Chapter 1295: Ease and Comfort

Zhang Wang Jianguo's case was eventually handled.

After Chief Duan Youting had followed this case for several months without any progress, Deputy Bureau Chief Zheng Ju decided to change the lead.

Who to replace him with—this problem was placed on the desks of the bureau leadership.

Why was it a problem to decide who to replace him with? Was the dignified Dongcheng Branch so short-handed that they couldn't even find someone suitable to preside over the investigation?

Actually, that wasn't the case. Although a case equals results, it depends on what kind of case it is.

Generally speaking, homicide cases have the lowest investigation costs. Readers who commit crimes often know that unplanned homicides are usually solved within three days, and unidentified body-dumping cases take a week at most.

If it exceeds a week, it's either planned and premeditated, or Heaven refuses to take the culprit, giving the murderer a chance to escape.

What kind of case has the highest investigation cost?

Cases involving many people—very many—or those involving highly complex layers, regions, and so on.

Are such cases very difficult?

Actually, no. The difficulty isn't in the investigation technique, but in the scope. Investigating a case isn't just about catching people; catching people is the result.

The hardest part is gathering all the evidence related to the criminal suspect and handing it over to the prosecution.

Taking Zhang Wang Jianguo as an example, this kid runs all over Beijing. To collect evidence of his crimes, one must find everyone he has contacted and all the criminal facts he has caused, and confirm him as the target for arrest.

Of course, it wasn't that rigorous at this time. As long as it could be subjectively determined that Zhang Wang Jianguo had issues, he could be arrested first.

Arrest him, interrogate him, and then investigate further.

Although the procedure was wrong, very few people pursued this at the time. After all, maintaining public order was not wrong.

But arresting Zhang Wang Jianguo was even more troublesome and difficult than collecting evidence of his crimes. Chief Duan Youting, who wanted to use this case to turn his life around, encountered a dilemma.

A large-scale search for Zhang Wang Jianguo was unrealistic because the crimes Zhang Wang Jianguo committed were highly specific and caused little social harm.

Even if he wanted to do it this way, Zheng Ju wouldn't approve it for him.

Large-scale searching was unrealistic; what about targeted investigation and arrest?

The answer was also no, because Beijing's "Wan Zhu" (tough guys) mostly lived in dense areas like hutongs, and no one knew whose house he was sleeping in at night.

In a Beijing with over two million people, trying to catch one Zhang Wang Jianguo was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Therefore, Chief Duan Youting didn't turn his life around; instead, he ended up with a mouthful of filth.

If Chief Duan Youting couldn't handle this case, could others? Was there no one left in the Dongcheng Branch?

That wasn't it either. This case wasn't small, but it wasn't big either. Those with ability didn't care for it, and those without ability didn't dare take it.

Now, the higher-ups were paying attention to the influence created by the "Wan Zhu" circle and the "Old Ping" circle, especially since the "Old Ping" circle was more or less involved with the "Little Cubs" issue. The higher-ups were likely trying to find a way to deal with them, wanting the branch to apply some pressure to test the waters.

No one wanted to take it on when there was no pressure before; now that there was pressure and no leads, even fewer people wanted to take it.

But since the case was already being taken seriously, Gao Zhen and Zheng Ju had to select soldiers and generals.

It was taken seriously, but the scope and influence couldn't be expanded—in other words, "enter the village quietly, don't fire a shot."

If you say there are people who aren't afraid of sacrifice when charging into battle, who would want to be mocked by colleagues for looking for a needle in a haystack?

Someone asked, if it's taken seriously, does it have to be handled?

Actually, just think about it: which underworld boss wasn't handled only after being taken seriously?

Look at those public notices from later generations; which underworld boss's criminal facts were committed just one month before their arrest?

The long ones took twenty years, the short ones six or seven years. Those arrested after twenty years can only be said to have no brains; they would have been "washed clean" without needing to retire for twenty years. Zhang Wang Jianguo's case wasn't short either.

His actions over the past two years were all recorded at various local police stations and public security brigades. Now, the branch wanted to settle the final account.

These cases—handled or unhandled, his or not his—were all lumped together and counted against him.

Catching him alone would satisfy thousands of families.

It was precisely at this time that someone mentioned that the public security environment in Jiaodaokou used to be very good.

Everyone understood, and they all praised the public security stability achievements of Comrade Ji Ji Yuxiu when she was in charge of the Jiaodaokou Police Station.

