Chapter 27

Director Wang, after receiving Director Li's reply, immediately notified Li Qiang of this news and repeatedly urged Li Qiang to be sure to go to the street office to find him on Sunday morning.

Li Qiang repeatedly assured that he would definitely be on time, whereupon Director Wang felt relieved and returned to the street office.

Early Sunday morning, Li Bin woke Li Qiang up.

"Brother, this is too early," Li Qiang complained, glancing at his wristwatch.

"It's already not early; you need to get ready."

"There's not much to get ready for."

"How can there be nothing to get ready for? First go wash your head, then change into clean clothes," Li Bin kept urging.

After Li Qiang finished getting ready and found it was still before eight, he could only helplessly shake his head; his blind date kept Li Bin busy enough to be annoyed.

After finally waiting until ten o'clock, Li Bin again urged Li Qiang to hurry up and go.

"Qiangzi, let your sister-in-law go with you; I won't go, there's no uncle going on a blind date with a brother," Li Bin said with a smile.

"Okay, then we'll also bring the child," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"Don't bring the child, lest we cause trouble; just leave him at home where I can watch him."

"All right," Li Qiang said, not expecting Li Bin to take this blind date so seriously.

At ten ten, Li Qiang and Yang Fen appeared in Director Wang's office.

"Li Qiang, you've come; let me introduce you: this is Director Li, whom you've met before; this is Director Li's sister Zhou Rong; and this is Li Qiang's sister-in-law Yang Fen," Director Wang enthusiastically introduced them.

"Hello, Director Li," Li Qiang said frankly, extending his hand to shake Director Li's hand.

"Hello," Director Li also warmly returned the greeting to Li Qiang.

"Hello, Zhou Rong, I'm Li Qiang," Li Qiang greeted her again.

"Hello," Zhou Rong also responded frankly to Li Qiang.

"Xiao Rong, go out for a walk with Li Qiang; I'll chat with Xiao Yang and Xiao Wang," Director Li said with a smile, knowing his sister-in-law's temperament well—if she hadn't taken a liking to Li Qiang, she probably wouldn't even have responded.

"Okay, Li Qiang, let's go out for a walk," Zhou Rong said with a smile.

"Okay, you two chat here; we'll go out for a walk," Li Qiang agreed directly without any embarrassment.

The two walked slowly in the courtyard of the street office, Zhou Rong continually asking Li Qiang to tell her about his combat exploits on the Korean battlefield; having endured the information bombardment of later generations, Li Qiang found it utterly easy to deal with this young lady.

Li Qiang's vivid narration, peppered with occasional internet slang, made Zhou Rong giggle incessantly; they chatted outside for over an hour until Director Li came out, at which point they stopped.

"Director Li, it's almost noon; let me treat everyone to a meal," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"How can I let you spend money? I'll treat," Director Li said, seeing the scene and knowing the matter was basically settled.

"Don't argue; I'll treat," Director Wang said with a smile from the side.

"Director Wang, this time I'll treat; next time you can treat," Li Qiang said, adding that even if he were clueless he wouldn't let Director Wang treat, and besides he wasn't short of a few melons and dates.

"Director Li, let us treat," Yang Fen said from the side.

"All right, then Li Qiang will treat today," Director Li said, seeing that Li Qiang genuinely wanted to treat, so he no longer stood on ceremony.

"Zhou Rong, what would you like to eat?" Li Qiang turned and asked Zhou Rong; this small detail raised Zhou Rong's and Director Li's opinion of Li Qiang considerably.

"Let's have roast duck; the weather now isn't suitable for hot‑pot lamb," Zhou Rong said after thinking.

"Okay. Then let's go to Quanjude," Li Qiang said with a smile.

The group arrived at Quanjude, where Li Qiang ordered two roast ducks and several side dishes.

"Li Qiang, shall we have a drink?" Director Li asked with a smile; people of that era, especially those returning from the military, basically liked to have a couple of drinks.

"Sure, then I'll keep Director Li company with a drink," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"We're all one family; from now on just call me Li Ge, or sister‑in‑law is fine—no need to keep saying Director Li," Director Li said with a smile.

"Sister‑in‑law," Zhou Rong blushed immediately upon hearing Director Li say that.

"Haha, it's just a matter of time; what's there to be embarrassed about?" Director Li said with a laugh.

"Hahaha," Director Li's words made several people burst out laughing.

After the meal, Li Qiang packed another two roast ducks to go.

"Zhou Rong, your sister didn't come today; take this roast duck back for her to try. The other one I need to bring back for my little nephew and niece to taste," Li Qiang said, handing one of the roast ducks to Zhou Rong.

"Okay, thank you; next Sunday I'll treat you to a movie," Zhou Rong invited Li Qiang proactively.

"No problem."

"How was it?" Li Bin asked Li Qiang impatiently as soon as he got home.

"Coming back at this time, it must have succeeded; otherwise we'd have returned earlier," Yang Fen said with a smile.

"Then have you eaten?"

"We have; Qiangzi treated us to roast duck and even brought one back for the three of you," Yang Fen said, waving the roast duck in her hand.

The two little ones, hearing it was roast duck, stared with big eyes at the roast duck in Yang Fen's hand, constantly swallowing their saliva.

"All right, stop drooling; your second uncle specially brought this for you two to eat," Yang Fen said, smiling at the two little ones' expectant looks.

"Thank you, Second Uncle."

After more than two months of getting along, Li Qiang and Zhou Rong's relationship progressed rapidly.

"Qiangzi, which day will you bring Zhou Rong home for a meal?" Li Bin said to Li Qiang.

"Okay, then this coming Sunday," Li Qiang said.

On Sunday, Li Qiang brought Zhou Rong to the Siheyuan.

"Qiangzi, who is this?" the gatekeeper Yan Butgui, seeing Li Qiang bring a girl to the Siheyuan, smiled and stepped forward to ask.

"Third Grandpa, this is Zhou Rong, my partner; Zhou Rong, this is our Siheyuan's Third Grandpa."

"Hello, Third Grandpa," Zhou Rong greeted him frankly.

"Hello, hello," Yan Butgui also hurriedly returned Zhou Rong's greeting.

"All right, Qiangzi, you've done a good job with the confidentiality work; we actually didn't know about such a big matter," Yan Butgui said with a smile.

"Third Master, there's nothing to show off about."

"Qiangzi, this is a big happy occasion. You should set up two tables in the courtyard!" Yan Butgui's old habit flared up again.

"Third Master, don't worry, when the wedding comes I'll definitely invite you to drink the wedding wine." Li Qiang finished speaking and then brought Zhou Rong into the siheyuan, managing to not say a word to Yan Butgui.

"Qiangzi, I didn't mean it that way," Yan Butgui shouted from behind.

"I could still not know what you mean; you want me to treat you to another meal." Li Qiang muttered to himself.