Chapter 91: Yan Butgui Coaxes Liu Haizhong and His Wife

After work in the afternoon, Liu Haizhong returned to the siheyuan with his hands behind his back, walking in a square step.

"Old Liu, judging by your look, there's happy news today," Yan Butgui asked Liu Haizhong with a smile.

"Old Yan, I'm officially notifying you now: I'm not only the Second Master of our siheyuan, but also the deputy team leader of the Yagangchang Workers' Inspection Team. From now on, when you see me, you must call me Team Leader Liu, understand?" Liu Haizhong said in an official tone.

"So you've been promoted, huh? Congratulations," Yan Butgui said, squinting his small eyes.

"Same joy, same joy."

"Old Liu, your promotion is a big happy event; you should at least set up two tables in our courtyard," Yan Butgui said, regardless of whether you were promoted or not; he cared only about practical benefits, whether there was any advantage for him to take.

"Setting up two tables in the courtyard is fine; as a leading cadre, one should keep a low profile, but tonight I can invite you for a drink," Liu Haizhong said, not yet completely carried away by joy.

"Alright, that's settled then; I'll definitely be there tonight," Yan Butgui said, grinning widely.

"Don't worry, as leaders we're certainly true to our word," Liu Haizhong said, now constantly dropping the word 'leader' into his speech.

"Alright, Ruihua, don't cook my dinner tonight; Team Leader Liu is treating me to drinks, so I won't be eating at home," Yan Butgui shouted happily toward the house; Yang Ruihua was the name of the Third Aunt.

"Head of the household, who did you just say is buying you a drink?" the Third Aunt came out after hearing Yan Butgui's shout and asked.

"Liu Haizhong, I heard he was appointed deputy team leader of the Workers' Inspection Team and will treat me to drinks tonight to celebrate," Yan Butgui said softly, looking at Liu Haizhong's back.

"Has Old Liu become deputy team leader?" the Third Aunt asked, somewhat surprised, after all everyone in the siheyuan knew Liu Haizhong was an official-obsessed man; for years he couldn't even land a small team leader position, yet now he actually became deputy team leader of the Workers' Inspection Team.

"That's what he said; I don't care what position he holds, as long as he buys me a drink," Yan Butgui said, grinning widely.

"Alright, then I won't make your portion of dinner tonight," the Third Aunt said with a smile; tonight the household saved one person's rations.

"Mom, I'm back," Liu Haizhong shouted happily as soon as he arrived home.

"Did it work?" the Second Aunt asked, looking at Liu Haizhong's expression.

"It worked; I'm now the deputy team leader of the Yagangchang Workers' Inspection Team," Liu Haizhong said with a smile.

"That's good," the Second Aunt said with a smile; if it hadn't worked, the two or three yuan gift she'd sent would have been wasted.

"What about those two little brats?" Liu Haizhong asked the Second Aunt.

"They're sleeping in the room," the Second Aunt said, glancing toward the room of the Liu Guangtian brothers.

"You two have ten seconds; get over here right now," Liu Haizhong shouted as he arrived at Liu Guangtian's door.

"Comrade Liu Haizhong, have you forgotten what we told you yesterday? Please watch your attitude when speaking to us," Liu Guangtian replied, lifting his head, with no intention of getting up.

"You little brats are still rebelling," Liu Haizhong said, pulling out his belt and lashing at the two sons over their heads and faces.

"Ow," the Liu Guangtian brothers howled like ghosts and wolves as they were whipped.

"You still dare to oppose me; watch me whip you to death," Liu Haizhong cursed while whipping.

"No more, no more," the two sons shouted, rushing out immediately, not even having time to put on their shoes.

"Listen, you two, from today on I'm not only the Second Master of this siheyuan but also the deputy team leader of the Yagangchang Workers' Inspection Team; from now on behave yourselves, for I now represent the Workers' Inspection Team of the working class," Liu Haizhong said, pointing at the two sons.

"Understood," the Liu Guangtian brothers now behaved as well, only able to lower their heads, standing in the wall corner trembling; they had thought that wearing red sleeve cuffs would let them overturn their fate and sing the song of emancipated serfs, but who knew that as the devil rises a foot, the Dao rises a yard; their own father had also been promoted, so it seems from now on it's best to remain humble and obedient.

"Team Leader Liu, I've come," Yan Butgui entered, smiling broadly.

"Old Yan has arrived, have a seat first; you two little brats, get inside and don't come out without my order," Liu Haizhong sternly told the two sons.

The Liu Guangtian brothers could only obediently return to their own room.

"Team Leader Liu, what will you serve me tonight?" Yan Butgui said, changing his form of address just for a bite to eat.

"Home-style dishes, home-style dishes," Liu Haizhong said with a smile.

"Team Leader Liu, you're a leader now; how can home-style dishes be acceptable? If this gets out, your reputation as a leader will suffer," Yan Butgui said, shamelessness taken to the extreme.

"Hmm, you make sense; as the team leader, for my first time hosting guests I should prepare more dishes," Liu Haizhong said, utterly unaware that Yan Butgui had played him.

"No need for too much; just having meat will do," Yan Butgui said, thick-skinned; his family hadn't eaten meat once in a month or two, and this time he planned to indulge his craving for meat at Liu Haizhong's place.

"Mom, go buy some meat; tonight I'll have a few drinks with Old Yan, after all he's the first person to come congratulate me," Liu Haizhong said in an official tone.

"At this hour there should be meat available; I'll go see if I can get some pig's head meat," the Second Aunt said.

"Pig's head meat is fine too," Yan Butgui said with a laugh; even scrambled eggs are something he usually doesn't bother eating, let alone meat.

"Alright, you wait; I'll go check the supply and marketing cooperative," the Second Aunt said with a smile; after all, Liu Haizhong is now an official, so I count myself as an official's wife—although I usually don't like Yan Butgui, today our household is also celebrating a happy event, so let him take advantage once.

"Indeed, being an official's lady makes all the difference," Yan Butgui said, flattering with a guilty conscience.

"Our Old Liu has become a leader; I can't hold him back," the Second Aunt said, greatly enjoying Yan Butgui's flattery.

With Yan Butgui's flattery, the Second Aunt quickly returned, having bought not only pig's head meat but also half a roast duck.

"Why did you buy roast duck?" Liu Haizhong asked, feeling a bit pained looking at the roast duck; if we were eating it ourselves, buying it would be fine, but using it to entertain Yan Butgui still feels wasteful.

"Today is our household's happy day; we should celebrate," the Second Aunt said, still not having come to her senses from Yan Butgui's flattery.

"Alright, go fry two more dishes," Liu Haizhong said, also only able to helplessly accept reality.

"Sister-in-law, I remember your scrambled egg technique is superb; tonight I must get a taste of your skill," Yan Butgui continued to coax the Second Aunt.

"Don't worry, Old Yan; tonight I'll fry two more eggs," the Second Aunt said with a smile.

Liu Haizhong watched the conversation between the Second Aunt and Yan Butgui, feeling that something was off, but couldn't pinpoint exactly what the problem was.