Chapter 93: The Great Swindler Li Qiang

After He Yuzhu left, Li Qiang went to the Workers' Inspection Team and found Liu Haizhong, who was at that moment gathering the team members to go cause trouble for He Yuzhu.

"Second Uncle, what are you busy with?" Li Qiang asked, looking at the clear fist mark on Liu Haizhong's face.

"Director Li, how did you come here?" Liu Haizhong, angry at He Yuzhu, had forgotten Li Qiang's relationship with He Yuzhu.

"Second Uncle, just now Zhuzi came to see me, saying he acted on impulse and got into a dispute with you, and he felt embarrassed to come himself, so he sent me to apologize to you on his behalf," Li Qiang said with an apologetic face.

"Ziqiang, it's not that Second Uncle won't give you face, this Shazhu is just no good—he hits as soon as he says he will; look, he beat me up like this," Liu Haizhong said, pointing to his slightly swollen red face.

"Second Uncle, it's not me saying this, but Zhuzi has long been saying in the Siheyuan that whoever calls him Shazhu gets on his nerves—think about it, for how many years has anyone dared to call him Shazhu to his face? You call him Shazhu in front of so many people; do you expect him not to be angry?" Li Qiang said, his words tinged with dissatisfaction.

"Ziqiang, I was also in a hurry and spoke carelessly at the time," Liu Haizhong also realized. Indeed, for many years no one has dared to call He Yuzhu Shazhu to his face; I really have gotten a bit full of myself, but to let myself take that punch for nothing, I still feel a bit unwilling inside.

"Second Uncle, you are not only the Household Manager of the Siheyuan but also the deputy squad leader of the Workers' Inspection Team, and you can be considered a leader in a broad sense. Zhuzi has lived in the same courtyard with you for many years, and you are his elder. You say the junior made a small mistake; if you keep holding onto it, what will others think? A leader needs magnanimity; only then will higher leaders feel assured promoting you. If it were you, would you promote someone narrow-minded and vengeful to a leadership position?" Li Qiang began to coax Liu Haizhong.

"Ziqiang, what you say makes sense; I now can also be considered a leader, and indeed I shouldn't quarrel with him over petty matters," Liu Haizhong said, truly having been coaxed by Li Qiang.

"That's right; a leader needs magnanimity and vision, so higher leaders will feel assured placing you in a more important position." Li Qiang was coaxing people to death without compensation.

"Ziqiang, you're absolutely right—no wonder you could become Security Section Chief and even rise to Deputy Director of the Revolutionary Committee; this insight and foresight I admire but feel inferior to. Alright, go tell Zhuzi I won't hold a grudge; after all, I am his elder, and being nitpicky with a junior would indeed damage my dignity as a leader," Liu Haizhong said magnanimously.

"Alright, then I'll thank you on his behalf, Second Uncle," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"We two old guys, what's with the formalities? Besides, I've had Second Aunt buy a few dishes; tonight we two will have a good drink," Liu Haizhong recalled, having said yesterday that he would invite Li Qiang for dinner today.

"Sure, I still have a bottle of good wine; I'll bring it over tonight for you to try." Having just finished speaking up for He Yuzhu, Li Qiang also felt embarrassed to refuse Liu Haizhong's invitation.

"Then it's settled—tonight we two will have a good drink, and you can also share your insights and experience as a leader; Second Uncle still wants to make further progress," Liu Haizhong said with a smile.

"No problem, then you go ahead and be busy," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"Fine, then I'll be waiting for you tonight," Liu Haizhong readily agreed.

Li Qiang left the Workers' Inspection Team and went straight to the canteen; if he didn't tell He Yuzhu the result, he estimated He Yuzhu wouldn't be able to focus on his work.

"Second Brother, how did it go?" He Yuzhu saw Li Qiang approaching and hurried over to ask.

"It's fine; just focus on your work," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"Second Brother, how did you make him stop causing trouble for me?" He Yuzhu knew Liu Haizhong's nature—that guy looks honest on the surface but is actually full of dirty tricks, and moreover is a narrow-minded, vengeful person who seeks revenge for the slightest grudge.

"Just reasoned with him?" Li Qiang said flatly.

"You reasoned with him? I thought you outranked him and were using orders to suppress him," He Yuzhu asked, somewhat disbelieving.

"You say that—am I that kind of person? This is winning people over with virtue," Li Qiang said smugly.

"Then tell me how you win people over with virtue?" He Yuzhu, also a gossip lover, instantly became interested.

"I just told him that he can now be considered a leader in a broad sense; a leader should have vision and magnanimity, and cannot be nitpicky about everything—otherwise who would want to promote him?" Li Qiang said solemnly.

"I'm convinced, I'm convinced—you've seized Liu Haizhong's weak point, knowing his greatest wish is to become an official; now you bring up vision and magnanimity, and not only is he a brainless fool, even I would have to grit my teeth and bear it," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

"Besides that, he's also going to treat me to a drink tonight," Li Qiang became even more pleased.

"Convinced, the big 'convinced' character—your talent for coaxing people to death without compensation is also top-notch," He Yuzhu said, giving a thumbs up.

"Alright, go on with your work; from now on don't be so impulsive," Li Qiang said, waving his hand.

"Alright, then I'll get back to work," He Yuzhu said, seeing the matter settled, and ran off happily.

"Ziqiang, you're back?" As Li Qiang reached the Siheyuan gate, Yan Butgui came trotting over to meet him.

"Yes, I'm back. Teacher Yan, do you have something?" Seeing Yan Butgui so enthusiastic, Li Qiang felt a bit uneasy in his heart, knowing that this Yan old miser never does anything without profit; his current enthusiasm surely means he's looking for something from me.

"No, no, nothing—did Old Liu tell you about his invitation to drink tonight?"

"He did—what's up, Teacher Yan?" Li Qiang asked curiously.

"Everyone says two people don't drink; I'll come over tonight to keep you company—how about that?" Yan Butgui said obsequiously.

"Teacher Yan, I recall it's two people don't gamble, three people don't drink," Li Qiang asked, feigning ignorance.

"Never mind the numbers—just say whether I can come along to keep you company," Yan Butgui said, really losing all face for the sake of food.

"Teacher Yan, you should ask Second Uncle about this—he's the one hosting, and his word is final." Li Qiang truly didn't understand what Yan Butgui was thinking, confusing priorities.

"He's inviting you; bring me along. He definitely won't object," Yan Butgui said with a smile.

"Teacher Yan, you should know the principle of not bringing a guest to a guest's gathering; Second Uncle is behind you, you should just talk to him directly," Li Qiang refused to let Yan Butgui get away with that.

"Alright, then I'll go speak to him myself," Yan Butgui thought Li Qiang's words made sense, so he stopped pestering him and kept glancing toward the gate.

"What kind of people are these? One would do anything to become an official; the other, for the sake of food, has no shame left." Li Qiang muttered in his heart.