Chapter 232: You

Li Zhongfa arrived at Zaojunmiao around seven in the evening.

Seeing Li Zhongfa walk in alone, Li Ye asked, "Grandpa, why did you come on foot? Didn't you drive into the capital?"

Li Zhongfa said, "Try not to let outsiders know about this courtyard—it might bring trouble and complications."

Li Ye frowned. "Trouble and complications? Who's going to cause me trouble?"

Li Zhongfa waved his hand, signaling Jin Peng to shut the door. The room held only him, Li Ye, and Jin Peng.

"Do you know why I came to the capital this time?"

"We don't know! Jin Peng only said you came with the bureau's car—did you have official business?"

"Heh, yeah, official business."

Li Zhongfa chuckled. "China Grain is planning a big project in Dongshan this year. The city wants to compete with the provincial capital, so they sent me here to network. You tell me—what connections do I have?"

Li Ye suddenly understood—this was tied to him.

"So, Grandpa, what's your plan?"

"What's my plan? Of course I don't even know which way their front door faces. Do I really need to teach you this?"

Li Zhongfa smiled. "I'm retiring in two years at most. At my age, do you think I can still get promoted?"

"That's why I waited until everyone else left the city before staying an extra day—to come see you."

Li Ye nodded, showing he understood.

Li Zhongfa had told Jin Peng not to mention he'd arrived early—probably to keep Wen Leyu from finding out, avoiding unnecessary misunderstandings and trouble.

And by waiting until everyone had left, then deliberately staying an extra day, he likely had his own reasons.

He claimed not to know which way Wen Qingsheng's front door faced—but he certainly knew.

"Alright, today I came to tell you something."

Li Zhongfa suddenly grew stern, looking at Li Ye and Jin Peng. "Do you know San Shui's been released?"

Li Ye and Jin Peng exchanged blank looks, then both shook their heads.

San Shui had been locked up last winter—less than half a year had passed. Something was off.

"Hmph, you two are sloppy. Why waste so much effort gathering useless evidence?"

"You shouldn't have tipped him off. You should've waited until he went home for the New Year and taken care of him in Qingshui County. Now you've left a big threat loose."

Li Ye thought for a moment. "Grandpa, has San Shui quit his smuggling operations in Dongshan?"

"Quit?" Li Zhongfa sneered. "Men die for wealth, birds for food. How could he give up such fortune? He's doubled down—his business is bigger than ever."

"Oh~"

Li Ye relaxed inside, no longer concerned.

It was already late spring '83. In a few months, a storm would hit—people got jailed for whistling at girls. San Shui wouldn't escape if he kept acting up.

"I'm not telling you this to make you regret it—I'm warning you to be careful from now on."

Li Zhongfa looked at Jin Peng, who wore a face full of remorse. "Don't just cling to brotherhood and hand out favors like candy. In the end, you'll only raise a pack of ungrateful wolves. If others want your benefits, they must pay a price."

"And you, Xiao Ye—you've always trusted people too easily, see everyone as good. Don't you know you must guard against others? You're lucky you've got dumb luck—you've used a few people who are at least decent. But from now on, you must be harsher. Otherwise, just stop meddling."

Li Ye grinned awkwardly, not daring to argue with Li Zhongfa now.

Jin Peng was worse—he hung his head, wishing he could vanish into the ground.

Since arriving in the capital, Li Zhongfa had met Jin Peng twice—and each time, he'd given him a cold stare. Jin Peng had been confused until now—he realized Li Zhongfa's scolding was deserved.

But Li Ye felt he'd been unfairly scolded.

He wasn't too trusting—he simply had no one else to rely on.

It was '82. Most capable people still belonged to the state. If he hadn't trusted Hao Jian, hadn't trusted Jin Peng, could he have gotten this far?

If you don't offer them heaven-sent fortune, who'll work for you?

Wave your arm and people think you're dancing.

Of course, Li Ye dared to trust people because he had the arrogance of a cheat.

He knew too many windfalls, too many chances to get rich. Even if someone betrayed him halfway, he could rise again and seek revenge easily.

But men like Li Zhongfa, who'd spent their lives crawling through the system, were always cautious, never letting opportunities slip to others.

For ordinary people, life offered maybe one chance—why share it?