They didn't mention the achievements made by Shen Fang, because Shen Fang was no longer with the branch, so why mention him?

Besides, what did the stability of Jiaodaokou have to do with Shen Fang? Didn't it look like that when he was the station chief?

Therefore, everyone unanimously agreed that this case should be handed over to Comrade Ji Ji Yuxiu of the special task force.

There was another main reason for pushing Ji Ji Yuxiu forward: even if this case wasn't handled well, it would just be a young person being clumsy.

After all, she was still young and had a solid foundation, so she could climb back up if she fell. Therefore, using her was the most appropriate.

If she really handled this case well, then she should be rewarded for her merits, and no one could say anything.

So, with Zheng Ju not speaking up to oppose it, the case was transferred from Chief Duan Youting's hands to Ji Ji Yuxiu.

Why do they say it's good to have connections in the imperial court? Even without talking about nepotism, just talking about relationship cultivation, Ji Ji Yuxiu was better than others.

She accepted the case according to the leadership's requirements, but also proposed that Comrade Chief Duan Youting had a high degree of mastery and understanding of this case, and actively applied to transfer Chief Duan Youting into her investigation team.

If the leadership wanted to use her, they naturally had to give her face, while also praising her in their hearts for knowing how to conduct herself and pacifying Chief Duan Youting.

As soon as Ji Ji Yuxiu took over the special task force, she immediately changed the direction of the investigation, organized the existing evidence in the task force's hands, and first arrested the small fry around Zhang Wang Jianguo.

Wasn't Li Kuiyong, who was injured and surrendered last time, back in the game? Arrest him first; this kid now had his crimes compounded.

In the "Wan Zhu" circle, he currently had the most momentum. What "taking the head of a general from among ten thousand troops"—that was blowing it out of proportion.

If Ji Ji Yuxiu hadn't spared him back then, he would be a cripple now.

It wasn't just Li Kuiyong; on the list Chief Duan Youting had collected, Yao Yuan from Donghua Sect, Li Li Zhanyuan from the Brick Society, Gao Jianbing of the Stick Team, Li Li Sida from Dongsi, and Wang Zhou Dahai from Dazhi Bridge all had to be arrested.

Cut off the wings, force him to appear.

While conducting targeted arrests, organize street security forces to work on the families and neighbors of the relevant personnel.

Don't think that the streets at this time were like those in later generations, where they knew nothing. At this time, the street aunties knew even what your grandmother's name was; how could they not know about the little things you, this turtle-grandson, did?

Dig up the roots of vice, squeeze the living space of the "Wan Zhu."

Fighting crime is one aspect, and eliminating the soil that breeds evil is another. Use both methods simultaneously, leaving no future troubles.

Now, even if Zhang Wang Jianguo didn't want to show himself, he had no choice. They had narrowed his range of activities and were arresting his little brothers.

And those "Old Ping" guys didn't intend to let him go either, and also began investigating his whereabouts.

Look, the branch couldn't find Zhang Wang Jianguo, but those "Old Ping" guys, who were idle all day, might just bump into him.

Under the calm surface of the current Si Jiu Cheng (Beijing), a large net had been cast by Ji Ji Yuxiu targeting Zhang Wang Jianguo.

Even if they didn't catch him, they would trap him to death.

"Did you call him or not?" Shen Jianbing frowned and looked around, not seeing anyone coming to pick them up at the station, and turned to complain to his wife, Li Juan: "Is this your relative?"

"Stop talking nonsense—"

Li Juan also felt uncomfortable. She had clearly called the second brother at her uncle's house long ago and said they would come to pick them up at the station.

"I called, he said he would come to pick us up..."

"Is this Comrade Li Juan from Jicheng?"

Just as Li Juan and Shen Jianbing were standing at the exit looking around, a young man ran out from inside the exit.

"You are—" Li Juan hesitated and looked at him, tentatively asking: "I am Li Juan, are you calling me?"

"Oh, finally found you."

Seeing Li Juan nod in confirmation, the person let out a long sigh of relief, smiled, and reached out to take the luggage in her hand, but she cautiously dodged.

"Comrade, I don't know you, right?"

"Oh, blame me, blame me—"

The young man slapped his forehead, let go of the strap of Li Juan's luggage, took out his work ID from his pocket and handed it to Li Juan, saying: "I am Secretary Li Li Xuewu's driver, my name is Nie Nie Xiaoguang. The Secretary entrusted me to come and pick you up."

