Chapter 43: with translation of chapter title

"All right, get up, stop pretending," after Yi Zhonghai and Jia Zhangshi left, Zhou Rong came to the guest room and woke Li Qiang.

"I say, kid, not going into acting is really a waste of talent," Li Bin said, looking at Li Qiang and smiling.

"I have no choice, they're all neighbors from the lane coming to ask me for help; not helping would be wrong, but helping would be playing favorites," Li Qiang said helplessly.

"How did you manage this, such a strong smell of liquor?" Li Bin asked, frowning.

"He spilled half a bottle of wine in the room—of course the smell is strong," Zhou Rong said, laughing.

"Who did you learn that from?" Li Bin asked, smiling.

"This isn't child's play; on the battlefield I've done makeup reconnaissance—let alone splashing wine on myself, I've even smeared feces," Li Qiang said.

"All right, stop saying such disgusting things, go change your clothes. Otherwise the son will say you stink again and won't let you in bed—don't blame me then," Zhou Rong said, laughing.

"Got it," it seems Li Qiang hasn't used this trick sparingly.

"Mom, why hasn't Dongxu come back?" Qin Huiru asked Jia Zhangshi when she didn't see Jia Dongxu.

"Dongxu won't be coming back tonight; later bring him some food and take a thick coat. My leg—it's about to give out," Jia Zhangshi said. Indeed she had exerted herself today; the distance she walked in one evening nearly matched what she usually walks in half a month.

"Is Li Qiang unwilling to help?" Qin Huiru asked.

"No, Li Qiang clearly came back, but that old miser Yan Butgui insisted he hadn't, causing us to waste time searching the Yagangchang for ages; only when we reached Li Qiang's home did we learn he'd returned right after work, just drunk and unable to be woken, so we had to wait until tomorrow to talk," Jia Zhangshi said, not blaming Li Qiang but Yan Butgui; if he hadn't spoken nonsense, she wouldn't have tired herself out or missed the opportunity—if they'd found Li Qiang before he drank, things would have been different.

"Mom, rest a bit; I'll cook and then take food to Dongxu," Qin Huiru said—she was still rather virtuous.

"Okay."

After Qin Huiru finished cooking, she didn't eat herself but packed some rice into a lunchbox, took a thick coat, and first delivered it to Jia Dongxu; Jia Zhangshi was bold enough to let a young woman go out at night to deliver things to Jia Dongxu, not fearing anything might happen on the road—one must remember that public security in the 1950s was not very good.

Qin Huiru arrived at the Yagangchang but didn't see Jia Dongxu; it was the Security Section personnel who handed the items over to him.

Jia Dongxu suffered no mistreatment in the Security Section; it wasn't a big deal anyway, and since they'd caught several people, the Security Section only had them write an account of events and then left them alone.

Early the next morning, Yi Zhonghai was already waiting at Li Qiang's door for him to open it.

"Elder Yi, sorry about that—I drank too much last night; I heard from Zhou Rong you were looking for me," Li Qiang said apologetically upon seeing Yi Zhonghai.

"It's nothing, don't blame yourself, Qiangzi; yesterday after work Dongxu was arrested by the Security Section, I thought I'd come intercede for him—we all live in the same compound, so if it's not a serious matter, just let him go."

"Elder Yi, I'm not clear on the exact situation; I'll go to the factory first to check things out, and if it's not serious I'll have them release him," Li Qiang said, not refusing Yi Zhonghai's request. In fact, yesterday afternoon Li Qiang had already instructed the Security Section personnel: they must obtain their statements tonight and have them write down that they stole scrap iron from the factory—this would serve as a confession and evidence. Li Qiang readily agreed to Yi Zhonghai because he believed the Security Section would have handled it properly.

"All right, then thank you, Qiangzi; once Dongxu returns I'll treat you to a drink," Yi Zhonghai said, surprised Li Qiang agreed so readily.

"Elder Yi, no need for courtesy; I'll first go to the factory to find out the situation and then let you know."

"Fine, you go about your business."

"Section Chief, you've arrived; they've all given their statements and written up the account," Li Qiang said upon arriving at the Security Section, where Captain Chen Shanhe handed him several sheets of paper.

"I won't look at this; just send it directly to Factory Director Yang, then release them for now—how to handle them will be up to the factory's decision," Li Qiang said, not taking the paper from Captain Chen Shanhe's hand.