After a harsh scolding, Li Zhongfa finally said, "I've looked into your Pengcheng Seventh Factory. It's growing fast."

"When things grow fast, you attract good and bad alike. You must establish a vetting system—people in key positions must be trustworthy."

"If you can't be sure, avoid hiring people from Qingshui County—otherwise, you won't be able to act when trouble comes."

Li Ye and Jin Peng both nodded in agreement. They'd already started doing this—next time someone like San Shui showed up, they'd eliminate him immediately.

After talking for a long time, Li Zhongfa stood to return to his hotel. His driver and aides were still there—it wouldn't do to stay away too long.

But at the door, he met Wen Leyu returning from the movies.

"Hello, Grandpa Li!"

"Ah, Wen girl, finished the movie? Good—have Li Ye take you back to school."

"No rush," Wen Leyu smiled. "Grandpa Li, my mom invited you to dinner tomorrow. You must come."

"."

Li Zhongfa chuckled. "That wouldn't be proper. Too much trouble."

"Not at all," Wen Leyu shook her head. "Mom said if you come to the capital and don't visit our home, you'll be too distant. Please don't be polite."

"Alright then. I'll be there on time tomorrow."

Li Zhongfa reluctantly agreed, then told Li Ye to take Wen Leyu back to school.

Watching the young couple on their bicycle fade into the night, Li Zhongfa's old face broke into a radiant smile.

Jin Peng sighed. "Private Secretary, Xiao Ye is lucky. Not like Da Yong."

"What about Da Yong?"

"You don't know? Da Yong's dating a girl from the provincial capital."

Jin Peng briefly told Li Zhongfa about Li Dayong's affair, clearly feeling it was a waste.

But to his surprise, the usually calm Li Zhongfa sighed softly. "Love doesn't follow reason."

In Compound One of China Grain, Lao Lu stepped out of the gatehouse and wiped clean the small notice board of mail notices.

It was Sunday. Most residents were home, and by noon, all the mail and newspapers piled at the gatehouse had been collected.

The sun was good. Lao Lu stretched his arms and legs in the sunlight, then returned to the gatehouse and opened his lunchbox.

But just as he was about to eat, he saw a familiar Beijing 130 driving up from the end of the street outside.

"Heh, that kid's back for another meal. Doesn't he know how to be polite?"

Lately, Lao Lu had seen that 130 often—either dropping off Wen's girl or bringing the two young people to visit the Wen household.

Checking the visitor log, Lao Lu knew the handsome young man was a student at Beijing University—Li Ye.

"Still, educated people have better luck with girls."

Lao Lu smiled, shook his head, and lifted a chopstick of braised pork toward his mouth.

But that bite of braised pork never reached his lips.

The Beijing 130 stopped, as usual, dozens of meters from the compound gate. Three people got out.

Lao Lu recognized Li Ye and Wen Leyu—but the third person… didn't he look familiar?

As the three drew closer, Lao Lu's hand began to tremble. The fragrant pork dropped with a *plop* onto the ground.

"Li Dajiao, you're still alive?!"

"."

Li Zhongfa, who'd been thinking how to greet Ke Laoshi and Wen Qingsheng, froze. He instinctively glanced left and right.

"Who called me?"

"Over here, over here! You nearsighted old fool, where are you looking?"

Li Zhongfa finally noticed—it was the gatehouse guard.

He squinted, watching the excited old man sprinting toward him. Only when he reached him did Li Zhongfa recognize him.

"You old troublemaker, you're still alive too!"

"."

Lao Lu wiped his eyes, trembling. "I wanted to die. Couldn't manage it."

"Good you're alive. Then why cry? Still as useless as ever."

"Useless? You're the same! Look at your monkey tears all over your face."

"You troublemaker, still talking like a bastard. No wonder you won't die—evil men live a thousand years!"

"Hmph, you can envy me. I guarantee I'll outlive you."

On the street, two old men glared at each other, spat curses—but tears streamed down their faces. Their hands gripped tightly, refusing to let go.

Li Ye and Wen Leyu were baffled—how could two people from opposite ends of the country recognize each other?

But the next sentence made their ears prick up.

"Lao Huishui, our… medic—still alive?"

(End of Chapter)