"Really? Why didn't my brother come?"

Li Juan looked at the ID in the other person's hand with suspicion, frowned, and compared the young man's appearance with the photo on the ID.

Shen Jianbing on the side had long been impatient. Could he not tell that this person was here specifically to pick them up?

"Alright, alright, since it matches, let's hurry," he scolded his wife, then said to Nie Nie Xiaoguang: "Sorry, Comrade, my wife is suspicious."

"It's okay, you are Comrade Shen, right?"

Nie Nie Xiaoguang nodded, took the luggage from Li Juan's hand, pointed to the parking lot not far from the platform and said: "Parking isn't allowed here, let's go to the parking lot first."

He was talkative, walking in front, and introduced: "The Secretary has several meetings to attend today, so he specifically entrusted us to pick you up. I was thinking you came from afar with a lot of luggage, so I used some connections to go to the platform to pick you up, but I didn't expect to walk right past each other and not see you."

"You know us?"

Li Juan looked at Nie Nie Xiaoguang. She had no impression of this person ever appearing by her brother's side.

Nie Nie Xiaoguang finally understood what Shen Jianbing meant when he said his wife was suspicious.

He took a piece of paper out of his pocket with the big characters "Li Juan" written on it.

As long as one wasn't blind, they could see it when exiting the station. It was just that when he held it up, the two didn't see it, and they just missed each other.

"Sorry, Comrade Nie."

Shen Jianbing glanced at his wife and nodded to Nie Nie Xiaoguang: "She works on the train, she's developed an occupational disease."

"It's okay, I was the one who miscalculated."

Nie Nie Xiaoguang smiled embarrassedly, turned his head and looked at the leader's uncle-generation sister, feeling strange in his heart.

Strange about what? Strange that this sister of the leader was too "nong" (plain/unsophisticated).

Given the Li family's conditions, if the sister could be this "nong," then how awesome must this brother-in-law's family background and status be?

But looking at this brother-in-law's temperament... he didn't look very awesome.

Could it be like what Brother Han said, that awesome people are all low-key?

Nie Nie Xiaoguang muttered in his heart, but it didn't show on his face, and he couldn't ask randomly—this was a big taboo for a driver.

Hmm, learning on the job; Brother Han taught him all this.

Brother Han also came to pick them up today. His driving skills were still being polished. Whenever there was a special mission, Brother Han would still call him along to teach him how to handle special situations.

For example, picking people up this time—picking up the leader's relatives—how to handle it, how to respond; today could be considered a test and internship for him.

Currently, it looked like the effect was quite good.

"Why did it take so long?"

Seeing the three approach, Han Han Jiankun got out of the car, stared at Nie Nie Xiaoguang, and took the initiative to take the luggage.

Nie Nie Xiaoguang laughed and explained: "It was my carelessness, I went to the platform to pick them up."

"Not his fault, we didn't see him."

Shen Jianbing couldn't tell what the status of the person driving was, so he politely let go of the luggage and let the other party take it to the trunk.

He took this opportunity to secretly glance at the car that came to pick them up.

Of course he recognized the Volga M24, but the leaders in their unit couldn't afford to sit in this. And since Nie Nie Xiaoguang said he was Li Juan's brother's driver, this imported car should be Li Juan's brother's official car.

Good fellow, he only heard Li Juan say her brother worked in Beijing and was a "not-so-small" cadre, but he didn't expect him to be this "not-so-small."

He knew the situation of working in Beijing; there were many cadres in this place. How "not-so-small" could someone in their early twenties be?

Now it seemed Li Juan was vague, and he was also vague.

Being able to use an imported Volga luxury car, being called Secretary, and even having two drivers... two drivers?

Sitting in the back seat of the car, Shen Jianbing couldn't help but widen his eyes for a moment. From his angle, he could just see that the young man in the front passenger seat who hadn't been introduced had a gun at his waist.

Damn! This person wasn't a driver; this was a bodyguard!

Then what level was Li Juan's brother exactly? Don't tell me...

Because it wasn't Li Li Xuewu's car and Nie Nie Xiaoguang had also obtained his driver's license, Han Han Jiankun let him take the driver's seat to practice.

He had already pointed things out on the road: where to slow down, where to speed up, where not to stop, where one could stop...

Now that the leader's relatives were in the car, he certainly couldn't give instructions, otherwise, people would think Nie Nie Xiaoguang wasn't professional.