"All right, I know what to do," Captain Chen Shanhe said, knowing Li Qiang didn't want to meddle in such trifles. After all, last night someone had come seeking favors under his banner; if Li Qiang intervened directly, whatever the outcome would draw criticism—better to let the subordinates handle it.

By the time Yi Zhonghai arrived at the Yagangchang, Jia Dongxu had already been released.

"Dongxu, did they give you a hard time last night?" Yi Zhonghai asked concernedly.

"Master, no," Jia Dongxu said wearily; spending a night in the Security Section was certainly not as comfortable as sleeping at home.

"That's good; yesterday afternoon I came to the factory with your mother to look for Li Qiang, but who would have thought old Yan misread things—he didn't see Li Qiang come home..." Yi Zhonghai recounted last night's events to Jia Dongxu; in fact he was deliberately telling him this, meaning he'd been busy for his sake. This morning he again went to Li Qiang to plead; otherwise Jia Dongxu couldn't have been released so early—he should remember this favor.

"Thank you, Master," Jia Dongxu said, truly moved by him.

"We don't need to say all that; just remember not to do foolish things again," Yi Zhonghai instructed.

"Understood, Master; by the way, last night the Security Section had us write down the whole course of events—will that have any repercussions?" Jia Dongxu asked anxiously.

"Hard to say; I'll go ask Li Qiang later to see if we can get your copy back," Yi Zhonghai thought, believing Li Qiang would grant him this favor.

"All right, thank you for your trouble, Master."

"Go to the workshop first; I'll go find him now."

"Thud, thud, thud."

"Come in."

"Qiangzi."

"Elder Yi, wasn't Brother Dongxu released?"

"Qiangzi, it's not that; I heard Dongxu say the Security Section had them write something last night, and I want to ask whether that will have any effect on them."

"And about that, I really don't know—no one's told me," Li Qiang said, feigning annoyance.

"They didn't give you the documents?"

"No, I wouldn't have known about it if you hadn't mentioned it. Elder Yi, please wait a moment while I inquire," Li Qiang said, then picked up the phone on the desk and dialed out.

"Section Chief, you're looking for me," Captain Chen Shanhe entered shortly after.

"Captain Chen, I heard the people the Security Section arrested last night all wrote up materials?"

"Yes, I originally intended to give the materials to you first. Who knew Factory Director Yang would go to the Security Section early this morning and take them all away; I was still planning to report this to you later," Captain Chen Shanhe said, understanding Li Qiang's intent and playing along with his act, since Yi Zhonghai wouldn't dare verify with Factory Director Yang.

"Section Chief Li, Factory Director Yang wants you to go to the conference room for a meeting," Chen Dashan had just finished speaking when someone outside called Li Qiang.

"Elder Yi, I have to go to a meeting first; please go back for now, I'll inform you if there's any news," Li Qiang said to Yi Zhonghai.

"All right, then you go ahead," Yi Zhonghai also realized Li Qiang genuinely didn't know about this.

"Section Chief, do you really treat an old man like that? If it were me, I wouldn't bother with him at all," Captain Chen Shanhe said, bewildered, after Yi Zhonghai left.

"Shanhe, many things we just need to know ourselves; we all live in the same courtyard house, I don't want to make things too ugly," Li Qiang explained.

"Section Chief, I understand now," Captain Chen Shanhe said upon hearing Li Qiang's words, somewhat grasping his predicament.

"Take this, bring the brothers who were on night shift last night out for a good meal," Li Qiang said, pulling twenty yuan from his pocket and handing it to Captain Chen Shanhe.

"Section Chief, that's not appropriate—standing night shift is our duty; how could we let you treat us?" Captain Chen Shanhe hurriedly refused.

"All right, stop being polite; if there's any money left, buy some cigarettes for the brothers to share," Li Qiang said, stuffing the cash into Captain Chen Shanhe's hand and heading out to the meeting. Li Qiang said this because he knew the money would surely go unused—only seven or eight were on night shift—and twenty yuan in the 1950s still had strong purchasing power; his gesture was also a way of winning hearts, anyway he didn't miss those few trifles.

"All right, then I'll bring the brothers to thank you," Captain Chen Shanhe said, understanding Li Qiang's nature and thus no longer standing on ceremony; now the Security Section personnel all have great faith in Li Qiang, unlike other leaders who think about how to deduct employee fees—only Li Qiang often spends his own money to subsidize them. People's hearts are made of flesh; though they may not say anything, they remember this kindness of Li Qiang.