Chapter 741

Da Qianmen

Little Tavern

Xu Huizhen poured the liquor and brought the side dishes to the table:

"Enjoy your meal, you two!"

Director Fang smiled: "Xu Huizhen, I see that the business of this little tavern is getting better and better."

Xu Huizhen smiled brightly: "With the country's good policies, everyone's life is good, so the little tavern naturally gets better too."

Xu Huizhen had been in business for many years, was accustomed to observing people, and had a very clever tongue.

Director Fang nodded with satisfaction: "Comrade Xu Huizhen's awareness is worthy of praise."

Xu Huizhen smiled: "I wouldn't dare accept such praise. This comrade looks unfamiliar; won't Director Fang introduce him?"

Director Fang said: "This is Comrade Cao Weiguo."

Xu Huizhen said enthusiastically: "Welcome, Comrade Cao Weiguo, to our little tavern."

Cao Weiguo smiled: "I have long heard of Manager Xu's great name."

"I heard you were the first to participate in the public-private partnership and even organized a literacy class."

"Such spirit and insight are truly admirable!"

Xu Huizhen beamed: "Look at what you're saying! You speak too highly! What insight does a little woman like me have."

"You two go ahead and drink; if you need anything, just say the word."

After finishing, Xu Huizhen smiled and went to greet other guests.

The two of them ate their snacks and drank the liquor brought from Niulanshan.

Director Fang first thanked Cao Weiguo for his hard work and running around.

Then he started chatting idly with Cao Weiguo.

This person had extremely strong principles and would never talk about work matters outside.

While chatting and drinking, Cao Weiguo praised the purity of the liquor twice.

Director Fang started talking about the affairs of this little tavern.

He emphatically praised Xu Huizhen, who had "high awareness."

This Da Qianmen was the main gate of the inner city of old Jingcheng, where people from all walks of life lived.

The previous owner of this little tavern was Old Master He, who had an adopted son named He Yongqiang.

Xu Huizhen was He Yongqiang's wife, but not long after they were married, He Yongqiang was in a car accident.

After Old Master He passed away, Xu Huizhen took over the little tavern with her children.

Not only did she not let the little tavern decline, but she also managed it to great success.

Director Fang said quite a bit, but Cao Weiguo knew even more.

Xu Huizhen's husband, He Yongqiang, didn't have a car accident; he ran off with another woman.

That woman was Xu Huizhen's cousin, Huizhi!

Xu Huizhen was a woman who had both beauty and ability.

It was a pity that by this time, Xu Huizhen was already taken.

She had already registered her marriage with the porter Cai Quanwu.

Porter:

Before the liberation, on the roads of Jingcheng, one would often see people with hunched necks, carrying things on their backs and walking briskly; these were people moving house or delivering dowries for others.

This profession was called "porter" or "shoulder-carrier" among the seventy-two trades of old Beijing, and later became synonymous with coolie labor.

A porter who carried big bags married a wealthy and beautiful woman with substantial assets.

This Cai Quanwu could be called a winner in life!!!

Just as he was thinking about the porter, the porter walked in from outside carrying a jar of liquor.

He put down the heavy jar and kept his head down while cleaning up.

On the surface, he looked quiet and taciturn, but in reality, he possessed great wisdom.

After four liang of liquor went down, the two of them were slightly tipsy.

Director Fang got up to pay the bill and had Xu Huizhen pack up the leftover snacks.

Cao Weiguo smiled and praised: "Manager Xu, the liquor in your place lives up to its reputation; it's excellent."

Xu Huizhen smiled sweetly: "Thank you for the compliment; you are welcome to come often."

Cao Weiguo smiled: "Easy! Once is never enough for such good liquor."

Director Fang picked up the packed leftovers and stood up.

Cao Weiguo followed him out.

As soon as Director Fang left, the tavern immediately became lively.

When Director Fang was there, these people all acted as if they had rags stuffed in their mouths.

Each of them kept their heads down, drinking honestly and silently.

There were even a few who hurriedly finished their drinks and left with their heads down.

No one dared to speak easily.

Director Fang could be considered a regular at the little tavern.

But he was simply not the same kind of person as them.

After Director Fang left, Old Master Niu finally breathed a sigh of relief:

"Old Black-Face Fang has finally left!"

"He was suffocating everyone!"

Xu Huizhen smiled: "Look at how scared you are; is he really that scary?"

Old Master Niu said seriously: "That's because you haven't seen him arresting people; otherwise, he could scare you into having nightmares."

The guests at the little tavern gathered people from all walks of life.

Many of them were old-timers who had lived under the shadow of the Imperial City.

They had witnessed the stormy history of this city with their own eyes.

Especially Old Master Niu, who had status in the old society.

He had seen Director Fang's might with his own eyes.

Back when Jingcheng was just liberated...

Clearly, Old Master Niu knew something, but he didn't dare say much.

He finished his drink, put it on his tab, got up, and left.

Nanluoguxiang

Cao Weiguo was carrying the roast duck he had taken from his space.

As he passed through the middle courtyard, he happened to run into Jia Zhangshi, who was going to the restroom.

Looking at the roast duck in Cao Weiguo's hand, Jia Zhangshi's eyes were full of jealousy.

As she walked out, she muttered with her head down:

"Black-hearted beast, eating and drinking like that all day long!"

"He has money to buy roast duck, but doesn't know how to help his neighbors."

"Selfish brat! He'll get his retribution sooner or later!"

Banggeng stared at the roast duck, swallowing his saliva, and turned to run back into the room:

"Mom! I want to eat roast duck!"

Qin Huairu said irritably: "What roast duck are you eating in the middle of the night!"

Banggeng grabbed Qin Huairu's arm and shook it: "I want to eat it, I want to eat it!"

Qin Huairu frowned: "It's pitch black, where am I supposed to get roast duck for you."

"Don't be silly, wash your feet and go to sleep."

Banggeng blinked his eyes: "I saw Cao Weiguo carrying a roast duck back."

"Go and get me a duck leg; I'll go to sleep after I eat it."