It was just that Han Han Jiankun had a taciturn temperament, and Nie Nie Xiaoguang didn't dare to speak while driving. The young couple in the back seat were surprised by the luxury inside the car and the prosperity outside, and they actually quieted down.

From the train station to the Haiyuncang villa, no one spoke along the way until the car turned into the street and entered the Jinyu Hutong entrance.

"The houses here are really beautiful."

Li Juan looked at the foreign-style houses and small courtyards the car passed along the way, the quiet streets, and the neatly lined trees.

Life here was serene, transportation was convenient, the outside was bustling with traffic, the commercial atmosphere was strong, and entering the Jinyu Hutong was another world. Pedestrians on the road were sparse, and the streets were clean and tidy...

When the car stopped in front of the No. 1 villa at the street corner of the intersection, Li Juan recognized at a glance that this was her brother's house.

She had only been here once two years ago when her brother Li Li Xuewu got married, and she followed her mother to take a car here to see the new home.

It was a rush at the time, and there were many people, and she only stayed for a short while, unable to handle the conversation, so she didn't have many memories of this place. Now seeing the gate, she remembered.

The courtyard wall with its unique and elegant style, the uniquely designed villa, she envied her brother in her heart from the moment the gate opened. She really envied her brother for being able to work in Beijing and having such a good living environment.

"You are Comrade Li Juan, right?" Hearing the sound of the car, Qin Qin Jingru, who came to open the gate, greeted them with a smile: "The leader called home and asked me to prepare the room."

"The leader said he couldn't come back during the day, and Sister Aunt Xiao Ning also couldn't come back at noon because of several surgeries. He asked me to arrange for you to rest, saying he would come back in the evening to have dinner together."

"Li Xuewu is too polite, thank you—"

Li Juan knew her brother had hired a nanny. The person introducing herself now should be her. She didn't pay much attention to it.

Seeing the gate open, she walked in, letting the driver behind her help with the luggage. Her gaze was attracted by the well-kept foreign-style courtyard in front of her; there was actually a small vegetable garden planted here.

"I'll do it, you go into the house first."

Han Han Jiankun was very afraid that his wife would get tired, so he didn't let her help with the luggage, but this scene was seen by Shen Jianbing.

He twitched his eyebrows and very cautiously didn't say anything, just letting the driver and bodyguard carry their luggage into the foreign-style building.

"Just eat something simple at noon."

After entering the house, Li Juan changed into slippers under Qin Qin Jingru's indication, walked into the living room while looking at the furnishings in the house, and instructed: "Little Qin, we sat on the train all night, I want to sleep first to relax."

"Okay, no problem, the food will be ready soon," Qin Qin Jingru didn't care about the other party's form of address and tone, and pushed open the door of the room on the first floor near the foyer: "The room is already prepared."

"First floor—" Li Juan, who was just about to go upstairs, frowned, looked up at the floor and said: "It will be noisy on the first floor, I remember there is a guest room on the second floor—"

When she said this, her eyes also meaningfully looked at Qin Qin Jingru, as if she suspected that she had deliberately neglected her.

Qin Qin Jingru also heard the taste in her words was wrong, and hurriedly explained: "The guest room upstairs has been converted into a children's room for Li Shu and Li Ning. If you feel this room is not suitable, there is another guest room by the piano, do you want to change?"

Han Han Jiankun, who had just put down the luggage and was about to leave, frowned slightly and looked at the couple Li Juan and Shen Jianbing.

He knew the leader's relatives, but he didn't know the leader had such picky relatives.

It stood to reason that since they were guests, they should follow the host's arrangements. Now it looked like they were here to pick faults?

The room near the piano was usually vacant. Qin Qin Jingru used to live there. Sometimes when Li Li Xuewu didn't come home, Qin Qin Jingru also stayed there, so Qin Qin Jingru's personal items were still in the room.

Of course, he had never stayed there once, but he felt it was a bit inappropriate; that guest room was next to the toilet.

"Forget it, forget it, just stay in this room."

Li Juan also saw that the guest room was next to the toilet and didn't get the sun from the front courtyard, so she chose the one at the entrance by comparison.

It was just that from the tone and attitude, she was unhappy, as if she had been neglected.

Shen Jianbing hadn't said much, took the luggage from the two, carried it into the inner room, and didn't come out again.

Nie Nie Xiaoguang looked at Han Han Jiankun in surprise, also feeling that something was wrong.

