Chapter 95

Qiangzi, let's have a drink, just the two of us, no outsiders now—tell me about your experience and insights as a leader. Liu Haizhong said, holding his wine cup.

"Second Uncle, actually being a leader isn't as easy as you think; first, you need not only ability but also a reverent heart." Li Qiang said solemnly.

"A reverent heart? Reverence for whom? Isn't it them who revere the leader?" Liu Haizhong really couldn't grasp that with his limited ability.

"Revere power, revere the people."

"Qiangzi, I just don't get what you mean." Liu Haizhong truly didn't understand.

"Second Uncle, I don't even know how to explain this to you; you'll have to figure it out yourself. But remember this: in front of workers, don't put on airs; try to solve any problems you can help them with, and if you can't, at least think of ways to assist. Also, don't be corrupt—know that ordinary people hate corrupt officials the most." Li Qiang tried to speak plainly, truly afraid Liu Haizhong wouldn't understand.

"Not putting on airs I can understand, but you say officials aren't corrupt—how can I believe that?" Liu Haizhong said indifferently.

"There's another issue: in these special times, for anything you do, learn to put yourself in others' shoes; definitely don't emulate them in messing with people. Remember this saying: leave a line in your conduct so you can meet again later." Li Qiang could only hint at it.

In the original story, Liu Haizhong, to curry favor with Li Huade, brought people to ransack Lou Bancheng's home. Later, when Lou Xiaoe's mother returned, the two sat at the same table to eat—how awkward it was! Fortunately, Tan Yali's thoughts at that time were all on Zhuzi; if she really held a grudge against Liu Haizhong, the Lou family's strength could still have dealt with him.

"Qiangzi, but isn't everyone doing that now?" Liu Haizhong still didn't grasp Li Qiang's meaning.

"Second Uncle, the common folk have a saying—have you heard it? Don't be fooled by today's revelry; watch out for being listed later. Aren't you afraid someone will settle scores with you down the road?" Li Qiang reminded him.

"No way—those we've dealt with are all capitalists; what right do they have to settle scores, and they don't even have the chance." Liu Haizhong said confidently.

"Second Uncle, you still haven't gotten my point; those settling scores aren't necessarily the so-called capitalists—they could be people from above." Li Qiang pointed upward.

"People from above?" Liu Haizhong was even more confused.

"Yeah, how many of those are genuine capitalists, and how many are just lining their own pockets, striking back, using these affairs? Do you think the higher-ups could tolerate this continuing? Look at our factory—how many workers can still go to work peacefully? The plant is practically half‑shut down, and that's just our one factory. Do you know how many factories nationwide are like this? How great the nation's loss is—do you think the leaders could just stand by and let things develop like this?"

"If you put it that way, it really could happen—thanks, Qiangzi." Liu Haizhong felt a bit scared after Li Qiang said that.

If Li Qiang hadn't warned him, Liu Haizhong's nature might have led him to do something rash; in fact, Li Qiang was just giving him a preventive shot—he wasn't really concerned about Liu Haizhong, he just didn't want to see those people treated too harshly, especially the intellectuals labeled rightists, since the country's future development still relies on them.

"Head of the household, what does Qiangzi mean by all this? We gave such a big gift just so you could become deputy squad leader; if we follow his advice and don't take a cut, our gift would be wasted." After Li Qiang left, Second Aunt complained bitterly.

"Qiangzi's words aren't without reason—normally eating and drinking is fine, even if the higher-ups investigate there's nothing, but if you really take other things as he said, you could easily end up in prison." Liu Haizhong was genuinely a bit afraid; during the Great Leader's era, penalties for corruption and bribery were extremely severe.

The most famous case is Liu Qing Shan, who initially served as the Tianjin municipal party secretary; he was an old revolutionary with glorious exploits, yet because of corruption the Great Leader showed no mercy and had him executed—contemporary newspapers widely reported this, aiming to sound a warning for certain people.

"Ah, if I'd known the outcome would be like this, I'd have been better off not taking the office—I could have saved quite a bit." Now Second Aunt began regretting giving Liu Haizhong a gift to secure his official post.

"What do you know—being an official isn't just about graft, is it?" To be honest, Liu Haizhong didn't become an official for corruption; he's an office‑lover, he enjoys the sense of superiority that comes with rank, it's just that when he raided others' homes and saw all that wealth, he couldn't resist the temptation.

"Ah, I just feel sorry for the things we gave." Second Aunt said wistfully.

"Don't worry, I've got it figured—I heard that when they ransack those people's homes, some secretly stash a bit and bring it home; you think the capitalists' goods are that different? Just grabbing a little would be worth more than what we gave, and I don't do this all the time—once in a while is enough to make up our loss." At that point, Second Aunt's words also stirred Liu Haizhong a bit.

As the saying goes, marrying a good woman brings prosperity for three generations, marrying a bad one brings ruin for three—though we can't say Second Aunt is bad; they're just ordinary folks, and with traditional ideas influencing them, such thoughts are normal.

"Right, from now on don't provoke Old Yan—just looking at him annoys me." Thinking of Yan Butgui, Second Aunt launched into another complaint.

"How dare I provoke him? I can barely dodge him—you saw tonight what happened, he came on his own." Liu Haizhong also felt wronged; Yan Butgui sticks like a medicated plaster—once he's on, you can't peel him off.

People used to say Jia Zhangshi was hard to deal with, but Jia Zhangshi has become much more restrained compared to before; only Yan Butgui remains the same. He never misses a chance to take advantage, which also gives the residents of the Siheyuan constant headaches—they all live in the same compound, can't let things get too rigid, and the key is he doesn't even realize it.

"Alright, anyway just keep your distance from him—look at that bottle of liquor Qiangzi brought; he nearly drank it all himself, as if he hadn't seen alcohol in eight lifetimes." Second Aunt truly looks down on Yan Butgui.

"You shouldn't say that—he might truly never have had such good liquor." Liu Haizhong said with a laugh; everyone in the Siheyuan knows Yan Butgui's habit of watering down his liquor.

"Anyway, just don't let him come to our house for meals—looking at him annoys me."

"Got it, even if you don't say it I'll keep my distance—he only ever takes advantage; have you ever seen anyone in our courtyard drink even a sip of his water?" Liu Haizhong said.

"Only the name is mistaken. The nickname hasn't been wrong—'Yan Lao Kou' really suits him." Second Aunt grew angrier the more she thought about it.

"Alright, enough talk, go to sleep—I still have to work tomorrow." Liu Haizhong also got a bit annoyed by Second Aunt's nagging.