang Ping'an knew it was about Liu Guangtian becoming a Public Security officer.

"Alright."

In the main room, Zhang Ping'an's whole family was there. After they exchanged pleasantries, Liu Haizhong put down the gifts and said:

"Ping'an, I know that Guangtian's job as a Public Security officer is all thanks to you. My family doesn't have anything decent to offer, so please don't mind these."

"Brother Liu, the reason Guangtian was able to become a Public Security officer is because he is kind."

"Being able to save a passerby without expecting anything in return itself shows that Guangtian has the potential to be a Public Security officer; he earned all of this himself."

"Uncle Zhang, without you, I wouldn't have been able to..."

"Alright, Guangtian, you didn't take all the credit for yourself, did you? Brother Liu, take these things back later."

"Ping'an, since you've said it like that, then you have a share in the credit for saving the person; the benefits shouldn't all be taken by Guangtian."

"That works. I'll keep the eggs and the hen, you take the rest back."

"Alright, Ping'an, if you want anything made in the future, just give me a shout."

"Hehe, deal."

When Liu Haizhong returned home, he was still praising Zhang Ping'an for his benevolence in only accepting some of his own things.

"Guangtian, being a Public Security officer isn't easy, and you don't have any foundation at all."

"Dad, I'm going for a month-long training starting tomorrow."

"Ahem, that works."

Liu Haizhong gave a dry cough to hide his embarrassment; he didn't know anything about how to be a Public Security officer, he just purely wanted to lecture Liu Guangtian on his way of conducting himself.

At eight o'clock in Zhang Ping'an's home, the two of them had finished their exercise and were both sweating quite a bit. After getting up and wiping themselves down simply, Zhang Ping'an finally spoke.

"Xiao Ling, can you tell me about Yingnan's situation now?"

"Brother Ping'an, I promised Yingnan I wouldn't tell anyone, but you're not an outsider, hee hee."

"It's just that Yingnan's father found a stepmother for her and Yingren, and she even brought a two or three-year-old boy with her the moment she returned."

"You tell me, who wouldn't feel bad if this happened to them? Even if he had told them in advance, it would be better than bringing someone home without a word like that."

So the three grandparents and grandchildren he met in Beijiang before—that little boy was born to Yingnan's stepmother. No wonder Mu Yingnan wanted to run away from this home.

"Could there be some misunderstanding in this?" Zhang Ping'an didn't think Mu Baoguo looked like a reckless person.

"What kind of misunderstanding could there be? The child has already been brought home."

"Mm, what about Yingren? I haven't seen him for a long time either."

"He joined the army too; it seems he's in the same unit as Yingnan."