"Then you rest first, we will go back to work," Han Han Jiankun was mature and steady after all, nodded to Li Juan and said: "We will tell the leader that you have arrived home safely, goodbye."

"Hmm, hmm—" Li Juan didn't pay attention to them either, just responded, yawned, and went into the room.

Han Han Jiankun gave his wife a look to be careful, then patted Nie Nie Xiaoguang on the shoulder and went out.

Nie Nie Xiaoguang was of course indignant. Once in the car, he pouted and complained: "Picking up at the station and sending home, if there's no credit, there's at least the hard work of carrying luggage, right?"

"Didn't even offer a cigarette, and didn't even say thank you when leaving. These relatives of the leader really don't know how to conduct themselves."

"Why so much nonsense—"

Han Han Jiankun glanced at him sideways and reminded: "Are you that greedy for a cigarette, or is someone missing to say thank you to you?"

"As long as the leader doesn't treat you badly, just be quiet and drive."

The master had spoken, Nie Nie Xiaoguang of course didn't dare to say anything more, but his mouth was pouted like a ladle, obviously unhappy.

The leader's quality was high, which didn't mean the leader's relatives' quality was high. Han Han Jiankun wasn't exactly unhappy, it was just...

It was just that this pair of relatives from Jicheng obviously looked a bit off. Don't cause any trouble for the leader.

He was also worried about whether Qin Qin Jingru could handle them alone at home with the child.

Actually, Han Han Jiankun didn't know that not long after they left, Qin Qin Jingru at home was almost angered to death.

Since the guests said to eat simply, she did so while taking care of the child alone.

Simple, but she still took care of the Northeast taste, boiled noodles, fried egg sauce, and prepared some small pickles.

"Dumplings upon arrival, noodles upon departure." She was too busy to roll the noodles, so she just made do with something simple for everyone to eat.

But when she went to call the couple who hadn't come out of the room, before her hand even touched the door, she heard the two whispering about her inside.

"You still say that, big leader, how strict the family style is, hehe—" Shen Jianbing's voice came out, "You didn't see it when we got off the car just now, that bodyguard in the passenger seat was flirting with the little nanny outside, chi—"

It seemed to be a sound of disdain, perhaps mockery. Anyway, the laughter was harsh, and Qin Qin Jingru was almost exploding with anger outside the door.

But they were the leader's relatives after all, having come from afar, and she was pregnant, fearing Li Li Xuewu wouldn't use her anymore.

So she had to endure it, returned to the kitchen with anger, looked at the food she had prepared while taking care of Li Ning, and felt so choked she had no appetite at all.

This couple was really unlikable. They didn't bring anything for the child when coming to the house; they could at least take the initiative to hold him.

Just one sentence about being tired from the train, and they didn't come out after entering the room.

You say they were really tired, and it would be fine if they fell asleep after entering the room, but the couple was shameless, pulling the curtains and doing what?

This didn't count, whispering about people—what kind of thing is that? Really heartbreaking.

Qin Qin Jingru coaxed Li Ning for a long time, then adjusted her emotions, walked to the door, knocked, and called the couple.

"Yo, you actually boiled noodles for us."

Li Juan's surprise didn't contain joy, but rather disgust, just because she emphasized "boiled noodles" instead of "noodles."

"There are only boiled noodles at home. When the leader comes back in the evening, I will tell my husband to buy flour when he has time."

Qin Qin Jingru tried hard to control her emotions, held Li Ning, and pointed to the dining table: "Sit, oh, don't misunderstand, the husband I mentioned is the tall one who just sent you back."

She was doing it on purpose, deliberately confusing the previous sentence, leading to what she wanted to say, to slap the couple in the face.

Shen Jianbing instantly turned red, the previous nonsense must have been heard by others.

And Li Juan was also embarrassed, unable to say anything, and had to sit at the dining table and serve herself noodles.

There were only a few people in the house, how could she have the face to ask Qin Qin Jingru to put down the child and serve her noodles?

The words Qin Qin Jingru had prepared to spray her were also saved. If she had taken the initiative to come and get the child, be close, and let everyone take care of the child together and have lunch together, she would have served them noodles. Now? Not spitting on them was already considered good.

Shen Jianbing and Li Juan ate noodles with their heads down. Seeing Qin Qin Jingru holding the child and going upstairs, they looked at each other, not daring to ask or speak, their faces as red as egg sauce.

"What's wrong?"

Before getting off work, Li Li Xuewu called the guesthouse and specifically asked for a few good dishes.

Qin Qin Jingru was three months pregnant. Her body didn't look like it had changed, but he, who knew a little about medical care, also knew that this was the time when problems were most likely to occur, so he didn't let her get tired.

Preparing ordinary meals at home was no problem, but having guests and making several big dishes would always be tiring.

This wasn't his wife, but Han Han Jiankun's wife.

Whoever's wife it was, he would feel sorry for her. He couldn't let the couple serving him work hard and feel cold-hearted.

The reason he didn't find someone else to help and used Qin Qin Jingru was because he was afraid she would overthink.

After more than two years of getting along, even if there was no family affection, there was still emotion. He and Gu Ning were not cold-blooded animals.

Li Shu and Li Ning were brought up by her. Qin Qin Jingru was just afraid that her pregnancy would affect this job.

What kind of job was this? She treated it like a treasure, and Li Li Xuewu just followed her wishes, treating it as taking care of her emotions.

He was used to eating breakfast and dinner with Han Han Jiankun's couple, and Qin Qin Jingru could also supplement her nutrition here.

It was just that he had good intentions, and even called home, not needing her to prepare dinner, just steaming a pot of rice, but why was Qin Qin Jingru, who came to open the gate after getting off the car, looking so sullen?

"It's nothing, she's angry with me, leader."

Han Han Jiankun, who was carrying a large stack of lunch boxes from the car, hurriedly gave his wife a look and took over the conversation.

Li Li Xuewu wasn't blind. He glanced at him, and seeing Qin Qin Jingru go back with a swing of her body, he didn't ask much.

Before he even entered the house, he heard his eldest sister Li Juan's voice from the foyer: "Second brother, long time no see—"

"Hehehe—" Li Li Xuewu smiled and went up the steps, greeting: "Long time no see, eldest sister, was the journey smooth?"

"Found two hard sleepers, slept all the way," Li Juan held Li Ning and walked out of the foyer with Shen Jianbing, standing at the door to greet him: "Let me introduce you, this is your brother-in-law Shen Jianbing."

"You haven't met yet—"

"Brother-in-law, hello, welcome to be a guest at home."

Li Li Xuewu held Shen Jianbing's hand very closely and smiled: "Don't be polite, coming here is like coming to your own home."

"I often hear Li Juan talking about you, saying she has a good brother in Beijing. I told her I wanted to come to Beijing to play, and she insisted on bothering you."

Shen Jianbing shook Li Li Xuewu's hand and smiled: "This is not being polite, it's just that I feel embarrassed about being picked up by car and staying at home."

"This is not talking about being an outsider."

Li Li Xuewu smiled, let go of his hand, and gestured to the house: "Don't stand at the door, let's talk inside."

"If you came to Beijing and didn't call me, then I would be unhappy. We are all one family, can't say two families' words."

"My brother is still particular—"

Li Juan smiled at Shen Jianbing, gestured to the lunch box the driver had just carried in, her eyes full of pride.

Li Li Xuewu changed into slippers at the door, but didn't take off the gun at his waist.

It was fine to put it at the door on weekdays, but it was inconvenient to have guests at home today, so he prepared to store it after going upstairs.

Bringing Li Juan and the couple into the living room, he asked Qin Qin Jingru, who had taken the lunch box from Han Han Jiankun: "Qin Jingru, your Sister Aunt Xiao Ning hasn't come back yet, right?"

"Not yet, said there was a surgery, will be late."

Qin Qin Jingru's voice came from the restaurant, "She said let's eat first, don't wait for her."

"Doesn't matter, we aren't hungry yet." Li Juan was poked by her husband and immediately reacted, taking the initiative to greet: "At noon, Little Qin boiled noodles for us."

"Hehehe—" Li Li Xuewu's ears moved, as if he guessed something, but he didn't say it, instead waving his hand and gesturing for the two to sit on the sofa, "They are very busy at the hospital recently."

"Can understand, doctors are all like this."

Li Juan sat beside Li Li Xuewu, while teasing Li Ning, and said very generously: "Your second uncle always talks to us about how your grandfather didn't care about the family, saving lives and healing the wounded."

These words made Li Li Xuewu's ears move again.

Li Li Xuewu's ears twitched again at these words.

However, thinking of how well his eldest sister had treated him when he went to Yingcheng, and the care and affection she had shown him during the few times they met when he was a child, he didn't pay any mind to these ambiguities.

"Everything at home is doing well, right?"

Li Li Xuewu smiled as he looked her and his brother-in-law over and asked, "You didn't even send me a letter when you got married; that's not quite right."

"I've already complained to my second uncle; he doesn't treat me like a nephew, and you don't treat me like your own brother."

"Not at all, it just happened that way."

Li Juan lowered her head to look at little Li Ning and said, "Things were very chaotic at our workplace back then, and neither of us dared to make a scene."

"You know how people are these days; they can't stand to see others doing well, especially since your brother-in-law holds a position of some responsibility at work."

"Why tell Little Brother about all this?"

Shen Jianbing glanced at her, then looked at Li Li Xuewu and said with a smile, "Your sister and I discussed it. Since it's our own business anyway, there was no need to make a fuss."

"We reported it to my father-in-law and mother-in-law and got their consent, so don't overthink it, Little Brother."

"Haha, what's there to think about? I understand."

Li Li Xuewu chuckled, picked up a cigarette to offer him, and seeing him wave his hand in refusal, he set it back on the coffee table.

"I got married a bit earlier. If it were now, I wouldn't dare to make a big show of it either. You and my sister considered things very thoroughly."

"It's just that your second aunt wasn't satisfied." Seeing that Li Ning was no longer staying on her lap, Li Juan let him down to play on the floor, sighed, and said, "She said that after giving out so much gift money over the years, she couldn't get it back when it was her turn, and she'll have to keep giving it when others have events. After all, Little Brother is still here."

She wasn't talking about Li Li Xuewu, but her own younger brother, Li Li Xueli, who had been working in forestry since the year Li Li Xuewu returned.

"It's the same everywhere; try to be more open-minded."

Li Li Xuewu advised her, "By not accepting gifts, didn't you also avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble? Isn't it said that peace is a blessing at a time like this?"

"Hahaha—only you know how to talk."

Li Juan smiled at him and said, "Your second uncle says you're progressing very quickly. Now, even he has to call you 'Leader' when he sees you."

"Then why doesn't he come to Jingcheng?"

Li Li Xuewu said with amusement, "If he came to Jingcheng, I would definitely force him to call me 'Leader' just to hear it."

"Him? He can't bear to leave his little plot of land."

Li Juan introduced with a smile, "Your second uncle is now highly valued by his leaders; the economic work of the forestry department is all coordinated by him."

"Is that so? He's made progress, then."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and said, "He mentioned it to me briefly last time I went. Is he still working in the office?"

"No, he's in the Business Division now," Li Juan said quite proudly, "Otherwise, how could he be so busy?"

"Never mind me; even my mother has to submit a formal request in advance if she wants to see him. Hahaha—"

"Haha—that's too exaggerated." Li Li Xuewu also laughed out loud, looked at his eldest brother-in-law sitting diagonally across from him, and asked, "What about Brother-in-law? Are you in the same unit?"

"Um, I'm in passenger transport, and he's in mechanical maintenance." The pride on Li Juan's face vanished, replaced by a look of hesitation, but just as she was about to say something, she was stopped by a look from Shen Jianbing.

"Leader, it's time to eat—"

As it happened, Qin Qin Jingru called them to eat from the restaurant entrance at that moment, which served to resolve the momentary awkwardness.

"Come, try the craftsmanship of our factory's chef," Li Li Xuewu said, inviting them both together. "You all know what the restaurants are like now; eating out really isn't as peaceful as eating at home."

He entered the restaurant, pointed toward the liquor cabinet to signal Han Han Jiankun to get the wine, and said, "Let's have some wine. Brother-in-law, this is our first time meeting; drink as you like, I'll keep you company today."

"Don't drink with him; he has a bottomless capacity." Li Juan knew Li Li Xuewu's drinking capacity, tugged at Shen Jianbing, and said to her younger brother with a smile, "Wait for your sister-in-law; it's not like we're in a rush."

"You don't know your sister-in-law; if she says there's no need to wait, then there's no need to wait. She's a very practical person."

Li Li Xuewu pulled out a chair, signaled for his eldest sister and her husband to take their seats, and simultaneously gestured for Han Han Jiankun to sit as well.

"There are no outsiders today. You should already know Han Han Jiankun; he's a good comrade-in-arms who has been with me for many years, and he's now a deputy section-level cadre in our unit."

He gestured to Han Han Jiankun, who was pouring the wine, and then looked at Qin Qin Jingru, who was bringing out the dishes, and introduced her: "This is Han Han Jiankun's wife, also 'gynecological-level'—the 'gynecology' for pregnant women, haha—"

"She's a little sister from our compound who came to help me."

"Haha—we met this afternoon."

Hearing Li Li Xuewu's introduction, Li Juan and Shen Jianbing exchanged a glance, and the awkwardness from the afternoon welled up in their hearts again.

The guard they had been whispering about and looking down on in the room actually had a higher rank than them; this was truly mortifying.

Li Ning chased after his leg wanting to be held, so he picked up his son and placed him in the high chair.

"The alcohol content isn't high. Let's eat and drink well today. I'm hosting this welcome meal for my eldest sister and brother-in-law, and I also wish you a happy and pleasant stay in Jingcheng these next few days."

"Since Little Brother has said so, I can't be overly polite," Shen Jianbing said with a smile, "My drinking capacity is very average, so I'll stop when I've had enough."

"Don't be polite. Han Jiankun, you sit too."

After sitting down, Li Li Xuewu waved his hand, resolving the conflict he didn't understand and didn't want to understand in a few short sentences.

He had just heard Qin Qin Jingru say something to Han Han Jiankun in the kitchen, and seeing the bowls and chopsticks on the table earlier, he knew she must have told Han Han Jiankun not to eat and to go home for dinner instead.

Now that he had spoken, Qin Qin Jingru found bowls and chopsticks for Han Han Jiankun, which could be considered an acceptance of his mediation.

Li Li Xuewu didn't want to ask whose fault it was. Li Juan and her husband had traveled a long way from Jicheng to see him and planned to play in Jingcheng for a few days; even if there were faults, he had to maintain appearances for the sake of his second uncle.

As for Qin Qin Jingru and her husband, there was no need to say anything; he had long since figured out their temperaments over such a long time. If there were a fault, it would have already been a fault.

This home couldn't be turned into a courtroom, or there wouldn't be a shred of affection left. Besides, there's affection even in a courtroom.

He had supported Han Han Jiankun and his wife, and he had saved face for his eldest sister and brother-in-law; once they drank a meal together at the table, the matter would be over.

At the dinner table, his eldest sister Li Juan didn't say any more sharp words and appeared very close, talking about many things from their childhood.

Li Li Xuewu also took good care of her emotions, neither neglecting his chat with his brother-in-law nor neglecting her nostalgic topics.

On the surface, it looked like the two of them were talking the most, but in reality, even Qin Qin Jingru, who was sitting to the side taking care of Li Ning's meal, could see that Li Li Xuewu was the one leading and guiding their conversation the whole time.

They chatted about the local customs of Jicheng, talked about the current situation of their respective families, and teased Li Ning, listening to his babbling, innocent childhood words.

After the meal, Li Li Xuewu accompanied them in the living room for some idle chatter, then took advantage of the alcohol to go upstairs, take a bath, and change his clothes.

When he came back down, Gu Ning had already returned, and his eldest sister and brother-in-law were sitting there somewhat awkwardly, unable to strike up a conversation with her.

"Have you been introduced?" Li Li Xuewu said with a smile, "This is my eldest sister Li Juan from Second Uncle's house in Jicheng, and this is my eldest brother-in-law, Shen Jianbing."

"We've already met," Li Juan said with a somewhat nervous smile, gesturing toward Gu Ning, "We've met."

"Haha, don't mind her. Xiao Ning's personality is just like that; she's actually very good to people," Li Li Xuewu walked over to Gu Ning's side, sat down, and introduced her with a smile, "She just looks serious."

"How is she serious? She has such a good personality—" Li Juan said with a smile, "I really like Xiao Ning like this. Last time I went back from Jingcheng, my mother talked about how envious she was the whole way."

"'If only you could be as quiet as her—'" She mimicked her mother's words vividly, making herself laugh.

Gu Ning also gave her face by smiling; she didn't seem reserved, nor did she seem overly polite. She didn't quite understand what was so funny about that.

Of course, having lived with Li Li Xuewu for so long, dealing with the comings and goings of relatives was effortless for her.

She was even handling it with ease—at least, that's what she thought.

And Li Juan, who had laughed halfway through without a follow-up, only felt that this sister-in-law's temperament was a bit intimidating, making her feel nervous involuntarily.

How did her younger brother see that this ice beauty had a good personality?

(End of chapter)